Wasn't It Supposed to Awaken a Martial Soul? Where's My Martial Soul?!

In an unnamed small village near Nuoding City.

The village was currently hosting its annual major event: the Spirit Awakening. The village children had been called by the adults to gather in the center of the village early in the morning.

The person sent by Spirit Hall to oversee the Spirit Awakening this time was Master Su Yuntao.

"Children, I am here to help you awaken your spirits. No matter what happens during the ceremony, there is no need to be afraid."

"There will be no danger."

Su Yuntao was in his twenties, with sharp brows and bright eyes, making him quite handsome. He wore a gentle smile as he faced the children.

Flowing transmigrators, iron-clad Su Yuntao.

Qin Qi looked at Su Yuntao standing before him, unable to stop himself from grumbling inwardly.

He was a transmigrator, and a second-time one at that. The first time, he had gone to Under One Person.

He had become a child of the Tang Sect, and then, at eighteen, he hadn't jumped off a cliff; he had simply gone to sleep and woken up in Douluo Continent.

"Everyone, line up first. We will proceed with the awakening one by one."

Su Yuntao spent some time getting the children into a line, then began the Spirit Awakening ceremony.

The first few children all had ordinary spirits and no Spirit Power, making them commoners unable to cultivate.

Finally, it was Qin Qi's turn. The awakening began, and after a flash of light, it was over.

"Your spirit is... where is your spirit?"

Su Yuntao looked at the young man before him, examining him thoroughly, and then he was dumbfounded.

He couldn't see the boy's spirit anywhere at all.

[Ding, Host has learned Dan Shi. Strongest Learning System activated.]

"Where is my spirit?"

Qin Qi was also confused. Wasn't it said that one could awaken a spirit at six years old? How come he didn't have one?

Was it discriminating against him for being a transmigrator? Damn this Douluo Continent, it was truly evil!

And was that a system notification just now?

"It's alright, don't be nervous. There might have been a small accident just now; let me try again."

Su Yuntao comforted Qin Qi with a few words, then began the steps for the Spirit Awakening once more.

But this time, there was still no movement. He tried repeatedly, but he still couldn't see the boy's spirit.

"This, what is going on!"

"No, I can't panic. I need to think carefully about what could have gone wrong!"

Su Yuntao began to grow nervous. Sweat started to bead on his forehead, and his back began to dampen with cold sweat.

Having worked this job at Spirit Hall for so many years, this was the first time he had ever failed. What on earth was the problem?

"Um, I think I see my spirit?"

Qin Qi felt a new power within his body. He channeled it, and a transparent bubble appeared on his palm.

"Where? What is it?"

Su Yuntao hurriedly asked.

"Right here on my hand, it's a transparent bubble."

Qin Qi confirmed it; his system had indeed awakened. He looked at Su Yuntao, his expression remaining unchanged.

"On your hand, a transparent bubble..."

Su Yuntao stared at Qin Qi's palm for a long time, but he saw nothing.

"Well, let's test your Spirit Power first."

Su Yuntao hesitated for a moment, then took out a crystal ball for Qin Qi to test his Spirit Power.

Qin Qi placed his hand on it, and the next second, the crystal ball began to emit light. A moment later, the result was clear.

"Innate Spirit Power level nine! A genius!"

Su Yuntao wore an expression of astonishment. In such a small village, having any Spirit Power at all was rare.

Level nine was nothing short of genius.

"Phew, having Spirit Power means the Spirit Awakening was a success."

Su Yuntao felt a sense of relief in his heart. The awakening hadn't failed; if it had, there would be no Spirit Power.

"Young man, would you like to join Spirit Hall?"

Su Yuntao looked at Qin Qi. He hesitated, but asked the question anyway.

As a member of Spirit Hall, if one could recommend a genius to attend an academy, there was a reward.

However, one couldn't just recommend anyone; they had to be a genius, and innate level nine Spirit Power was sufficient.

But the spirit of the boy before him was too strange—it was a bubble. Su Yuntao couldn't determine if it was a trash spirit.

"Hmm..."

Qin Qi did not answer, deliberately feigning that he hadn't heard clearly in an attempt to play dumb and brush it off.

"Forget it, forget it, pretend I didn't say anything. Alright, I still have to head to the next village, I'm off."

Su Yuntao waved his hand, deciding to let it go. He had only mentioned it in passing and wasn't particularly set on the idea.

Seeing Qin Qi's reaction, he dismissed the impulse entirely.

"Um, Master Su Yuntao, I have a question. Is it true that Spirit Masters can receive a monthly subsidy?"

Watching Su Yuntao prepare to leave, Qin Qi hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

"Yes. Once you verify and register your Spirit Master rank at the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City, you can receive one Gold Spirit Coin every month."

Su Yuntao looked at the boy before him. With innate level nine Spirit Power, it shouldn't be long before he obtained his first Spirit Ring.

By then, he would be able to register and collect the subsidy.

Upon hearing this, Qin Qi's eyes lit up.

"Are you... very short on money?"

Su Yuntao looked at Qin Qi and asked.

"Huh?"

Qin Qi looked at Su Yuntao, then glanced down at his own tattered clothes, a look of disbelief crossing his face.

Master, are you joking? Look at my clothes—do you really have to ask if I'm short on money?

That's like asking an air conditioner repairman what he does for a living.

"I am very short on money. I'm an orphan, and I haven't eaten all day."

Qin Qi thought for a moment and decided to answer. Since the man had answered his question, he should return the courtesy.

"Ahem, well, Village Chief, please get this child a meal."

Su Yuntao realized his question had been rather foolish and coughed a few times.

He took a few Spirit Coins from his pocket and handed them to the village chief, asking him to get some food for Qin Qi.

Afterward, Su Yuntao walked away; he still had several more villages to visit today.

"He actually has a surprisingly good personality."

Qin Qi watched Su Yuntao leave. From the moment they met, Su Yuntao had been very polite. Even when dealing with village children like them, he hadn't shown any impatience, instead awakening their spirits with gentleness and patience.

"Qin Qi, let's go. Come eat at my place today; I'll get you plenty to eat."

The village chief said to Qin Qi.

"Alright."

Qin Qi replied.

After leaving the center of the village and having a meal at the village chief's house, he headed out to the outskirts of the village alone.

Finding a secluded, empty spot, he began to examine his system. After some research, he had a rough grasp of its functions.

The Strongest Learning System, as the name suggested, was a system designed to assist his studies and turn him into a super scholar.

At this stage, Qin Qi had discovered three system abilities. The first was "Draw Private Teacher."

The first function was exactly as it sounded: drawing a private teacher to instruct him.

Each draw cost 100 achievement points, and to earn achievement points, one had to accomplish certain feats.

The second was "Private Teacher One-on-One Instruction." He could open a teaching space for free once a day to receive individual tutoring from a teacher.

Each session in the learning space lasted for one hour. Beyond that hour, it cost 10 study credits per hour.

Study credits could be earned through any activity related to learning.

The third was "Epiphany State." As the name implied, it was the state of enlightenment often found in fantasy novels.

In this state, learning efficiency increased rapidly, but each activation cost 100 study credits.

Each activation lasted for ten minutes, after which it cost 10 study credits per minute.

[Ding, first achievement completed: Learning Dan Shi. Reward: 100 study credits, one free teacher draw.]

[Would you like to perform the draw?]

"Yes."

Qin Qi chose yes without hesitation. Having nothing to his name, he needed to acquire some power to protect himself as soon as possible.