The next day, early in the morning.
Today was the day Xiao Mu would awaken his Martial Soul. It was also his birthday.
Xiao Mu lay sprawled across the bed, his limbs akimbo. A few singed marks marred his blackish-purple hair.
They were leftovers from yesterday's experiment. The exoskeleton armor had succeeded—and it had failed.
When designing it, he had forgotten to account for his own abilities.
He couldn't control the armor.
Sunlight slipped through a gap in the curtains, carving out a golden beam that landed right on his face.
Xiao Mu frowned, rolled over, and buried his face in his pillow.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. A moment later, it swung open.
The sound wasn't loud, but Xiao Mu heard it clearly.
He opened his bleary eyes, and the silhouette of someone slowly approaching was reflected in them.
A man stood beside the bed, looking down at him. His short, deep-purple hair was neatly tucked against his ears, and his features were sharp and stern.
He wore a black, double-breasted trench coat with a high collar. A belt cinched his waist, accentuating his tall, straight figure. Beneath it were a white shirt and a dark tie. He looked like a longsword sheathed in its scabbard.
"It's nine o'clock. Sleep any longer and you'll have a sore backside."
At that, Xiao Mu jumped up and ran for the bathroom.
"Dad, you don't have to shout. I heard you."
"I'll see you in the car in ten minutes. I put breakfast in there."
Xiao Ming stood where he was, his gaze resting on Xiao Mu's face. His eyes were exactly the same color as Xiao Mu's.
He watched for a moment, then turned and left.
Xiao Mu went to the wardrobe and grabbed some casual clothes at random: a white shirt and overalls.
By the time he went downstairs, Xiao Ming was already leaning against the car, holding a steaming cup of coffee.
Behind him sat a black Soul Guidance sports car, its streamlined design sleek and eye-catching.
Xiao Ming leaned against the car door, his trench coat rising and falling in the sea breeze.
When he saw Xiao Mu, he simply said, "Get in."
A moment later, the car started, its engine rumbling to life.
"Don't be nervous. Your mother and I both have powerful Martial Souls, and we're strong too. You were born full-term and healthy, so you're bound to have Soul Power."
Xiao Ming knew his son's condition well. Xiao Mu had been born full-term and had been raised well, so his Innate Soul Power couldn't be low.
Besides, the boy could handle the food his wife cooked. His potential was definitely nothing to scoff at.
The Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda was one of the Spirit Pagoda organization's eighteen branch towers. These eighteen great Spirit Pagodas were also known as the Eighteen Heavenly Pillars.
The tower could be seen from far away. It stood over a hundred stories tall and more than four hundred meters high. Even in Eastsea City, with its towering buildings, it was a landmark.
As soon as they entered the tower, Xiao Mu noticed the murals on the domed ceiling.
They depicted the story of Spirit Ice Douluo—roughly, a boy taking his enemy to the Divine Realm to enjoy the good life.
The summary was a little off, but Xiao Mu figured that was more or less the gist.
The two entered a circular hall. This was the Martial Soul Awakening Hall. Although it wasn't an official awakening day and the hall was empty and quiet, someone was still on duty.
Although Soul Masters could have their Martial Souls awakened at home, the tower offered a full range of services, from Martial Soul Awakening and spiritual power testing to purchasing Soul Spirits.
That last step was unavoidable unless your family had a thousand years of history behind it.
They might as well come straight to the Spirit Pagoda. It was more convenient.
"Welcome. You're here to awaken a Martial Soul, right? My name is Su Haitao, and I'm the Spirit Transmitter responsible for awakenings today."
The voice came from the side. When they turned, they saw a young man in his twenties beckoning them forward.
"Please follow me."
He knew that this gentleman was also a Soul Master. The world of Soul Masters held no mysteries for them.
There was no need to hide anything from them as one would from ordinary people.
Xiao Mu followed the two men into the awakening room. He thought Su Haitao had the makings of a Titled Douluo.
The walls, floor, and ceiling were all covered in Soul Guidance patterns, densely packed and intricately entwined.
Xiao Mu looked around. With his perfect memory, he missed not a single detail.
He walked to the center of the formation and stood still.
"Hold out your right hand," Su Haitao said from behind him. "Close your eyes and relax. Feel your Martial Soul."
Xiao Mu closed his eyes and felt the changes within his body.
Golden light appeared in the formation.
It glittered like stars in the sky.
The light grew brighter, spreading from the platform to the walls, then climbing from the walls to the ceiling. The entire awakening room turned the color of molten gold.
Golden markings appeared on Xiao Mu's body.
Fine lines extended from his heart to his limbs, the golden patterns flickering with each breath.
Xiao Mu felt unbearable pain, pain that seemed to come from both body and soul.
Watching it all, Xiao Ming stood motionless by the door, his trench coat fluttering in the turbulent currents of energy.
"Did he inherit both our abilities?" A trace of surprise showed in his eyes.
The pillar of light lasted about ten seconds before beginning to contract.
As the light receded, Xiao Mu's figure reappeared.
A faint glow bloomed around his hands. His Martial Soul seemed to be his hands, but in fact, it was his entire body.
"Is this a Body Martial Soul?" Su Haitao was astonished. He knew that a Martial Soul made up of hands didn't seem to be among the strongest Body Martial Souls.
The more vital the body part, the stronger the Martial Soul.
Su Haitao hurried forward and pointed to the Soul Guidance Display Screen nearby. "Put your hand on it. We can test your Innate Soul Power."
Xiao Mu placed his hand on it, and the numbers on the display began to jump.
At last, they stopped at "10."
"Innate Full Soul Power?!" Su Haitao's voice trembled. "But isn't this a Martial Soul made up of hands?"
He examined Xiao Mu's body again, afraid he might have missed a Twin Martial Soul.
The old ancestor had suffered exactly that oversight, losing his iron rice bowl over it.
"Nothing?" After checking, he found nothing at all, yet couldn't shake the feeling he had overlooked something.
"Come on, let's test your spiritual power. It'll come in handy when you buy a Soul Spirit."
A mechanical whir sounded from the ceiling. A metal helmet slowly descended and covered Xiao Mu's head.
"Don't be nervous. Relax your whole body. It's normal to feel dizzy."
A buzzing sound filled the room, and a soft white light came on around the outside of the helmet.
Su Haitao looked at the Soul Guidance Screen beside him as the data began to fluctuate.
The numbers soared higher and higher.
At last, they stopped at a single figure.
Su Haitao froze. Spiritual power was divided into six major realms: Spirit Origin Realm, Spirit Connection Realm, Spirit Sea Realm, Spirit Abyss Realm, Spirit Domain Realm, and the legendary Divine Origin Realm.
Once it passed one hundred, it reached the Spirit Connection Realm, which could support two yellow Soul Spirits or one purple Soul Spirit.
Xiao Mu's spiritual power was 198.
Looking at the number, Xiao Mu was speechless. Why was it 198 instead of 648? Did they think he couldn't afford it?
"He can support a Thousand-Year Soul Spirit, but the age isn't important." Xiao Ming's voice was calm. In this era, Soul Spirits were better suited to Martial Souls.
Besides, he could raise its level at the Spirit Ascension Platform.
He could gradually increase the Soul Ring's age.
Su Haitao took a deep breath. "You two, please follow me. According to Spirit Pagoda rules, you're entitled to one free Soul Spirit."