4. Martial Soul Awakening

The Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony Begins

A gray-haired deacon stood at the front of the Martial Soul Temple, his voice echoing across the hall.

"Welcome, everyone. I am the deacon presiding over this year's Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony. Please line up and enter in an orderly manner."

His gaze swept over the crowd before continuing,

"The ceremony will now officially begin!"

This event was a significant milestone, held once a year for all six-year-old children in the region. It was the moment that would determine their futures.

Long lines stretched through the hall, children shifting nervously as they waited their turn. Their parents stood off to the side, their expressions filled with both hope and anxiety. Each of them dreamed that today, their child would awaken a powerful Martial Soul and innate soul power, paving the way to becoming a Soul Master.

And so, the awakening process began.

One by one, children stepped into the awakening formation, standing atop the black awakening stone as golden lights swirled around them.

"Martial Soul: Tiger, Innate Soul Power: Level Two."

"Martial Soul: Sickle, Innate Soul Power: Level One."

"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass, Innate Soul Power: Level Zero."

Some children beamed with excitement, while others walked away disappointed.

Standing in line, Quan Yi observed silently.

"It seems that beast-type Martial Souls have a higher chance of awakening innate soul power."

Still, he remained calm.

"Both my father and mother have powerful Martial Souls. Awakening either one would already be a great blessing."

The ceremony moved faster than expected, and before long, it was Quan Yi's turn.

The Martial Soul Hall deacon had already noticed the boy from the very beginning. His imposing figure stood out starkly among the other six-year-olds.

As Quan Yi stepped forward, the deacon frowned slightly in disbelief.

"Are you really only six years old?"

Despite his neutral tone, there was an undertone of skepticism.

Quan Yi bowed slightly in respect before replying, "Yes, Lord Soul Master. I just celebrated my sixth birthday a few days ago."

The deacon studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Step into the formation. I will now awaken your Martial Soul."

With a firm stride, Quan Yi entered the hexagonal formation.

As the deacon channeled his soul power, the awakening array flared to life, emitting a brilliant golden glow.

A thin veil of golden light enveloped Quan Yi, shimmering like sunlight on water.

Then, from the black awakening stone, golden light spots surged upward—

Far more than anyone had seen before.

The crowd gasped in shock.

Even the deacon's usually composed expression shifted slightly in surprise.

Dozens, no—hundreds of golden light spots swirled around Quan Yi, far exceeding the number seen in previous awakenings.

His parents, Quan Yue and Su Ling'er, widened their eyes in disbelief.

This was a sign—an omen of an exceptionally powerful Martial Soul.

Despite the growing murmurs around him, Quan Yi paid no attention to the outside world.

His entire focus was on the sensation inside his body.

As the golden light entered him, he felt a warmth unlike anything before—

A heat that resonated with his very soul.

His energy converged toward his hands, guided by the awakening force.

Instinctively, he raised his arms.

And in an instant—

Flames erupted from his hands.

A fiery red glow ignited around his forearms, crackling with heat. Yet, strangely—

Quan Yi felt no burning sensation at all.

To him, the flames felt natural, familiar, like an extension of his body.

But standing before him, the Martial Soul Hall deacon flinched slightly, feeling an intense heat wave radiating outward.

The fire in Quan Yi's hands surged for several moments—then abruptly faded.

And in its place, his Martial Soul was revealed.

Emerging from the flames was a pair of steel gauntlets—

Not bulky or crude, but sleek and perfectly fitted to his forearms.

They extended from his hands to his elbows, the dark metallic sheen exuding a powerful aura.

Etched across their surface were intricate, dark-red flame patterns, pulsating faintly with energy.

At the center of each gauntlet, embedded on the back of his hands, was a sun-shaped crimson mark.

The flame-like designs on the metal seemed to flow outward from this mark, as if the very heat of the sun had been engraved into his Martial Soul.

The black and red combination gave it a low-key yet undeniably dominant presence—not just a weapon, but a masterpiece forged by a master craftsman.

And when Quan Yi gazed at them for too long, he felt as though his mind was being drawn into them, unable to escape.

A dangerous, enthralling power.

As Quan Yi marveled at his newly awakened Martial Soul, the deacon quickly regained his composure.

"This Martial Soul…" The deacon muttered under his breath, staring at the gauntlets with a deep frown.

But there was no time to dwell on it.

Swiftly, he retrieved a soul power test crystal and stepped forward.

"Extend your hand, child. We must now test your innate soul power."

The Martial Soul Hall deacon could barely contain his excitement. His instincts told him that this child was an extraordinary talent. If he could recruit him into the Martial Soul Hall, it would be a great achievement.

Taking a deep breath, he steadied his voice and instructed,

"Child, first retract your Martial Soul using your mind, then place your hand on the soul power crystal."

