Martial Soul Awakening

Douluo God Realm, Sea God Temple.

"The ten-thousand-year mark is nearly upon Douluo Continent. I'm sending Xiao Qi to the mortal world. Through her, I hope to train a good dog for the Tang family—no, a good son-in-law—to help me break the deadlock over who rules the Divine Realm."

Tang San stood before the passage he had built in the Sea God Temple to observe Douluo Continent. He watched a round object wrapped in his divine power drift slowly toward the continent.

Tang San was imagining the wonderful life he would lead once he ruled the entire Divine Realm when a voice from the Sea God Temple's entrance cut his daydream short.

"Brother San, have you seen Xiao Qi? Who knows where that girl has run off to play this time?"

Xiao Wu walked into the Sea God Temple, her long scorpion braid swaying with every step. Looking at the blue figure still gazing toward Douluo Continent, she could not help feeling a little resentful.

Honestly, Brother San. How many years has he been a god? Why is he still so hung up on Douluo Continent? He'd be better off spending that time trying to have another child with me!

Xiao Qi is going to be spoiled rotten.

"Xiao Qi? Uh... she might be with Destruction or Life right now. You know how children are. A little mischievous. It's normal for them to run around."

Tang San turned and used his body to block the passage slowly closing behind him. He looked at Xiao Wu, but his gaze wandered, and he did not dare meet her eyes.

Children love to play, after all, so of course they run off. She just went a little farther than usual this time.

"No. I already asked them."

Xiao Wu looked at Tang San. Seeing his evasive gaze, a possibility immediately occurred to her.

"Brother San, don't tell me you sent Xiao Qi to Douluo Continent!"

"Xiao Wu, just—just let me explain... Oh no!"

Tang San had just pulled Xiao Wu into his arms and was about to offer an explanation when his expression suddenly changed.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Divine Realm shook violently. Those cultivating, those slacking off, and even those in flight all stopped what they were doing and looked beyond the realm.

Raging spacetime power enveloped the entire Divine Realm in an instant, sending it reeling. But at that moment when everything hung by a thread, a blinding white light burst from the Divine Realm's core, and the shaking realm fell still.

Spacetime Turbulence. Sigh. It could have come earlier or later, so why did it have to arrive just after I sent Xiao Qi down? I don't even know whether she'll reach the Clear Sky Sect safely. And then there's that anomaly in the Sun Moon Empire. Trouble is piling up on every side.

One day in heaven is a year on earth. Who knows when this Spacetime Turbulence will subside?

Tang San was still deep in thought when a chill ran down his back. He turned to find Xiao Wu glaring at him fiercely.

"Brother San, come with me. Back to our room. You're going to explain exactly why you sent Xiao Qi to the mortal world."

Douluo Continent, Sun Moon Empire, Purple Radiance Prince's Residence.

A six-year-old child in a luxurious purple-and-gold robe lay on a recliner in the residence's rear garden. His eyes were closed, and his fingers tapped beside him in time with the chair's gentle rocking.

"Second Brother, I knew I'd find you here. Your Martial Soul Awakening is about to begin. How can you not be the least bit anxious?"

Xu Tianran spoke helplessly as he looked at his half-brother, who was three years younger than him.

"What's there to be anxious about? Our family only has a handful of inherited Martial Souls anyway. Whichever one I get, it can't be that bad."

Xu Tianchen lifted his head and glanced at his elder brother, his tone languid.

Then he looked up at the sun spilling ten thousand rays of light across the sky and sighed inwardly.

I say I'm not nervous, but I am, a little. I don't want to become Douluo II's "Grandmaster."

I've been here six years now. According to the sacred law of transmigration, I should have ended up in whatever story I was watching.

When that truck driver from another dimension hit his quota with me, I was watching Brother Erfeng's Xuanwu Gate Incident! I should have gone to the Tang dynasty and made something of myself, not ended up on this damned Douluo Continent.

Fine, Douluo Continent it is. But why did it have to be the Peerless Tang Sect era? I don't even have a system. How am I supposed to face Tang Buddha? Hm? How do I know which era this is? Because Xu He—that is, He Caitou—was only born this year.

At least I got a decent start. Unlike in my previous life, I'm not an orphan. I have a father, and a grandfather on my mother's side who dotes on me. As for my mother...

Hmm... Is Father cursed when it comes to wives? Or is the residence's feng shui bad?

Every woman he married as his principal wife died giving birth. It happened to Eldest Brother's mother, and it happened to mine. Maybe he feels guilty, or maybe it's something else, but he treats us both especially well.

And my grandfather? He's no ordinary man. He's Kong Deming, the "Father of Soul Tools"!

Now I understand why so many people supported my father when he later rebelled. My imperial uncle was too weak and always wanted peaceful coexistence with the Three Douluo Kingdoms, which alienated the pro-war generals and ministers at court. On top of that, my grandfather and the rest of the Consecration Hall stood by and did nothing.

