Douluo: So You're the Theory Master, Huh

He had been excited all day, only to have it snatched away in an instant.

"Thanks for your hard work, Grandpa Sword."

Ning Qinghe hurried forward, acting as though he had not seen Old Ning's criticism at all.

The people around him received only a friendly smile before he sidled up to Chen Xin ingratiatingly.

"Let's begin."

Chen Xin was expressionless, like a stern family patriarch.

He skillfully controlled the Awakening Formation and gestured for Ning Qinghe to extend his hand.

Ning Qinghe eagerly held out his hand. By his estimation, barring any surprises, his Martial Soul would probably be the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as well.

After all, he had no system or anything of the sort, so naturally he could not break the rules of this world.

Yet just when there should have been no surprises, one quickly appeared.

A crippled pagoda with only a solid bottom layer appeared in his palm. Above it was a pagoda-shaped form made of Soul Power, while the battered base looked like a broken toy. At a glance, it looked like utter trash.

"This..."

"This Martial Soul mutated?"

"A malignant mutation?"

Everyone immediately noticed the situation. Many cried out in surprise, while some revealed gloating expressions.

Almost no one had expected this to happen, but that did not stop certain people from disliking Ning Qinghe's precociousness and how favored he was.

Even Chen Xin, who was conducting the awakening ceremony, frowned, especially when he saw Ning Qinghe's Innate Soul Power upon awakening.

"Innate Soul Power, half a level???"

Everyone stared in disbelief at the crystal ball emitting a white glow. The faint light looked as though it could go out at any moment.

Innate Soul Power like this was trash among trash no matter where it was.

Although this level of Soul Power allowed cultivation, reaching the level of a Soul Master would already be impressive. Reaching Soul Grandmaster would require absurdly abundant resources.

Even Ning Qinghe felt a little depressed. His Innate Soul Power really was screwing him over...

It was even worse than three stages of Dou Strength...

What a disastrous start.

Was he supposed to go through some broken engagement arc too? Thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west???

But it seemed he did not even have a fiancée, did he?

Martial Soul Awakening Hall.

Something no one had expected had happened.

Half a level of Innate Soul Power was first-rate garbage talent on Douluo Continent. Without resources, even breaking through to Soul Grandmaster would be difficult.

Ning Fengzhi was somewhat surprised, then looked at Ning Qinghe with mixed feelings.

Although he had many children, Ning Qinghe was undoubtedly his favorite.

The intelligence and maturity Ning Qinghe sometimes displayed gave him the feeling that this son takes after me. Combined with the filial piety he occasionally showed and his awareness of the sect's rise, Ning Fengzhi had always found him deeply gratifying.

But this situation sent his heart plummeting to the bottom.

Soul Power talent and strength were often the most important things in this world.

This was no small blow to him. Especially when he heard the whispers around him, a trace of hostility rose in his heart, and he no longer maintained his usual amiability.

"Half a level of Innate Soul Power?"

"It seems the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has someone with half a level of Innate Soul Power too."

"I never expected us to have one as well. Half a level of Innate Soul Power—what difference is that from having none at all?"

Watching Ning Qinghe lower his head and stare at his Martial Soul, which consisted of only the pagoda's base, Ning Fengzhi could barely maintain his usual smiling facade. He let out a cold snort.

"Humph..."

The snort carried Soul Power, and his gaze seemed to crackle with lightning, making many people's hearts tremble.

Everyone fell silent and watched obediently.

They had not expected that even if Ning Qinghe became useless, a few words about him would still anger Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi's status and strength needed no explanation. A level 79 Soul Saint, even an auxiliary-type Soul Saint, possessed a terrifyingly oppressive presence.

Not to mention the two Titled Douluo beside him, eyeing them like tigers.

"Kid."

Chen Xin was also rather depressed.

He had come in high spirits and would leave disappointed.

He had thought he was here to witness Ning Qinghe take his first step toward the pinnacle. Instead, before he had even begun walking, his leg had been broken.

He wanted to say something to comfort him.

But then he saw Ning Qinghe holding up the pagoda base to study it before laughing self-deprecatingly.

When people were truly speechless, they really could laugh.

After a brief moment of speechlessness, Ning Qinghe accepted reality, but he did not give up.

From what he understood, so-called trash Martial Souls and crippled Martial Souls all had the possibility of evolution.

Most Martial Souls had merely degenerated due to lacking certain attributes, origins, Soul Power, and so on. As long as he broke through their original limits, anything was possible.

The simplest and most direct methods were Spirit Rings, Spirit Bones, and Immortal Herbs—not to mention things he did not yet understand.

"Qinghe."

"Even if you cannot become a Soul Master, you are still my favorite..."

Ning Fengzhi looked at his youngest son, who had suddenly started laughing.

He wanted to offer a few comforting words.

"I'm fine, Father."

"If I lack something innately, then I'll make up for it later."

"I won't be defeated by something like this."

But before he could finish, he saw Ning Qinghe regain his calm. The earnest little face lifted, and his bright, spirited eyes looked directly at him.

"Martial Soul Evolution and breaking through limits are subjects I had already been researching. I just need Father's support."

"With the same destination ahead, insufficient Innate Soul Power merely means I have to take a few more steps."

"It is nothing more than a little hardship..."

Though he was clearly only six years old, he gave off a mature, confident beauty, as if following someone like him meant anything could be accomplished.

There were probably not many people on the entire Douluo Continent with half a level of Innate Soul Power who would dare say such words.

Nothing more than a little hardship—as though insufficient Innate Soul Power was merely a simple obstacle that could be crossed at any time.

It stirred many of the elders and consecrated members present.

They had originally come to wait, offer their support, and congratulate the sect master's chosen successor, but they had not expected to witness such a different scene.

"Good. Good boy."

Chen Xin opened his mouth, but in the end swallowed all his other words.

He did not deny or discourage him.

"What do you need?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded.

There was no doubt that this was his most beloved child.

As long as Ning Qinghe was not digging up the foundations of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he did not mind offering some support.

If he could see returns, that would be even better. His fatherly love and a merchant's instincts would unleash a great many "gold coins."

Ning Qinghe understood this principle as well.

"This was something I had originally wanted to give Father."

He took out the booklet he had been carrying on him and placed it in Ning Fengzhi's hand. Then he turned his gaze toward the others...

"Since the awakening ceremony is over, everyone..."

"Cough, cough, Sect Master, we'll be leaving first."

"If Young Master Qinghe needs anything done, feel free to come find me."

Before he could finish speaking, many people already understood and quickly strode away.

Some people disdained so-called theory. After all, there had been no shortage of talentless people researching such theories, but none of them had amounted to anything.