Deep in the forest, two figures sat roasting a gigantic Soul Beast. One of them was a child who looked eight or nine years old, yet had a mature face, sharp eyes, and an imposing air. He was sprinkling seasoning over the meat.
"Sect Master, I think that's enough seasoning," Golden Body Douluo reminded the boy.
The boy was none other than Du Busi, the current sect master of the Body Sect in the Heaven Dou Empire!
At that, Du Busi set down the seasoning and nodded with satisfaction. "Roasted this way, the meat will be absolutely delicious."
Crack!
The sound of a branch snapping underfoot drew Du Busi and Golden Body Douluo's attention. They both looked over and saw a genuine six-year-old child emerge, his gaze fixed on the meat they were roasting.
"Food!" Lin Rui saw the roasted meat and excitedly started forward, but when he noticed the two people beside it, he immediately lost his nerve.
What were the odds!
He'd actually run into Du Busi of the Body Sect and Golden Body Douluo. Wasn't that a little too coincidental?
Du Busi and Golden Body Douluo looked at the child before them and exchanged a glance. They could naturally tell that he'd probably been hungry for several days.
Just as Lin Rui was wondering how to ask these two big shots for food, Du Busi spoke first. "Boy, come here."
Lin Rui promptly did as he was told.
Du Busi motioned for him to sit beside him, then asked, "Little One, how did you end up in this forest alone?"
"Well... I'm an orphan. I haven't eaten for days. Could you give me something to eat?" Lin Rui replied, looking pitiful. He really was starving. If he hadn't inherited the Authority of Life to keep his body going these past few days, he would have passed out long ago.
Seeing that the child really had been hungry for days but showed no ill effects, Du Busi furrowed his brow slightly. He tore off a piece of cooked leg meat, handed it to Lin Rui, and asked, "Little One, what's your Martial Soul?"
From what he could tell, the child was about six years old and should have awakened his Martial Soul by now.
Lin Rui took the roasted meat and bit into it. It felt as though his whole body had been set free and saved. It was unbelievably delicious.
Du Busi didn't rush him. He simply waited in silence for Lin Rui to finish the meat.
Before long, Lin Rui had polished off the piece in his hand. He still wasn't satisfied, and his gaze couldn't help drifting toward the remaining meat.
Golden Body Douluo noticed and spoke up. "Little One, you can't be so greedy. This is for me and—"
Du Busi immediately raised a hand to stop Golden Body Douluo. His gaze fell on Lin Rui. "Little One, you still haven't answered my question."
"If I answer, can I have some more?"
"You can."
"I haven't awakened my Martial Soul yet," Lin Rui answered at once.
During the Peerless Tang Sect era, there was no free Martial Soul awakening for beginners. You either became a slave or paid ten Gold Soul Coins for the chance to awaken one.
You could say the Peerless Tang Sect, without the Spirit Hall, didn't have a single newbie perk. He really couldn't understand why those commoners were still praising Tang San.
Your great Sea God has blocked off every path for you to rise, and you're still praising him? What's there to praise!
At that, Du Busi tore off another piece of leg meat and handed it to Lin Rui. "Go ahead, child."
This time, Du Busi wasn't just keeping his promise. He was also watching the boy closely, because something about him seemed off.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, that piece of leg meat was gone too. Lin Rui looked at Du Busi again. "Um..."
Du Busi didn't say a word. He simply tore off another front leg and handed it to Lin Rui.
Golden Body Douluo, standing nearby, was a little confused. Wasn't this supposed to be lunch for him and the sect master?
Why were they giving it all to this child? What were he and the sect master supposed to eat for lunch?
Du Busi paid no attention to Golden Body Douluo. His eyes remained fixed on Lin Rui. Even if a six-year-old had been starving, two pieces of leg meat that size should have filled him up. But this child was like a bottomless pit, quickly devouring the food.
Four minutes later, Lin Rui had polished off the third leg.
He still wasn't full, but he felt too embarrassed to ask for more. "Um..."
"Want more?"
"Huh?" Lin Rui didn't know why Du Busi had suddenly asked, but since he had, Lin Rui nodded. "I do!"
Seeing this, Du Busi placed the entire roasted Soul Beast in front of Lin Rui. "It's all yours."
Then he added, "You have to eat every last bit. Don't waste any."
Golden Body Douluo stared at him. "?"
No, when had the sect master become so fond of children?
Lin Rui stared at the whole roasted Soul Beast in front of him, instantly drooling, his eyes shining. He looked at Du Busi and said, "You're a really good person!"
Then, without another word, he started eating. He wasn't just fast—he ate like Taotie. No, wait. Even that idiot Xuan Zi couldn't eat this much.
Du Busi was certain that even his old rival Xuan Zi couldn't eat as much as the six-year-old before him.
Ten minutes later, Golden Body Douluo stared at the scene before him, dumbfounded. The Soul Beast had been reduced to a pile of bones, and Lin Rui lay there with his belly bulging, murmuring, "I'm so full. I'm really so full!"
At that moment, he finally understood what the sect master had been getting at. There was only one reason someone could eat that much: ...
"Sect Master!" Golden Body Douluo looked at Du Busi with utmost seriousness, as if seeking confirmation.
Du Busi nodded. "Do you have the equipment?"
"I do."
"Good. Awaken this Little One's Martial Soul."
Du Busi immediately gave the order, his gaze fixed on Lin Rui. If he wasn't mistaken, this child's Martial Soul was most likely Big Stomach. Heaven truly favored the Body Sect. They'd come out to roast meat and stumbled upon one of their own.
The meat hadn't been given away for nothing!
Golden Body Douluo immediately took out the Martial Soul awakening equipment. Now he looked at Lin Rui with a particular warmth. Anyone with a Body Martial Soul was family to the Body Sect.
He went over to Lin Rui and said, "Little One, would you like me to awaken your Martial Soul?"
Lin Rui had been about to doze off, but when he heard this, he immediately tried to sit up. He was so stuffed that he couldn't manage it at all.
Seeing this, Golden Body Douluo found it rather funny. He quickly helped Lin Rui sit up, then said, "Little One, relax. I'm going to awaken your Martial Soul."
Lin Rui nodded. This was just like having a pillow delivered when you were sleepy!
He'd been wondering where he could go to awaken his Martial Soul. He never expected the two uncles from the Body Sect to do it for him. He wondered what his Life Attribute Martial Soul would be.
Golden Body Douluo began awakening Lin Rui's Martial Soul. Soon, he sensed something was wrong: his Soul Power was being frantically absorbed by the boy. The moment he realized this, he looked at Du Busi. "Sect Master, this child's Martial Soul is extraordinary. Come help me!"
At that, Du Busi immediately stepped forward and put a hand on Golden Body Douluo's shoulder. He instantly understood what Golden Body Douluo meant: his own Soul Power was being absorbed just as frantically.
No, it would be one thing if this kid were Taotie, but could his Martial Soul be Taotie too?
Before you continue