Hearing the deacon's words, Quan Yi reluctantly looked away from his newly awakened Martial Soul.

From a distance, Quan Yue and Su Ling'er watched with bated breath. Their hands were clasped tightly together, their palms damp with sweat.

This was the moment of truth.

Under the eager gazes of the crowd, Quan Yi stretched out his broad hand and pressed it firmly onto the blue crystal stone.

For a brief second, silence filled the hall.

Then—

A dazzling light erupted from the crystal.

The radiant glow was so intense that it illuminated the entire awakening chamber, surpassing every awakening before it.

The deacon's eyes widened in shock.

"Innate full soul power!"

The first to react was Quan Yue, his voice booming with excitement.

"Hahaha! Innate full soul power!"

Beside him, Su Ling'er could no longer hold back her tears. In her overwhelming joy, she lightly slapped Quan Yue's shoulder, then turned to the surrounding onlookers, beaming with pride.

"That's my son! My son was born with full soul power!"

She knew exactly how much effort Quan Yi had put in over the past four years—how he had pushed himself relentlessly, enduring hardships far beyond his age.

At this moment, her heart overflowed with joy and pride.

Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "You did it, Xiaoyi…"

Seeing his mother cry, Quan Yi felt a lump rise in his throat.

His vision blurred as a surge of emotions overwhelmed him.

He turned toward his parents.

And in the next moment, he ran into their embrace, holding them tightly.

Words failed him.

There were no words that could properly express his gratitude, his joy, his love.

For the first time in two lifetimes, he truly felt the warmth of a family.

Quan Yue, usually so composed, felt his own eyes sting.

He gently patted his son's back.

Not far away, the Martial Soul Hall deacon stared at the family, his pupils shrinking in realization.

"So that's who he is…"

His gaze flickered toward Quan Yue.

"The son of the 'Mad Fist' and the 'Blazing Sun Lion'—no wonder his Martial Soul is so powerful."

But just as soon as the thought arose, he sighed.

"What a pity. This child has no fate with the Martial Soul Hall."

With such a background, it was impossible for Quan Yi to leave his family and join them.

The deacon shook his head, regret flashing across his face.

Still holding onto his son, Quan Yue took a deep breath, suppressing the immense joy in his heart.

He spoke calmly, "Let's go home. We'll celebrate properly once we're back."

Hearing this, Quan Yi and Su Ling'er quickly gathered themselves.

After all, they were still inside the Martial Soul Hall. Staying any longer might not be appropriate.

Amidst the envious gazes of the onlookers, the Quan family left the Martial Soul Hall together.

That evening, the Quan family estate was alive with celebration.

Brightly lit torches illuminated the night, and the sound of laughter and chatter echoed across the land.

Around a massive bonfire, members of the Quan clan gathered, drinking, laughing, and toasting one another.

Tonight, they celebrated Quan Yi.

For years, Quan Yi had kept a low profile, rarely appearing in front of the family due to his intense training and the need for secrecy.

Yet today, the first time he truly stepped into the spotlight—

He had brought news that shook the entire clan.

"Innate full soul power… this is the first time I've ever seen it with my own eyes!"

"With the young master's talent, our Quan family will surely rise to new heights!"

"That's right! Maybe one day, our clan will have its own Titled Douluo!"

Excitement filled the air, and the unity within the Quan family grew stronger than ever.

Meanwhile, Quan Yi sat stiffly at the banquet's center, silently eating the soul beast meat dishes piled on his plate.

He watched as his father laughed heartily, exchanging toasts with the clan elders.

Letting out a small sigh, Quan Yi shook his head.

"Today was such an important day… so why do I feel like I'm the only one not taking it seriously?"

Hearing his sigh, Su Ling'er turned to him, her smile never fading.

"Xiaoyi, today is a day of celebration. Why are you sighing?"

Quan Yi hesitated before replying, "Mother, I never heard anything about a banquet tonight. When did father prepare all of this? Shouldn't I be using this time to study my Martial Soul? And… what if I hadn't awakened my soul power?"

Su Ling'er chuckled and gently ruffled his hair.

"There's no rush. You can study your Martial Soul tomorrow. As the patriarch's son, it's also important for you to connect with the clan. Your father put a lot of thought into organizing this dinner. At first, he made it seem like just a normal clan meeting—but in reality, it was always meant to be a celebration for you."

Hearing this, Quan Yi fell silent.

His gaze drifted across the gathering—the warmth, the joy, the unshakable sense of unity.

Then, he looked toward Quan Yue.

Perhaps, behind his father's rough and bold exterior, lay a sharp and strategic mind.

This banquet wasn't just a celebration—it was a way to unite the family, to strengthen their bond, to give them hope for the future.

A faint smile appeared on Quan Yi's lips.

For tonight, he would put aside thoughts of training.

He picked up his cup, took a deep breath, and fully embraced the night's festivities.