Spirit Pagoda, Martial Soul Awakening

The mecha forces ultimately did nothing but stand guard there, waiting for the Energy Shield to repair itself. They did not dare enter the forest to investigate.

The soul beasts within the forest were even quieter than they had imagined. Not a single soul beast attempted to break out. The Energy Shield was repaired smoothly and was fully restored a day later. Large numbers of medical personnel rushed to the dam to treat the burned soul masters. The falling fireball had caused enormous losses to the Spirit Pagoda. Setting aside the many soul masters who had been burned, the ten Black Mechas that had been melted alone were enough to make them ache. Several days later, the Spirit Pagoda sent people into the dam to search for the fireball's impact site, hoping to determine what it had been. The result was a complete wipeout. The twenty-man team, including three Titled Douluo, did not have a single survivor; all of them were buried in the forest. Enraged, the Spirit Pagoda ordered the forest bombarded, determined to make the soul beasts pay a heavy price. The bombardment lasted for over three hours, causing nearly thirty percent of the already sparse trees in the Star Dou Great Forest to disappear. A massive fire broke out in the forest. Had Di Tian and the others not acted in time, the blaze might have swallowed the entire forest. The soul beasts did not retaliate, and the matter gradually faded away because of their silence. The Spirit Pagoda did not send anyone else into the forest, and the soul beasts obediently remained within it, neither making trouble nor causing disturbances, like tamed lions. But had the soul beasts truly lost their wild nature and been tamed? Naturally not. The reason they had not fought the Spirit Pagoda to the bitter end was that they did not wish to completely ignite the conflict between the two sides at this time. Killing some of their people and provoking their artillery barrage had already achieved their purpose; there was no need to continue. As for why they had wanted to provoke the bombardment, it was mainly to conceal the disappearance of the Life Gold and the drastic decline in the forest's vitality.

Next, they could prepare to leave. Seven years later, in the west of the continent, Star Moon City. Star Moon City was only five hundred li from Mingdu, where the Federation Government was located. With its obvious geographical advantages, it had developed rapidly and was one of the five great supercities of the west. Skyscrapers stood everywhere in the city, with buildings dozens of stories tall visible at every turn, filled with a modern atmosphere. Before the thirteen-story Spirit Pagoda at the center of Star Moon City stood a boy, looking up at the tower before him. The boy was around six years old, of moderate build, with exquisite features and tender skin. His large, agate-red eyes gleamed with spirit. There was also a fiery red mark between his brows, bearing the image of a phoenix. Like the finishing touch to a painting, it made his face appear so perfect that not a single flaw could be found. The boy wore a simple, fitted red ancient-style robe, without the slightest hint of excess. His shoulder-length red hair draped neatly down his back. Whether it was his fiery crimson hair or his retro robe, both suited him perfectly. It gave people the feeling that he ought to dress this way and keep this red hair; if he wore modern clothing and short hair instead, it would feel utterly out of place.

The boy's appearance was already exceptionally striking, but his temperament was even rarer. The innate nobility he exuded made others unconsciously feel inferior. This boy was none other than Yun Ze, who had fallen onto Douluo Continent seven years ago. After pausing briefly before the Spirit Pagoda, Yun Ze walked inside.

The Spirit Pagoda was very spacious, its floor paved with marble. As soon as Yun Ze entered through the main doors, the soul master seated behind the counter near the entrance rose to his feet.

"Little friend, this is the Spirit Pagoda. Non-soul masters are not allowed inside. Leave immediately," the soul master said sternly.

Yun Ze smiled faintly. "I'm here to awaken my Martial Soul."

As he spoke, he produced one thousand Federal Currency from somewhere and placed it on the counter.

The Spirit Pagoda would help people awaken their Martial Souls free of charge, but only during a designated period. He had already missed that time, so he could only pay for the awakening himself.

The higher the level of the Spirit Pagoda, the more expensive its Martial Soul awakening service was. At this thirteen-story Spirit Pagoda, the fee was one thousand Federal Currency.

The middle-aged soul master looked at Yun Ze in surprise. "Little friend, didn't your family come with you?"

"Uncle, you should just take me to awaken my Martial Soul," Yun Ze said, avoiding the topic.

Seeing that Yun Ze was unwilling to say more, the middle-aged soul master did not press him. He took out a form and had Yun Ze fill it out.

"Little friend, your handwriting is quite good," the middle-aged soul master praised. It was hard to imagine such handwriting coming from a child.

Yun Ze merely smiled calmly at the praise.

"Take this form over there and give it to that uncle," the middle-aged soul master said, pointing to a room in the hall.

Yun Ze did as instructed. He went to the room inside the hall and handed the form to another soul master dressed in gray.

"Come with me," the gray-clothed soul master said, leading Yun Ze into the spacious room.

The floor, walls, and even ceiling of the room were covered in wondrous and magnificent patterns that emitted a strange fluctuation.

Yun Ze immediately recognized them as simple formations. Their purpose was self-evident: to guide Martial Souls and assist in their awakening.

Following the gray-clothed soul master's instructions, he stood in the center of the awakening room. The soul master then began activating the awakening formation.

As the awakening formation activated, Yun Ze felt something stir within his body, as though something was about to burst free.

His left hand slowly opened, and red light lit up in his palm. A wisp of flame rose, and the temperature inside the room began to climb.

"Hm?" The gray-clothed soul master looked surprised as he felt the scorching heat wave.

A sharp phoenix cry rang out. The flame in Yun Ze's hand transformed into the shape of a phoenix, growing larger as it spread its wings and cried.

A visible wave of searing heat spread outward. Even the air warped slightly from the intense temperature, forcing the gray-clothed soul master back.

"Fire Phoenix!" The gray-clothed soul master released his Martial Soul to resist the heat, his eyes widening round when he saw the flaming phoenix.

Red flames curled around the phoenix's body as it circled Yun Ze, displaying a remarkably human-like joy and affection.

Yun Ze also felt a strong sense of familiarity as he looked at the phoenix. This phoenix was actually himself, a manifestation of his bloodline.

When several peak Immortal Emperors had besieged him, he had survived only by relying on his innate Nirvana talent, but he had paid an enormous price.

His cultivation of several epochs had been completely lost. After Nirvana, even his bloodline had been nearly depleted, reducing him essentially to an ordinary person. Everything had to begin anew.

Having come to this world, restricted by its laws, he could only cultivate according to this world's cultivation system.

That was, awakening a Martial Soul and then cultivating Soul Power. And his Martial Soul was himself—the phoenix.

There was also an unusual fluctuation in his left hand. He knew that it was another Martial Soul. He had some guesses as to what it was, but there was no hurry to verify them.

"Little friend, put away your Martial Soul first. Do as uncle says..." The gray-clothed soul master's attitude had become much friendlier.

He had been about to teach Yun Ze how to put away his Martial Soul when he saw that Yun Ze had already withdrawn it. His movements were incredibly practiced.