Douluo Continent, the Peerless Era.
It was a dazzling era, and a regrettable one.
The Divine Realm.
Tang San gazed at the rising star of Douluo Continent and sighed. "This is in the bag. I'm definitely bringing the Child of Destiny under my wing. I can use my little Xiaoqi to lure him in, too. After all, no one can resist my daughter's beauty."
"Hmph. Huo Yuhao, you won't escape my grasp."
Shrek City, at the border of three great empires.
Yu Daoyun stood outside the grand array specially set up in the city to awaken the Martial Souls of noble family children, and sighed. "Six years. At last, this day has come. Who would've thought Martial Soul Awakening would be so troublesome these days? We even have to come all the way to Shrek City for it."
"Damn Tang San..."
After muttering to himself, Yu Daoyun dutifully joined the queue, keeping his head down.
Without strength, he didn't dare curse a god king carelessly. He was afraid of getting hexed.
Six years ago, Yu Daoyun had transmigrated into the body of a branch-family disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. His parents had died on a mission to exterminate Evil Soul Masters, leaving him to grow up alone among the clan.
Another start without parents.
Now, six years later, an elder of Shrek had invited Yu Daoyun to the city for his Martial Soul Awakening.
Anyone with an Innate Soul Power Level of seven or higher who inherited a true Dragon Clan Martial Soul would be invited on the spot to join Shrek Academy.
However... there were more than a dozen branch-family disciples just like him. The competition was fierce, to say the least.
But there was one piece of good news: his branch didn't inherit the Golden Sacred Dragon passed down by Yu Xiaogang. Instead, it carried the Golden Dragon Bloodline, which emphasized strength and unleashed tremendous power.
Just then, two elders of Shrek descended from the sky into the center of the awakening array, followed by a group of Shrek students.
They were Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department; Xian Lin'er, dean of the Soul Tool Department; and Ma Xiaotao, Zhang Lexuan, and the others.
Both deans were disciples of Mu En, the Dragon God Douluo. At Mu En's request, they had come to awaken the Martial Souls of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family's heirs—and to recruit students for the academy.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was hailed as the strongest reclusive family. Its children surpassed many others in both talent and Martial Soul quality, making them ideal candidates to study and grow at Shrek.
Everyone else gathered to watch the spectacle.
At the front, Yan Shaozhe cleared his throat. His aged face wrinkled into a kind smile as he said, "I am Yan Shaozhe, dean of the Martial Soul Department. I represent the academy in overseeing your Martial Soul Awakening. Once you awaken a True Dragon Martial Soul and have an Innate Soul Power Level of seven or higher, you may enter Shrek Academy and choose to study in either the Martial Soul Department or the Soul Tool Department."
"Children, step forward..."
Xian Lin'er smiled and beckoned them over, welcoming them to undergo their Martial Soul Awakening.
Zhang Lexuan and the others also greeted their junior brothers with warm smiles.
Seeing the beautiful senior sisters from Shrek, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples were thrilled. One after another, they stepped into the Martial Soul Awakening array.
Yan Shaozhe immediately activated the array and began the Martial Soul Awakening.
A dragon roared. The first disciple to step forward awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, giving Yan Shaozhe a slight shock.
The Shrek students were stunned.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's foundations were that deep? The very first person to awaken a Martial Soul had gotten the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
But after checking the boy's Innate Soul Power, Yan Shaozhe's expression turned regretful. "Innate Soul Power Level five. What a pity, though you still have the potential to become a Soul Saint."
The boy looked crestfallen and silently stepped aside.
He belonged to Yu Xiaogang's branch. His awakened Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul was impure, carrying the bloodlines of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Luo Sanpao, and the Red Dragon.
So even though he had awakened the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, it wasn't pure enough.
Then the second boy stepped forward.
A loud dragon's cry rang out. Another Earth Dragon bloodline, with an Innate Soul Power Level of four.
Yan Shaozhe was somewhat disappointed.
Why had the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan produced nothing but Sub-Dragon or mixed-blood Dragon Martial Souls in recent years? Pure-blooded Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons were so hard to come by.
Xian Lin'er raised the corner of her mouth and said, "With an Innate Soul Power Level of four or five, they can enter the academy first. They might even become students in the Soul Tool Department."
Her words delighted the disciples who had worried their Innate Soul Power wouldn't be high enough.
They had a chance to enter Shrek Academy. What a stroke of luck!
That was the advantage of having a Sea God Pavilion Master in the family: they could get into the academy through the back door.
