Star Luo Empire, year 2637 of the Tiandou Calendar.
Star Luo City, Royal Western Suburb Villa.
Morning light streamed through the exquisite Glass Windows, spilling across the hall floor paved with Dark Patterned Star Brilliance Stone.
The atmosphere in the hall was solemn. Dozens of elegantly dressed, distinguished men and women stood quietly along either side, their gazes fixed on the center of the hall.
Several six-year-old children stood there in a line, their little faces filled with nervousness and anticipation.
Today was the day that the top noble clans of the Star Luo Empire gathered their children of the appropriate age for their Martial Soul awakenings. Every family invited here was a pillar of the empire, and their descendants had borne the family's rise, fall, honor, and disgrace since birth.
Chen Li stood midway through the line, his posture straight as his unusually calm gaze fell upon the formation ahead, formed from six dark-red awakening stones.
It had been six years since he had been transported into this world by fate, becoming the sole heir of this generation of the Dust Family, an old aristocratic house of the Star Luo Empire.
Over those six years, Chen Li had constantly tried every possible Golden Finger, only to fail every time.
And after six years had passed, Chen Li could only accept that he was an ordinary transmigrator without any Golden Finger.
Having quickly accepted that fact, Chen Li adjusted his mindset just as swiftly. At the very least, the Dust Family had deep foundations. As its heir, he could enjoy wealth and prosperity for the rest of his life.
It all depended on what Martial Soul and talent he awakened. If transmigrator bonuses existed, he would dominate one region. If not, he could just cling tightly to Tang San's thigh.
"Next, Chen Li."
A deep, authoritative voice rang out from the old man standing before the formation, clad in the Consecration Robe of the Star Luo Royal Family. With white hair and beard and an ancient, stern face, he was Dave, a level ninety-two Titled Douluo and consecration of the Star Luo Empire.
Chen Li clasped his slightly sweaty palms together, then stepped forward into the center of the awakening stone formation.
"Close your eyes, focus your mind, and carefully sense the power flowing within your body." Dave's voice seemed to carry a peculiar rhythm. He raised a hand and pressed downward, releasing a vast, sea-like stream of pale-blue Soul Power into the six awakening stones.
Bzzz!
The awakening stones lit up instantly, emitting a gentle red glow that formed a cocoon of light around Chen Li.
A warm current entered through the Baihui point atop his head and swiftly coursed through his limbs and bones, as though awakening something dormant deep within his bloodline.
Here it comes!
Chen Li's thoughts stirred as he focused completely on guiding and sensing it.
[Ding!] A cold, crisp electronic voice suddenly exploded in the depths of his mind! [Detected that the host is within a special energy field and meets the activation conditions... Binding in progress... Binding successful!] [Strongest Sign-in System activated!] [First sign-in location: Royal Western Suburb Villa, Star Luo Empire!] [Sign-in successful!] [Congratulations, host, on obtaining the first sign-in's super reward: Devil Fruit—Logia Type Rumble-Rumble Fruit (version without side effects)!] [Detected that the host is currently undergoing a core rule event of this plane: the Martial Soul awakening process... Forced fusion in progress... Fusion successful!] [Notice: The first sign-in reward has eliminated all inherent side effects of the Devil Fruit, including fear of seawater, Seastone, and more.] [Warning: This system is a special location-event sign-in system. For the next sign-in, the host must independently explore and trigger a specific location or event node.]
Boom!
It was as though a thunderclap had exploded within his soul. An immense, profound torrent of information and a violent power capable of destroying the heavens and earth instantly flooded every inch of Chen Li's flesh and every meridian! Within his body, countless bolts of lightning seemed to be born at once, roaring wildly!
"Hmm?" Dave was the first to notice something strange outside the formation.
Within the red cocoon, the previously stable Soul Power fluctuations suddenly became incomparably violent, as though a powerful force was preparing to burst through the cocoon!
Crackle! Crackle! Crackle!
Blue-white electric serpents burst from the cracks in the light cocoon without warning, striking the awakening stones around it in an instant!
The intense electromagnetic interference disrupted the formation's energy. The six priceless top-grade awakening stones were actually jolted out of position, and their red light rapidly dimmed.
"What is this?!" Representatives from the various families revealed looks of shock.
Bang!
The light cocoon exploded, scattering into motes of light. Chen Li emerged from within, his body surrounded by countless wandering blue-white arcs of electricity. His hair lifted slightly without wind, and flashes of lightning flickered through his eyes as they opened and closed! Beneath his feet, faint scorch marks appeared on the Star Brilliance Stone floor.
The hall fell silent, leaving only the faint hiss of electrical currents.
Several breaths later, the lightning around Chen Li gradually receded and returned to calm.
He could clearly feel that his heart seemed to be condensed from the pure rules of lightning. It beat steadily and powerfully, sending surging thunderous power throughout his body.
At the same time, simple information resembling a virtual interface surfaced in his consciousness:
[Host: Chen Li] [Martial Soul: Logia Type—Rumble-Rumble Fruit] [Soul Power: Level 10 (Innate Full Soul Power)] [Soul Rings: None] [Abilities: Lightning generation, manipulation, Elementalization (preliminary)...] [System Status: Standby (Please explore the world and locate the next sign-in point)]
"A lightning-attributed Martial Soul... Such pure and violent lightning-element fluctuations are truly rare." Dave's sharp gaze swept over Chen Li. A clear hint of surprise finally appeared on his otherwise unreadable face.
"The Dust Family has inherited the Star Dust Sword as its Martial Soul for generations. I never expected this generation to produce a mutated Lightning Martial Soul. Interesting. Come, test your Soul Power."
With a sweep of his sleeve, the Colorless Crystal Ball beside him, used to test Soul Power Level, was lifted by Soul Power and floated before Chen Li.
Chen Li took a deep breath, suppressing the wild joy and excitement in his heart over the system's awakening and the arrival of his Golden Finger. He extended his hand and gently placed it on the crystal ball.
The moment he touched it, a vortex seemed to form within the crystal ball, actively drawing in the newborn, surging lightning Soul Power inside him.
Bzzz!
A dazzling radiance burst from the crystal ball, as brilliant as the noonday sun, illuminating the entire hall!
Its brilliance far surpassed that of every child before him!
"Innate Full Soul Power!" one family representative cried out in a low voice.
"His Martial Soul is of extremely high quality, and he has Innate Full Soul Power as well... The Dust Family is about to produce an extraordinary figure." More people exchanged meaningful looks.
The Dust Family was already one of the empire's great clans. Now that its legitimate heir had displayed such astonishing talent, the empire's balance of power might well experience new ripples.
The gleam in Dave's eyes grew brighter, and his gaze upon Chen Li now held obvious appreciation. "Good! Very good! Dust Family boy, you are quite impressive."
He rarely offered praise, and his tone was noticeably gentler than before. "Stand to the side and wait."
"Thank you, Lord Consecration." Chen Li bowed with proper composure, neither humble nor overbearing. His steadiness made Dave nod to himself in approval.
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