Cute and Gifted Childhood Sweetheart! (Please Vote)

In the brief time Zhu Ziyang's family spent talking, Jiang Nannan had already completed her Martial Soul awakening.

"Good heavens, another one with Innate Level Eight Soul Power!" Hong Zhen's rough, booming voice rang out. Both his astonished tone and his words immediately drew the family of three's attention.

They looked over and saw Jiang Nannan testing her Innate Soul Power. The blue crystal ball's glow had not nearly filled it as Zhu Ziyang's had, but it still illuminated more than half of the ball. This was precisely the level of Innate Level Eight Soul Power!

"What a lucky day! The first one had Innate Full Soul Power, and now the second has Innate Level Eight Soul Power too. Could it be that Anyang City is about to rise?!" Hong Zhen muttered loudly, his gaze brimming with delight as he looked at Jiang Nannan. "Little girl, what is your name?"

"My name is Jiang Nannan." Jiang Nannan answered instinctively, though her eyes remained fixed on the blue crystal ball. Having spent so much time with Zhu Ziyang, she had gradually come to understand what Innate Level Eight Soul Power meant. She was overjoyed, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Jiang Nannan?!" The moment Hong Zhen heard her name, he immediately understood who she was. A trace of guilt flashed across his face. "You're Jiang Ning's daughter!"

"That's right, Brother Hong." Zhu Changhe walked over and answered Hong Zhen, looking at Jiang Nannan with a touch of pity and relief in his eyes.

Jiang Nannan paid no attention to their conversation. Though she knew they were talking about her father, the little girl did not wish to touch upon the subject. Instead, she skipped toward Zhu Ziyang.

"Brother Ziyang, I'm a Soul Master too now!" The little girl ran happily to Zhu Ziyang's side, her eyes full of excitement as she called out like she was seeking praise.

"Mm-hm! Nannan, you're amazing!" Zhu Ziyang smiled and reached out to rub the little girl's head.

He was truly delighted. Jiang Nannan's Martial Soul was merely an ordinary Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul, yet she possessed Innate Level Eight Soul Power. Such talent was undoubtedly exceptional. He had never expected his childhood sweetheart to be not only adorable, but so gifted as well. Heaven had treated Zhu Ziyang quite kindly.

"That's right, Nannan, you're amazing!" Liang Ying took Jiang Nannan's little hand and said warmly.

She was extremely fond of this sensible and well-behaved little girl. Not only was she delicate and adorable, but her talent was also so exceptional. She was simply a perfect match for their Yangyang. With that thought, Liang Ying's gaze toward Jiang Nannan became even more affectionate. "Your mother will definitely be very happy when she finds out."

"Mm! Mom will definitely be happy!" Expectation filled Jiang Nannan's eyes. If she had not needed to wait for everyone else to finish awakening their Martial Souls, she probably would have run home at once.

After Jiang Nannan, the other seven children completed their Martial Soul awakenings one after another. Unfortunately, the string of geniuses Hong Zhen had imagined did not appear.

Of the seven children, only two possessed Soul Power. The other five all had useless Martial Souls and could not cultivate. Of the two with Soul Power, one was named Zhu Xiaoling. She had Innate Level Three Soul Power, and her Martial Soul was a sickle. Unlike Zhu Ziyang's Radiant Scythe, Zhu Xiaoling's Martial Soul was simply an ordinary farming sickle. The other child with Soul Power was Jiang Cheng. Not only was his Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass, but his Soul Power was merely Level One. Unless something unexpected happened, his cultivation would never surpass three Soul Rings in his lifetime.

"Brother Hong, we'll be heading back first. See you again at the end of the month." Outside the City Lord's Mansion, Zhu Changhe stood before the carriage and spoke to Hong Zhen, who had personally escorted them out.

"Alright, Brother Changhe. See you at the end of the month," Hong Zhen said. "Remember to send Xiao Yang to Anyang Academy. With Xiao Yang's talent, perhaps Anyang Academy might even produce a Soul Master who gets into Shrek Academy!"

Hong Zhen wore a broad smile. When he mentioned Shrek Academy, his eyes were filled with reverence and longing.

"If that truly happens, I could die without regrets!" Zhu Changhe replied with a face full of hope upon hearing the name Shrek Academy.

Hearing their conversation, a slight ripple stirred in Zhu Ziyang's heart. Shrek Academy!

As someone who had read extensively, how could he not know of this legendary academy acclaimed as the greatest academy under heaven? Among the biographies he had read, at least five out of every ten Titled Douluo had been students of Shrek Academy. That alone showed Shrek Academy's influence across the continent.

He had to get into Shrek Academy!

"Alright, you should head back. I still have children in the next village waiting to awaken their Martial Souls." Hong Zhen swept away his earlier sentimentality and said energetically.

"Then we'll be going back first." Zhu Changhe said as he jumped onto the carriage.

"Uncle Hong, goodbye." Zhu Ziyang poked his head out and bid Hong Zhen farewell.

"Mm, goodbye!" Hong Zhen replied.

As the strongest person Zhu Ziyang could come into contact with, he still hoped to build a good relationship with Hong Zhen. After all, he might need Hong Zhen's help hunting Soul Rings in the future.

The carriage rumbled along and soon returned to Beihe Village.

Outside the Zhu Family home, the children's parents had already been waiting for a long time. They craned their necks in anticipation, awaiting the news that would determine their families' futures.

At the back of the crowd, a beautiful woman with a pale complexion leaned against the wall as she waited eagerly. She resembled Jiang Nannan by seventy percent. Her body seemed somewhat frail, and a trace of sorrow showed in her eyes. She was Jiang Nannan's mother, Bai Xinyi.

When the carriage arrived, the children climbed down one after another and found their parents. The families whose children lacked Soul Power were devastated, while those whose children possessed Soul Power beamed with joy. The stark contrast cruelly divided them into people of two different worlds. From then on, their joys and sorrows would no longer be the same.

"Mom!" The moment Jiang Nannan got off the carriage, she spotted her mother standing at the back. She immediately ran toward her, her radiant smile enough to make anyone who saw it smile as well.

"You're back." Bai Xinyi hugged Jiang Nannan and said softly.

"Mom, I awakened my Martial Soul! It's a Soft Bone Rabbit, and I have Level Eight Soul Power too!" Jiang Nannan proudly raised her little head and announced loudly.

At her words, Bai Xinyi excitedly pulled her tightly into her arms. Tears misted her eyes as she murmured, "Brother Ning, did you see that? Nannan awakened the Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul too!"

"Mom, don't be sad..." Seeing her mother's grief, Jiang Nannan's smile vanished. She comforted her with great maturity.

"Mm, Mom is just happy." Bai Xinyi wiped away her tears and smiled. "Good Nannan, let's go home. Mom will make you something delicious."

"Yay!" Jiang Nannan broke into a smile and cheered. Then she turned to bid Zhu Ziyang farewell. "Brother Ziyang, I'm going home first!"

"Mm, goodbye." Zhu Ziyang smiled. "Don't forget to cultivate tonight!"

"Don't worry, I won't!" The little girl held her mother's hand and left the Zhu Family home.

"Village Chief, we'll be leaving too." Seeing this, the other children's parents spoke up one after another.

"Alright, I won't see you off." Zhu Changhe replied blandly, then specifically reminded the parents of the two children with Soul Power, "Xiao Jiu, Jiang Wu, remember to prepare the children's tuition. It isn't easy to possess Soul Power. No matter what, they should attend Anyang Academy."

"Understood, Second Brother," the two parents who had been called answered.