Sun-Moon Radiance, Becoming Elder Kong's Disciple

"All right. I won't hold up the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony any longer. All imperial children, awaken your Martial Souls in order."

Xu Chengye called Xu He to his side and gathered him into his arms, his face full of affection. Then he looked at the imperial children with interest. It would be difficult for another child to surpass Xu He's talent, but Xu Chengye still hoped a few of them would show promise. They could become Xu He's trusted right and left hands in the future.

"Next, Xu Yang!"

At the Level 8 Soul Engineer's call, a stocky child immediately stepped out of the crowd.

Xu Tiance shifted his attention from Xu He to the boy.

Xu Yang's background was no less distinguished than that of the other imperial children. His father was Prince Xu Tianyuan, a Titled Douluo, a Level 9 Soul Engineer, and commander of the Imperial Dragon Soul Engineer Corps. In terms of standing, Xu Tianyuan even outranked Xu Tiance's father, Xu Chengjing.

As expected, his Martial Soul was also the Sun Martial Soul.

"Xu Yang. Martial Soul: Sun. Innate Soul Power: level eight!"

Unlike the three great empires of the Douluo Continent, which produced Soul Masters in abundance, the Sun Moon Empire considered level-eight Innate Soul Power an excellent talent. Relief showed on Xu Chengye's face.

"Xu Yun. Martial Soul: Sun. Innate Soul Power: level five!"

"Xu Sheng. Martial Soul: Sun. Innate Soul Power: level four!"

Aside from Xu Yang, none of the imperial children who underwent Martial Soul Awakening afterward had particularly high Innate Soul Power. Xu Tiance also noticed that every one of them awakened the Sun Martial Soul. Not a single Silver Moon Martial Soul appeared.

Beside him, disappointment gradually showed on Kong Deming's face.

Many years ago, an upheaval had struck the Sun Moon Imperial Family. Ever since, imperial children with the Silver Moon Martial Soul had grown increasingly rare. In the entire imperial family, only two people now possessed it.

One was Kong Deming, the Silver Moon Douluo and the pillar that held the Sun Moon Imperial Family steady. The other was Xu Chengye and Xu Chengjing's younger sister, who had married a Level 9 Soul Engineer of the Sun Moon Empire but had never borne a child.

Kong Deming had always hoped another member of the imperial family would awaken the Silver Moon Martial Soul, so he could pass on his knowledge and legacy.

Unfortunately... after all these years, he was still waiting.

"Next, Prince Purple Brilliant's fourth son, Xu Tiance!"

At the Level 8 Soul Engineer's call, Xu Chengjing patted Xu Tiance on the shoulder, expectation in his eyes. Beside them, Xu Tianran said gently, "Fourth Brother, relax. There's no need to be nervous."

"Don't worry, Big Brother. I'm not nervous."

Xu Tiance answered, putting on a show of brotherly affection, though he could not help grumbling inwardly.

Xu Tianran was playing the caring elder brother now, but if Xu Tiance awakened the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon or some other powerful Martial Soul and displayed exceptional talent, Xu Tianran would be the first to turn on him.

Xu Tiance let out a long breath, then stepped onto the awakening formation.

The instant the Level 8 Soul Engineer poured Soul Power into the formation, a dense white light surged up and rushed toward Xu Tiance's body with near-frenzied force!

Kong Deming, who stood closest, trembled slightly. A flicker of anticipation appeared on his face.

That light... it wasn't the Sun Martial Soul.

But in the next instant, another mass of light burst forth. It shone a brilliant gold, yet it did not overpower the dense white light. Instead, the two lights illuminated each other!

A golden sun and silver moon intertwined behind Xu Tiance, suspended in midair. Gold and silver halos flowed around them. At times, golden radiance blazed; at others, the moonlight gleamed cool and clear, as though yin and yang had come into being together.

This... was a Mutated Martial Soul!

Kong Deming's breathing quickened.

Since ancient times, the Martial Souls passed down through the Sun Moon Imperial Family had been the sun and the Silver Moon. Occasionally, imperial children had been able to fuse the two Martial Souls and unleash the Martial Soul Fusion Skill Sun-Moon Radiance. But no one had ever possessed both the sun and the Silver Moon at once!

Moreover, Xu Tiance had not awakened Twin Martial Souls of sun and Silver Moon. His Sun-Moon Radiance sprang from a single source, its two aspects so perfectly intertwined that it had plainly touched the realm of Ultimate Martial Souls!

That searing heat, that cool clarity... each far surpassed a Sun Martial Soul or Silver Moon Martial Soul alone!

This Martial Soul was not merely a once-in-a-century rarity in the Sun Moon Empire. Nothing like it had appeared since the empire's founding!

Kong Deming immediately stepped forward, his gaze burning. "Xu Tiance, will you become my disciple?"

Xu Chengye's expression stiffened slightly. Even Xu He, whom he had just named crown prince, had not prompted Elder Kong to offer to take him as a disciple. Xu He even possessed Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power! Yet Elder Kong had made the offer the moment Xu Tiance awakened his Martial Soul. The difference left a bitter taste in Xu Chengye's mouth.

Xu Chengjing, however, looked delighted.

Xu Tiance might not have awakened the Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon, but his Sun-Moon Radiance Martial Soul had prompted Elder Kong himself to offer to take him as a disciple!

What did that mean?

It meant that even if the coup Xu Chengjing had plotted for so long failed to gain Elder Kong's support, Elder Kong certainly would not oppose it!

As long as Elder Kong did not object, Xu Chengjing was fully confident he could drag Xu Chengye off the throne and become emperor of the Sun Moon Empire without Elder Kong lifting a finger!

Kong Deming had offered to take me as his disciple?

There was... no reason to hesitate.

In the Sun Moon Empire, there were only a handful of truly good teachers: Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui, the Holy Spirit Cult's two Limit Douluo; Kong Deming, the Sun Moon Empire's chief worshiper; and Jing Hongchen, the head of Mingde Hall.

Among them, Kong Deming was unquestionably the finest choice.

And with Kong Deming behind him, Xu Tianran would not dare move against him lightly.

Without the slightest hesitation, Xu Tiance bowed respectfully as a disciple. "Your disciple Xu Tiance greets you, Teacher."

Satisfaction immediately spread across Kong Deming's face. Only then did the Level 8 Soul Engineer presiding over the Martial Soul Awakening speak up, somewhat timidly:

"Elder Kong, Xu Tiance hasn't tested his Innate Soul Power yet..."

At the reminder, Kong Deming came to his senses and realized he might have been a little hasty.

But... it did not matter. Judging by that Martial Soul alone, Xu Tiance's Innate Soul Power could not possibly be weak.

"Tiance, place your hand on the crystal ball and test your Innate Soul Power."