Martial Soul Awakening, Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff!

Douluo Continent, Shrek City.

Early morning.

The annual Awakening Day had once again raised its curtain.

The streets were teeming with people, countless parents holding their children's hands, pulling them toward the central square to participate in the ceremony.

They all hoped their children would awaken a powerful martial soul and possess soul power.

Perhaps even push open the gates of Shrek Academy and embark on the path to becoming a noble soul master.

"Next, Xia Ming!"

The clear roll call pierced through the noisy crowd.

At the end of the throng, a black-haired youth took a deep breath and stepped forward.

He stood in the center of a hexagonal array precisely constructed from six black stones.

Outwardly calm, only he knew that the heartbeat within his chest was thundering like a war drum.

He had been transmigrated to this world for exactly six years.

In his previous life, Xia Ming was nothing more than an ordinary college student among the masses of Blue Star.

One day, while engaged in a heated debate online with a fanatical devotee of Tang San.

In his agitation, he hadn't noticed a speeding truck roaring toward him...

The final thought before his consciousness vanished was one of absurd resentment.

However, when he opened his eyes again, times had changed; he had become an orphan in the era of the Peerless Tang Sect.

For a transmigrator, this era could be called the absolute worst.

Looking back ten thousand years, the path to godhood had not yet been completely monopolized by that God King Tang who sat high in the God Realm.

Back then, Martial Soul Hall would awaken martial souls for commoners free of charge.

Looking forward ten thousand years, the God Realm had drifted away without a trace, and the Spirit Pagoda had taken on the responsibility of universal awakening.

Only in the present did the gods lock the ladder to the heavens from above.

Below, imperial nobles entrenched themselves, leaving commoners who wished to awaken their martial souls with no choice but to pay a hefty price—if they could find a way at all.

Fortunately, although Xia Ming was alone in this life, he had been born in Shrek City.

As the location of the continent's premier academy, it provided an awakening opportunity every year for all age-appropriate children within the city.

This had become his most crucial chance.

If he failed to grasp this opportunity, or if his martial soul was mediocre and devoid of soul power.

Then he would likely spend this life as a mundane commoner in the shadows of this massive city.

As for clinging to that future Huo Gua?

Unless one was born into the White Tiger Duke Mansion, by the time the other party arrived at Shrek City, he would already be soaring in the heavens.

How could a commoner orphan ever hope to look up to or befriend him?

"No need to be nervous; relax your body and mind. It will be over soon." A gentle voice pulled Xia Ming's thoughts back.

The person in charge of the awakening was a middle-aged man dressed in the uniform of a Shrek Academy teacher.

His face was refined, and his eyes carried a soothing power.

Xia Ming gathered his focus and nodded.

He watched as the teacher exhaled a breath of soul power, and the six black stones on the ground suddenly lit up.

Pale golden radiance flowed like water, rapidly swallowing Xia Ming's figure.

Warmth.

An indescribable warm current rose from the Yongquan point on the soles of his feet, instantly permeating his limbs and bones, as if he were soaking in the fountain of Life.

Immediately following, under the guidance of this warm current, some ancient seal deep within his body seemed to shatter with a bang!

An existence that was primitive, majestic, and full of power roared to life from the deepest depths of his soul!

"ROAR--!"

It was not a real roar, yet it felt as if a beastly growl that shook the soul had exploded in everyone's ears.

Behind Xia Ming, brilliant golden light shot into the sky, condensing into the phantom of a majestic and miraculous giant beast!

The beast resembled a lion, yet it was more robust and ferocious, its entire body covered in thick fur that looked as if it were cast from gold.

Pale golden flames burned within its eyes, and in its gaze, the awe-inspiring might of the king of all beasts swept outward.

At the same time, Xia Ming's body underwent visible changes.

His bones emitted slight cracking sounds as his stature suddenly shot up, broadening by a significant margin.

Pale golden fur emerged on his exposed skin, and a thick sense of power filled every inch of his muscles.

"This... what is this?!"

The always composed Shrek Academy teacher widened his eyes in a lapse of composure, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"The legendary Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff?! Quick! Child, come and test your Innate Soul Power!"

The surrounding clamor fell silent as countless gazes focused on Xia Ming, filled with shock and envy.

Xia Ming suppressed the surging emotions within his heart and placed his right hand steadily onto the blue crystal ball used for testing soul power.

In an instant!

The crystal ball, which had only been glowing faintly, seemed as if a small sun had been dropped into it!

An unprecedented, blinding radiance that threatened to pierce the eyes erupted, illuminating the entire Awakening Hall as if it were broad daylight!

"Innate Full Soul Power! It really is Innate Full Soul Power!" the teaching assistant in charge of records exclaimed in disbelief.

The refined teacher had completely set aside his surprise, his face beaming with sincere joy and solemnity.

He walked quickly to Xia Ming, his gaze burning:

"Child, do not be afraid. My name is Wang Yan, and I am a teacher at Shrek Academy. What is your name?"

Wang Yan? Xia Ming's heart skipped a beat.

He was no stranger to this name; in the original story, he was one of the most crucial guides for Huo Yuhao at Shrek Academy.

As a master of theory, the man was upright and generous, with a reputation far exceeding that of other teachers.

Meeting him here was a surprise, but thinking it over, this was Shrek City after all, so it was not entirely impossible.

What made Xia Ming's heart race even more was the power coursing through his body at this very moment.

Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff!

He knew better than anyone the terrifying potential this Martial Soul would display in the future.

That was a peerless Beast Lord who, during the era of the third installment, had forced Tang Wulin—who had already become a Title Douluo—into a difficult spot with only ten thousand years of cultivation!

Its power was so tyrannical that, once its domain was activated, it could even clash head-on with Xiong Jun, the King of the Dark-Gold Terrorclaw Bear, who possessed nearly five hundred thousand years of cultivation!

This was a numerical monster that defied all logic!

And he, Xia Ming, a transmigrator who knew the direction of the future, now held such a top-tier trump card in his hands!

Even though soul masters were generally weaker than top-tier soul beasts of the same level before obtaining their Martial Soul Avatar, he had the confidence to rival a regular Soul King with his strength at the first ring, thanks to the unique foundation of the Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff!

By the time he reached the fifth ring, he would dare to challenge an ordinary Title Douluo!

This was the absolute confidence belonging to a holder of a super Martial Soul.

Having lived a mediocre life in his previous existence, how could he be content with ordinariness in this one?

Since he had received such an opportunity and descended into this chaotic world, would it not be a waste of his transmigration to merely seek a corner to hide in, watching the regretful and unjust plot repeat itself?

Would he simply sit by and watch God King Tang, who sat high in the God Realm, toy with all living beings?

As his thoughts raced, Xia Ming calmed his agitated emotions.

He met Wang Yan's eager, scrutinizing gaze, standing tall and answering neither servilely nor overbearingly:

"Teacher Wang Yan, my name is Xia Ming. 'Xia' as in summer, 'Ming' as in to engrave."

"Xia Ming, a good name." The look of appreciation in Wang Yan's eyes grew stronger.

To possess such talent yet remain calm at this moment showed that his character was already extraordinary.

He pondered for a moment before making a decision: "Xia Ming, please wait nearby for a moment. Once today's Martial Soul awakening ceremony is over, I will personally take you back to Shrek Academy. We need to discuss your enrollment and cultivation matters seriously."

"Yes! Thank you, Teacher Wang Yan!"

A flash of brilliance crossed Xia Ming's eyes as he suppressed the excitement threatening to burst from his chest, answering respectfully and firmly.