Holy Spirit Village and Martial Soul Awakening

Heaven Dou Empire, Holy Spirit Village.

The annual Martial Soul Awakening was underway, and the blind Titled Douluo, Su Yuntao, was awakening the Martial Souls of the village's children of suitable age one by one.

Among the children, one little boy stood out as calmer than the others. Though his clothes were shabby, his features were as delicate as carved jade.

"Don't worry. Once Little San finishes awakening his Martial Soul, it'll be your turn."

Village Chief Jack said to the child with a genial smile.

Lin Qi had no idea how the old village chief had seen that he was anxious, but he still smiled and nodded at him.

Lin Qi had been transported to Douluo Continent for six years. His parents had died early, and Village Chief Jack had taken great care of him over the years, so Lin Qi was quite close to him.

At last, Tang San—the future God King and planner of a ten-thousand-year grand scheme—began his Martial Soul Awakening.

Lin Qi was also curious about what Martial Soul he would awaken. It couldn't possibly be a Waste Martial Soul, could it?

But an overly powerful Martial Soul was not necessarily a good thing. After all, Tang Hao was still in the village.

If Tang Hao decided that his talent was too great and that he might threaten Tang San in the future, it was hard to say whether he would do something to him.

Over the years, Lin Qi had not tried to build a good relationship with Tang San.

If he carelessly saw Tang San cultivating Tang Sect techniques or making Hidden Weapons, Tang God King might well tell him he had chosen the Way of Death. Then he would be finished.

Tang San had even harbored killing intent toward his teacher, Yu Xiaogang. Lin Qi did not dare gamble on whether Tang San would try to kill him.

"Good heavens, Innate Full Soul Power!"

Following Su Yuntao's astonished cry, Tang San, who had awakened the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, was also found to possess Innate Full Soul Power.

The children all stared at Tang San in astonishment. Lin Qi wore the same surprised expression, but what shocked him was the voice that had suddenly appeared in his mind.

[Detected an individual with a powerful background. Background Suppression System activated.]

"System?"

Lin Qi had called out for a system more than once over the years, yet he had never received any response. He had long given up hope of actually having one.

He had not expected the system to emerge on its own at this moment.

But what exactly was this Background Suppression System?

[This system is dedicated to forging the strongest and deepest background for the host. After binding a Suppression Target, whenever the target displays a background surpassing that of the host, the host will automatically receive rewards sufficient to suppress the target's background.]

[In short, the Background Suppression System does not permit any existence with a stronger background than the host.]

Lin Qi fell silent for a moment.

This system did not seem to directly increase his strength, but enhancing his background might prove even more powerful and could indirectly improve his strength as well.

[Suitable binding target detected. Does the host wish to bind immediately?]

"Little Qi, it's your turn." Village Chief Jack patted Lin Qi's shoulder.

Tang San had already refused Su Yuntao's recruitment. It was time for the next child to awaken their Martial Soul.

"Okay."

Lin Qi looked at Tang San as he walked toward him, and a "Bindable" marker had appeared above Tang San's head.

"Bind," Lin Qi silently said in his heart.

When it came to backgrounds, who on Douluo Continent could compare with Tang San?

He was the son of the Clear Sky Douluo and the nephew of the Clear Sky Sect's sect master. Yet that was not even his strongest background, since Spirit Hall was more powerful than the Clear Sky Sect.

Tang San would also be favored by the Sea God and the Asura God. A Level One God and a God King would compete to hand their divine positions to him.

Even if the system could only bind Tang San as its one Suppression Target, that would be enough for Lin Qi to roam freely across Douluo Continent.

"Come here." Su Yuntao's tone was somewhat casual.

After awakening Tang San's Martial Soul, Su Yuntao had lost interest. He did not think there could be another child who would catch his eye.

[Ding! Successfully bound Suppression Target Tang San.]

[Detected that Suppression Target Tang San displayed extraordinary talent during his Martial Soul Awakening. Though he concealed it with all his might, he possesses the one-in-ten-thousand Twin Martial Souls.]

[Suppression Target Tang San possesses a mysterious background and the bloodlines of two powerful individuals, far surpassing the host.]

Lin Qi did not know whether this system was intelligent or idiotic. If it was intelligent, then it should have known Tang San's background, yet it had not recognized it.

If it was idiotic, then it had seen through Tang San's hidden Twin Martial Souls and even determined that he possessed the bloodline of powerful people.

But whatever. It did not matter whether it was intelligent or idiotic, as long as the rewards were worthwhile.

[Background Suppression activated. Rewarding the host with the favor of the Douluo Plane Consciousness!]

Well, Tang San had the bloodline of powerful people, and the system directly rewarded him with the favor of the Plane Consciousness.

At that moment, Lin Qi's Martial Soul Awakening was also complete.

An unfathomable longsword appeared in Lin Qi's right hand. Its intricate patterns seemed to depict the mountains, rivers, geography, and myriad living things of all Douluo Continent.

"A sword-type Martial Soul? It looks rather impressive. You might even have Innate Soul Power."

Su Yuntao perked up slightly.

"Come, let's test your Innate Soul Power."

Not far away, Village Chief Jack's face immediately broke into a smile, the wrinkles bunching together.

Lin Qi had lost his parents as a child, and Jack had practically treated him as his own grandson. Hearing even Su Yuntao say that Lin Qi's Martial Soul was good, he was genuinely happy for him.

Tang San, standing beside Village Chief Jack, slightly furrowed his brow.

What Martial Soul is that? It actually made my other hidden Martial Soul tremble. Was that just an illusion?

Though he did not know why this feeling had arisen, Tang San had already developed some dislike for Lin Qi.

The next moment, dazzling light suddenly erupted from Lin Qi's direction, making Tang San narrow his eyes slightly.

"This is..."

The same thing had happened just moments ago, when Tang San had tested as possessing Innate Full Soul Power.

Could he also have Innate Full Soul Power? Tang San felt even more uncomfortable. What gives him the right to possess such outstanding talent too?

Sure enough, Su Yuntao's incomparably shocked voice trembled as it rang out.

"Innate Full Soul Power—another Innate Full Soul Power?"

Although Tang San had also awakened with Innate Full Soul Power, his Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass, and Su Yuntao felt it ultimately had limited potential for development.

But Lin Qi's Martial Soul was a sword-type Weapon Martial Soul with formidable offensive power. If properly nurtured, Lin Qi had a great chance of becoming a Titled Douluo once he matured.

Old Jack's eyes narrowed into slits, while the wrinkles on his face became almost absurdly numerous.

"Good child, what a wonderful child! Perhaps Holy Spirit Village will one day be renamed Titled Douluo Village because of him."

Old Jack was almost in tears, both happy for Lin Qi and Proud of Holy Spirit Village.

He deeply cherished his identity as the village chief of Holy Spirit Village.

Hearing Village Chief Jack's words, Tang San's discomfort toward Lin Qi even rose into hostility.

He shot Village Chief Jack a glance. Why had the old man not been this excited when he had awakened Innate Full Soul Power just now?

Then, he looked coldly at Lin Qi.

Hmph, it's only Innate Full Soul Power. Who doesn't have that? I have another Martial Soul. Does he?

I also have the Mysterious Heaven Skill to accelerate my cultivation, along with the Tang Sect's many techniques and Hidden Weapons. He can never compare to me.

With that thought, Tang San's mood immediately improved considerably.