Chapter Martial Soul Awakening

The Imperial Palace's Awakening Hall.

The Council of Elders was located in the White Tiger Mountain Range outside the Imperial City. The White Tiger Mountain Range was known as the Imperial Family's Ancestral Land. Because it was so far away, there was also a branch institution within the Imperial Palace.

The Council of Elders mainly handled all kinds of clan affairs. Since the Imperial Family also belonged to the White Tiger Lineage, the Martial Soul awakenings of every prince were overseen by the Imperial Clan Court.

Over the years, as an in-law clan of the White Tiger Family, the Hell Spirit Cat clan had already become an affiliated clan of the White Tiger Family. Thus, their Martial Soul awakenings were also overseen by the Council of Elders.

"I'll take you to the Awakening Hall. Once you're inside, someone will guide you. Just follow the instructions. Don't be afraid. Even if your Martial Soul is weak, I can still protect you and keep you safe." Dai Hengyu knelt on one knee, resting a hand on Dai Yao's head as he comforted him.

"Thank you, Third Uncle."

After Dai Hengyu left, Dai Yao arrived outside the Awakening Hall. Two stone tigers stood on either side of the hall entrance. Their rough lines were lifelike, and from where he stood, the two tigers seemed ready to open their jaws and pounce at him.

"This is the top-tier Beast Spirit on the Douluo Continent—the White Tiger. Kid, the White Tiger's blood flows through your veins." A rough voice sounded beside Dai Yao.

Dai Yao followed the voice and saw an old man. His muscles bulged all over, making him look like a humanoid Dragon. His hair and beard were both fiery red, and his entire body looked like a burning flame.

The Fifth Elder looked at Dai Yao's disheveled clothes. He combed Dai Yao's messy hair with his thick palm and comforted him, saying, "Child, even when trapped in adversity, don't give up hope. Persevere. The pride of our White Tiger Family's bloodline needs to be defended by your generation."

"You are?"

"You can call me the Fifth Elder."

The Fifth Elder's name was Dai Weilie. His Soul Power had reached rank eighty-five, making him a Soul Douluo. He ranked fifth among the Council of Elders and enjoyed an extremely high reputation. He had a fiery temper and hated evil as if it were his mortal enemy, causing plenty of trouble on the Douluo Continent. To keep him in check, the Council of Elders had stationed him in the Imperial Palace to oversee the princes' Martial Soul awakenings.

"Let's go. I'll awaken your Martial Soul for you. Many of the children have already arrived."

As the saying went, of the countless people who transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, half had their awakenings handled by Brother Tao.

All right, the awakening Grandmaster, Su Yuntao, is out of a job. Dai Yao followed behind the Fifth Elder, grumbling inwardly.

When they arrived at the Awakening Hall, it was already packed with children. They whispered among themselves, creating a lively scene.

At the center of the crowd, two children were surrounded by everyone. One was clearly a head taller than the others, with dazzling golden hair. He was handsome, broad-shouldered, and broad-backed. Most astonishingly, his eyes were different colors.

Simply standing there, he gave off a wild and domineering air.

The other child was a girl.

Her black hair flowed like a waterfall, and she had tied it into a pair of cat-ear-shaped styles on either side of her head. Dressed in black, she appeared dignified and elegant.

However, her black eyes held not the slightest trace of vitality. They were as cold as ice, which contrasted somewhat with her exceptionally beautiful face.

"Different-colored eyes. Is he Dai Mubai?" Seeing such an obvious feature, Dai Yao immediately identified him.

"Given his age, shouldn't he have awakened his Martial Soul long ago? Why is he here?"

"If he's Dai Mubai, then the girl beside him must be Zhu Zhuqing, right?"

Of all the female characters in the original Douluo story, Zhu Zhuqing was Dai Yao's favorite.

She had an alluring figure and was a peerless beauty. More importantly, she was unwavering in matters of love.

