As time passed, the training ground gradually became lively.
Since it was summer, the Yun Tian Mountain Range was slowly emerging from the shroud of darkness, with the outlines of distant peaks becoming clearer.
At this moment, Chen Yi and Jiang Hongfei, along with the other five, arrived at the center of the training ground. These six were the protagonists of this awakening ceremony.
Don't think six people is a small number; this was already all the children of appropriate age in the Body Sect. Last year and the year before combined didn't have this many.
However, things would improve in four years.
Beside the square, Huang Qiyi was accompanied by four children around their age—these were the Body Martial Soul possessors the sect had found outside over the past year.
At the same time, in a pavilion not far from the square, Chu Shanhe and the Great Elder looked over, both wearing expressions of melancholy.
"Another year of Martial Soul Awakening has begun. I wonder how many will awaken Body Martial Souls this time."
Yuan Hua's aged voice echoed in the pavilion. Body Martial Souls were different from others; their inheritance was extremely unstable. Even if a parent had an Body Martial Soul, their child might not awaken one. It was just slightly more likely compared to others.
"Awaken or not, what does it matter? Does that mean these children aren't our family if they don't awaken an Body Martial Soul?"
"Old Fourth, you're still too attached!"
Hearing this, Chu Shanhe let out a light chuckle.
"Heh," Yuan Hua didn't respond, instead turning his gaze to Chen Yi, who was surrounded like the moon among stars, and changed the subject: "What do you think Xiao Yi will awaken?"
Chu Shanhe raised an eyebrow, a serious glint in his eyes. After pondering for a moment, he slowly said: "From my observations of Chen Yi over these years, the probability of him awakening an Body Martial Soul is at least 90%, and it's likely to be Chen Zhen's torso Martial Soul."
The Body Sect had been established for nearly a thousand years and had deep research into Body Martial Souls. Most possessors of powerful Body Martial Souls shared a common trait before awakening: they could eat a lot, an enormous amount.
This was because the Body Martial Soul was part of the body, with extremely strong energy conversion. Even before awakening, they needed a lot of energy to supply the latent Martial Soul.
Chen Yi was famously known as the biggest eater in the entire Body Sect; every meal was incomplete without meat. He started with three pounds of meat per meal, and as he grew older, the amount kept increasing. Just yesterday, with those black-red steamed buns, the energy in one was enough for a top beast Martial Soul soul master to digest for a day, but Chen Yi could devour three in one meal when he let loose!
Of course, this wasn't the only reason; many possessors of powerful beast Martial Souls fit this criterion too.
However, Martial Soul inheritance was limited by parents. Chen Yi's mother, Mu Xi, had the Frost Thorn Martial Soul, the inherited Martial Soul of the Mu family; Chen Zhen was even more straightforward—his ancestors all had Iron Chain Martial Souls, low-level ones comparable to sickles. It could be said that Chen Yi had no bloodline for a top beast Martial Soul.
"Alright, almost everyone's here."
On the training ground.
The appearance of Chu Yuan and the other ended the commotion.
"Greetings, Sect Master! Greetings, Great Elder!"
Everyone saluted in turn, especially the four children who had returned from outside. They had long heard that the sect had three Titled Douluo. Though they didn't know what Titled Douluo meant, in their eyes, even Soul Grandmasters were unattainable, and Titled Douluo were like the city lords they could only admire from afar.
"At ease! Qiyi, you'll be in charge of awakening the Martial Souls for these little ones this time."
Chu Shanhe smiled and nodded, then turned to Huang Qiyi beside him.
"Yes."
The latter responded, then walked to the center of the square and tossed out six awakening stones, arranging them into a hexagon in front of Chen Yi and the others.
"Zhang Run."
Hearing this, the little girl on the left slowly stepped into the circle.
A faint golden light enveloped Zhang Run, and her body began to tremble slightly.
"Extend your right hand."
Seeing this, Huang Qiyi said solemnly.
As her right hand slowly opened, a slender sword with a thin blade appeared in Zhang Run's hand.
"Willow Whisk Sword!"
Looking at the sword, even though many present weren't surprised, a hint of disappointment still flashed in their eyes.
Huang Qiyi took out a crystal ball and said to Zhang Run: "Place your hand on it!"
As the crystal ball gradually glowed, a smile appeared on Huang Qiyi's face.
"Zhang Run, Martial Soul: Willow Whisk Sword, Innate Soul Power Level 7!"
Innate Soul Power Level 7 almost guaranteed breaking through to Soul Sage, with a good chance at Soul Douluo. It was a good start.
"Next."
"Obo Lele, Martial Soul: Red Flame King Tiger, Innate Soul Power Level 6."
"Next."
"Jiang Hongfei, Body Martial Soul: Eyes, Innate Soul Power Level 6."
"Next."
"Zhao Liang, Martial Soul: Ice Armored Bear, Innate Soul Power Level 7."
"Next."
"Xu Jia, Martial Soul: Thousand Ant, Innate Soul Power Level 6.5."
With a Soul Douluo personally handling it, the Martial Souls of the remaining five except Chen Yi were awakened in a short time. Among the five, only Jiang Hongfei had an Body Martial Soul, but the other four had excellent talents, which satisfied the elders.
The current Body Sect still upheld the ideal of "All Body Under Heaven Are One Family," but it hadn't reached the extreme Body-centric atmosphere of ten thousand years later.
Moreover, though Jiang Hongfei hadn't awakened Zhang Tao's cerebellum Martial Soul, eyes were still a top Body Martial Soul. This made the smiles on the Body Sect powerhouses' faces even brighter.
As for the geniuses who didn't awaken Body Martial Souls, the sect would provide resources to help them break through to level 40 and become peripheral forces of the Body Sect—after all, they were the sect's true direct descendants.
"Next, it's your turn, Chen Yi."
Looking at the last one, Chen Yi, a glimmer of hope flashed in Huang Qiyi's eyes.
Chen Yi took a deep breath and stepped straight into the circle. A warm sensation spread through his body, and a power that seemed suppressed for a long time erupted instantly within him.
"Crackle—"
In an instant, a layer of purple-gold lightning enveloped Chen Yi, making him seem like an incarnation of thunder.
Seeing this, everyone in the Body Sect showed a look of surprise. Had they really hit that remaining 10% probability?
"This... this isn't an Body Martial Soul!"
"Is it a lightning attribute Martial Soul?!"
"It is lightning attribute, but this lightning feels much stronger to me than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon."
The Great Elder at the front stared intently at the purple-gold lightning on Chen Yi. This lightning was clearly superior to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, undoubtedly the king among lightning Martial Souls. But then, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes:
"Though it's not an Body Martial Soul, with such a powerful Martial Soul, Xiao Yi's future is still immeasurable."
Thinking this, though disappointed, the Great Elder was genuinely happy for Chen Yi.
"No, this is an Body Martial Soul!"