Awakening of Martial Soul

Pushing open the old wooden door, Ling Yu saw an elderly man with graying hair and a face full of wrinkles.

This was Morning Glow Village's village chief. His Martial Soul was a hoe, and he had no Soul Power. Or rather, no one in Morning Glow Village had awakened Soul Power in the past ten years.

Hearing movement behind him, the old man set down the vegetables he was washing and said with a smile,

"You're back? What's this? Why are you back so early today?"

Looking at the old man who had raised him for six years, Ling Yu's gaze was gentle. "No, Grandpa. Martial Soul awakening is only a couple of days away anyway, and I've trained for three years. Missing a day or two won't matter. I'll head into the woods later to get some game and catch some fish in the river. I'll cook!"

"That works too. A few years ago, I saw you doing nothing all day and never playing with the other children. I was always worried about you. Now it seems you're the most hardworking one after all!"

Ling Yu showed no impatience at the old man's nagging. He helped him over to a chair, took the vegetables from his hands, and began washing them in the water basket.

The old man gazed peacefully at the flawless young man before him, his thoughts drifting back to the day they had first met.

After washing the vegetables clean, Ling Yu looked at the old man reclining comfortably in his chair with his eyes half-closed. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he walked outside.

Morning Glow Village lay at the border between Fanos Province and the Balak Kingdom. However, it was so remote, hidden deep within the mountains and forests, that few people ever passed through.

Other than the Spirit Hall personnel who came each year to conduct Martial Soul awakenings, almost no one ever came to this place.

Transportation was extremely limited, which led to Morning Glow Village's custom of living off the mountains and waters.

Fortunately, the area had many forests and several clear rivers, so the villagers never had to worry about finding food.

That evening, Ling Yu caught several fish and two wild chickens, bringing a hearty dinner to an end.

Ever since cultivating the "Basic Cultivation Method," his appetite had gradually increased. He needed to consume large amounts of meat every day to replenish his body's expenditure. Though it was not vastly beyond that of an ordinary person, compared to children his age, it was already an enormous amount.

Two days later, early in the morning, Ling Yu got up and ran toward the mountaintop.

After cultivating once more, Ling Yu exhaled a mouthful of white mist. His palms returned to normal, and he finished his practice.

"The Spirit Hall Soul Master should have arrived by now. I wonder if it'll be Blind Douluo Su Yuntao!"

With that thought, Ling Yu quickly headed toward the Spirit Hall at the entrance to the village.

Along the way, Ling Yu warmly greeted the villagers. As he quickened his pace, a somewhat dilapidated building appeared before him.

Ling Yu's impression of Spirit Hall was actually extremely favorable. During the six years he had lived here, many children from the village went to awaken their Martial Souls every year, allowing him to see Soul Masters.

They were also the only outsiders he had seen in all six years!

Even for a remote village like Morning Glow Village, Spirit Hall still sent people to conduct awakening ceremonies. That alone showed the sense of responsibility this organization possessed.

Combined with the evaluations and videos he had seen online in his previous life, Ling Yu had always greatly admired Spirit Hall.

After all, as a citizen of Huaxia, the sense of responsibility had long been deeply rooted in people's hearts. It was a treasure passed down through five thousand years on this land. It was precisely because of this sense of responsibility that generation after generation of ancestors had shed their blood and given their lives to build a great nation.

Just like that saying: Comrades, the moment that tests us has arrived!

He had always believed that if an organization or country could fully embody a sense of responsibility, then it could not possibly be too bad.

He found it hard to imagine what kind of impact Spirit Hall's disappearance would have on commoners, as many commenters had discussed in videos during his previous life.

Ling Yu did not know whether Douluo Continent had described such a thing, but he knew that if Spirit Hall disappeared, the Heaven Dou Empire would definitely not send people to Morning Glow Village to conduct Martial Soul awakening ceremonies.

Classes would never disappear, but the difference lay in this:

Did those of the higher class possess a sense of responsibility toward those of the lower class?

"Xiao Yu, come quickly! I was just thinking of going up the mountain to call you down!"