"Your Highness, have you found the Second Young Master? The prince and Kong Lao are here. They're waiting in the main hall!"

Hearing the young maid's call, Xu Tianchen sprang from the recliner. He grabbed Xu Tianran and ran toward the exit as he spoke.

"Eldest Brother, why didn't you tell me Grandfather was here too?"

Xu Tianran's mouth twitched helplessly.

When Xiao Su saw Xu Tianchen come running out, she stamped her feet twice before he caught her hand and pulled her along.

Soon Xu Tianchen had raced all the way to the residence's main hall with the other two in tow. As soon as he reached the doorway, he spotted Kong Deming inside. He promptly let go of their hands, spread his arms, and dashed straight into Kong Deming's embrace.

"Grandfather!"

Kong Deming caught Xu Tianchen as he threw himself into his arms, then smiled and stroked his head.

"Chen'er, your grandfather is about to awaken your Martial Soul. Are you excited?"

"I am! Thank you, Grandfather."

Xu Tianchen knew that the outcome had nothing to do with the cultivation of the person presiding over the awakening. Even so, Kong Deming, the master of the Consecration Hall, had come out of seclusion especially to awaken his Martial Soul. That alone showed how much he doted on him.

"All right, all right. Come down off Kong Lao. It's nearly time. Get ready, and we'll head to the Quiet Room for the awakening."

Purple Radiance Prince Xu Chengjing, standing nearby, spoke as he watched the affectionate scene between the old man and the boy.

The awakening ceremony could not be held in the main hall, of course. It would take place in a Quiet Room within the residence.

The Quiet Room's stone walls had been forged with deep-sea sunken silver and a blend of special materials. Countless intricate soul-tool runes were carved into them, with the faint sheen of energy flowing through them. The runes had powerful sealing and stabilizing effects. Clearly, Kong Deming had reinforced the room; those runes had not been there when Xu Tianran underwent his awakening.

Most striking of all were the six milky-white Martial Soul Awakening stones set into the floor at the very center of the Quiet Room.

"Come, Chen'er. Stand in the awakening array. Don't be nervous. Relax your whole body, feel for the power hidden within you, and release it."

Kong Deming stood before the array and gave Xu Tianchen his instructions.

"I understand. Let's begin, Grandfather."

Xu Tianchen stepped into the array. He saw the encouraging looks Xu Tianran and Xu Chengjing gave him from the side, then closed his eyes and let his arms hang naturally. His entire body seemed to relax.

He looked relaxed, but he was still nervous inside. Over the years, he had soaked in plenty of medicinal baths at the residence and used a great many treasures to build his foundation. Even so, he felt uneasy. After transmigrating to another world, who would want to be an obscure weakling?

Whatever Xu Tianchen thought, the awakening ceremony had to begin.

Come on!

Kong Deming poured his Soul Power into the array. The array transformed it into countless specks of golden light, which Xu Tianchen drew into his small body.

Xu Tianchen felt his whole body grow light, as though he were soaking in a hot spring. Comfort unlike anything he had ever known washed over him.

Roar—!

A low dragon's cry, brimming with savage violence, rang through the Quiet Room. Dense Dragon Scales covered Xu Tianchen's arms. The dark purple-black scales looked so deep they seemed capable of swallowing every ray of light around them. Dark-gold patterns flowed along the edge of each scale, and together they gave off a chilling aura of destruction.

At the same time, the phantom of an enormous dragon appeared behind Xu Tianchen. Its head was fearsome, electricity coursed beside its eyes, and purple-black Dragon Scales covered its body. It was an imposing sight.

"That's the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon! It's been so long since I've seen one this powerful. Its destruction attribute is even stronger than Tianran's," Xu Chengjing exclaimed.

But before his cry had fully faded, another sight unfolded before the three of them.

A great sun rose above Xu Tianchen's head. The somewhat dim Quiet Room instantly brightened, filled with the blazing heat and majesty of the sun.

"Twin Martial Souls! And that—that heat! It's an Ultimate Attribute too! Heaven truly favors our Sun Moon Empire!" Kong Deming, who was presiding over the awakening, cried out.

A sun and a dragon. One embodied blazing light and flame—ultimate flame and near-ultimate light—its golden radiance shining everywhere. The other embodied dreaded destruction: purple clouds came from the east, and all things withered.

Then Xu Tianchen's appearance began to change. Most noticeably, he shot up a little taller, and his hair turned deep purple. When he opened his eyes, they seemed filled with light, and his gaze carried an overwhelming force.

Though the young dragon was still small, its edge could not be hidden.

Xu Tianchen felt the power inside him, power that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth. Relief washed over him, and he broke into a delighted smile.

"Quick, come here and test your Innate Soul Power." Kong Deming's voice trembled with excitement.

Xu Tianchen looked at the crystal ball before him, placed his hand on it, and slowly channeled his Soul Power into it.

Just as expected, the crystal ball burst with blinding light.

Innate Full Soul Power!