Others Awakened Swords; I Awakened a Fishing Rod

Nuoding City, Holy Soul Village.

Villagers crowded around the Awakening Stone platform at the center of the village, eager to watch.

Today was the annual Martial Soul Awakening ceremony. Six village children who had turned six stood in a row, rubbing their hands nervously.

"Next, Tang San!"

Su Yuntao held the Awakening Stone, exhaustion written all over his face.

He had visited seventeen villages this year and awakened over a hundred children. All they had were Trash Martial Souls like hoes, sickles, and carrying poles. The best had been a rusty sword, and its owner had no Soul Power.

Tang San stepped forward and pressed his palm against the Awakening Stone. Blue light bloomed, and a sprig of Blue Silver Grass emerged from his palm.

Su Yuntao did not even raise his eyes. "Blue Silver Grass. Trash Martial Soul. Next."

Tang Hao stood outside the crowd, cradling a wine jar. His mouth twitched, but he said nothing.

"Next, Lin Yuan!"

Lin Yuan, the protagonist, took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Su Yuntao held out the Awakening Stone and recited the usual instructions. "Put your hand on it. Focus and feel the power inside you."

Lin Yuan pressed his palm to the stone.

One second. Two. Three.

The Awakening Stone suddenly shook violently, blazing so brightly that no one could keep their eyes open.

"Wh-what kind of Martial Soul is this?" Su Yuntao backed away two steps, shielding his eyes.

The light faded.

A green bamboo rod rested quietly across Lin Yuan's palm.

It was slender and about three feet long, with a faint jade-like sheen. A transparent line hung from its tip, ending in a gleaming silver hook that swayed gently.

The entire crowd fell silent for three seconds.

"Pfft!"

No one knew who laughed first. Then the whole village doubled over.

"A fishing rod? Hahahaha! He awakened a fishing rod!"

"What's he going to do with that? Fish for his opponent's Soul Beast in a fight?"

"The Lin family kid's finished. He'll have to spend his days fishing by the river!"

Su Yuntao lowered his hand, his mouth twitching. He took out a certificate and held his brush over the Martial Soul entry. "...Bamboo pole?"

"It's a fishing rod," Lin Yuan corrected him.

Su Yuntao shook his head and set brush to paper. "Trash Martial Soul. No offensive power. Soul Power..."

He paused and placed a hand on Lin Yuan's head to sense it.

"Level zero. No innate Soul Power."

Another wave of laughter rose from the crowd. Tang Hao took a swig of wine and narrowed his eyes at the bamboo rod in Lin Yuan's hand.

"All right, all right. Next." Su Yuntao shoved the certificate into Lin Yuan's hand and waved him away like a fly.

Lin Yuan looked down at the bamboo rod in his hand. The little hope he had left shattered to pieces.

Six years since I crossed over to Douluo Continent. No special advantage, and this is what I get at my Martial Soul Awakening?

Come on, my system should show up now, right?

He called out frantically in his mind. System? Old master? Daily check-in? Shop? I'll take anything!

Nothing came.

Lin Yuan sighed and turned to leave.

Just then, as he tightened his grip on the bamboo rod...

A faint tremor ran through the rod into his palm. Lin Yuan stopped.

