Martial Soul Awakening

Seeing the silver longbow, the expressions of many villagers behind him changed.

Weapons with killing power, like bows and arrows, generally came with innate soul power.

This longbow in particular was exquisitely carved, and even the young man's expression grew noticeably more solemn.

At his signal, Chen Ye, who had been standing beside the awakening stone, stepped forward and placed his palm on it.

The next second, a glimmer appeared in an instant. Yet just as it was about to brighten—

It suddenly dimmed again, leaving only a faint glow, roughly equivalent to five or six levels of soul power.

Seeing this, the excitement that had been about to rise in the young man's eyes abruptly faded.

With a sigh, he waved his hand again, and a six-year-old boy behind him stepped forward.

After more than ten children had completed the process, the young man looked at Chen Ye. After asking for the siblings' names, he casually registered them.

"You both have innate soul power, and it isn't low. You can begin cultivating normally now."

"If you're willing to register as apprentices with Spirit Hall, you can receive one Gold Soul Coin in support every month. That's enough to cover your regular living expenses."

The young man looked at Chen Ye, speaking casually.

This kind of support was common within Spirit Hall. Only those with innate soul power above level five could receive it.

As the young man looked at him, Chen Ye nodded decisively without the slightest hesitation.

Once he signed the agreement and became a Spirit Hall apprentice, he would be able to attend the elementary academy in Notting Town.

"Alright, here's your apprentice token. Just keep it safe."

"You've been registered now. Study hard. Innate level-five soul power gives you a chance to become stronger."

As he spoke, the young man patted Chen Ye on the shoulder.

Innate level-five soul power was already quite good. With proper cultivation, someone like him could become a decent Spirit Master.

After the young man left, the gazes of many children and villagers fell on Chen Ye. Chen Ye, however, paid them no mind.

Taking his sister's hand, he led her straight back to their home halfway up the hill.

Once they returned to the room, Chen Yue looked at her brother with shining eyes.

"Brother, can we really go study at the academy? Won't one Gold Soul Coin be too little...? If it isn't enough, then you should go by yourself."

As Chen Yue spoke, she curled her fingers slightly.

She truly wanted to study at the academy, but with only one Gold Soul Coin a month, the little girl did not know its purchasing power. She only feared it would not be enough for her brother's tuition and would hold him back.

Chen Ye smiled at his sister and reached out to rub her head.

"One Gold Soul Coin is enough. Besides, your brother is here. I won't let anyone bully you."

"Now, Brother has a secret to tell you. But I want you to keep this secret from everyone."

Chen Ye looked at his little sister as he spoke.

Under the little girl's bewildered gaze, Chen Ye raised both hands level with each other. In his left hand, the silver longbow suddenly melted into a strange mass of silver radiance.

His right hand, meanwhile, shone with pure white light. As that light appeared, time around them seemed to slow in an instant.

Chen Yue stared unblinking at the white power. Then, in her stunned gaze, her brother's body suddenly appeared where it had been three seconds earlier.

"Brother, wh-what Martial Soul is that? That effect is so strange. It looks like you're moving backward, but you don't seem to be moving at all."

As she spoke, the little girl swallowed, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Chen Ye merely smiled. "Don't worry. Your brother has twin Martial Souls and full innate soul power."

"With talent like this, we siblings may not become peerless powerhouses, but supporting you, you little fool, for the rest of your life won't be difficult."

Chen Ye reached out and scraped his sister's nose. "Pack up. We're leaving tomorrow, heading straight to Notting City, and then straight to school."

Chen Ye spoke casually, while Chen Yue hurriedly nodded and began packing on her own.

Looking at his little sister's obedient appearance, only coldness remained in Chen Ye's eyes.

He looked calmly beyond the village.

Their home was already halfway up the hill, the place closest to the soul beasts. Now that even their thatched hut had collapsed, their safety was practically nonexistent.

In such circumstances, even if he could withdraw some money from a Spirit Hall branch, Chen Ye still needed travel expenses.

As for how to get those expenses, Chen Ye calmly looked into the village, and a bone-chilling killing intent gathered in his eyes without the slightest concealment.

That night, they boiled two black potatoes. After the siblings made do with a simple meal, night had completely fallen.

Chen Yue sat in the room and yawned tiredly, but her eyes remained fixed seriously on her brother.

She watched as her brother raised his hand. A silver longsword appeared in his grasp, held casually in his hand.

With a thrust and a slash, space itself seemed to be torn apart in an instant.

Then she watched her brother reach his hand into space. The next second, she felt a pair of hands settle on her shoulders.

Chen Yue curiously turned her head and saw her brother's hand emerging from another rift, resting directly on her shoulder.

The little girl's eyes were filled with immense shock and curiosity at this miraculous sight.

However, she was very obedient and sensible, so she said nothing. She merely watched her brother familiarize himself with his two Martial Souls.

She did not know what her brother's two Martial Souls were called, but she understood just how heaven-defying they were.

With two heaven-defying Martial Souls and full innate soul power, her brother would most likely be able to join Spirit Hall.

But if her brother went, she would most likely be unable to go with him.

Thinking of this, Chen Yue lowered her head slightly.

She naturally understood that her brother had chosen not to go for her sake, and the little girl felt somewhat guilty about it.

Although her parents had adopted her brother, in the year since their parents died, the reason she had survived instead of being sold into slavery was entirely because of him.

His small body had stood in front of her, blocking those village bullies and preserving this somewhat dilapidated thatched home for the two siblings.

And now, her brother was giving up his future for her. At that thought, tears glimmered in the little girl's eyes.

Before she could speak, though, a pair of warm hands settled on her head and gently rubbed it.

"Alright, little sister, go to sleep early. When we wake up tomorrow, we'll be heading to Notting City. Notting City is surely far more prosperous than this place."

As Chen Ye spoke, he scraped the girl's little nose, then gently blew out the breath.

As the room's only candle was extinguished, Chen Yue lay on the bed in confusion. Then she saw that her brother did not get into bed. Instead, he calmly walked to the door.

Seeing what her brother was doing, Chen Yue froze. Then she heard his calm voice. "Brother is going out to borrow some money. Go to sleep first. I'll be right back."