Holy Soul Village was a village that had once produced a Soul Saint!
This year, eight children in Holy Soul Village were due for their Martial Soul Awakening. Tang San was the last to arrive, led by Old Jack.
Tang San thought nothing of the hostile looks from most of the village children.
As a child with the mind of an adult, did he need to apologize to these fellows for being late?
"Little San, wait here with everyone. I'll go invite the Spirit Hall's patrol deacon over." Old Jack gave him a word of instruction, then walked straight into the respectable-looking reception building in the village center.
A moment later, a handsome young man with a proud bearing stepped out.
"Hmph, you kept me waiting so long. I hope Holy Soul Village has some suitable Soul Master seedlings this year!"
Old Jack hurriedly smiled apologetically. "For the sake of the Soul Saint our village once produced, thank you for your efforts, Deacon Su."
"Let's get on with it," Su Yuntao replied indifferently.
Tang San noticed the young man's impatience, and as someone who avenged the slightest grievance, he could not help feeling some resentment. It was only a few minutes' delay. Did he have to put on such airs!?
Forget it. I've lived two lives; I won't stoop to his level!
Everything was ready.
The Martial Soul Awakening crystal and the Soul Power testing device were placed in the center.
The seven- and eight-year-old children lined up.
The awakening ceremony was about to begin.
Just as Su Yuntao was about to bring the first child forward for Martial Soul Awakening, a timid voice interrupted him.
"There's still someone missing!"
Everyone looked over.
It was a slender little girl.
"Someone's still missing!?" Su Yuntao looked at Old Jack.
Old Jack was a little embarrassed and hurriedly demanded of the girl, "Who's missing!? Aren't all the village children of this age here!?"
The girl was startled and a little flustered, but she still gathered her courage and called out, "Brother Xiao Yan is missing!"
"Xiao Yan!?"
Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had heard of this child, who was the same age as him.
Like Tang San in his previous life, he was an orphan!
But how did this orphan
count as a member of Holy Soul Village?
"Old Jack, if you expect me to wait another half hour, these children may have to wait until next year to awaken their Martial Souls!" Su Yuntao said coldly. It was getting late, and he still had to hurry to the next village!
And as for coming back to Holy Soul Village again?
Coming to this godforsaken, impoverished place once a year was already enough for him.
Hearing that Su Yuntao intended to leave, Old Jack's expression changed. He immediately said with conviction, "No need, no need! Everyone from Holy Soul Village is here. You can begin the awakening!"
Su Yuntao narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure!?"
"I'm sure!"
Before Old Jack could reply, Tang San had already spoken up.
"Xiao Yan was never a member of Holy Soul Village, and now he's late for the awakening ceremony of his own accord. So we have no need to wait for him!"
"Everyone from Holy Soul Village is here. Deacon, you may begin the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony."
His mature and well-rounded answer earned Tang San a thumbs-up from Old Jack.
That's the child I, Old Jack, like!
Tang San smiled knowingly as well, his expression calm.
I've lived two lives. What do such things amount to?
Seeing that Su Yuntao was about to begin the awakening ceremony, Xiao Cao hurriedly said, "Brother Xiao Yan is probably still on the mountain. I'll go get him. You can start without us!"
"If he misses it, I won't wait for him!" Su Yuntao warned.
At heart, he did not actually want any child to miss the chance to awaken a Martial Soul.
After all, he could receive a reward for helping children awaken their Martial Souls!
Xiao Cao nodded,
then turned and ran toward the mountain.
Tang San was a little displeased that Xiao Cao had interrupted the awakening ceremony again and again. He said softly, "Deacon, you could go a little faster. The next village isn't far from here."
His father was still waiting at home for him to cook porridge, wasn't he?
If you delay me, who will compensate me!
The Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record said:
[Always put the interests of your own people first, and use every means to achieve them as long as you do not violate human morality!]
The Martial Soul Awakening began.
"A Tool Martial Soul? A sickle. It'll do, I suppose."
"All right, no Soul Power. You can't become a Soul Master."
"A hoe? Unfortunately, no Soul Power either."
"No Martial Soul."
Six children finished in succession, and not one of them could become a Soul Master.
"Old Jack, you've wasted another precious day of mine." Su Yuntao looked at Old Jack with some displeasure, making no effort to hide the disgust for these children written all over his face.
Tang San naturally found himself under that gaze as well, and immediately stepped forward.
"Deacon, there's still me!"
Su Yuntao wrinkled his nose and, with a long face, brought Tang San into the awakening ceremony.
Soul Power was infused, and a pale golden light slowly rose.
Warm, gentle.
A mysterious presence enveloped Tang San. The Mysterious Heaven Skill inside him, which had been as immovable as a rock, loosened and began to show signs of advancing.
"This is..." Su Yuntao's eyes suddenly lit up.
A nascent Martial Soul had appeared amid the golden motes, accompanied by a great many more!
There were more motes than he had seen with any other child!
The Martial Soul began to coalesce, and Su Yuntao could not help muttering to himself, "Am I about to meet a genius? Will I get promoted and strike it rich today!?"
