A Martial Soul with Two Forms and a Small Man's Speculation

In truth, it was not only Ma Xiunuo and the other two who were dumbfounded. Even Han Li, the person at the center of it all, was somewhat at a loss.

It was not as though he had never read Douluo. In his previous life, he could at least be considered a grandmaster of the first part and half of the second part—meaning he had read half of it. Later, he had also read quite a few fanfictions here and there. Though he had not finished them, he had never seen a Martial Soul awakening this outrageous.

Faced with their strange stares, Han Li did not know how to respond either. He simply closed his eyes and focused his mind on the Martial Soul before him, trying to control it.

After a while, he opened his eyes. With a thought, the bow-shaped Martial Soul trembled and reverted into two Scimitars, appearing in his hands.

Then he commanded them to merge, and the two Scimitars transformed back into a bow.

Seeing how engrossed he was in playing with it, the other three finally snapped out of it and rushed to his side. Ma Xiunuo eagerly asked, "Xiao Li, hurry and tell Grandfather. What is going on with your Martial Soul? Is it Twin Martial Souls?"

Seeing that even the usually mild-tempered Ma Xiunuo was growing anxious, Han Li stopped being coy and replied, "Grandfather Ma Xiunuo, I'm afraid I've disappointed you. I don't have Twin Martial Souls."

"You... then... these two forms..." Su Yuntao could not help but interject.

"Shut up and let Xiao Li speak." Ma Xiunuo first shouted angrily at Su Yuntao, then turned back to Han Li with a smile. "Xiao Li, no rush. Take your time."

His practiced face-changing act left Han Li and Xiao Zhan beside him staring blankly for a moment. Xiao Zhan quickly recovered and winked at Han Li from behind, signaling for him to continue.

Han Li smiled. He could understand Ma Xiunuo's feelings. The old man had spent his entire life awakening Martial Souls for others and researching them. Now, in his old age, having witnessed such a spectacle, he naturally could not wait to learn the truth.

"My Martial Soul should be a mutated Martial Soul."

As he spoke, the bow separated and turned back into two blades. Han Li held them out toward the three of them and continued, "These should be the twin blades inherited from my parents, except they underwent a beneficial mutation based on their Martial Souls."

Ma Xiunuo and the other two leaned closer, carefully examining the twin blades in Han Li's hands. They had both seen his parents' Martial Souls, so it was not difficult to identify them.

It was quite a coincidence. Han Li's parents had come from the same small city, and their ancestors had even intermarried, though both families had gradually declined afterward. Yet when it came to his parents' generation, both of their Martial Souls had mutated, reverting to and inheriting the Martial Soul of an earlier ancestor.

Not only that, both had undergone beneficial mutations. One had developed a faint fire attribute, while the other had developed a faint ice attribute. Because their Martial Soul mutations involved elemental attributes, both of them had possessed considerable talent, with Innate Soul Power reaching level 4.5.

That was also why, after his parents passed away and Han Li returned to Notting City, both the Notting City Lord and Spirit Hall had welcomed him so warmly. Beyond their good relationship with his parents, Han Li, as their only son, had a strong chance of possessing Innate Soul Power above level 3 as long as he was not utterly useless. In a place like this, he already counted as a "genius," someone worth investing in.

"It really is their Martial Soul, and it is indeed a beneficial mutation. Xiao Li, congratulations. But what is going on with that bow?" After confirming the Martial Soul, Ma Xiunuo looked at Han Li uncertainly.

"I don't know either. It is a bow, but I can be certain that it is not Twin Martial Souls. It is merely another form of the Martial Soul."

As Han Li spoke, the two blades merged again. This time, he mobilized a trace of Soul Power, and white strings extended from the upper and lower ends, proving his claim.

"Even if it isn't, Xiao Li, you've still struck it rich. You don't need to worry about your body exploding, yet your Martial Soul is equivalent to two—no, with the twin blades' differing attributes, it could even count as three. Hurry, test your Soul Power Level. You were awakened by my own hands. My, Su Yuntao's, name shall surely be recorded in Spirit Hall's history."

While they had been speaking, Su Yuntao had quietly brought over the crystal ball and now looked at Han Li with an excited expression.

"Right, hurry, Xiao Li. Let's see what level your Innate Soul Power is."

