Second Awakening

Dugu Bo spoke until he felt a chill run down his spine: "Heavens, just thinking about it is enough to make one shudder. Once a Soul Ring configuration like this is revealed, there shouldn't be a single person who isn't shocked or terrified."

"And it's Twin Martial Souls on top of that. Once the conflict between the two is resolved, the Soul Ring configuration for the second Martial Soul will be beyond imagination—all fifty thousand years or older... perhaps even higher..."

"You truly are a monster!"

Compared to Dugu Bo's growing trepidation, Dugu Yan felt only mounting excitement. Such a handsome, powerful Xing Tian already belonged to her.

However, at the mention of Twin Martial Souls, Dugu Yan asked: "By the way, Xiao Tian, what exactly is your second Martial Soul? Why did your body turn that silvery-white color just now? And why did it suddenly shift from silver-white to purple-silver?"

Xing Tian explained: "My second Martial Soul is myself—the entirety of me. My skin, muscles, bones, blood, internal organs, soul, and so on; all of me transformed into my second Martial Soul. It awakened after I died and was resurrected for the first time."

Dugu Bo realized in a flash: "Body Martial Soul, no wonder."

Xing Tian continued: "As for why it turned silver-white, I suspect it was a postnatal mutation of the Martial Soul."

"I just felt a surge of power erupting from every part of my body, and then that silvery-white change occurred."

"As for the purple-silver hue, that is because I practice a special technique. After the second Martial Soul mutated, the two underwent a miraculous fusion on their own."

After hearing Xing Tian's description, Dugu Bo blurted out: "A secondary awakening of the Martial Soul?"

"A secondary awakening?"

This was entirely new knowledge to both Xing Tian and Dugu Yan: "Can the same Martial Soul awaken twice?"

Dugu Bo explained: "I have never seen it with my own eyes, so I am not entirely certain if your situation qualifies as a secondary awakening. Of course, I cannot even be sure if such a thing truly exists; I only learned of it from an ancient text and some rumors."

"The ancient text stated that some special Martial Souls cannot manifest their full potential after the first awakening. They require specific methods for a second awakening—perhaps a special ritual, a specific Soul Ring, or perhaps it triggers automatically once cultivation reaches a certain realm."

"As for the rumors, it is said that the Xu Family, one of the seven hidden clans behind the Great Soul Arena, experienced a secondary awakening with their Mystic Dark Turtle Martial Soul, which stimulated the bloodline of the divine beast Black Tortoise."

"Whether that is true or not, I cannot say for sure. But I suspect your current situation is, in all likelihood, a secondary awakening."

"Any Martial Soul capable of a secondary awakening is a top-tier one. It seems the potential of this Body Martial Soul is not what the public believes it to be."

After the soul hunting was finished, the three returned to the Ice Fire Yin Yang Well.

Dugu Bo asked: "Which Primordial Immortal Herb do you intend to give to Grandpa Ye and the others?"

Xing Tian said: "That is indeed a difficult problem. I do not recognize all the immortal herbs here. However, I have already chosen one—this one!"

Xing Tian pointed to a herb before them that possessed a jade-like, translucent white luster. It was extremely difficult to distinguish among the cluster of white herbs; its appearance was plain, the leaves lacked distinct veins, and the stem was as thin as a hair.

"This is the Primordial Immortal Herb. It contains the Primordial Qi and can maximize the pure enhancement of soul power. It is most suitable for auxiliary-type Soul Masters with slow cultivation speeds, so I intend to give it to Grandpa Ye."

Dugu Bo nodded in agreement: "That is indeed excellent. Grandpa Ye's soul power has already reached level 79. If he consumes the Primordial Immortal Herb, he might be able to break through the level 80 barrier in one go and become the only healing-type Soul Douluo in the world, capable of regenerating severed limbs with a wave of his hand."

"If only, back then... sigh..."

Dugu Bo suddenly grew despondent. Xing Tian understood; he was thinking of his late son.

Dugu Bo waved his hand, his expression returning to normal: "What else?"

Xing Tian said: "I have also decided on the immortal herb for Sister Lingling, but I am not sure if she can refine it, so I need to pick a backup for her. The problem is, I don't recognize all the herbs here."

"I would like to invite Grandpa Ye over to see if he can identify the other immortal herbs. The Ye Family is a medical clan with a profound heritage; perhaps they have an inherited compendium of immortal herbs."

Dugu Bo nodded: "That would be for the best."

Returning to Ye Mansion, Xing Tian found things a bit strange. The usually quiet Ye Mansion was exceptionally lively today, with many new faces present.

Xing Tian deliberately did not have the servants announce his return and walked straight into the estate.

Suddenly, he saw a young man sitting next to Ye Lingling, talking to her.

The young man had an upright posture, handsome features, and black hair styled with a side-swept fringe.

However, he kept shifting his seat closer, which immediately displeased Xing Tian, his expression darkening.

At this moment, Ye Lingling seemed to sense something. She instinctively looked toward Xing Tian's direction, and her face instantly lit up with joy.

Xing Tian's face changed immediately, returning to its usual state, and he responded with a smile. However, his gaze shifted toward the young man.

Ye Lingling stood up hurriedly and walked quickly to Xing Tian: "Xiao Tian, it's been over three months. You're finally back."

Xing Tian looked at Ye Lingling tenderly and apologized: "I'm sorry, Sister Lingling, for keeping you waiting. As for what I was actually doing these past three months, it's a long story. I'll tell you slowly when the time is right."

"Mm."

Xing Tian asked again: "By the way, today shouldn't be a day off for the academy, right? Why are you at home, Sister Lingling? And who are these people?"

Ye Lingling smiled and explained: "It's because they came to visit Grandpa, so I asked for leave to come back. They are..."

Before Ye Lingling could finish, the young man walked up to the two of them and said to Xing Tian: "Hello, I am Lingling's cousin. My name is Ye Wushang, and I am 15 years old."

Although Ye Wushang greeted him with a smile, his eyes were like sharp blades, as if he were searching for a weakness to pierce through Xing Tian.

"Cousin?" Xing Tian relaxed slightly and used his spiritual power to probe Ye Wushang: "Level 37, not bad."

Ye Lingling continued: "Actually, my cousin's branch and our Nine-Heart Begonia branch originally belonged to the same clan, but the Ye Family split into two due to the birth of the Nine-Heart Begonia Martial Soul. Although we are separate branches, the relationship between the two families is quite good, and we visit often. This time is no exception."

Ye Wushang added: "I am but a mediocre man, the son of the Ye Family head. My Martial Soul is the Golden Leaf, a level 37 assault-type Battle Soul Elder. I wonder, little brother, what about you?"

Originally, after learning that Ye Wushang was Ye Lingling's cousin, Xing Tian's dissatisfaction had mostly subsided. But Ye Wushang's current statement and tone were clearly a provocation. Xing Tian's eyes changed abruptly, his cold gaze becoming almost tangible.

Xing Tian chuckled coldly: "If you want to know my strength, feel free to try it out! There's no need to be coy and secretive!"