Martial Soul Awakening

Dugu Chen's home was at the northernmost edge of Majia Village. It was a detached residence with a small two-hundred-square-meter courtyard. A hill where he exercised every day stood to the north. Since it was breakfast time, no one noticed Dugu Chen bringing an injured stranger inside.

He carried the Green-haired Old Man into the small house where he lived. There were three bedrooms in total: one for his parents, one for himself, and one guest room. After his parents passed away, their room had been locked, while the guest room had become a storage room. Only his own room was clean.

After changing the old man out of his tattered clothes, he took out the little Golden Sore Medicine he had left and applied it to his Golden Thigh. As he dressed the wound, he muttered inwardly, You'd better be Dugu Bo. Otherwise, I'll be suffering a huge loss. I saved your life and even used the keepsakes my parents left behind on you. I don't need you to work like an ox or horse for me—just give me ten, or at least eight, Immortal Herbs from your garden. If you don't say anything, I'll take that as your agreement.

Looking at the Golden Thigh after the old man had changed clothes and received treatment, Dugu Chen saw that his pained expression had eased. He let out a long breath. The man should have survived. If he really was Dugu Bo, then with the vitality of a Titled Douluo, he should be fine.

"Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen, are you home?" someone called from outside. It was the Old Village Chief. His name was Ma Jun. He was the strongest person in the village and also the oldest. All the children in the village called him Grandpa Ma.

"I'm here, Grandpa Ma." Dugu Chen hurriedly gathered up the tattered clothes and turned to open the door for the Old Village Chief.

Dugu Chen casually tossed the torn clothes in his hands into the stove used for boiling water, then went into the courtyard and opened the door.

An old man stood outside. He looked to be in his seventies, with a tall, slender build, but he was spirited and vigorous. His clothes were clean and neat, and his long hair was combed impeccably. The Old Village Chief was only in his fifties, yet he looked about the same age as the Golden Thigh inside the house. This was the benefit of having high cultivation. If even a Titled Douluo was like this, then the gods of the God Realm must be even more so. At that moment, Dugu Chen's resolve to pursue strength grew even firmer.

"Grandpa Ma, what brings you here?" Dugu Chen hurried forward to support the Old Village Chief.

"Hehe, Xiao Chen, tomorrow is the day of Martial Soul Awakening. Grandpa came to see how your preparations are going." The Old Village Chief smiled brightly. Dugu Chen was the child in the village with the greatest chance of awakening Soul Power. As he spoke, he reached out and rubbed Dugu Chen's head.

Hearing this, Dugu Chen felt a warm current surge through his heart. Ever since his parents passed away, the village chief had taken great care of him. Although that was partly because Dugu Chen had a greater chance of awakening Soul Power, it did not lessen the Old Village Chief's concern for him. After his parents' deaths, this feeling of being remembered by someone could only be found with the Old Village Chief.

"Grandpa Village Chief, don't worry. I'll definitely awaken Soul Power." Dugu Chen's eyes shone with determination.

The Old Village Chief looked at Dugu Chen with a face full of satisfaction.

Night fell. Dugu Chen lay alone in the courtyard, gazing at the moon above. He reached out as if he wanted to seize it in his hand. "Tomorrow is the Martial Soul Awakening. I'll grasp the sun and moon and pluck the stars. I'll strive to become a person like that." After giving himself a boost, he rose and returned to the house. Seeing that the Golden Thigh still had not awakened, he went to the storage room and made do for the night.

The sky had only just begun to brighten when more than a hundred people had already gathered in front of the wooden house at the center of the village square. As time passed, even more people arrived.

A dense buzz of voices rose and fell, filling the place with excitement.

There were not many children awakening their Martial Souls today. There were only nine in total.

Outside Majia Village, a fairly refined carriage arrived. Two people sat inside: a coachman and a handsome young man with a steady aura. He was only about twenty-five years old and wore an ornate white outfit designed for movement. A trace of fatigue showed on his face.

Li Yunhai propped up his forehead with one hand and muttered to himself, "Awakening Martial Souls with Soul Power in a small village is just too difficult. I hope the next village can give me a pleasant surprise."

When Dugu Chen arrived at the square, he happened to see the Old Village Chief and two other Soul Masters from the village leading a richly dressed man toward the center of the square.

He wore a white outfit designed for movement, with a Soul Character the size of a fist at the exact center of his chest. This was the standard attire of personnel directly affiliated with the Spirit Hall.

On his left chest was a badge engraved with Long Swords. Three Long Swords crossed over one another on the badge. Anyone familiar with Soul Masters knew that the number three represented the third rank of Soul Master, the Soul Grandmaster. The Long Swords represented that this Spirit Hall deacon was a Battle Soul Master.

The village chief said, "All right, children. This is the Battle Soul Grandmaster from the Spirit Hall. He will guide you in awakening your Martial Souls. You must cooperate properly with the Grandmaster during the Martial Soul Awakening. Grandpa hopes that some of you can become Soul Masters."

The young man's gaze fell on the nine children before him. As a Patrol Deacon of the Spirit Hall, helping ordinary people awaken their Martial Souls was part of his mandatory work, and he had long since grown accustomed to it. "Children, stand in a row," he said gently.

The nine children lined up before the young man, with Dugu Chen standing in the very middle. Compared with the children his age, his body was clearly sturdier.

