Just a Special Soul

"Brother Yan!"

Xu Xiaoyan ran out from behind a cluster of flowers and trees. Her pale blue twin tails fluttered behind her, and her large eyes sparkled. Her small face was flushed with joy.

She was wearing a pink dress today, with that ice-blue pendant hanging around her neck. She looked like a flower bud on the verge of blooming, delicate and adorable.

"Run slower, don't trip," Chu Yan said with a smile as he walked up to meet her.

Xu Xiaoyan ran up to Chu Yan, unceremoniously hugged his arm, tilted her small face up, and giggled, "Brother Yan, you really came! I thought you weren't coming today!"

"I said I would come, so I definitely would," Chu Yan reached out and pinched her little nose, his tone doting.

Xu Xiaoyan wrinkled her nose, refusing to let go of Chu Yan's arm, and said triumphantly, "I knew Brother Yan was the best!"

"Xiaoyan, stop messing around."

A gentle voice came from behind them.

Chu Yan looked up and saw a boy of twelve or thirteen walking over from not far away.

The boy had a slender build and handsome features. His short, pale blue hair was combed neatly, and he wore a white silk robe with a silver belt tied around his waist.

He was Xu Xiaoyan's older brother, Xu Xiaoyu.

He was twelve years old, six or seven years older than Chu Yan.

Xu Xiaoyu's martial soul was the "Ice Staff," inherited from the Xu Clan. With innate full soul power, he was the most outstanding genius the Xu Clan had seen in recent years.

He had already broken through to the Great Soul Master realm two years ago.

"Brother Xiaoyu," Chu Yan nodded at Xu Xiaoyu and smiled.

The two had grown up together and had an excellent relationship.

Although Xu Xiaoyu was the young master of the Xu Clan and appeared cold and aloof, that was only toward outsiders; he didn't project that coldness toward those he accepted.

He was especially protective of Chu Yan, his future brother-in-law.

"Brother Yan, how do you have time to come over today?" Xu Xiaoyu walked up close and looked Chu Yan up and down. Suddenly, his brows arched in surprise. "You... awakened?"

As a two-ring Great Soul Master, Xu Xiaoyu was somewhat sensitive to fluctuations in soul power.

He could vaguely sense a faint aura of soul power emanating from Chu Yan—a characteristic that only appeared after awakening a martial soul.

He truly hadn't known about Chu Yan's awakening. He had been out yesterday, and neither his father nor his little sister had told him. Unbelievable.

"Yes, I awakened last night," Chu Yan nodded.

"That's great!" A sincere smile appeared on Xu Xiaoyu's face. He patted Chu Yan on the shoulder and said, "I knew you wouldn't have any problems! By the way, what is your martial soul? What level is your soul power?"

Chu Yan thought for a moment. His father had told him to be reserved when outside, but Xu Xiaoyu wasn't an outsider; he could reveal a little.

"The martial soul is called the Yan Divine Weapon, and the level is... eleven," he said selectively.

"Eleven? You already have your first soul ring?" Xu Xiaoyu was slightly startled.

Breaking through to level eleven after absorbing a first soul ring wasn't rare, but it was rare for Chu Yan to have obtained a soul ring so quickly.

It had only been one night since his awakening.

"Yes, I went to the Spirit Pagoda to absorb it last night," Chu Yan replied, using the excuse he had prepared.

"Impressive!" Xu Xiaoyu gave a thumbs up, genuinely impressed.

He had also awakened with innate full soul power, but he had waited three more days to consolidate his cultivation and adjust his state before going to the Spirit Pagoda with the clan elders to obtain his first soul ring and break through to level eleven.

For Chu Yan to go to the Spirit Pagoda the very night of his awakening showed incredible efficiency. And with such efficiency, he must have obtained a very suitable soul spirit.

However, Xu Xiaoyu didn't overthink it. After all, Chu Yan's family background was significant. As a partner of the Spirit Pagoda in East Sea City, the Chu Clan could easily arrange a soul spirit acquisition with just a word.

"By the way, is your martial soul a staff-type? Do you want to spar?" Xu Xiaoyu suddenly became interested, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.

