Martial Soul Awakening

Douluo Continent, Yutan Village.

Standing among the Martial Soul Awakening queue, Shen Ranxi was lost in thought.

She had originally been the heir to the Shen Family Martial Arts School in the twenty-first century, merely waiting to graduate before inheriting her family's school.

She had never expected that, while representing her country in competition, she would be killed by a foreign contestant on the eve of her return home while protecting her junior brothers and sisters.

When she opened her eyes again, she had become an abandoned infant in a remote village on Douluo Continent. She had also been bound to a God-Becoming System, which rewarded her every time she completed a milestone.

Over the past six years, she had studied the thing whenever she had nothing else to do. Unfortunately, there was too little information. No matter how she looked through it, the light screen only displayed a grayed-out shop button that she could not press.

In the six years since she arrived, the system had done nothing but explain her tasks before going dormant. Until this morning, it suddenly came back to life and tossed her a message: successfully awaken her Martial Soul to receive one draw, while the Novice Gift Pack would be delivered later.

Today was the day of Martial Soul Awakening. The village was filled with celebration, with everyone hoping a Soul Master would emerge from their village.

Shen Ranxi was also curious about what kind of Martial Soul she would awaken.

Suddenly, the Village Chief beside her respectfully bowed his head. "Good day, esteemed Lord Soul Master."

Shen Ranxi glanced to the side and saw a finely dressed Female Soul Master enter the Wooden House with her head held high.

The Village Chief could only swallow his unfinished words. He lovingly straightened Shen Ranxi's clothes and gave her a push on the back. "Little Xi, don't be nervous. Go on."

Shen Ranxi nodded, raising her estimation of a Soul Master's status in this world by another two levels.

Shen Ranxi looked at the woman standing ahead of them. She wore a beautiful black strapless dress—back in her Previous Life, she could have entered the entertainment industry.

There was a Soul character in the center of her chest, the standard attire of Spirit Hall personnel.

The woman said expressionlessly, "My name is Chen Yun. I am a level-twenty-eight Soul Grandmaster, and I will now conduct Martial Soul Awakening for each of you. Remember, no matter what happens, do not be afraid."

She then summoned her Martial Soul. "Azure Sea Rose, come forth."

After the blue and pink radiance faded, a thorny vine blooming with roses curled around her body.

Two rings of light rose beneath her feet, continuously circling from her feet to the top of her head.

One was white, while the other was yellow.

Shen Ranxi stared at this strange power in disbelief. Everything about it overturned her worldview.

After everyone had finished their Martial Soul Awakening, it was Shen Ranxi's turn.

Dazed, she stepped forward and was enveloped in golden light. Her body felt pleasantly warm. Then her body shuddered, and a cudgel as tall as a person appeared in her palm.

This was... her Martial Soul?

Shen Ranxi's Eyes Widened. She could hardly believe it. If it had been an ordinary cudgel, she naturally would not have been so surprised, but this...

The cudgel was entirely gilded gold, carved with ancient runes that emitted waves of imposing pressure.

A golden band was set around each end, its sheen flowing with light. In the middle were words Shen Ranxi knew all too well: "Ruyi Golden Cudgel."

Below were engraved the words: "Thirteen thousand five hundred jin."

The Sea-Calming Divine Needle?! Shen Ranxi sucked in a sharp breath, her hand unconsciously tightening around it.

In her Previous Life, she had neither chased celebrities nor dated. Every day, all she thought about was inheriting the Martial Arts School and carrying forward the Illusion-Breaking Cudgel Technique!

But no one knew she had someone she liked too. No, it should not be called a person. It was a monkey—the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong!

Wearing a Phoenix-Winged Purple-Gold Crown,

Clad in Chain-Linked Golden Armor,

With Lotus-Root Silk Cloud-Treading Boots beneath his feet.

In youth, one's lofty ambitions once promised to stand first beneath heaven.

When she was young, she had imagined herself wielding the Ruyi Golden Cudgel, riding seven-colored auspicious clouds, and sweeping away all injustice.

Looking at the Golden Cudgel in her hand, her Inner Heart trembled violently.

