Ever since that day, she had watched him train with extraordinary diligence, rain or shine.
Though she knew it would benefit his future, he was still her son. She hoped he could spend his childhood more happily.
"Mom, it's fine. I'm already used to it." Mu Ci took the hand stroking him and looked at Li Qin, whose face was full of heartache.
Mu Ci looked around, somewhat puzzled.
"Don't I need to go to the main hall in the city for Martial Soul Awakening?"
"Silly boy, your grandmother is the bishop of our Godwood City. Why would you need to go to the main hall for your awakening?" Li Qin rolled her eyes at Mu Ci, feeling that her son had trained himself silly.
Mu Ci scratched his head, having nearly forgotten about that.
Lin Ya, who had been sitting nearby, also walked over and smoothly took over the conversation.
"Grandma will help you awaken your Martial Soul today."
Then, Lin Ya took six pitch-black Martial Soul Awakening Mu Jins and a blue-white crystal ball from her Storage Soul Tool.
She arranged the Awakening Mu Jins into a hexagram beneath her feet, then beckoned Mu Ci over.
"Come, stand in the middle."
At her words, Mu Ci walked over with a slightly excited expression. After waiting so many years for his Martial Soul Awakening, his wish was finally about to come true today.
After walking to the center of the formation, he took several deep breaths and said to the kind-faced elder before him, "Grandma, I'm ready."
Lin Ya nodded without saying much else and summoned her Martial Soul.
"Martial Soul Possession."
A faint red glow of Soul Power rose from Lin Ya's body, and the surrounding temperature abruptly soared.
Her slightly wrinkled face became firm and smooth, her somewhat stooped figure straightened, and behind her appeared a phoenix-like bird wreathed in flames.
Looking at the Martial Soul manifested behind his grandmother, countless thoughts ran through Mu Ci's mind.
He thought of Spirit Kite Douluo, his older cousin once removed, who was far away in Spirit City and had always treated him well.
Ever since Bibi Dong became Pope, even a Title Douluo like her had become busy, constantly carrying out missions across the continent.
Then he recalled Spirit Kite Douluo's careless death in the future. Mu Ci silently made up his mind that he would not accept that ending.
There were still at least a dozen years before that hunt. Many things could be changed. To keep his family from being wiped out in the future, Tang San would just have to suffer a little.
After Martial Soul Possession, Lin Ya's senses had become sharp. Seeing her grandson's expression, she thought he was anxious about his awakening.
She smiled faintly and said, "Don't be nervous. Martial Soul Awakening depends on the strength of the bloodline within your body. You'll most likely inherit the Mu Family's hereditary Martial Soul, the Everlasting Tree. Of course, you might also inherit my Blazing Spirit Kite. Nothing unexpected should happen."
Thinking of her own Martial Soul, she added with a smile.
"If you awaken the Blazing Spirit Kite, Grandma will have your older cousin become your teacher and send you to study in Spirit City."
Hearing his grandmother's words, Mu Ci began pondering quietly. Though the Everlasting Tree was the most likely outcome, the Blazing Spirit Kite was not impossible.
Having Cousin Ling Yuan as his teacher would not be bad. He could also go to Spirit City and meet some of those original characters.
But no matter which Martial Soul he awakened, he would definitely go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye, the blessed land that would be passed down for tens of thousands of years on Douluo Continent. Not only to strike at Tang San, but also to make himself stronger and go farther.
Mu Ci made up his mind, raised his head, and nodded to Lin Ya.
"Grandma, let's begin."
Scarlet Soul Power lit up around Lin Ya. Two yellow, two purple, and four black Soul Rings—the standard configuration—circled her body, rising and falling.
The formation beneath Mu Ci's feet also began to glow. A vast surge of Soul Power erupted from the formation below him, making him feel as though he were soaking in a hot spring, warm all over.
Countless golden specks of light appeared around Mu Ci's body. Seeing this sight, all four of them grew excited. Such a great Soul Power reaction meant he had at least Rank Eight Innate Soul Power—the potential of a Title Douluo!
At that moment, Mu Ci felt something emerge within his body. It began to devour and absorb everything with overwhelming force, then fuse what it had absorbed together, as though taking the essence and discarding the dross.
