The midday sun hung high overhead. Every member of the Yang Family had already arrived, men and women, young and old standing on either side, anticipation plain on their faces.
On the other side, several elders of the Niu family stood shoulder to shoulder, their gazes straying now and then to the two chubby boys in the middle of the courtyard.
Before the bluestone platform at the courtyard's center, Yang Xue stood in plain training clothes, her silver hair gathered into a simple bun. Though she released no soul power, she possessed an imposing presence all her own.
Several lustrous white Awakening Stones lay before her. With a gentle movement of her fingertips, she quietly fed soul power into them. The stones glimmered, and in an instant, an intricate array appeared atop the platform.
With the array complete, Yang Xue turned toward the two round little fellows before her. A warm smile curved her lips, and her voice was gentle.
"Which of you two little fellows wants to try first?"
Niu Wenchuan stepped forward on his short legs. He first gave Yang Xue a proper bow, then turned and cocked his eyebrows at Yang Chang'an with a showy flourish, even deliberately wiggling his plump body.
"Do you even need to ask? As the older brother, I'll set an example for Chang'an!" Niu Wenchuan thumped his chest and strode into the center of the array.
Yet the moment he stopped, his straight little body involuntarily stiffened, and his small hands clenched into fists. His earlier swagger vanished without a trace, leaving only a solemn expression.
Yang Xue's heart softened at the sight. She stepped forward and gently patted his rigid back, a teasing note in her voice.
"Look at you. Awakening sooner or later makes no difference. We're only drawing out your martial soul. There's no need to be so nervous."
Her words eased some of Niu Wenchuan's anxiety. He let out a deep breath, then lifted his head, his little face solemn as he looked at Yang Xue with burning eyes.
"Please begin, Grandma Yang!"
Yang Xue nodded in approval, then took two steps back. Soul power suddenly surged around her. With a wave of her hand, it flowed like a gentle stream into the array beneath her feet.
The Awakening Stones lit up at once. A soft glow rose from the array and enveloped Niu Wenchuan completely. Warm soul power wrapped around Niu Yue, slowly seeping into his limbs and every part of his body.
The clan members in the courtyard held their breath, their gazes fixed on the chubby boy at the array's center. The Niu family elders leaned forward slightly, their eyes brimming with expectation.
Time ticked by. Within the glow, Niu Wenchuan's brows knitted slightly, his little face intent.
Suddenly, his entire body shuddered. A deep, resonant bellow rang through the courtyard, making the leaves on the trees along its edges rustle.
With that prolonged bellow, Niu Wenchuan's body abruptly changed: his fair skin turned deep black at a visible speed, and a fine layer of keratin appeared over its surface, resembling hard armor.
A short, thick rhinoceros horn slowly emerged from his forehead, gleaming faintly. His body swelled a size larger as well, his formerly round frame growing brawny. Even his little clenched fists seemed to hold the strength of a thousand tons.
"Excellent, excellent! With that presence, his innate level has to be at least seven. He's got the same spirit I had back in the day. That's my grandson for you!"
Niu Yue was the first to react. His eyes lit up, and he threw back his head with a broad-mouthed laugh, his voice full of pride.
Yang Xue walked to the edge of the array and nodded with satisfaction at Niu Wenchuan, whose form had now stabilized.
"It's your Niu family's Armored Giant Rhinoceros martial soul, without the slightest mutation. A solid foundation. Very good."
As she spoke, she extended a finger and lightly touched Niu Wenchuan's forehead, sending a gentle probe of soul power through her fingertip to sense the fluctuations of innate soul power within him.
A moment later, she withdrew her finger and turned toward Niu Yue and the others watching expectantly in the distance, announcing with a bright smile.
"This little calf has fine talent. Innate soul power at level seven and a half. Raise him well, and he has a promising chance of becoming a Soul Douluo!"
An uproar swept through both families. Innate soul power at level seven and a half was first-rate talent even across the entire Douluo Continent. Provided he did not perish along the way, he stood an excellent chance of reaching Soul Douluo.
Niu Yue was beside himself with joy. He strode over to Yang Wushuang and gave his shoulder a hearty slap, unable to hide the pride on his face as he called out loudly.
"Well, Wushuang? My grandson's pretty good, isn't he? He hasn't disgraced either of our clans!"
Seeing Niu Yue's delight, Yang Wushuang smiled and cupped his hands.
"Congratulations, Brother Niu. Congratulations to the Niu family on gaining such a promising youngster!"
The other clan members gathered around to congratulate the Niu family elders. Everyone from the Niu family beamed, the worries of the past several days vanishing like smoke in the wind.
By then, Niu Wenchuan had withdrawn his martial soul, his body returning to its original plump shape, though a trace of lingering excitement remained on his little face.
