The Weight of Stone Was Reassuring

If you knew it was rude, why ask?

"Innate Soul Power..."

Zhongli fell into thought.

He was not a local "person." No, he was not even human now. Where would he get Innate Soul Power?

He looked over the group, judging by their conversation and appearances.

They were probably the Shrek crowd who had just been driven out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy by Dugu Bo.

"Innate Soul Power?"

"Zhongli, what's Innate Soul Power?"

Paimon flew to Zhongli's side and asked with a puzzled look.

Everyone: "???"

No wonder he had sunk into thought when he heard the question of Innate Soul Power!

He... he had no Innate Soul Power at all!

How pitiful!

Master might be rather useless, but he had half a level of Innate Soul Power. He could cultivate.

This man did not even have Innate Soul Power. He was a muggle among muggles.

What a shame about such a remarkable Martial Soul.

"No Innate Soul Power?"

Yu Xiaogang murmured. He glanced at Paimon and shook his head regretfully. What a pity. This man was trash without Innate Soul Power.

His Martial Soul had no research value, either.

Without Soul Power, how could anyone study things like Soul Skills?

If his descendants inherited his Martial Soul, a mutation might give them Soul Power.

Only then would this Martial Soul have a chance to rise!

A humanoid Martial Soul!

One look at Paimon showed she was "underdeveloped." If she absorbed Soul Rings—if she had Soul Power—she might become a terrifying existence!

"Ah, both External Beast Martial Souls, yet both fated to such misery."

Yu Xiaogang sighed, though a flicker of secret delight crossed his mind.

At least he had half a level of Soul Power, did he not?

"I'm not entirely sure what Innate Soul Power is or where it comes from."

Zhongli ignored Yu Xiaogang and the others, turning to explain it to Paimon.

"On the Douluo Continent, people awaken their Martial Souls at six years old, guided by a Soul Master using an Awakening Stone."

"When a Martial Soul awakens, Innate Soul Power may come with it."

"Without Innate Soul Power, a person cannot meditate or become a Soul Master."

"With Innate Soul Power, even just one level—or half a level—a person can become a Soul Master through their own efforts."

"As for why an awakening comes with Soul Power or without it, that most likely has to do with the quality of the Martial Soul."

"Of course, that isn't absolute. It also has to do with the child."

"Different people can awaken different levels of Innate Soul Power from the same kind of Martial Soul."

He said he did not understand!

He said he was not sure!

Was that not a clearer explanation than Yu Xiaogang's?

And he called that not understanding?

The way everyone looked at Zhongli changed.

As if struck by the same thought, they glanced at Yu Xiaogang again.

Surely not. Could it really be such a coincidence?

Had this man, an External Beast Martial Soul wielder, taken up Martial Soul research because he had no Soul Power?

Of the only two people like them on the Douluo Continent, both had taken the same path. What was that if not a coincidence?

"Wow, Martial Souls are that amazing?"

"If only Paimon could have a Martial Soul too!"

Everyone's eyes twitched. Their mouths opened, but no words came out.

"Six!"

A Martial Soul wishing she had a Martial Soul? Was that not turning heaven and earth upside down?

Suddenly, a black-haired young woman who had stayed silent among the group looked at Zhongli in confusion. When she lowered her head, she could not see her toes.

That voice, that expression, every movement he made—why did they seem so familiar?

"On the road of growing up, you will meet thorns and mire. There is no need to hurry. The flowers and grass by the roadside are worth stopping for, too..."

"All-encompassing!"

"Steady as Stone!"

"Impenetrable Fortress!"

"..."

Was it him?

Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes sharpened. As she kept looking at him, she grew a little dazed.

In countless dreams, she had dreamed the same dream. But whenever she woke, she forgot so many, many things.

The Shrek Seven Devils, Jialing Pass, the battle of the gods...

"The weight of stone was reassuring."

When that ocher light enveloped her, she stood firm against any attack, untouched and unharmed.

When those soothing words sounded, they put her at ease no matter what hardship she faced. It was as though, with him there, they could never lose.

"Vago Rock Emperor!"

"No, that's not right. How could the Lord of Geo be an ordinary person?"

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. She could not believe that the mighty Vago Rock Emperor could be an ordinary man without Soul Power.

In the end, he was only an ordinary man who resembled the Lord of Geo.

"Zhu Zhuqing, what's wrong?"

Dai Mubai, beside her, asked in confusion.

"Dai Mubai, we're not that close. Use my full name!"

Zhu Zhuqing snapped back to herself and spoke without thinking.

"You!"

Furious, Dai Mubai pointed at Zhu Zhuqing, but there was nothing he could do.

Fight her?

He did not dare!

Zhu Zhuqing really would fight him to the death!

He could not understand it. He had changed so much for Zhu Zhuqing, so why had this woman never once looked at him properly?

The anger made him tremble and left him cold!

Then Dai Mubai followed Zhu Zhuqing's gaze and spotted the problem!

Could she have taken a liking to that handsome piece of trash?

What was so good about that loser?

"Hmph..."

Dai Mubai snorted. He still had not vented his anger over being driven out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

And now this pretty boy had delivered himself right to him!

Picking on the weak while fearing the strong was what Dai Mubai did best!

He strode to the front of the group, a cruel smile curling his lips.

"Dai Mubai, what are you doing?!"

Zhu Zhuqing's expression changed as she shouted at him.

"Hmph. What I do is none of your business!"

Dai Mubai snorted again and walked straight toward Zhongli and Paimon.

"Huh? Blondie?"

"!!!"

"???"

With that one "Blondie" from Paimon, the Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire became a kid revving a ghost-fire scooter by the roadside.

"Hey, old man, mind if I park my scooter downstairs?"

Zhongli really was an old man over six thousand years old...

"Little thing, you can eat whatever you like, but you'd better watch what you say!"

Dai Mubai's face darkened. He clenched his fists and threatened Paimon.

Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others made no move to stop him. Instead, they folded their arms and watched the show.

"B-Blondie, what are you going to do? P-Paimon isn't that easy to s-scare!"

Paimon trembled all over. Her heart quaked, and her voice shook even worse.

She instinctively flew behind Zhongli, peeking out at Dai Mubai with only her head showing.

"Dai Mubai, I'm warning you. You can't attack ordinary people!"

"This is Heaven Dou City. You'd better think about the consequences before you make a move!"