Awakening the Martial Souls

Leaving the bustle of the station behind, the group headed toward the center of Aolai City, led by Tang Ziran and his wife. Before long, a magnificent circular building came into view. This was the Aolai City branch of the Spirit Pagoda. Though it lacked the headquarters' cloud-piercing height and gilded splendor, it still exuded an ancient, solemn air.

Passing through the enormous arched entrance into the Spirit Pagoda's first-floor hall, Tang Wulin was immediately captivated by the sight before him.

Soft light filled the tower, coming not from ordinary lamps, but from strange crystals embedded in the walls that emitted a gentle white glow. The hall's soaring dome was covered in vividly colored murals. Rather than remaining still, the murals slowly shifted with the changing light, as though alive, depicting the history of coexistence between soul masters and soul beasts, along with the legendary deeds of the Spirit Pagoda's past sages.

Blue-gray stone tiles covered the floor, each engraved with intricate, mysterious soul-guiding patterns. These patterns subtly connected to form an enormous Magic Array. Walking across them, one could almost feel a faint tingling beneath one's feet—the flow of the world's primal energy.

"So... so beautiful," Tang Wulin murmured in wonder, his eyes widening. He had seen Shrek Academy's rustic elegance and the Sea God Pavilion's sanctity, but the Spirit Pagoda gave him an entirely different feeling, as though it connected to another mysterious world.

Tang Ziran lowered his voice and explained, "The Spirit Pagoda is a sacred place. Every stone and brick here holds a touch of spirituality."

Guided by a middle-aged man in orange robes with a Spirit Transmitter's badge on his chest, the group did not linger on the first floor. He led them toward a metal elevator to one side. Its doors slid open silently, revealing a stark, simply furnished interior whose walls were likewise covered in shimmering soul-guiding patterns.

"This elevator is reserved for access to the awakening chamber." The Spirit Transmitter's voice was gentle, with a hint of professional detachment, but when he looked at Tang Wutong, a barely perceptible trace of reverence flashed deep in his eyes.

The elevator rose slowly. A few minutes later, its doors opened with a faint ding.

A long corridor appeared before them. Huge stone pillars stood along both sides, each carved with reliefs of soul beasts in different poses: golden eagles soaring with spread wings, fierce tigers roaring through mountain forests. They were so lifelike that they seemed ready to leap from the pillars at any moment.

Beyond the corridor lay the awakening chamber.

Its heavy wooden door stood ten meters tall, inlaid with an enormous six-pointed star surrounded by countless fine runes. As the token in the Spirit Transmitter's hand lit up, the massive door slowly swung inward with a deep rumble, as though opening a gateway to another dimension.

The awakening chamber was a circular space roughly thirty meters across. The surrounding walls, the floor, and even the dome overhead were densely engraved with magnificent, wondrous patterns. These patterns were not lifeless; a faint golden radiance flowed through them, pulsing slowly like blood within a human body.

At the center of the room stood a circular stone platform slightly raised above the floor. Seven faintly glowing crystal pillars surrounded it, clearly intended to channel energy.

An ancient, desolate aura washed over them. An indescribable fragrance filled the air—the scent of time entwined with soul power. Standing there, Tang Wulin's little heart began beating faster of its own accord. He felt something deep within his body stirring, as though answering some summons from the room.

"This is the awakening chamber." The Spirit Transmitter turned to Tang Wulin with a gentle smile. "Don't be afraid, little one. Stand on the stone platform in the middle. Whatever happens next, don't resist. Just let it happen naturally."

Tang Wulin nodded, curiosity and anticipation sparkling in his clear blue eyes. Releasing Lang Yue's hand, he walked toward the stone platform at the center of the room, his steps resolute yet still touched with childish innocence.

Tang Wutong stood at the entrance, her gaze fixed on her younger brother, her hands unconsciously clenching. Tang Ziran and Lang Yue held their breath. The only sound left in the awakening chamber was the faint hum of light flowing through the soul-guiding patterns.

Soft light filled the awakening chamber, and the strange fragrance in the air soothed everyone's minds almost against their will.

The orange-robed Spirit Transmitter stood beside Tang Wulin, his expression solemn. He extended his right hand, a gentle white glow appearing in his palm, and lightly pressed it against Tang Wulin's forehead. Murmuring an incantation, he guided a mysterious energy through the Magic Array.

"Child, relax. Don't resist. Feel the most primal power within you." The Spirit Transmitter's voice seemed to carry a magic of its own as it reached Tang Wulin's ears.

Tang Wulin obediently closed his eyes. He thought of his sister Tang Wutong's gentle smile and the osmanthus cakes Aunt Lang Yue made, and his heart grew peaceful.

At first, everything remained calm. A faint white light rose from the Magic Array beneath his feet and flowed into his soles. Its warmth felt wonderfully comfortable.

But the instant that energy touched the depths of his dantian, something suddenly changed!

"Ah—!"

A short cry escaped Tang Wulin's lips. It was not a scream of pain, but a gasp of shock, as though something had slammed into his soul.

Outside the door, Tang Wutong instantly clenched her fists, narrowing her eyes as she stared intently into the chamber. Jiang Nannan's expression sharpened as well, a fine sheen of sweat forming on her palms.

"What happened?" Lang Yue turned pale with fright and tried to rush inside, but Tang Ziran held her firmly back.

"Don't panic, don't panic. This is a normal energy surge..." Tang Ziran said, though his voice trembled.

Inside, the Spirit Transmitter was startled too. Normally, children rarely reacted so violently when awakening their martial souls, unless...

Tang Wulin's body suddenly shuddered. Immediately afterward, an indescribably strange fluctuation erupted from him!

