A Fallen Genius?

"Bone Martial Soul!"

At this moment, Xia Yang's bones were Clearly Visible within his body.

His left side glowed Red Light, his right side glowed blue, while a purple halo lingered around his spine.

"How could it be a Body Martial Soul?"

"He didn't inherit either of our Martial Souls. Instead, his Martial Soul mutated—and more importantly, it was a Malignant Mutation?"

"Could it be that my Black Tortoise Martial Soul mutated, first changing from a Black Tortoise into a turtle shell?"

"Then the turtle shell underwent another Malignant Mutation, ultimately becoming his current Bone Martial Soul?"

Xia Shi and Huo Yang exchanged a glance, each seeing unease in the other's eyes.

In this era, Douluo Continent had yet to develop the concept of a "Body Martial Soul."

Any Martial Soul manifested through a body part was considered a failed mutation.

After all, whether in attack or defense, Body Martial Souls were far inferior to Beast Martial Souls.

Not to mention that those who developed bestial traits due to Martial Soul mutations were often regarded as signs of Malignant Mutation.

For example, the Cat Girls and Fox Girls sold at Auction Houses were all people whose Martial Soul Awakening had failed, causing changes to their bodies.

In this age of limited understanding, Body Martial Souls were widely considered a type of "Wasted Martial Soul."

The husband and wife looked anxiously at their son, and the room fell silent for a time.

Standing amid the fading golden halo, Xia Yang lowered his head to examine his glowing hands and body. He still could not fully understand where the worry in his Parents' eyes came from.

Xia Yang calmed his mind and focused his thoughts, retracting his Martial Soul.

At the same time, the strange light around his body gradually faded away.

Xia Yang raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. The awakening process just now had not only left him drenched in sweat, but also brought him an unprecedented sense of exhaustion.

Perhaps this was the side effect brought about by a Malignant Mutation of the Martial Soul.

Seeing how worried his Parents were, Xia Yang forced himself to stay alert and reassured them, "Dad, Mom, don't worry too much."

"Even if it's a Bone Martial Soul, it may not necessarily be a bad thing."

"I think that although this type of Martial Soul might be inferior to Beast Martial Souls in attack and defense during the early stages, as long as I can cultivate to the middle and higher ranks, perhaps after the Martial Soul evolves, it may instead make my body stronger and greatly benefit my cultivation."

Xia Yang's words were not entirely meant as comfort.

As a transmigrator, Xia Yang knew full well the potential of the "Body Martial Soul," which had yet to be recognized in this era.

Although Body Martial Souls were weak in the early stages, if they could undergo several transformations, they would surely display astonishing advantages later on.

Therefore, after awakening a Body Martial Soul, Xia Yang was not as disappointed as his Parents.

Deep in his heart, he even felt a little smug about his unique Martial Soul.

At this moment, hearing his son's words, Xia Shi was the first to recover. He said to his wife, "The child has a point."

"Even if it's a body-type Martial Soul, as long as his Innate Soul Power is high enough, there is still hope."

Even so, the worry Between the eyebrows of Xia Shi, his father, did not lessen in the slightest.

"Then let's continue testing his Innate Soul Power."

Huo Yang picked up the Crystal Ball from the table and held it out before her son. "Yang'er, place your right hand on it."

Xia Yang took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the Crystal Ball before him that would determine his fate.

When he slowly placed his right hand over its surface, his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.

Then, a powerful suction force came from the Crystal Ball, firmly drawing Xia Yang's palm against its surface.

After several breaths, Xia Yang felt a faint wisp of Aura within his body being drawn into the Crystal Ball.

Then, the sphere began to emit a faint glow. Xia Yang unconsciously licked his dry lips and looked up at his mother.

Meeting her son's expectant gaze, Huo Yang spoke in a low voice:

"Innate Soul Power, Half Level!"

The room instantly fell into dead silence.

The result struck Xia Yang's heart like a heavy hammer.

His legs immediately went weak, and the world spun before his eyes.

Did I just get Yu Xiaogang's script?

He mocked himself inwardly. Then darkness filled his vision, and he lost consciousness.

"Yang'er?"

His mother, Huo Yang, cried out as she caught Xia Yang, who was about to fall.

She carefully laid her son flat on the floor and immediately began checking his condition.

"What's wrong with this child?"

Xia Shi said anxiously and angrily, "Hasn't he always kept up his training? How could he be unable to withstand such a small blow?"

After examining him carefully, Huo Yang finally let out a breath of relief. "Yang'er is merely too exhausted. Coupled with the shock, that's why he fainted."

"He should be fine."

Hearing his wife's words, Xia Shi found it hard to believe. He hurriedly said, "Exhausted? He only swam a few laps in the sea this morning. With his Physical Quality, how could he..."

As his father, he knew his son's Physical Quality all too well.

Over the past three years, Xia Yang had trained without fail through wind and rain, developing healthy bronze skin and a sturdy, muscular body.

Therefore, it was impossible for Xia Yang to collapse from such a small amount of exercise that morning.

"It has nothing to do with swimming."

Huo Yang analyzed calmly, "It should have been caused by the Martial Soul Awakening."

"You saw it just now as well. His Martial Soul obviously underwent a Malignant Mutation, and he looked so pained during the awakening. It isn't surprising that he fainted now."

"Then what are we waiting for? If it's only exhaustion, hurry and take him back to rest."

Xia Shi said urgently.

"Don't rush."

Huo Yang pressed a hand against her Husband's arm. "Before taking him back, give him a Healing Soul Skill first."

"You're right. We should take precautions, in case he has any Hidden injuries..."

Xia Shi nodded repeatedly, then began circulating his Soul Power.

In an instant, the powerful Aura of a level 56 Soul King filled the room.

Xia Shi shouted in a low voice, "Martial Soul—North Mystic Black Tortoise, Body Attachment."

A deep-blue tortoise phantom sank into his body. Xia Shi's figure swelled slightly, and a turtle-shell-like protective layer emerged across his skin.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Northern Darkness Spirit Spring."

He pushed both hands forward, condensing a ball of azure water.

The water ball slowly floated toward Xia Yang. The instant it touched his body, it transformed into a warm stream that gradually seeped into him.

The unconscious Xia Yang let out a comfortable moan, and his complexion visibly became much rosier.

After the treatment ended, Xia Shi gently picked up his son. Together with his wife, he settled him in a resting room within Spirit Hall.

The husband and wife gazed at their sleeping son for a moment. In the end, they left the old Butler, Liu Feng, to watch over him, then silently withdrew from the room.

At this moment, they had more important matters to discuss.

That was Xia Yang's future. They now had to make new plans for it.

Although Xia Yang's Martial Soul Awakening ceremony had been conducted in a room within the hall, people had been coming and going outside throughout the process, and they had not deliberately avoided others.

Therefore, although only the family of three had been present during the final test, the news that "the Bishop's son had awakened a Wasted Martial Soul and possessed only Half Level Innate Soul Power" still slipped silently out through the crack in the door like a draft.

Xiling Harbor was, after all, neither too large nor too small a city.

In less than half a day, the news swept through its Alleys like the tide, rapidly spreading throughout the entire city.

The son of the Spirit Hall Bishop and the Captain of the Mystic Tortoise was actually a "waste."

This news was more than enough to become the most talked-about topic in the streets and Alleys.

Meanwhile, Xia Yang, lying in the Spirit Hall resting room, remained deeply unconscious.

He knew nothing of the uproar that the sudden change in public opinion was about to stir.