The Children of Others

And Level 3!

Su Yuntao's fingers tightened slightly around the Crystal Ball as his gaze swept back and forth over Lin Xuan, his eyes filled with barely concealed regret.

This was no ordinary Level 1 or 2. Innate Level 3 Soul Power was enough to make someone a genius in any ordinary village!

One had to know that in a remote little city like Nuoding City, a soul master with Innate Level 3 Soul Power only needed to cultivate diligently to have a good chance of breaking through to the Soul Ancestor realm in the future. They might even have a chance to compete for the position of city lord.

That was a genuine noble status, one that could bring glory to an entire family.

Yet this child's Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass.

"What a pity. Such a pity!"

Su Yuntao could not help muttering to himself, the regret in his tone nearly overflowing.

"Even a farm-tool Martial Soul like a sickle or hoe would have been better. But it had to be Blue Silver Grass, a Waste Spirit with practically no combat power. What a waste of such good talent."

Lin Xuan stood right beside him and heard every word clearly. He could not help rolling his eyes inwardly.

Well then, Su Yuntao was truly unchanging, while the "Waste Spirit" assessment came and went.

With this Blind Douluo's personal certification, if he failed to Become a God in the future, he would be letting down this special "blessing."

His Blue Silver Grass with Level 3 Soul Power had already made Su Yuntao regretful to this extent. Once Tang San's Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power appeared, would this Master not have a heart attack on the spot?

Still, complaints aside, Lin Xuan maintained an obedient expression on the surface and spoke at the right moment to break the awkward silence.

"Master Su Yuntao, has my Martial Soul... awakened successfully?"

"It has. Of course it has!"

Su Yuntao came back to his senses and hurriedly reined in his regretful expression. Remembering the blazing light in Lin Xuan's eyes earlier, he feared that his words might discourage the child and quickly adopted an encouraging tone.

"Congratulations, child. You've obtained your ticket into the world of soul masters!

"As long as you cultivate diligently in the future, you'll eventually become a Soul Grandmaster like me. You may even surpass me.

"You should know that when my Martial Soul awakened back then, my Innate Soul Power was only Level 2."

He truly meant those words.

Although Su Yuntao believed that the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had a low ceiling, the foundation of Innate Level 3 Soul Power was there. As long as Lin Xuan was willing to work hard, becoming a Soul Elder or Soul Ancestor should not be a problem. That already put him far above most ordinary people.

After a brief pause, he still extended Spirit Hall's invitation as a matter of routine.

"Child, since you've awakened Soul Power, although your Martial Soul is somewhat ordinary, your talent is still quite good.

"Would you consider joining Spirit Hall?

"We can provide you with dedicated cultivation resources and guidance from the most professional teachers. It would be far better than trying to figure things out on your own."

Lin Xuan had long since made up his mind. Hearing this, he pretended to be curious and asked, "Master Su Yuntao, if I join Spirit Hall, would I have to attend Spirit Hall's academy?"

"That's right."

Su Yuntao nodded and, unusually, began explaining patiently.

"Children like you with Innate Soul Power at Level 3 or below will first enter an Elementary Soul Master Academy established by Spirit Hall to receive systematic education.

"Once your age and Soul Power meet the requirements, you'll transfer to an intermediate or advanced academy according to your talent.

"If your talent is a little lacking, you can still become a Spirit Hall Steward like me after graduation and be assigned to various places to handle matters such as Martial Soul awakenings. It's considered a respectable job."

After hearing this, Lin Xuan immediately came to a conclusion.

Spirit Hall's academies were practically a state-run iron rice bowl system.

Once he entered, he would essentially be bound to them and could only follow Spirit Hall's arrangements step by step. Forget transferring schools—he suspected even withdrawing would not be easy.

His current Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass. In the future, he had to take a different path, perhaps even make use of knowledge and methods beyond this era. How could he allow himself to be constrained by a single faction?