Ma Xiunuo and Xiao Zhan also came to their senses, staring fervently at the crystal ball before Han Li. Judging from his Martial Soul, it should be at least level seven, right?

"Alright."

Han Li wanted to know the answer as well. He placed his left hand on it, and in an instant, blue light flared up before their eyes.

"Innate Full Soul Power!" The three of them were overjoyed, forgetting even to control their volume. Fortunately, Xiu'er had closed the door when she entered, and the room had decent soundproofing. Otherwise, the entire Martial Soul Sub-Hall might have been alerted.

"Good! Hahaha, very good! I, Su Yuntao, truly am Notting City's finest Awakening Master."

Su Yuntao lowered his voice, but his grin was so wide that his expression had become somewhat distorted. Before this, the Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power he had awakened had earned him no small amount of teasing from his colleagues.

Awakening an Innate Full Soul Power useless Martial Soul would also be recorded in history, but could that possibly be the same?

Now, he only wanted to ask: who else?

Seeing Tao Ge even more excited than himself, Han Li did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He had not expected to add another achievement to Tao Ge's record. Thinking of how Tao Ge had always looked after him, Han Li felt that he deserved it.

Watching the normally composed Su Yuntao rejoice so wildly, Ma Xiunuo smiled as well.

Then his smile faded. He looked at Xiao Zhan and Su Yuntao and said gravely, "You two, please keep this secret for now. Xiao Li's Martial Soul is far too unusual. Let me report this to Spirit City first, and we can wait for those above to make a decision. What do you say? Xiao Zhan, you should understand the Heaven Dou Empire's ways better than I do."

Xiao Zhan and Su Yuntao froze for a moment, then nodded solemnly. They too had thought of the implications. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan liked to eliminate geniuses who did not belong to their factions, and the nobles were no different. This was no secret. With Xiao Li's Martial Soul being so unusual, the three of them alone could not protect him.

"Good. I'll contact those above right away. As for his identification documents, Yuntao, prepare them as usual. There is no need to fill in his Soul Power. Under no circumstances can anyone else learn of this." Ma Xiunuo looked at Su Yuntao sternly.

"Register the Martial Soul as the Ice Fire Bow," Han Li said after thinking it over.

"Alright." Ma Xiunuo gave him a deep look but did not object.

"By the way, Grandfather Ma Xiunuo, how do you intend to report this?"

Han Li seemed to recall something and asked.

"Do you have an idea?" Ma Xiunuo asked curiously.

"Didn't you say that Light Plume Crown handled my parents' affairs back then? He even held me and said that we were fated. I hope you can add that at the end."

Even with the experiences of his previous life, Han Li's face flushed red as he spoke. Still, he gritted his teeth and said it.

"A bow... Light Plume Crown... You really dare to think big, kid. But it may not be impossible."

Ma Xiunuo froze for a moment, then understood why Han Li had done this. His heart stirred as well. The chances were slim, but... what if? Su Yuntao and Xiao Zhan naturally understood too. Looking at the slightly red-faced Han Li, they felt admiration in their hearts. At his age, they would not even have dared to think of such a thing.

"Alright, we'll do as you say. But whether it works or not will depend on your fate."

After hesitating for a moment, Ma Xiunuo made his decision. This was the only way they could help Xiao Li. He hoped it would succeed.

"Thank you, Grandfather Ma Xiunuo."

Han Li solemnly bowed to the old man. He would surely repay today's kindness many times over in the future.

Ma Xiunuo patted his head. Looking at the serious expression on the boy's face, he said nothing and quickly headed into another room.

A while later, Xiao Zhan led Han Li out of Spirit Hall, with Xiu'er following behind them. All three wore smiles, making it obvious that the result had been favorable.

"Han Li, mutated Martial Soul, Ice Fire Bow, Innate Soul Power level seven."

This was the news that spread through Spirit Hall that day. While the news was being circulated, a letter was openly sent out.

In secret, Ma Xiunuo had already activated a special channel. A top-level encrypted document was sent past the usual hierarchy through a communication Soul Tool that had not been used in a long time, directly to the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City.

A special note was added at the end of the document: When this child was young, he was held by Light Plume Crown, who said that they were fated.