So, What Exactly Is This?

"Xiao Guang, Grandpa is going out for a while. Stay home by yourself."

"Okay."

Old Butler looked somewhat dejected, muttering under his breath nonstop.

"Light Martial Soul... Innate Level One Soul Power. What can he possibly do with that in the future? Sigh..."

After returning to the small courtyard, Qian Chaoguang slipped back into his room and eagerly began studying his newly awakened Martial Soul.

When he had thoroughly read the Original Work in his previous life, he had been immensely curious about these miraculous Martial Souls.

Now that he possessed one himself, how could he resist experiencing it firsthand?

He took off his shirt, exposing his chest to the air.

After more than a thousand days of uninterrupted training, faint muscle definition had begun to show across his upper body.

Qian Chaoguang recalled the sensation from his Martial Soul Awakening. As his thoughts moved, the Soul Power within him was instinctively stirred, and the room's temperature quietly dropped a little.

An ice-blue spot the size of a fist appeared on his chest, making the room seem brighter.

What kind of Martial Soul was this?

A Body Martial Soul?

Qian Chaoguang was completely baffled.

The Original Work had never mentioned many details concerning Martial Souls, leaving him with no way to judge.

Aside from the slight chill where the blue light appeared, he felt nothing unusual.

His physical condition did not seem to have improved noticeably, nor did there seem to be any other enhancements. It was truly strange.

He picked up a sheet of paper from nearby and held it in front of his chest, concentrating as he urged the trace of Soul Power in his body toward where his Martial Soul was located.

A moment later, a beam of blue light shot forward, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop even further.

Fine ice crystals also appeared on the paper.

Qian Chaoguang didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he set it down and put his shirt back on.

His Martial Soul had awakened, and it was quite unusual. It even looked pretty impressive, but he had no idea what it was useful for.

Forget it. He had never intended to rely on the strength of his Martial Soul to win anyway. Whatever it was, it was fine.

Having a trace of Ice Attribute power was an unexpected bonus. It should increase the odds of success for his plan to acquire Sky Dream Ice Silkworm five years from now.

Since his Martial Soul manifested as light and possessed some Ice Attribute power, he might as well call it Extreme Ice Light.

When it came to names, it was better to choose one that sounded good.

Qian Chaoguang stopped dwelling on his Martial Soul, turned around, grabbed the long saber standing against the wall, and headed outside.

Martial Soul Awakening had taken up half the morning, and he had yet to finish today's training plan.

As Qian Chaoguang sweated profusely in the small courtyard, the Duchess was listening to a report from the middle-aged man from earlier.

"You said Old Zhu's adopted grandson awakened what kind of Martial Soul? Light?"

The middle-aged man answered respectfully, "Yes, Madam. However, his Martial Soul looked somewhat strange. It did not resemble the usual Light-element Martial Souls."

The Duchess sneered disdainfully. "So what? He is merely trash with Innate Level One Soul Power. Old Zhu's old injuries are worsening by the day. Even if a healing-type Titled Douluo were to treat him, he has at most five years left to live. I would like to see how that little brat will keep protecting those two sluts after that!"

As she spoke, she began gritting her teeth again, her voice nearly squeezing through the gaps between them.

"Body Martial Soul Eyes, Innate Level Nine Soul Power! That slut isn't even a Soul Master, so why does she deserve to give birth to such fine offspring? Hurry up and do what I told you!"

The middle-aged man hesitated before asking quietly, "But... Madam, are we really not telling Master? A Body Martial Soul with Innate Level Nine Soul Power has a very good chance of entering Shrek. If the Duke discovers it later..."

Before he could finish, the Duchess cut him off harshly.

"Am I the master here, or are you? Do I need you to teach me how to do things?"

"This subordinate would not dare..."

"Then why aren't you gone already?"

"This subordinate takes his leave..."

The Duchess slammed the teacup in her hand onto the table and revealed a cold smile.

"Shrek? Bah! Does that little slut deserve it? Without a recommendation letter at the City Lord level, what makes her think she can enter Shrek?"

After lunch, Old Butler handed Qian Chaoguang a meditation method.

Once he had skimmed through it and committed it to memory, Old Butler took him out and led him toward the Forging Room within the Duke's Mansion.

Inside the clanging Forging Room, Old Butler introduced Qian Chaoguang to an exceptionally skilled blacksmith.

Although this Old Blacksmith was not a Soul Engineer, his forging ability alone was no worse than that of mid- to high-level Soul Engineers.

The specially made long saber Qian Chaoguang had used in his daily training over the past few years was his handiwork.

Under the Old Blacksmith's initial guidance, he picked up two forging hammers and began learning to forge.

The Old Blacksmith stood to the side with a beaming smile, watching Qian Chaoguang's movements. He said approvingly, "Not bad, Old Zhu. Your grandson is truly impressive. He's sturdy as can be, and he learns quickly. Don't worry, since you asked, I'll teach him every bit of my craft. There aren't many youngsters these days willing to put effort into forging."

Old Butler showed a bitter smile. "Chaoguang has been sensible since he was little. It's just that his Innate Soul Power is truly disappointing... If he can learn a trade from you, he will at least be able to make a living in the future."

"Come on, Old Zhu, look on the bright side. This kid has excellent comprehension. Maybe he can even become a Soul Engineer. Besides, look at the strength in that body of his. How does he look like a six-year-old? Even if he joins the Duke's army in the future, he'll definitely land a good post."

"I hope so..."

"In a few days, I'll find you a prescription. My Old Man got it from who knows where back then, and they say it works wonders. Go get some medicine and let Xiao Guang soak in a Medicinal Bath or something. Don't waste all that brute strength of his."

The two old men discussed Qian Chaoguang's future back and forth, but he himself did not hear a word of it.

He was now completely immersed in the world of forging, pouring out sweat with all his strength.

As hammer after hammer smashed down, Golden Body Art began circulating on its own.

He felt every muscle in his body tightening, tempered by both his own exertion and Soul Power, as though he himself had become a piece of metal being forged.

Each time he exerted himself with his whole body, Qian Chaoguang could unexpectedly feel a different kind of exhilaration, as though every part of him had become clear and open.

The mechanical movements that had once been painful became the best aid to his cultivation, rapidly improving his physique.

The blacksmiths nearby gradually put down their work and turned their attention toward him.

A six-year-old child could actually keep swinging hammers for so long. It was simply unbelievable.

The Old Blacksmith said proudly, "His name is Qian Chaoguang, my new apprentice. You all need to look after him from now on."

And so, only when Qian Chaoguang was nearly too exhausted to stand did he return to the small courtyard with Old Butler.

During the forging process, the progress of his Cultivation of Golden Body Art had Far Exceeded his expectations.

If he could keep up this kind of high-intensity forging every day, he should be able to complete the first level of Golden Body Art within five years.

Author's Note:

Please keep reading, brothers! Only with enough follow-up reads can this get recommended. Douluo fanfiction needs even more follow-up reads than books in other genres to get recommendations. Please, please, don't stockpile chapters before it goes premium—it's easy for a story to die that way!