Martial Soul Evolution

In the early morning, crystalline dewdrops clung to the blades of grass in the garden. The first rays of dawn slanted through the window, bathing the walls in orange light...

"Knock, knock, knock~"

From outside came the deep voice of Mighty Lion Douluo Lie Yan. "Lie Xu, time to get up. Get ready. After breakfast, we're taking you to awaken your Martial Soul."

"I know, Grandpa."

Lie Xu rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed. Though medicinal herbs and Whale Rubber had nourished his body until he was a head taller than other children his age, he was still only six, and still rather fond of sleeping in.

He got out of bed and washed up. Today, Lie Xu put on a long robe just like his grandfather's. Gold patterns covered the cuffs, lapels, and hem of its white fabric, while a fierce orange-red lion stretched across the shoulder.

Chi Yuan set the last dish on the dining table, and Lie Xu took his seat.

Just then, a golden head peeked furtively around the doorframe.

"Xiao Xue." Lie Yan, seated at the head of the table, set down his chopsticks. "You haven't eaten breakfast, have you? Come on over. We saved you some."

"Not yet, Fourth Grandpa."

The little figure in the doorway, wearing a pale yellow dress, bounced over to Lie Xu and sat snugly beside him.

Seeing the pink-cheeked little girl take her place, Lie Xu picked up some food from the middle of the table and put it on the small plate in front of Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue's lips curved into a faint smile. "Brother Xu, you're so nice." She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat in small bites...

They ate breakfast in a hurry, without much talking. Qian Renxue took a napkin and wiped the food from the corner of Lie Xu's mouth.

At the sight, Lie Yan and Chi Yuan couldn't help smiling like proud aunt and uncle...

Spirit City, the Worship Hall.

A massive platinum-white building stood atop the mountain. Sunlight spilled over it, casting a sacred halo. Even before they drew near, waves of suffocating, terrifying Soul Power bore down on them.

The three of them looked tiny before the immense building. Its heavy doors slowly swung open. Lie Xu had lost count of how many times he'd visited the Worship Hall, yet the solemn grandeur of the place still shook him every time.

Suddenly, a chubby little hand closed around Lie Xu's finger. Qian Renxue had grown nervous.

Lie Xu clasped her hand in return and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Don't be afraid. I'm here." He offered her a steady, reassuring look.

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and nodded.

As the heavy doors opened, sunlight passed over the three figures at the entrance before coming to rest at the feet of a blond, elderly man.

Hand in hand, the two children followed Mighty Lion Douluo into the Worship Hall, under everyone's gaze.

"Fourth Brother, what took you so long? We've been waiting ages for you."

A hearty voice came from ahead as soon as they stepped inside.

"Hahaha, Second Brother, we're here now. Nothing special—we just had a meal with the kids." Lie Yan continued leading the two children along the sunlit floor and deeper into the hall...

Before the Angel God Statue in the Worship Hall, several worshippers stood in rows on either side. At the very front and center stood the peerless Level 99 Limit Douluo, Qian Daoliu.

A six-pointed array made of twelve black crystals had already been set up beside him. This was the Awakening Array, used to awaken Martial Souls. Its light was restrained, and its aura ancient...

"Big Brother, we're here." Lie Yan led the two children forward, then stepped aside to reveal the pair behind him.

"Grandpa," Qian Renxue called softly to Qian Daoliu. Lie Xu bowed along with her. "Great-Grandpa."

"Mm," Qian Daoliu replied with a nod.

Then the two greeted the other worshippers.

"Second Grandpa, Third Grandpa..."

"All right. Today, we're going to awaken your Martial Souls. Are you ready?" Qian Daoliu held a crystal ball that radiated white light.

"We're ready, Grandpa (Great-Grandpa)," the two answered in unison.

"Martial Soul Awakening is, at its core, a process of guiding your first circulation of Soul Power and connecting with the Martial Soul in your bloodline. So, which of you wants to go first?" Qian Daoliu asked with a genial smile.

Just then, the crisp, cold click of high heels came from outside the hall, echoing through the vast chamber.

Everyone turned.

Bibi Dong entered in a champagne-colored robe, a silver crystal crown on her head and a scepter in her hand—the symbol of the highest status in the Soul Master World. With each step, her chilling presence seemed to seep into the air.

"What are you doing here?" Qian Daoliu's expression turned cold.

The kindly smile vanished from his face. He fixed the newcomer with a frigid stare.

"What? Xiao Xue is awakening her Martial Soul. As her mother, can't I come and watch?" Bibi Dong said coolly as she walked up to them.

"You're not my mother." Qian Renxue hid behind Lie Xu. Her voice was quiet, but in the silent hall, it rang out with startling clarity.

"I don't have a mother."

The atmosphere froze. Not a pin could have dropped in the Worship Hall.

"Impudent!"

The pressure of Bibi Dong's Level 96 Super Douluo aura burst forth, bearing down on the two children before her.

"Enough!"

In the same instant, the six worshippers around them each took a step forward. Their Super Douluo auras crashed into Bibi Dong's pressure, instantly driving it back.

"That's enough!"

Qian Daoliu's sharp rebuke rang out, and the aura of a Level 99 Limit Douluo swept through the hall.

"Bibi Dong, the Worship Hall is no place for you to throw your weight around."

Bibi Dong gave a cold snort and said no more. She stepped aside.

"All right, Xiao Xue, Lie Xu. Which of you wants to go first?" Qian Daoliu asked gently.

Lie Xu turned and saw the resolve in Qian Renxue's eyes. He understood her: deep down, this girl had always been strong and determined...

He patted Qian Renxue on the head. "Go on, Xue'er. Don't worry. You can do it."

"Mm!"

Qian Renxue nodded firmly, took a deep breath, and stepped into the Hexagram Array beneath the Angel God Statue. Then she slowly closed her eyes.

"Xiao Xue, focus on the response deep within your soul."

With that, Qian Daoliu swiftly formed hand seals. Platinum-white light flew into the twelve black crystals.

At once, the twelve crystals shone gold, linking together as their light intensified and formed a golden dome around Qian Renxue.

Golden motes of light streamed from the twelve black crystals, guided toward Qian Renxue inside the array.

A moment later, the golden dome gradually dissolved into motes of light and flowed into Qian Renxue.

The instant the light vanished, a golden beam shot from the array into the sky. A figure appeared within it: unmistakably, an angel.

Bright, majestic, sacred—its pure white wings slowly unfurled behind it.

The beam faded, and the figure gradually came into focus.

"This... this is Martial Soul Evolution!!!"