Douluo: I Am Unrivaled Thief, Explosive King Returns

Mecha—that was a man's romance.

Ding. Host, please do not daydream. Martial Soul Avatar, in other words, summoning a Mecha, requires you to reach the Soul Saint rank.

"Pfft!"

Unrivaled Thief nearly spat out a mouthful of blood. Damn system, then what am I supposed to do with my Explosive King before reaching Soul Saint?

Ding. Before the host reaches Soul Saint, Explosive King will possess you in the form of armor for battle, providing the Mecha's original strength and speed.

Unrivaled Thief was still quite satisfied upon hearing that. Armor was not bad either.

Though it fell a little short compared to a Mecha, armor was also a man's romance.

Just then, a white-haired old man walked over from the side and waved at Unrivaled Thief.

"Xiao Wu, today is the day of Martial Soul awakening. You brothers must not forget. Although your parents' passing has dealt you a blow, staying alive is the most important thing."

Unrivaled Thief nodded and said softly, "Grandpa Village Chief, I understand. We'll go gather with everyone in a while."

The old village chief opened his mouth, but in the end, he said nothing.

His home was bare to the walls now. He could barely take care of himself, much less anyone else.

Unrivaled Thief returned to the Wooden Cabin, cooked some porridge, and ate first.

By late morning, Rebel Son was the first to wake up, followed by Thief Father, while Shifty-eyed Thief was the last.

"How do you feel?" Unrivaled Thief asked.

Rebel Son said excitedly, "Great! I feel like I could punch a cow to death right now."

Thief Father chimed in, "Very great. I think I could punch two cows to death."

Shifty-eyed Thief said excitedly, "Extremely great! I can punch three cows to death!"

Hearing that, Rebel Son and Thief Father glared at Shifty-eyed Thief. "Fourth Brother, you've gotten pretty capable, huh? You actually dare to outdo us!"

Then Shifty-eyed Thief received a thorough beating.

Unrivaled Thief helplessly rubbed his forehead. He was even starting to regret letting their Martial Souls absorb it.

"Can you all just calm down already?!"

He enunciated every word, and the aura around him grew increasingly terrifying.

Rebel Son and the other two immediately fell silent, not daring to move in the slightest.

"The old village chief came to tell us to awaken our Martial Souls. Hurry up, eat something, and come with me. Don't keep people waiting too long."

Listening to Unrivaled Thief, Rebel Son asked doubtfully, "Big Brother, our parents were both ordinary people. It seems like we don't have much chance of awakening Martial Souls either, right?"

Before he could say anything else, there was a bang, and another lump rose on his head.

Unrivaled Thief rolled his eyes. "Stop dawdling. Eat quickly, then go awaken your Martial Souls."

"Okay!" The three little ones answered in unison.

The four soon arrived at an open clearing packed with people, numbering more than a hundred.

Of course, there were only twenty or thirty six-year-old children of the proper age.

Unrivaled Thief instructed the three little ones, "Do you remember what I told you last night?"

"Remem—" Shifty-eyed Thief had just started to answer when Rebel Son covered his mouth and replied for him.

"Last night? Did anything happen last night? Didn't us brothers all go to sleep early?"

Unrivaled Thief nodded in satisfaction. Rebel Son truly had a good head on his shoulders.

After waiting a little longer, the crowd suddenly became excited.

"They're here! The Spirit Hall deacons are here."

"I hope my son has Innate Soul Power and can become a noble Soul Master."

Though Unrivaled Thief was shorter than adults, he was already tall compared to children his age.

At a glance, he saw three middle-aged men in identical attire walking in.

Each had a badge engraved with a longsword pinned to the left side of his chest. Five longswords crossed over one another on each badge—the title of fifth rank, Soul King.

"Wow, they actually sent Soul Kings to help commoners awaken their Martial Souls. It seems Spirit Hall values commoners greatly and is in urgent need of exceptionally gifted talents."

As a Transmigrator, Unrivaled Thief naturally knew what Spirit Hall was secretly doing.

The middle-aged Soul Masters looked at the crowd without hesitation and got straight to the point. "You all know the process, so I won't explain it one by one. It's about time. Let's begin."

As they spoke, the three took out Awakening Stones and Soul Power Crystal Balls, conducting the Martial Soul awakening ceremony at the same time.

Then voices like judgment rang out across the clearing, making everyone's hearts tighten.

"Useless Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass. No Innate Soul Power. Next."

"Tool Martial Soul, sickle. No Innate Soul Power. Next."

"Beast Martial Soul, pig. No Innate Soul Power. Next."

More than twenty people in a row had no Innate Soul Power, dealing a severe blow to the three Spirit Hall deacons.

"Alas, it looks like no one in this village will become a Soul Master today," one of them sighed.

Unrivaled Thief was worried, because he had already learned of his Martial Soul from the system.

Seeing the three little ones tense with nerves, he comforted them, "Don't worry. You'll definitely awaken Martial Souls and possess Innate Soul Power."

Only after hearing his reassurance did the three little ones relax somewhat.

"Next." The three Soul Masters spoke at once.

Seeing this, Unrivaled Thief said to the three little ones, "Go together. That way, you can look out for one another."

The three little ones stepped forward and awakened their Martial Souls at the same time.

Unrivaled Thief stroked his chin, also wanting to know what level of Innate Soul Power the three possessed.

Suddenly, three pillars of golden light shot into the sky from where Rebel Son and the others stood.

"Th-this phenomenon... could they be top-grade Martial Souls?!" The three Spirit Hall deacons were overjoyed and hurriedly handed them the Soul Power Crystal Balls.

In an instant, dazzling light lit up the clearing, almost making everyone unable to open their eyes.

"Innate Soul Power level nine!"

