Twin Martial Souls

Early the next morning, Holy Soul Village was livelier than usual.

Chu Heng had barely finished breakfast when Old Jack's familiar voice came from outside the courtyard.

"Chu Heng, let's go! Don't keep the gentleman from Spirit Hall waiting."

"Coming!"

Chu Heng called back and hurried out.

Old Jack seemed much more spirited than usual. For an ordinary village like Holy Soul Village, the annual Martial Soul awakening was practically the most important day of the year.

After all, if a child awakened Soul Power and became a Soul Master, it could truly change their life.

Chu Heng followed Old Jack through the village, picking up several other six-year-old children along the way.

In the original story, only eight children from Holy Soul Village took part in the awakening that year. With him added, there were nine.

Still, Chu Heng doubted one extra person would affect the story.

By the time they reached the Tang family's door, Tang San was already waiting there.

"Tang San!"

Chu Heng waved to him.

Tang San nodded and joined the group.

The nine children naturally split into two small circles.

Tang San usually had chores to do, and his mind was far more mature than a normal child's. He had no interest in playing with the others. The other seven huddled together, chatting and laughing quietly, while Chu Heng stood between the two groups.

A few years ago, he had been on fairly good terms with those children. But since turning five, he had spent more time with Tang San, and they had naturally grown apart.

One of them waved for him to come over.

Chu Heng glanced at the child, then at Tang San beside him. He did not hesitate for a second.

Was that even a choice?

"Nervous?" Chu Heng asked quietly.

Tang San shook his head, then hesitated.

"A little curious, I suppose. I wonder what Martial Soul I'll awaken."

"Don't worry." Chu Heng patted his shoulder. "You're good at so many things. I'm sure it'll be fine."

Tang San paused.

He was not really a child, but in the six years since he had come to this world, Chu Heng had become his first true friend apart from his father.

That simple reassurance warmed his heart.

"You too."

"I'll take that as a good omen."

Chu Heng smiled.

Walking at the front, Old Jack looked back and smiled at the sight.

Tang San and Chu Heng were both unusually sensible children for the village. If a Soul Master emerged this year, he naturally hoped it would be one of them.

Before long, the group arrived at the Spirit Hall in the center of the village.

The so-called Spirit Hall was just a slightly larger wooden house. A young man in his twenties was already waiting inside.

He wore fitted white clothes and a black cloak, with a fist-sized badge bearing the character for "soul" pinned to his chest.

It was Su Yuntao, a Spirit Hall deacon.

What followed was almost exactly as Chu Heng remembered. After Old Jack greeted him politely, Su Yuntao had the children line up.

"My name is Su Yuntao. I'm a rank twenty-six Soul Grandmaster, and I'll guide you through your awakening."

As he spoke, he took out six round black stones and arranged them in a hexagon on the floor, then produced a blue crystal ball.

"Whatever you see next, don't be afraid."

The next moment, two Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.

One white, one yellow.

At the same time, Su Yuntao's body changed rapidly. His muscles swelled, his eyes glowed faint green, and sharp claws grew from his hands.

Lone Wolf possession.

Several children went pale with fright.

Chu Heng did not panic. He stared intently at Su Yuntao's transformation.

A Martial Soul was a supernatural power unique to this world. Even though Chu Heng had long known such power existed, seeing it with his own eyes still shook him.

Beside him, Tang San watched just as closely. Clearly, this power he had never seen before fascinated him too.

The awakenings soon began.

The first child stepped into the formation of six black stones. Pale golden light rose, and an ordinary sickle appeared in his hand.

No Soul Power.

The second child awakened a hoe.

No Soul Power.

The third...

One child after another completed their awakening.

Their Martial Souls included farm tools and plants, but without exception, the blue crystal ball never lit up.

The hope in Su Yuntao's eyes gradually faded.

Soon, the first seven children were done.

"Next, Tang San."

Chu Heng perked up. At last.

Tang San stepped into the formation.

As Su Yuntao channeled in Soul Power, golden motes of light streamed into Tang San's body.

A moment later, a small blade of blue grass appeared in his right palm.

"Blue Silver Grass?"

Su Yuntao was visibly disappointed.

"Another useless Martial Soul."

He was about to send Tang San away.

"Sir, you haven't tested my Soul Power yet," Tang San reminded him.

Su Yuntao paused. He probably thought there was no point, but he handed over the blue crystal ball anyway.

Tang San pressed his hand against it. In an instant, dazzling blue light filled the entire wooden house!

Su Yuntao's expression changed sharply.

"Innate Full Soul Power!"

Su Yuntao went on to explain the significance of Innate Soul Power. But when he looked at the Blue Silver Grass in Tang San's hand, he could not help shaking his head.

"What a shame. If your Martial Soul weren't Blue Silver Grass, even if it were just an ordinary Tool Martial Soul, your Innate Full Soul Power would give you boundless potential."

Chu Heng said nothing. His gaze fell on Tang San's other hand, which hung at his side.

Its fingers were clenched tight. For an instant, a hint of black showed between them.

Just as I thought. It's the Clear Sky Hammer.

A flicker of excitement stirred in Chu Heng's heart.

At that very moment, the system's notification finally sounded.

[Congratulations, host! You have completed the story check-in quest!]

[Quest rewards being distributed...]

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Mysterious Heaven Skill!]

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained: one year of Mysterious Heaven Skill cultivation experience!]

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Physique Transformation!]

Before Chu Heng could examine the rewards, a warm current surged up from his abdomen and rushed through his limbs and body. His bones, meridians, flesh, and blood all seemed to be quietly cleansed by some unseen force.

Chu Heng's breath caught. He forced himself to suppress the strange sensation.

Mysterious Heaven Skill? And a whole year of cultivation experience?

"Last one."

Su Yuntao's voice rang out. Tang San's Innate Full Soul Power had rekindled his interest, and even his tone was more animated than before.

"Chu Heng!"

Chu Heng snapped back to himself. It was finally his turn.

He stepped into the center of the six black stones.

As Su Yuntao channeled Soul Power into the formation, golden light instantly enveloped him.

He felt something being drawn, bit by bit, from his right palm. Blue light gathered and finally condensed into a long, narrow, indistinct shape above his hand.

Su Yuntao frowned.

"This is..."

He studied it for a long while but could not match it to any known Martial Soul. It did not even have a complete form.

"It should be a special kind of Tool Martial Soul."

After a moment's hesitation, Su Yuntao could only offer a vague assessment.

"I'm afraid you'll have to explore its abilities yourself."

Chu Heng did not answer.

The instant his Martial Soul appeared, the system had sent information straight into his mind.

[Martial Soul: Gun Soul]

A gun, but not a spear. It was the kind he knew from his previous life...

A firearm.

Chu Heng's eyes flickered.

And that was only what Chu Heng had revealed. Hidden from everyone's sight, another shape was slowly taking form in his left hand.

The system displayed another message.

[Second Martial Soul: Heart of Technology]

Chu Heng froze.

Heart of Technology? What was that?