Star Calling

Obtaining a soul ring was one of the most important things in a soul master's life. It symbolized that their strength, identity, and status had all risen to a new level.

"For thousands of years, our ancestors kept experimenting before finally discovering the soul beast known as the Star Calling Cicada.

"If chosen as the first soul ring, it was highly likely to grant the control-type First Soul Skill best suited to the Star Crown Martial Soul: Star Guiding Art."

The Sect Master personally brought Xu Mingguang and Xu Mingxi, the two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power, to Galaxy Valley.

Other than members of the Star Crown Sect, no one else passed through this place. On ordinary nights, starlight often spilled down here, making it the ideal place to raise Star Calling Cicadas.

Star Calling Cicadas were gregarious soul beasts. The strongest one in the valley was a four-thousand-year Star Calling Cicada King. For Star Crown Sect members who wished to follow the control route, their First Soul Skills were generally obtained here.

The Sect Master's arrival naturally alerted Xu Chunmian, the level 73 control-type battle Soul Saint guarding Galaxy Valley.

"Sect Master, why have you come? Oh, look at my memory—it's for Mingguang and Mingxi, isn't it?"

Xu Chunmian belonged to the same generation as the Sect Master, but limited by her talent, Soul Saint was the peak she could reach. Guarding Galaxy Valley now was also her way of contributing to the clan.

"Hello, Grandma Chunmian." ×2

"Chunmian, I did indeed come back for these two children. They both want to follow the control route, so I brought them here to obtain their first soul rings."

"Good, good, good. They're both good children.

"However, Sect Master, there is currently only one Star Calling Cicada in the valley suitable as a first soul ring, one that is around four hundred years old.

"There is another that is only a little over three hundred years old and close to four hundred. Isn't that age a bit too low?"

The Sect Master frowned upon hearing this. This was a little troublesome.

"Grandpa Sect Master, let Brother Mingguang absorb the four-hundred-year one. My physique is weaker, so I might not be able to absorb it."

Xu Mingxi's thoughtfulness made even the Sect Master feel somewhat ashamed. Though that was indeed what he had been thinking, he could only make it up to little Mingxi after they returned.

In truth, a first soul ring of over three hundred and ninety years was not bad either, and it was indeed a fact that Xu Mingxi's physique was inferior to Xu Mingguang's.

"Alright, then let your Brother Mingguang absorb the four-hundred-year one. Grandfather will give little Mingxi some good things when we return."

Seeing that the Sect Master had made his decision, Xu Chunmian naturally did not object. Her Star Crown Martial Soul appeared above her head, and her first soul ring lit up.

Two beams of starlight shot out from the Star Crown, directly pinning two of the Star Calling Cicadas flying in the distant swarm. The other Star Calling Cicadas scattered and fled.

"Little Mingguang, kill the larger Star Calling Cicada."

As the heir of a great sect, there was naturally no room for softheartedness. So long as humans needed soul rings, they and soul beasts would forever stand opposed to one another.

Xu Mingguang took a dagger from the Storage Soul Tool at his waist and drove it straight through the Star Calling Cicada's body, ending its life.

He then sat cross-legged, soul power flowing through his body as he drew in the yellow soul ring that had appeared in the air.

Before long, Xu Mingguang opened his eyes. The Star Crown Martial Soul above his head shone, and a yellow soul ring appeared above it.

Wherever Xu Mingguang looked, the soul ring lit up. Golden light shot from the Star Crown, instantly immobilizing the little insects crawling across the ground.

Xu Mingguang's First Soul Skill was indeed the soul skill Star Guiding Art. It transformed starlight into rays of light that locked onto an enemy and made them unable to move.

Next came Xu Mingxi's turn. Though he had never even killed a chicken in his previous life, he knew that this was a necessary step in becoming an outstanding soul master. With a swift rise and fall of his blade, he severed the Star Calling Cicada's head.

Xu Mingxi then followed the same procedure. As the yellow soul ring floated above his head, he successfully obtained his first soul ring.

"Mingxi, how do you feel? Are you alright?"

Before the Sect Master could speak, Xu Mingguang had already bounced over to Xu Mingxi's side and asked with concern.

"Brother Mingguang, I'm fine. It's just that... my soul skill doesn't seem to be Star Guiding Art."

As he spoke, Xu Mingxi directly activated his Martial Soul, and his first soul ring lit up.

For a moment, starlight spilled down from the heavens, draping Xu Mingxi in what seemed like a set of clothes woven from starlight.

The Sect Master, who had been regretting that Xu Mingxi had absorbed an undesirable soul skill, saw this scene and his pupils abruptly contracted.

"Sect Master, my soul skill seems to be called Star Calling. It can draw down starlight from the sky and increase my cultivation speed. It doesn't seem very useful."

"No, no, Mingxi. Your soul skill has tremendous use."