He hopped off the bluestone platform and scampered over to Yang Chang'an, cocking his eyebrows proudly and holding his little head high. His eyes seemed to say, Well? Pretty impressive, aren't I?
Yang Chang'an could not help smiling at his smug expression. He gave him a thumbs-up, wearing a look that said, Impressive indeed.
That only made Niu Wenchuan even prouder. He stuck out his little belly, all but writing "I'm the best" across his face.
Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, Yang Chang'an drew a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and slowly walked toward the center of the array.
His steps were measured and unhurried, but his tightly clenched little hands still betrayed his nervousness.
Yang Xue gazed warmly at the child standing in the array and gently reassured him.
"Chang'an, relax. It will only take a moment. Just follow the guidance of the soul power. There's no rush."
Yang Chang'an nodded at her words and managed a faint smile, though inwardly he could not help smiling bitterly.
He had always thought himself optimistic enough. After transmigrating to the Douluo Continent and living with the Yang Family for five years, he had long since adjusted to everything here. Yet now that the moment of martial soul awakening had truly arrived, he still could not suppress his nervousness.
He was a transmigrator who had read the novel depicting the Douluo Continent, so he naturally knew what martial soul awakening meant. It was the key that opened the path of cultivation on this continent, and the foundation that determined how high one could rise.
He had secretly dreamed of awakening a heaven-defying mutated martial soul like the novel's protagonist, or possessing the ultimate advantage of that era-twin martial souls-and cheating his way straight to the summit. But now, standing in the Awakening Array and feeling the soul power stirring around him, his anticipation was laced with unease.
"If you're ready, your grandaunt will begin," Yang Xue said just then.
Yang Chang'an closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, the panic in them had faded, leaving only focus. "Please begin, Grandaunt."
Yang Xue said no more. Soul power surged around her once again, pouring into the array like a tide. The Awakening Stones lit up anew, and a golden radiance even brighter than before enveloped Yang Chang'an. Warm soul power slowly seeped into his body, traveling through his meridians and guiding his innate soul power to merge with his martial soul.
The courtyard fell silent in an instant. Every gaze converged on the boy at the center of the array.
Yang Wushuang stood at the front with his hands behind his back. He seemed calm, but his fingers had long since clenched tight, and the anxiety in his eyes was no less than Niu Yue's had been.
Among the Yang Family's children of this generation, Yang Chang'an had always been intelligent and steady, with exceptional comprehension. Everyone in the clan held high hopes for him.
Yang Chang'an felt warmth suffusing his body. As the soul power traveled through him, a powerful stirring suddenly arose deep within.
Immediately afterward, an unstoppable sharpness rose from the depths of his body. It carried an indomitable momentum, as though it would burst through his meridians and out of his flesh.
He instinctively raised his hand. Black light flashed in his palm, and a pitch-black spear appeared from thin air, settling firmly into his grasp.
The spear's shaft was black as ink, gleaming with an icy chill. Its tip was incomparably sharp, with a faint cold light flickering along it, and intricate patterns covered the shaft. It was none other than the Breaking Clan's inherited martial soul-the Soul Breaking Spear!
The moment Yang Chang'an grasped the Soul Breaking Spear, he felt the sharpness within him find an outlet, bringing relief to every meridian in his body.
He lowered his head to look at the spear in his hand and breathed a sigh of relief, his suspended heart finally settling. Thank goodness. There hadn't been a failed martial soul mutation.
Yet a hint of bitterness still welled up within him as he gently stroked the cold shaft. So, even though I transmigrated to the Douluo Continent too, I'm not the chosen one.
There was no heaven-defying mutated martial soul, nor the twin martial souls he had dreamed of. There was only the most orthodox Soul Breaking Spear. Like countless other cultivators on this continent, he would have to advance one firm step at a time.
The instant Yang Xue saw the Soul Breaking Spear, her eyes lit up. She hurried forward and seized Yang Chang'an's arm, sensing the fluctuations of soul power inside him.
A moment later, even Yang Xue's body began to tremble slightly. An utterly radiant smile blossomed on her face. She spun toward Yang Wushuang and the gathered Yang Family members in the distance and shouted with every ounce of strength she had.
"The Soul Breaking Spear martial soul, with innate soul power at level nine! Our Yang Family has produced a future Titled Douluo!"
Innate soul power at level nine!
Yang Wushuang froze for a moment before the news sank in. Then he threw his head back and laughed, overflowing with excitement and relief. The gloom weighing on his heart was swept away, and even his voice trembled.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He hurried forward and looked at Yang Chang'an in the array, his eyes glistening with tears. Today, the Yang Family had finally produced a truly promising youngster. The Yang Family's future was bright.