With everything ready, Yun Ming slowly raised his hand. A wisp of pale golden Soul Power gathered in his palm and flowed into the formation.
The patterns on the floor suddenly lit up. Lin Chen felt a warm force wrap around his limbs and bones. He could clearly sense the Martial Soul within him gradually awakening under its influence.
"Focus. Follow the guidance and feel it," Yun Ming said, his voice soothing. "Try to release it."
Lin Chen slowly closed his eyes. A pale azure dragon-shaped pattern gradually appeared on his forehead.
Suddenly, a clear dragon's roar thundered through the silent awakening room.
When he opened his eyes again, azure-gold lightning surged in his jade-green pupils. Behind him, a dragon's shadow took shape, its scales as translucent as colored glaze. Each one shimmered with vitality and auspicious golden light.
Lin Chen turned to look at the phantom behind him, his pupils contracting in disbelief. "I actually awakened the Azure Dragon from the myths of my previous life." What puzzled him was that this Azure Dragon seemed somewhat different from the one he remembered.
"This is..." Yun Ming's voice trembled with disbelief. "Its bloodline is even higher than Sister Yue's Holy Light and Dark Dragon."
Yali stepped forward and carefully sensed it. "Such a rich aura of life." Her soft voice carried a faint, barely perceptible tremble.
At some point, Long Yeyue had left the awakening room. Only Yun Ming, Yali, Zhuo Shi, and Feng Wuyu remained.
Yun Ming took a deep breath, forcibly quelling the turbulent waves within him, then looked at Lin Chen. "Lin Chen, tell me, what is your Martial Soul called?"
Lin Chen lowered his head and pondered for a moment before answering, "Dad, my Martial Soul is called the Azure Dragon." After a brief pause, he added, "Its attributes are lightning, life, and... something auspicious?"
Yun Ming didn't respond. Instead, he took out a pale blue crystal orb and held it out to Lin Chen. "Let's test your Soul Power Level. Put your hand on it and release a wisp of Soul Power."
Lin Chen gently placed his palm against it and sent in a wisp of Soul Power. The next second, the crystal orb, dull and transparent just moments before, suddenly burst into dazzling light.
As expected, he had Innate Full Soul Power. Yun Ming nodded, planning to have Yali take him to the Spirit Pagoda the next day to obtain his first Soul Spirit.
Early the next morning, Yali and Lin Chen arrived at the Spirit Pagoda Headquarters. The entire towering structure was enveloped by a pale silver Soul Power barrier.
When the receptionist saw Her Holiness Holy Spirit, she immediately came forward to greet her. Since Tower Master Qiangu was away on business, Leng Yaozhu was the only Vice Tower Master left at the headquarters.
"Ding." The elevator doors opened, and a stunning figure in fiery red stepped out. Leng Yaozhu had sensed Ya Li's arrival long ago.
When rivals met, their eyes practically shot sparks, but Leng Yaozhu still asked politely, "What brings you here, Her Holiness Holy Spirit?" Her gaze casually swept over Lin Chen beside her.
"I brought my son to buy his first Soul Spirit." Yali turned to the side and ushered Lin Chen forward. "This is Yun Linchen. He awakened his Martial Soul not long ago and has Innate Full Soul Power."
After hearing Yali's words, Leng Yaozhu's breathing stopped for an instant before quickly returning to normal. Her gaze settled on Lin Chen again. "What kind of Soul Spirit do you want?"
Lin Chen had already decided on his first Soul Spirit the night before. He looked up to meet her gaze and calmly replied, "Thunder Hell Vine."
"Thunder Hell Vine?" Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow, a trace of concern flashing in her eyes. "We do have that Soul Spirit, but it's an Indomitable Soul Spirit. Ordinary Soul Masters can hardly absorb it. Are you sure?"
After Leng Yaozhu finished speaking, Ya Li furrowed her brows, her voice tinged with worry. "Lin Chen, are you sure? Indomitable Soul Spirits are mostly fierce and unyielding, especially one like the Thunder Hell Vine, with its lightning attribute. If anything goes wrong..."
She didn't continue, but the risks were obvious.
Lin Chen nodded, his voice unusually firm. "Don't worry, Mom. I have a way to handle it. If I can't absorb it, we'll choose another Soul Spirit."
Looking at the boy's resolve, Yali knew he wasn't acting on impulse. She could only sigh softly and reach out to ruffle his hair. "All right, Mom believes in you. But promise me that if anything feels wrong, you'll stop immediately. Don't push yourself."
Leng Yaozhu watched them, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes. Then she turned around. "Follow me."
She took them in the elevator to the area where the Indomitable Soul Spirits were kept.
"Most Indomitable Soul Spirits are wild and unruly. To prevent them from hurting one another, each is kept in a separate room." Leng Yaozhu stopped in front of a door and said, "Yali and I will watch over you here. The rest is up to you."
The door slowly opened, and a violent aura of lightning rushed toward them.
Lin Chen took a deep breath, turned to Ya Li, and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm going in."
With that, he didn't hesitate. He stepped through the doorway, and the door slowly closed behind him, cutting off all their view.
Yali stared at the closed door, her fingers clenching unconsciously.
Standing beside her, Leng Yaozhu glanced at her tense profile and, for once, offered a word of comfort. "If he's that confident, perhaps he really can succeed."
Yali said nothing, keeping her eyes fixed on the door.
"A lightning-attribute Martial Soul?" The voice came from the Thunder Hell Vine before him.
Lin Chen remained calm and got straight to the point. "I know you can absorb lightning to increase your cultivation. I happen to have a lightning attribute too—and not an ordinary one, but Extreme Lightning."
After a pause, he added, "You don't want to be limited to a hundred years of cultivation, do you? I, Lin Chen, swear by my Martial Soul that I'll raise you to the hundred-thousand-year level in the future."
The Thunder Hell Vine fell silent. After a long while, it asked with a hint of curiosity, "Why should I believe you?"
"Because I can show you the future." Lin Chen raised his hand, and the phantom of his Martial Soul appeared behind him. Azure-gold lightning in his hand intertwined with the Soul Spirit's dark purple lightning. "We're partners, not master and servant. I can promise you that."
"You can keep your pride. I won't force you to do anything. You only need to see what I can bring you."
The Thunder Hell Vine looked at the six-year-old boy before it and fell silent once more, as if struggling with a decision.
At last, dark purple lightning enveloped Lin Chen—a silent answer. Lin Chen understood its meaning and sat down cross-legged to meditate.
The absorption went smoothly. About two and a half hours later, he succeeded. A miniature Thunder Hell Vine slowly appeared around him.
He stood up, straightened his collar, and walked to the door. Then he gently pushed it open.
Yali rushed over almost at once. The tension and unease on her face vanished the moment she saw Lin Chen, replaced by undisguised concern. "Lin Chen! How did it go? Did you succeed? Do you feel unwell anywhere?"
Her voice trembled faintly, and her gaze swept anxiously over him, afraid he might have been hurt inside.
Seeing Yali's worried expression, Lin Chen gave her a reassuring smile and nodded gently. "Mom, I did it."
Leng Yaozhu raised an eyebrow and said evenly, "Good to hear. I'll take you to handle the payment. I'll make an exception and give you an internal discount."
After Yali paid by card, she left the Spirit Pagoda with Lin Chen.
On the way, Ya Li asked curiously, concern in her voice, "Lin Chen, how did you manage to absorb an Indomitable Soul Spirit?"
"That's a long story. I'll show you my first Soul Skill when we get home."
Before you continue