As Ling Yu was lost in thought, a kindly voice sounded beside him. "Come on, the Lord Soul Master from Spirit Hall has already arrived. The Martial Soul awakening is about to begin! I wonder whether any child will awaken Soul Power this year."

At that thought, the old man before Ling Yu wore a troubled expression. After all, no Soul Master had emerged from this place in ten years.

"Don't worry, Village Chief Grandpa. Someone will definitely awaken Soul Power this year!"

Seeing the old man's expression, Ling Yu flashed a sunny smile. "Believe me, there definitely will be!"

After saying that, he ignored the old man's surprised gaze and walked into the building on his own.

Upon entering, Ling Yu found that a long line had already formed.

There were around ten children in Morning Glow Village who were about Ling Yu's age this year. Since Ling Yu was the last to arrive, he stood at the very back.

At the front of the room stood a young man with sword-like brows and bright eyes. He wore a Spirit Hall uniform, with a large "Soul" character emblazoned across his chest!

With his hands behind his back, he quietly observed the people before him.

Though he concealed it well, Ling Yu could still see a trace of pride in his eyes.

Once everyone had arrived, the man said, "Hello, I'm the Soul Master sent by Spirit Hall this year to awaken your Martial Souls. My name is Su Yuntao!"

Hearing him introduce himself, delight flashed through Ling Yu's eyes.

Whether the things online were true or not, it was better to believe they were than to dismiss them outright. The man's title of Blind Douluo had not come from nowhere.

"My Martial Soul is Lone Wolf. I am a level twenty-six Soul Grandmaster!"

As he spoke, an uncontrollable look of pride finally appeared on his face.

It was no wonder. Judging by Su Yuntao's age and rank, his strength and talent were already quite impressive in an ordinary small city!

Combined with the special status Soul Masters held on Douluo Continent, such an attitude was hardly unusual.

After Su Yuntao finished introducing himself, Ling Yu watched him take six black stones from his bag and arrange them into a six-pointed star formation on the ground. A crystal ball sat on the stone table beside it.

"When I call your name, step into this formation!"

Su Yuntao said to the eleven boys and girls before him, "After I summon my Martial Soul, don't be afraid. This is a normal phenomenon of Martial Soul Possession!"

After speaking, he looked at the excited children before him and began summoning his Martial Soul.

"Lone Wolf, possess me!"

With his shout, Su Yuntao's body underwent a drastic transformation. His body began to swell, and his fingers turned sharp.

Immediately after, one white and one yellow soul ring rose from beneath his feet.

Quite a few children were frightened by his appearance. Ling Yu alone watched him, a trace of red light flashing through his eyes.

After motioning for the first child to step forward, golden light flashed and instantly enveloped the child within the formation.

"Extend your right hand," Su Yuntao said to the child before him.

The child hurriedly held out his right hand. The next moment, a small hoe appeared in his palm.

"Martial Soul: hoe!"

Looking at the child's Martial Soul, Su Yuntao shook his head slightly, but still said, "Place your palm on the crystal ball and test whether you have Soul Power!"

The child obediently placed his palm against the crystal ball. Unfortunately, the crystal ball showed no reaction at all.

"No Soul Power. I'm sorry, you do not have the talent to become a Soul Master!"

Hearing Su Yuntao's words, the little boy walked out of the building with disappointment written all over his face.

Then, the children behind him continued stepping forward.

"Martial Soul: sickle. No Soul Power!"

"Martial Soul: carrot. No Soul Power!"

"Martial Soul: hoe. No Soul Power!"

As the awakenings continued, Su Yuntao's disappointment grew heavier and heavier. This was already the seventh village he had visited, yet there was still not a single child who had awakened Innate Soul Power.

"Next!"

Hearing the call, Ling Yu strode into the formation.

Seeing how distinctly different he was from the other children, his fair face and bright eyes made Su Yuntao lose focus for a moment.

However, Su Yuntao quickly came back to his senses. Looking at the handsome young man before him, expectation appeared on his face. He's so good-looking. I hope he awakens a decent Martial Soul!