First Drawing the Sword and Meeting Huang Quan

Inside the house, Xiao Qingyun gripped Wang Shanhe's hand, her eyes filled with disbelief. She looked at Wang Chuan, then at Ning Fengzhi, her voice trembling slightly. "So... our Xiao Chuan is a genius? But we're both ordinary people. We don't even have Soul Power. How could this be...?"

"This is most likely a Martial Soul mutation, and an exceptionally rare beneficial mutation at that." Ning Fengzhi lifted the coarse porcelain teacup from the table and took a light sip, his tone gentle and reassuring. "Many top-tier Soul Masters owe their Martial Souls to such unexpected mutations. This is Xiao Chuan's blessing, and also his opportunity."

Wang Shanhe fell silent for a moment before nodding firmly. His gaze toward Wang Chuan was full of resolve. "Sect Master, Sword Douluo, we agree. Xiao Chuan can only have a better future by following you. We can't hold him back." Xiao Qingyun nodded as well, though her eyes quietly reddened—she was happy for her child, yet reluctant to see him leave her side.

She stepped forward and gently stroked Wang Chuan's head, choking up as she instructed him, "Xiao Chuan, once you reach the sect, you must behave yourself. Cultivate properly under the adults' guidance. Don't be willful, and don't cause trouble for the two of them, understand?"

"I understand, Mother." Wang Chuan took his mother's hand and spoke earnestly. "I'll cultivate properly and come back to see you often. Once I grow strong, no one will ever bully us again. I'll protect you both."

Not long afterward, Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi prepared to leave with Wang Chuan. Before departing, while the couple escorted Wang Chuan to the door, Ning Fengzhi quietly placed a golden soul coin card on the corner of the table—there were 100,000 Gold Soul Coins stored within, enough for the couple to live out the rest of their lives in peace. He knew ordinary folk would not readily accept charity, so he could only use this method to leave Wang Chuan's parents with something to hold on to.

As Soul Power surged, the three rose into the air and flew toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Wang Chuan lay in Ning Fengzhi's arms, looking back at the village as it grew smaller and smaller, his fists clenched tight—he knew that from this moment onward, his life would be completely different.

After returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi took Wang Chuan directly to the Seven Treasures Grand Hall. The hall was vast and spacious. Chen Xin had already been waiting there, while Ning Rongrong, who had originally been pestering Gu Rong to play with her, had curiously followed along and now peeked out from behind Chen Xin.

"Xiao Chuan, release your Martial Soul and let us have a look," Ning Fengzhi said gently.

Wang Chuan nodded and focused his mind. Purple light instantly flared in his right palm—the long blade entwined with purple and white patterns emerged once more. A faint glow surrounded its blade, yet not the slightest Soul Power fluctuation could be sensed from it. It was as still as an ordinary piece of jade.

Chen Xin stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on the long blade as his brow furrowed deeper and deeper. "What kind of blade is this? It clearly has no aura, yet it feels like a ferocious beast lying in wait. The moment one approaches it, a Soul Master's instincts frantically sound warnings, as though death could come the very next second."

"What is even stranger," Ning Fengzhi added as he moved closer, his expression solemn, "is that this Martial Soul carries an ultimate negativity, like a void capable of devouring all things. Yet Xiao Chuan's Soul Power contains vigorous life force. The two powers are contradictory, yet they are balanced in such a strange way. Xiao Chuan, does your Martial Soul have a name?"

"It does, Uncle," Wang Chuan answered softly. "It's called 'Nothingness.'"

"'Nothingness'?" Ning Rongrong could not help poking her head out from behind Chen Xin, her face full of curiosity. "How can it have such a strange name? It clearly has a Martial Soul, yet it's called 'Nothingness.' That's so interesting!"

Chen Xin ignored Rongrong's curiosity, his eyes still locked onto the blade. "Xiao Chuan, can you draw it? We want to see the true mystery of this 'Nothingness.'"

"Alright." As instructed, Wang Chuan gripped the hilt with both hands, held the blade horizontally before his chest, took a deep breath, and fiercely drew the sword!

