Spider Martial Soul

Time passed quickly, and before long, the day of Martial Soul Awakening had arrived.

This time, because Lin Yu had tricked Tang San into eating rabbit and told him about Martial Soul Awakening ahead of time, Old Jack didn't go to see Tang San alone. Instead, he led all the eligible children of Holy Soul Village straight to the village's Spirit Hall.

The Spirit Hall in Holy Soul Village was nothing more than a wooden hut.

A young man in his twenties stood inside. He had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a very handsome face.

He wore a fitted white outfit and a black cape. At the center of his chest was a fist-sized character: "Soul."

This was the standard uniform for personnel directly affiliated with Spirit Hall.

"Greetings, respected Battle Soul Master. I'm sorry for the trouble," Old Jack said respectfully, bowing to the young man.

A hint of pride showed between the young man's brows. He gave a perfunctory bow in return. "I don't have much time. Let's begin."

When it was time for the Martial Soul Awakening, Old Jack went outside, leaving only the young man from Spirit Hall and the nine children from Holy Soul Village inside.

The young man didn't immediately awaken the children's Martial Souls. Instead, he introduced himself first.

"My name is Su Yuntao. I'm a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster, and I'll be your guide. I'm going to awaken your Martial Souls one by one.

"Remember, no matter what happens, don't be afraid."

After awakening the Martial Souls of the first seven children in a row, even Su Yuntao was starting to feel tired. Not one of them had turned out to be a Soul Master.

But when he saw Lin Yu and Tang San, who were still waiting, he pushed down his fatigue and decided to continue. Tang San would be first, and Lin Yu last.

"All right, you're next. Come awaken your Martial Soul." Su Yuntao gestured for Tang San to stand in the center of the Awakening Array.

Just as expected, Blue Silver Grass appeared in Tang San's outstretched right hand. But Lin Yu wasn't looking at Tang San's right hand. His gaze was fixed on Tang San's left.

Tang San had clenched his lowered left hand tightly. Lin Yu could see faint light flickering from it, but Su Yuntao was already tired and didn't notice anything unusual. The other children were still caught up in their sadness, so Lin Yu alone noticed the strange light in Tang San's left hand.

In the end, after Tang San argued his case, Su Yuntao measured his Soul Power. As expected, the test revealed Innate Full Soul Power.

"What a pity. It's a Trash Martial Soul." Su Yuntao shook his head with a sigh. Still, Innate Full Soul Power was enough to make Spirit Hall want to recruit him.

"Kid, would you like to join Spirit Hall?" Su Yuntao looked at Tang San expectantly. Tang San's Martial Soul wasn't very powerful in combat, but his Innate Full Soul Power could still earn Su Yuntao a generous reward.

"Sorry, Uncle. I need to discuss it with my father first." Tang San didn't agree right away. He wanted to hear Tang Hao's opinion.

"All right." Su Yuntao was a little disappointed, but not overly so.

"Okay, you're the last one." Su Yuntao turned his gaze to Lin Yu. Of the last two children, one had a Trash Martial Soul but Innate Full Soul Power. Su Yuntao was looking forward to seeing what kind of Martial Soul Lin Yu would awaken and whether he would have Innate Full Soul Power, too.

At Su Yuntao's words, Lin Yu curiously stepped into the center of the array.

This is the moment that'll show whether I'm a dragon or a worm. Lin Yu didn't hesitate.

"What is this...?" As the Martial Soul Awakening began, Su Yuntao stared at Lin Yu in shock.

A huge spider was appearing behind Lin Yu.

It had a small head, a big abdomen, and eight ugly, long legs—but this spider was different.

The shape that looked especially hideous on other spiders seemed like a perfect creation on this one. Its body was bright silver, traced with black stripes along its sides that came together on its back to form a distinctive pattern. Its eight legs gleamed with a cold light, their sharpness unmistakable.

The whole thing should have been ugly, yet its proportions were perfect. It had a strange kind of beauty.

"A Spider Martial Soul—and one I've never seen before!" Su Yuntao was stunned by the astonishing sight.

"Come over here and test your Soul Power!" Su Yuntao hurriedly took out the Testing Stone.

Lin Yu was delighted, too. Having a powerful Martial Soul meant he now had a way to grow stronger.

What's more, no one there knew that he hadn't just awakened a Spider Martial Soul. He had another Martial Soul as well: the brilliant light that had just enveloped his entire body.

"Innate Full Soul Power! Another Innate Full Soul Power!" Su Yuntao stared at the two children in front of him, astonished. He'd never expected the last two little ones from Holy Soul Village to give him such a wonderful surprise.

"Little friend, would you like to join Spirit Hall?" Su Yuntao asked Lin Yu anxiously.

Tang San had Innate Full Soul Power, but his Martial Soul was a Trash Martial Soul. Lin Yu was different. A Spider Martial Soul was powerful to begin with, and he had Innate Full Soul Power on top of that.

"I'd be glad to!" Lin Yu didn't say he needed to discuss it, like Tang San had. He agreed right away.

That had been Lin Yu's plan all along: to join Spirit Hall. Now that he had a Spider Martial Soul similar to Bibi Dong's, it would be even easier.

"Good! Good! Good!" Su Yuntao burst out laughing at Lin Yu's answer.

"All right, let's go out. Your village chief must be getting anxious." In high spirits, Su Yuntao led all the children outside.

Old Jack was pacing anxiously outside the Spirit Hall. When he saw the tightly shut doors finally open, he hurried over to Su Yuntao, trembling.

"Grandmaster..." Old Jack was nervous.

"Don't worry, Old Village Chief. Your village has two children who can become Soul Masters this year, and both have Innate Full Soul Power. But one of them awakened a poor Martial Soul—a Trash Martial Soul." Su Yuntao couldn't hide his excitement, though his voice faltered slightly when he mentioned Tang San's Trash Martial Soul.

"Innate Full Soul Power!? A Trash Martial Soul?" Su Yuntao's words sent Old Jack's emotions swinging wildly. At the mention of a Trash Martial Soul, he grew nervous.

"Grandmaster, which one did you say has the Trash Martial Soul...?"

"Well, it's not exactly a Trash Martial Soul. This child awakened Blue Silver Grass. With guidance from a great teacher, he could still do well, especially with Innate Full Soul Power." Su Yuntao looked at Tang San with regret.

When Old Jack heard that the one who had awakened a Trash Martial Soul wasn't his grandson Lin Yu, he breathed a sigh of relief.

In the original story, Old Jack didn't have a grandson, so he doted on Tang San as if he were his own. After all, Tang San was the only child in all of Holy Soul Village who lacked affection.

"This child is impressive. He awakened a Spider Martial Soul, and he has Innate Full Soul Power, too. He's already agreed to join Spirit Hall. When school starts, you can take him straight to the Martial Soul Academy in Nuoding City." Su Yuntao happily patted Lin Yu on the shoulder.

"These are the Martial Soul certificates for the two of them. Bring them to our Spirit Hall in a few days to register." Su Yuntao handed Old Jack the two certificates, then turned and quickly left.

He still had children in several other villages whose Martial Souls needed awakening, and he also had to report Lin Yu's case to Spirit City. He had plenty to do, so he couldn't stay in Holy Soul Village much longer.