The old man had aged considerably, but his spirit remained sharp. At that moment, his cloudy eyes shone with the brilliance of a newborn sun.
Behind him stood a large crowd of villagers. Men and women, old and young, had blocked the village entrance so completely that not even water could pass through.
Those children who had been beaten by the stone-armored bear cubs now hid behind the adults. They poked out their heads, staring at Mu Rong with a mixture of curiosity and fear.
"It's that troublesome child!"
Old Monk stopped in front of Mu Rong, spat out a mouthful of phlegm, and circled him once.
His clothes were tattered, but he stood there like a pine tree. His back was straight, and though his face was covered in sweat, he still refused to let that hateful fellow's spittle stain him.
"Good... good lad."
Old Monk glared at Mu Rong.
"Brat, your matter was told to me by Second Dog's son, the child who nearly lost his life. That terrifying young man who defeated the stone-armored bear cubs..."
As he spoke, Old Monk's eyes narrowed slightly. He heavily struck his walking stick against the ground.
"Since you inherited the Sacred Soul Tree, that means you are fated. As long as you don't dislike this old man's shabby hut, it will be your home from now on!"
Mu Rong looked at the kind old man standing before the Demon Blade, and his heart stirred faintly.
According to the old clothes he wore, Old Monk was a good man with a warm heart. For Tang San to attend school, he had even humbled himself to beg others for help.
Now that he had inherited it, this kindness was not false. Since he had gained strength, he would properly repay this old man.
"I don't mind."
Mu Rong nodded slightly.
"As long as the old master is willing to take me in and give me a bite to eat, I'll already be very grateful."
"Hahaha, good! What a sensible child!"
Old Monk pointed at Mu Rong and laughed. His wrinkles stretched into a broad smile.
"From now on, you'll live at the old master's house. I'll see who dares bully you!"
At this, the stone-armored bear cubs behind the crowd roared angrily.
The bear cubs immediately covered their mouths and trembled, not daring to make another sound.
"That... that..."
The youth who had called Second Dog's son forward shoved the stone-armored bear cub aside and awkwardly squeezed over.
"Little... little brother, could you please let me take a look at the Demon Blade?"
He pointed at Mu Rong.
"I have seen all the Demon Blades except the one from the Martial Soul Hall. They are merely crude imitations and cannot compare to the Demon Blade..."
The other blades were all made from ordinary metals. The old blacksmith was only able to forge weapons with a Martial Soul...
His voice fell, and the surrounding villagers also began whispering. Several of them stretched their necks, eagerly waiting.
"Is that so? Let me take a look too."
"Even the Martial Soul Hall's Demon Blade can be attached to someone's Martial Soul. It's truly incredible!"
Old Monk looked at him in surprise, but the hand gripping the Demon Blade trembled slightly. Even he wanted to get a closer look at it.
After all, this was a Demon Blade born from the Six Innate Souls. It meant that the village of the Sacred Soul Tree might produce another peerless Demon Blade in the future.
That was the hope of the entire village.
Mu Rong took four steps forward and lifted the Demon Blade. The outline of the blade that all the villagers admired was revealed beneath his gaze.
The villagers' eyes filled with wonder. Although the blade looked somewhat crude, to Mu Rong, it was still the finest protection.
As long as he could awaken his Martial Soul, his position in the Sacred Soul Tree Village would be as stable as Mount Tai.
"Good."
Mu Rong gave a faint smile and withdrew his Martial Soul.
His thoughts stirred slightly, and his soul power began to surge.
Behind him, a piercing chill spread outward from his body.
The originally warm air suddenly plummeted in temperature. The surrounding villagers couldn't help shivering.
"Hiss—"
A massive serpent's shadow suddenly floated behind Mu Rong.
It was not the tiny poisonous snake from before. Its body was as thick as an adult's thigh, and its scales shone like crystal. Its cold, gloomy aura spread in every direction.
The Ice Phoenix Snake coiled and rose. Its enormous eyes stared coldly at the villagers, and its forked tongue hissed. A frightening, pale mist poured from its mouth.
"What the hell!"
The villagers at the front collapsed onto the ground, their legs going weak. Some even scrambled backward on all fours.
The bear cubs let out a chorus of "wow" and immediately began crying. Even the stone-armored bear cubs buried their heads against the adults, not daring to look.
"That... that's the Demon Blade!"
Second Dog's mouth fell open. He had enough courage to take a step backward, but his legs were trembling violently.
"Such... such a huge snake!"
Old Monk also stared wide-eyed. His fingers, gripping the Demon Blade's hilt, turned pale.
Many Demon Blades had awakened in the Martial Soul Hall, but most were merely ordinary beast souls. Never had there been one as imposing and frightening as this Demon Blade.
The cold aura alone, even from several meters away, made him feel as though his old bones were aching.
"Innate Six Souls... a heaven-defying Martial Soul!"
Old Monk drew a deep breath, and the fervor in his eyes grew even stronger.
He had finally found it!
This was the one blessed by heaven, the hope of the Sacred Soul Tree Village!
Mu Rong withdrew his Martial Soul, and the poisonous air dispersed. The terrifying Ice Phoenix Snake also vanished without a trace.
Aside from his face being somewhat pale, he looked no different from an ordinary child.
"Old master, I'm a little tired."
Mu Rong's voice weakened slightly.
"Oh, child, child!"
Old Monk hurried back, waved his walking stick, and scattered the crowd.
"Everyone disperse! Disperse! Stop blocking the troublesome child. Let him rest properly!"
The villagers suddenly understood, but they still left in twos and threes, looking back at the enormous serpent in astonishment.
Second Dog was even more excited. It was as though he had personally awakened the Martial Soul, bouncing around and shouting with delight.
"Child, what's your name?"
After the crowd dispersed, Old Monk bent down and spoke in a gentle voice.
"Mu Rong."
"Mu Rong? What a good name, you little genius!"
Old Monk spoke solemnly, then reached out and grabbed Mu Rong's small, icy hand.
"Come, follow Grandpa back home. From now on, in the Sacred Soul Tree Village, no one will dare look down on you."
His large, rough hand wrapped around Mu Rong's small hand.
Mu Rong felt the warmth and strength in the old man's palm. The knot of coldness in his heart loosened slightly.
The first step was considered complete.
As long as he obtained the work-study student's recommendation and entered the Junior Soul Master Academy, he could truly begin his path of cultivation.
Whether it was Jade Little Blade or Bi Bi, it would not matter then.
Mu Rong lowered his head and concealed the murderous intent in his eyes.
The floodwater washed away the bloodstains, but that repulsive corpse-like smell still lingered in the air.
The wooden bucket was rinsed three times, until the water running from it became clear.
Mu Rong stood beside the half-person-high stone platform.
The person in the stone platform was no longer the ragged beggar he had once been.
The long tail of Ice Crystal extended outward. The five-colored light suddenly became sharp, piercing through the cold peak condensed from the years of resentment.
Most notably, the deep blue eye sockets were filled with a sinister, gloomy poison.
This was the transformation of the Sacred Soul Tree's Martial Soul.
Mu Rong put on Old Monk's coarse cloth robe. It was somewhat loose on him, but it was warm and clean.
He pushed open the door, and the aroma of cooked vegetables immediately entered his nose.
On the table sat two bowls of rough millet porridge, a plate of pickled vegetables, and two fried eggs cooked until golden.
For an ordinary child in the Sacred Soul Tree Village, this was already a luxurious meal that he could not have eaten in years.
"Have you washed up?"
Old Monk placed the fried eggs into Mu Rong's bowl, then urged him kindly.
"Eat quickly. You're still growing. You need to eat properly."
Before you continue