Xu Yue, Martial Soul Awakening

Sun Moon Federation.

Eastsea City, Blacksmith Association.

Within the private area reserved exclusively for Mu Chen, the association president.

A blonde girl carefully opened a door and slipped inside.

Looking at the boy sleeping soundly on the bed, she leaned closer with a mischievous grin.

"Little sleepyhead, time to get up!"

But before she could tease him—

The boy suddenly opened his eyes, alarm and reluctance in his gaze, and abruptly half-sat up from the bed.

"Don't..."

Bang!

"Ow!" The girl cried out in pain and fell onto the bed!

"Hiss!" The boy likewise clutched his forehead, sucked in a sharp breath, and lay back down.

For a moment, the room was filled with groans and sharp intakes of breath.

"A-Yue, why did you wake up?!" Rubbing her slightly reddened forehead, the girl complained coquettishly, "You should've told me in advance."

"Big Sister Mu Xi, why did you sneak into my room again?"

Xu Yue's forehead hurt as well, but her words left him somewhat speechless. "Besides, I was asleep. How was I supposed to warn you beforehand?"

"Hehe!"

Mu Xi lowered her fair little hand from her forehead and scratched her blonde hair, trying to muddle through the matter.

Besides, as a two-ringed Great Soul Master and a first-rank blacksmith, her physical condition was naturally better than Xu Yue's.

The one who should have been in greater pain ought to have been him.

At that thought, Mu Xi's heart skipped a beat.

She hurriedly wanted to ask whether Xu Yue was hurt anywhere, but when she looked up, she caught the trace of gloom that had only just faded from his eyes. Her tone softened.

"A-Yue, were you thinking about Uncle and Auntie again? Didn't the Blood God Legion say they were only missing? Maybe..."

Hearing Mu Xi's cautious consolation, Xu Yue gave a bright laugh and comforted her instead. "Don't worry, Big Sister Mu Xi. I'm fine. I just dreamed about them, that's all."

"As for my parents, I know what happened in my heart. You don't need to comfort me like this."

He was a child, but not truly a child.

He knew better than anyone what sort of place the Blood God Legion was.

As the foremost line of defense against the Abyss, going missing was no different from dying.

What was more, according to the person who had delivered the news, mech and battle armor wreckage had been found at the scene. That only further confirmed his suspicions.

The so-called disappearance was nothing more than a comforting lie.

Seeing Xu Yue like this, Mu Xi relaxed slightly.

But soon, she puffed out her fair cheeks in dissatisfaction and reached out with both hands to pinch his cheeks.

"I don't like it when you act like such a little grown-up. You're much cuter when you're your usual self."

"Get up already. Today is the day your martial soul awakens."

Xu Yue's eyes immediately lit up at those words.

He had been waiting for this day for a very long time.

Although this era's story centered around the two Dragon Kings, his own bloodline was no weaker.

His surname was Xu—the Xu of the Sun Moon Xu family.

He was not from the branch of Xu Yunhan, who had usurped the throne, but from the legitimate imperial family.

Though he was not from the main line, his father's martial soul was the Sun martial soul, the standard martial soul of the Xu family.

If nothing unexpected happened, his would be the same.

And even if he did not awaken the Sun martial soul, it would not matter.

The Xu bloodline also carried the inheritances of the Silver Moon and the Purple Radiance Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon, both of which were equally top-tier martial souls.

However, just as he was about to get out of bed, his gaze fell on the blonde girl beside him again, and his face darkened.

"Big Sister Mu Xi, I'm getting up."

Mu Xi blinked her golden eyes, nodded as though it were only natural, and replied brightly, "I know."

Xu Yue took a deep breath. Looking at her utterly oblivious expression, he felt rather helpless.

Although he had lived with the Mu family since he was three and had grown up alongside Mu Xi, things were different now.

"Then, Big Sister Mu Xi, shouldn't you step outside for a moment?"

