"Wh-what kind of Martial Soul is that?"
Su Yuntao stared at the Ghost Hand radiating scarlet bloodlust. His voice trembled, and excitement lingered on his face.
That crushing pressure, that overwhelming aura—this boy was no fish meant for a small pond!
"My Martial Soul is the Ghost Sword."
As he spoke, Lin Yue lowered his head, his gaze drifting to his clenched right hand.
Ghost Hand on the left, sword on the right.
Though he had yet to see it with his own eyes, the sliver of pressure buried deep in his soul told Lin Yue one thing clearly: the sword in his right hand, which he had not yet shown... might be even more terrifying than the power of ghosts and gods in his left!!!
Ghost Sword?
At the name, thoughts surged through Su Yuntao's mind.
Ghost Douluo, Sword Douluo—under that crushing pressure, images of mighty figures flashed through his mind.
And with each passing thought, his expression grew more feverish, more ecstatic!
I've struck gold! If I can bring a prodigy like him into Spirit Hall, I'll strike it rich!!
"Quick! Come test your Soul Power!"
Su Yuntao, who had been perfectly composed throughout the awakening ceremony, suddenly lost his bearings. His hands shook as he held out the crystal ball, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
Suppressing his excitement, Lin Yue withdrew his Martial Soul and placed his hand on the crystal ball. A faint chill touched his palm.
Drawn by a strange force, the Soul Power within him poured into the crystal ball.
The next instant, a brilliant radiance burst forth and filled the crystal ball completely!
Threads of golden light pierced the gaps in the little wooden house. Beams that could not be contained shot skyward, illuminating the villagers' shocked faces!
"Innate Full Soul Power! That's Innate Full Soul Power!"
Still in his werewolf form, Su Yuntao could barely contain his elation. He almost threw back his head and howled.
Such an exceptional Martial Soul, such supreme Soul Power!
Unable to hold back any longer, Su Yuntao laughed wildly and asked, "Child, would you like to join Spirit Hall?"
Huh?
Lin Yue froze. The next moment, a somewhat aged voice came from outside the door.
"Master Su Yuntao, there's one last child. Could I trouble you to awaken her Martial Soul as well?"
Both men turned toward the door. A girl with flushed cheeks, bright eyes, and white teeth stepped inside, her hands clenched into fists.
Her hair was braided and her face freshly washed. Though her skin was slightly dark, her features were soft and delicate. In the candlelight, a faint blush made her look especially charming.
The girl twisted her hands together and tilted her head, seemingly afraid to face Lin Yue's shocked gaze. "Hello, Master Su. I... I'm Tang San..."
What?
Lin Yue's pupils contracted. He stared at the girl as every thought in his mind exploded at once.
No wonder Xiao San had always seemed strange to him. No wonder she acted so timid, and no wonder she was so thin... No wonder Tang Hao flew into a rage whenever she came home even a little late.
In the Douluo World he had transmigrated to, Tang San was a girl!!!
"Wait a moment. There's something more important right now."
Su Yuntao paid her no mind. His wolf-clawed hands gripped Lin Yue's shoulders, and he spoke excitedly:
"Child, your Martial Soul is incredibly powerful, and your Innate Full Soul Power gives you the potential to become a Titled Douluo. Would you like to join Spirit Hall?"
"Join Spirit Hall, and you can leave poverty behind for good. You'll rise to greater heights and display your talent before every major power! Everyone will bow to your strength!"
When Brother Tao calls a Martial Soul trash, another God King is born. If Brother Tao calls it strong... I'll crush all the God Kings!
As wild thoughts ran through his head, a sharp pain pricked his shoulders. Lin Yue's expression shifted, and he glanced toward Tang San at the door.
As though she understood what Su Yuntao's offer meant, the girl went pale. The pale-blue dress she had carefully prepared only made her face look more bloodless.
Brother Lin possessed extraordinary talent. If he nodded, he would leave the village for good and join Spirit Hall, the most powerful organization on the continent.
In other words... with one small nod, the two of them might never meet again.
The only companion she had known across two lifetimes... the one person she saw as someone to rely on...
He was about to leave her forever.
"I..."
Lin Yue opened his mouth, but no words came. For a moment, he had no idea how to answer.
Would joining Spirit Hall be good?
Of course it would. He could get close to the mature, beautiful Bibi Dong, and he might even have a chance to spend time with Little Angel Qian Renxue. Spirit Hall had more level-ninety-five-and-above elders than he could count on one hand. It was the strongest power in all of Douluo, with ten thousand years of history and resources beyond counting...
As for its supposedly tragic downfall, a few warnings from someone like him, a transmigrator who knew the future, could change that completely.
But did he have a choice right now?
A bitter smile touched his lips. He looked toward Tang San at the door again, helplessness showing in his eyes.
Tang Hao was only a few hundred meters away, perhaps watching everything that happened in the awakening room. If Lin Yue dared nod, he probably would not make it out of the village. Tang Hao would smash him to death with a hammer before he had taken two steps.
Even if he slipped into Nuoding City while that drunkard was not looking, Tang Hao could come after him whenever he wished. In this backwater corner where even birds would not bother to shit, no one could stop a Titled Douluo like him.
"Master Su Yuntao, I think I'll pass."
The instant Lin Yue spoke, the pale-faced Tang San jerked her head up. Delight swiftly replaced her disappointment.
