Lin Nuo sensed that something was off. Looking at Tang Ziran and Lang Yue, who stared at him in silence and shock, he couldn't help asking, "Is something wrong, Uncle and Auntie?"
"Lin Nuo, if you have a Body Martial Soul, your family might be members of the legendary Body Sect," Tang Ziran kindly told him.
Hearing this, Lin Nuo naturally understood what Tang Ziran meant. He nodded. "I understand, Uncle Tang Ziran."
Just then, a Spirit Pagoda staff member came out and called Tang Wuling's name. As soon as she heard it, Tang Wuling stood up and said to her parents and Lin Nuo and his sister, "I'll go in first."
"Okay." Lin Nuo nodded and watched Tang Wuling enter the private room for Martial Soul awakening. If nothing unexpected happened, she would awaken Blue Silver Grass—Blue Silver Grass with no Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline whatsoever.
Yu Xiaogang's line, "There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters," was nothing but self-deception.
When Tang San had cultivated to the Soul Ancestor level, even after absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as his fourth ring, his Martial Soul was still only ordinary. It couldn't be considered a top-tier Martial Soul at all. Only after he later awakened his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline did he completely rewrite his fate.
If Tang Wuling didn't have the Golden Dragon King Bloodline, her Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul might have been even lower in rank. Lin Nuo guessed that her rank had improved noticeably precisely because of the Golden Dragon King Bloodline. Put simply, the Golden Dragon King Bloodline had purified her Blue Silver Grass Bloodline.
"Brother, aren't we leaving?" Na'er asked just then.
"No rush, Na'er. Let's wait for Tang Wuling. I'm curious what Martial Soul she'll awaken, too," Lin Nuo replied slowly.
Na'er wanted to say that with that fellow's bloodline, she was certain to awaken the Golden Dragon King. But she kept quiet and stood obediently beside Lin Nuo.
"Oh, right." Tang Ziran suddenly remembered something and looked at Lin Nuo. "Lin Nuo, what's your Soul Power Level?"
"Innate Full Soul Power," Lin Nuo answered. It wasn't anything worth hiding; it would show up as soon as he registered.
Hearing that her brother had Innate Full Soul Power, Na'er exclaimed happily, "You're amazing, Brother!"
"A Body Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power—you're a little genius," Lang Yue said with a sigh. "I hope my little princess can be like you."
Lin Nuo wanted to say that she was right, but after thinking it over, he said, "Auntie, awakening a Martial Soul really depends more on luck."
"That's true." Lang Yue couldn't help agreeing.
Martial Soul awakening mostly came down to whether your ancestors were impressive and whether your talent was good. She and her husband had terrible talent. They only hoped Wuling would have some Soul Power.
Before long, Tang Wuling came out. She looked utterly dejected, as if something had dealt her a crushing blow.
Tang Ziran and Lang Yue immediately went up to her and asked with concern, "What's wrong, little princess?"
"Mom and Dad, my Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass." Tang Wuling looked at her parents, her spirits low. "My Innate Soul Power Level is only three."
At those words, the silence grew even heavier than it had when Lin Nuo announced his Martial Soul. Na'er stared at the girl in astonishment. This couldn't be right.
That girl had the Golden Dragon King Bloodline in her body. The weakest Martial Soul she should have awakened was the Golden Dragon. How could she have awakened only Blue Silver Grass? What had gone wrong?
"It's okay." Tang Ziran lifted his hand and gently patted his daughter Tang Wuling on the shoulder, his voice full of warm reassurance. "Having Soul Power is enough, all right? The Grandmaster said it himself back then: there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters.
"Besides, we still have Ancestor Tang San. Back then, he..."
Before he could finish, Lin Nuo hurried forward and gently pressed a hand against Tang Ziran's arm, cutting him off with a firm voice.
He knew that if he let Tang Ziran go on, the words "Ancestor Tang San" would be like a Thought Imprint, carved firmly into the girl's innocent mind. That wasn't encouragement; it was an invisible shackle.
Of all the protagonists in the entire Douluo world, the one who had it worst was surely Tang Wuling standing before him. Even though she was a girl now, she was still the protagonist. If he could, Lin Nuo wanted to try to save her.
"Uncle Tang Ziran, you're wrong," Lin Nuo said as he stepped forward. "Ancestor Tang San's Martial Soul was Blue Silver Grass with the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline, but unfortunately, Wuling doesn't have that. Instead of offering words of encouragement, it's better to tell her the truth. That's better than letting her run into trouble in her future cultivation."
The two of them looked at Lin Nuo in surprise.
They knew that, of course, but their little princess was still so young.
Lin Nuo looked at Tang Wuling, who was on the verge of tears. He knew he was being a little impolite, but he had to plant a Thought Imprint in her mind. "Tang Wuling, this Martial Soul can't determine how far you'll grow. Soul Tools, forging, Mechas, and plenty of other fields can help you surpass most Soul Masters. Don't deny yourself just because your Martial Soul's rank is low."
"If you do, then you don't deserve to be a Soul Master. Understand?"
Hearing Lin Nuo's words, Tang Wuling couldn't help lifting her head. She looked at the boy speaking to her as Lin Nuo slowly held out his hand. "Your life belongs to you. It's full of uncertainty, but you have to stand firm in what you believe, instead of letting other people sway you."
Lin Nuo wanted Tang Wuling to understand that she alone could decide how to live her life; no one else could decide for her.
She had suffered so much during the Dragon King era, like a puppet controlled by Sea God Tang San. She was only someone with the Sea God's Bloodline, not a bad seed, so he had reached out to help her!
So, whether or not the girl before him understood what he was saying, he'd plant the words in her mind first. Anyway, he, Lin Nuo, was set on claiming Tang Wuling. No one was going to stop him.
At that moment, Tang Wuling looked at Lin Nuo before her, and he seemed as dazzling and hot as the sun. She didn't quite understand everything he'd said, but she seemed to realize the boy wasn't looking down on her. He was encouraging her.
Tang Ziran and Lang Yue watched the scene and couldn't help stepping aside.
Just then, Lang Yue couldn't help saying, "How can this child be so outstanding?"
Tang Ziran nodded. He'd been a little angry at first, but after hearing Lin Nuo's words, he couldn't help sincerely agreeing. This era wasn't one dominated by Soul Masters; it was an era in which a hundred schools of thought contended.
Soul Tools, Mechas, and forging were all more incredible than the last. Even if their Wuling's Martial Soul wasn't any good, she could still cultivate in another field and achieve great things.
Na'er stood to the side, watching her own brother treat an outsider with such warmth and patience. Her cheeks puffed up with anger, round as a little blowfish. Her brother belonged only to her. That damn Golden Dragon King didn't deserve to be treated that way by him. She wanted to gobble her up in one bite!
Tang Wuling reached out and took Lin Nuo's hand. "I understand, Nuo... ge."
At that moment, Tang Wuling was deeply drawn to the boy before her. What she saw wasn't just a boy, but the rising morning sun.
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