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The Douluo Continent, Sun Moon Federation.
Aolai (Glorybound) City.
Today marked the annual Martial Soul Awakening Day—an occasion awaited by the entire city with great excitement.
Though it was still early morning, the streets outside Red Mountain Academy were already packed with parents eagerly accompanying their children for the awakening ceremony.
Outside the Awakening Chamber at Red Mountain Academy—
"Next! Fang Yang!" called out a teacher from the academy, glancing at his list.
"Here," Fang Yang replied promptly.
The teacher gave him a detached glance and opened the door to the chamber. "Go on in."
It had been six full years since Fang Yang had transmigrated into this Douluo world and was taken in by Lin Ximeng.
And now, there was both good news and bad news.
The good news? He'd successfully transmigrated.
The bad news? He'd landed in the so-called "sewer tier" of fantasy cultivation worlds.
"Soul Land—Douluo Continent!"
After all, lines like "Your fate is sealed—behold my Blue Silver Bind! Arise once more, my beloved…" weren't just dramatic flair—they were deadly serious!
Truthfully, Fang Yang would have preferred following the liberal arts student, Flame Emperor, or the martial arts student, Martial Ancestor over being stuck in this world of Douluo!
But such fleeting thoughts vanished in an instant. Fang Yang quickly steadied his mind.
Well, since he was here already, he might as well make the best of it.
This was the best of times—it was also the worst of times…
The Era of Dragon Kings had arrived. The Gold and Silver Dragons had entered the mortal realm. The Holy Spirit Cult walked among the populace. The soul beasts sought vengeance. And the Abyssal Plane loomed, threatening invasion.
Still, all that paled in comparison to the true danger—Tang Sect God-King and his ten-thousand-year grand plan!
And now, the day of Martial Soul Awakening had finally come.
Taking a deep breath, Fang Yang slowly stepped into the Awakening Chamber. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Inside, intricate spirit runes adorned the chamber walls, their patterns dizzying to the eye.
These runes stirred something strange within him—a subtle, almost imperceptible sensation, as if something deep inside his body were stirring restlessly.
"Child, don't be afraid. Come forward," spoke a middle-aged Soul Master, clad in an ancient-style robe, his face kind and gentle.
Fang Yang nodded and walked over.
At once, the Soul Master raised his right hand, channeling his soul power. A soft, white radiance emerged and flowed into the Soul Guidance Array embedded in the chamber floor.
The array erupted with light, encasing Fang Yang in a luminous white dome.
Under this ancient, time-honored ritual, his Martial Soul was about to awaken!
As soul energy surged into his body, a warm current spread through his limbs and meridians, filling him with indescribable comfort.
"Now, child, raise your right hand so I may see what Martial Soul you possess," the Soul Master smiled.
"Yes, sir," Fang Yang answered, extending his right palm.
From it burst a cluster of blazing, searing flames—his Flame Martial Soul—so intense that the surrounding air instantly shimmered with heat.
"An elemental fire martial soul! And of excellent quality!" The Soul Master's eyes lit up with genuine delight.
"Now place your hand upon this crystal sphere to test your innate soul power," the Soul Master said, presenting a glowing orb.
"Understood, Sir Soul Master," Fang Yang replied and gently laid his palm upon the sphere.
Immediately, he felt a surge of energy drawn from within him into the crystal.
In the next instant, the sphere erupted with brilliant blue light—so intense it flooded the entire room in a dazzling radiance.
"Heavens! It's innate full soul power!" the Soul Master gasped in astonishment, his face quickly shifting to unrestrained joy.
Innate soul power referred to the initial soul power level a Soul Master possessed at awakening. The higher the level, the greater one's cultivation talent. Ten was the absolute peak—known as "Innate Full Soul Power."
As for anything beyond that level, the middle-aged soul master had never even heard of it. All he knew was this: any soul master born with innate full soul power—if they didn't die young—would almost certainly become one of the continent's top-tier experts.
Such individuals were precisely the kind the Spirit Pagoda went to great lengths to recruit.
Seeing this, the soul master's mind began to race with possibilities. "Child," he said gently, "would you be willing to join our Spirit Pagoda? We can offer you the very best cultivation resources available."