"Hmph! You get less cute the older you get." Mu Xi pouted and shot Xu Yue a glance. "It's not like there's anywhere on you I haven't seen before."

But she still listened to Xu Yue. She walked outside and gently pulled the door shut behind her.

Watching Mu Xi's retreating back, Xu Yue looked rather helpless.

After quickly changing clothes, he opened the door and found that Mu Xi had not left. She had been waiting right outside.

"Big Sis Mu Xi, let's go. Don't keep Uncle Mu and Aunt Bao waiting too long."

Mu Xi turned around. Seeing Xu Yue dressed and ready, her beautiful eyes lit up.

His shoulder-length black hair made him look lively and handsome. Unlike his father's dazzling golden-red eyes, his were a clear amber.

Though he was only six years old, it was already apparent just how outstanding his parents' genes were.

But they really had delayed things somewhat.

Without another word, Mu Xi grabbed Xu Yue's hand and jogged toward the dining room.

"Big Sis Mu Xi, slow down. Don't use soul power."

Xu Yue looked helpless as she dragged him along, as though he were being pulled by a stubborn ox.

Before long, beside the dining table.

Yuan Bao'er watched Mu Xi and Xu Yue come running over. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, her face full of helplessness.

"Xiao Xi, you're bullying your little brother again."

"When did I?" Mu Xi protested sweetly, nudging Xu Yue. "A-Yue, tell my mom. Did I bully you?"

Xu Yue rolled his eyes at her. "Aunt Bao, Big Sis Mu Xi treats me really well."

"That's more like it." Mu Xi smiled and pulled Xu Yue down into a seat.

Mu Chen, who had been watching their interaction, smiled.

"Alright, stop fooling around. Sit down and eat."

"Got it, Dad!" "Got it, Uncle Mu!"

The two immediately answered and sat quietly.

Since Xu Yue was going to undergo his martial soul awakening today, breakfast went a little faster than usual.

In the living room.

Xu Yue looked at Mu Chen and asked curiously, "Uncle Mu, are we going to the awakening room?"

But as soon as he finished speaking, Mu Xi lightly flicked him on the forehead. "A-Yue, are you stupid?"

"Why would our family need to go somewhere public to awaken martial souls?"

Only then did Xu Yue realize.

His memories had made him fall into habitual thinking.

Mu Chen was an eight-star Saint Craftsman and the president of the Eastsea City Blacksmith Association. Even on the Douluo Continent, he counted as a top-tier powerhouse.

How could a family like this possibly need to use a public awakening room for a martial soul awakening?

Mu Chen and Yuan Bao'er watched Mu Xi and Xu Yue fool around, smiles on their faces.

They had been close friends with Xu Yue's parents for many years. Otherwise, his parents would not have left Xu Yue in their care when they went to the Blood God Legion.

They were more than happy to see the two children growing close.

At that moment, Mu Chen placed the awakening formation he had prepared long ago in the middle of the living room and called to Xu Yue.

"Xiao Yue, come over. It's time to awaken!"

Hearing this, Xu Yue stopped fooling around with Mu Xi and walked onto the awakening formation inscribed with rare metals.

He stood quietly, his gaze filled with anticipation.

Meeting Xu Yue's eyes, Mu Chen reached into the air and tapped lightly. Soul power immediately spread out, activating the awakening formation.

In an instant, the formation lines lit up with white radiance, gradually extending from the outside inward until they reached beneath Xu Yue's feet.

Xu Yue felt a warm current surge from beneath his feet and flow through his entire body. An inexplicable power awakened within him, and his right hand rose unconsciously.

A blazing golden-red fireball slowly appeared.

"This is... the sun!"

At the sight of Xu Yue's martial soul, smiles appeared on the faces of the three members of the Mu family. A Sun martial soul—just as expected.

But at that moment, Mu Chen, the strongest person present, suddenly sensed something unusual. His expression changed slightly as he cried out:

"Something's wrong! This is bad!!!"

The moment his words fell, the entire Blacksmith Association building began to tremble eerily.