The commotion surrounding Xiao Chen's Martial Soul Awakening quietly came to an end.
With Leng Yaoyu personally suppressing the news, the pitch-black pillar of light and the strange phenomena that had accompanied the awakening of his Wither Martial Soul were all contained within this area.
To the outside world, it was merely the emergence of an ordinary genius with innate full soul power. No one probed further, and the matter naturally passed.
A few days after his Martial Soul awakened, Leng Yaoyu put away the affection previously in her eyes, her expression turning somewhat serious as she faced the boy before her.
"With innate full soul power and your unique Wither Martial Soul, your starting point is already far beyond that of ninety-nine percent of the Soul Masters on the continent."
Her steps were light and unhurried as she led Xiao Chen slowly through the corridor. Her white and fiery-red robe stirred gently in the breeze, lending her a cool, dignified air.
"After children from ordinary families awaken their Martial Souls, they can only hope to buy a ten-year Soul Spirit by spending a fortune."
"But you're different. I'll take you to the Soul Spirit storage room the Spirit Transferring Pagoda reserves specifically for its own people, so you can personally choose your first Soul Spirit."
A flicker passed through Xiao Chen's eyes at her words, though his expression remained tranquil. "I can choose for myself?"
"Of course." Leng Yaoyu nodded gently.
"I raised you myself, and your talent is unparalleled. Naturally, you should have the Soul Spirit that suits you best."
"The Spirit Transferring Pagoda possesses the most comprehensive reserve of Soul Spirits on the continent. Every type, age, and attribute is available. Today, you may take your pick."
The two made their way through one elegant hall after another and along corridors paved with white jade.
The Spirit Transferring Pagoda's interior was grand and tranquil. All manner of devices greeted them at every turn, brimming with a sense of advanced technology.
The flowing halos of Soul Spirits were visible everywhere, imbuing every corner with a dignity and solemnity that seemed removed from the mortal world.
Before long, Leng Yaoyu led Xiao Chen into the Soul Spirit storage room.
It was filled with all kinds of Soul Spirits belonging to the Spirit Transferring Pagoda.
Countless crystalline spheres of light floated inside the Soul Spirit storage room, differing in color and brightness. Within each halo slept a docile, controllable Soul Spirit.
Hundred-year and several-hundred-year Soul Spirits were neatly arranged by type and attribute, a vast, magnificent sight that left Xiao Chen with more than his eyes could take in.
Fire attributes were scorching and fierce, water attributes gentle and enduring, earth attributes substantial and stable, and wind attributes swift and nimble.
Countless exceptional Soul Spirits lay quietly dormant. Any one of them would have been enough to make countless geniuses across the continent spend their entire family fortunes to buy it.
Leng Yaoyu stopped and lightly waved a hand. The countless spheres of Soul Spirit light before her gently drifted apart, and her soft voice slowly rang through the hall.
"Choosing a Soul Spirit is of the utmost importance."
"Your first Soul Spirit concerns the foundation of your cultivation as a Soul Master. There is a very high chance it will influence your Martial Soul's future growth and evolutionary path."
"Your Wither Martial Soul leans toward destruction, devouring, and decay. I originally intended to choose a hundred-year Soul Spirit with an ultimate darkness or ultimate destruction attribute for you, one that would perfectly match your Martial Soul's characteristics."
As she spoke, she lightly pointed a fingertip, and three dense, pitch-black halos slowly floated before Xiao Chen.
"These three are all top-tier hundred-year darkness Soul Spirits: the Shadow Demon Wolf, the Netherworld Shadow Leopard, and the Annihilation Poison Moth."
"Their darkness or destruction attributes are pure, and their compatibility is extremely high. They can amplify your Martial Soul's attributes to the greatest possible extent. They're practically tailor-made for you."
Xiao Chen's gaze swept across the three dense clouds of black mist. He could clearly sense the savage, ferocious power of darkness within them. They did indeed suit his Wither Martial Soul and would provide an extremely powerful enhancement.
But he merely shook his head slightly. "They're not quite right."
Leng Yaoyu froze for a moment, somewhat surprised.