No one noticed the faint flash of light across her left hand, which she silently clenched.

Chen Yun's Eyes finally widened a little as she tested Shen Ranxi's Soul Power with barely concealed urgency.

A brilliant light flashed throughout the entire Wooden House, stunning everyone.

The system's voice also sounded in Shen Ranxi's mind:

[Congratulations, Host, on awakening your Martial Soul. You have received one draw opportunity. The Novice Gift Pack has been placed in your inventory.]

A startling gleam burst from Chen Yun's Eyes. "Innate Full Soul Power!!"

At last, there was a child with unprecedented talent. If she could join Spirit Hall, it would become Chen Yun's achievement.

"Child, you have Innate Full Soul Power. Are you willing to join Spirit Hall?" Though it was phrased as a question, her Eyes were filled with certainty. She was convinced Shen Ranxi would join.

"I would like to go home and discuss it with my family." Shen Ranxi was not insane. Joining Spirit Hall now was no different from joining the Nationalist army in the 1940s.

Though she had never watched this anime, she had heard her younger cousin talk about how the protagonist and Spirit Hall were at odds.

Surprise flashed through Chen Yun's Eyes. Clearly, she found it unbelievable that Shen Ranxi had not agreed on the spot.

Suppressing her displeasure, she said, "Fine. Think it over carefully. Spirit Hall has abundant resources, things you cannot obtain in the outside world."

"I will be at the Martial Soul Hall Branch in the city for the next few days. If you make up your mind, give them my name."

Shen Ranxi nodded in agreement, but inwardly she thought: Spirit Hall? Not even a dog would go there!

After leaving the small Wooden House, she saw the Village Chief waiting anxiously and felt warmth fill her heart.

She had no intention of joining either side. Her goal now was to Become Stronger, protect those she wanted to protect, help everyone in the Village live good lives, and avoid the war to come.

And while she was at it, she would complete the system's tasks. Becoming a god was the bait the system had dangled before her, while becoming a god was the even bigger bait she dangled before the system.

This Village was remote, with few people, but they were honest and treated her extremely well.

Every household had taken turns raising her until she was five. Once she could support herself, she moved into the small Wooden House at the end of the Village and lived alone.

Village Chief Grandpa could not dissuade her, so he brought people over to clean the house until it was spotless.

Everyone brought her meals and vegetables every day, afraid she would not eat or sleep well.

She wanted to make something of herself, repay the people of the Village, and let them live good lives.

The villagers also had Martial Souls. Most were hoes, sickles, and the like, but unfortunately, none of them possessed Soul Power.

When Chen Yun came out, the Village Chief hurried forward and asked with a smile, "Esteemed Lord Soul Master, our Village this year..."

"There are two. One has level-four Soul Power, and one has Innate Full Soul Power." After saying that, Chen Yun left without looking back. She still had another Village to rush to.

Leaving behind the excited Village Chief.

"Little Xi, are you the one with Innate Full Soul Power?" Their Village had never produced anyone with particularly high talent. Only Little Xi, whom he had picked up, had an unknown background...

Shen Ranxi nodded with a broad smile. "It's me, Village Chief Grandpa."

The seventy-year-old Village Chief threw down his cane, picked Shen Ranxi up, and spun her in circles. He was so happy that he seemed to have become young again on the spot.

Everyone was happy for her. From now on, she would be a Lord Soul Master, yet no one thought of gaining anything from her.

What was more, everyone decided to pool their money so that the two children who had awakened Martial Souls could attend school in town without worry.

With a wave of his Big Hand, the Village Chief declared that they would hold a celebration feast that evening.

Village Chief Grandpa refused to let Shen Ranxi help, so she could only find a place to study her Martial Soul. In truth, she still had not fully processed it. Was this really the Golden Cudgel... the Golden Cudgel in the Great Sage's hands?

She also opened the Novice Gift Pack the system had given her. With a "bang," a soft, fluffy lump pounced straight onto her face.

She pulled the unknown thing off her face.

???

Was this right?

Had a cloud become sentient?