Awakening Martial Souls

Time flew by, swift as a galloping white horse.

Six years passed quietly.

The infant Jiang Bai had grown into a six-year-old child.

He had slightly messy black hair, and because he spent his days helping out outdoors and tending livestock, his skin had taken on a healthy wheat-colored tan.

He was somewhat thin for his age, but his eyes were exceptionally bright. Deep within those clear pupils, a calmness and clarity beyond his years occasionally flickered.

This was Niuma Village, an ordinary settlement on the plains that made its living through livestock farming.

The village was small, and its people were simple and honest. For generations, they had relied on the lush pastures to raise herds of cattle and horses. Their lives were not wealthy, but they were peaceful.

A year ago, Jiang Ning, his mother who had long been despondent, finally failed to endure the double toll on her body and mind and passed away.

Before she died, she clutched Jiang Bai's small hand tightly. Her eyes were filled with unshakable sorrow and endless worry. In the end, she left behind only one sentence: "Don't hate your father and mother," before quietly passing away.

Fortunately, the memories and maturity from Jiang Bai's previous life gave him the ability to care for himself far beyond that of children his age.

After his mother's death, he declined the kind offers of adoption from several village families and chose to live alone in the crude little house she had left behind.

On ordinary days, he helped his neighbors herd cattle and horses in exchange for food and a few meager Copper Soul Coins, barely making ends meet.

That morning, while the sky was only beginning to brighten, Jiang Bai headed as usual toward Adolf's home at the western end of the village, ready to begin another day of herding.

As soon as he reached the gate of the wooden-fenced yard, he saw Grandma Liu, the village chief, leading Xihai, Adolf's younger son, out of the house.

Grandma Liu was a kind yet capable old woman who was highly respected in the village.

Back then, she had been the one to take in the unconscious Jiang Ning and her son. After Jiang Ning died of illness, she had also looked after Jiang Bai in many ways.

"Grandma Village Chief!"

Jiang Bai stopped and obediently greeted her.

"Oh, little Jiang Bai."

Seeing him, Grandma Liu's wrinkled face broke into a gentle smile. She nodded and said,

"You came at just the right time. Come with me!"

"Where to?"

Jiang Bai blinked in confusion. His work for the day had not even begun.

"Of course, to awaken your Martial Soul!"

A booming voice came from inside the house. Then a broad, ruddy-faced middle-aged man walked out. It was Adolf.

He patted Jiang Bai on the shoulder, his voice hearty.

"A deacon from Spirit Hall is coming to the village today to awaken the Martial Souls of the children who have reached the proper age. Counting it out, you brat should be old enough too. The village chief came to take the children to the Awakening House. Go with her. You don't need to work today!"

Awaken a Martial Soul?

Jiang Bai froze slightly, then understood.

His mother's words instantly flashed through his mind.

His father was named Ning Fengping. He came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and his Martial Soul was the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, known as the foremost support-type tool Martial Soul in the world.

His mother, Jiang Ning, possessed an ordinary spear as her Martial Soul, nothing remarkable.

Actually... he hoped more that he would inherit his mother's Martial Soul...

He knew full well that in this world where strength reigned supreme, a purely support-type Soul Master—especially one without a powerful backer—would have an exceedingly difficult road ahead.

He yearned for strength, strength that would allow him to control his own fate, rather than entrusting his safety to others.

"Alright, thanks, Uncle!"

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but Jiang Bai showed nothing on his face. He gave Adolf a faintly excited smile and thanked him.

"Go on, kid!"

Adolf laughed heartily and encouraged him.

Jiang Bai nodded and followed behind Grandma Liu.

By then, four children around Jiang Bai's age had gathered beside Grandma Liu. Including Xihai and Jiang Bai, there were six in total.

The moment Xihai saw Jiang Bai, he immediately made faces and sidled over. The two companions naturally walked together.

About fifteen minutes later, Grandma Liu brought the six children to a solitary stone house in the center of the village.

The stone house looked rather old. Moss covered its walls, giving it an ancient and solemn air.

On Douluo Continent, nearly every village had an "Awakening House" like this.

It was where countless common children's dreams took flight, and also the first dividing line that determined whether their futures would make them dragons or worms.

A woman was already waiting outside the stone house.

She appeared to be in her twenties, with a tall, straight figure and lovely features. There was a valiant air unique to Soul Masters between her brows.

She wore Spirit Hall's standard fitted white uniform, which outlined her athletic figure, with a tailored black cloak draped over it. A badge was pinned to the left side of her chest.

When she saw Grandma Liu bringing the children over, the woman put on a faintly formulaic smile and asked in a crisp, efficient voice, "Grandma Liu, are they all here?"

"They're all here, Lord Soul Master. These are all the children in the village who are old enough this year."

Grandma Liu replied respectfully.

Even as the village chief, she maintained the necessary reverence when facing a Soul Master from Spirit Hall.

"Mm."

The woman nodded and said no more. She reached out to push open the door, then stepped aside. "Children, come in and line up."

The six children filed inside, carrying varying feelings of curiosity, nervousness, and excitement.

The interior of the stone house was not large, and its furnishings were exceedingly simple.

The floor was paved with large slabs of bluestone, polished quite smooth.

Because of habits from his previous life, Jiang Bai always preferred inconspicuous positions, whether lining up or participating in other group activities. So, he consciously took his place at the very back of the line.

Xihai was close with him. They herded cattle and horses together every day, so naturally he wanted to stand beside him. Grinning, he squeezed in ahead of Jiang Bai, becoming the fifth person in line.

With practiced movements, the female deacon took six pitch-black round stones from the bag she carried and smoothly arranged them on the floor into a standard hexagon.

Then, she gestured for the little boy at the front of the line, who was so nervous he did not know where to put his hands or feet, to stand in the center of the hexagon.

"Children, don't be nervous. Close your eyes and feel carefully."

The female deacon's voice softened slightly as she tried to soothe the children.

Then she shouted in a low voice, "Wind Spirit Bird, possess me!"

A glint of cyan light flashed through her eyes, while the phantom image of a pair of pale cyan wings flickered behind her before vanishing.

At the same time, two bright yellow Spirit Rings slowly rose from beneath her feet.

Standing at the back of the line, Jiang Bai stared without blinking at the two yellow hoops of light that pulsed continuously, marveling inwardly.

So this was a Soul Master?

At that moment, Xihai, standing in front of Jiang Bai, lightly nudged him with his elbow and muttered in a low voice filled with barely restrained excitement and nervousness.

"Ah Bai, aren't you excited? We're about to find out whether we have what it takes to become Soul Masters!"

Jiang Bai turned to look at Xihai, his companion who wore the same patched clothes as he did, his face flushed red with excitement.

He let out a soft sigh in his heart.