Feeling her grandson begin to absorb Soul Power in great quantities, Lin Ya was delighted. What Martial Soul Awakening feared most was no reaction at all. Conversely, the greater the reaction, the greater the possibility of a powerful Martial Soul.
With that thought, she began channeling even more Soul Power from her hand.
Before long, the power within Mu Ci's body gradually stabilized, and Lin Ya withdrew her Martial Soul.
"My grandson, hold out your hands and let Grandma see your Martial Soul."
Abundant World Tree
Carefully sensing the power within his body, Mu Ci followed his instincts and summoned it.
Mu Ci held out his hands, and a small azure-gold tree emerged in his palms. Its entire body looked as though it had been cast from metal, radiating an ancient and majestic aura. Azure-gold flames covered its branches, faintly forming what seemed to be runes.
Looking at the azure-gold ancient tree in his palms and the information conveyed to his mind by the Martial Soul, Mu Ci's whole body began trembling slightly, his heart overflowing with excitement.
"Abundant World Tree. This is the Divine Miracle the Abundance Star God bestowed upon the Xianzhou! Hahaha, why the hell would I be afraid of the Asura God now?!"
The psychological pressure caused over the years by the future war of the three gods and his family's safety vanished the instant he saw the Abundant World Tree.
This was an Aeon's Blessing!
The Abundance Star God was a supreme existence in the Honkai: Star Rail Universe. There were only eighteen known Aeons of equal standing in the entire universe, and every one of them possessed the mighty power to shake the cosmos.
Known throughout the universe for selflessness and altruism, They had led countless civilizations to venture into the stars, searching the sea of stars for immortality with the words, "Let all sentient beings receive all they seek!"
No matter what kind of creature they were, regardless of good or evil, the Abundance Star God treated them equally and granted them eternal life. Yet precisely because of this, those blessed with immortality had formed the Immortal Calamity that ravaged the universe.
Compared to beings like that, let alone the Asura God and Sea God, even the entire God Realm combined with the Dragon Race at its peak might not necessarily defeat a single tribe of Abundance People.
For example, the Xianzhou Alliance.
As he absorbed the information in his mind, Mu Ci's excited heart gradually calmed down. Possessing the Abundant World Tree did not mean he had the strength to disregard the God Realm.
On the contrary, he had to practice and comprehend the Path like an ordinary Pathstrider. The Abundant World Tree was merely a Path seed, a staircase that allowed one to embark upon the Path of Abundance.
The power of each level of the Path could roughly be divided into nine tiers. When a Pathstrider reached a certain limit, they could gain a degree of authority and become an Emanator without an Aeon's gaze. But when an Emanator reached their limit, whether they could ascend to godhood remained unknown.
In the Honkai: Star Rail Universe, Emanator was merely an identity. Under an Aeon's Blessing, they possessed incomparable power, but they were not fundamentally different from Pathstriders. Top-tier Pathstriders could likewise possess combat power comparable to Emanators.
But in the Douluo Universe, an Emanator was no longer merely an agent of an Aeon's will. It was the name of a realm, one in which a Pathstrider wielded greater authority over the Path.
"The moment I become an Emanator, every god in the God Realm will tremble before me. When I drive a living planet to your doorstep in the future, I wonder what the Five Great God Kings will think!" Thinking of this, Mu Ci became completely confident. Everything before him seemed bright.
Then what?
How was he supposed to increase his Path Power? And how exactly was he supposed to practice the Path?
The Abundant World Tree had left him speechless by only explaining half of it.
"Is this a mutated Martial Soul?" Lin Ya and Li Qin stared at the azure-gold sapling in Mu Ci's palm in astonishment.
"Yes, Grandma, Mom. I call it the Abundant World Tree." Mu Ci came back to his senses, only then remembering that he was still in the middle of his Martial Soul Awakening.
"Abundant World Tree? It looks like it mutated from the Everlasting Tree, but it should be a beneficial mutation. Xiao Ci, hurry and test your Soul Power." Hearing her grandson's words, Lin Ya nodded and gave her assessment.
Mu Ci placed his hand on the blue-white crystal ball held out to him. Instantly, the crystal ball burst into dazzling light without the slightest gap.
"Innate Full Soul Power!"
"My son has the potential to become peerless!"
At the sight, the two women could no longer remain calm. They hugged and kissed Mu Ci repeatedly.