"Sorry, Master Su Yuntao."

Lin Xuan scratched his head and spoke as if somewhat embarrassed.

"For the time being, I don't want to join any soul master faction. I only want to be a free soul master and slowly figure out how to cultivate on my own."

"Ah, fine."

Su Yuntao did not press the matter. After all, the potential of the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was limited. Even if Lin Xuan joined Spirit Hall, he might not achieve much. Su Yuntao had merely been following procedure.

With a sigh, he took a yellowed sheet of paper from his robes, then brought out a brush and asked, "What's your name? What month were you born in?"

"Lin Xuan. I just turned six!"

Su Yuntao quickly wrote down Lin Xuan's name, age, Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, and Innate Level 3 Soul Power. Finally, he stamped it with his Steward's seal, completing an official Martial Soul Awakening Certificate.

He handed the paper to Lin Xuan.

"Take it. This is your Martial Soul Awakening Certificate. You'll need it whenever you apply to any soul master academy in the future.

"Go wait outside for now, but don't go too far. Once everyone has completed their awakening, I still have a few things to tell you."

"Alright, thank you, Master Su Yuntao!"

Lin Xuan took the certificate, carefully folded it, and tucked it into his clothes. Still, he was somewhat surprised.

He had wanted to stay and see whether Tang San would reveal the Clear Sky Hammer in his left hand during his awakening, but he had not expected to be told to leave first.

Apparently, that was the rule for Martial Soul awakenings. He could not defy it, so he could only turn around, push open the doors, and walk out of the Martial Soul Awakening Hall.

Just before the doors closed, he instinctively looked back and happened to see Su Yuntao calling the next child forward. His expression remained as professional and serious as ever; he truly was doing his duty conscientiously.

At the same time, his gaze met Tang San's, who stood at the very back of the line.

Tang San's eyes were deep, carrying a faint, barely noticeable trace of scrutiny. Lin Xuan merely glanced at him indifferently before looking away.

Without a word exchanged between them, the doors shut tightly with a creak, completely separating the inside of the hall from the outside.

The moment Lin Xuan stepped out, he was surrounded by the waiting Villagers.

Like the first student to rush out of a college entrance examination room, he instantly became the center of attention.

The parents in the village stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, firing off questions over one another. The noise was so loud it nearly drowned out the birdsong in the distance.

"Xiao Xuan! How was it? Did you awaken a Martial Soul?"

"Was it a good Martial Soul? Do you have Soul Power?"

"Quick, tell us! What did Master Su Yuntao say?"

The elders were far too enthusiastic, all speaking at once. For a moment, Lin Xuan did not even know whom to answer first.

Just as he was at a loss, a stern roar suddenly rang out. "Shut up, all of you! What are you making such a fuss for?!"

It was Village Chief Old Jack.

The previously noisy crowd fell silent at once. The Villagers closed their mouths and consciously made way for Old Jack.

Leaning on his cane, Old Jack quickly walked over to Lin Xuan. His eyes immediately fell on the Martial Soul Awakening Certificate peeking out from Lin Xuan's clothes.

He knew that thing all too well.

Although Sacred Soul Village had "Sacred Soul" in its name, over the years, quite a few children had awakened Soul Power.

It was only that there had been none in recent years. He clearly remembered that more than a decade ago, the certificate belonging to a Soul Master Seedling from Sacred Soul Village had looked exactly like the one in Lin Xuan's hands.

That child had long since become a true Soul Master and moved with his entire family In the City, never to return.

"Xiao Xuan, you... you awakened Soul Power?"

Old Jack's voice trembled with barely restrained excitement, and even his hands shook slightly.

He had been Village Chief for over twenty years. His greatest wish was for the village to produce another Soul Master and make Sacred Soul Village worthy of its name.

Seeing Old Jack's expectant gaze, then the curious and envious looks of the surrounding Villagers, Lin Xuan smiled and did not hide it.

