Rebirth and Darkness, Stealing Tang San's Destiny

"Tang San, I'm going to kill you!"

In an instant, old and new grudges surged into his heart. Ao Yin wished he could rush over and tear Tang San to pieces, but the moment he rose, a stabbing pain shot through his forehead, making him wince.

"Ah—"

Even after getting to his feet, he swayed unsteadily and nearly fell again.

This made Ao Yin realize something: this body was far too weak. He was absolutely no match for Tang San. Though the latter looked like a child, his background was formidable. Not only did he possess the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record and the Tang Sect's peerless arts, but his father, Tang Hao, was a titled Douluo who could smash even the Spirit Hall's Pope to death with a single hammer—Clear Sky Douluo!

On Douluo Continent, strength reigned supreme!

Strength! Before he possessed absolute strength, rashly seeking revenge against Tang San would be no different from courting death!

After standing there in a daze for a moment, Village Chief Jack had already sent Tang San away.

Hearing movement from inside, the village chief noticed that Ao Yin had awakened. Delighted and startled, he hurried into the room to check on him.

"Little Ao, isn't it just a bamboo dragonfly? This village chief will give you a bigger one!"

As he spoke, Village Chief Jack took out a homemade bamboo dragonfly from behind his back and stuffed it into Ao Yin's arms.

"Little Ao, get a good rest tonight. Come gather in the center of the village early tomorrow morning. If you can awaken your martial soul, no one will bully you anymore!"

"Alright, thank you, Village Chief!"

Seeing Village Chief Jack's kindly face, warmth rose in Ao Yin's heart. The previous owner of this body had been an orphan in Holy Soul Village. If not for Village Chief Jack's considerate care over the years, he would have died young long ago!

After comforting Ao Yin, Village Chief Jack left.

But Ao Yin let out a sigh. How could awakening a martial soul be so easy for ordinary people like them?

[Ding! The Sign-In System has been reactivated. Sign in to intercept the destiny aura of the Chosen One. Sign-in location refreshed—Douluo Continent, Holy Soul Village.]

[Today's sign-in attempts have refreshed!]

[Would you like to sign in?]

The sudden notification filled Ao Yin with delight!

This Sign-In System had not unbound itself because of his sudden death. Instead, it had followed him to Douluo Continent!

What was more, he could intercept Tang San's destiny aura through signing in?

That made sense. It had only just bound itself to a new host when Tang San killed him. Fortunately, the system had long since chosen permanent binding—it could not unbind even in death. Now, the system clearly could not stand Tang San either. It directly stated that signing in would allow him to intercept Tang San's destiny aura, which was also a form of revenge!

Ao Yin smiled faintly. With the system's help, along with his intimate familiarity with Tang San's growth trajectory—

This so-called Chosen One was, in the end, nothing more than a fledgling swallow that had yet to weather any storms.

"Tang San, in this life, you will be in the light while I remain in the shadows. I will take everything that originally belonged to you, then toy with you in the palm of my hand. Wouldn't that be delightful?"

With that, Ao Yin immediately said in his mind.

"Sign in!"

[Ding! Sign-in successful at Holy Soul Village. Obtained a Level 1 reward—Coiling Dragon Staff martial soul (pending awakening).]

"A Level 1 reward? Coiling Dragon Staff?"

Ao Yin raised an eyebrow slightly. From what he remembered, staff-type martial souls were extremely common tool martial souls among commoners and were very likely to lack innate soul power!

Ao Yin had just arrogantly declared that he would trample the Chosen One, Tang San, beneath his feet, yet this Coiling Dragon Staff had dealt him a harsh blow!

He felt somewhat depressed. After all, without innate soul power, it was no different from a useless martial soul, and in Douluo Continent's cultivation system, martial souls were the foundation!

However, Ao Yin was not overly discouraged. Nothing had been decided yet. If tomorrow's martial soul awakening ceremony detected even a trace of innate soul power, he was confident that he could rely on the Sign-In System to gradually cultivate and grow stronger.

The next day.

Holy Soul Village, Spirit Hall Branch.

Following Village Chief Jack's instructions, Ao Yin and six other children gathered here. Tang San arrived late.

Ao Yin's gaze landed on Tang San, and a trace of killing intent flashed through his eyes before quickly being concealed.

After all, a small intolerance would ruin great plans. There would be plenty of opportunities later.

Tang San seemed to sense something and looked in Ao Yin's direction, momentarily stunned.