The murmur of running water suddenly reached his ears, so faint he could barely make it out.

``` [Ding!]

[Binding Myriad Worlds Fishing System...]

[Binding complete. Host: Lin Yuan. Initial Martial Soul: Myriad Worlds Fishing Rod.]

Lin Yuan's pupils contracted sharply.

[Newbie quest issued: Go to the nearest body of water and complete your first catch. Reward: Soul Power Awakening.]

[Tip: All things can be caught; those willing will bite.]

Lin Yuan slowly let out a breath, and a grin spread across his face.

He turned toward the winding river at the village entrance. Sunlight glittered on its surface.

Su Yuntao was still assessing the next child's Martial Soul. Without looking up, he called, "If you've got a Trash Martial Soul, stop blocking the way and go home..."

"Grandmaster Su Yuntao."

Su Yuntao looked up.

Lin Yuan raised the bamboo rod with a grin that showed all his white teeth. "Shouldn't you replace that Awakening Stone of yours?"

"What?"

"How else could it have measured my Martial Soul wrong?"

With that, Lin Yuan turned and ran. He slung the bamboo rod over his shoulder, legs pumping as he raced straight for the river at the village entrance.

Su Yuntao stood frozen, taking a long moment to react.

Leaning against a wall, Tang Hao tipped back the last of his wine. He watched Lin Yuan disappear into the distance and muttered, "Interesting."

Tang San came closer and asked quietly, "Dad, that fishing rod of his..."

"Don't ask." Tang Hao wiped his mouth. "Stay away from that kid from now on."

"...Why?"

Tang Hao did not answer. He only stared toward the river, his expression complicated.

At the riverbank, Lin Yuan crouched and cast the bamboo rod into the water.

There was no bait.

But the instant the transparent line entered the water, he felt something moving below. Countless tiny specks of Soul Power gathered around the hook like moths flying into a flame.

The float plunged.

Lin Yuan grinned, flicked his wrist, and hauled up the rod!

A palm-sized grass carp burst from the water. It glowed faintly gold in the sunlight, and traces of Soul Power seemed to flow across its scales.

[Ding!]

[First catch successful! Caught: Ten-Year Soul Beast · Golden-Scaled Grass Carp.]

[Calculating rewards...]

[Soul Power Awakening: Level 0 → Level 5.]

[Bestiary entry unlocked: Golden-Scaled Grass Carp. Bestiary reward: Constitution +1.]

[Grass carp trait acquired: Brute-Force Tail Swing (passive). Host's leg strength permanently increased.]

A warm current shot from the soles of Lin Yuan's feet to the top of his head, and his bones crackled all over.

He clenched his fist. It felt as though he could kick that millstone-sized rock on the bank straight into the river.

"Level five..." Lin Yuan drew a deep breath and looked at the Golden-Scaled Grass Carp still thrashing in his hand.

The system spoke again: [Tip: Your current catch can be released, eaten, or sold. Releasing it grants additional Soul Power.]

Lin Yuan thought for a moment, crouched down, and gently returned the carp to the water.

The Golden-Scaled Grass Carp swished its tail twice, then suddenly turned back to look at him. Its mouth opened and closed, releasing a string of bubbles, before it swam into deeper water.

[Release successful. Gratitude +10. Additional Soul Power received.]

Lin Yuan stood, rolled his neck, and gazed at the winding river stretching away before him.

His face was reflected on the water: a six-year-old child with bright eyes.

He hoisted the fishing rod over his shoulder and said to himself, "The great river flows east..."

"And after this catch, there's always another."

Footsteps sounded behind him.

Lin Yuan looked back.

Tang San stood ten paces away, clutching a sprig of Blue Silver Grass. He looked hesitant, as though he wanted to speak but did not know how to begin.

"Something you need?" Lin Yuan asked.

Tang San pursed his lips. "Is your Martial Soul... really just a fishing rod?"

"It's a fishing rod," Lin Yuan corrected him.

"...Is there a difference?"

Lin Yuan grinned, showing his white teeth. "A huge one. A rod for fish can only catch fish. But this fishing rod..."

He flicked the hook out in front of Tang San. The silver hook swayed in the sunlight.

"Can catch anything."

Tang San stared at the hook and felt a sudden chill run down his spine.

He did not know why, but his instincts told him not to touch it.

"All right, I'm going back to fishing." Lin Yuan turned, settled into a more comfortable crouch, and cast his line into the water again.

Tang San stood there a while, then turned to leave.

After a few steps, Lin Yuan's voice came from behind him. "Hey, Tang San."

"Hm?"

"Did your dad just tell you to stay away from me?"

Tang San stopped short. "How did you know?"

Lin Yuan did not look back. His voice was lazy. "Because anyone with eyes can see it. A fishing fanatic can pull up anything but fish."

Tang San: "?"

The river breeze brushed past, and Lin Yuan's float sank again.

He flicked his wrist, a smile tugging at his lips.

"Got a bite."