He actually... refused?!
"What? But a genius like you can only reach your full potential in Spirit Hall! If you agree, you'll immediately have access to the best resources on the continent. You might even have a Titled Douluo as your teacher, the finest Spirit Rings, and even the Spirit Bones every Soul Master dreams of..."
Su Yuntao stared in disbelief. He had never expected the boy to resist Spirit Hall's invitation and all it offered.
"No, thank you."
Lin Yue glanced at Tang San once more, then slowly shook his head with firm resolve.
"I don't think I need it."
When Lin Yue's gaze fell on her, the nervous girl blushed and shyly lowered her head. Her heart beat faster and faster.
Could it be...
Was it for me?
"What? No, child, I hope you'll think it over. You don't have to give me an answer right away."
Su Yuntao burned with anxiety at seeing such an outstanding talent decline Spirit Hall. He tried again and again to persuade him.
"That's enough, Master Su Yuntao. I've made up my mind. There's no need to persuade me."
The boy raised a hand to stop him, his voice ringing with conviction.
His gaze settled on Tang San, and he sighed faintly.
Lin Yue would have liked to join, but Tang San's father would never allow it!
Noticing that Lin Yue's eyes kept returning to her face, Tang San clenched her little hands. Her heart pounded like a drum.
Brother Lin looked at me several times just now. He won't join Spirit Hall. It really is because of me, isn't it?
Brother Lin has cared for me since childhood and treated me like his own little sister. So he must feel the same way I do. Deep down, he must harbor something more...
The girl's face flushed as red as blood. She nervously pinched the hem of her dress and turned her face aside, no longer daring to meet the boy's direct gaze. Yet a feeling that made her whole heart tremble welled up inside her.
"All right. Whatever you decide, Spirit Hall's doors will always be open to you. I look forward to the day you change your mind."
Su Yuntao looked miserable. An opportunity that could have carried him straight to the clouds had slipped through his fingers.
"Master Su Yuntao, this girl still needs to awaken her Martial Soul."
Seeing him begin to pack up without much enthusiasm, Grandpa Jack hurriedly stopped him.
"Oh. Right. Fine, stand in the awakening array."
Disheartened, Su Yuntao could summon no energy. He guided Tang San into the array with his head hanging low.
As Soul Power flowed into the array, a silvery sprout of grass slowly grew from the girl's palm.
Her Martial Soul—Blue Silver Grass.
The last glimmer of hope in Su Yuntao's eyes died. He shook his head. Another Trash Martial Soul.
"Master, shouldn't you test my Soul Power too?"
Unwilling to give up, Tang San rose onto her toes and pointed a small finger at the crystal ball, her face full of earnest hope.
"There's no point testing Blue Silver Grass. Your Soul Power must be zero..."
Despite his words, Su Yuntao followed the usual procedure and held out the crystal ball almost without thinking.
But the next instant, as the girl's small hand touched it, a dazzling light surged up from the bottom and filled every corner of the ball.
"What?"
Su Yuntao's eyes widened, and his breath caught.
Innate Full Soul Power! Another one with Innate Full Soul Power!!!
Holy Soul Village had produced two geniuses with Innate Full Soul Power.
But why, of all things, did her Martial Soul have to be Blue Silver Grass?
Su Yuntao pressed a hand to his forehead in anguish and cast a resentful look at the boy in the corner.
Lin Yue scratched his head awkwardly and took a step back, making it clear that he had no intention of joining Spirit Hall.
"Innate Full Soul Power means I can become a Soul Master, right?"
Exhilarated, Tang San took two steps back, her gaze flowing toward Lin Yue in the corner and clinging to him.
"Yes, that's right. If you want, you can join Spirit Hall too."
"No! I'm not joining. I want to stay with Brother Lin Yue!"
The blushing girl ran two steps to Lin Yue's side and took his hand without hesitation, her eyes full of affection.
Wherever Brother Lin goes, I'll go too.
Feeling the softness of her hand, Lin Yue's face stiffened completely. He could not spare even a thought for the system in his mind.
Oh no. It's ruined. Completely ruined.
The attachment and affection in Tang San's eyes made it clear: she had set her sights on him!
He recalled how Tang San in the original story was forever declaring that someone "had a way to die." If a staunch warrior for feudal values like her latched onto him, his life from now on...
I'm doomed...
[Ding! Epic main quest is being issued—] [Quest: Different Paths. Accept?] [Your familiar companion seems to have changed. Are you confident you can lead her toward a brighter future?] [Quest objective: Raise Tang San and have her duel the child of destiny from the original world in stages. The victor may seize the loser's fortune and resources.] [Quest reward: Double returns on fortune and resources.] [Penalty for refusal: None.]
"Wh-what does that mean?!"
At the sound of the system's first quest in his mind, Lin Yue's thoughts jolted!
Take the Tang San of this world and have her duel the child of destiny from the original world?!!
Does this mean... I'm supposed to raise her?!
[Ding! The Challenge Self System has activated. Will you accept a challenge from your otherworldly self, defeat the inner demon called yourself, and gain bonus fortune and rewards?]
"What?!"
Tang San had just finished awakening her Martial Soul and stepped out of the little wooden house at the edge of the village. Her eyes narrowed, and a flash of cold killing intent crossed her impassive face.
What was that voice? Why did it sound in my head?!
What does "challenge myself" mean?!