Martial Soul Awakening, Strength-Eating Immortal Gu!

Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

At the center of the academy, a group of people had gathered—around forty-five in total.

"Big brother, was there really any need to make this so grand? It's just a Martial Soul awakening. Couldn't we have done it at home?"

Qin Qi followed beside Qin Ming, looking at the teachers and children around them with a speechless expression.

"Any Soul Master present can conduct a Martial Soul awakening, but the academy's annual ceremony cannot be omitted."

"What matters isn't the Martial Soul awakening itself, but the ceremony of awakening."

Qin Ming spoke with a solemn expression.

"Yes, yes, formalism. I get it."

Qin Qi casually brushed him off, then sighed inwardly. No matter what world he was in, there was never any shortage of formalism.

That was right—Qin Qi was not from the Douluo Continent. He was a transmigrator from the modern world.

"Ahem. Today is the great day that comes once a year."

"It is the day of Martial Soul awakening. His Majesty the Emperor had originally intended to visit our academy in person."

"However, he is busy with state affairs, so we can only handle it on his behalf."

The three instructors of Heaven Dou Royal Academy stepped forward. From left to right, they were Bai Baoshan, Zhi Lin, and Meng Shenji.

All three instructors were Soul Douluo above Rank 80, though none of them were young anymore. Even their beards had begun to turn white.

Over the next while, the three instructors praised the emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire before personally helping the children awaken their Martial Souls.

"Nobles, nobles, those with connections, and teachers' children."

Watching those who stepped forward, Qin Qi could clearly identify their backgrounds. They were either nobles or the children of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's teachers.

"Qin Qi."

Meng Shenji called out.

"I'm here."

Qin Qi stepped forward and stopped before Meng Shenji. "Greetings, Instructor Meng Shenji."

"You child, your brother is my student. You can just call me Grandpa. There's no need to be so restrained."

Meng Shenji looked at Qin Qi with warmth in his eyes. He thought highly of Qin Ming—not only because of his talent, but also because of his character.

"But this is a formal occasion. If I addressed you too casually, it would be somewhat disrespectful."

"In private, of course I call you Grandpa Meng Shenji."

Qin Qi smiled and spoke softly.

"Good child."

Meng Shenji nodded at the sensible Qin Qi. "Alright, it's time to awaken your Martial Soul."

As Meng Shenji's soul power surged, the Martial Soul within Qin Qi's body began to emerge.

It was an insect resembling a green caterpillar, about the size of a fist, with a glimmering light in its eyes.

The little insect descended from the air. Qin Qi reached out to catch it, then cradled it in his palm.

The little insect affectionately rubbed against Qin Qi's hand.

"Why does this bug look so familiar?"

Qin Qi looked at the insect, feeling that he had seen it somewhere before, but he could not recall where.

"Th-this is a detached beast Martial Soul!"

Meng Shenji's eyes widened. He had once studied the Master's theories and had also researched detached beast Martial Souls.

However, due to the lack of information, they still had no clear understanding of detached beast Martial Souls even now.

"A mutated beast Martial Soul, huh?"

Qin Ming watched from the side, pushing up his glasses. He was not particularly surprised by the result.

Although Martial Soul awakenings did not have predetermined outcomes, bloodlines had a great influence on Martial Souls.

His own Martial Soul was the mutated Blazing Gray Wolf. As his younger brother, there was a high chance that Qin Qi would awaken a mutated beast Martial Soul as well.

"Come, little Qin Qi. Test your soul power."

Meng Shenji looked at Qin Qi with some concern in his eyes. The previous example of a mutated beast Martial Soul had possessed only half a rank of innate soul power.

Even now, that person was still a laughingstock in the Soul Master world. He was worried about Qin Qi's situation.

"Alright."

Qin Qi was about to extend his hand when the little insect crawled onto his shoulder.

"It's pretty smart."

Qin Qi smiled, then placed his hand on the crystal ball, feeling somewhat worried about his own result as well.

As light radiated from it, Qin Qi's soul power was measured.

"Innate full soul power!"

Meng Shenji's eyes widened, but after glancing at Qin Ming, his emotions gradually calmed.

Whew, although the first detached beast martial soul only had half a rank of soul power, that doesn't mean all detached beast martial souls have low soul power.

"Qin Ming himself is a genius. As his younger brother, carrying the same bloodline, it's perfectly normal for him to possess innate full soul power."

"And this also proves that little Qin Qi's martial soul is anything but ordinary."

Not only was Meng Shenji immensely powerful, but he also possessed profound knowledge of martial souls.

In the theoretical world of soul masters, he was a true, undisputed master—not like a clown such as Yu Xiaogang.

"Good child, your martial soul is very unusual. Study it well and train it properly."

Meng Shenji patted Qin Qi on the shoulder, his gaze growing even more benevolent as he turned toward Qin Ming.

"Qin Ming, in a couple of days, take little Qin Qi out to hunt soul beasts. I'll grant you leave."

Meng Shenji spoke.

"Thank you, Instructor."

Qin Ming stepped forward and thanked him with complete sincerity.

"Alright, next."

Meng Shenji smiled. He believed that Qin Ming would surely succeed him in the future and become an instructor of the next generation.

Whether in talent, strength, or character, Qin Ming suited Meng Shenji's wishes perfectly.

The martial soul awakening was complete, and Qin Qi went with Qin Ming to eat at the academy cafeteria.

The Heaven Dou Royal Academy cafeteria was entirely free, with anything one could want to eat. Qin Ming piled plenty of food onto Qin Qi's plate.

"Big Brother, I can't eat this much."

Looking at the mountain of food on his plate, Qin Qi could feel Qin Ming's concern for him.

"Eat more. Train more as well. Improving your physical condition will benefit your future cultivation."

"Also, we'll have to wait a few more days before obtaining your soul ring. I need to first observe the condition of your martial soul."

"Then I can determine what kind of soul beast suits your martial soul."

Qin Ming adjusted his glasses, still wearing that stern expression, but his chopsticks continued placing food onto Qin Qi's plate.

"Alright."

Qin Qi nodded with a smile. At that moment, the little bug crawled from his shoulder onto the table.

It raised its upper body and swayed back and forth, as though it were trying to say something.

"Do you want some? Want some meat?"

"I'll give you a little piece of pork chop."

Qin Qi picked up a piece of pork chop and waved it in front of the little bug. The little bug's body swayed along with it.

"Pretty cute."

Qin Qi found the little fellow rather adorable. After teasing it for a while, he fed it the meat.

The little bug ate very quickly and finished it in no time. Once it was done, it crawled back onto Qin Qi's shoulder and curled up.

The next second, Qin Qi felt a warm current flow into his body, and he felt himself brimming with strength.

This little fellow did it. It can feed energy back to me by eating... This ability, along with its appearance...

Could this be the Strength-Eating Immortal Gu from the Gu world?

Qin Qi remembered where he had seen it before—it had been in an AI-generated image from a novel he read before bed!

He remembered that this Gu insect's ability was to grow stronger simply by eating!

I searched everywhere but couldn't find a description of the Strength-Eating Immortal Gu's appearance. I had no choice but to design it as a chubby, adorable green caterpillar.

The image is the manga version of Qin Ming.