Are You Ready to Die?

At the border between the two great empires.

"Hehehe, nowhere left to run, is there? Hand over the Soul Bone!"

"Kid, that's not something you can lay your hands on!"

Several Soul Kings surrounded a boy with hatred burning in his eyes, closing in on him and forcing him toward the cliff.

The boy was named Cen Yu. He had been born into this world from the womb, and had just turned six.

Just fifteen minutes ago, these beasts had destroyed his village and slaughtered his parents, relatives, and friends...

All because his father, Cen He, had unexpectedly obtained a Thousand-Year Soul Bone while hunting for his fifth Soul Ring.

Cen He had planned to save the Soul Bone for Cen Yu, who was about to awaken his Martial Soul. But the news had still leaked, bringing death down upon him.

"You beasts! You slaughtered innocents and wiped out my entire village just for a measly thousand-year-old Soul Bone..."

"Aren't you afraid of retribution?! Aren't you afraid the Spirit Hall will put out a warrant for your arrest?!"

Cen Yu had only recently awakened his Martial Soul and hadn't obtained even one Soul Ring. Even if he fought to the death, he still couldn't beat these Soul Kings...

At that, the man in the lead sneered. "Kid, quit acting tough. A Soul Bone isn't something the likes of you deserve to possess."

Once they killed the boy and took the Soul Bone, they would disappear. By then, the Spirit Hall would never find them.

"Enough. Stop wasting your breath. Things could change if we wait any longer. Attack!"

As he spoke, several figures sprang into action. Soul Rings of every color flashed as they charged at Cen Yu.

"You! You beasts! Even if I die, I won't let you get what you want!"

"Isn't it the Soul Bone you want? Fine! Then let's plunge into the Abyss together!"

He was about to clutch the Soul Bone and leap from the cliff.

Just then, Cen Yu froze for a moment.

In the next instant, his eyes turned bloodred.

Watching the men charge toward him, Cen Yu covered his face and chuckled darkly. "Hehehe... Ha... Hahahahahaha!"

In a flash, a terrifying aura erupted from him, blasting the attackers away.

They hit the ground and stared at Cen Yu in horror.

"Th-that... what is that...?"

"He's n-not... not human..."

Behind Cen Yu, red and purple mist spread through the air, accompanied by streaks of black lightning.

Then, a figure wreathed in a terrifying aura of slaughter emerged from the mist.

The figure held a long spear. Behind it bloomed a sinister red lotus, and a fearsome warhorse stood at its side.

Cen Yu stared at the terrified men, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He laughed, "Hahahahaha! Are you ready to die?"

He glanced at the Soul Bone in his hand and sneered. "You chased me all the way here just for a measly piece of bone? How ridiculous... Hahahaha..."

With a surge of strength, the Soul Bone exploded in the boy's hand.

"Well, now the Soul Bone is gone. And your lives end here, too~"

"N-no, no! We were wrong... Spare us!"

Feeling the terrifying aura around Cen Yu, the men couldn't even bring themselves to resist. They hurriedly dropped to their knees and begged for mercy.

But in that very instant, the man who had just spoken had one of his arms sliced off.

"Hehehe~ How can you beg for mercy so easily? We're going to... take our time playing~"

"No!!!"

By the time Cen Yu stopped, six hours had passed.

He looked at the red stains and scraps covering the ground and chuckled. "So that's all you were capable of? What gave you the nerve to provoke me?"

Then the boy froze again, his eyes regaining their clarity.

He stared blankly at the scene around him.

What happened? Where were those beasts? Where was the Soul Bone?

Could those beasts have taken the Soul Bone and deliberately left him alive to humiliate him?!

With that thought, Cen Yu went straight to the Spirit Hall to report the crime, his heart full of hatred.

While he was at it, he would reveal his talent and join the Spirit Hall!

He still wasn't a match for those men. For now, he had to make sure they didn't come back.

Only by growing stronger could he kill those beasts with his own hands and avenge everyone!

Two hours later, inside the Martial Soul Branch Hall.

Zhang Shou'an, the local bishop, looked at Cen Yu with a pained expression.

"Don't be afraid, child. I'll gather some people and head to your village at once."

"I'd like to see who's got the nerve to commit such atrocities right under the Spirit Hall's nose!"

He had been stationed here for twenty years and was about to retire to his hometown, and now something like this had happened!

At that, Cen Yu looked up at the man before him.

He had heard of Zhang Shou'an.

A mighty Soul Saint, he had no interest in pursuing a promotion. Instead, he had sworn an oath to guard his hometown, content to serve as the bishop of a humble branch hall.

During his years in charge, every Evil Soul Master and every case of corruption had been swiftly rooted out by him.

He was, without a doubt, an upright, good man. That was exactly why Cen Yu had dared to seek him out.

And the righteous aura around Zhang Shou'an was practically overflowing—seriously?!

After hesitating for a moment, Cen Yu lowered his head and bowed to Zhang Shou'an. "Bishop, please help the Spirit Hall avenge my parents, relatives, and friends!"

"I'm willing to join the Spirit Hall. With my talent, I won't disappoint anyone."

Zhang Shou'an was taken aback, then quickly helped him back up.

"Don't rush, child. Even if you don't join the Spirit Hall, I'll still avenge them for you."

"The Spirit Hall stands for justice. We will never tolerate any Fallen Ones running amok."

After a moment's thought, he added, "But, child, could you show me your Martial Soul first?"

The entire village was gone... and this child was still so young. What would he do on his own from now on?

If the boy had even a little Soul Power... he could make an exception and take him in.

Becoming a Soul Master was better than living alone as an ordinary person.

Cen Yu nodded, closed his eyes, and began to call forth his Martial Soul.

In an instant, golden mist surged in from all directions, enveloping the entire Martial Soul Branch Hall.

Ethereal bells rang out, accompanied by distant, serene music that reached everyone's ears.

As Zhang Shou'an watched in disbelief, a compassionate-looking Heavenly Maiden appeared from within the mist.

With her arrival, a sacred aura spread outward, carrying a rich breath of life.

This was Cen Yu's Martial Soul, Miao Shi Heavenly Maiden: an Eastern deity symbolizing life and auspiciousness from Seer, and the first female Buddha!

Her Buddha-light could purify all evil.

Zhang Shou'an stared blankly for a long while before finally recovering from his shock.

A humanoid Martial Soul... and such a sacred aura... He had only felt something like it once before, when he had met the Pope...

"Child, put your Martial Soul away for now. Shall we test your Soul Power?"

As he spoke, he handed Cen Yu a crystal-clear crystal ball.

Zhang Shou'an said softly, "Don't be afraid, child. Just place your hand on it."