"Buzz—"

In an instant, an invisible ripple spread outward from Wang Chuan! The space within a hundred meters seemed to have been paused. Dancing dust, flickering candle flames, even Ning Fengzhi's and Chen Xin's strands of hair—all froze in an instant. The colorful world then visibly drained of color, leaving behind only a deathly grayish white. Immediately after, even that grayish white was devoured by a deeper void—an absolute emptiness without light, sound, or aura. Like a massive mouth, it sought to swallow everything around it, slowly yet domineeringly eroding every corner of the hall.

Wang Chuan's mind went blank. His body suddenly lost all support, as if he had fallen into a bottomless abyss, and a sensation of weightlessness swept over him. He instinctively squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the pain of impact, but in the next moment, his body came to a steady halt a few centimeters above the ground before slowly descending.

When he opened his eyes again, his surroundings had changed completely—the ground beneath him was black and made of some unknown material, while a drizzling rain fell from the sky. The air was filled with faint moisture, along with an almost imperceptible air of despair. Not far away, a woman in a purple dress held an oil-paper umbrella and stood quietly in the rain, gazing at him with gentle eyes.

Wang Chuan hesitated for a moment, but still slowly walked toward the woman. The closer he came, the stronger that air of despair became, pouring into his heart like a tide and making him want to stop. Strangely, when he reached the woman's side, the feeling of despair vanished in an instant, leaving only warmth beneath the umbrella.

"My name is Huang Quan." The woman spoke, her voice like raindrops falling upon bluestone—clear and gentle. "To arrive here... was it your call, or the call of fate?"

Wang Chuan blinked, looking somewhat confused. "Big Sister, what are you talking about? My name is Wang Chuan. I was still in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect just now. How did I get here? Can you explain it to me?"

"Wang Chuan... what a fine name." Huang Quan smiled, her gaze falling on the blade in his hand. "Once you take up this 'Nothingness,' you must seek the meaning of your own existence. If you fail to find it, one day you will be devoured by the void and forgotten by the world. But before that day comes, I will bear this blade's price for you."

She reached out and gently touched Wang Chuan's head. "You need not fear being devoured by the void. I will remain at your side and protect you until the final moment. Go. Use this blade to seek the colors that belong to you. Light them up, hold fast to them, and let them become an indelible brilliance in your life. Go."

Before her words had even faded, a gentle power enveloped Wang Chuan. Before he could ask another question, the scene before him shattered in an instant.

In reality, only a second had passed. The instant Wang Chuan drew the sword, Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi sensed the danger. They almost simultaneously released their Soul Power and shielded Ning Rongrong behind them. A pale golden barrier blocked the void's erosion, preventing her from being caught in it.

Wang Chuan abruptly came back to his senses. Seeing the scene in the hall and the grave expressions on Ning Fengzhi's and Chen Xin's faces, he panicked. He hurriedly sheathed the blade, lowered his head, and apologized. "I'm sorry, Uncle, Grandpa Sword! I didn't control it properly just now and nearly hurt everyone. Please forgive me!"

"It's alright. The fault lies with us." Ning Fengzhi hurriedly reassured him. "We didn't expect your Martial Soul to be so powerful. It was our oversight. You are not to blame. Look, everyone is fine."

Chen Xin nodded as well, his eyes carrying a hint of complicated emotion. "The power of this Martial Soul far exceeds our expectations. By the way, Xiao Chuan, when you drew the sword just now, did you sense anything unusual? Or does this Martial Soul possess abilities besides the void?"

Wang Chuan thought for a moment before speaking softly. "I think I saw a big sister named Huang Quan just now... Also, when my 'Nothingness' attacks someone, it can inject the Power of Void into their body. It keeps eroding them until their Soul Power is exhausted."

At those words, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin exchanged a glance, each seeing shock in the other's eyes—this Martial Soul called "Nothingness" could not only control the void, but also inflict continuous erosion. It was far more terrifying than they had imagined.