The Second Martial Soul

The soul power fluctuations radiating from the other party were extremely restrained, yet that faint, elusive sense of oppression could not escape his perception.

The man before him, who looked like an ordinary old man, possessed a cultivation level that was definitely not below his own.

"Mr. Chen, please sit."

Meng Shenji gestured toward the chair opposite him, his tone carrying a bit more courtesy than before. "Which mimicry training ground does your grandson wish to use?"

"The lightning-attribute one; he has already gone there." Chen Xuan did not sit down, nor did he correct their misunderstanding; he simply stood before the desk. "I came to inform the three committee members. Once the paperwork is settled, I will leave."

Zhi Lin flipped through the student roster on the side and looked up to ask, "Forgive me for asking, but what is your grandson's name? How old is he this year? We need to register some basic information."

"Jiang Lin."

Chen Xuan provided the name and then gave a vague answer regarding the age. "He isn't very old, about the same as the students in your academy."

The three committee members exchanged glances.

Meng Shenji set down his teacup and spoke with a measured tone. "Mr. Chen, I have a question, if I may. What level has your grandson's cultivation reached?"

Chen Xuan glanced at him, making no effort to hide this. "Soul Ancestor."

The three committee members fell silent simultaneously.

Although Chen Xuan did not state the exact age, the description "about the same" indicated that Jiang Lin was at least in the same age bracket as the students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

As for the students of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, reaching the level of Soul Elder at that age was already considered top-tier talent.

As for a Soul Ancestor—looking across the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy, only the most elite batch of students could claim such a feat.

And every one of those individuals was a heaven-gifted prodigy cultivated by the academy with all its resources.

"Mr. Chen." Meng Shenji set down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and spoke with a solemn tone. "For your grandson to break through to the Soul Ancestor level at such an age, he would be the most elite talent even within the entire Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

I have a proposal—please let your grandson officially join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. His tuition will be fully waived, and he will receive personal guidance from the academy's best teachers.

With the academy's resources and your grandson's talent, he will surely shine brilliantly in due time."

"That is not all."

Bai Baoshan took over, his tone eager. "If your grandson is willing to join, the academy can grant him the status of an inner-court student immediately—the mimicry training grounds will be available to him at any time, without time limits.

After graduation, should he wish to serve in the Heaven Dou Empire, the academy can provide him with recommendations."

After listening, Chen Xuan merely shook his head. "I appreciate the kind offer. However, my junior has grown accustomed to freedom and cannot abide by the academy's rules. He has his own path to walk."

Meng Shenji opened his mouth, wanting to say more, but seeing the calm and firm look in Chen Xuan's eyes, he ultimately just sighed and did not press the matter further.

Having lived for so many years, he still possessed the eye for judging people—although this old man's attitude was polite, there was no room for negotiation in his tone.

And that youth was certainly not someone who could be summarized as a mere ordinary genius.

"Since that is the case, I shall not force it. As for the mimicry training ground, the paperwork will be processed immediately."

Meng Shenji nodded, then shifted the topic. "However, should your grandson change his mind in the future, the doors of Heaven Dou Royal Academy will always be open to him."

"Many thanks."

Chen Xuan nodded slightly, turned, and pushed open the door to the academic affairs office, walking along the stone path toward the Thunder-Struck Forest at the mountain's peak.

Inside the office, the three committee members remained silent for a long while.

"This old man likely possesses the cultivation of a Title Douluo," Zhi Lin spoke first, his voice very low.

"Mm."

Meng Shenji's brows were tightly locked, his gaze fixed on the direction of the mountain peak outside the window.

"What kind of background could a youth have to be accompanied by a Title Douluo? That youth is surnamed Jiang. On the Douluo Continent, which family with the surname Jiang could possess such a foundation?"

The three looked at each other, none able to provide an answer.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During these three days, Jiang Lin had almost never left the Thunder-Struck Forest.

Aside from necessary meals and brief periods of rest, he spent all his time sitting cross-legged beneath the largest lightning-struck pine, letting the arcs of electricity dancing in the air coil around his body, and allowing the lightning-attribute natural energy to pour into his body like a surging tide.

The Blood Fiend Divine Thunder Halberd lay across his knees, the three blood-colored patterns on the halberd's body glowing constantly, like three eyes that never closed, greedily devouring every wisp of lightning-attribute soul power in the vicinity.

Hard work pays off; Jiang Lin ceased his cultivation on the third day.

Level 44.

He had broken through smoothly.

And his foundation was very stable.

Jiang Lin rose from beneath the tree and stretched his limbs.

Although he had been cultivating for the past three days, he had also been keeping an eye on the items in the System Mall whenever he stopped.

During this time, he had purchased a few small gadgets that might prove useful.

But the truly good items had not been refreshed for three days.

Yet, checking the System Mall every day had already become a habit in Jiang Lin's life.

After he ceased his cultivation, the system's items for the day appeared before him.

Basketball, price 2.5 points.

Jumpsuit, price 2.5 points.

Martial Soul Radiant Holy Dragon, price 20,000 points.

Soul Refining Pill Recipe, price 5,000 points.

Looking at these four items, Jiang Lin's eyes lit up, and without the slightest hesitation, he snatched up the last two.

To hesitate for even a second would be a sign of disrespect toward Twin Martial Souls.

"Ding, update: Host has obtained Martial Soul Radiant Holy Dragon, Soul Refining Pill Recipe."

As the system's notification chime rang out, a jade slip suddenly appeared in Jiang Lin's hand.

At the same time, he felt an indescribable sensation, very similar to the feeling he had during his first martial soul awakening.

Jiang Lin sat cross-legged beneath the lightning-struck pine, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes.

The spark of the Radiant Holy Dragon martial soul had already been ignited deep within his soul, and that familiar feeling of awakening grew stronger—it was exactly the same as when he had first awakened the Blood Fiend Divine Thunder Halberd at the age of six, only this time, there was no one to guide him; he had to rely entirely on himself.

He sank his consciousness into his body and urged his soul power to reach toward that golden light.

The moment his soul power touched it, the golden light burst forth violently, and a vast, pure power of light surged from the depths of his soul, spreading along his meridians to every limb and bone.

Simultaneously, the Blood Fiend Divine Thunder Halberd instinctively released its baleful aura, attempting to repel this foreign power.

Two diametrically opposed forces met head-on within his body—one half of his meridians filled with dark red blood fiend and lightning, the other half with golden holy light and dragon might.