Martial Soul Awakening

Looking at Divine King Tang, who not only hadn't suspected a thing but was grateful for his guidance, Huo Yuhao let out a long breath of relief.

This felt good.

Using Tang San's future achievements to lecture Tang Sanmei, who had only just crossed over—this felt even more satisfying than killing her!

"Get up. Of course I can guide you."

A satisfied smile touched Huo Yuhao's lips. He reached out and pinched Tang Sanmei's soft little cheek, his tone growing gentler.

"After all, you're my most obedient... maid."

"Yes! Third Lady understands her place!"

Far from feeling humiliated, Tang Sanmei beamed at having earned Huo Yuhao's approval.

Over the next few days, a strange scene unfolded at the blacksmith's shop in Holy Soul Village.

The daughter of the mighty Clear Sky Douluo followed Huo Yuhao around like an ardent little fan every day, serving him tea and water, massaging his legs and shoulders.

Whenever Huo Yuhao offered the slightest hint, she acted as though she had received a heavenly scripture and excitedly ran off to meditate in a corner.

Meanwhile, Tang Hao could only hammer iron next door until sparks flew, gritting his teeth as he endured it all.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed. Huo Yuhao's injuries had mostly healed.

Although his cultivation had been blasted away without a trace, he was surprised to find that his shrunken body still retained the foundation of his former spiritual power. It was even purer than when he had been a child in his previous life, making it ideal for starting his cultivation anew.

Early one morning, just after Tang Sanmei had helped Huo Yuhao wash his face, Old Jack's heavy knocking sounded outside the courtyard.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Tang Hao! Open up! The Deacon from Spirit Hall came to the village today. Third Lady turned six this year, so hurry and take her to the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony!"

At the words "Martial Soul Awakening," Tang Sanmei's eyes lit up as she put away the washbasin.

Tang Hao had doted on her in this life, and she had naturally heard the village elders talk about Martial Souls long ago.

She immediately turned to Huo Yuhao, her face alight with excitement.

"Sect Master! I understand!"

Realization dawned on Tang Sanmei.

"A few days ago, you told me the Mysterious Heaven Skill had to be combined with this other world's Soul Power system to break through the first level's bottleneck... Was Martial Soul Awakening the opportunity you meant?"

Hearing Tang Sanmei fill in the blanks herself, Huo Yuhao, seated in his chair, suddenly had a sharp glint in his eyes.

It's finally here.

Blind Douluo Su Yuntao, Twin Martial Souls, and... the gears that will set Douluo Continent's fate in motion!

"You're not too slow."

Huo Yuhao stood. Rather than answer directly, he patted Tang Sanmei's shoulder, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Let's go, Third Lady."

Huo Yuhao clasped his hands behind his back and strode toward the door like a true big shot.

"Come with your sect master and see what tricks this so-called Martial Soul Awakening has up its sleeve."

The blacksmith's wooden door swung open.

Old Jack, standing outside, looked at Huo Yuhao as he came out behind Tang Sanmei with the air of a young master. The old man visibly froze.

"Third Lady, who is this child...?"

"Grandpa Jack, he's a distant... cousin I rescued a few days ago! I thought I'd bring him along to see the Martial Soul Awakening!"

Tang Sanmei lied without batting an eye, mainly because she feared calling him "Sect Master" would frighten the old man.

Old Jack sighed. He glanced at Tang Hao, who stood inside with a dark face and said nothing, then shook his head.

"Tang Hao, Tang Hao. You can barely get by yourself, and Third Lady's so young, yet she has to care for someone sick... Never mind. Come along, children. The Deacon must be getting impatient."

Seven or eight other children, all around six years old, already stood inside the Spirit Hall Branch at the center of the village.

At the front stood a proud-looking young man in a neat Spirit Hall uniform, with a badge bearing the character for "soul" pinned to his chest.

It was none other than the legendary Blind Douluo, famous throughout the world of Douluo fanfiction: Su Yuntao!

"Children, my name is Su Yuntao. I'm a level-twenty-six Soul Grandmaster, and I'll be your guide. Next, I'll awaken your Martial Souls one by one..."

After his customary introduction, Su Yuntao shouted:

"Lone Wolf, possess me!"

As two Soul Rings, one white and one yellow, rose around him, Su Yuntao's body swelled. Gray fur sprouted, his hands became wolf claws, and an oppressive aura filled the already cramped wooden room.

"Waaah!"

Several nearby children burst into frightened tears at the sight and scrambled backward.

But amid the crowd, two alone stood their ground without so much as blinking.

One was Tang Sanmei.

She had lived two lives and was resolute by nature. Huo Yuhao had also spent the past few days teaching her Martial Soul Theory from ten thousand years in the future. Looking at Su Yuntao's mere two Soul Rings, she felt no fear. If anything, she thought... That's it?

Even a random old gatekeeper from the inner sect is probably stronger than him.

The other, of course, was Huo Yuhao.

Looking at Su Yuntao's wolf fur, he almost wanted to yawn.

One white, one yellow—what a trash Soul Ring combination... Brother Tao, you're as authentic as ever.

"Hm?"

Su Yuntao noticed the two calm children too, especially the impossibly pretty blue-haired little girl and the frail boy beside her with unusually deep eyes.

"Good nerves. You two can go last."

Su Yuntao nodded in approval.

The awakening ceremony officially began.

Hoes, sickles, Blue Silver Grass... As expected, the first few children all had Trash Martial Souls and not a trace of Soul Power.

Su Yuntao shook his head in disappointment.

"Next. You."

Su Yuntao pointed at Tang Sanmei.

Tang Sanmei did not step forward at once. Instead, she turned to look at Huo Yuhao.

Only after Huo Yuhao gave a slight nod did she take a deep breath, answer respectfully, and step into the Hexagram Array on the floor.

Golden light poured into Tang Sanmei's body.

Tang Sanmei felt the Mysterious Heaven Skill's Internal Force, stuck at the first level's bottleneck, find an outlet and surge into a boil!

She raised her right hand instinctively, and a stalk of Blue Silver Grass glowing faintly blue appeared in her palm.

At the same time, her left hand suddenly grew heavy.

An overbearing force strained to burst out of her body, but Tang Sanmei remembered her father Tang Hao's instructions and forcibly suppressed the black hammer in her left hand with the Mysterious Heaven Skill's Internal Force.

"Blue Silver Grass? Another Trash Martial Soul."

Su Yuntao sighed in disappointment.

"Never mind. Let's test your Soul Power."

Tang Sanmei placed her hand on the blue crystal ball.

The next instant, dazzling blue light erupted, illuminating the entire wooden room!

"Heavens! This... this is Innate Full Soul Power!"

Su Yuntao's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, and his whole body shook with excitement.

"What a pity, such a pity! Of all things, it had to be the Trash Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass!"