Martial Soul Awakening

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, beside the martial arts arena.

The thatched huts where the servants lived.

Sunlight shone upon the dilapidated door; the sun was warm, yet it could not provide a shred of warmth to the person lying on the pile of hay.

"BANG!"

The rickety door was kicked open.

A shrill, immature voice dripping with malice rang out.

"Yo, yo, yo, look who it is. Isn't it Yu Tianheng's bastard brother?"

"What? Still dreaming that you might awaken a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul to prove yourself?"

"If you ask me, the clan is too merciful for allowing a bastard born of a lowly maid like you to even attempt an awakening. A mongrel like you is destined to be a servant for life."

Hearing this, Yu Tianshuo looked up and glared at the fat boy who had burst in, his eyes burning with raging fury.

"The little bastard still dares to glare at me!" Seeing the look in Yu Tianshuo's eyes, the fat boy felt an inexplicable fire burning in his heart. He immediately ordered the two servants following him, "Beat him! As long as you don't kill him, I'll take responsibility for whatever happens!"

Hearing their master's command, the servants did not hesitate; they rushed forward and unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks.

"Hmph, what a piece of trash, daring to glare at me." Watching Yu Tianshuo being beaten, the fat boy felt a surge of satisfaction.

Just then, a boy with short black hair and a cold, aloof temperament walked over with an attendant.

Seeing him, the fat boy smiled and greeted, "Yo, isn't this Young Master Yu Tianheng? Here to call your brother for his awakening?"

Yu Tianheng glanced at his "brother" who was still being beaten, but didn't care. He simply said indifferently, "Don't ruin his face. The elders will be watching the awakening later; don't lose face for our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family."

Having said that, he didn't look at the brother born to his father and a maid again, turned around, and left.

Watching Yu Tianheng walk away, the fat boy dropped his smile and muttered to himself, "Tch, what are you acting so high and mighty for? If it weren't for the Clan Head's favoritism, I'd deal with you too."

Turning back to watch Yu Tianshuo get beaten, the fat boy's mood improved once more.

After enjoying the sight for a while longer, the fat boy said, "Alright, that's enough. Go collect your reward from the steward later."

With that, the fat boy turned and headed toward the clan ancestral hall.

Hearing that their master had granted a reward, the two servants stopped beating Yu Tianshuo and stood up, preparing to find the steward to claim their pay.

Left behind were the shattered wooden door, the scattered pile of hay, and a boy curled up on the ground, clutching his head.

"Two more hits, and the Tycoon Armor will boost me to level ten." Yu Tianshuo let go of his head and muttered to himself.

Slowly standing up, Yu Tianshuo looked disheveled, but thanks to the Tycoon Armor, he had only suffered a few scrapes.

The Tycoon Armor had manifested within his body when his martial soul awakened on his sixth birthday. That was when he learned his martial soul was the Golden Scale Dragon, which came with a divine artifact, though it hadn't been awakened until now.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but remember his mother in this world. Not long after she helped him celebrate his birthday, she was reported to the Enforcement Hall for stealing ingredients from the main house and was beaten to death.

Fury burned in his heart. He punched the wall and swore, "Mother, wait until I rise to avenge you. This damned Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, that damned Yu Tianlei, and that damned father—all of you, just wait."

After venting, it was time to begin his escape plan.

He hadn't fled before because the guards of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were too tight; only today, during the martial soul awakening, was the defense at its weakest.

His plan was to escape from the side of the clan grounds, follow the river, and pass through the outskirts of the Sunset Forest to the nearest town.

Although it was a bit risky, it was certainly safer than being targeted by a bunch of enemies after awakening in the clan.

Putting the pendant containing his mother's photo around his neck, he whispered, "Bless me, Mother."

With that, he took his few silver soul coins and ran toward the hole he had dug in the side gate.

The clan ancestral hall.

This was the place where the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family had awakened their martial souls for generations.

They firmly believed that under the watchful eyes of their ancestors, the new generation would lead the family to even greater glory.

At this moment, the current Clan Head, Yu Yuanzhen, sat in the center, with the high-level soul masters of the family's elder council seated on his left and right.

"Clan Head Yu Yuanzhen, your fine eldest grandson is about to awaken his martial soul today; we have all been looking forward to it." The Second Elder, Yu Luomian, who sat closest to Yu Yuanzhen on the left, chuckled at his "good" brother.

Upon hearing this, Yu Yuanzhen's face darkened. He knew exactly which grandson his "good" brother was referring to.

Yu Luomian was certainly not talking about Yu Tianheng, the grandson he favored most, but rather the bastard his own son had sired with a servant.

Bringing this up now was purely to disgust him.

Seeing Yu Yuanzhen remain silent, Yu Luomian made a move to mock him further, but the Third Elder interrupted the topic.

"Second Brother, your Yu Tianlei is also awakening today, isn't he? Do you think it will be the Purple Lightning Demon Dragon like yours, or will it evolve back into a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?"

Hearing what the Third Elder said, Yu Luomian's face also darkened. The mutation of his martial soul from a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon into a Purple Lightning Demon Dragon had always been his sore spot, and having it pointed out by the Third Elder made him furious.

Seeing Yu Luomian silenced by the Third Elder, Yu Yuanzhen's expression improved slightly, but the thought of the mess his son had made caused his face to darken once more.

In the end, the Clan Head and the elders waited for the awakening in this strange, tense atmosphere.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Yu Yuanzhen stood up and announced, "The martial soul awakening begins now!"

After speaking, he sat back down amidst the applause from the crowd and focused his gaze on Yu Tianheng.

The personnel in charge of the awakening began calling out names one by one.

"Yu Tianyu."

"Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon, Soul Power Level: four."

"Next, Yu Tianling."

"Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Overlord Dragon, Soul Power Level: five."

"Next, Yu Tianlei."

The chubby boy who had previously ordered others to beat up Yu Tianshuo followed instructions, walked into the circle where the soul stones were distributed, and placed his hand on the crystal ball.

Black dragon scales, characteristic of the dragon species, appeared on the surface of Yu Tianlei's body, and purple lightning crackled across him.

Seeing this, Yu Luomian sighed; although he felt a bit disappointed, it was within his expectations.

"Inject your soul power into the crystal ball," the awakening official continued.

"Yes." Yu Tianlei injected his soul power into the crystal ball, and as it began to glow, it finally displayed the number eight.

The awakening official announced, "Martial Soul: Purple Lightning Demon Dragon, Soul Power Level: eight!"

Hearing the Soul Power Level, Yu Luomian became completely exhilarated. When he had awakened his own, his Innate Soul Power was only level six, and despite the family's help, he was still stuck at level seventy-nine.

Yet his son had awakened the same martial soul as him, with a higher soul power, making him a candidate to become a Soul Douluo, or perhaps even a Title Douluo!

Ignoring the excited chubby boy, the awakening official continued to call out.

"Next, Yu Tianheng!"