Martial Soul Awakening, Sword of Order

Douluo Continent.

Spirit City, Southside Orphanage.

Today was the annual Martial Soul Awakening Day.

The children at the Orphanage who had reached the age of six stood in a long line, around twenty of them, all looking slightly nervous.

At the end of the line stood a little boy with black hair and black eyes, his features just beginning to show a handsome edge. Yet he was unusually calm.

The boy was named Ji Xuan, a transmigrator from Blue Star. Disgusted by Tang San's so-called "pure and immaculate" act and Yu Xiaogang's hypocrisy, he had made a few snide remarks. Then, for no apparent reason, everything went black before his eyes. He had transmigrated to Douluo Continent as a baby and was picked up by a Spirit Hall enforcement squad on an outing, then brought back to the Orphanage.

Ji Xuan had thought that, like countless other transmigrators, he would possess a system, crush that little punk Tang San, and rise to the top.

But until today... the system still had not appeared, and he had long since given up hope.

Based on the information Ji Xuan had learned, he should have been about the same age as Tang San, the Child of Fortune.

As long as he awakened a powerful Martial Soul, coupled with his advantage of foresight—

So what if he had no system? He believed he could still reach the pinnacle through his own efforts.

"You, come forward."

The one overseeing the awakening ceremony was a Red Cardinal of Spirit Hall. He motioned to the first little boy in line.

The little boy clutched the hem of his clothes tightly in both hands as he walked to the center of the awakening formation.

"Don't be afraid. Close your eyes and feel carefully."

The Red Cardinal gave a low shout. "Martial Soul Possession."

His Martial Soul was the Mad Horn Giant Rhinoceros. Beneath his feet floated seven Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black. He was clearly a Soul Saint.

The Red Cardinal poured Soul Power into the hexagram formation, and the formation immediately lit up.

The Red Cardinal said in a deep voice, "Hold out your right hand."

The little boy raised his right hand, and a stalk of Blue Silver Grass appeared in his palm.

Seeing this, the Red Cardinal shook his head slightly, though there was no ripple in his eyes.

Most of the children in the Orphanage came from commoner families. Their relatives had been lost to Fallen Spirit Masters, and after being rescued by Spirit Hall's enforcement squads, they had been sent to the Orphanage.

Martial Souls were inherited from one's parents. Naturally, most of them possessed ordinary Martial Souls, and those who could become Spirit Masters were even fewer still.

"Use your thoughts to withdraw your Martial Soul, then test your Soul Power."

As he spoke, the Red Cardinal handed over a blue crystal ball and motioned for the little boy to place his hand on it.

A moment later, the crystal ball flickered with a faint gleam.

The Red Cardinal said calmly, "Tool Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass, Innate Soul Power Level 1."

After registering the boy's information, the Red Cardinal sent him out.

"Next."

The children behind him stepped forward one after another in order.

"Tool Martial Soul, sickle. No Soul Power."

"Beast Martial Soul, Iron Arm Bear. Innate Soul Power Level 4."

"Tool Martial Soul, Thorn Vine. Innate Soul Power Level 2."

After a long while, Ji Xuan was the only one left in line.

Of the children before him, only half possessed Innate Soul Power.

The highest was a boy with Innate Soul Power Level 7 and a spear Tool Martial Soul. With such talent, he had hope of becoming a Soul Saint and was worthy of Spirit Hall's intensive cultivation.

As for the children with low Innate Soul Power, they would later be assigned posts at Martial Soul Branch Halls in other towns.

Those without Soul Power could choose ordinary work to support themselves.

Ji Xuan walked calmly to the center of the formation.

The Red Cardinal gave Ji Xuan a surprised look.

Ji Xuan was far too calm, completely out of place among the children before him.

Within the formation, Ji Xuan felt a warm energy surge forth from every part of his body.

Then, all the energy gathered in his right hand...

Ji Xuan subconsciously raised his right hand, and a small golden longsword slowly appeared above his palm.

At the same time, information about his Martial Soul appeared in Ji Xuan's mind:

Sword of Order, possessing the Power of Order and capable of controlling the laws of all things.

The Red Cardinal's eyes immediately lit up.

