Ignoring the Soul Master's cold attitude beside him, Lin Tian stepped into the Martial Soul Awakening formation and stood in place. Soon, the Awakening Stone began to shimmer, its light enveloping him and gradually guiding him to awaken the Martial Soul within him.
On the high platform, Bibi Dong held the Pope Scepter. A rare trace of nervousness appeared on her pretty face, and her usually languid posture grew dignified.
Her rose-red eyes were fixed on Lin Tian in the awakening formation. She prayed silently that he would awaken a powerful Martial Soul.
Meanwhile, the representatives of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, the Elephant Armor Sect, and the other factions in the viewing stands watched Lin Tian with grave expressions.
Judging by the special attention Bibi Dong had shown Lin Tian earlier, the boy was very likely the child the Spirit Hall had chosen to make a name for itself this time!
Everyone was curious: what kind of Martial Soul would awaken in a child whom the Spirit Hall's Pope valued so highly?
The various factions were full of anticipation.
If a top-tier Martial Soul appeared, it would naturally be a perfect opportunity for Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong, to prove her judgment and abilities.
But if the boy awakened a Trash Martial Soul, not only would Spirit Hall lose face, but the authority of both its Pope and Grand Elder would suffer a heavy blow.
Some Soul Master factions that had been targeted by Spirit Hall began silently cursing Lin Tian, hoping he would awaken a Trash Martial Soul—and have zero Innate Soul Power, making him a complete waste.
They wanted to see Spirit Hall make a fool of itself in front of all the Soul Master factions!
Unlike the other stands, where people looked on with schadenfreude, Xue Qinghe watched Lin Tian tensely from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's stand. Like Bibi Dong, she prayed that the boy would awaken a powerful Martial Soul.
After all, the boy represented Spirit Hall now. She didn't want Spirit Hall—or her grandfather's reputation—to be disgraced across the Douluo Continent!
'Xue Qinghe' absolutely couldn't accept that.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's stand, Sword Douluo gave the scene a few lazy glances, then looked away and began pouring himself wine.
Ning Fengzhi, however, watched Lin Tian on the Awakening Platform with a grave expression. His face looked strange, as if he were mulling over some particular idea.
At the Star Luo Imperial Family's stand, Dai Weisi, the royal family's representative, had also become interested in Lin Tian.
His Martial Soul was the Evil Eye White Tiger, an exceptionally domineering Beast Martial Soul. Yet for some reason, he sensed that his Martial Soul seemed afraid of Lin Tian in the awakening formation—or, rather, afraid of the Martial Soul the child would awaken.
"Interesting. A Martial Soul that can make the Evil Eye White Tiger afraid is certainly worth looking forward to!"
Dai Weisi pulled the catgirl serving him into his arms, his expression growing expectant.
On the Martial Soul Awakening Platform, as golden light from the Awakening Stone poured into his body, Lin Tian felt a strange change come over him. It was as if something inside him were about to burst forth.
"Child, relax! Guide the power within you. Don't restrain it—release it."
The awakening Soul Master spoke in a detached voice, repeating the same instructions he always gave during the awakening process.
Following his words, Lin Tian began guiding the power within him, trying to release this unknown force.
As time slowly passed, strange spiderweb patterns appeared on Lin Tian's forehead. His rosy cheeks were gradually covered by an evil aura, and a layer of dark green light spread across his body. Then four pairs of sharp Spider Emperor legs grew from his back, slicing through the air as they moved.
The entire Martial Soul was encased in armor. A pair of scarlet compound eyes swept coldly over the surroundings. It was like a killing machine, ready to unleash carnage at any moment.
"Holy crap, the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor!"
Someone in the viewing stands shouted, drawing everyone's attention at once.
The appearance of the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor, an immensely murderous and evil Martial Soul on the Douluo Continent, caused an enormous commotion.
"The Soul-Eater Spider Emperor? Isn't that His Holiness the Pope's Martial Soul?!"
"Seriously? The Soul-Eater Spider Emperor is an extremely rare spider-type Martial Soul. It can attack head-on and control the battlefield. That's one hell of a Martial Soul!"
