Martial Soul Water Ball?

" A Zhen! What are you dawdling for? Lord Su is almost here. If you're late and delay the awakening, you'll have plenty of time to cry!"

A rough voice came from outside the earthen courtyard wall, startling several sparrows from the Sophora Tree in the corner. Jiang Zhen's hand, gripping the wooden spoon, paused. He poured the last mouthful of Wild Vegetable Porridge into the Coarse Ceramic Bowl, then carefully covered the earthenware pot beside the stove. This was the Mixed Grains that Village Chief Liu had brought over yesterday. If he ate sparingly, it could last another three days.

He was six years old that year, slightly taller than the other children in the village. His skin had a healthy wheat-colored tan from years of exposure to the sun, but his eyes were exceptionally clear, concealing a calmness far beyond his age.

Six years old was a special age on Douluo Continent. It meant the day of Martial Soul awakening had arrived. And Jiang Zhen had been waiting for this day for six whole years.

Six years ago, he had crossed over from another world and become an infant in Xi Nan Village, next to Holy Spirit Village. Grandpa Liu and the villagers had taken turns caring for him as he grew up.

When he was three, a cold mechanical voice rang out in his mind.

Ding! The host's soul has stabilized. System binding successful.

It had immediately unlocked his Previous Life memories and an extremely simple System Panel.

Three years had passed, and Jiang Zhen had long since figured out the system's "temperament." It had no missions and offered no guidance, acting like a quiet tool.

The panel contained only:

Host: Jiang Zhen

Age: 6

Martial Soul: Not Awakened

Soul Power: Not Awakened

There were only a few sparse lines, and his backpack was completely empty. Only the mail system occasionally sent him some "benefits": a copy of the Douluo Continent Basic Knowledge Manual when he was three, a pouch of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid that could improve his constitution when he was four, and Warm Velvet Lining to ward off the cold last winter.

It could hardly be called an overpowered cheat, but to Jiang Zhen, struggling to survive in a poor village, it had been a timely gift.

"Coming, Grandpa Liu!" Jiang Zhen called out. He placed the bowls into the Wooden Basin, grabbed the Coarse Cloth Jacket washed pale at the corner of the wall, and ran outside.

At the courtyard entrance, Village Chief Liu stood waiting with his hands behind his back. Four or five children around Jiang Zhen's age stood behind him, each with nervous anticipation written across their faces.

"Stay close and don't fall behind." Village Chief Liu patted Jiang Zhen's shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity.

"Our Xi Nan Village is poor, and not a single Spirit Master has come from our ancestors. If your generation can produce even one, even if he's only a one-ring Spirit Soldier, it'll make life a little easier for the village."

Jiang Zhen nodded, his gaze settling toward the eastern side of the village.

Beyond a Wheat Field lay Holy Spirit Village—the place that had given birth to Tang San, the "Sea God."

Judging by the timing, today should also be the day Tang San awakened his Martial Soul. He wondered whether he would run into that "chosen child of destiny."

But this was no time to think about such things. He clenched his palms and suppressed the turmoil in his heart. Rather than relying on his "foreknowledge of the plot," he cared more about what kind of Martial Soul he could awaken.

The group followed the field paths for roughly ten minutes before finally arriving at the Spirit Hall of Xi Nan Village.

It was called a "hall," but it was really just a Stone House slightly larger than an ordinary residence. A faded Wooden Sign hung at the entrance, carved with the three words "Spirit Hall."

A man in a white Jing Suit was already standing outside the Stone House. A Black Token hung from his waist, engraved with the words "Soul Grandmaster."

He was Su Yuntao, the one responsible for Martial Soul awakenings in the surrounding villages.

"Is everyone here?" Su Yuntao glanced at the children behind Village Chief Liu, his tone carrying some impatience. Clearly, he had visited several villages and was already tired.

He took six Pitch-black Stones and a Blue Crystal Ball from his robes and walked into the Stone House. "Come in and stand in order."

The children followed him inside. The place was empty, with only a Hexagonal Magic Array carved into the floor at the center.

