In the little square in front of the Spirit Hall Branch, quite a few people had already gathered.
Old Jack stood at the very front, leaning on a cane and looking every bit the respected elder.
Who would have guessed that just a few minutes ago, this kindly-looking village chief had checked in and received a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone as a system reward?
Su Yu stood tucked into a corner with Tang Wu, coldly observing everything around them.
His eyes were a little special. Not only could he see his own System Panel, but he could also see the real-time missions released by other people's systems.
Su Yu called this Mutated ability the Eye of Truth.
As long as he concentrated, he could even vaguely see the underlying logic by which those systems operated.
The three transmigrated children from other villages had already squeezed to the front of the line and were whispering among themselves.
The fat one with the Plunder System was called Li Hu, the skinny one with the Choice System was called Zhang San, and the girl with the Green Tea System was called Wang Yuyan.
Those names sounded like cannon fodder mass-produced by some system batch. They reeked of halfhearted effort.
"Brother Yu, they keep looking at me..."
Tang Wu edged closer to Su Yu, clutching his arm tightly with her little hands. She looked a little scared.
Su Yu patted the back of her hand.
He knew full well that Tang Wu was a plump little lamb who had wandered straight into a wolf pack.
In the eyes of all the transmigrators, whether they wanted to plunder her luck, recruit her as a subordinate, or pursue some nonsense about having many children and many blessings, Tang Wu was the central target they couldn't avoid.
The problem was that Tang Wu couldn't defend herself at all right now.
She had neither the Mysterious Heaven Skill nor any skill with Hidden Weapons. If danger came, all she could do was tremble behind Su Yu.
"Don't worry. With me here, no one will lay a hand on you."
Su Yu's voice was calm enough, but a chill flashed deep in his eyes.
He raised his head and looked into the distance.
Tang Hao came drifting over, swaying as he walked, with a wine gourd dangling from his hand.
Su Yu immediately locked the Eye of Truth onto him.
[Wei Wu Legacy System (Damaged State)]
[Host: Zhao Si (has possessed Tang Hao)]
[Current Mission: Find a peerless beauty and win her over. Reward: Repair damaged meridians and restore Titled Douluo strength.]
[Host's Current State: Confused... Ah Yin is dead, so the system has determined she cannot be won over. Target Tang Wu is the host's nominal daughter, triggering moral restrictions. Cannot make a move.]
Su Yu nearly burst out laughing.
This transmigrator named Zhao Si was unbelievably unlucky. He'd possessed Tang Hao, thinking he could punch the Southern Mountain Retirement Home, kick in the North Sea Kindergarten, and build a harem on the side. Instead, his wife had died right at the start, and his system had hit a damn bug.
Tang Hao walked up beside Old Jack, gave him a perfunctory greeting, then let his gaze fall on Tang Wu.
His eyes held a jumble of emotions: greed, helplessness, and an indescribable irritation.
Su Yu expressionlessly moved a step forward, neatly blocking Tang Hao's view.
He couldn't let this fake Tang Hao notice anything unusual about Tang Wu.
"Xiao San, go home and make dinner as soon as you're done with your Awakening."
Tang Hao grunted, then turned and found a shady spot to lie down and keep guzzling his wine.
Tang Wu obediently nodded, but didn't loosen her grip on Su Yu's hand at all.
"Everyone, the Spirit Hall's deacon has arrived!"
Old Jack suddenly raised his voice.
The crowd parted with a flurry, and a young man in the standard Spirit Hall uniform walked over.
A badge bearing three crossed swords was pinned to his chest.
He was none other than the famous Blind-Eyed God King—Su Yuntao.
Su Yu immediately looked at him.
Thank goodness, Su Yuntao's head was completely clear. He was a genuine local.
If even he had a system, the world really would be beyond saving. They might as well remake it.
Su Yuntao swept his gaze around with an air of arrogance. His eyes lingered on Li Hu, Zhang San, and Wang Yuyan a little longer, as if he sensed that the three children had an unusual air about them.
"My name is Su Yuntao. I'm a twenty-sixth-level Soul Grandmaster, and I'll be guiding you. Now, line up and come one at a time to awaken your Martial Souls."
The ceremony began.
The first few village children awakened Trash Martial Souls like sickles and hoes, and none of them had any Soul Power.
Su Yuntao was visibly growing impatient.
At last, it was the turn of Li Hu, the fat boy with the Plunder System.
Li Hu walked forward confidently and stood between the six black stones.
Golden light rose, and the phantom of a tiger wreathed in black mist appeared behind him.
"A Mutated Martial Soul, the Black Demon Tiger!"
Su Yuntao's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly handed him a crystal ball. "Quick, test your Soul Power!"
Li Hu placed his hand on it, and the crystal ball instantly shone with a blinding light.
