Twin Martial Souls Awakening

"Little Brother A-Zu, when are you going to awaken your Martial Soul?" one afternoon, Xiao Wu asked as she sat on the stone mill in the courtyard, swinging her slender legs.

She had originally been due to attend Nuoding Academy when she turned six, but she had been injured in a dangerous encounter. Reluctant to part with the Yan family's warmth and the Qilin's protection, she had agreed with Yan Zu that they would go to Nuoding Academy together the following year, after he turned six and awakened his Martial Soul.

Yan Zu was wiping down an ordinary iron sword he had received as a sign-in reward. Calling it an iron sword was generous: it was really just a strip of iron, with a few spots of rust on the blade. No matter how he looked at it, it resembled something picked out of a scrap heap.

Yan Zu seriously suspected there was something wrong with the system's taste, but at least it was a sword. It would have to do.

Hearing her, he looked up and smiled. "Soon. My sixth birthday is in three days. Father will help me awaken my Martial Soul then."

"Great!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up. She jumped off the mill and ran over to Yan Zu. "Then we can cultivate together and go to the academy together!"

She recalled the auspicious presence around Yan Zu that put her at ease, and her heart filled with anticipation for his Martial Soul.

At last, Yan Zu's sixth birthday arrived.

Just as dawn began to break, Yan Zu woke up and immediately said in his heart, Sign in.

[Ding! Today's sign-in successful!]

[Congratulations to the host on reaching the six-year growth milestone and triggering an annual critical-hit reward!]

[Core item obtained: Martial Soul Mimicry Training Ground!]

[Item description: Guides the user's consciousness into an independent cultivation space during sleep. Supports two main functions-

First, simulates combat against any Soul Master or Soul Beast no more than 30 levels above the user. Opponent strength and Martial Soul type can be adjusted to hone martial skills;

Second, allows the user to invite one other person's consciousness inside for joint cultivation and sparring, with no risk in reality. Time flows at a ratio of 3:1 compared to the outside world. Can be used for four hours daily.]

Yan Zu's heart leaped with joy. This reward had come at just the right time.

Although he had yet to awaken his Martial Soul, he had cultivated the Nine Yin Manual for years, and his body and mental strength far surpassed those of his peers. He needed a safe place to hone his martial skills, and the function that let him invite someone else to cultivate would allow him and Xiao Wu to improve together in the future.

He and Xiao Wu would outwork all those peers of theirs who were still snoring away at night.

He suppressed his excitement, washed up quickly, and left his room.

In the little courtyard, Su Qing had already prepared steaming longevity noodles. Yan Hu held an Awakening Stone that had been polished smooth, carefully wiping it down, his face full of anticipation and solemnity.

Xiao Wu had also risen early. Wearing the new clothes Su Qing had sewn for her, she waited in the courtyard, bouncing on her feet, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Happy birthday, A-Zu!" Su Qing handed Yan Zu a bowl of longevity noodles sprinkled with chopped scallions. "Eat up and share in the good fortune. I hope you awaken a powerful Martial Soul and become a formidable Soul Master."

"Thank you, Mother." Yan Zu took the noodles and ate in large mouthfuls. The noodles were springy and the broth savory and fragrant, infused with a faint vitality nurtured by Su Qing's Green Grain Martial Soul. It flowed warmly into his belly.

Yan Hu walked over and placed the Awakening Stone on the stone table in the middle of the courtyard. "A-Zu, once you've finished your noodles, I'll help you awaken your Martial Soul. Don't be nervous. Just follow the method I taught you: focus and feel the power inside you."

"I understand, Father." Yan Zu set down the empty bowl and nodded.

Xiao Wu leaned over the stone table and curiously examined the pale blue Awakening Stone. "Uncle Yan, is this an Awakening Stone? It's amazing. I can feel a warm energy inside it."

"What a keen sense you have," Yan Hu said with an approving nod. "That's right. An Awakening Stone can draw out the Martial Soul inside a person. Many children rely on one to awaken their Martial Souls."

With everything ready, Yan Hu had Yan Zu sit cross-legged in front of the stone table and place both hands on the Awakening Stone. Standing beside him, Yan Hu circulated his Soul Power and carefully infused a thread of gentle Iron Axe Soul Power into the stone.

"Close your eyes and focus. Feel the changes inside you. Don't resist; let that power emerge naturally." Yan Hu's voice was steady and strong, carrying a reassuring force.

Yan Zu closed his eyes as instructed and sank his awareness into his body. He could clearly feel the gentle Soul Power from the Awakening Stone acting like a key, lightly stirring his connection to the illusory forms of his two Martial Souls.

In his mental world, the jade-colored Qilin and the ancient-looking Xuanyuan Sword seemed to sense something. They grew exceptionally active, giving off an increasingly intense presence.

He did not deliberately guide them. He simply followed the incantation of the Martial Soul Synchronization Cultivation Method, letting the Nine Yin Soul Power inside him flow naturally and nourish the illusory forms of both Martial Souls.

Suddenly, a gentle, soothing energy surged from Yan Zu's body and flowed through his hands into the Awakening Stone. The entire courtyard was enveloped in a soft jade-colored light. There was no blinding glare, only a warmth that made everyone feel comfortable from head to toe.

