Martial Soul Awakening

"Scythe, trash martial soul. Next."

"Frog, trash martial soul. Next."

"Sausage... Hmm, it smells quite nice, but it's still a trash martial soul. Next."

Inside the frigid Awakening Hall, all the children of Papal City who were awakening their martial souls this year had gathered here, each anxiously awaiting the arrival of their fate.

Of course, not everyone was so nervous.

Among them were three young people with pride written all over their faces. Anyone who had read the original novel would recognize them at a glance.

These three were Spirit Hall's future Golden Generation: Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan.

Hu Liena had yet to awaken her martial soul, yet she already possessed a trace of a bewitching fox's charm. She was simply a natural-born beauty.

Meng Xuanji, mingling among the crowd, stared at the people around him as his eyes abruptly widened.

Did I transmigrate to Douluo Continent? Even Hu Liena and the others are here. Could this be Papal City?!

"Next, Xie Yue."

The imposing voice of Deer Man, a Spirit Hall deacon, rang through the hall. Hu Liena looked toward Xie Yue as though startled.

"Big Brother."

"Don't be afraid. Don't you trust my strength? Today, I'll definitely awaken the strongest martial soul."

Xie Yue confidently stepped onto the Awakening Platform and placed his palm upon the Awakening Crystal.

As Xie Yue continuously poured soul power into it, a blood-red crescent-shaped curved blade gradually emerged.

"This is... the Bloodmist Crescent Blade! A top-tier weapon martial soul! And innate soul power at rank nine! A genius—a true genius!"

Deer Man cried out in shock. The Spirit Hall guards at his side immediately surrounded Xie Yue, separating him from the ordinary people who had failed their awakenings.

"Honored genius Xie Yue, this way, please."

Xie Yue nodded. He happened to turn back and glance at his sister, Hu Liena, giving her an assuring look.

"Mm." Xie Yue flicked back his long hair and followed the guards toward the children who had likewise been taken in by Spirit Hall. He proudly raised his head and looked over everyone in the hall. The aura of disdain around him kept the other children from daring to approach him.

Seeing Xie Yue awaken such a powerful martial soul, Hu Liena could not help becoming nervous.

"Little Sister Hu Liena, don't be afraid. You still have me. As long as I'm here, I'll protect you no matter what kind of martial soul you awaken in the future."

Yan shamelessly sidled up to Hu Liena. To Meng Xuanji, he looked like a bootlicking simp who had loved kneeling before goddesses since childhood.

Meng Xuanji awkwardly slapped his forehead.

Why did Yan love being a simp from such a young age? They say simps never end well. No wonder Tang San beat him so badly.

"Next, Yan."

Deer Man's voice rang out once more.

"My turn, Little Sister Hu Liena. I'll go up first, then. Your brother and I will wait for you over there."

Yan likewise strode onto the Awakening Platform with his head held high and chest puffed out. Before Deer Man could say anything, he took the initiative to press his hand against the Awakening Crystal.

"Wait. Doing this will cause your martial soul to trigger a backlash from Xie Yue's lingering aura. The consequences..." Deer Man looked at the flaming giant rising from volcanic lava and could not help closing his mouth.

"It's the ancient martial soul, Flame Lord! Heavens! Another genius has appeared in our Spirit Hall!"

Countless children widened their eyes as they looked at Yan's Flame Lord, which possessed innate soul power at rank nine!

Two supreme martial souls had appeared in a row! Did that mean the people after them were about to have their luck turn around?!

Yan blew at the fiery long hair hanging over his forehead, then turned and gave Hu Liena a confident look.

"We'll be waiting for you, Little Sister Hu Liena."

Yan had originally wanted to build a good relationship with Hu Liena, but after what he said, she only became more nervous. Her legs stiffened as she stood where she was, already beginning to tremble uncontrollably.

"Next, Lu Renjia."

"Is it finally my turn? Oh yeah! I'm going to awaken a supreme martial soul and soar to the heavens too!"

Passerby A excitedly ran onto the Awakening Platform. Copying Yan's pose, he pressed his hand against the Flame Lord within the Awakening Crystal, its aura soaring to the heavens.

"I'll take a gamble too. Maybe I'll awaken a martial soul even more awesome than the Flame Lord!"

Time slowly passed. As the Flame Lord's martial soul aura gradually faded, there was still no reaction at all within the crystal ball.

"Someone without even a martial soul. Next."

Deer Man's merciless announcement rang out. Lu Renjia collapsed to the ground in a daze, his face full of disbelief. "How is that possible? How could I fail to awaken even a martial soul?"

Two guards carried Lu Renjia away from the Awakening Platform. The hall was practically filled with people like him, so devastated by the blow that they could not even walk.

"Next, Lu Renyi."

"My turn! Watch me soar to the heavens!"

Lu Renjia's younger brother, Lu Renyi, stepped onto the platform.

Three seconds later.

"No martial soul awakened. Next."

"Next, Lu Renbing."

"Watch me soar to the heavens."

"No martial soul. Next, Lu Rending."

"Watch me fly to the hea—"

"No martial soul. Next."

Four people in a row had failed to awaken martial souls, and Deer Man's expression turned rather grim.

"The children of Papal City truly are getting worse with every generation. How could four people fail their awakenings at once? What a disgrace."

If this had happened in a rural town, no one would have said much about it. But this was Papal City. The children qualified to undergo awakening here today had already surpassed the vast majority of their peers. Failing an awakening was practically a slap in the face to Spirit Hall's recruiters.

What should I do? Will I fail too?

Hu Liena nervously lowered her head. It would soon be her turn, but she felt completely unprepared. Could she also fail her awakening?

"Hello, your name is Hu Liena, right? Why are you so nervous?" Meng Xuanji suddenly appeared behind Hu Liena and patted her shoulder.

"Ah! Who are you? Why are you behind me?" Hu Liena jumped in fright.

"Me? My name is Meng Xuanji. This place is only so big, so isn't it normal for me to stand behind you?"

"Oh, sorry." Hu Liena lowered her head again and fell silent like a block of wood.

Looking at Hu Liena's timid expression, Meng Xuanji suddenly said, "Are you worried that you'll fail your awakening?"

"Mm... But how did you know?"

"Your anxiety is written all over your face, miss. Was it that hard to guess?"

With her worries exposed, Hu Liena actually felt less nervous.

"How about we make a bet?"

"What kind of bet?"

"Let me think... I bet you'll awaken a top-tier beast martial soul. If I'm right, you kiss me once, okay?"

"And what if you're wrong?"

"Then I'll reluctantly kiss you once."

Hu Liena looked at the handsome Meng Xuanji. After his little joke, the tension in her heart had indeed vanished.

"Next, Hu Liena."

"Alright, I accept." Hu Liena stepped onto the Awakening Platform with a smile. Looking at the unremarkable Awakening Crystal before her, she kept encouraging herself.

A top-tier beast martial soul. Hu Liena, you can do it. You have to believe in yourself.

With that thought in mind, Hu Liena gently placed her jade-like hand upon the Awakening Crystal.