Shangguan Wei'er

Compared to the heir apparent Xu Tianran, he was far more respectful toward the two Titled Douluo. After all, strength reigned supreme. Besides, were there not plenty of heirs apparent in the Sun Moon Empire? He was not the crown prince.

Fire Phoenix Douluo nodded. "Sorry to trouble you. Let's proceed according to the rules."

The Awakening Master smiled. "What trouble? This is our duty."

With that, the Awakening Master made an inviting gesture, then turned and led the four of them deeper into the hall.

The Martial Soul Awakening ceremony at the Central Awakening Hall was never open to the public. Everyone awakened their Martial Souls separately. Liu Xing and Firefly had registered together, so they were allowed to undergo it together, since their guardian was Luan Yu. Other noble children who were siblings could also undergo the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony together, provided neither objected.

The records kept by the Awakening Hall could only be viewed by the Sun Moon Empire Emperor or a select few influential figures qualified to do so. After all, they documented the Martial Soul information and Innate Soul Power Levels of the Sun Moon Empire's younger generation. Strictly speaking, they were also highly classified secrets.

No matter what Martial Soul one awakened, Innate Soul Power Level could not be faked. Innate Soul Power Level explained everything. Even if one awakened a top-tier Martial Soul, if their Innate Soul Power was only level one, they were still useless. Conversely, even if one awakened nothing more than a blade of grass, if their Innate Soul Power was at full level, then that grass was certainly no ordinary grass.

It was a very simple principle. High Innate Soul Power did not necessarily mean one's Martial Soul was powerful, but it was certainly special. Low Innate Soul Power, on the other hand, meant there was definitely something wrong with one's Martial Soul.

Innate Soul Power represented one's cultivation aptitude and starting point. Fall one step behind, and one would fall behind at every step. Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent had limited lifespans. Even Titled Douluo lived for only a few centuries at most. With Innate Soul Power at level one, without some heaven-defying opportunity, one could not become a Titled Douluo even after cultivating for a hundred years, because the higher one's Soul Power Level became, the harder it was to advance.

Some Titled Douluo with poorer aptitude might be unable to raise their cultivation by even one level after decades.

That was why these records of awakening information for every six-year-old child in Mingdu were so important. They told those influential figures who was worth nurturing and who was not.

As he walked down the corridor toward the Awakening Hall, Liu Xing looked at the rows of stone pillars lining both sides. The cloud patterns carved into them were vivid and delicate, as though drifting in the wind. At the same time, waves of fragrance wafted from the pillars, calming Liu Xing's mind.

Seeming to notice Liu Xing's curiosity, the Awakening Master smiled kindly. "These pillars are carved from a special kind of stone and are extremely precious. They naturally give off a fragrance that helps Soul Masters enter meditation more quickly and improves cultivation speed. They can also calm the mind, allowing you to undergo the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony in your best condition."

Liu Xing nodded. As expected of the largest Awakening Hall in the Sun Moon Empire—what extravagant wealth. Treasures that countless Soul Masters coveted were simply displayed openly along the corridor. What a wasteful luxury!

Just then, two people approached from the direction of the Awakening Hall, one adult and one child. They appeared to have undergone their Martial Soul Awakening before them.

As the distance closed, Liu Xing saw them clearly. The adult was a woman in a scarlet gown, breathtakingly beautiful. Her chestnut hair was piled high in an elaborate cloud-shaped bun, and her figure was enchanting, yet her face carried an air of holiness. She was truly a peerless beauty.

She was holding the hand of a six-year-old girl with golden hair and golden eyes. The child looked like a doll and was adorably cute.

"Ah! Isn't this Luan Yu? It's been so long! Could these two be the children you had outside? How cruel of you, Luan Yu. You got married and never told me. This big sister is so heartbroken!"

The woman in red, Shangguan Wei'er, lit up upon seeing Luan Yu. But after noticing Liu Xing and Firefly, she stared at Luan Yu with a resentful expression.

What the hell! That fake-sweet voice. Liu Xing's mouth twitched, and he gave Luan Yu a strange look. Well, no wonder she never wanted to get married. She's into women!

Luan Yu felt a chill run through her body. She shuddered, shot Liu Xing a glare, then looked at the woman in red with annoyance and disgust. "Go away, go away, Shangguan Wei'er. Don't disgust me. I'm not married. They're children I adopted."

A hint of disappointment appeared on Liu Xing's face. Judging by that reaction, it seemed he had read too much into it. What a pity.

Firefly looked at Liu Xing oddly. She had the feeling he was thinking something improper.

Shangguan Wei'er covered her mouth and chuckled. Holding the golden-haired little girl's hand, she said with a smile, "Come, Guyi. Greet your Aunt Luan Feng and Aunt Luan Yu."

The golden-haired little girl was not shy around strangers. She politely bowed to Luan Feng and Luan Yu, then called them both Auntie in her soft, childish voice. The disdain in Luan Feng and Luan Yu's eyes immediately softened.

Anyone would be softhearted before an adorable and polite little girl.

"Shangguan Wei'er, you're not planning to train this child to do that, are you?"

Luan Yu affectionately stroked Ye Guyi's hair, then glared at Shangguan Wei'er. She knew what Shangguan Wei'er did for a living. That was also why, despite being classmates, she had never liked her.

"Of course not. This child is very talented, and her Martial Soul is special. How could I possibly make her do that sort of thing? Naturally, I'll nurture her properly so that she can become a pillar of my Ordinary Alliance in the future."

Shangguan Wei'er knew Luan Yu held a strong grudge against her, but she did not care. As Luan Yu's classmate, she understood her well. Luan Yu liked meddling in others' affairs and had a kind heart, but she was not incapable of adapting. If Shangguan Wei'er truly intended to train Ye Guyi in that direction, Luan Yu would definitely interfere. That was because she had seen Ye Guyi and taken a liking to her. But if Luan Yu had not met Ye Guyi and had merely heard of her, she would not go out of her way to meddle.

"These two children are so adorable, just as adorable as my Guyi. Here, these are gifts from big sister for our first meeting. You're not allowed to refuse, or big sister will be heartbroken."

With a smile, Shangguan Wei'er took out a Yin-Yang Fish Pendant, split it into two pieces, and handed one each to Liu Xing and Firefly.

Luan Yu took one look and immediately recognized it as a pair of Storage Spirit Tools. They could be used separately or combined. Spirit tools required Soul Power to operate, and Storage Spirit Tools were no exception. She had originally planned to prepare one for each of them after they awakened their Soul Power, but since someone was giving them away, there was no reason not to accept free gifts.

At Luan Yu's prompting, Liu Xing and Firefly each accepted a Yin-Yang Fish Pendant and thanked her. "Thank you, big sister."

Liu Xing hung the pendant around his neck and could not help complaining inwardly. As expected of someone who knows Luan Yu. She's just as shameless. She really had the nerve to make us call her big sister.

Since Shangguan Wei'er had given Liu Xing and Firefly gifts upon meeting them, Fire Phoenix Douluo and Luan Yu could not very well offer nothing in return. Thus, they each gave Ye Guyi a spirit tool: one defensive spirit tool and one Storage Spirit Tool.