"Spirit Pagoda?"
Fang Yang fell into thought. He remembered that Gu Yue would later join the Spirit Pagoda as well.
For now, however, he chose not to accept immediately. Instead, he politely declined, "Uncle, I'm sorry—but I'd like to go home first and discuss this with my family."
The soul master was momentarily taken aback, then chuckled understandingly. "You're absolutely right, child. Forgive me—I was too hasty."
He reached into his robes and pulled out a calling card, handing it to Fang Yang. "This has my contact information—and my name: Su Tao. Once you've spoken with your family, feel free to come find me at the Spirit Pagoda anytime."
"Thank you, Uncle!" Fang Yang took the card with a nod, then turned and left.
Stepping out of the Awakening Chamber, warm sunlight bathed him.
He squinted slightly against the brightness—and soon spotted a familiar figure in the crowd.
His mother, Lin Ximeng, stood not far away, watching him with gentle eyes.
"How did it go?" she asked immediately, stepping forward as soon as he appeared.
She knew how crucial Martial Soul Awakening was for any child.
But seeing the smile on Fang Yang's face, she already sensed something extraordinary had happened.
Beaming, Fang Yang announced, "Mom, I awakened a Flame martial soul—and my innate soul power is level ten!"
"What? Level ten?" Lin Ximeng's eyes widened in astonishment.
As a teacher at Red Mountain Academy, she understood perfectly what innate full soul power meant. Overwhelmed with emotion, she blurted out without thinking, "My son Fang Yang—truly born with the potential to earn a Title!"
Fang Yang: "…"
His smile vanished instantly. That's not something you just say out loud!
The karmic weight behind those words was far too heavy…
Quickly, Lin Ximeng took Fang Yang by the hand and hurried home. As they left the academy grounds, they ran into Tang Ziran and his son, Tang Wulin.
"Brother Tang! You're here too," Lin Ximeng greeted the middle-aged man accompanying a young boy.
"Teacher Lin! Good to see you," Tang Ziran replied with a warm nod, giving his son a gentle nudge forward. "I've brought Wulin for his Martial Soul Awakening—today's actually his sixth birthday."
Lin Ximeng was already acquainted with the Tangs and struck up a friendly chat.
Meanwhile, Fang Yang and Tang Wulin drifted toward each other, curiously sizing one another up.
Tang Wulin was a boy with neat black hair. Though only six years old, he was noticeably taller than most children his age.
What stood out most were his eyes—large, bright, and strikingly clear, with long lashes that many girls would envy. His clothes were plain, yet his handsome features drew attention effortlessly.
One glance was enough for Fang Yang to inwardly sigh: No wonder he's the protagonist—even as a kid, he's already this eye-catching.
"Hi! I'm Fang Yang!" he greeted with an easy smile.
"Hi! I'm Tang Wulin!" The boy blinked, studying Fang Yang's unexpectedly handsome face before introducing himself. "Were you here for Martial Soul Awakening too?"
"Yes!" Fang Yang nodded calmly and confidently. "I've just finished. My martial soul is Flame, and my innate soul power is level ten."
At this, Tang Wulin—and several nearby children—stared in open admiration. After all, among commoners, those who awakened with any innate soul power at all were rare.
And here stood someone with full innate soul power—level ten—among the very same commoner class!
"That's amazing, Fang Yang! Congratulations! I wonder if I'll awaken any soul power at all…" Tang Wulin said, eyes gleaming with hope as he looked at Fang Yang enviously.
Fang Yang gave him a meaningful glance and said solemnly, "Wulin, I'm sure you will."
'And far beyond that,' he added silently—after all, Tang Wulin carried the sealed essence of the Golden Dragon King within him.
And the Golden Dragon King was none other than one of the Dragon God's divine avatars.
Tang Wulin beamed with a sunshine-bright smile. "Thank you, Fang Yang!"
After a brief exchange between the parents, Lin Ximeng led Fang Yang away.
Tang Ziran remained at the academy gate with Tang Wulin, who—just as history dictated—would soon awaken the so-called "useless" Blue Silver Grass martial soul, plunging him into disappointment and despair.
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