He was six or seven years older than Chu Yan and a two-ring Great Soul Master. Logically, sparring would be bullying, but he knew Chu Yan had been precocious since childhood and had physical fitness far beyond his peers. He had long wanted to test the strength of this future brother-in-law.

"Brother!" Xu Xiaoyan was unhappy. She pouted and said, "Brother Yan just awakened, and you're already bullying him!"

"How am I bullying him?" Xu Xiaoyu was caught between laughter and tears. He continued, "It's just a spar, we'll stop at the limit."

"That's still not allowed!" Xu Xiaoyan hugged Chu Yan's arm even tighter, as if protecting a treasure. "Brother Yan came to play with me today, not to fight with you!"

Chu Yan looked at Xu Xiaoyan's protective little expression and couldn't help but laugh.

He reached out and ruffled Xu Xiaoyan's hair, saying, "It's fine. Since Brother Xiaoyu wants to spar, let's have a go. I also want to test my own strength."

"Really?" Xu Xiaoyu's eyes lit up.

"Brother Yan!" Xu Xiaoyan was anxious. She stomped her foot and said, "You can't beat my brother, he's a Great Soul Master!"

"I have to try even if I can't beat him."

Chu Yan smiled and continued, "Besides, it's not shameful to lose to Brother Xiaoyu."

Xu Xiaoyan looked at her brother, then at Chu Yan, and finally let go. She pouted and said, "Then be gentle, no injuries allowed!"

"Don't worry, I know my limits," Xu Xiaoyu promised with a smile.

The three of them arrived at the Xu Clan's Martial Arts Arena.

It was a slightly smaller venue than the one at the Chu Clan, but the facilities were just as complete.

Xu Xiaoyu walked to the center of the Martial Arts Arena and turned to face Chu Yan.

"Brother Yan, are you ready?"

Chu Yan walked to the opposite side, took a deep breath, and nodded.

"Then let's begin."

As soon as Xu Xiaoyu finished speaking, he was the first to release his martial soul.

A crystalline, snow-white staff appeared in his hand. The staff was about a meter long, with a fist-sized blue gemstone embedded at the top, radiating a biting chill.

At the same time, two soul rings rose from beneath his feet.

Two yellow ones!

It was the standard configuration for a first and second soul ring of the century level, but the colors were deeper than ordinary soul rings, clearly indicating they were of a high age.

As a family with a ten-thousand-year legacy specializing in the Ice Staff, the Xu Clan possessed unique resources and channels for obtaining soul spirits. As the eldest son of the direct line, it was no surprise that Xu Xiaoyu was equipped with two high-quality century-level soul rings.

"Brother Yan, come on." Xu Xiaoyu gripped his Ice Staff, his posture composed.

Although he was six years older than Chu Yan and a two-ring Great Soul Master, he did not underestimate his future brother-in-law, who had shown astonishing precocity since childhood.

Chu Yan took a deep breath and stepped into the Martial Arts Arena.

He did not rush to release his martial soul, instead loosening his wrists and ankles to let his body enter a state of readiness.

He had spent the entire morning training at the Chu Clan, and although he had rested for a while at noon, the fatigue had not yet fully faded from his body.

But this was perfect; he wanted to test exactly what he could achieve while not in a perfect state.

"Go, Brother Yan!" Xu Xiaoyan stood at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, cupping her hands around her mouth like a megaphone, her little face flushed with excitement.

Chu Yan smiled at her, then turned his gaze back to Xu Xiaoyu.

"Brother Xiaoyu, I'm coming."

As the words left his lips, he released his martial soul.

Hum—

The dark golden Yan Divine Weapon appeared in his hand. Ancient and mysterious secret patterns flowed across the surface of the two-meter-long staff, and an archaic, overbearing aura instantly permeated the air.

Immediately following, a deep yellow soul ring rose from beneath his feet, hovering and rotating slowly around his body.

Xu Xiaoyu's pupils contracted sharply.

Deep yellow?!

His own first soul ring was five hundred years old. He had not yet been to the Spirit Ascension Platform, so his soul ring age had not been increased.

Yet Chu Yan's first soul ring was deep yellow, which meant it was at least seven hundred years old!

That was almost higher than the age of his own second soul ring!

Seven hundred years...

A six-year-old child, with a seven-hundred-year-old first soul ring?

How was this possible?