Bright Moon Hangs High!!

Ning Rongrong curled her lips.

"I don't think you look like much, you're actually quite average."

Though she was young, her tone carried the unique, spoiled arrogance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess.

Lin Yuan lowered his head, looking at the little girl who didn't even reach his chest.

Seeing her haughty expression, Lin Yuan didn't get angry; instead, he found it somewhat amusing.

He reached out directly and pinched Ning Rongrong's playful cheeks.

A smooth, soft sensation came from his fingertips.

Lin Yuan gave a light pinch and spoke with a smile.

"So soft."

"Quite cute, actually."

After saying this, Lin Yuan let go.

Ning Rongrong was completely stunned.

She widened her eyes, standing there in a daze.

From the time she was born, everyone in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had treated her like a treasure, afraid she might fall if held or melt if kept in their mouths.

Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa spoiled her to the heavens.

No one had ever dared to treat her like this, actually reaching out to pinch her face!

After coming to her senses, Ning Rongrong's little face flushed bright red.

She was just about to lose her temper, ready to loudly interrogate this ignorant boy who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.

But Lin Yuan had already turned around, not even sparing her another glance, and walked straight toward the line waiting for the awakening.

This left Ning Rongrong with nowhere to vent her anger.

"You!"

Ning Rongrong stomped her feet in frustration.

"You stop right there!"

She was about to chase after him, but was scooped up by Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had walked over.

"Rongrong, don't be naughty, the ceremony is about to begin."

Although Chen Xin's tone was gentle, his gaze lingered deeply on Lin Yuan's back.

Accompanied by the sound of a steady bell, Qian Xunji, dressed in the brilliant golden robes representing the status of the Pope, slowly walked out from the shadows onto the high platform.

His appearance immediately silenced the noisy hall.

Qian Xunji scanned his surroundings, his gaze lingering for a moment on Bibi Dong and Lin Yuan.

Then, he cleared his throat and announced in a loud voice.

"The Martial Soul Hall awakening ceremony begins now."

"All children who have reached the age of six, follow the roster and line up to awaken your martial souls."

Following Qian Xunji's order, a red-robed bishop immediately took out a roster and began reading names.

In the center of the hall, the six-year-old children nervously took their places.

However, as the names were called out one by one, Lin Yuan remained standing where he was, not moving.

Bibi Dong's expression gradually became grave.

It wasn't until the very end that the red-robed bishop finally called Lin Yuan's name.

According to the arranged order, Lin Yuan had actually been placed last.

This was clearly illogical.

Given the importance Bibi Dong placed on Lin Yuan, how could she possibly let him be last?

Clearly, this was Qian Xunji using his authority as Pope to do it on purpose.

On the high platform, a secret, cold smile appeared at the corner of Qian Xunji's mouth.

He wanted everyone to see the other children awaken excellent martial souls first.

He wanted to raise the guests' expectations to the maximum.

Then, he would have Lin Yuan go up last and fail the awakening in front of everyone.

He wanted to make this wild boy, whom Bibi Dong pinned such high hopes on, the biggest laughingstock of the entire event.

He would use this to ruthlessly humiliate Bibi Dong and suppress her arrogance.

The awakening formation activated.

The light of the hexagram lit up in the center of the hall.

The first child stepped into the formation.

Qian Xunji stood at the edge of the high platform, extending his right hand from his commanding vantage point.

He spared no effort in channeling the Angelic divine power within his body.

Streams of brilliant golden light spilled from his palm, transforming into specks of starlight to initiate the so-called blessing.

Enveloped by this sacred power, the first child began to glow all over.

"Martial Soul, Raging Giant Bear."

"Innate Soul Power, level seven."

The cardinal announced the results in a loud voice.

A wave of gasps erupted from the crowd.

Next came the second child, then the third.

With the blessing of Qian Xunji's Angelic divine power, these children of Martial Soul Hall had indeed awakened quite impressive Martial Souls.

Their Innate Soul Power was almost all above level five, and there was even a genius with level eight Innate Soul Power.

Seeing this, Yu Luomian, who was sitting in the guest section, could not help but sigh.

"The foundation of Martial Soul Hall is truly unfathomable."

"These children are genuinely gifted; with such aptitude, they would be cultivated as core disciples in any sect."

Prince Xue Xing of the Heaven Dou Empire was also secretly alarmed.

Watching the children awaken such powerful Martial Souls, he calculated how to guard against the expansion of Martial Soul Hall in the future.

Prince Dai Weisi of the Star Luo Empire, however, had a face ashen with gloom.

He had assumed the talent of the Star Luo royal family was already outstanding enough, but looking at this now, the current generation of Martial Soul Hall was teeming with talent.

Listening to the exclamations from the various factions below, Qian Xunji felt immensely gratified.

He was very satisfied with the effect he had cultivated.

The preceding setup had been perfectly executed.

As time ticked by, the children in the front finally finished their awakenings.

The gaze of the entire hall instantly converged on the only child who had yet to enter the formation.

Lin Yuan.

Everyone present knew that the main event of the day actually rested on this child.

"Next."

The cardinal looked toward Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan took a step forward, walking into the center of the awakening formation with a composed expression.

Qian Renxue clenched her fists beneath the platform, her eyes fixed tightly upon him.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath; her beautiful face betrayed a hint of nervousness, but even more anticipation.

It was finally Lin Yuan's turn to take the stage.

Qian Xunji hypocritically stepped forward, standing at the edge of the high platform closest to Lin Yuan.

He looked down at Lin Yuan, a warm smile hanging on his face.

"Good child."

"Let this Pope see exactly what kind of surprise you can bring us."

As his voice fell, Qian Xunji raised his right hand once more.

He was going to bestow a blessing upon Lin Yuan.

However, the moment the golden light of Angelic divine power surged from his palm, the smile on Qian Xunji's face instantly vanished.

He secretly exerted his full Angelic divine power.

On the surface, this power appeared incomparably holy and radiant.

In reality, Qian Xunji had long since altered the circulation path of his divine power.

What he was unleashing was not a blessing at all.

It was an extremely overbearing force of suppression.

This power, like an invisible mountain, attempted to force its way into Lin Yuan's body to block his meridians and degrade the quality of his Martial Soul.

The golden light poured down like a waterfall, instantly enveloping Lin Yuan's entire body.

The moment the golden light made contact with his body.

Lin Yuan's frame stiffened abruptly.

He instantly sensed a strange, external force carrying intense hostility, forcibly intruding into his body.

This power was highly destructive, rampaging wildly through Lin Yuan's limbs and bones.

It attempted to completely shatter the Martial Soul power currently gestating within his body.

Lin Yuan's brows furrowed tightly.

What a fine Qian Xunji, actually resorting to such underhanded tactics in front of so many people.

However, for all his calculations, Qian Xunji had overlooked one fatal detail.

Through these past few years of accumulating vast resources within the Martial Soul Hall, combined with the personal tutelage of Bibi Dong.

The bloodline within his body had long since reached a terrifying critical threshold.

The moment this overbearing Angelic suppression force invaded.

It was instantly like pouring a basin of cold water into a pot of boiling oil.

The Nine Nether Beast bloodline, which had been lying dormant within Lin Yuan, was thoroughly enraged by this external divine power.

The Nine Nether Beast was, after all, an ancient ferocious beast representing the pinnacle of destruction and slaughter.

How could it allow the divine power of a mere bird-man to run wild on its turf!