"Innate Full Soul Power!!!"
Su Yuntao's voice cracked with excitement.
Li Hu shot a smug glance at Su Yu and Tang Wu. The panel above his head flashed wildly:
[Plunder System Notification: The host has displayed peerless talent and successfully suppressed the aura of the Child of Luck. Reward: One Primary Luck Deprivation Card. Target: Tang Wu.]
Su Yu narrowed his eyes.
A Primary Luck Deprivation Card?
Who knew what would happen if he used that thing on Tang Wu?
Next, the skinny Zhang San and the girl Wang Yuyan stepped forward in turn.
Zhang San awakened a Thunder Sword and had Innate Soul Power at level eight.
Wang Yuyan awakened a Charm Flower and had Innate Soul Power at level seven.
Su Yuntao was grinning from ear to ear.
A tiny village had produced three geniuses at once. His promotion and raise were all but guaranteed when he got back.
"Next, Tang Wu."
Su Yuntao called out.
Tang Wu looked at Su Yu nervously.
"Go on. Put your hand on it, and don't think about anything."
Su Yu gave her an encouraging smile.
Tang Wu took a deep breath and walked to the center of the formation.
Golden light poured into her body. Slowly, a small, translucent blade of pale blue grass appeared in the palm of her right hand.
"Blue Silver Grass? A Trash Martial Soul."
Su Yuntao sighed, and the light vanished from his eyes.
Just then, Li Hu and the other two exchanged glances. Li Hu secretly crushed a card in his pocket.
The Eye of Truth let Su Yu see it all clearly.
The panel above Li Hu's head displayed:
[Luck Deprivation Card activated. Target: Tang Wu. Depriving target of Innate Full Soul Power...]
Su Yu gave a silent snort.
Trying to steal something right in front of me?
Not a chance.
He hadn't awakened his Martial Soul yet, but he'd discovered that his Spiritual Power was outrageously strong. It seemed he could even reach out and touch those system panels.
Su Yu focused all his Spiritual Power, kneading it into an invisible needle in his mind, then drove it hard into the panel above Li Hu's head.
With a soft crack that only Su Yu could hear, the panel above Li Hu's head suddenly filled with garbled text:
[Warning! Interference from an unknown rule detected! Target lock failed!]
[Relocking target... Lock successful. Target: Village Chief Jack.]
[Depriving Village Chief Jack of luck...]
Su Yu nearly let out a pig-like squeal of laughter.
Depriving Old Jack of his luck?
The ultimate old fox, with a Survivalist System and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone he'd just checked in to receive?
That fatso really knew how to court disaster. o(╯□╰)o
Li Hu was still eagerly waiting for his Soul Power to surge, unaware that he'd just kicked a hornet's nest.
The moment Tang Wu placed her hand on the crystal ball, the Survivalist System above Old Jack's head suddenly erupted in dazzling red light.
[Warning! Lethal threat detected! An unknown force is attempting to deprive the host of luck!]
[Survivalist System's passive defense mechanism activated: Heavenly Retribution Counterattack!]
Old Jack's normally cloudy eyes suddenly sharpened. He glanced at Li Hu without drawing attention to himself, then flicked a finger almost imperceptibly.
An invisible ripple struck Li Hu in an instant.
"Ah!!!"
Li Hu suddenly screamed. Like a kite with its string cut, he flew backward and slammed hard into the wall, blood spraying from his mouth.
The phantom of the Black Demon Tiger behind him dissolved outright, and the crystal ball went dark.
"What happened?!"
Su Yuntao was badly startled.
Zhang San and Wang Yuyan were dumbfounded, too.
They had no idea what had happened. They'd only seen Li Hu suddenly fly backward and spit blood.
Su Yu stood off to the side, his contribution hidden deep.
He looked at the panel above Li Hu's head:
[Plunder System Notification: The host has been struck by irresistible force. Martial Soul Origin shattered; Innate Full Soul Power reduced to zero. System energy depleted. Entering sleep mode...]
One cheat user had just been taken out by another cheat user's passive skill. Damn, that was thrilling.
Tang Wu stood there dazed, the crystal ball in her hands blazing with dazzling light.
"Innate... Innate Full Soul Power? Blue Silver Grass?"
Su Yuntao was completely disoriented. His entire worldview was on the verge of collapsing.
Tang Wu paid no heed to Su Yuntao's shock. She ran back to Su Yu, hugged his arm tightly, and whispered, "Brother Yu, I did it."
"Xiao San'er, you did great."
Su Yu smiled and patted her head.
"Next, Su Yu!"
Su Yuntao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The things that had happened today were so bizarre that his heart could barely take it.
Su Yu took a deep breath and stepped forward.
He wanted to see what sort of thing the only transmigrator there without a system would awaken.
Before you continue