Awakening

Aolai City was a small coastal city on the Sun Moon Federation's East Coast.

The usually peaceful town was exceptionally lively today.

Because today was the annual Awakening Day.

Everyone on Douluo Continent possessed something known as a Martial Soul.

A Martial Soul was part of a person's body. It could be any animal, plant, or object.

When children reached the age of six, they could awaken their own Martial Souls through the Awakening Ceremony.

The so-called Awakening Day was the day when Martial Souls were awakened for children of age.

If someone's Martial Soul was a hoe, then their ability to till the fields would be somewhat stronger than others'.

If someone's Martial Soul was an animal, perhaps they would possess some simple abilities of that animal.

Thus, Martial Souls had long become an important part of changing people's lives.

More importantly, people hoped that Soul Power would emerge when their Martial Souls awakened.

Soul Power was a kind of energy capable of nourishing and enhancing a Martial Soul.

On Douluo Continent, everyone possessed a Martial Soul, but very few had Soul Power emerge alongside it.

For a person, Soul Power was equivalent to their future, and also to strength.

When Soul Power appeared alongside a Martial Soul, even if it was only a trace, one could cultivate it later in life to enhance their Martial Soul and eventually become a Soul Master, the noblest profession on Douluo Continent for tens of thousands of years.

Therefore, even the most ordinary citizens hoped that their children would awaken Martial Souls accompanied by Soul Power on the day they turned six.

After all, it was very likely to change a child's life and even benefit the entire family.

As the place of awakening, the street before Red Mountain Academy's gates had been packed since early morning. Everywhere one looked, there were parents bringing their children to participate in the awakening.

"Dad, what do you think Wuyang's and my Martial Souls will be?"

A little boy who had just turned six looked eagerly at his father. What he loved most was listening to the stories Dad told him and his younger brother about Soul Masters.

At the mention of Soul Masters, his beautiful large eyes were filled with longing.

The little boy had a head of short black hair and was slightly taller than children his age.

Most eye-catching of all were his eyes. They were large and clearly black and white, while his long eyelashes surpassed even those of many girls.

Beside him stood another little boy whose appearance and height were extremely similar to his.

The only difference was that the little boy beside him had medium-length, shoulder-length hair with an androgynous style, tied behind his back with a hairband.

Moreover, the ends of his hair strands were not uniformly black, but a faint gold.

Although the two children were plainly dressed, their outstanding appearances easily drew the gazes of others.

Unlike his two exceptionally handsome children, their father was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man of average height and build. Everything about him appeared so ordinary.

"Dad doesn't know either. That will depend on your luck."

Dad sighed inwardly. Awakening Day was also a dividing day, a day that divided one's life.

Whether one possessed Soul Power undoubtedly determined the course of one's future life.

Fortunately, in this era, even those who could not become Soul Masters could still have a decent future.

"Dad, Wuyang and I will definitely have Soul Power, right?"

The emotions in the long-haired boy's eyes as he looked at his father were clearly not as excited as those in the other boy's eyes.

For him, becoming a Soul Master would naturally be best, since Soul Masters were the noblest profession on Douluo Continent.

But he also knew that those whose Martial Souls awakened with Soul Power were exceedingly rare.

Therefore, he felt that if he did not have Soul Power, it would still be nice to live peacefully with his family.

Dad raised both hands and patted each child on the head, smiling. "Whether you have Soul Power or not, Dad loves you both."

Parents continued to emerge from the academy with their children, most of them looking dejected or sorrowful.

Occasionally, one would cheer with delight. There was no need to ask—their Martial Soul must have awakened with Soul Power. Such children instantly drew everyone's attention, and those gazes usually carried envy, even jealousy.

As time passed, the sunlight grew increasingly intense. The short-haired boy's excitement visibly faded, replaced by a growing restlessness.

"Older brother, don't be anxious. It should be our turn soon."

The long-haired boy noticed his older brother's impatience and tried to comfort him.

Just as he finished speaking, a Teacher came out of Red Mountain Academy, looked at the form in his hand, and called out the two little boys' names.

"Tang Wulin, Tang Wuyang!"

"We're here!" The handsome little boy's eyes widened at once. He grabbed his younger brother's hand and jumped up excitedly.

Tang Ziran, the father of the two children, also perked up. Looking at his excited elder son and his younger son, whose eyes clearly held anticipation despite not showing it, he took a little hand in each of his and led them over.

"Come with me."

Perhaps because there was too much work on Awakening Day, the Teacher seemed somewhat indifferent. After speaking, he turned and walked ahead without waiting for Tang Ziran to respond.

