The Dou Di Bloodline Still Had It

"My lord, the people from the Mittel Auction House, along with the Ouba Clan Leader and the Jia Lie Clan Leader, are waiting outside."

Xiao Zhan hurried forward and bowed respectfully to Lu Chuan.

As he finished speaking, Ya Fei, Ouba Pa, Jia Lie Bi, and their companions entered the courtyard. Their eyes fell on Lu Chuan, and they froze.

Shock filled them all. The same question rose in their minds.

That mysterious lord is a young man?! Which family's young master is he?

Ya Fei was the first to recover. She stepped forward and dipped into a slight curtsy.

"I am Ya Fei, chief auctioneer of the Mittel Auction House. Greetings, my lord. Please accept this small gift."

She took out an exquisite wooden box and offered it to Lu Chuan with both hands, gently lifting the lid.

A medicinal fragrance wafted out at once.

Xiao Zhan and the others jolted and cried out in astonishment.

"Qi Gathering Powder?! That's a Fourth-Grade Medicinal Pill!"

The others exchanged glances, then hurried forward to present their gifts, speaking with equal respect.

"I am Gu Ni, chief alchemist of the Mittel Auction House. Greetings, my lord."

"I am Ouba Pa, head of the Oba Family. Greetings, my lord."

"I am Jia Lie Bi, head of the Jia Lie Family. Greetings, my lord."

Lu Chuan nodded lightly and swept every gift they had offered into his System Space.

His gaze settled on Ya Fei as he considered her move. In a small town like Wutan City, Fourth-Grade Qi Gathering Powder was a rare treasure of the highest order, yet the Mittel Auction House had given it away outright.

They're making a huge gamble. No wonder they're the early-stage angel investors.

Ya Fei noticed Lu Chuan looking at her. A faint smile touched her lips, and she took the opportunity to give him a flirtatious look.

Lu Chuan cleared his throat and spoke.

"Ahem, well... you're guests, so you'll get the same terms as the Xiao Family. One Yellow Level Dou Technique earns one person a Martial Soul Awakening; one Black Rank Dou Technique earns five people an awakening."

Lu Chuan then explained what Martial Souls, Spirit Rings, and the Soul Master System were.

The entire courtyard fell silent.

At the side, Xiao Zhan closed his eyes helplessly.

Alas... It seems the Xiao Family still has no chance to rise. And the competition will probably only grow fiercer.

After all, obtaining something like a Spirit Ring will likely cost even more resources.

Ouba Pa and Jia Lie Bi exchanged glances. Surprise and delight filled their faces, sweeping away their earlier unease.

They had worried that Lu Chuan would favor the Xiao Family. They had never expected him to give them exactly the same opportunity—and a chance to obtain something as wondrous as a Martial Soul!

Jia Lie Bi was the first to clasp his hands, his voice trembling with excitement.

"My lord, the Jia Lie Family will fetch our Dou Techniques at once and bring our most talented young members here for awakening!"

Ouba Pa hastened to follow, unwilling to be outdone. "The Oba Family won't hold back either!"

The eagerness in Ya Fei's eyes burned even brighter.

A whole new path of cultivation!

For someone like me, with no talent for cultivation, this is a chance!

Even if I can't become a Dou Emperor, I'd be happy to reach Dou Ling!

Just then, a Xiao Family disciple rushed into the courtyard and reported loudly, his manner respectful.

"Clan Leader, all the Dou Techniques for the exchange have been copied! The family members scheduled for Martial Soul Awakening are lined up outside and waiting!"

Xiao Zhan instinctively turned to Lu Chuan. Only after Lu Chuan gave a slight nod did he issue his order.

"Bring them all in."

Several Xiao Family disciples came in, grunting under the weight of the chests they carried, and set the chests of Dou Techniques on the ground.

"My lord, there are thirty-five Yellow Rank Dou Techniques in total. Please take a look."

Lu Chuan stepped forward, picked a few from a chest at random, and leafed through them.

Not bad. But I can't be bothered to practice them. Better to have the system teach them to me directly.

He put them all into his System Space, took out the Spirit Awakening Stone, and said in a firm voice.

"Everyone, line up! One at a time."

The Xiao Family disciples did not dare waste a moment. They quickly formed a long line.

If they lost their chance to awaken over something like this, the clan leader and elders would never forgive them—and neither would they forgive themselves.

Ya Fei and the others stood obediently to one side, watching the Martial Soul Awakenings with curiosity.

Xiao Mei was the first to step forward. Her peach-blossom eyes gave her a naturally soft, alluring look whenever her gaze passed over someone.

She greeted him in a gentle voice. "My lord."

Lu Chuan's expression remained calm. He felt neither fondness nor dislike for her and simply offered a reminder.

"Don't resist the power inside you."

Hum—

The Spirit Awakening Stone slowly spun, giving off a soft glow. Xiao Mei raised her right hand.

A slender, exquisitely shaped Longsword appeared in her palm, its blade gleaming faintly red.

Lu Chuan was puzzled. He had expected them all to have flame-type Martial Souls like Xiao Yan. He had not expected a Tool Martial Soul, though at least it carried a trace of fire.

Her bloodline must be less concentrated, and the mixing of outside bloodlines has made that trait recessive.

Xiao Mei stared blankly at the Longsword in her hand. She did not know why it differed from her cousin Xiao Yan's, so she asked timidly.

"My lord, did my awakening fail?"

"No. Martial Souls come in several types: Beast Martial Souls, Tool Martial Souls, body Martial Souls, and Elemental Types.

"Each has its strengths. Your Longsword Martial Soul is better suited to killing, but it provides a weaker boost to your physical abilities."

Only then did Xiao Mei breathe a sigh of relief. She withdrew her Martial Soul, bowed, and stepped aside.

Xiao Ning was next. He stepped into the circle with complete confidence.

Soft light flowed across the awakening stone. A moment later, the phantom of a Fire Lizard appeared behind him, its body covered in dark-red scales and faint fiery mist streaming from its mouth and nostrils.

The smugness on Xiao Ning's face deepened. That Fire Lizard looked impressive!

Lu Chuan glanced at the phantom and explained evenly.

"Fire Lizard. A fire-attribute, offense-focused Beast Martial Soul. It gives you a considerable boost to your body and fire resistance."

Xiao Ning burst out laughing. Pointing at the Fire Lizard behind him, he turned and shouted to Xiao Yan.

"Hahahaha! Xiao Yan, look! My Martial Soul is way cooler than your little flame!"

Xiao Yan's face darkened. Irritated, he turned away, unwilling to bother with the gloating Xiao Ning.

The remaining Xiao Family disciples came forward in turn to awaken their Martial Souls.

None of them awakened a top-tier Martial Soul or a rare mutated one. Still, every result was decent, if unremarkable.

There were no useless Martial Souls—no scraggly weeds, hoes, wooden sticks, or other bottom-tier results.

The Dou Di bloodline still carried weight. Even depleted to this extent, it continued to benefit its descendants.

Watching the many different Martial Souls, Xun'er, Ya Fei, Ouba Pa, and the others marveled again and again.

People often said that a big forest held all kinds of birds. Who would have thought the same saying could apply to Martial Souls?

They all belonged to the same family and shared the same bloodline, yet their Martial Souls fell into so many different categories.

Ding! Congratulations, host. You have completed client Xiao Zhan's commission.

Low-grade Yellow Rank techniques, including Stone Shattering Fist and Cloak Leg... mastered.

Mid-grade Yellow Rank techniques, including Mountain Splitting Palm and Rending Claw Strike... mastered.

High-grade Yellow Rank technique Iron Mountain Fist... mastered.