"His Martial Soul is exactly the same as His Holiness the Pope's. Could this kid be His Holiness the Pope's illegitimate son?!"
"Er Mazi, stop talking nonsense! If the Spirit Hall guards hear you, they'll chop off your balls!"
Seeing that the child she had placed such hopes on had awakened the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul, Bibi Dong was utterly stunned.
Her brows knit slightly, and a sharp glint flashed in her rose-red eyes. She stared at Lin Tian in disbelief. How could this boy have awakened the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor?
As far as Bibi Dong knew, ever since her family had been destroyed and her parents killed, she had been the only Soul Master in the world with the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul.
Now that Lin Tian had awakened the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul too, she became even more convinced that the Rakshasa God had secretly sent her this encouragement.
On Spirit Hall's stand, Bibi Dong wasn't the only one stunned. The elders inside Pope Palace were all dumbfounded too.
The child His Holiness the Pope had adopted had the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor as his Martial Soul? It was almost too unbelievable!
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's stand, Sword Douluo's half-closed eyes flew open. A thread of sword energy circled his finger, as if he were ready to strike at any moment. Even Ning Fengzhi, who always wore a smile, had let it slip away; he now stared intently at the child.
The other Soul Master factions' representatives also reacted in different ways: some were shocked, some dumbfounded, and others lost in thought. But without exception, they were all taken by surprise that Lin Tian had awakened the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul.
Yet it also gave them a different idea. Was Lin Tian really just a child Bibi Dong had adopted?
It wasn't only them who had this thought. Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, was just as perplexed.
On the Douluo Continent, Martial Souls were inherited through bloodlines. And right now, Bibi Dong was the only person on the entire continent with the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul.
Lin Tian had awakened the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor and was deeply favored by Bibi Dong. Who the hell would believe he was merely a child the Pope had adopted?!
Even Ghost Leopard and Spirit Kite Douluo, who had been the first to see Lin Tian arrive, were shocked.
What was going on?
The child who had fallen from the sky that night had the same Martial Soul as His Holiness the Pope. Could this be some kind of cruel trick the Pope had arranged?
It wasn't just the people around her who looked at her with suspicion. Even Bibi Dong was confused now. This made no sense!
How could Lin Tian have awakened the same Martial Soul as her?
Sensing the gazes around him shifting again and again—and especially the surprise on his adoptive mother's face—Lin Tian knew he had succeeded.
But this was only the beginning. The really exciting part was yet to come!
The Soul Master who had treated Lin Tian so poorly was utterly dumbstruck when he saw the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul awakened behind the boy.
The child had the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor Martial Soul. Could he be the Pope's illegitimate son?
At the thought, the awakening Soul Master's cold attitude instantly turned obsequious. He hurriedly took out a crystal ball for testing Innate Soul Power.
"Please place your hand on it, and I'll test your Innate Soul Power."
At that, Lin Tian placed his hand on the crystal ball and guided his Soul Power into it. The blank crystal ball was immediately filled with dark green light.
Everyone was watching Lin Tian's Innate Soul Power. Even Bibi Dong, who had seen more than most, grew tense at that moment.
Although she still couldn't believe the boy had awakened the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor, she hoped he would have a decent amount of Soul Power.
After all, even the best Martial Soul was useless without enough Innate Soul Power to drive it!
Fortunately, Lin Tian did well.
In just a moment, the crystal ball filled with dark green light, and its blazing glow made the awakening Soul Master beside it grow instantly excited.
"Lin Tian, Soul-Eater Spider Emperor, Innate Full Soul Power!"
The awakening Soul Master bellowed the words at the top of his lungs. His booming voice rang across Awakening Square, shocking countless spectators.
At the same time, when she heard that Lin Tian had Innate Full Soul Power, Bibi Dong's brows relaxed, and she let out a long breath.
Good boy. He hadn't let her down!
The promised special reward was about to be given!
But what should she give him?
Bibi Dong's pretty face flushed slightly as she began to agonize over it.
Before you continue