Tang Ziran was not offended. He quickly led the two children after him.

Walking along the academy path, Tang Wuyang was not as excited as Tang Wulin about everything he saw, but he kept looking around. To them, everything before their eyes was so novel.

Red Mountain Academy was a primary comprehensive academy that could accommodate two thousand students. Its architectural style was ancient and simple, with white roofs and red walls, and the campus was kept exceptionally clean.

Awakening Day came before the start of the school term. Compared to the noise outside, the academy was very quiet, and Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang's excited hearts seemed to calm down with that tranquility.

The Teacher led the three of them to a round Teaching Building and said to Tang Ziran, "Parents should wait here."

Tang Ziran nodded and looked at his two sons. "Wulin, Wuyang, listen to the Teacher's instructions. Add Oil! Dad will wait for you here."

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang nodded together, then said with one voice, "Dad, we'll work hard to awaken powerful Martial Souls."

Watching his two sons follow the Teacher into the round building, Tang Ziran's eyes revealed a trace of melancholy and reminiscence.

This type of round building existed in every Primary Academy. It was also called an Awakening Room, specially used to help children who had reached six years old awaken their Martial Souls.

Every Awakening Day, the academy invited Spirit Transmission Masters from the Spirit Pagoda to conduct the Awakening Ceremony.

Several decades ago, he too had entered an Awakening Room filled with hope like this, hadn't he?

To speed up the Awakening Ceremony, the Awakening Room did not have only one place for Martial Soul Awakening. Instead, it had seven floors, each with a room for awakenings, and each room could conduct the Awakening Ceremony for two children at once.

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang were brought together to an Awakening Room on the third floor.

The moment they entered the Awakening Room, they felt dazzled. The floor, walls, and even the ceiling were engraved with wondrous and magnificent patterns.

Vaguely, Tang Wuyang felt a strange sensation rise within him, as though something inside his body was stirring restlessly.

There were two middle-aged men in the Awakening Room, dressed in ancient and simple orange robes embroidered with dark patterns resembling Soul Beasts.

Tang Wuyang had listened to Dad's stories together with Tang Wulin since childhood, and Spirit Transmission Masters had appeared in those stories.

These Spirit Transmission Masters from the Spirit Pagoda were mysterious and powerful figures, an extremely special group of Soul Masters with a lofty status on the continent.

But this was his first time seeing them in person.

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang timidly greeted them together. "Hello."

Both Spirit Transmission Masters wore gentle smiles. The one standing on the right said softly, "Come, little ones. Stand in the middle."

Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang exchanged a glance, then obediently walked to the centers of the formations before them and stood still.

Once they were in position, a barrier used for separation rose between them. Before it completely closed, Tang Wuyang vaguely heard his older brother ask expectantly, "Spirit Transmission Master, what will I awaken..."

Tang Wuyang sighed and unconsciously tensed his body as he looked at the Spirit Transmission Master before him.

Saying he was not nervous would definitely be a lie. After all, this was the most important ceremony of his life.

The Spirit Transmission Master smiled. "Little one, don't be nervous. Your eyes are so beautiful. Perhaps you'll awaken a Spirit Eyes Martial Soul!"

Hearing that, Tang Wuyang immediately relaxed his tense body. "I know. That was the first master of the Spirit Pagoda, the Spirit Ice Douluo..."

The Spirit Transmission Master interrupted him. "Concentrate and calm down. I'm starting."

Standing in the center of the Awakening Room, Tang Wuyang looked around somewhat uneasily.

He was only six years old, after all. Without his parents by his side and with his older brother separated from him, how could he not be nervous in this unfamiliar yet novel environment?

At that moment, the gentle white light that lit up in the Spirit Transmission Master's hands immediately drew his attention.

That gentle white light was the legendary Soul Power? The powerful energy only Soul Masters could possess?

As Tang Wuyang stared at the white light in surprise, the Spirit Transmission Master pointed his right hand into the air. The white light that had been on his hands was instantly activated.

The white light that shot into the air was like blooming fireworks, bringing brilliant colors to the Awakening Room.

One mysterious pattern after another lit up, extending continuously downward from the ceiling along the four walls. As though they had come alive, they spread all the way to Tang Wuyang's feet and finally converged where he stood.

A force carrying a slight numbness and warmth surged into his body from the soles of his feet, making Tang Wuyang's small body tremble faintly.

The next moment, Tang Wuyang felt as if his entire body had been electrocuted, and he began to tremble continuously.