Su Yuntao placed the six Pitch-black Stones at the six corners of the Magic Array, then turned to the children. "My name is Su Yuntao, a Level 26 Soul Grandmaster. My Martial Soul is Lone Wolf. I'll be awakening your Martial Souls today. Remember, no matter what you see, don't be afraid."

As he spoke, he drew a deep breath and shouted in a low voice, "Martial Soul Possession!"

Pale Cyan Soul Power surged from Inside the Body. Behind him appeared the phantom of a Black Wolf half a man's height. Its wolf's head was savage, its Fangs bared, and a fierce aura spread through the room.

Several timid children burst into tears on the spot and retreated several steps. Only Jiang Zhen and a sturdy boy remained where they stood.

In his Previous Life, Jiang Zhen had seen countless powerful Martial Souls in books. Naturally, the Lone Wolf Martial Soul before him could not frighten him.

He even noticed the barely perceptible perfunctoriness in Su Yuntao's Eyes. This "Blind-Eyed Douluo" had always been like this. He never paid much attention to children from ordinary villages, believing that they were unlikely to possess Soul Power.

Su Yuntao ignored the sobbing children and waved for Village Chief Liu to pull them back. Then he pointed at the little girl on the far Left side. "First one, step into the Magic Array and extend your right hand."

The little girl timidly entered the Hexagonal Magic Array. Su Yuntao channeled Soul Power through his fingertips into the Pitch-black Stones. The Magic Array instantly lit up with a gentle golden radiance, enveloping the girl.

"Open your right hand."

At Su Yuntao's voice, a Tender Green sprout slowly appeared in the little girl's right hand. Tiny dewdrops still clung to its leaves.

"Martial Soul, Foxtail Grass." Su Yuntao glanced at it and spoke flatly. Then he picked up the Blue Crystal Ball. "Come, put your hand on it and test your Soul Power."

The moment the girl's hand touched the Blue Crystal Ball, the sphere showed no reaction at all.

"No Soul Power. Next."

The Martial Souls awakened by the next few children were mostly farming tools or ordinary plants—Big Tree, Long Sword, dandelions... Without exception, none of them possessed Soul Power.

Su Yuntao's expression grew uglier and uglier. He was nearly out of patience even for pretending until it was finally the sturdy boy's turn.

The boy entered the Magic Array. Amid the flashing golden light, a rust-covered Iron Sword appeared in his right hand.

"Martial Soul, Iron Sword." Su Yuntao raised his eyebrows, showing a rare hint of anticipation. "Test your Soul Power."

The boy placed his hand on the Blue Crystal Ball. The sphere lit up faintly, but only with a dim glimmer.

"Innate Level One Soul Power." Su Yuntao curled his lips, his tone still indifferent. "He can barely count as a Spirit Soldier prospect, but his Martial Soul is an ordinary Iron Sword. He doesn't have much of a future. If you're willing, you can try applying to a Spirit Hall branch."

The boy's face showed both joy and worry as he stood to the side, at a loss. Village Chief Liu, however, had already begun rubbing his hands excitedly. Innate Level One Soul Power was already an enormous surprise for Xi Nan Village.

At last, only Jiang Zhen remained.

"Your turn, child." Su Yuntao pointed toward the Magic Array. There was no anticipation left in his voice; he only wanted to finish as quickly as possible.

Jiang Zhen inhaled deeply and stepped into the Hexagonal Magic Array. Warm golden light instantly enveloped him. Unlike the other children, he could clearly feel a gentle energy flowing into his Inside the Body along the Magic Array, as if it were awakening something dormant.

"Open your right hand." Su Yuntao's voice reached him.

Jiang Zhen raised his hand as instructed, and his palm grew slightly warm. In the next moment, specks of Pale Cyan light surged from his palm and gathered in the air into a Water Ball the size of a fist.

The Water Ball was crystal clear from top to bottom, without a trace of impurity. Fine ripples shimmered across its surface, making it look like a pure blue sapphire. But apart from that, there were no other anomalies—no sharp shape, no special radiance. It was simply an ordinary Small Water Orb.