Twin Awakening, Rekindled Wisdom

The atmosphere in the Awakening Hall instantly grew tense.

On the enormous hexagonal awakening platform, runes flowed as the light refracted by soul-conduit gemstones rippled like water, bathing the entire space in a kaleidoscopic glow.

At the center of the platform, the awakening stone serving as the core emitted gentle yet impossible-to-ignore energy fluctuations, pulsing like a heart.

The awakenings of several descendants from Spirit Pagoda upper management had already drawn murmurs and praise.

"Blazing Sun Flying Lion, a top-tier fire-attribute martial soul! Soul Power Rank Eight!"

"Black Tortoise of Profound Darkness, a top-tier defensive martial soul! Innate Soul Power Rank Nine!"

"Wind-Thunder Sky Roc, a top-tier dual wind-and-lightning martial soul! Innate Full Soul Power!"

Every awakened martial soul was exceptional. In any city, they would have been prodigies capable of causing a sensation. This also proved the profound foundation of the Spirit Pagoda. After countless generations of optimization and selection, the bloodlines of its upper-ranking families had long since locked in superior genes.

In comparison, even counting Xiao Cheng, the Xiao Family had only risen over three generations. From Xiao Zhan's high-tier Azure Shadow Snake martial soul to Xiao Ran's top-tier Azure Sky Snake Emperor martial soul was already an astonishing leap.

Had Xiao Ran not been powerful enough to shoulder the family's glory alone, the Xiao Family would ultimately still have fallen somewhat short before these ancient lineages based on bloodline heritage alone.

But so what? A faint smile rested on Xiao Ran's lips as he sat steadily beneath the stage. Martial souls were important, but the person controlling them was even more important. He himself was the best proof of those words.

"Next, Leng Yulai." The high-ranking deacon hosting the awakening spoke in a booming voice that echoed through the hall.

Everyone's attention instantly focused.

The little girl with wine-red hair seated beside Leng Zhaoran took a quiet breath, then rose under the encouraging gaze of her elder sister, Leng Yaozhu.

Her little hands clenched slightly. She was nervous, but filled with anticipation. She still vividly remembered the pressure unleashed when her sister had awakened the Heavenly Phoenix martial soul last year. She wanted to awaken a powerful Heavenly Phoenix martial soul just like her sister's!

Leng Yulai walked toward the awakening platform on her short legs, one step at a time. Her movements were somewhat stiff, but her eyes were exceptionally resolute.

"Go on, Yu Lai. Don't be nervous." Leng Zhaoran's gentle voice carried over, filled with a father's unique doting affection and trust.

"Mm!" Leng Yulai nodded vigorously and stepped onto the awakening platform.

Her little hand gently pressed against the awakening stone, where light flowed continuously.

Buzz—!

The awakening stone suddenly trembled. In the next instant, a cold and secluded aura erupted from Leng Yulai's body! It formed an immense contrast with her tiny frame, carrying an air of darkness and extinction.

The originally gentle radiance was instantly dyed a deep, inky black, like spilled ink swallowing Leng Yulai's small figure whole.

"This is..." Xiao Ran's pupils contracted slightly beneath the stage. He clearly sensed an incomparably pure dark energy. It was not evil, but a pure darkness attribute!

The light gradually faded.

What appeared before everyone was no longer that shy little girl, but the phantom of a gigantic bird floating in midair, its body wreathed in deep netherfire!

Its entire body was black as ink, its feathers seemingly condensed from the purest darkness. The edges of every plume gleamed with a dangerous dark-golden luster.

Its eyes were two crimson points, cold and merciless. When its wings spread, they brought no wind pressure. Instead, the surrounding light itself seemed to be devoured, casting an enormous shadow.

"No, it isn't an ordinary phoenix!" A Spirit Pagoda councilor accompanying his family's descendant abruptly stood up, his voice full of delight. "This is... a Dark Phoenix!"

The entire hall erupted!