Everything before his eyes became blurred as image after image flashed through his mind.

Tang Wuyang instinctively wanted to see them clearly, yet he could only sense the flow of light and shadow. It seemed that he had seen them, but he could not remember anything at all.

But in the Spirit Transmission Master's eyes, Tang Wuyang's body had already been dyed by a white halo. Dark light radiated from his entire body. Under the effects of this ancient and traditional ceremony, his Martial Soul was about to awaken.

"Ah!"

Tang Wuyang suddenly let out a miserable scream, startling the Spirit Transmission Master.

Normally, children would not have much of a Reaction when awakening their Martial Souls. But a very small number could face danger because their fragile bodies could not withstand the impact of the energy.

The Spirit Transmission Master flashed forward and arrived before Tang Wuyang. If an accident truly occurred, he would stop the Awakening Ceremony at once to ensure Tang Wuyang's safety.

Up close, he saw in surprise that a Golden Pattern seemed to flash across Tang Wuyang's forehead. Then, like a net, the Golden Pattern spread toward his limbs.

What Martial Soul was this?

This Spirit Transmission Master was highly experienced. Tens of thousands of children had awakened through his hands, yet this was the first time he had seen such a situation appear on Tang Wuyang.

A faint Energy Fluctuation quietly spread from Tang Wuyang's body in the next moment.

The energy emerged from his lower abdomen, the most normal location for Soul Power to arise.

Although the Energy Fluctuation was not strong, it truly existed.

The Spirit Transmission Master who sensed this energy was greatly delighted. This was clearly a Martial Soul with Soul Power.

Many times, even after conducting ceremonies for an entire day, they might not encounter a single child with Soul Power. Today's luck seemed rather good.

But what exactly was his Martial Soul?

The net-like Golden Pattern from earlier had already vanished without a trace, as though it had never appeared.

Tang Wuyang's eyes were tightly shut as though he were enduring intense pain. A shadow slowly gathered and took shape behind him.

The next moment, seven colors of light emerged continuously around him, and an animal resembling a deer yet covered in Dragon Scales quietly appeared.

The instant it appeared, the Light Bands formed by particles of different colors seemed to have found their master and swiftly circled around it.

"This is... a Beast Martial Soul, a Qilin?"

The Spirit Transmission Master's voice carried some confusion. He had seen many Beast Martial Souls, but this was the first time he had seen one cause such a Strange Phenomenon the instant it appeared.

At the moment the Qilin Martial Soul appeared, a Silver-haired girl outside Aolai City seemed to suddenly sense something and looked toward Aolai City.

Though she had originally been walking in the opposite direction, she suddenly changed course as if possessed and headed straight toward Aolai City.

At the same time, on the other side of the barrier.

Tang Wulin had his eyes closed, and the white light around his body was slowly fading.

He unconsciously raised his right hand, palm facing upward, as a light blue halo emerged from his palm.

Immediately afterward, a small light blue blade of grass quietly sprouted and spread out, swaying gently in its frailty and releasing an extremely weak Energy Fluctuation.

"This is... Blue Silver Grass?"

The Spirit Transmission Master helping Tang Wulin awaken his Martial Soul shook his head in disappointment.

After all, Blue Silver Grass was a standard Useless Martial Soul on Douluo Continent.

However, what he did not notice was that the instant the Blue Silver Grass appeared in Tang Wulin's palm, a blue-golden halo emerged from his eyebrow center and quietly fused into the fragile little grass.

As the Light Sphere fused in, the blue-white patterns originally on the Blue Silver Grass changed from its roots into light gold.

Just as the Spirit Transmission Master raised his head with a sigh and prepared to end the ceremony, a strange scene appeared.

Tang Wulin involuntarily raised his Left Hand, and a mass of silver-gray light suddenly appeared.

The Spirit Transmission Master, who had originally intended to withdraw his Soul Power, saw this and his earlier disappointment was instantly replaced by excitement.

These were Twin Martial Souls!

One had to know that children with Twin Martial Souls would inevitably be born with Soul Power, and under normal circumstances, their Soul Power Level would never be low.

Under the Spirit Transmission Master's expectant gaze, a silver-gray Long Spear suddenly appeared.

This Long Spear resembled silver light glazed with frost on a Cold Night. Its Spear Body was entirely silver-gray, its color icy and cold, while its sharp Spear Tip glimmered with chilling light as though it could easily tear through the void.

Dense Dragon Scale patterns coiled along the spear shaft. Every Dragon Scale was carved vividly and with Subtlety, as though it contained an ancient and mysterious power.