Martial Soul Awakening, Crown Prince Xu He

Sun Moon Empire, Mingdu, the palace's Martial Soul Awakening Hall.

Watching the busy figures come and go, Xu Tiance leaned against the maid beside him. His heart remained still.

Martial Soul Awakening always came down to the same few possibilities: either the Sun Martial Soul or the Silver Moon Martial Soul. There was also a chance of awakening the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon Martial Soul, like Xu Tianran.

But that Martial Soul was not so easily awakened.

Even in the Purple Brilliant Prince's Residence, only two people had awakened it. One was his father, Xu Chengjing, and the other was his eldest brother, Xu Tianran. His two other older brothers had both awakened the Sun Martial Soul.

Xu Tiance was more interested in the gentle-looking middle-aged man seated high on the imperial throne than in the coming Martial Soul Awakening ceremony. That man was Xu Chengye, the current emperor of the Sun Moon Empire. Beside him stood his legitimate son, Xu He.

The name Xu He might not sound familiar. Call him He Caitou, though, and it became much more recognizable.

According to the original course of events, his father, Xu Chengjing, would launch a coup three years from now, drive Xu Chengye from the throne, and kill his family. Only Xu He would escape. He would flee from the Sun Moon Empire to the Heaven Dou Empire, where Fan Yu would eventually discover him and bring him back to Shrek Academy. There, he would take the name He Caitou.

Honestly, that plot was rather absurd.

Xu Chengjing would stage a coup, depose Xu Chengye, and slaughter every one of his consorts and daughters, yet somehow let his legitimate son escape... No matter how Xu Tiance looked at it, it made no sense.

Xu Tiance shook his head. Rather than dwell on it, he studied Xu He with interest.

If he remembered correctly, there had been plenty of debate about He Caitou's Martial Souls in the original story. Some believed he had only the Cigar Martial Soul, while others thought he had Twin Martial Souls: the sun and a cigar... Today, Xu Tiance could see for himself exactly what Martial Souls he possessed.

After all, Xu He was the first to undergo Martial Soul Awakening.

Amid a burst of noise outside the hall, a somewhat gaunt figure strode in. Dressed in splendid robes of gold and black, he looked like an elderly man.

The instant he entered, however, the entire hall fell silent. Both Xu Chengye, seated on the throne, and the Purple Brilliant Prince Xu Chengjing, standing beside Xu Tiance, straightened their expressions and respectfully greeted him as Elder Kong.

The newcomer was Kong Deming, the Sun Moon Empire's Sea-Calming Divine Needle and chief of the Offering Hall!

Kong Deming's expression did not change. He merely swept a calm gaze around the hall and said, "Everyone is here. Let us begin."

Xu Chengye did not hesitate. "The imperial family's Martial Soul Awakening ceremony begins now. Xu He, step onto the Awakening Formation."

At his words, Xu He came forward. Under everyone's gaze, he slowly walked to the very center of the hall.

The person presiding over the ceremony was also a rather short old man. He was not a member of the Offering Hall, however, but merely a Level 8 Soul Engineer.

Soon, a dazzling light suddenly shone from Xu He's body.

A blazing sun appeared above Xu He's head, radiating scorching heat. Then it vanished in an instant, replaced by a cigar in his palm.

Mystery solved. Xu He really did have Twin Martial Souls: the sun and a cigar!

It made sense. Before the coup, Xu He had already been the Sun Moon Empire's Crown Prince. If he had possessed none of the imperial family's inherited Martial Souls and had only the Cigar Martial Soul, he could never have held that position.

"Prince Xu He: Twin Martial Souls, the sun and a cigar!"

The Level 8 Soul Engineer's voice trembled slightly. Before the throne, Xu Chengye descended the steps, excitement plain on his face.

Twin Martial Souls!

His son possessed Twin Martial Souls, an extraordinary rarity in the Sun Moon Empire! Such a genius appeared scarcely once in a century!

"Your Highness, we must test your Innate Soul Power now. Just place your hand on the crystal ball."

Xu He placed his palm on the crystal ball as instructed. In the next instant, a dazzling radiance burst forth and filled the entire hall. From within the light came the Level 8 Soul Engineer's excited voice:

"Prince Xu He... Innate Full Soul Power! Congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Xu Chengye froze for a moment. Then, heedless of imperial dignity, he threw back his head and laughed, his face alight with joy.

At the same time, Xu Tiance noticed the slight furrow in his father Xu Chengjing's brow.

Xu Chengjing had begun plotting in secret the very day Xu Tianran awakened the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon, all in preparation for the coup three years from now. For Xu Chengye's son to awaken Twin Martial Souls and possess Innate Full Soul Power was plainly not a good sign.

The change in Xu Chengjing's expression lasted only an instant. It quickly vanished, replaced by a smile that looked utterly sincere.

"My imperial nephew has awakened Twin Martial Souls, a rarity seen scarcely once in a century in our Sun Moon Empire. Congratulations, imperial brother!"

"Hahaha!"

Xu Chengye heard none of the emotion hidden beneath Xu Chengjing's words. Instead, he clapped his hands and laughed. "Since you are all here to witness it, I shall name Xu He Crown Prince!"

"My son shall be the Sun Moon Empire's Qilin Child!"

Xu Chengjing's breath caught for a moment, but he immediately recovered. On his other side, however, Xu Tianran quietly clenched his fist, a sharp gleam appearing in his eyes.

The young Xu Tianran had yet to master Xu Chengjing's composure. Fortunately for him, Xu Chengye did not notice his expression. Otherwise, he would surely have sensed something amiss.

A trace of excitement showed on young Xu He's face, but he did not lose his composure. Instead, he dropped to both knees and declared loudly, "Your son thanks you, Imperial Father!"

Congratulations rang out one after another. Kong Deming, who had watched coldly throughout, could not help furrowing his brow.

Unlike the Sun Moon Empire's previous emperors, Xu Chengye was a genuine moderate. He bore no hostility toward the three empires of Douluo Continent. Instead, he advocated peace above all and even hoped to forge an alliance with them.

His actions had drawn considerable resentment from many members of the Offering Hall and throughout the imperial court.

Kong Deming had never said so openly, but he, too, was dissatisfied with Xu Chengye's actions.