He vaguely sensed that this seemed to be an extremely powerful Sword-type Martial Soul.

"Quickly withdraw your Martial Soul and test your Soul Power." The Red Cardinal looked at Ji Xuan expectantly.

Hearing this, Ji Xuan withdrew his Martial Soul with a thought and placed his hand on the crystal ball before him.

At once, the crystal ball blazed with light, sparkling like a radiant gemstone.

"Innate Full Soul Power!"

The Red Cardinal cried out in shock.

Such geniuses were exceedingly rare throughout Douluo Continent.

Over the past few years, the highest talent among the Orphanage children had only been Innate Soul Power Level 9. One of them had even been accepted by His Holiness the Pope as a personal disciple.

The rest had all become Spirit Hall's elite disciples and received extensive cultivation.

He had never expected that an Innate Full Soul Power genius would appear now!

"Your name, and what is your Martial Soul called?"

The Red Cardinal's tone carried a trace of excitement. Awakening an Innate Full Soul Power genius and reporting it to His Holiness the Pope would surely earn him a handsome reward.

"Ji Xuan." Ji Xuan's expression remained calm. After a pause, he said, "My Martial Soul is called the Sword of Order."

After filling out Ji Xuan's information, the Red Cardinal left the hall and headed toward Martial Soul Mountain.

On the streets of Spirit City.

A white-haired youth skipped about like a child, holding a stick of candied hawthorn in his hand.

"Hey, what's got you in such a hurry?"

Seeing the Red Cardinal rushing about in a panic, the youth curiously called out to stop him.

The Red Cardinal looked over at the sound, paused, then quickly stepped before the youth and bowed.

"Greetings, Fifth Worship. This Subordinate has an urgent matter to report to His Holiness the Pope."

The youth was none other than Guang Ling, the Fifth Worship of the Worship Hall and a level ninety-six Super Douluo.

Though he looked like a youth, he was actually over a hundred years old.

Guang Ling Douluo had the temperament of a child and had always been lively and restless. Unable to stay cooped up in the Worship Hall, he had come out to have some fun.

"Oh...?" Guang Ling Douluo noticed the stack of lists in the Red Cardinal's hand. "Let me see."

The Red Cardinal dared not refuse and quickly handed the list to Guang Ling Douluo.

Guang Ling Douluo took it and narrowed his eyes. The first page contained Ji Xuan's Martial Soul awakening information.

Innate Full Soul Power, Sword of Order...

Guang Ling Douluo flipped through the remaining lists before returning them to the Red Cardinal.

Without another word, his figure flashed, turning into an icy blue Streaking Light that vanished beyond the horizon.

Flying was forbidden in Spirit City, but Guang Ling Douluo could not worry about that now. An Innate Full Soul Power genius was a matter of great importance. Great Worship had to be informed as soon as possible so he could make the decision...

Papal Palace.

Pope Bibi Dong had her eyes closed as she lounged against the papal throne, one hand propping up her cheek on the armrest while the other held the Papal Scepter.

"Greetings, His Holiness the Pope."

The Red Cardinal walked to the center of the great hall and knelt on one knee with utmost respect.

"What is it?"

Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes. Her voice was calm, yet carried a trace of authority.

"Reporting to His Holiness the Pope, an Innate Full Soul Power genius has awakened at the Southside Orphanage."

"Bring me his information." Bibi Dong immediately sat upright.

The Red Cardinal rose to his feet, lowered his head slightly, and dared not look directly at Bibi Dong as he presented the stack of lists with both hands.

Bibi Dong took them, and upon seeing Ji Xuan's Martial Soul awakening information, she was immediately delighted.

"Good! Well done!" A faint smile appeared on Bibi Dong's lips. "Go collect your reward first."

"Thank you, His Holiness the Pope."

The Red Cardinal's face brightened with joy. After respectfully bowing, he withdrew from the Papal Palace.

As the doors of the Papal Palace slowly closed, the smile on Bibi Dong's lips turned sinister.

If an Innate Full Soul Power genius could be used by her, he would become a powerful asset when she carried out her plans in the future.

Bibi Dong rose to her feet and vanished from the Papal Palace.