Martial Soul Awakening

Martial Soul City, Pope Palace.

The non-executive residential district.

Six-year-old Lin Ye held a long sword, practicing his swordsmanship beneath a banyan tree.

Fallen leaves drifted through the air.

He practiced his sword techniques tirelessly.

Nearby, a young girl one year his senior watched him with an expressionless face.

Two boys followed behind her.

The girl suddenly spoke: "Lin Ye, let's break off our engagement."

Lin Ye's figure stiffened, and he stopped his sword: "Why?"

"Do you really want me to tell you the reason? Fine, I'll tell you."

"My Innate Soul Power is rank 9.5, I possess the top-tier beast martial soul Demon Fox, and now I have even gained the favor of His Holiness the Pope; I will soon become the Pope's personal disciple."

"Do you know what this means?"

The girl's demeanor was arrogant and her expression resolute.

To completely sever any thought Lin Ye might have of fulfilling their engagement in the future, she continued with icy words: "Lin Ye, my future is destined to be brilliant, and I will certainly become a powerful soul master, perhaps even stepping into the realm of a Titled Douluo!"

"I will reach heights you could never touch; you don't even have the qualifications to stand by my side."

"You..."

"Are no longer worthy of me, so I have decided to break off our engagement."

"Is that so?" Lin Ye smiled, feeling a sense of relief.

Yet, his eyes held a stubborn, unyielding spirit: "Hu Liena, tomorrow is the day of my martial soul awakening. Are you really in such a hurry?"

"Are you so certain that my future cannot compare to yours, or that I won't be even more outstanding than you?"

The girl before him was none other than Hu Liena, and the two boys standing behind her were Xie Yue and Yan.

They were all part of the future "Golden Generation," the greatest geniuses of Martial Soul Hall.

Lin Ye and they were all orphans adopted by the Pope Palace.

There were many such orphans in the Pope Palace, all descendants of soul masters who had died in battle while serving the Martial Soul Hall.

Before their parents died in battle, they had arranged a betrothal between Lin Ye and Hu Liena.

Yan, standing behind her, heard this and scoffed with disdain: "Heh, Lin Ye, looking back three generations in your family, the highest rank was only a Soul Saint, and your martial souls were all of average quality! And ninety percent of martial soul awakenings inherit the traits of their predecessors."

"The martial soul theory we learn at the academy tells us that martial souls are directly proportional to Innate Soul Power; it is very difficult for ordinary martial souls to possess high Innate Soul Power."

"Even if you got lucky, you'd be rank 7 at most. You want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Nana? Are you worthy?"

"What is the point of practicing this broken sword all day! No matter how strong your swordsmanship is, if your talent is lacking, you will never be on par with us!"

"Enough, Yan! You don't need to run your mouth about my business." Hu Liena glanced at Yan, her expression arrogant: "Lin Ye, I came here to inform you, not to negotiate with you."

"I am about to go out for training. I hope that when I return, you will have thought things through; perhaps then we can still be friends."

Memories of the past surfaced in his mind.

They were both children, and Lin Ye couldn't say he was in love with Hu Liena.

But they were childhood sweethearts who had grown up together, so there was a certain foundation of affection between them.

However, ever since Hu Liena awakened her martial soul and displayed her immense talent, Lin Ye had gradually felt her distance and indifference; in truth, his heart had long since grown cold toward her.

"Heh, friends?" Lin Ye laughed freely.

He took the marriage contract from his person, his face expressionless, and tore it to shreds right in front of Hu Liena before dropping the pieces to the ground: "Friends won't be necessary! From now on, you walk your path, and I will walk mine."

"We have no further connection!"

"Lin Ye, you!" Hu Liena was stunned.

She had not expected Lin Ye to be so resolute; he hadn't shown a moment of hesitation when tearing up the engagement letter.

Had he not even considered trying to keep her?

This was completely different from what Hu Liena had anticipated. She had expected Lin Ye to pester her, but he hadn't.

This made her feel as though her sense of superiority and pride had suddenly become worthless in front of Lin Ye.

It made her feel deeply displeased, along with a trace of loneliness and discomfort: "Fine! Then don't regret this!"

"My future will only be one of rising success. Being friends with me is an honor for someone like you, who has no status and no background. If you are treated unfairly or bullied by others in the future, don't come looking for me!"

"Hmph! Let's go!"

Hu Liena snorted coldly and turned to leave in a huff.

Lin Ye, meanwhile, continued to swing the long sword in his hand.

As a transmigrator, he actually understood that on one point, Yan was right.

The quality of a martial soul is directly proportional to Innate Soul Power.

Ordinary martial souls rarely awaken with high levels of Innate Soul Power.

Descendants usually inherit the martial souls of their parents; unless a mutation occurs, one's talent and martial soul are practically predetermined from birth.

Lin Ye's late parents both possessed intermediate-quality martial souls.

His father wielded the Fire Flame Sword, and his mother wielded the Light Sword.

Therefore, he knew the probability of him becoming a top-tier genius was extremely low.

"Six years. I've finally waited until it's time to awaken my martial soul. Tomorrow is the pivotal day that will decide my future, but no matter how strong or weak my talent is, I must embark on the path of a Soul Master!" Lin Ye clenched his fists tightly.

The next day, nine o'clock in the morning.

Inside the Awakening Hall of the Pope Palace.

Dozens of six-year-old children stood in an orderly line, waiting for their martial soul awakening.

Lin Ye was already standing in the queue.

"Long Aotian, Innate Soul Power level 5, martial soul: Wind Dragon. Next."

"Ye Bufan, Innate Soul Power level 6, martial soul: Ice Blade."

"Chu Tian, Innate level 4, martial soul: Demon Wolf."

Those who could awaken their martial souls here in a group were basically second-generation members of the Martial Soul Hall, so their talents were rarely trash.

As one child after another stepped forward to awaken their martial souls.

Soon, it was Lin Ye's turn.

"Next, Lin Ye!"

"It's finally my turn."

He took a deep breath and stepped onto the awakening platform.

Watching the six Awakening Stones spinning around his body, Lin Ye couldn't help but feel nervous and apprehensive.

He, too, was hoping to awaken an awesome martial soul and incredible talent.

A few seconds later.

He felt it.

A power within his body was being awakened!

A small sword, wreathed in flames, slowly emerged in the palm of Lin Ye's hand.

Is it my father's intermediate-quality Fire Flame Sword?

As expected, even as a transmigrator, I couldn't defy the heavens and change my fate, nor could I break free from the shackles of bloodline inheritance?

Sigh...

A look of disappointment flashed in Lin Ye's eyes.

But at that very moment.

The sword martial soul in his hand began to flicker with an intense golden light—this was the power of the light attribute!

Even the flames suddenly became incomparably potent and divine!

This! What is happening!?

My father's Fire Flame Sword only had the fire attribute, and my mother's Light Sword only had the light attribute, yet this sword martial soul in my hand actually possesses both light and fire attributes!

And the intensity of these attributes is so domineering!

Lin Ye was shocked; he could no longer contain himself.

In an instant, a brilliant light shone across the entire hall!

Flames also erupted from his body, consuming everything in all directions!