Anyone else could forget about it.
Yan Shaozhe immediately grew anxious. "Lin'er, you're going too far! They clearly belong in our Martial Soul Department."
Xian Lin'er rolled her eyes. "You're the one who doesn't want them. These disciples might not meet your standards, but they can learn about Soul Tools. They might even enter the ranks of high-level Soul Engineers in the future."
"All right..."
Yan Shaozhe let out a heavy sigh and continued helping the children awaken their Martial Souls.
Soon, the ceremony proceeded in orderly fashion.
Some awakened a pure Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Bloodline and had an Innate Soul Power Level of seven. They joined Shrek Academy on the spot as students of the Outer Court.
Others awakened useless Dragon Martial Souls and left in disappointment.
After several rounds of Martial Soul Awakening, it was finally Yu Daoyun's turn.
Yan Shaozhe said kindly, "Child, focus your mind and feel the changes inside your body."
Yu Daoyun immediately calmed his thoughts and concentrated on the sensations within him.
In an instant, the entire awakening array shone with dazzling golden light. A powerful Dragon King aura swept across the grounds, forcing those with Sub-Dragon Martial Souls to their knees. The radiance nearly blinded Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er.
Yan Shaozhe's breath caught. His murky eyes fixed on Yu Daoyun.
This aura... a Dragon King Martial Soul.
What a pure Ultimate Attribute aura.
Xian Lin'er narrowed her eyes, sensing a familiar presence—the same oppressive feeling she experienced only when facing Mu En.
Could it be the Holy Dragon of Light Martial Soul?
Just then, brilliant golden light burst forth. A gigantic Golden Dragon coiled behind Yu Daoyun, its eyes shining as it looked down upon all creation.
A Golden Dragon Spear also appeared in his hand, a companion weapon.
Yan Shaozhe recognized the Martial Soul at once and cried out, "One of the Nine Great Dragon Kings—the Golden Dragon Martial Soul, the Ancestor of Strength!"
Its appearance left him utterly stunned.
In this era of Ultimate Attributes, someone had awakened the Golden Dragon Martial Soul—and he was a descendant of Mu En's family, no less.
A clean background. Pure blood.
What a rare find!
Yan Shaozhe continued, "Child, let's check your Innate Soul Power."
Yu Daoyun nodded and placed his hand on the crystal ball.
As the crystal ball shone with dazzling white light, the stone weighing on Yan Shaozhe's heart finally lifted.
Innate Full Soul Power. An Unpolished Jade!
The genius of this generation wouldn't be Xiaotao's alone anymore.
Golden Dragon Martial Soul, Ancestor of Strength.
That talent alone put him on a par with Mu En in his prime. He could very well become the next leader of the Shrek Seven Devils.
Provided he didn't die young.
With that in mind, Yan Shaozhe promptly extended an invitation, smiling broadly. "Young man, you're a descendant of Mu En's family. Given your Martial Soul and Soul Power Level, you can join Shrek Academy directly."
"Besides, I can teach you Soul Master knowledge on Mu En's behalf. Would you be willing to become my disciple?"
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm a level-ninety-five Super Douluo with the title Bright Phoenix, and the dean of Shrek's Martial Soul Department. If you become my disciple, you'll have all the resources you need."
At that moment.
Zhang Lexuan and the other students witnessed Yan Shaozhe's shameless attempt to take on a disciple.
The female students' mouths twitched. They couldn't help grumbling inwardly about Dean Yan's shameless ways.
He was taking on a disciple before the boy had even entered the academy. Dean Yan was far too eager.
Ma Xiaotao shook her head and sighed. "My teacher has no other talents, but he's second to none at fooling people and being stingy."
Meanwhile, Xian Lin'er, the dean of the Soul Tool Department, couldn't take it anymore. She cursed, "Yan Shaozhe, you shameless bastard! He hasn't even entered the academy, and you're already taking him as your disciple. Afraid someone else will steal him from you?"
Yan Shaozhe stroked his beard and smiled. "Lin'er, you really are like a worm in my gut. You even know what I'm thinking."
Xian Lin'er was so furious it felt like she was bleeding inside, yet she had no way to deal with the scoundrel.
That shameless, skin-thick bastard had gone too far!
No... she had to inform Mu En and ask him to preside over the matter.
With that thought, Xian Lin'er unleashed a Soul Skill and vanished, heading for the Sea God Pavilion to ask Mu En to come and uphold justice.
Before you continue