Martial Soul Awakening

Led by Old Tom, Zu Zong followed him to the Spirit Hall in the center of Holy Soul Village.

Of course, this so-called Spirit Hall was merely a somewhat larger Wooden House.

On the Douluo Continent, everyone possessed a Martial Soul. At this time every year, Spirit Hall would specifically send Soul Masters to awaken Martial Souls for commoners.

It had to be said that Spirit Hall's system was very friendly toward commoners. Sometimes, Zu Zong truly could not understand what people who enjoyed Spirit Hall's benefits while hating Spirit Hall were thinking. Even the rotten nobles of the two great empires had a far better reputation in their hearts than Spirit Hall.

Did things have to become like they were ten thousand years later? Would they only be happy once commoners could no longer awaken Martial Souls? Why did they not consider that most of them had also been commoners before becoming Soul Masters?

Just like in the original story, there were eight children undergoing Martial Soul Awakening in Holy Soul Village this year. With Zu Zong included, there were nine.

Old Jack brought Zu Zong a little late and happened to meet Old Tom and Tang San at the entrance to Spirit Hall.

Old Jack and Old Tom were old acquaintances, but neither of the two old men would yield to the other. Nothing good ever came from them meeting.

Old Jack spoke first. "Haha, you old fellow, long time no see. I thought you were dead!"

Old Tom laughed and retorted, "Haha, I did die, but the Underworld wouldn't take me, so I came back to life. If you, Old Jack, haven't gone down there yet, how could I go?"

After their last encounter, Zu Zong and Tang San met once more.

Enemies meeting face-to-face truly made their eyes burn with hatred. Tang San did not know why, but he was extremely annoyed by this boy his age whom he had only met a few times.

Every time he saw the other boy's face, the normally calm Tang San felt an urge to hit someone.

However, with Old Jack nearby, he could not make a move. His face turned red from holding it in, and he could only choose out of sight, out of mind. After greeting Old Jack, he walked into Spirit Hall on his own.

[Ding, Tang San finds the host displeasing. Hate Value has risen to: 6%. Hatred Points increased by 100.]

Zu Zong sneered inwardly, but outwardly pretended to know nothing and followed him inside.

Besides the nine children who had arrived, including Zu Zong and Tang San, there was also a young man in Spirit Hall. He appeared to be in his twenties, with sword-like brows, bright eyes, and a handsome face. He wore a fitted white outfit and a black cloak, with a fist-sized character for "Soul" in the center of his chest. This was the standard attire of Spirit Hall personnel.

On his left chest was a badge engraved with longswords. Three longswords crossed over one another on the badge.

The number three represented the third-ranked title of Soul Master, Soul Grandmaster, while the longswords indicated that this Spirit Hall deacon was a Battle Soul Master.

Standing in the very back, Zu Zong looked at the young man and secretly laughed. So this is the Blind Fighting Douluo, Grandmaster Su Yuntao. I can finally see the Lone Wolf Martial Soul.

The young man smiled. "My name is Su Yuntao. I am a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster and your guide. Now, I will awaken each of your Martial Souls one by one. Remember, no matter what happens, do not be afraid."

Su Yuntao gave a low shout. "Martial Soul Possession—Lone Wolf!"

Zu Zong discovered that Su Yuntao truly transformed into a werewolf just as in the original story. One white and one yellow Soul Ring rose beneath his feet.

The werewolf's fierce and savage appearance startled even the prepared Zu Zong. This was his first time seeing a werewolf in person.

Just like in the original story, the Martial Soul Awakenings proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Without any surprises, the Martial Souls awakened by the first seven children were either sickles or Blue Silver Grass. None possessed Soul Power.

Then came the eighth child, Tang San.

As Tang San awakened his Martial Soul, light gathered in his right hand. It was far more magnificent and dazzling than the others'.

Su Yuntao first felt hope, then shock, and finally disappointment. Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power.