"Innate Soul Power level nine!"

"Innate Soul Power level eight!"

The three deacons cried out in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.

"Gasp!"

The onlookers collectively sucked in a breath, staring wide-eyed in utter disbelief.

"Children, are you willing to join Spirit Hall? As long as you are willing, I guarantee that you will receive the best treatment!"

The Spirit Hall deacons immediately began recruiting them. After all, bringing a genius into Spirit Hall would count toward their achievements.

However, Rebel Son and the other two did not immediately agree. They all looked toward Unrivaled Thief in the crowd.

"We can't decide. We have to see what Big Brother says."

At that moment, Unrivaled Thief walked out.

Looking at the three Spirit Hall deacons, he said, "Three Lord Soul Masters, may I awaken my Martial Soul first?"

"Oh, oh! Of course." One of them reacted quickly and immediately helped Unrivaled Thief awaken his Martial Soul.

As expected, another beam of golden light shot into the sky, and a Martial Soul similar to those of the previous three appeared.

The deacon excitedly handed over a Soul Power Crystal Ball. "Child, place your hand on it."

Although Unrivaled Thief had long known that he possessed Innate Soul Power, he still had to follow the normal procedure.

The instant he placed his hand on it, the Soul Power Crystal Ball suddenly lit up like a small sun, shining even more brightly than Rebel Son and the others.

"My heavens, it's Innate Full Soul Power!"

Joining Spirit Hall, Overlord Wind-Chasing Fist

"Innate Full Soul Power! Child, what is your name? Are you willing to join Spirit Hall?!"

As long as such a genius was recruited into Spirit Hall, he, a Spirit Hall deacon, would receive generous rewards.

Unrivaled Thief did not immediately agree. Instead, he said softly to the deacon, "Lord Soul Master, my name is Unrivaled Thief. It's fine for us four brothers to join Spirit Hall, but I have a few small requests."

The reason he asked this was mainly because the system had issued a mission when the Spirit Hall deacon asked whether he would join Spirit Hall.

System Mission: Agree to join Spirit Hall. Lottery draws x1, gain Spirit Hall's favor; refuse to join Spirit Hall. Lottery draws x1, gain Spirit Hall's hostility.

Before they had grown strong, Spirit Hall was the safest place for the four brothers.

Besides, Spirit Hall truly was a good place to go.

If they did not join, who knew whether that crazy woman Bibi Dong would send people to secretly eliminate them?

Therefore, joining Spirit Hall was already a settled matter. However, Unrivaled Thief was shrewd and wanted to obtain more benefits.

The Spirit Hall deacon did not hesitate at all and hurriedly said, "As long as they aren't excessive conditions, I'll agree to however many you have!"

After pondering for a moment, Unrivaled Thief spoke.

"First, after us four brothers join Spirit Hall, we must have no worries about food or clothing and receive the best education."

The Spirit Hall deacon answered without thinking, "Agreed."

Spirit Hall valued geniuses greatly. Having no worries about food or clothing was an incredibly simple condition.

Moreover, Spirit Hall Academy stood shoulder to shoulder with, and even surpassed, Tiandou Imperial Academy and Star Luo Imperial Academy. It could be called the number one academy on the continent.

Naturally, its education and cultivation resources were also the best.

"Second, when us four brothers need to obtain Soul Rings in the future, Spirit Hall must support us unconditionally."

"Agreed."

"Third, after joining Spirit Hall, we need an independent house. We don't want to live with other people."

"Agreed."

Thus, Unrivaled Thief shamelessly made eight or nine conditions in a row. Though none were particularly important, they truly left the Spirit Hall deacons stunned.

One of them could not bear it any longer and quickly said, "Stop, stop, stop! Kid, are you messing with us?!"

"How would I dare joke around with Lord Soul Masters? Look into my sincere eyes!"

Unrivaled Thief deliberately blinked his large, watery eyes and put on an innocent expression, his face full of sincerity.

Seeing this, the Spirit Hall deacons exchanged glances, and one of them stepped forward.

"You can raise at most one more condition. No more than that."

Seeing that he had achieved his goal, Unrivaled Thief put away his carefree manner and stepped forward to speak softly to one of the deacons.

"Lord Soul Master, my parents died the day before yesterday, and their bodies are still at home. Although the Balak Kingdom ruled that they died at the hands of Soul Beasts, I don't agree. My intuition tells me it was the work of humans. So my final condition is that I ask you to thoroughly investigate the cause of my parents' deaths. Please."

Looking at Unrivaled Thief's young yet earnest face, the deacon understood that this was a good opportunity for investment.

He immediately patted his chest and agreed. "Rest assured. My name is Han Qingfei. I will investigate the cause of your parents' deaths for you. This is my personal promise to you, so you may raise one more condition."

Unexpectedly, Unrivaled Thief shook his head. "No need. This is already enough. No matter the final result, us four brothers will remember this favor."

Asking for too much would be greed. The conditions he had made earlier were already enough to let them live well at Spirit Hall Academy.

Han Qingfei was slightly surprised. He had not expected even a six-year-old child to know when to advance and when to retreat.

But that only made him more certain that his investment was the right one.

"Very well. Then I shall accompany you home to pack your things, and then we'll head to Spirit Hall Academy."

Unrivaled Thief nodded, waved at Rebel Son and the other two, and led the way back to the Wooden Cabin.

The people nearby were consumed with envy and jealousy, but with the Spirit Hall deacons present, they did not dare act recklessly.

Soon, news that a small village outside Suotuo City had awakened one child with Innate Full Soul Power, two with Innate Soul Power level nine, and one with Innate Soul Power level eight spread like a flood.

As a Soul Master Academy within Suotuo City, Shrek Academy naturally received the news immediately.