Martial Soul Awakening: Twin Stars Begin to Shine

July morning light had barely spilled over the rooftops of Sacred Soul Village when the grain-drying grounds at the village entrance filled with people. Six-year-old children stood beside their parents, their faces full of anticipation and nervousness. Lin Zhixia stood beside Tang San, tightly clutching the Peach Wood Bow in her hand, her fingertips turning slightly white from the force of her grip.

"Someone from Spirit Hall is here!" someone shouted, and the crowd immediately fell silent. Three people in white robes stepped down from a carriage. At their head was a middle-aged man with a silver Spirit Hall insignia pinned to his chest and eyes as sharp as an eagle's—Su Yuntao, a deacon from the Spirit Hall Branch.

"Quiet!" Su Yuntao cleared his throat, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "Line up in order. Each child will come forward to awaken their Martial Soul. Remember, no matter what Martial Soul you awaken, stay calm."

The children formed a line. Tang San tugged lightly on Lin Zhixia's sleeve and said in a low voice, "Don't be nervous. I'm here." Lin Zhixia nodded, but her gaze remained fixed on Su Yuntao. His white robes differed from the red garments worn by the Spirit Hall members who had hunted her years ago, yet they made her equally wary.

The awakening ceremony took place on a wooden platform in the middle of the grain-drying grounds. Su Yuntao took out six pitch-black stones from the cloth bag he carried and arranged them into a hexagon. Then he placed a blue crystal ball in the center. "First child, come forward."

A boy timidly stepped onto the platform and stood among the hexagonal stones. Su Yuntao formed seals with his hands and chanted, "In my name, I draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and awaken the hidden Martial Soul!"

As the chant ended, the six stones suddenly glowed with a faint golden light. Gentle energy enveloped the boy's body. A moment later, a tiny hoe appeared in his palm. Su Yuntao frowned and handed him the blue crystal ball. "Hold it. Test your Soul Power."

The boy held the crystal ball, but it showed no reaction. Su Yuntao waved him off. "Tool Martial Soul, hoe. No Soul Power. Next."

Several children followed. Some awakened farm-tool Martial Souls such as sickles and shovels, while others awakened Beast Martial Souls such as rabbits and chickens. Yet not a single one made the crystal ball light up. Su Yuntao's expression grew increasingly sour, and his tone became impatient. "Sacred Soul Village truly is a backwater. Not even one child with Soul Power."

"Next, Tang San."

Tang San stepped onto the platform and stood among the stones. As the faint golden light enveloped him, he clearly felt a gentle energy flowing through his body, as though something in his mind was about to awaken. He instinctively suppressed the aura of the Blue Silver Grass. He had long sensed two distinct powers within himself: one was the Blue Silver Grass left by his mother, while the other was hidden in his right hand, carrying a cold metallic presence. He did not want to reveal the secret of his Twin Martial Souls too soon.

A moment later, a pale blue blade of grass slowly appeared in his palm, its leaves still dotted with glistening dew. Su Yuntao glanced at it, his tone perfunctory. "Useless Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass. Test your Soul Power."

Tang San gripped the crystal ball, slowly channeling his Soul Power into it. At that instant, the formerly dim crystal ball erupted with a dazzling blue radiance. The light pierced through the morning mist over the grain-drying grounds, drawing cries of surprise from everyone present. Su Yuntao's eyes widened sharply. He snatched the crystal ball away and examined it again and again, his voice trembling. "Inn... Innate Full Soul Power! How is that possible? A useless Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul actually has Innate Full Soul Power!"

He stared hard at Tang San, his eyes full of disbelief. "Your name is Tang San? Come back to the Spirit Hall Branch with me. I need to test you again!"

Tang San calmly withdrew his hand and shook his head. "Thank you, sir, but I'd like to wait until my friend has finished testing first." His gaze fell upon Lin Zhixia beneath the platform, carrying a reassuring warmth.

Su Yuntao froze for a moment before remembering that there were still children waiting. He could only suppress his excitement and call out, "Next, Lin Zhixia."

Lin Zhixia took a deep breath and stepped onto the platform. As the faint golden light wrapped around her, the sound of a bowstring trembling suddenly rang through her mind, as if countless stars were flickering before her eyes. She instinctively thought of her father's Star River Shattering Bow, of that brilliant yet despairing silver arrow streak. A familiar power surged up from the depths of her heart.

"This is..." Su Yuntao's eyes suddenly lit up.

A delicate silver bow slowly appeared in Lin Zhixia's palm. Its surface was covered in fine star patterns, and as she breathed, those patterns slowly flowed as if an entire galaxy had been compressed within the bow. Even more astonishingly, a faint silver halo lingered around it—an abnormal phenomenon found only in top-tier Tool Martial Souls.

"A Tool Martial Soul... a bow! And a top-tier Martial Soul with a halo!" Su Yuntao's voice rose with excitement as he hurriedly handed her the crystal ball. "Quick, hold it. Test your Soul Power!"