The Sect Master immediately waved for Xu Chunmian to leave. He stepped forward, picked up both children, and rushed toward the Sect Master Hall at the mountain peak.

As the Sect Master sprinted, starlight left trail after trail of afterimages in the air.

When the Sect Master returned to the hall, the great bell before its doors immediately rang out. This was the bell summoning all the elders for a discussion.

The six elders cultivating or working throughout Starfall Mountain hurriedly stopped what they were doing and rushed toward the hall.

"Sect Master, what has happened this time? Don't tell me it's because of these two little ones again?"

Xu Chunyi was the strongest and arrived first. Looking at the two little sprouts standing behind the Sect Master, he was extremely curious.

"I'll explain once everyone has arrived. Perhaps this is the hope for the Star Crown lineage to flourish once more."

Xu Chunyi froze. He knew that the two little sprouts had gone to obtain their first soul rings today. It seemed that one of their first soul rings was anything but ordinary.

The First Elder did not dare hope that both of them were exceptional. The odds were simply too small.

Soon, the other five elders gradually arrived and sat in a circle around Xu Mingxi and Xu Mingguang.

"I called everyone here today because there is an important matter concerning the fate of the Star Crown Sect that I wish to discuss with you all.

"Today, I took Mingguang and Mingxi to Galaxy Valley to obtain their first soul rings. Mingguang's was the normal Star Guiding Art."

But Mingxi's soul skill was called Star Calling."

The other five elders were still bewildered. What was wrong with a soul skill like Star Calling? Was it bad, or was it simply too good?

Only the First Elder seated at the very front seemed to have thought of something.

"Sect Master, are you referring to our ancestor, Star Douluo?"

"That's right. Star Douluo's soul power reached level 98, the highest in the history of our Star Crown Sect. And his First Soul Skill was precisely Star Calling."

Overwhelmed by immense joy, the First Elder looked excitedly at his excellent great-grandson.

The Sect Master paid no further attention to the old man who had been delighted out of his wits and spoke directly.

"According to the records in the handwritten notes, our ancestor made a slight mistake when choosing his soul rings and was held back at level 98.

"Now that we have our ancestor's cultivation notes, and Mingxi possesses Innate Full Soul Power, perhaps he can attempt to break through to that level."

The elders present all understood the Sect Master's meaning. They were going to devote every effort to nurturing Xu Mingxi.

Naturally, no one objected. This was a good thing for them as well.

The Sect Master nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Xu Mingguang.

"Mingguang, are you willing to protect your brother Mingxi for the rest of your life?"

"Grandfather, I am."

Good child. You will have to bear with this.

"From this day onward, Xu Mingguang will be the Young Sect Master. I ask everyone to keep Mingxi's matter strictly confidential."

Everyone present understood the gravity of the matter. This was even more important than Innate Full Soul Power, so they naturally agreed again and again.

Xu Mingxi stood quietly to the side. Although he was the center of the matter, he truly had no place to speak here.

He could only clench his fists tightly, look at Xu Mingguang, and silently resolve to become stronger.

However, as a sect with a Titled Douluo, the Star Crown Sect would not have many fools reckless enough to provoke it.

Watching the two little tykes run out, the Sect Master's heart filled with endless hopes for the future.

But when he thought of the current situation on the continent, his smile immediately vanished.

Though the Star Crown Sect lived in seclusion, it still maintained contact with certain sects and families.

Recently, the Clear Sky Sect, which likewise possessed a top-tier tool-type martial soul, had been making quite a stir.

Tang Chen, the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, and Qian Daoliu of Spirit Hall were known as the strongest of their generation. Tang Chen's son had already broken through to become a Titled Douluo several years ago.

With Tang Chen and his son, two Titled Douluo, the Clear Sky Sect had already been hailed as the number one sect under heaven, while the Clear Sky Hammer was called the number one tool-type martial soul under heaven.

The Clear Sky Sect had seven Soul Douluo elders within its ranks, while outside it had four major subordinate families and numerous smaller families attached to it, suppressing all who refused to submit.

Its influence had completely overshadowed the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, supported by Yu Yuanzhen alone, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which had only a single Titled Douluo.

The Upper Three Sects, led by the Clear Sky Sect, stood in opposition to Spirit Hall. The Star Luo Empire eyed the Heaven Dou Empire covetously. Undercurrents had long been surging across the continent.

"Troubled times indeed. I only hope the situation on the continent will not affect our Star Crown Sect.

"Mingguang and Mingxi still need much more time to grow."

The Sect Master stood alone in the great hall, the pressure of the entire sect resting upon him. Even more of his hair had turned gray.

Mingxi was dragged out of the Sect Master Hall by Xu Mingguang. Following behind him, he wanted to say something but did not know how to begin.

In the end, Xu Mingguang sent him home in silence.