Sea God Awakening Hall

Inside the Sea God Awakening Hall.

When Li Changsheng was the last to enter,

the enormous doors, which had been standing open, slammed shut. The sound of waves crashing, which had echoed in their ears, abruptly vanished, leaving behind utter silence.

Under the old man's imposing presence, the other nine children all looked extremely ill at ease.

Even Wang Dong, standing in front of Li Changsheng, reined in her gaze and kept it fixed on a single spot.

The hall was enormous—absurdly so, covering nearly several thousand square meters.

It was hard to imagine how much manpower, material, and money it had taken to build such a colossal structure on a place this high, with its foundations resting on the stairs.

The bright, airy hall was lined on both sides with statues of sea creatures in all shapes and sizes. A deep-blue avenue led to the independent Spirit Awakening Platform at the far end.

The winding dome overhead rested upon towering waves, reflecting different weather and transforming into different scenes.

On a sunny day, the ceiling turned a clear, deep blue, with calm waters.

On a cloudy day, it turned dark and oppressive, with gales howling.

On a rainy day, it became a raging sea, with waves crashing down in an endless torrent.

All of this was created by Soul Tools—the Soul Tools spread throughout the hall.

Even ten thousand years ago, not even the legendary Soul Master sanctuary, the Spirit Hall, had possessed such grandeur.

Soon, Li Changsheng and the others came to a halt.

The old man ahead of them had reached the Spirit Awakening Platform built at the far end.

The Spirit Awakening Platform of this era was far superior to the simple Soul Power Awakening Stones that had merely channeled Soul Power in Li Changsheng's time.

Still, a great many Spirit Awakening Stones were buried beneath this platform.

Around the platform, channels ran from each side to the rear. These were conduits for drawing in Soul Masters' Soul Power.

Out of sight of Li Changsheng and the others, several—or perhaps dozens of—Soul Masters were continuously releasing their Soul Power.

The old man clearly didn't want to waste time. In a low voice, he said, "Line up. You'll awaken your Martial Souls in the order you were ranked just now."

Li Changsheng and the others quickly formed a line as instructed.

Naturally, Li Changsheng could now see where the old man was standing.

The old man then pointed to Li Zishuo, who was first in line.

Li Zishuo seemed to be one of Li Changsheng's descendants. He had an ordinary appearance, with nothing particularly distinctive about him. The ornate brocade clothes he wore didn't really suit someone his age.

He showed no arrogance. Fidgeting with his fingers, he walked somewhat nervously toward the old man standing on the Spirit Awakening Platform.

The old man glanced at Li Changsheng and his nervous manner, and a rare smile appeared on his face.

"Come here, little one. Stand right here. There's no need to be so nervous."

Encouraged by the old man, Li Zishuo gave a bashful smile, his cheeks flushing slightly with excitement as he quickly stepped onto the Spirit Awakening Platform.

The old man stroked the grizzled goatee on his chin. He glanced first at Li Zishuo beside him, then let his gaze pass over Qian Dabao, who stood second in line, before finally settling on Li Changsheng.

His wrinkled, goosebump-covered skin crinkled as he gave them a smile that was neither pleasant nor unpleasant.

"Hello, children. My name is Su Xinhe. I'm a seventy-eighth-rank Battle Soul Saint, and I'll be your guide."

"That's right. I'm a direct descendant of Su Yuntao, who helped your ancestor Tang San awaken his Martial Soul over ten thousand years ago."

"Now, starting with this little one, I'll awaken your Martial Souls one by one. Remember: no matter what happens, don't panic or be surprised."

Li Changsheng stared intently at Su Xinhe.

This old man... That little one is a Soul Saint? Impressive.

Having cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill and spent the past ten thousand years reading about the bearing of the geniuses featured in Soul Master newspapers, Li Changsheng could tell that Su Xinhe wasn't particularly gifted. In fact, his talent was somewhat poor. It was remarkable that he had still managed to reach the level of a Seven-Ring Soul Saint.

There was a reason for it.

After Tang San became a god, a rumor began to spread: "Tang San's success had a great deal to do with Su Yuntao awakening his Martial Soul."

So, for more than ten thousand years, countless people had sought out Su Yuntao to awaken their Martial Souls. Some had pointed out that Su Yuntao had helped many people awaken theirs and that Tang San was only one of them. But what parent didn't hope their own child might be the next Tang San?

With that hope driving them, Su Yuntao gradually built his fortune.

His own cultivation had reached the rank of a Titled Douluo. His title was probably—if Li Changsheng remembered correctly—Mad Wolf Douluo?

His descendants had also grown richer and richer by capitalizing on this.

After all, the number of children awakening their Martial Souls every year on the Douluo Continent was an immense and terrifying figure.

Li Changsheng subtly activated his Purple Demon Eye.

He saw dark gray Soul Power slowly rising from the surface of Su Xinhe's goosebump-covered skin.

It's coming... Li Changsheng thought to himself.

Su Xinhe leapt onto a small, separate platform beside the Spirit Awakening Platform.

The little platform was strange.

It was clearly covered in cracks, and powerful fluctuations of Soul Power continuously seeped from it.

Why would there be such a battered platform in an otherwise perfectly intact Sea God Awakening Hall?

There was a reason for that, too...

Li Changsheng looked toward Su Xinhe.

Li Zishuo stood alone atop the enormous Spirit Awakening Platform.

Perhaps because Su Xinhe had moved away, he looked a little lost.

Seeing this, Su Xinhe began channeling Soul Power and said to Li Zishuo, "Close your eyes and carefully sense the power coming from the Spirit Awakening Platform."

Children in this world seemed frighteningly quick to understand things, perhaps because of the special nature of Martial Souls.

Li Zishuo was indeed worthy of being Li Changsheng's descendant. Though he had seemed confused and uncertain at first, he quickly regained his composure under Su Xinhe's guidance.

On the other side, Su Xinhe's low, hoarse voice suddenly rang out in a resounding roar:

"Lone Wolf, possess me!"

Before the words had even ended, the long, drawn-out note in Su Xinhe's voice abruptly cut off.

"Martial Soul Avatar! Lone Wolf!"

Strands of dark gray light welled up from his goosebump-covered skin, strongest and most concentrated at his brow. At the same time, a bizarre transformation spread rapidly over his entire body.

Su Xinhe's long hair, streaked with white and black and tied back, whipped upward, swallowed by strands of dark gray light.

The goosebump-covered skin exposed to the air was instantly infused with a thick, dark gray radiance.

As the light grew brighter, long, dark gray hairs—about the length of an index finger—suddenly sprouted from every pore on his body.

Ripples spread across his raised palm. A huge wolf claw emerged, its light dark and razor-sharp, radiating a terrifying aura of destruction.

Lightning Extinction.

It was only because he wore specially made clothes that Su Xinhe's garments hadn't burst apart.

His once gaunt, emaciated body swelled beneath the gray light, becoming immensely muscular.

The sharp claws at the ends of his outstretched fingers sliced through the air.

At the same time, seven rings of light rose slowly from beneath his feet, circling him from feet to head.

Two yellow, three purple, and two black. The seven strange rings released a terrible, distorting pressure, forcing the surrounding space to rumble.

The other children were dumbstruck.

Li Changsheng watched Su Xinhe with a calm gaze.

In Wang Dong's powder-blue eyes, beside Li Changsheng, there was a flicker of disdain—or was it something else?

Rumble.

An even more immense roar suddenly sounded.

Su Xinhe threw his head back and howled like a wolf:

"Martial Soul Avatar! Lone Wolf! Break!"