Dai Mubai had chosen to flee the competition for the throne and traveled to Heaven Dou, leaving Zhu Zhuqing behind in the Star Luo Empire. Yet Zhu Zhuqing still refused to leave him, choosing instead to follow him and urge him onward.

In Dai Yao's previous life, girls like her were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

"Are you called Dai Yao?" Dai Mubai looked at Dai Yao, who had just entered, and asked from his lofty position.

"Yes." Dai Yao was a full head shorter than Dai Mubai.

"You really look like a beggar." Dai Mubai sneered.

Dai Mubai's mother was the current Empress, and she hated Dai Yao and his mother to the bone. She had come to the Awakening Hall today for two reasons. First, she wanted to learn how talented Zhu Zhuqing was; if her talent was good enough, they could establish a marriage alliance. Second, she wanted to teach Dai Yao a lesson.

"That woman once humiliated my mother so badly. Today, I'll represent my mother and show you the consequences," Dai Mubai said.

Dai Yao's gaze sharpened, but he immediately lowered his head again, pretending he had not heard anything. He knew that he lacked the strength right now and had no ability to fight back against such malice.

For now, he could only continue enduring in silence. Once he gained strength, he would settle all these grudges one by one!

"Quiet down."

The Fifth Elder appeared between the two of them and warned Dai Mubai, "Third Prince, bullying someone younger than you doesn't fit the rules of our White Tiger Family. The princes may compete against one another by any means they choose, but you should show more tolerance toward disciples of other clans."

Although the Fifth Elder had a fiery temper, he was remarkably patient and persuasive when teaching the children.

He then walked to the center of the main hall. With a stomp of his right foot, a golden Formation appeared on the floor.

In a powerful voice, he said, "Children, a person's Martial Soul determines that person's entire life."

"Our Star Luo Imperial Family has inherited the White Tiger Spirit from generation to generation, and every member of our Dai Family takes pride in awakening the White Tiger Spirit!"

"Every Star Luo emperor has possessed the White Tiger Spirit. According to the clan rules, they all rose above the brutal selection process. A cruel tradition creates great emperors, and only great emperors can lead this great nation."

"Today, I hope that someone among you will awaken the White Tiger Spirit."

"Now, who will be the first to awaken their Martial Soul?"

The children were fired up by the Fifth Elder's words and stepped forward one after another. The Fifth Elder selected one of them.

Once the little boy stood in the center of the Formation, the Fifth Elder casually waved his hand. A streak of white light sank into the ground, and the Formation engraved on the floor instantly lit up. Golden specks of light rose from the ground, gradually forming a pale golden barrier that enveloped the boy.

The sudden change made the little boy anxious and restless.

"Calm down and feel the changes within yourself," the Fifth Elder reminded him.

As the specks of light slowly entered the little boy's body, he gradually quieted down.

Immediately afterward, a pair of red ears sprouted from the top of his head. His hair turned fiery red, and a long tail appeared behind him.

"A Red Cat Spirit."

"Next, we'll test your Innate Soul Power." After saying this, the Fifth Elder produced a crystal ball and motioned for the little boy to place his hand on it.

When the little boy placed his hand on the crystal ball, it immediately filled with a hazy gray light.

"Rank-four Soul Power."

The Fifth Elder sighed inwardly. This child's potential was limited.

Among the vast Imperial Clan, very few people could awaken the White Tiger Spirit.

The Fifth Elder looked toward Dai Mubai and sighed inwardly, Perhaps there will only be three princes in this generation.

"Next child, come awaken your Martial Soul."

The same scene played out several more times. Most of these children possessed ordinary Martial Souls and only rank-four or rank-five Soul Power. The most outstanding one possessed the Black Panther Spirit and rank-eight Soul Power.

As the number of children who had yet to awaken dwindled, the Fifth Elder's disappointment grew.

In the end, only two people had yet to awaken their Martial Souls.

"Next, Zhu Zhuqing."