Although Su Yuntao spoke quietly, Tang San still caught his words.
Tang San smiled faintly, but paid them no mind.
I've lived two lives. Compared with you, I'm a swan among sparrows!
At last, a powerful sensation appeared in Tang San's right hand, where a startling sky-blue light bloomed!
The moment the sky-blue color appeared, everyone's eyes widened!
The Martial Soul had appeared!
Old Jack was well informed. Although he was not a Soul Master, he recognized this Martial Soul too!
Su Yuntao gritted his teeth and enunciated each word: "Blue! Silver! Grass!"
It was actually Blue Silver Grass!
And here I thought it was a tree that would bring me promotions and riches!
The crushing disappointment made Su Yuntao shoot Old Jack a cold glance.
Old Jack opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.
"Hmph! I hope that when it comes to wasting my time in the future, Holy Soul Village can be as easy to see through as the number of Soul Masters you have!"
Su Yuntao wanted to leave.
Tang San had lived two lives and could see into people's hearts.
He immediately realized that his Martial Soul might not be anything good.
He hurriedly reminded Su Yuntao, "Uncle, you haven't tested my Soul Power yet!"
"No need. I've never seen anyone with a Trash Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass have Soul Power!"
Su Yuntao spoke without even turning his head, then added sternly, "Call me Deacon!"
"Let me try!"
Tang San's voice turned cold.
Su Yuntao froze.
He turned and looked at the child before him, who did not even come up to his waist.
A determined gaze, a calm and composed expression.
And that trace of something that had nearly made him think he was imagining things...
Killing intent!?
What killing intent could a child have?
Su Yuntao decided he was overthinking it. Perhaps this child really was somewhat different?
The Soul Power test began again.
"The blue light is gathering-oh!? I never expected you to actually have Soul Power, kid!"
"What level will it be?"
Tang San was utterly still, but inwardly he was overjoyed.
It was as though his internal power had found an outlet.
A powerful force gushed from the depths of his soul and surged out into the world, producing a strange sight!
"The blue glow is so strong! The Soul Power testing sphere looks like it's about to explode!"
"This is Innate Full Soul Power!"
Su Yuntao's eyes widened, and he looked at Tang San as though he had encountered a monster.
This is more than a tree that brings promotions and riches. It's a mountain of gold!
How many people with Innate Full Soul Power can there be in the entire Heaven Dou Empire?
And I actually met one!
Once I report this, I definitely won't have to come to these impoverished places anymore.
I'll certainly be transferred to one of the great cities!
The carp leaps through the dragon gate!
In less than a few minutes, Su Yuntao's attitude toward Tang San had done a complete turnaround. He stared at Tang San as though he were a coveted prize.
Tang San naturally saw Su Yuntao's change in attitude clearly. Without letting anything show, he asked, "Uncle, what is Innate Full Soul Power?"
"It's a mountain of gold-ptui, it's the highest Soul Power a Soul Master can reach upon awakening!" Su Yuntao answered hurriedly.
"At level ten, you're a Soul Scholar. You've passed the first hurdle of cultivation. As long as you obtain a Soul Ring, you can become a Soul Scholar directly!"
Tang San thought for a moment, then understood.
So it's like maxing out my talent points!
"But..." Su Yuntao suddenly became regretful again.
Tang San frowned. "What is it?"
"Innate Full Soul Power is rare!"
"But your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass..."
"That's a Trash Martial Soul that can't be cultivated..."
At this moment, Su Yuntao felt even more regret than Tang San, as though he had missed out on a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
"Grandmaster, can Blue Silver Grass really not be cultivated!?" Old Jack came closer and asked with a trace of hope.
Su Yuntao shook his head. "Of course it can be cultivated, but what can a blade of Blue Silver Grass cultivate into?"
"Even a blade of grass can..."
Old Jack wanted to argue,
but the sudden chill in Su Yuntao's eyes cut him off.
"Face reality, Old Jack. There will always be a 'Holy Soul Village' in this world, but Holy Soul Village won't always have a Soul Saint!"
Old Jack was left speechless.
Tang San wanted to ask more as well. He had many questions about cultivation.
But Su Yuntao would have none of it.
He refused Tang San outright.
"Holy Soul Village? Change its name sooner rather than later. Save me from coming here every year with that little bit of hope I shouldn't have."
Su Yuntao was just about to leave when he heard a voice call out.
"Wait!"
Everyone looked over. It was a child's voice.
Two children, one older and one younger, came running over.
The boy carried a bundle of firewood on his back. He wore patched-together clothes, ragged and torn, and looked like a little beggar.
But his clear, sunny eyes shone brightly.
The girl was the quiet Xiao Cao.
Su Yuntao glanced at Xiao Cao, then frowned at the boy and asked, "Are you the last child?"
The boy's smile was warm, like a blazing little sun.
He nodded vigorously.
Su Yuntao suddenly asked, "What's your name?"
The boy wiped away his sweat and smiled. "Xiao Yan!"
End of this chapter!
(Brothers, please add this to your collections and leave plenty of comments to motivate the author.)
(End of chapter)