Innate Soul Power Level 3 might be considered genius-level in the eyes of Ordinary People, but to the true top powers of the continent, it was not worth mentioning at all. There was no need to conceal it.

He took the Awakening Certificate from his clothes and handed it to Old Jack.

"Yes, I did. My Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass, and I have Innate Soul Power Level 3."

"Whoa—!"

The moment Lin Xuan finished speaking, it was like a stone tossed into a calm lake, instantly stirring up towering waves.

All the Villagers present erupted into an uproar, their faces filled with shock and wild delight.

These Ordinary People did not understand anything about the quality of Martial Souls. After all, nearly everyone had a Martial Soul—hoes, sickles, and Blue Silver Grass were everywhere.

What they truly cared about were the words "Soul Power."

It was the only pass to becoming a Soul Master, something they could never reach in their entire lives!

The next second, all kinds of praise and admiration flooded toward Lin Xuan as though they cost nothing.

"I knew it! Xiao Xuan has always been such a sensible child. He gets up early and trains hard every day. It's no surprise at all that he awakened Soul Power!"

"Exactly! What child is as disciplined as him?"

"For three whole years, he never stopped, rain or shine. If it were my boy, he would've started slacking off long ago!"

"If I'd known training could really help awaken Soul Power, I would've made my Hu Zi train with Xiao Xuan no matter what!

It's too late for regrets now!"

Where there was envy, there was regret.

Nearly every Villager believed that Lin Xuan had awakened Soul Power entirely because of his unwavering training over the past three years.

The parents who had allowed their children to give up training were now so regretful their guts nearly turned green. One after another, they beat their chests and stamped their feet, their faces full of remorse.

Surrounded by the crowd, Lin Xuan smiled and thanked them while secretly feeling relieved.

Thankfully, he had planted the excuse of "training helps with awakening" early on. Now, everyone attributed his success to hard work.

His sudden awakening of Soul Power made them envious, but not suspicious.

Besides, Blue Silver Grass with Level 3 Soul Power was actually quite normal.

Over the following period, a child would emerge from the Awakening Hall every few minutes.

However, most of them wore disappointed expressions. Clearly, none of them had awakened Soul Power.

With Lin Xuan as a "successful example" before them, the children who had failed to awaken Soul Power all drooped their heads in low spirits, while their parents finally found an outlet for their frustration.

Still, everyone knew it was inappropriate to discipline their children in public. One after another, they dragged their own children away by the ear and headed home.

From far away, the parents' disappointed scoldings could be heard, mixed with the aggrieved cries of the children.

"Look at Lin Xuan! You're both six years old, yet he awakened Third-Rank Soul Power. What about you?

You don't even have Soul Power! I told you to train with him, but you wouldn't listen. Regretting it now, aren't you?"

"I'll deal with you properly once we get home! All you do is play in the mud all day. You never do anything useful—what kind of future can you possibly have?"

Those voices gradually faded into the distance, until only Lin Xuan and Old Jack remained, staring at each other.

Old Jack still clutched Lin Xuan's awakening certificate in his hand. The smile on his face never faded as he kept muttering:

"Wonderful, wonderful! Sacred Soul Village has finally produced another promising Soul Master!

Xiao Xuan, you really are the pride of our village!"

Lin Xuan rubbed his nose, feeling a little embarrassed. After all, he had only awakened Blue Silver Grass. Though he was confident he could cultivate Blue Silver Grass into something formidable, at this stage, he truly was not much of a genius.

"Village Chief Grandpa, I only have Third-Rank Soul Power, and my Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. I can't really be considered some outstanding Soul Master prospect."

"How can you not?"

Old Jack immediately refuted him.

"Simply awakening Soul Power already makes you far stronger than us Ordinary People! So what if it's Blue Silver Grass?

As long as you're willing to cultivate diligently, you can still become a powerful Soul Master in the future!

Let's wait until the rest come out, then we'll head back and celebrate!"