"Hummm-"

A faint hum sounded, and a jade-colored figure slowly took shape in the open space before Yan Zu.

It was a Qilin the size of a puppy.

It crouched there in front of Yan Zu, its whole body lustrous as jade. Its antlers were small and delicate-so small that they looked like two little mushrooms just poking out of the ground. Its ox's tail swayed gently, and its fish scales shimmered faintly in the light. Its tiger paws were tender pink, right down to the pads. It gazed curiously around with big, watery eyes, then tilted its head and gave a soft, babyish cry:

"Yiya-"

It was as adorably silly and as cute as could be.

The Auspicious Beast Qilin Martial Soul made its entrance!

Su Qing stared for a moment, then blurted out, "Th-this... is this a Martial Soul or a pet?"

Yan Hu was stunned too. In his many years of Soul Hunting, he had seen countless Martial Souls: fierce tigers, lions, flame eagles-which of them didn't look imposing after possession? But this one before him... could this little thing really fight?

The Qilin seemed to understand their doubts. It gave a displeased "Yiya" and ran a lap around the courtyard on its short little legs.

Wherever it passed, weeds that had withered in autumn put out fresh shoots, so tender they seemed ready to drip with water. In a corner of the courtyard, the potted rose that Su Qing had tended for three years and watered nearly to death burst into vivid bloom, its flowers so red they were almost purple. Even the few withered yellow leaves on the old locust tree by the courtyard gate turned green again on the spot, gleaming with color.

"Wh-what kind of Martial Soul is this?" Su Qing covered her mouth, her eyes full of shock and delight.

Yan Hu's eyes widened too, his tiger-like gaze filled with disbelief. He had lived for decades and had never seen a Martial Soul like this-could it heal the sick? Grow vegetables? If they used it to farm, wouldn't the yield from each of their two meager mu of land double?

But Xiao Wu reacted most strongly of all.

Her eyes wide, she stared fixedly at the little Qilin. The expression on her face shifted from shock to wild joy, then from wild joy to... a kind of dependence she could not quite put into words.

She could clearly sense that the auspicious presence radiating from the little jade-colored Qilin came from the same source as that of the Auspicious Beast Same-Heart Talisman, but was even stronger.

When the Qilin ran past her, the Soul Beast essence within her seemed to answer a summons and became exceptionally active. Meanwhile, her Soul Beast presence was completely concealed, to the point that even she could barely sense it herself.

What did that mean? It meant she could walk openly in the sunlight and never again worry about being discovered by humans!

The little Qilin seemed to sense her goodwill. It stopped, came up to her hand of its own accord, and nuzzled her palm.

At the soft, furry warmth against her hand, a brilliant smile instantly blossomed across Xiao Wu's face, brighter than even the rose in the courtyard. She crouched down and carefully stroked the Qilin's fur, growing more and more absorbed as she murmured, "So soft, so soft, so soft..."

Yan Zu watched from the side and thought, If outsiders saw this, they'd probably think they were watching two little animals playing together.

Just then, another sudden change occurred!

A deep sword hum came from within Yan Zu. A weighty, majestic presence, utterly unlike the Qilin's gentle one, suddenly spread outward. It was not sharp, but it carried a pressure that came from the very origins of civilization, making everyone in the courtyard instinctively hold their breath.

Before Yan Zu, a second figure of black light took shape beside the jade-colored Qilin. It was an ancient-looking short sword, about five feet long and entirely dark, with no elaborate ornamentation. Yet faint golden lines flowed across it: the Xuanyuan markings.

The blade gave off a faint, evil-breaking pressure that made the birds and beasts occasionally passing outside the courtyard instinctively keep their distance, not daring to approach.

The Xuanyuan Sword!

The two Martial Souls, one beast and one sword, floated before Yan Zu together, responding to each other and coexisting in harmony, without the slightest sign of a Soul Power conflict.

Yan Hu stood frozen for three seconds before he abruptly came to his senses.

"T-twin Martial Souls!"

His voice cracked, coming out like a rooster with its neck stepped on. "A-Zu, you've awakened Twin Martial Souls!!"

Su Qing was so excited that her eyes reddened. She clapped a hand over her mouth, tears nearly spilling out. Twin Martial Souls! They were the stuff of legend! There were only a handful in the entire Douluo Continent! And her son possessed such heaven-defying talent!

Yan Zu focused his mind on the Xuanyuan Sword.

The short sword trembled slightly and slowly rose to hover half a foot above the ground, rotating slowly in front of him.

With a thought from him, the Xuanyuan Sword flew toward a bluestone in the courtyard. The blade gave off a faint sword intent, and with a light touch, the stone split in two, leaving a flat, smooth cut.

"Amazing!" Xiao Wu's eyes shone as she watched, and she could not help clapping in praise.

Yan Zu put away the Xuanyuan Sword, but a trace of understanding dawned in his heart.

He could feel that neither of his two Martial Souls had fully awakened, as though both were wrapped in an invisible barrier.

From deep within the Xuanyuan Sword came an ancient will, telling him that it was the "sword of civilization's inheritance." Only by advancing the growth of civilization on the Douluo Continent could it be completely unsealed and reveal its true power beyond the god level;

The Qilin Martial Soul, meanwhile, conveyed that it was a "civilization totem of destiny" and likewise needed civilization to prosper before it could fully awaken.