"Whoa! That's Su Li? He really does have a face that wouldn't hurt a fly..."
"I'll admit it. He's better-looking than me."
"Hmph! If he awakens a worthless Martial Soul, those looks won't do him any good."
Su Li paid no mind to the chatter below the platform and calmly walked up to Deacon Wang.
After greeting him politely,
Su Li began his Martial Soul Awakening under Deacon Wang's appreciative gaze.
For a moment,
every jealous, doubtful, and skeptical voice fell silent.
All eyes turned to Su Li. Everyone wanted to know what Martial Soul the boy so favored by the young miss would awaken.
In an instant,
dark clouds swallowed the bright, sunny sky.
An overwhelming beam of sword light shot straight into the heavens.
Chen Xin, who had been resting with his eyes closed on the platform, opened them at once. Disbelieving excitement flashed in his gaze.
A Sword Martial Soul?!
Excellent!
I knew this boy and I were fated to meet!
Judging by that omen, its quality is no ordinary thing...
Su Li looked at the Martial Soul in his hand and murmured inwardly.
Just as I thought.
Even my Martial Souls came with me.
Looks like I didn't play Gala Game for nothing. A cheat I set up for myself sure feels great!
Deacon Wang's eyes widened. He stared at the Martial Soul in Su Li's hand, stunned.
Drawn from its sheath, it bloomed like a lotus, its patterns like stars across the sky.
Stars lay hidden in its silver blade, gentle and free of malice.
Clear and unstained by dust from end to end, it shone like a lotus, its texture like ice, noble beyond compare.
Beautiful. This sword is too beautiful!
One glance is enough to make you never want to look away!
He had a feeling
the boy's sword was even more formidable than the Seven Kill Sword wielded by Chen Xin!
Deacon Wang clutched his chest, steadied his voice as best he could, and announced loudly,
"Su Li! Sword Martial Soul! Innate Soul Power..."
"Innate Full Soul Power!!!"
Boom!
Deacon Wang's announcement left everyone rooted to the spot, at a loss for what to do.
Their eyes widened, their gazes fixed on the boy onstage.
His eyes shone like a river of stars, and his bearing was that of a banished immortal.
An indescribable charm radiated from his every movement.
Innate Full Soul Power... Were there even many people with it on the entire continent?
For a moment,
the boys who had doubted and envied him lowered their heads. Their cheeks burned red with shame.
"He... he actually has Innate Full Soul Power?"
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth and stared at the shining boy onstage in disbelief.
When their eyes met,
a blush spread across her fair little face.
The tips of her ears trembled, and an unfamiliar feeling stirred in her heart.
"Hmph. It's nothing special." Ning Rongrong came to her senses, curled her lip, and shot him a glare before turning away.
She pressed a small hand to her chest and reminded herself that he was only one level ahead.
Sooner or later, she would overtake him!
"Wonderful! Wonderful!!!"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect finally has a young genius!"
Ning Fengzhi sprang to his feet, eyes blazing as he looked at the handsome boy.
He looked as though he were sizing up a future son-in-law.
The more he looked, the more he liked what he saw.
Gu Rong was delighted too. He was about to tell Chen Xin that he had finally found someone to inherit his teachings when his expression abruptly froze.
He seemed to have sensed...
a ripple in space?!
No!
This boy has more than one Martial Soul?!
Gu Rong's eyes widened as he focused his senses.
Soon,
he threw back his head and laughed, caring nothing for appearances.
"Hahaha! Space... It really is a Spatial Martial Soul!"
"This boy... is something else!"
"Even this old man has found an heir!"
Meanwhile,
Su Li quietly concealed his Second Martial Soul on the awakening platform, keeping it from the non-direct-line disciples.
That was right.
He had two Martial Souls: a Sword Martial Soul and a Spatial Martial Soul.
Back when he had played the game to win over Ning Rongrong, he had arranged that deliberately.
He had never expected to grow up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect
and awaken both the Martial Souls he had chosen.
Now,
my future as a Soul Master should be secure, right?
Su Li descended the platform under the crowd's conflicted gazes. He looked at Ning Rongrong's pouting face and was about to say something when a figure flashed in front of him.
"Heh-heh. Come with this old man, boy."
Gu Rong grabbed his shoulder, and the two vanished on the spot.
Ning Rongrong had been looking forward to hearing what Su Li would say to her. But in the blink of an eye, he was gone?
"Bone Grandpa! Give me back my Su Li!"
"You stinky old bone! Stinky Bone Grandpa! Why didn't you take me too?"
Ning Rongrong's face flushed with anger.
She stormed up the mountain, her ponytail bouncing behind her like a Little Witch on her way to demand an explanation.
"Hmph! If you dare do anything to my future husband, I'll never talk to you again!"
Inside the great hall,
Su Li looked at the three people before him and bowed, neither servile nor arrogant.
"My respects to the two elders and the sect master."
The three exchanged glances, their approval nearly spilling over.
He was steady, knew his manners, and, most importantly, had outstanding talent.
Who wouldn't like a genius like that?
"Su Li, there's no need to be so formal from now on. Just call me Uncle Ning."
Ning Fengzhi looked at him kindly and spoke with a gentle smile.
Beside him, Chen Xin and Gu Rong chimed in without hurry.
"That's right... Call us Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa, just like Rongrong does."
"Heh-heh. Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power... I can't believe Old Sword Man was the one who brought him back. Is his luck really that heaven-defying?"
Gu Rong rubbed his chin. The look he gave Su Li was warmer than one he would give his own son.
"Old Bone, that's something you'll never know... My luck has always been good." Chen Xin's lips lifted slightly. He was in an excellent mood.
For one thing, he had found an heir to his teachings. For another, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had a promising future.
"Ahem... All right, enough of that for now."
"Su Li, tell me... Do you have a Second Martial Soul?"
Ning Fengzhi asked with a grave expression.
Su Li nodded. He had no intention of hiding it.
Besides, how could the commotion caused by his Spatial Martial Soul's awakening have escaped Gu Rong's notice?
"Yes, I do."
"My first Martial Soul is called the Pure Jun Sword, and my second is the Space Blade. They're equal in quality."
Hearing him speak so frankly,
all three said, "Good!" in unison.
Ning Fengzhi was especially excited.
He stood up and gave Su Li's head a vigorous rub.
Su Li: "..."
I've said it before: in principle, you shouldn't touch a man's head. Too bad the principles are in his hands now.
Bang!
The great hall's doors were kicked open. Ning Rongrong hurried in, panting, and glared darkly at Gu Rong for leaving her behind.
The smile froze on his face. He suddenly felt that he was in trouble.
He really had forgotten the little princess.
He had been so focused on bringing Su Chen back to discuss matters...
Now he would have to coax the girl into forgiving him.
Sigh...
Looks like I'll have to be her mount again.
"Father! What are you going to do to Su Li?!"
"I'm warning you... Don't hurt him!"
Ning Rongrong yanked Su Li behind her and spread her arms, guarding him like a dragon guarding its hoard.
The gesture left all four of them dumbfounded.
Then,
Ning Fengzhi gave the two of them a meaningful look, and an idea flashed through his mind.
"We were thinking of arranging a childhood betrothal for Su Li. We just haven't decided which girl in the Ning family to choose."
Ning Rongrong: "!!!"
Before you continue