Heavenly Phoenix Douluo Leng Zhaoran was renowned throughout the world for his fire-attribute Heavenly Phoenix martial soul. Yet no one had expected his younger daughter to awaken a Dark Phoenix, a martial soul even rarer than the Heavenly Phoenix and with slightly greater potential!

The darkness attribute was already harder to control and more bizarre than a simple fire attribute. According to the records, the Dark Phoenix was a terrifying existence capable of contending with top-tier divine beasts such as true dragons!

The smile on Leng Zhaoran's face instantly widened. He slapped his thigh and burst into hearty laughter. "Good! Good! Good! A Dark Phoenix! Hahaha, as expected of my, Leng Zhaoran's, daughter!"

He was not worried in the slightest about the claim that "darkness attributes easily lead one to become an evil soul master." What a joke. He was the Spirit Pagoda's vice pagoda master, a Rank 99 Limit Douluo. How could his daughter possibly fall into evil ways? Those so-called righteous figures of the Federation who wanted to "prevent trouble before it happened" would have to weigh the consequences first. As for rumors and gossip? The Leng Family held immense power and status. Who would dare act presumptuously before him?

Leng Yaozhu also widened her beautiful eyes. Looking at her younger sister surrounded by the Dark Phoenix phantom, a complicated emotion flashed through her gaze, but it was quickly replaced by joy. She was happy for her sister, truly and sincerely happy.

Immersed in the joy of awakening her Dark Phoenix martial soul, Leng Yulai felt the surging dark energy within her, brimming with power. A proud smile also appeared on her little face.

Her earlier nervousness had long vanished, replaced by boundless confidence. See? I told you I'd awaken an amazing martial soul!

The deacon swiftly completed the Soul Power test, his voice slightly distorted with excitement. "Leng Yulai, martial soul: Dark Phoenix! Innate Full Soul Power!"

Another Innate Full Soul Power!

The atmosphere in the entire Awakening Hall was pushed to its first climax. Everyone looked at Leng Zhaoran with envy and awe in their eyes. Having one daughter with a Heavenly Phoenix was already astonishing. Now he had another with a Dark Phoenix. The Leng Family's future was limitless!

Amid thunderous applause, Leng Yulai walked down from the stage like a proud little peacock, head held high, before throwing herself into her father's arms.

"Dad, am I amazing?"

"Amazing! My Yu Lai is the most amazing!" Leng Zhaoran held his daughter, grinning from ear to ear.

After that brief interlude, the awakening ceremony continued. More descendants completed their awakenings one after another, and their martial souls were still impressive. However, compared to the shock brought by the Dark Phoenix, they could no longer stir much excitement.

Finally, the hosting deacon's voice rang out again, carrying a trace of barely perceptible solemnity.

"Next, Xiao Cheng!"

In an instant, every gaze converged again. The only son of Azure Douluo Xiao Ran, one of the Four Great Spirit Envoys—what martial soul would he possess? Could he amaze the entire audience as Leng Yulai had?

Xiao Cheng took a deep breath and stepped away from his parents. He could feel those gazes: anticipation, scrutiny, and a hint of unnoticeable comparison. He straightened his small back, doing his best to make his steps appear steady and confident.

He walked onto the awakening platform and exchanged a glance with his parents below. Xiao Ran gave him a resolute look, while Mu Wan smiled gently, silently conveying strength.

Xiao Cheng turned around and faced the enormous awakening stone.

He extended his right hand and gently pressed it against the cool stone surface.

Buzz!

He only felt a pulling force. A gentle yet immense energy surged from every part of his body and converged. Xiao Cheng felt his body grow slightly warm, and then an illusory azure snake shadow began to coil into view along his arm.

The snake was entirely jade-green, with dense scales, lightning-like eyes, and a vigorous body. Wind elements faintly coiled around it, while specks of indescribable silver light belonging to spatial fluctuations flickered around it. It was precisely the Azure Sky Snake martial soul that had made Xiao Ran famous throughout the world! Though it was still somewhat immature, its potential had already become undeniable!

"Azure Sky Snake! It's the Azure Sky Snake martial soul!" someone beneath the stage cried out. As expected, a tiger father did not sire a dog son. Xiao Ran's powerful Azure Sky Snake martial soul had been inherited!