Mu Changsheng and Mu Sheng looked at each other, both beaming with joy as they burst into laughter.
"Our Mu Family will produce a Title Douluo!"
Everyone gathered around Mu Ci and laughed for a while before gradually calming down.
Mu Changsheng looked at his wife, his expression slightly serious. "Old woman, when you go back to the main hall to register his information later, register Xiao Ci's Innate Soul Power as Rank Nine. That way, he'll draw less attention."
There was still a difference between Innate Full Soul Power and Rank Nine. If nothing unexpected happened, someone with Rank Nine Innate Soul Power would have no trouble becoming a Title Douluo. They would roughly have the potential of Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo—worth recruiting, but not to the point where they had to be secured at all costs.
But Innate Full Soul Power was different. It represented a nearly guaranteed Peak Douluo, and if their Soul Rings were good enough, becoming a Peerless Douluo was not impossible.
Hearing this, Lin Ya's delighted expression also turned serious as she said,
"Yes. Spirit Hall has made some big moves these past few years, and the friction between Pope Palace and Worship Hall has increased as well.
"Our Lin Family has always supported the Angel Faction, and many of our clansmen have long served in the Angel Legion.
"But Bibi Dong has recently taken the position of Pope and carried out major reforms. She has been trying every possible way to win Yan'er over. If Xiao Ci reveals Innate Full Soul Power at a time like this, he will definitely attract attention. It's better to keep something in reserve."
After pondering for a moment, Lin Ya agreed with Mu Changsheng's approach. No outsiders had witnessed the Martial Soul Awakening anyway, and she could register his Soul Power at whichever rank she wished.
Mu Changsheng nodded, a smile returning to his face. "Factional struggles have nothing to do with us. We only need to handle our own affairs."
His gaze returned to Mu Ci, who was being held in his mother's arms. Smiling broadly, Mu Changsheng took an exquisitely crafted ring from his clothes.
He slowly walked over, handed the ring to Mu Ci, and said loudly, "Good grandson, now that your Martial Soul has awakened and you have Soul Power, Grandpa will give you this Storage Soul Tool as a gift. Pack some luggage tonight, and tomorrow morning, you'll go with Grandpa to hunt your first Soul Ring."
"Okay, Grandpa."
Evening.
Under his family's loving care and affection, Mu Ci finished dinner.
After returning to his bedroom and closing the doors and windows, Mu Ci went to a bucket of ice water he had instructed the servants to prepare. Then he took a chunk of gel-like substance resembling golden crystal from his cabinet.
This was thousand-year Whale Rubber, a special substance formed in the brains of whale-type Soul Beasts. When softened with high heat and consumed, it could strengthen the body and increase the age limit of Soul Rings one could absorb.
However, in this era, Whale Rubber was generally used by nobles to enhance bedroom pleasures. No one knew that it could strengthen the physical body.
Godwood City was located deep in the continent, far from the Sea Region, so ocean treasures like Whale Rubber rarely appeared there. The piece in Mu Ci's hands had been brought from Heaven Dou City by the Seven Treasure Chamber of Commerce at his request, using his father's name. It had cost him most of his pocket money.
He carried a small stove from the corner, lit it, and carefully set the Whale Rubber over the flames to roast.
Before long, the golden crystal-like Whale Rubber softened under the high heat, turning into a golden gel. A strange fragrance began drifting through the air. The scent was extremely rich, yet it remained condensed and did not disperse, lingering only around the stove.
Seeing this, Mu Ci knew the Whale Rubber was ready to consume and took it off the stove.
Holding the softened Whale Rubber, he tore off a small piece, blew on it to cool it slightly, and put it in his mouth. Instantly, an intensely fishy ocean stench shot straight into his head.
"Damn, this hits harder than taking a bite of wasabi!"
Mu Ci endured the discomfort and stuffed the rest of the Whale Rubber into his mouth in one go, swallowing it down.
The moment the Whale Rubber entered his stomach, the stench that had rushed into his head vanished. In its place, a faint fragrance flowed from his nostrils.
At the same time, Mu Ci's entire body began to flush scarlet, and uncontrollable emotions exploded within his heart.
Feeling this change, Mu Ci hurriedly climbed into the prepared ice bucket and fell into a deep sleep.
Before you continue