Martial Soul Evolution

At dawn, crystalline dewdrops clung to the blades of grass in the garden, and the morning sun slanted through the window, bathing the walls in a warm, orange glow.

"Knock, knock, knock~"

Outside the door, the deep voice of Lion Douluo Lie Yan resonated: "Little Xu, time to get up. Get yourself ready; after breakfast, we're heading out for your martial soul awakening."

"I know, Grandfather."

Lie Xu rubbed his eyes and sat up in bed. Although his body had been nourished by medicinal herbs and whale glue, making him a head taller than his peers, he was still only a six-year-old child and remained quite sleepy.

After getting out of bed and washing up, Lie Xu changed into a robe identical to his grandfather's—white base with gold patterns lining the cuffs, collar, and hem. A ferocious, orange-red lion was embroidered across the shoulders of the white-and-gold garment.

Chi Yuan placed the final dish on the dining table just as Lie Xu took his seat.

At that moment, a golden head peeked out from the side of the doorframe, looking around sneakily.

"It's Little Xue," Lie Yan said, setting down his chopsticks from the head of the table. "Haven't had breakfast yet? Come over here, we saved some for you."

"Not yet, Fourth Grandfather."

As she spoke, the small figure in a pale yellow dress hopped toward Lie Xu and sat down right beside him.

Seeing the chubby little girl sitting next to him, Lie Xu picked up some food from the center of the table and placed it on the small plate in front of Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue's lips curled upward slightly. "Brother Xu, you're so kind." She picked up her chopsticks and began to eat in small bites.

The meal passed in silence. Once they finished, Qian Renxue picked up a napkin and wiped the stray bits of food from the corners of Lie Xu's mouth.

Seeing this, Lie Yan and Chi Yuan couldn't help but reveal doting smiles.

Spirit City, Offering Hall.

A massive white-and-gold structure stood atop the mountain peak. As the sunlight spilled over it, a sacred halo shimmered around the building. Even before they drew near, waves of suffocating, terrifying soul power washed over them.

The three of them looked exceptionally small standing before the colossal structure as the heavy doors began to creak open. Lie Xu had lost count of how many times he had visited the Offering Hall, yet he was still struck by the solemnity and majesty of the giant edifice every single time.

Suddenly, a pair of chubby little hands grabbed Lie Xu's fingers; Qian Renxue had grown nervous.

Lie Xu gripped those small hands back, gave them a gentle squeeze, and offered a reassuring, steady gaze. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Qian Renxue took a deep breath and nodded.

As they pushed open the heavy doors, the light filtered past the three of them and settled at the feet of an elderly man with golden hair.

Hand in hand, the two children followed Lion Douluo into the Offering Hall under the gaze of everyone present.

"Old Four, what took you so long? The rest of us have been waiting for quite a while."

The moment they stepped inside, a gruff voice echoed from ahead.

"Hahaha, Second Brother, we're here now, aren't we? Nothing serious, just had a meal with the two kids." Lie Yan continued to lead Lie Xu and Qian Renxue through the sunlight toward the depths of the hall.

In the Offering Hall, before the statue of the Angel God, several high priests stood on either side. Standing at the very front in the center was the invincible-in-the-sky, level-99 Limit Douluo—Qian Daoliu.

Beside Qian Daoliu, a hexagram array composed of twelve black-glowing crystals had already been prepared. This was the formation used for martial soul awakening—the Awakening Array. Its light was restrained, and it exuded an ancient aura.

"Big Brother, we're here." After Lie Yan led the two children forward, he stepped aside, revealing the two little ones behind him.

"Grandfather," Qian Renxue whispered to Qian Daoliu, and Lie Xu followed suit, bowing. "Great Grandfather."

"Mm," Qian Daoliu nodded in acknowledgment.

The two then greeted the other high priests.

"Second Grandfather, Third Grandfather..."

"Alright, it is time for your martial soul awakening today. Are you both ready?" Qian Daoliu asked, holding a crystal ball that radiated a white glow.

"We are ready, Grandfather (Great Grandfather)."

The two answered in unison.

"The essence of martial soul awakening is to guide the first circulation of your soul power and connect with the martial soul within your bloodline. Now, who shall go first?" Qian Daoliu asked them with a cheerful smile.

Just then, the crisp, cold sound of high heels echoed from outside the hall, reverberating through the vast space.

Everyone turned around.

Bibi Dong walked into the hall wearing a champagne-colored gown, a silver crystal crown upon her head, and holding the scepter that symbolized the highest authority in the spirit master world. Her aura was chilling and piercing.

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

The benevolent smile he had worn just moments ago vanished instantly as he glared coldly at the newcomer.

"Why? Little Xue is awakening her martial soul; as her mother, am I not allowed to come and see?" Bibi Dong said indifferently, walking up to the group.

"You are not my mother." Qian Renxue hid behind Lie Xu, her voice not loud, yet exceptionally clear in the quiet hall.

"I don't have a mother."

The atmosphere froze instantly; one could hear a pin drop in the Offering Hall.

"Insolent!"

The pressure of Bibi Dong's level-96 Super Douluo cultivation erupted, bearing down directly on the two children.

"Audacious!"

In that split second, the six high priests standing around them stepped forward in unison. Their combined Super Douluo aura surged outward, instantly blocking and repelling the oppressive force.

"Enough!"

Qian Daoliu let out a cold shout, his rank ninety-nine aura sweeping across the entire hall.

"Bibi Dong, the Offering Hall is not a place where you can act recklessly."

Seeing this, Bibi Dong let out a cold snort, said nothing more, and stepped aside.

"Very well, Xiaoxue, Lie Xu, which of you shall go first?" Qian Daoliu asked gently.

Lie Xu turned to see the tenacity in the depths of Qian Renxue's eyes; he understood the resolve hidden within her gaze. This girl was self-reliant and resilient to her very core.

He patted Qian Renxue's head. "Go, Xue'er. Don't worry, you can do it."

"Mm!"

Qian Renxue nodded heavily, took a deep breath, stepped into the Hexagram Array for martial soul awakening at the feet of the Angel God statue, and slowly closed her eyes.

"Xiaoxue, feel the response from the depths of your soul."

After speaking, Qian Daoliu quickly formed seals with his hands, and white-gold light flew into the twelve black crystal stones.

Instantly, the twelve crystal stones emitted a golden radiance, connecting with one another. The light flared up, forming a golden barrier that enveloped Qian Renxue within.

Golden motes of light were continuously guided by the twelve black crystal stones, surging toward Qian Renxue inside the array.

A moment later, the golden barrier surrounding her gradually dissipated into motes of light, entering Qian Renxue's body.

The instant the light vanished, a golden pillar of light shot straight into the sky from within the array, and a figure appeared inside the pillar—it was unmistakably the silhouette of an angel.

Bright, solemn, and sacred, its pure white wings slowly unfurled behind it.

As the pillar of light faded, the figure gradually became clear.

"This... this is a martial soul evolution!!!"