The smile on Xiao Ran's face deepened, while Mu Wan also let out a breath of relief, her eyes full of gratification. The Azure Sky Snake was a top-tier martial soul. With Xiao Ran's guidance, Xiao Cheng's future would already be smooth sailing.

However, just as Xiao Cheng was about to withdraw his hand—

Boom!

It was as if some gate within his body had suddenly been flung open! Another completely different torrent, scorching and domineering, violently erupted from every limb and bone! This power was utterly unlike the Azure Sky Snake's agility and spatial attribute. It was purer, closer to the origin of life itself!

Xiao Cheng let out a muffled groan. The Azure Sky Snake phantom on his arm abruptly became solid, while countless pale-golden specks of light began appearing around his body.

These points of light did not come from the outside world. They emerged from within him, shrouding his entire body in a sacred and dignified golden radiance!

"This?!" Xiao Ran abruptly rose to his feet beneath the stage. The usually composed man now had shock and disbelief written all over his face. He sensed two entirely different martial soul fluctuations erupting from his son at the same time!

The deacon on the awakening platform widened his eyes even further and spoke in a deeply astonished tone. "This is... Twin Martial Souls?! The Azure Sky Snake... and... this is..."

Golden light flowed and condensed into a humanoid form. It was not the shape of any particular beast martial soul, but a more mysterious and fundamental existence—it was Xiao Cheng's own projection, his complete and powerful body!

"A Body Martial Soul! It's a Body Martial Soul!" The deacon's tone was filled with excitement. He had worked in this profession for decades. Twin Martial Souls were already rare enough, yet one of them was actually the legendary Body Martial Soul!

At the very moment when the two martial souls awakened to such astonishment, Xiao Cheng's mind exploded into chaos!

It was not the noise of the outside world, but a tsunami rising from the depths of his soul!

Countless fragmented images, unfamiliar memories, and voices both familiar and distant flooded madly into his consciousness like a burst dam!

He saw a blue planet, skyscrapers, and ceaseless traffic. He had been nothing but an ordinary office drone struggling to make a living, working nine to five, staying up late for overtime, his life as bland as boiled water. Then came the shriek of brakes, blinding headlights, and, in order to push away the little girl who had rushed into the road, he chose to... elbow a speeding truck? Then there was only darkness.

When he opened his eyes again, he was already in another world, where martial arts reigned supreme and the strong could move mountains, drain seas, sever rivers, and redirect currents. Carrying the memories of his past life, he had become Xiao Cheng in his second life. With the soul advantage of having lived twice, he was indeed considered a genius. His comprehension was outstanding, and he trained diligently. He had believed he could stir the winds and clouds, become a grandmaster, and look down upon all heroes.

But reality dealt him a heavy blow. He encountered true prodigies, monstrous figures whose comprehension, perseverance, and opportunities were all peerless. He struggled to catch up, yet the gap only kept widening. Only then did he understand that there was a reason an office drone was an office drone. The chasm of talent was not something two lifetimes of experience and effort could easily cross.

Relying on the imaginative ideas and broad horizons accumulated during the information explosion of his previous life, he had done reasonably well in that martial world. He established a considerable foundation and became a first-rate martial artist in the jianghu at the age of twenty.

Until one day, he fortuitously obtained a supreme cultivation technique called the Dragon Transformation Sutra, said to allow one to transform into a dragon and ascend to the heavens upon mastering it. At that moment, he thought destiny was on his side, and his ambitions swelled.

He succeeded. His cultivation surged forward, and he leaped into the ranks of the top experts of the martial world, shaking an entire region with his reputation. But that was all. That martial world was ultimately still lacking in depth. Martial arts could prolong life, but they could not grant immortality.

He exhausted his entire life. In the end, he still died of old age after his lifespan ran out. There was no earth-shattering final battle, no legendary ascension. He simply reached the end of his life peacefully on a sickbed.

