So, What Exactly Is This?

"Xiao Guang, Grandpa's going out for a while. Stay home by yourself."

"Okay."

The Old Butler looked somewhat glum, muttering something nonstop under his breath.

"Light Martial Soul, Innate Level 1 Soul Power. What can this even do in the future? Sigh."

After returning to the small courtyard, Qian Chaoguang hurried back to his room and eagerly began studying the Martial Soul he had just awakened.

In his previous life, when he had read through the original novel, he had been extremely curious about this miraculous Martial Soul.

Now that he had one himself, how could he possibly resist experiencing it firsthand?

He took off his shirt, exposing his chest to the air.

After more than a thousand days of unceasing exercise, the muscles on his upper body had begun to show faint outlines.

Qian Chaoguang recalled the feeling he had experienced during his Martial Soul Awakening. As his thoughts moved, the Soul Power in his body was unconsciously drawn out, and the temperature in the room quietly dropped a little.

A fist-sized ice-blue dot appeared on his chest, illuminating the room even more brightly.

What exactly is this Martial Soul?

Could it be a Body Martial Soul?

Qian Chaoguang was somewhat baffled.

The original novel had never mentioned many details about Martial Souls, leaving him with no way to judge.

At present, aside from feeling a slight chill where the blue light appeared, he felt nothing unusual.

He did not feel any obvious improvement in his physical qualities, nor did he seem to have gained any other enhancement. This was truly strange.

He took a sheet of paper from the side and placed it in front of his chest, then concentrated on circulating that thread of Soul Power in his body and guiding it toward the location of his Martial Soul.

A moment later, a beam of blue light shot forward, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop even further.

Fine ice crystals appeared on the sheet of paper.

Qian Chaoguang helplessly set it down and put his shirt back on.

The Martial Soul had awakened, and it was indeed very special. It looked like it might be incredibly powerful, but he had no idea what use it actually had.

Forget it. I never planned on relying on a powerful Martial Soul to win anyway. Whatever happens, happens.

Having a trace of ice attribute power was an unexpected bonus. It should increase the chances of success for his plan to acquire the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm five years from now.

Since his Martial Soul manifested as light and also possessed some ice attributes, he might as well call it Extreme Ice Light.

As for its name, it was better to choose something pleasant-sounding.

Qian Chaoguang stopped dwelling on his Martial Soul. He grabbed the long saber leaning against the wall and walked out.

The Martial Soul Awakening had delayed him for half a morning, and he had yet to complete today's training plan.

While Qian Chaoguang was sweating profusely as he trained in the small courtyard, the Duchess was listening to the report from the middle-aged man from earlier.

"You said Old Zhu's adopted grandson awakened some kind of Martial Soul? Light?"

The middle-aged man respectfully replied, "Yes, Madam. However, his Martial Soul looks rather strange. It doesn't resemble the usual Light Martial Souls."

The Duchess sneered and said disdainfully, "So what? He's nothing more than a useless cripple with Innate Level 1 Soul Power. Old Zhu's Old Ailment is worsening by the day. Even if a healing Titled Douluo were willing to intervene, he would have at most five years left to live. I'd like to see how that little brat can continue protecting those two sluts in the future!"

At this point, she began gnashing her teeth again, her voice nearly squeezed out between them.

"An eye Body Martial Soul and Innate Level 9 Soul Power! How can a slut who isn't even a Spirit Master give birth to such an outstanding child? Hurry up and do what I ordered!"

The middle-aged man hesitated before asking in a low voice, "But Madam, are we really not going to tell the Duke? An eye Body Martial Soul with Innate Level 9 Soul Power has a very good chance of entering Shrek. If the Duke discovers it in the future—"

Before he could finish, the Duchess rudely interrupted him.

"Who's the master here—you or me? Do I need you to teach me how to handle things?"

"This subordinate wouldn't dare."

"Then why aren't you getting out?"

"This subordinate takes his leave."

The Duchess angrily slammed the teacup she had picked up onto the table, revealing a cold smile.

"Shrek? Hah! Is that little slut even worthy? Without a recommendation letter from a city lord, what makes her think she can enter Shrek?"

After lunch, the Old Butler handed Qian Chaoguang a meditation method.

After he had skimmed through it and memorized it, the Old Butler took him out and led him toward the Forging Room in the Duke's Mansion.

Inside the clanging Forging Room, the Old Butler introduced Qian Chaoguang to an exceptionally skilled blacksmith.

Although this Old Blacksmith was not a Soul Engineer, his forging skills alone were absolutely no worse than those of mid- or high-level Soul Engineers.

The specially made long saber Qian Chaoguang had used for his daily training over the past few years was his masterpiece.

Under the Old Blacksmith's initial guidance, he picked up two Forging Hammers and began learning to forge.

The Old Blacksmith stood to the side with a broad smile, watching Qian Chaoguang's movements. Satisfied, he said, "Not bad, Old Zhu. Your grandson is truly impressive. He's got a sturdy body and a quick mind, too. Don't worry. Since you've spoken, I'll pass every bit of my skill on to him. There aren't many youngsters willing to work hard at forging these days."

The Old Butler gave a bitter smile and said, "Chao Guang has been sensible since he was young. It's just that his Innate Soul Power is truly disappointing. If he can learn a trade from you, at least he'll be able to support himself and his family in the future."

"Come on, Old Zhu, look on the bright side. This kid has excellent comprehension. Maybe he'll become a Soul Engineer. Besides, look at the strength in that body of his. Does he look like a six-year-old child? Even if he joins the army under the Duke in the future, he'll definitely be able to land a good position."

"I hope so."

"In a couple of days, I'll find you a prescription. My old man somehow got it back then, and supposedly it works extremely well. Go get the medicine and give Xiao Guang a medicinal bath or something. Don't waste all that brute strength of his."

The two old men discussed Qian Chaoguang's future, each taking turns to speak, while he himself did not hear any of it.

He was completely immersed in the world of forging, vigorously working up a sweat.

With every hammer blow, the Golden Body Art unconsciously began circulating.

He felt every muscle in his body tense as they endured the tempering of his body and Soul Power, as if he himself had become a piece of metal being forged.

Every time he exerted himself wholeheartedly, Qian Chaoguang felt an unusual sense of exhilaration, as though his entire body had become transparent and unblocked.

The originally painful, repetitive movements became the best aid to his cultivation, causing his physique to improve at astonishing speed.

The blacksmiths nearby gradually put down their work and turned their attention toward him.

A six-year-old child could actually keep swinging the hammer for so long. It was simply unbelievable.

The Old Blacksmith said proudly, "His name is Qian Chaoguang. He's my newest disciple. You'll all have to look after him from now on."

And so, only after Qian Chaoguang was nearly exhausted did he follow the Old Butler back to the small courtyard.

During the forging process, the cultivation progress of the Golden Body Art had far exceeded his expectations.

If he could maintain this kind of high-intensity forging every day, he should be able to complete the first level of the Golden Body Art in less than five years.

Please support the read-through, everyone! Only with enough read-throughs can the book get recommended. For a Douluo fanfic to get a recommendation, it needs even more read-throughs than books in other genres. Please, please—don't put the book on hold before it goes premium. It's easy for a book to die that way!