Su Yuntao said flatly in disappointment, "Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Innate Full Soul Power. Next!"

Zu Zong looked at Tang San's tightly clenched left hand behind his back, his brow furrowing slightly. He stroked his chin with his right hand and pondered, It seems that even without the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline's boost, he still awakened Twin Martial Souls. Then he looked at the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's right palm and revealed a strange smile.

Finally, it was Zu Zong's turn. Without waiting for Su Yuntao to speak, he had already stepped into the center of the six black stones.

As Su Yuntao injected six streams of Soul Power, pale golden light lit up once again.

Zu Zong, immersed in the awakening formation, was enveloped by golden light.

Drawn by the formation's energy, Zu Zong seemed to enter a mysterious, warm world.

Crack!

Zu Zong clearly felt as if something inside his body had shattered. All the warm aura instantly surged toward his palm.

A stalk of Blue Silver Grass, completely unlike Tang San's earlier one—larger, thicker, and marked with unique patterns—slowly condensed in Zu Zong's hand.

At the same time, Zu Zong's body began to change. His originally wheat-colored skin became as fair as creamy jade, while his short black hair gradually turned Blue Silver and showed signs of growing longer.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for awakening Martial Soul: Blue Silver Emperor. Soul Power has increased to level 10. Reward: Theft Attempts ×10.]

[Ding, Tang San has developed envy toward the host. Hate Value has risen to: 8%. Hatred Points increased by 200.]

[Ding, Martial Soul Awakening has automatically opened the host's personal panel.]

[Host: Zu Zong

Gender: Male

Age: 6 years old (25 years old)

Martial Soul: Blue Silver Emperor (Awakened)

Innate Soul Power: Level 10

Soul Power Level: Level 10

Base Strength: 15 (ordinary adult male: 10)

System Storage: None.

Overall Evaluation: Slightly stronger trash.

Remaining Theft Attempts: 10

Hatred Points: 800

Theft World: Douluo Continent

]

Outside Spirit Hall, Old Jack and Old Tom had long since stopped arguing!

The two paced back and forth at the entrance, trying to ease the anxiety in their hearts.

Creak.

The doors of Spirit Hall opened, and Su Yuntao led the children outside.

Because there had been many children undergoing Martial Soul Awakening, Su Yuntao had expended a great deal of Soul Power and was already quite exhausted.

However, the smile on his face showed that he was in an excellent mood. Most likely, someone had awakened a good Martial Soul.

Old Jack hurried forward and asked hopefully, "How was it, Grandmaster Su Yuntao? Did someone from our Holy Soul Village awaken Soul Power this year?"

Su Yuntao nodded first, then shook his head, saying regretfully, "Yes and no. A child from Holy Soul Village named Tang San awakened Innate Full Soul Power, but unfortunately, his Martial Soul is the utterly useless Blue Silver Grass."

The light in Su Yuntao's eyes dimmed further as he said somewhat sourly, "Innate Full Soul Power is one in ten thousand. If I had it, I would already be a Soul King or Soul Emperor. Even becoming a Soul Saint would not have been impossible."

Old Jack grabbed Tang San's hand and hurriedly asked, "A useless Martial Soul? Blue Silver Grass? What should we do? Can this child still become a Soul Master?"

Su Yuntao's eyes shifted. He stroked his smooth chin, thought for a moment, and answered, "He probably can! But do not hold out too much hope. Blue Silver Grass is unquestionably a useless Martial Soul, so his achievements will ultimately be limited."

"As long as he can become a Soul Master, that's enough! That's enough! Our Holy Soul Village hasn't produced a Soul Master in decades." As he spoke, Old Jack's eyes grew brighter. Even the look he gave his old companion Tom became more arrogant, his nose raised high as if to say, "See that? Innate Full Soul Power. From our Holy Soul Village."

Old Tom ignored Old Jack's gaze. Instead, his face was full of confusion as he looked around.

"Strange, where did that brat from our village go?"