The Sound of Thunder

"Teacher, Teacher." Yan Jin knocked on Amon's door.

Amon, who had been cultivating Soul Power, opened his eyes and stopped meditating. Several clones in the room turned into streams of light and entered his body.

The moment he heard Yan Jin address him like that, he knew this brat must be asking him for a favor.

Normally, she was never this polite. She would just bang on the door with a loud Bam! Bam! Bam! This was already an improvement after she had been taught a lesson for barging into Amon's room without permission.

"What is it?" Amon opened the door and rubbed her head.

Although Yan Jin was dissatisfied with having her hair messed up, she had come to ask for help, so she could only endure it.

"Teacher, do you know how to conduct a Martial Soul Awakening ceremony?"

"Hm? Do you want me to awaken your younger brother and sister's Martial Souls?"

"Yes. Lei Yin and Mo Lei are already six. It's time for their Martial Soul Awakening." Yan Jin nodded.

"Why not go to Spirit Hall?"

Yan Jin pulled a bitter face. "Because we missed the time. Every year, they help commoners undergo Martial Soul Awakening during a fixed period. If you miss it and want an individual awakening, there's an additional fee, and it isn't cheap."

Amon shrugged and nodded. "All right. The Academy has the tools needed for an awakening. I'll borrow them tomorrow and conduct the ceremony for Lei Yin and Mo Lei."

"Thank you."

At the mention of the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony, Amon could not help thinking of the renowned awakening master, Su Yuntao, and felt a faint sense of regret.

If Su Yuntao had helped awaken him, perhaps his Martial Soul could have risen another level and become something like Sefirah Castle.

Amon did not know how to conduct an awakening ceremony, but he could learn.

That very day, he found the relevant books in the Library and memorized the steps one by one. It was not difficult.

The next day, he borrowed the Academy's ceremonial tools and prepared to help Lei Yin and Mo Lei undergo Martial Soul Awakening.

Amon arranged six pitch-black round stones into a hexagon on the ground, then signaled for Mo Lei to stand inside it.

Mo Lei stepped cautiously into the center of the hexagon, filled with anticipation and unease.

As six streams of Soul Power flowed in, a hazy golden radiance emerged from the stones, forming a pale golden barrier that enveloped Mo Lei.

As the light covered her, Mo Lei's expression became somewhat vacant. Golden motes drifted out from the stones and entered her body.

Her body suddenly began to tremble.

"Extend your right hand." Amon's gentle voice sounded.

Mo Lei obediently held out her palm. All the light particles began to gather, and in an instant, a transparent crystal ball appeared in her hand.

The golden light gradually faded. Mo Lei looked at the crystal ball in her hand, at a loss.

"This is your Martial Soul. By classification, it counts as a Tool Martial Soul. Next comes the important part. Let's test whether you have Soul Power. Only those with detectable Soul Power can cultivate as Soul Masters," Amon explained.

Seeing that Mo Lei was still at a loss, Yan Jin reminded her, "Use your thoughts to put it away. In the future, use your thoughts to summon it whenever you want to use it."

Mo Lei tried for a long time before finally putting the crystal ball away.

Amon held the testing Blue Crystal out before her and gestured for her to place her right hand on it.

Mo Lei placed her chubby little hand on the testing crystal ball. After a moment, it showed no reaction whatsoever.

Yan Jin revealed a disappointed expression.

Seeing her reaction, Mo Lei grew uneasy. She pursed her lips and asked tremblingly, "Do I not have the aptitude to become a Soul Master?"

Amon nodded gently.

The testing crystal ball's lack of response did not mean Mo Lei had no Soul Power at all. It was simply too little, not even half a level, and could not be detected.

This meant her talent was too low for the path of a Soul Master. Forcing herself to cultivate would only waste her time.

Looking at the dejected Mo Lei, Yan Jin felt upset, but she did not know how to comfort her.

"Let her have some time alone. Going over there would only make things worse. After all, you're the successful one, a 'genius' who makes who knows how many people feel inferior," Amon advised.

Next, he began Lei Yin's awakening.

Streams of silver light moved through Lei Yin's palm like tiny silver Snakes, accompanied by the faint sound of thunder.

"A Lightning Martial Soul!" Amon's eyes lit up, and he felt a few degrees more anticipation.

When Lei Yin placed his right hand on the testing crystal, the crystal ball suddenly blossomed with brilliant light. Based on the knowledge he had read in the books, Amon judged Lei Yin's Innate Soul Power to be level seven.

Innate Full Soul Power was exceedingly rare. Levels nine and eight could be considered genius-level talent.

Level seven was fairly good. If he acquired suitable Spirit Rings later on, he might even have a sliver of hope of becoming a Title Douluo.

Amon looked at Lei Yin, then at Yan Jin, and felt that their village truly had excellent feng shui to produce two people with such talent at once.

The children all cheered. Yan Jin also laughed loudly and stepped forward to pat Lei Yin on the shoulder. "Hahaha, not bad. We'll be classmates from now on. Hurry up and call me Senior Sister."

The courtyard was filled with noise, while Mo Lei alone stood to the side, looking at Lei Yin with some disappointment in her heart.

Lei Yin looked delighted. After thinking for a moment, he said to Yan Jin, "Sister, can I not go to school? The family still needs someone to look after it. It would be too hard on Mo Lei alone. I can cultivate Soul Power at home."

"What nonsense are you talking about? How can you not go to school?" Yan Jin put on a stern face and assumed the authority of an elder sister.

Amon adjusted his Monocle, his gaze flickering slightly as he spoke. "It's fine if he doesn't go. I can teach him the basic knowledge a Soul Master needs to understand."

"Then... all right." Yan Jin nodded.

She greatly acknowledged Amon's ability. After all, he was the only person with lower Soul Power than hers who could still leave her at a disadvantage.

Besides that, in Yan Jin's eyes, Amon was extremely knowledgeable and had unique insights into Martial Souls. Although his Soul Power was inferior to hers, he surpassed the Academy's teachers in many respects.

"Speaking of school, Yan Jin, how much knowledge have you actually learned there?" Amon suddenly asked.

"Uh... well..." Yan Jin stammered, her gaze beginning to wander. Her practical combat ability was unmatched in the Academy, while her theoretical knowledge ranked at the bottom of her grade.

"What do you think Lei Yin needs to do most right now?" Amon asked with a hint of testing in his tone.

Yan Jin lowered her head and thought for a moment. She clenched her right hand into a fist and lightly struck her left palm, then answered earnestly, "I know this. He needs to hunt a Slime!"

"You only need to hunt Spirit Rings once his Soul Power reaches level ten. What he should do now is train his control over his Soul Power."

"Right, right, that's what I meant." Yan Jin had personally experienced the benefits that control brought her.

She rested her chin on her right hand, then suddenly said to Amon, "Should we visit Ma Wen again and have her invest in Lei Yin too?"

Amon thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Not for now. Let's wait and see."