Spirit Awakening Stones Acquired

Lu Chuan glanced back at Zhu Zhuqing and nodded. Gold Soul Coins handed out for free? He might as well take them.

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward and handed over the Soul Master Writ she carried. At the same time, she channeled her Soul Power into the Soul Power Detection Crystal beside her.

The Black-Clothed Bishop glanced at the blue light radiating from the crystal, and approval entered his eyes.

"A level 26 Soul Grandmaster. You've reached quite a level of cultivation at such a young age. Your talent is impressive. Here are ten Gold Soul Coins. Keep them safe.

"By the way, have you considered joining Spirit Hall? I can guarantee you'll have all the cultivation resources you need. You might even get to train in Spirit Hall Holy City."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. The Black-Clothed Bishop sighed regretfully, but he did not press her. He turned to Lu Chuan.

"Young friend, it's your turn."

"I came here to awaken my Martial Soul. I'd also like to buy a set of Spirit Awakening Stones."

"???"

The Black-Clothed Bishop froze, bewilderment written all over his face.

He looked Lu Chuan up and down. The young man appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, long past the ideal age of six for Martial Soul Awakening.

On Douluo Continent, everyone awakened their Martial Soul at six.

Even if someone his age managed to awaken a top-grade Martial Soul, the ceiling of his future cultivation would be extremely low. His prospects were plain to see.

Though puzzled, the Black-Clothed Bishop retained the professionalism expected of Spirit Hall's bishop in Suotuo City. He asked no questions and nodded.

"Very well. Stand still."

The Black-Clothed Bishop walked into the room behind him and returned shortly with six Spirit Awakening Stones.

With a wave of his hand, the stones formed a circle around Lu Chuan. A soft white glow slowly flowed between them.

Warmth spread through Lu Chuan's body. The Soul Power inside him surged and clamored beyond his control, rushing toward his right hand.

Buzz—

Golden light flashed. A seal carved from jade floated silently in the air, radiating a terrifying presence.

Lu Chuan's pupils contracted. It looked snow-white from the front and emerald-green from the side. Four inches square, it bore five intertwined dragons on top and an inscription underneath: Mandated by Heaven, may it endure and prosper forever.

A chipped corner at the upper right had been filled with gold.

The Imperial Heirloom Seal!!

When he came back to his senses, he found Zhu Zhuqing kneeling to one side, her face utterly blank.

The Black-Clothed Bishop was drenched in sweat. His legs trembled uncontrollably as he fought with all his strength to stay upright, yet he still sank inch by inch toward his knees.

The nearby attendants and those who had come to collect their Spirit Master Subsidy had all dropped to their knees as well.

Lu Chuan felt out the Imperial Heirloom Seal's power and immediately understood what had happened.

The Imperial Heirloom Seal was formed from Human Race Fortune. It suppressed a nation's Dragon Vein and held an innate power to subdue any creature with human blood.

Lu Chuan withdrew the seal, and the presence filling Spirit Hall vanished.

The Black-Clothed Bishop wiped the cold sweat that kept beading on his forehead. Still shaken, he looked at Lu Chuan and sighed.

"Young friend, the might of your Martial Soul is truly terrifying. It's a pity you awakened it so late.

"Had you awakened it at six, as people normally do, its potential could have given you a real chance to become a Titled Douluo. Now, let's test your Soul Power."

Lu Chuan nodded and channeled his Soul Power into the testing crystal beside him.

Buzz— The crystal blazed with light.

Soul Power Level: 22.

Lu Chuan felt a little disappointed. His Innate Soul Power was only level 10? It seemed Douluo Continent's rules limited a Soul Master's innate level to 10.

Only someone like Qian Renxue, who had been granted an additional ten levels of Soul Power by a God, could break past that limit.

Zhu Zhuqing was only mildly surprised by Lu Chuan's Soul Power Level. She said nothing. She had experienced the effects of the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid herself, and Brother Lu had absorbed an entire bottle.

The Black-Clothed Bishop knew none of that. He assumed the young man's Innate Full Soul Power was level 22.

He stepped forward half a pace, his voice urgent and warm as he offered even more generous terms.

"Young friend, your talent defies the heavens! You may be a little older, but hard work can make up for that. Join Spirit Hall! We have high-grade medicinal herbs and Spirit Bones. I can report directly to my superiors and send you to Spirit Hall Holy City for advanced training!"

"No. We prefer to live free and unfettered."

Lu Chuan could not keep the corners of his mouth from rising. Heaven's mandate rests upon us, and the seal walks our path. We are the supreme ruler chosen by fate. How could we stoop to serving another and let Spirit Hall's rules bind us?

The Black-Clothed Bishop's mouth twitched. This young man was outrageously insolent, daring to call himself an emperor.

"Ah, forget it. If you have no wish to join, I won't press you. I'll take it upon myself to give you this set of Spirit Awakening Stones. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."

"Thank you. We will remember you."

Lu Chuan did not refuse. He took the box containing the Spirit Awakening Stones, stored it in his System Space, and left Spirit Hall with Zhu Zhuqing.

The two walked along Suotuo City's bustling streets.

Lu Chuan turned to Zhu Zhuqing beside him. "Zhu Qing, let's find a hotel first. Once I've gone to the Battle Through the Heavens World and settled the deal, I'll come back and teach you a Cultivation Method."

"Whatever you say, Brother Lu."

Zhu Zhuqing walked quietly beside him. Her dark eyes brimmed with tenderness, and her gaze clung to him like drawn silk.

They strolled down the street, looking for somewhere to stay. Before long, a distinctive three-story building came into view.

Lu Chuan looked up. The gilded signboard read [Rose Hotel].

But before they could approach, the sounds of a fierce fight erupted from inside the hotel!

Tables and chairs shattered. The roar of colliding Soul Power came in waves. The commotion carried clearly through the doors, drawing the attention of everyone on the street.

Lu Chuan raised an eyebrow and muttered to himself.

No way. What are the odds? Did we walk right into Little Scumbag and Green Tiger's fight?

Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing seemed to sense something. She frowned, grabbed Lu Chuan, and turned away.

"Brother Lu, let's go somewhere else."

"All right."

But they had taken only a few steps when an urgent shout rang out behind them.

"Wait!"

Dai Mubai hurried out of the Rose Hotel and chased after them, his gaze fixed on the two figures ahead—or, more precisely, on the woman who had stirred his Martial Soul.

His eyes settled on Zhu Zhuqing, and urgency edged his voice.

"Miss, what's your name?"

Lu Chuan stepped sideways, shielding Zhu Zhuqing behind him.

"You fucking idiot. You're hitting on my girlfriend right in front of me? Got some nerve, don't you?"

"Who the hell are you? Get lost!"

Dai Mubai's face darkened at being cursed in public.

He reached around Lu Chuan to grab Zhu Zhuqing's arm.

But before his fingers could touch her, a large, powerful hand clamped around his wrist!

Dai Mubai's expression changed. He gritted his teeth.

"Let go of me!"

Lu Chuan stared at him coldly. Before Dai Mubai could struggle, Lu Chuan drove a kick straight into his groin!

Crack—

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Agony tore through Dai Mubai. His pupils contracted, his face went deathly pale, and his shriek ripped through the street!

He doubled over at once. His legs buckled beneath him, his body shook violently, cold sweat sprang across his forehead, and both hands clamped over his groin.