Humm—

An emerald beam shot upward, instantly illuminating the entire awakening chamber. Tang Wulin opened his right hand, palm up, and a blade of grass emerged from it, its entire length an uncanny blue, with faint golden patterns winding around its stem!

The little plant grew with astonishing speed, reaching over a meter tall in an instant. Its leaves were broad, their edges shimmering with blue-gold light, and it radiated an ancient, noble, overbearing aura. This was unmistakably the sovereign of plant-type martial souls—the Blue Silver Emperor!

"Blue Silver Grass? No, this is the Blue Silver Emperor!" The Spirit Transmitter drew in a sharp breath, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets. He had only ever seen such a supreme martial soul in ancient texts!

Yet just as the Blue Silver Emperor's radiance reached its peak, that strange fluctuation abruptly, eerily subsided. The turbulent energy withdrew in an instant, as though something had forcibly suppressed it.

The emerald light then swiftly dimmed, leaving only the most ordinary pale blue glow. The little plant that had radiated a sovereign's imposing might seemed to lose its vitality as well, becoming an utterly ordinary stalk of Blue Silver Grass, the kind found everywhere.

Tang Wulin opened his eyes in bewilderment and looked at the unremarkable grass in his hand, unsure what to do.

The Spirit Transmitter froze too. After carefully sensing it, he found that the overbearing aura had indeed vanished, leaving only a faint trace of soul power.

"Well..." The Spirit Transmitter shook his head regretfully. "The awakening... succeeded. Martial soul: Blue Silver Grass. Though it's only the most ordinary martial soul, at least..."

Before he could finish, Tang Wutong had already breathed a sigh of relief. She knew her brother's true power went far beyond this. What had been suppressed was not merely his martial soul, but also his earth-shaking bloodline.

Tang Wulin looked at the Blue Silver Grass in his hand, feeling a little disappointed. But when his sister came in and gently stroked his head, a brilliant smile returned to his face.

The atmosphere in the awakening chamber, which had grown somewhat subdued because of that seemingly ordinary Blue Silver Grass, abruptly turned tense as a second power awakened within Tang Wulin.

Just as the Spirit Transmitter was about to announce the result, a strange fluctuation suddenly burst from Tang Wulin's clenched left hand. It held the utmost suppleness and explosive force, as though a sleeping spirit beast had suddenly opened its eyes.

"What is—?"

Before the Spirit Transmitter could cry out, a cloud of pink light exploded from Tang Wulin's palm!

Bang!

The luminous mist dispersed, and the phantom of a snow-white rabbit with eyes gleaming like rubies took solid shape above his left shoulder. Though small, the rabbit phantom looked majestic, its ears erect, its body emitting an uncanny aura that seemed to warp space itself. This was a supreme beast martial soul that perfectly combined speed and strength—the Soft Bone Rabbit!

"Twin martial souls! He actually has twin martial souls!" The Spirit Transmitter completely lost his composure. Pointing a trembling finger at the rabbit phantom in the air, he stared in disbelief. "And such a powerful beast martial soul at that! This... this is nothing short of a miracle!"

Tang Wulin was startled by the rabbit that had suddenly appeared from his left hand. Instinctively, he reached out with his right hand to touch it, and the rabbit phantom affectionately nuzzled his cheek, leaving a streak of pink light.

"So cute..." Tang Wulin exclaimed despite himself.

Cute? This is a supreme martial soul suited to both assault and agility attacks! the Spirit Transmitter roared inwardly, but he had no time to explain. The appearance of twin martial souls meant this child's talent could not possibly end here. The soul power test that followed would probably...

At that thought, the Spirit Transmitter took out the crystal ball used to measure soul power, his hands practically shaking. He spoke urgently. "Quick! Child, put your hand on it! Let's test your soul power!"

Tang Wulin blinked and did as instructed, gently pressing the left hand that had just awakened the Soft Bone Rabbit against the cold crystal ball.

He concentrated...

One second, two seconds...

There was no reaction within the crystal ball. The Spirit Transmitter's heart instantly leaped into his throat. Could the excessive awakening have destabilized his soul power?

Just as the deathly silent wait was about to end, and the Spirit Transmitter was preparing to comfort the child—

Humm!

A dazzling point of light suddenly blossomed in the center of the crystal ball! So brilliant and pure was that light that it instantly became a soaring pillar, shooting straight toward the awakening chamber's dome!

Golden flames seemed to burn inside the entire crystal ball. Its radiance was full to bursting, without a trace of impurity, and as steady as a star!

"This... this is..." The Spirit Transmitter's eyes widened, his pupils contracting sharply, as though he had witnessed the most terrifying thing in the world.

Innate full soul power! Rank-ten soul power!

And that soul power was still climbing!

Rank eleven! Rank twelve! Rank thirteen!

Only when the light stabilized at a daunting height did its upward surge slowly cease.

"Innate... Innate full soul power... no, innate soul power beyond rank ten!" The Spirit Transmitter's voice was hoarse, filled with boundless trembling and fervor. "Rank thirteen! It's actually rank thirteen!"

The entire awakening chamber fell into deathly silence. Twin martial souls, one useless and one powerful, yet accompanied by innate soul power that surpassed the limit. Genius was no longer enough to describe him. This was a monster! The future ruler of the Douluo Continent!

Tang Wulin looked at the brilliantly shining crystal ball in his hand, then at the Soft Bone Rabbit on his shoulder. At last, a radiant smile spread across his young face, as though he had merely accomplished something insignificant.

"Sister, I did it!" He turned and called excitedly to Tang Wutong at the entrance.