It's Their Ability and Secret; I Didn't Feel Right Asking Too Much

The central district of Heaven Dou City teemed with an endless stream of people.

Compared with the shabby, desolate slums, the streets here were smooth, the buildings neatly arranged, and Soul Master offices and cultivation workshops could be seen everywhere.

The lively atmosphere of ordinary life intertwined with an aura of the extraordinary.

Under Jiang Nannan's familiar guidance, the two passed through several bustling streets and alleys before quickly arriving at an elegant, secluded courtyard with its own entrance.

The courtyard was not large, but it was kept clean and tidy, with several evergreen plants growing within.

Faint fluctuations of soul power lingered in the air, tranquil and peaceful—the sort of residence favored by ordinary low-ranking Soul Masters.

This was the home of the Soul Master acquaintance Jiang Nannan had mentioned.

The courtyard gate was slightly ajar and unlocked, clearly indicating that its owner was home.

Jiang Nannan gently raised her hand and pushed open the wooden gate, leading Li Changsheng slowly into the courtyard.

Beside a stone table in the yard sat a middle-aged man dressed in a plain blue robe.

The man's features were gentle and refined, his expression calm and steady, while his aura was restrained and mild.

He lacked the sharp, oppressive presence of a high-ranking Soul Master, yet possessed the profound foundation accumulated through many years of cultivation.

He was Zhou Chun, a commoner Soul Master of some renown in Heaven Dou City.

Zhou Chun's cultivation was firmly at the peak of Rank 58 Soul King, only a single step away from becoming a Soul Emperor.

In Heaven Dou City, where powerful figures gathered, a Soul King was not considered top-tier strength, but still stood firmly in the middle ranks. He wanted for neither food nor clothing, was respected by others, and was an existence countless impoverished commoners could only dream of reaching.

At that moment, Zhou Chun was drinking tea.

Hearing the courtyard gate open, he looked up. When his gaze fell upon Jiang Nannan approaching him, a gentle smile immediately appeared on his face. In a warm, friendly tone, he asked, "Nannan? What brings you here today? Is something the matter?"

Jiang Nannan quickly stepped forward. With an upright posture and impeccable manners, she gave the middle-aged man a slight bow and called out politely, "Uncle Zhou Chun."

When she raised her eyes, there was a trace of earnestness and embarrassment in them. She softly requested, "Uncle, I came today because I would like to ask you for a small favor. Would it be convenient for you?"

"Oh? A small favor?"

Zhou Chun set down his teacup and raised a brow at her. A hint of confusion and curiosity flashed through his eyes as he slowly said, "Tell me. As long as it is something Uncle can do, there will be no problem."

At once, Jiang Nannan shifted aside and revealed Li Changsheng behind her.

Her slender finger gently pointed toward the tall, extraordinary youth beside her as she said seriously, "My friend still has not awakened his martial soul. Uncle, you are kind-hearted. Could I trouble you to help him awaken it?"

The instant her words fell, the gentle smile on Zhou Chun's face froze slightly, while profound shock and confusion surged into his eyes.

He had cultivated for decades and encountered countless people, long having developed an eye for judging others and sensing their aura.

This youth named Li Changsheng appeared young and still somewhat childish, yet the bearing surrounding him was completely different.

He stood tall and straight, his temperament pure and detached from the world.

Though not the slightest fluctuation of soul power radiated from him, he carried an indifferent aura that seemed to overlook all living beings and transcend the mundane world.

Such bearing, such character, could never belong to an ordinary mortal youth.

Even if someone claimed he was a gifted descendant of a top-tier sect or great clan, no one would doubt it.

Yet Jiang Nannan said that he had never awakened a martial soul?

The enormous contrast filled Zhou Chun's heart with doubts.

Thoughts churned within him as questions arose one after another. Why had such an extraordinary youth not awakened his martial soul at the age of six? And why was he alone, and had even become friends with Jiang Nannan, whose family was poor and who had always kept to herself?

Based on Zhou Chun's years of understanding of Jiang Nannan, this child was sensible yet withdrawn. She spent all year caring for her gravely ill mother and running a stall to earn a living. She had no opportunity to befriend noble children her own age, much less know a youth with such an exceptional temperament.

Countless questions swirled in his mind. Zhou Chun suppressed the shock in his eyes, looked toward Jiang Nannan, and asked in a deep voice, "Nannan, when did you meet this friend of yours? Why have I never heard of him?"

Jiang Nannan did not hide anything and answered frankly, "We met just now."

She paused, recalling the sheer fortune of her mother's renewed life. Genuine gratitude flashed through her eyes as she softly explained, "Uncle Zhou, my mother had been bedridden for years. We sought out countless physicians and Soul Masters, but none could do anything. You know that as well. It was him—he treated my mother's long-standing illness just now. I had no way to repay him. When I learned that he had yet to awaken his martial soul, I thought of bringing him here to trouble you and ask you to help him."

"He cured your mother's chronic illness?"

This time, Zhou Chun was truly moved. Intense interest instantly lit up in his eyes, and his face was filled with disbelief.

He remembered clearly that Jiang Nannan's mother's illness had accumulated over many years. Her organs had deteriorated, and her blood and vitality had withered away.

Not to mention a mere Soul King like him—even healing-type Soul Masters at the Soul Emperor or Soul Sage level within the city could only barely sustain her life. They had no way to cure her completely.

This was an incurable illness recognized throughout Heaven Dou City.

Yet this youth, who appeared even younger than Jiang Nannan, had actually completely cured her years-long affliction all by himself?

Zhou Chun stared fixedly at Li Changsheng, his heart deeply shaken as he repeatedly marveled at the strangeness of the world.

He absolutely did not believe that obedient, sensible Jiang Nannan would lie to deceive him. Yet the more certain he was of that, the more difficult it became for him to understand.

A youth whose childishness had yet to fade, with no martial soul and no cultivation—how could he possess healing abilities so heaven-defying that even high-ranking Soul Masters could not hope to match them?

It was truly inconceivable, something he had never heard of before!

"I do not know where his abilities come from either."

Jiang Nannan gently shook her head and said with great consideration, "That is his own ability, his secret. I did not feel right asking too much."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chun immediately understood and nodded slightly.

In cultivation, everyone had their own opportunities and talents, as well as their own secrets. Peering into the foundation of another person's abilities was a grave taboo.

Jiang Nannan was simply being sensible and respectful; there was naturally nothing wrong with that.

He suppressed all the shock and curiosity in his heart, asked no further questions, and smiled faintly. "No matter. Since he is your benefactor, Nannan, Uncle will naturally help with such a small favor."

Once he finished speaking, Zhou Chun no longer hesitated and walked to the open space at the center of the courtyard.

His hands rapidly formed seals as soul power quietly surged forth.

Pale golden Soul Master power poured out, and the moment it touched the ground, it formed a neat, ancient, standard martial soul awakening array.

Golden lines crisscrossed one another, gleaming brilliantly.

Gentle holy light spread across the ground, flowing with the most orthodox radiance of martial soul awakening—sacred and mild.

"Child, stand at the center of the array," Zhou Chun said gently.

Li Changsheng's expression remained calm as he slowly stepped into the very center of the awakening array.

If nothing unexpected happened, I should have two martial souls.

They are the Destruction Scepter and the Life Ancient Tree.

This awakening was merely a matter of complying with the planar rules of the Douluo Lower Realm and completing the formalities, transforming my divine-grade origins into martial soul forms recognized by this world.