These three darkness Soul Spirits were already among the very best at the hundred-year level. Ordinary darkness-type Soul Masters would have flocked to them like ducks, yet Xiao Chen had rejected them without hesitation.
"Then what attribute would you like to choose?"
Leng Yaoyu did not insist that Xiao Chen choose them. After all, there was no precedent for his Martial Soul on the Douluo Continent, so letting him choose for himself was most appropriate.
"Every type of Soul Spirit is here. Whether it's strength, speed, defense, or self-healing, as long as it suits you, I can secure it for you."
Xiao Chen's gaze shifted, slowly sweeping over the Soul Spirits in the storage room.
Strength, defense, speed, elements... to him, these conventional attributes were all chicken ribs-hardly worth keeping, yet a pity to discard.
His Wither Martial Soul was filled with destructive power. Ordinary enhancements meant little to him.
What he needed was a power that was more unusual, more uncanny, and better suited to Wither, preferably one unaffected by the pressure of the Golden and Silver Dragon Kings.
His gaze passed over countless spheres of light. Finally, it settled on a somewhat obscure white sphere in a corner of the storage room, its dim light wavering.
Unlike the other Soul Spirits, that sphere was not dazzlingly brilliant. Its aura was restrained and mysterious, carrying a trace of indescribable, unfathomable strangeness. It hovered quietly in the corner, utterly out of place.
"I choose that one."
Xiao Chen raised a hand and pointed, his tone certain.
Leng Yaoyu followed his finger with her gaze. The instant she saw that Soul Spirit clearly, her brows knitted slightly, and surprise appeared on her face.
"An Evil Eye?"
Somewhat puzzled, she softly began introducing the Evil Eye Soul Spirit.
"This is an extremely rare mutated spiritual-type Soul Spirit, three hundred years old."
"It has neither powerful bursts of physical strength nor ultimate elemental enhancement. It excels only at spiritual probing, illusion interference, and examining the mind."
"Your Wither Martial Soul follows the path of destruction. An assault-oriented darkness Soul Spirit would suit it best. Why choose this spiritual-type Evil Eye instead?"
To her, this was completely abandoning the roots to chase the branches, giving up an enhancement perfectly suited to his Martial Soul in favor of spiritual abilities as unrewarding as chicken ribs.
Xiao Chen lifted his eyes toward Leng Yaozhu. His gaze was firm, with a depth in his eyes that others could not understand.
"I still want to choose it. My Martial Soul feels that it's the best fit."
His tone was calm, yet it held another layer of meaning.
First, the Evil Eye Soul Spirit's quality was not bad to begin with. Second, the Evil Eye was indeed suitable for providing support in combat.
Moreover, this was already Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King. With the Golden and Silver Dragon Kings emerging into the world, beast Soul Spirits, and even dragon Soul Spirits, could practically be called the castoffs of the current version.
Not every Soul Spirit was a Golden-Haired Lion Mastiff. He certainly did not want his own Soul Spirit to drop to its knees before the opponent in the middle of a fight.
Thus, if he wanted a Soul Spirit unaffected by the Dragon Kings' pressure, he could only choose an outsider.
A spiritual-type Soul Spirit like the Evil Eye would also be of considerable help to him at present.
Leng Yaoyu only half understood. Although she did not understand why Xiao Chen was so insistent, she did not question his choice.
She smiled fondly and shook her head helplessly:
"You, honestly. Your ideas are always different from everyone else's."
"Very well. As long as you like it. Whatever you choose, I'll support you."
As her words fell, she raised her hand and lightly pointed.
The dim white sphere in the corner slowly drifted over. The Evil Eye Soul Spirit was white all over, its pupil deep and icy. It hovered silently before Xiao Chen, seemingly scheming about something.
"From today onward, this three-hundred-year Evil Eye Soul Spirit belongs to you."
Leng Yaoyu lowered her head to look at the boy's handsome, impassive face and said softly:
"Work on attuning to it. Don't disappoint me."
Xiao Chen raised a hand and gently touched the white halo.
Gentle, cool spiritual power instantly surged through his limbs and every part of his body. His mind immediately became clear and lucid, and every minute movement around him registered distinctly in his perception.
A faint trace of amusement flashed through his eyes.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, this Evil Eye was not behaving itself either.
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