Two lives as a human: one as an unremarkable office drone, one as a glorious martial artist who still could not escape the cycle of life and death. Every memory, every emotion, every regret and unwillingness completely revived at this moment with the awakening of his Twin Martial Souls!

Xiao Cheng—no, Xiao Cheng whose three lifetimes of souls had now fused—trembled violently atop the awakening platform. A faint purple-gold mark suddenly appeared on his forehead like a third eye, flashing with mysterious and ancient brilliance. Yet the mark disappeared in an instant. Xiao Cheng did not notice it, but Xiao Ran, who had been watching his son's every movement, saw it. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes, though he did not think much of it.

The intertwined memories of his past and present lives left Xiao Cheng dazed for several full seconds.

It was only when the awakening master's excited cry rose from below the stage that it struck like thunder, violently dragging him back from the torrent of memories into reality!

"Twin Martial Souls! Azure Sky Snake and Body Martial Soul! Innate Full Soul Power!!"

The Azure Sky Snake combined with a Body Martial Soul! Such talent was truly peerless! Even in the history of the entire Douluo Federation, he would stand among the very best!

The entire Awakening Hall fell silent for a moment before erupting into discussion ten times more heated than when Leng Yulai had awakened!

"Twin Martial Souls! Xiao Spirit Envoy's son actually has Twin Martial Souls!"

"An Azure Sky Snake plus a Body Martial Soul... This... this aptitude is incredibly formidable. Becoming a Limit Douluo in the future likely won't be difficult!"

"Another seedling for a Limit Douluo! Vice Pagoda Master Leng's younger daughter has a Dark Phoenix, while Xiao Spirit Envoy's son has Twin Martial Souls and a Body Martial Soul! This generation of juniors seems even stronger than the second son of the Qiangu Pagoda Master and Vice Pagoda Master Leng's eldest daughter from the previous generation. Our Spirit Pagoda's future is truly flourishing!"

Every gaze focused on the little boy atop the stage, filled with amazement and envy.

Below the stage, Xiao Ran and Mu Wan exchanged a glance. Both saw the uncontrollable ecstasy and excitement in the other's eyes.

Xiao Ran's tightly clenched fists trembled slightly. He had roamed the world for an entire lifetime, yet he had never felt so stirred as he did now. Inheriting the Azure Sky Snake martial soul was within his expectations, but Twin Martial Souls—and the other one was a Body Martial Soul!

This was an unexpected delight, the greatest possible delight! It meant that his son's future achievements were extremely likely to surpass his own!

Mu Wan's eyes had turned slightly red. She stepped forward and tightly clasped her husband's hand. As a Titled Douluo born from the Body Sect, she understood better than anyone what the words "Body Martial Soul" represented. They represented the ultimate excavation of one's own potential, limitless possibilities! Her son had inherited her most precious talent!

Leng Zhaoran also burst into laughter and forcefully patted Xiao Ran on the shoulder. "Good! Very good! Xiao Ran, your son is extraordinary! Twin Martial Souls! Hahaha, it seems the next generation of our Spirit Pagoda is becoming stronger and stronger!"

Leng Yaozhu looked at Xiao Cheng on the stage. For the first time, the reserved expression on her little face disappeared, replaced by genuine surprise and gravity. Leng Yulai blinked her large eyes, full of curiosity and a hint of competitive spirit.

On the awakening platform, Xiao Cheng finally managed to settle down after that massive flood of information. He felt the two entirely different yet faintly compatible immense powers within him—on one side, the agile Azure Sky Snake that moved like wind and traversed space; on the other, the Body Martial Soul containing limitless potential.

And the memories of his first two lives in his mind.

He knew that his life had completely changed from this moment onward. Although Douluo Continent was known as "the floor tile of fantasy worlds," it genuinely possessed gods with true immortality.

He had no confidence in competing with those absurd beings from the martial world who fought and fought, then said nothing of victory or defeat, only that they had attained enlightenment. But competing with people from Douluo? How could he lack confidence in that? His confidence was overflowing.

He raised his head and looked toward his excited parents below the stage, toward those familiar and unfamiliar faces, toward this vast and wonderful new world.