Just yesterday, he had circulated the Mysterious Jade Hand and used the Tang Sect's hidden weapon techniques to test their power. Yet his opponent could still stand here today.

Tang San thought to himself, As expected, the power of the first level of the Mysterious Heaven Skill is still too weak. Even a six-year-old child can withstand it? I hope I can find a way to grow stronger here!

Tang San noticed that Ao Yin's gaze toward him was somewhat unfriendly, but his expression remained calm, without the slightest trace of guilt, as though yesterday's incident had never happened.

At that moment, a young man dressed in fitted snow-white attire approached from behind, carrying a hint of arrogance and weariness.

Village Chief Jack immediately stepped forward to greet him respectfully. "Respected Battle Soul Master..."

"Let's begin quickly. I've already made wasted trips to six villages. I hope this place can offer at least a little surprise!"

The young man walked before the children lined up in a row and directly opened the doors of the Spirit Hall Branch established in Holy Soul Village.

"Su Yuntao?"

Ao Yin recognized him at once. He was Su Yuntao, a Spirit Hall deacon who specialized in awakening martial souls for commoner children in remote villages.

"My name is Su Yuntao. I'll be your guide. Once we're inside, I'll awaken your martial souls one by one!"

He then led the eight children into the hall, where a hexagram stone formation had been laid out on the floor.

"Lone Wolf! Possess!"

Boom!

A phantom of a vicious wolf emerged. Su Yuntao's jet-black hair turned silver-gray, faint wolf fur sprouted from his palms, and his pupils gleamed with an eerie green light that chilled the soul.

Ao Yin was not afraid, but several of the more timid children burst into tears at the sight. Tang San, meanwhile, had a sharp gleam in his eyes, as though he was looking forward to it.

Su Yuntao directly used his soul power to activate the stone formation and said softly:

"The martial soul awakening ceremony begins!"

The children stood in a line, with Ao Yin and Tang San at the very end. Su Yuntao held a crystal ball and guided the children into the hexagram stone formation one after another before examining their palms.

"Sickle martial soul. No soul power. Useless martial soul!"

"Blue Silver Grass. A standard useless martial soul. Next!"

"Hoe martial soul. No soul power. Useless martial soul!"

Six in a row had useless martial souls without any soul power, making even Ao Yin somewhat nervous. Innate soul power truly was not so easily born!

At last, only Tang San and Ao Yin remained.

"Let's not waste any more time. You two, enter the stone formation together and awaken your martial souls!"

Su Yuntao, standing nearby, was deeply disappointed. Clearly, he held no expectations for the final two and only wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

"They can be awakened together?"

Ao Yin was plainly surprised, but he did as instructed. The hexagram stone formation was cramped, however, and standing beside Tang San made him feel both disgusted and unlucky.

Yet the instant Ao Yin and Tang San stepped into the awakening formation together and Su Yuntao activated it, a notification sounded.

[ Ding! A massive surge of destiny fortune has been detected. The check-in location has refreshed: Holy Soul Village Spirit Hall Branch.]

[Remaining check-in attempts: 1.]

[Check in?]

A massive surge of destiny fortune?

Ao Yin was startled inwardly and could not help glancing at Tang San from the corner of his eye. Disgusting as this guy was, he was favored by destiny and possessed astonishing fortune.

[Check in!]

[Ding! Check-in at Holy Soul Village Spirit Hall Branch successful. Reward: Tier 3 reward—Dark Sacred Dragon martial soul.]

[It has been detected that the host is undergoing the martial soul awakening ceremony. Twin martial souls [Coiling Dragon Staff] and [Dark Sacred Dragon] are awakening...]

"Hiss!"

Ao Yin sucked in a sharp breath. The Dark Sacred Dragon was a god-tier martial soul imbued with divinity, just like the Six-Winged Angel!

Such a martial soul was far too heaven-defying and would easily draw the covetous eyes of others—especially with that two-faced hypocrite Tang San right beside him!

He absolutely could not expose such a trump card before Tang San. He had to keep it hidden!

At the same time, Tang San beside him felt something within his body breaking through its shackles. The Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Silver Grass faintly manifested in his palms, but for some reason, they suddenly lacked momentum. The phantom images of the two martial souls flickered in and out in his hands, as though they might extinguish at any moment!

"What's going on? I clearly sensed the existence of my martial souls, but it feels like the awakening is about to fail?"

Tang San grew somewhat anxious inwardly!