Martial Soul Awakening

The blazing sun hung high in the sky, its scorching rays blanketing Tianhai City, a small city on the western coast of the Sun Moon Federation. Today was especially lively. The once-every-six-years Martial Soul Awakening Day had arrived.

Martial Soul Awakening held an extremely important place in the hearts of every Douluo citizen. No matter whether the Martial Soul awakened in the end was good or bad, it could only bring benefits to Federation society, never harm. Due to the diversity and functionality of Martial Souls, each could be put to its proper use and allowed to flourish.

Tianhai Orphanage

At this moment, one of the rare expressions of relief appeared on Shen Yue's face. Over the past few busy days, she had often worried over how the children in the orphanage would undergo Martial Soul Awakening.

She had applied for government funding many times, but without exception, there had been no response.

Now, with Awakening Day approaching, she had finally received an answer. A member of the Federation Soul Master Volunteer Association would come to help the children awaken their Martial Souls.

"They should get ready." Shen Yue smiled faintly, but a trace of sorrow still rose in her heart. How could she not know how difficult it was for the children of the orphanage to become true Soul Masters?

Gu You stared blankly at the sky. Having come to this world six years ago, it seemed he had forgotten many things.

"Douluo... Martial Souls..." he muttered. By all reason, he should already be old enough to undergo Martial Soul Awakening.

"Strange, why is one still missing?" Shen Yue frowned slightly. The Awakening Master had been here for quite some time, yet the children had not all gathered.

"What do you think?" She turned around, startling the child hiding behind her.

"I-I don't know." The boy's eyes were dull, and he stammered.

Shen Yue stroked the child's bangs. Don't scare him silly. His brain had never worked very well to begin with. She should ask someone smarter.

"Teacher...?"

"Hmm?"

Gu You's ears twitched a few times. His hearing had been good since childhood, so he had heard their conversation just now. Combined with the activity around the orphanage that morning, he guessed that something important was about to happen.

Shen Yue's body trembled as she looked back at the handsome Gu You behind her. She had been about to lose her temper, but knowing that today was an important day, she merely nodded.

"The awakening ceremony will begin soon. Go get ready," she reminded him before leaving.

Awakening!

Gu You froze. Excitement and unease immediately erupted within him. He was excited because he would finally have a Martial Soul, but uneasy because—would his Martial Soul have Soul Power? Even if it did, would it be high?

This was a normal psychological reaction for ordinary people. Only after experiencing it in reality would one realize that they truly became nervous without even noticing. Soul Power was equivalent to one's future, equivalent to strength. It was a form of energy that nourished and strengthened Martial Souls. Everyone possessed a Martial Soul, but even among a thousand people, there might not be one whose Martial Soul came with Soul Power. And even if one possessed Soul Power, it did not necessarily mean they would be powerful.

"Lord Soul Elder, all the children are here." Shen Yue spoke respectfully. Such a young Soul Elder, with the government's backing behind him—his future achievements were beyond anything she could imagine.

"I know." Xin Ya smiled faintly and looked gently at the children.

"You first." He pointed at one of them.

The child he had pointed to was rather shy and did not dare step forward for a long time.

Xin Ya was not angered by this. He had received professional training, and once this task was complete, he would receive volunteer Contribution Points. He had no complaints.

At that moment, the soft white glow that lit up in Xin Ya's hand caught Gu You's attention.

Is this Soul Power?

Gu You silently wondered. As he watched that cluster of white light, he felt as though something inside his body was about to surge forth.

Then, Xin Ya pointed a finger into the air, and the cluster of white light slowly merged into the shy child's body. As the white light shone, a small knife suddenly rose from the child's hand.

"Has Soul Power. Not bad. Half a level," Xin Ya said coolly. The shy child had nearly jumped for joy upon hearing that he had Soul Power, but when he heard it was only half a level, tears began to flow uncontrollably.

Seeing this, Shen Yue slapped her forehead in a daze and sensibly led the child away.

As the number of children left to awaken dwindled, Xin Ya sighed. "As expected, there aren't many good seedlings."

But as soon as his words fell, the honest-looking, not particularly bright boy from before came into contact with his gentle Soul Power. The white light around his body instantly transformed into yellow, and before Xin Ya's shocked gaze, the phantom of a round, chubby Giant Dragon appeared behind him.

"Eighth-level Soul Power!" Xin Ya cried excitedly. If he reported such a genius to the Federation government, the benefits he would receive would be enormous.

The entire crowd erupted in an uproar. Shen Yue would likely have fainted from shock if she had been present. Even Gu You was astonished. A Dragon Martial Soul—even the weakest Dragon Martial Soul—was far beyond what ordinary Martial Souls could compare to.

The least clever child in the orphanage had instead become the most talented one...

What Martial Soul was this? Xin Ya was not a specialist like a Spirit Communicator, someone specifically tasked with awakening Martial Souls, but he was still quite knowledgeable. Otherwise, the Federation government would never have allowed him to take on a task concerning its reputation among the people.

After thinking for a moment, he shook his head. He only needed to do his own job. Once he reported it, he would receive his Contribution Points anyway.

After that, Xin Ya was in an exceptionally good mood. Before long, it was Gu You's turn.

Gu You stepped forward without hesitation, and Xin Ya nodded slightly as well.

Not bad courage.

As Soul Power entered his body, a tingling sensation swept through Gu You from head to toe. It was as though he had been submerged in a warm, intoxicating ocean, his body trembling continuously.

Everything before his eyes blurred, while image after image flashed through his mind.

Kill! Kill!

"Emperor, our Emperor, fight!!"

Countless Giant Dragons roared and howled. At the peak of the heavens, an enormous Purple Dragon Shadow filled with boundless destructive divinity battled the Nine-Colored Giant Shadow in the sky. Space trembled without end, while flesh and blood rained across the heavens. In the end, the Purple Dragon Shadow was defeated and vanished between heaven and earth. The dragons that had cheered for it were also slain by the Nine-Colored Giant Shadow, all falling and scattering away.

"Ah—" Gu You suddenly screamed, startling Xin Ya outside. Normally, children did not feel much while awakening their Martial Souls, but a very small number could encounter danger because their frail bodies could not endure the impact of the energy. At such times, the ceremony had to be stopped.

But just as he was about to stop it, purple light burst forth from Gu You's body. A power of desolation and destruction began to erode everything around it.

Roar!

At the same time, a lofty dragon's roar filled with indescribable unwillingness rang out from his mouth!

Faced with this sudden situation, Xin Ya released his Martial Soul. Clenching his teeth, he tried to stop this power from spilling outward.