Lin Zhixia held the crystal ball, and the Soul Power within her poured into it beyond her control. Just like Tang San's, the crystal ball instantly burst with brilliant silver light. Its radiance was even more dazzling than Tang San's blue glow, and it even formed a faint Star Mist above the grain-drying grounds.

"An... another Innate Full Soul Power!" Su Yuntao staggered back a step. He looked at Lin Zhixia as if she were a priceless treasure. "A top-tier Tool Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power! Sacred Soul Village has actually produced two children with Innate Full Soul Power at once!"

The villagers below had already erupted into an uproar. Aunt Wang grabbed Tang Hao's arm and said excitedly, "Tang Hao, your Little San is incredible! And Zhixia too! These two children are definitely going to become great figures someday!" Tang Hao showed little expression, but a flicker of gratification passed through his eyes, along with a trace of vigilance that was hard to detect. Two children with Innate Full Soul Power would likely draw even more attention from Spirit Hall.

Lin Zhixia looked at the small silver bow in her palm, and her eyes suddenly burned. It was not her father's Star River Shattering Bow, yet it bore similar star patterns, as though her father was watching over her from the heavens. She knew this was the first step toward her revenge—and the beginning of her New Life.

Su Yuntao finally recovered and walked over to Tang San and Lin Zhixia, his face displaying unprecedented enthusiasm. "You two, come back to the Spirit Hall Branch with me. I'll report this to Spirit Hall headquarters and apply for the best resources for you! As long as you're willing to join Spirit Hall, you'll certainly become Titled Douluo in the future!"

The moment he finished speaking, Lin Zhixia abruptly stepped back, her eyes filled with rejection. "I won't join Spirit Hall!"

The smile on Su Yuntao's face froze. "What did you say? Spirit Hall is the best destination for Soul Masters. Countless people would do anything to join, yet you're refusing?"

Tang San immediately stepped in front of Lin Zhixia, his tone calm but firm. "Sir, we have no intention of joining Spirit Hall for the time being. Thank you for awakening our Martial Souls. We'd like to go home and discuss it with our families first."

Su Yuntao frowned, his gaze turning cold. "Do you know the consequences of refusing Spirit Hall?" He was about to say more when he saw Tang Hao slowly approaching.

Tang Hao stood beside the two children. Tall and powerfully built, he was like a wall blocking Su Yuntao's gaze. His voice was low, carrying a faint pressure. "Deacon Su, the children are still young. They cannot make such decisions. The awakening ceremony is over, so there is no need to trouble yourself further."

Su Yuntao looked at the muscles on Tang Hao's arms and the scar on his face, and an inexplicable unease rose in his heart. He knew Tang Hao was Sacred Soul Village's blacksmith, but he had not expected this seemingly ordinary blacksmith to possess such a powerful presence. Gritting his teeth, he ultimately did not dare say more. He only left behind two Spirit Hall tokens. "These are Spirit Hall tokens. If you change your minds, you can come to the branch and find me at any time."

With that, Su Yuntao hurried away from Sacred Soul Village with his two attendants. Before leaving, he looked back once at Tang San and Lin Zhixia, his eyes full of reluctance.

The crowd gradually dispersed. Tang Hao crouched down and looked at the two children. "You did well." He turned to Tang San. "Your Blue Silver Grass isn't an ordinary useless Martial Soul, is it?"

Tang San paused, then nodded. He knew he could not hide it from Tang Hao. He extended his right hand. The Blue Silver Grass in his palm vanished, replaced by a pitch-black hammer. Savage patterns covered its surface, and it radiated terrifying pressure.

"Twin Martial Souls." Tang Hao's expression instantly became complicated, holding both gratification and concern. "Remember this: unless there is absolutely no other choice, you must never reveal the Clear Sky Hammer."

Lin Zhixia stared at the black hammer in Tang San's palm in astonishment. Tang San put away the Clear Sky Hammer and smiled at her. "That was my secret. Now that I've told you, we're even."

Lin Zhixia smiled as well. It was the first time since coming to Sacred Soul Village that she had smiled so freely. She raised the small silver bow in her palm and said softly, "I'll call it the Starfall Bow. From now on, it will be my Martial Soul."

As the sun set, the three of them walked side by side toward the blacksmith's shop. Tang San and Lin Zhixia walked ahead, holding their Spirit Hall tokens, their faces full of anticipation for the future. Tang Hao walked behind them, watching the children's backs as a trace of resolve flashed through his eyes. He would protect them well and not let them repeat the tragedy of Ah Yin and himself.

Smoke from cooking fires curled up over Sacred Soul Village, and the scent of wheat filled the air. No one knew what kind of storm these two children with Innate Full Soul Power would stir across the Douluo Continent in the future. Their legend had only just begun to write its first new chapter.