The young man smiled. "My name is Li Yunhai. I'm a twenty-ninth-level Soul Grandmaster and your guide. Now, I'll awaken your Martial Souls one by one. Remember, don't be afraid no matter what happens."

As he spoke, Li Yunhai opened his package on a nearby table and took out two things: Six Black Round Stones and a Shining Blue Crystal Ball.

Li Yunhai arranged the six black stones on the ground in the shape of a hexagram, then gestured for the first child on the right to stand inside.

"Don't be afraid. Close your eyes and feel carefully." As he spoke, Li Yunhai's eyes suddenly lit up. Under the children's curious gazes, he gave a low shout. "Fire Leopard, possess me!"

A wisp of faint red light first emerged from the center of his Brow Center and rose upward along the position of his brow, entering his hair.

Li Yunhai's hair had originally been black, but once the red light entered it, it instantly turned red and rapidly lengthened. Fur of the same color appeared on his exposed hands. At the same time, his body seemed to swell considerably, flames surrounded him from head to toe, and his entire body filled out with muscle.

The special clothing of the Spirit Hall had excellent elasticity and did not burst even though his body had grown larger. Li Yunhai's eyes had turned red, and sharp claws extending from all ten fingers of his hands glimmered with a faint chill. Two Yellow Rings lit up beneath his feet and continuously traveled from his feet to the top of his head, creating an especially eerie sight.

The person he had called into the black stones was a boy. Seeing Li Yunhai's transformation, he was not frightened. Instead, his face was filled with anticipation as he waited to see what his own Martial Soul would be.

Li Yunhai rapidly struck out with both hands. Six faint red lights entered the six black stones on the ground. In an instant, a layer of golden radiance poured from the stones, forming a pale golden barrier that enveloped the child.

Golden Light Spots floated out of the black stones on the ground and entered the boy's body. The boy's body began to tremble slightly.

"Extend your right hand." Li Yunhai stared at the boy and commanded him sternly.

The boy instinctively extended his right hand. In an instant, all the light spots surged out, and a Horned Horse appeared in his palm.

The Horned Horse did not look like an illusory image of light. It seemed to be a real, living creature.

Li Yunhai glanced at it. "That's the Horned Horse, the ancestral Martial Soul of your village. Use your mind to withdraw your Martial Soul. If you have Soul Power, you can become a Soul Master."

The boy placed his hand on the crystal ball that had been brought before him. After a moment, the crystal ball showed no reaction at all.

Li Yunhai said in disappointment, "You don't have Soul Power, so you can't become a Soul Master. Go stand to the side." With that, he ignored him and continued the awakening process.

The same scene continued to play out. Five more children awakened their Martial Souls one after another. Their Martial Souls were all Beast Martial Souls such as Horned Horses and antelopes. Not even one Tool Martial Soul appeared. As for Soul Power, Li Yunhai determined that they all had none.

It was not until Dugu Chen stood in the middle of the awakening stones that Li Yunhai's eyes clearly brightened as he looked at the boy before him. Dugu Chen was stronger than the children around him and had a great chance of awakening Soul Power.

As the pale golden light brightened, Dugu Chen felt himself wrapped in a warm, cozy world. Immediately afterward, even more light was drawn over. Li Yunhai outside was startled as well and hastened the release of his Soul Power. Dugu Chen felt as though something inside him had shattered, surging toward his right hand.

Li Yunhai's eyes grew brighter and brighter. Then a roar rang out, carrying a heavy and explosive force.

The old man recuperating inside the wooden house suddenly opened his eyes. Sharpness and vigilance filled them. He sat upright and looked at the clothes that had been changed on him and the crude room around him, asking in confusion, "Where is this? That just now was Martial Soul suppression. How is that possible?"

Dugu Chen raised his right hand, and the Martial Soul in it revealed its appearance. Its head resembled a dragon, its shape was like a horse, its body was like a deer, and its tail resembled that of an ox. Red fur covered its back, while yellow fur covered its belly. Its four hooves were like Dragon Claws, and a layer of Dragon Scales covered its body. The instant it appeared, Li Yunhai felt his own Martial Soul tremble.

Dugu Chen stared at the Martial Soul in his hand in surprise. This is a Qilin, right? Excitement followed immediately. With a thought, he withdrew his Martial Soul. No one noticed a faint strand of light drifting over from the horizon and entering his body along with the Qilin.

Only then did Li Yunhai come to his senses. He shouted, "Quick, quickly test his Soul Power! It's a top-tier mutated Beast Martial Soul!"

Looking at the crystal ball before him, Dugu Chen placed his hand on it. In the blink of an eye, the crystal ball glittered like a brilliant gemstone. A faint blue radiance spilled outward, so beautiful that it was breathtaking.

"Innate Full Soul Power! Child, join the Spirit Hall." Li Yunhai grabbed Dugu Chen's shoulders and spoke excitedly.

"Uncle, there are still people who haven't awakened Soul Power." Dugu Chen watched the frantic Li Yunhai before him and discreetly took two steps back. He did not mind Li Yunhai's excitement. After all, a top-tier Beast Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power made him a sure Titled Douluo prospect. Bringing him into the Spirit Hall would mean achievements, a promotion, a raise, and even marrying a rich and beautiful woman would no longer be a dream.

"Oh, right, right. I was being reckless." Li Yunhai calmed himself and asked, "Child, your Martial Soul has mutated. I can't tell what kind of Martial Soul it is. What's its name?"

"Qilin. It's called Qilin." Dugu Chen answered with a serious expression.