Martial Soul Awakening

With ample nutrition as his foundation and the belief in "becoming a god and living forever" as fuel, Lin Xuan had somehow become the "other people's child" in the eyes of Sacred Soul Village's parents.

Well-behaved and diligent, he might have seemed to struggle, yet he kept his life in perfect order.

At the very least, he was not buried under a mountain of debt.

In their eyes, the fact that Lin Xuan could support himself and even make money on his own was already impressive enough.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

That day, Lin Xuan did not go train before dawn as usual. Instead, he cleaned himself up thoroughly and changed into his most presentable clothes.

After devouring a breakfast that could be called "luxurious"—two eggs with multigrain porridge and a small dish of cured meat—he carried a little stool to the Main Entrance and sat down, staring straight toward the village entrance with anticipation filling his heart.

Today was the big day of Martial Soul Awakening. It stirred his heart even more than waiting for his college entrance exam results in his previous life.

If Village Chief Old Jack had not specifically told him to wait at home, he would probably have been squatting outside the Awakening Room at first light.

Finally, just as he was staring himself blind with anticipation, Old Jack came slowly toward him, leaning on his cane.

"Village Chief Grandpa, you're finally here!"

Lin Xuan sprang to his feet and jogged over, unable to hide the urgency in his voice.

"You little monkey, you've been anxious, haven't you?"

Old Jack laughed heartily as he teased him at the sight of his excitement.

"I-I wasn't that anxious."

Lin Xuan scratched his head sheepishly, stubbornly denying it.

"It's good that you weren't."

Old Jack smiled and waved his hand.

"Following the usual schedule, Lord Soul Master has to awaken the children in the neighboring village first. By the time it's Sacred Soul Village's turn, it'll already be around noon. Going early would only mean waiting for nothing."

He had come specifically to pick Lin Xuan up because he was afraid the child would foolishly go wait there and wear himself out.

He knew Lin Xuan's difficulties well. An orphan had to work far harder than other children his age to manage a household.

"Hehe, I was just too excited."

Lin Xuan chuckled and admitted it honestly.

"Silly Child, who wouldn't be excited at a time like this?"

Old Jack smiled so broadly that the Crow's Feet at the corners of his eyes squeezed together.

"Come on, let's pick up Tang San first. The time should be about right."

Lin Xuan quickly stepped forward to support Old Jack by the arm. At the words "pick up Tang San," his brows lifted almost imperceptibly, though his face showed no sign of anything unusual.

That was only natural. In the village, he and Tang San were the most unusual. He was an orphan, while Tang San had a father, but Tang Hao drank all day and never acted responsibly.

The other children all had parents to bring them to the awakening on time. Only the two of them needed Old Jack to take extra care of them.

The two walked slowly until they finally stopped before a dilapidated Blacksmith Shop at the village entrance.

When it came to Sacred Soul Village's "most talked-about figures," Lin Xuan and Tang San unquestionably occupied the top two spots.

There was rarely anything new happening in the village, so their "unconventional" ways became everyone's topic of conversation after meals.

Yet the lives the two led could not have been more different.

Though Lin Xuan was an orphan, his parents had left behind more than a dozen mu of land. He had entrusted the Villagers to help tend it while becoming a little landlord himself. With his obedient nature, sweet tongue, and quick hands, he kept his small household in excellent order and lived more comfortably than many children with parents.

At the very least, no child in the village was sturdier than him.

Tang San, on the other hand, clearly had Tang Hao earning money as a blacksmith, yet their life was a complete mess.

The Blacksmith Shop was chaotic, the courtyard was piled high with scrap, and there was not even a proper door.

Seeing the run-down sight, Old Jack could not help shaking his head.

In the past, he might have nagged Tang Hao a few times. But ever since seeing how spotlessly Lin Xuan kept his home, the comparison had lingered more strongly in his mind.

It was true that blacksmithing was difficult for Tang Hao, but shouldn't Xiao San help out a little? At least tidy up the house?

Both were children without mothers, so why was the difference so great?

He did not even dare push the door too hard, afraid it would fall apart at a touch. He could only stand outside and raise his voice.

"Xiao San, are you home?"

"Coming! Coming!"

Tang San's hurried reply came from inside.

Through the crack in the door, Lin Xuan caught sight of Tang San turning toward the drunken Tang Hao slumped in the corner after answering, his gaze full of pleading.

"Go on, go on."

Tang Hao waved him away impatiently, his voice carrying an inescapable irritation.

Lin Xuan understood it perfectly well. Tang Hao's harsh treatment of Tang San was not necessarily all due to depression.

How could a Titled Douluo possibly fail to notice Tang San's abnormalities?

His maturity far beyond his age, his skilled cooking, the Purple Demon Eye and Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track he secretly cultivated...

As long as Tang San practiced those things, there was no way he could hide them from Tang Hao's eyes.

Perhaps Tang Hao had long suspected that the soul inside that body was not truly his son's.

But if he really had to act, seeing that face so much like his own, he could not bring himself to be ruthless. He could only drown his sorrows in alcohol and conceal his inner struggle with indifference.

That was what had created Tang San's seemingly miserable childhood.

Lin Xuan had also had his share of frantic, clumsy moments.

When he had first transmigrated, he could not even use a flint properly. He either went next door to borrow fire or carefully preserved a Core Flame. Whenever he cooked, he ended up covered in soot.

He also ran into trouble caring for livestock, sometimes leaving them hungry enough to whimper. Only after gaining experience did things become much easier.

He had shown none of the impressive bearing expected of a transmigrator.

Fortunately, he had endured. Over three years, he gradually transitioned and subtly made the Villagers accept his "changes." Even Tang Hao had never grown suspicious of him.

"Village Chief Grandpa!"

Tang San pushed open the creaking wooden door and ran out. At a glance, he spotted Old Jack and Lin Xuan, but he directly ignored Lin Xuan and greeted only Old Jack.

Old Jack looked at his thin clothes and opened his mouth, wanting to offer a few reminders, but ultimately swallowed them.

Tang San was already more sensible than many of the village children. Yet compared to Lin Xuan, he always lacked a certain warmth and attentiveness to everyday life.

Lin Xuan and Tang San exchanged a glance. Neither greeted the other.

Lin Xuan had his own pride. He knew Tang San did not like him, so there was no need to press a warm face against a cold backside;

as for Tang San, he looked down on these "native" children from the bottom of his heart and could not be bothered to socialize with them.

"Ah, let's go."

Old Jack sighed helplessly at the two children who kept out of each other's way, then took the lead toward the Martial Soul Awakening Room.

It had to be said that after serving as Village Chief for more than twenty years, Old Jack's timing was impeccable.

They had barely arrived at the Awakening Room's entrance when Su Yuntao appeared before them in a few swift leaps, moving with agile ease—clearly well rested.

This time, Sacred Soul Village had a total of nine children participating in the awakening. With Lin Xuan and Tang San included, the group was complete.

"Come in, all of you."

After a brief exchange, Su Yuntao pushed open the doors of the Martial Soul Awakening Hall and waved to the children over his shoulder.

"Children, make sure you listen carefully to Master Su Yuntao's instructions. No misbehaving!"

Just before the doors closed, Old Jack still clung to the crack, reminding them anxiously.

"I know, Village Chief Grandpa."

Lin Xuan turned and waved to Old Jack to show that he understood, while the anticipation in his heart had already reached its peak.

Su Yuntao quickly arranged the awakening ceremony. Then he turned to the children standing in a row and asked flatly,

"All right. Who wants to go first?"