Chapter 2: A Tadpole Martial Soul? Innate Full Soul Power!

"Children, I am your guide, Su Yuntao, a Level 26 Grand Soul Master. I will now awaken your Martial Souls."

After a brief introduction, Su Yuntao took out six black stones and arranged them into a hexagram formation on the ground. In his other hand, he held a blue crystal ball.

"Good. Now, step forward one by one. No matter what you see, don't panic."

His tone became much gentler when addressing the children before him.

There were a total of nine children.

As the first child stepped into the center of the hexagram, Su Yuntao suddenly let out a deep shout.

"Lone Wolf, Possession!"

All the children, including Ye Qiu and Tang San, watched in awe and even fear.

Su Yuntao's muscles swelled visibly, his eyes glowed green, and wolf-like features appeared on his body.

"Don't be afraid. Close your eyes and feel it carefully," he said, reassuring the child in the formation while guiding him through the awakening process.

A flicker of curiosity flashed in Ye Qiu's eyes.

The hexagram, formed by the black stones, started to glow with golden light. Wisps of light entered the boy's body.

"Stretch out your right hand," Su Yuntao ordered sternly, his wolf-like eyes locked onto the child.

The boy instinctively raised his right hand.

In an instant, the light that had entered him surged outward, forming a scythe in his palm.

"Alright, now let's test your soul power," Su Yuntao said, handing the blue crystal ball to the child. His expression remained indifferent, as if already expecting the outcome.

Moments later, Su Yuntao announced in a routine manner,

"Child, your Martial Soul has no soul power. Next!"

The boy left with a look of confusion and disappointment.

The awakening ceremony continued in an orderly fashion.

"Pickled Cucumber Martial Soul. No soul power. Next!"

"Rhododendron Martial Soul. No soul power. Next!"

"Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. No soul power. Next!"

One after another, the first seven children completed their Martial Soul awakenings.

As expected, none of them possessed innate soul power. Without it, they could not become Soul Masters.

Finally, it was Tang San's turn.

Su Yuntao spoke in his usual monotone,

"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. No—wait!"

"Hiss—! Innate full soul power?! How is this possible?!"

Su Yuntao gasped sharply, staring at the blue crystal ball in his hand with pure shock.

"Innate full soul power…!"

Tang San looked curiously at the simple blade of grass in his palm.

"What a pity! Such a waste for a trash Martial Soul!" Su Yuntao sighed after recovering from his initial shock.

"Trash Martial Soul?"

Tang San was confused.

He didn't fully understand Martial Souls yet, but the Xuantian Treasure Record had taught him to never reveal all of his secrets easily.

So at that moment, Tang San clenched his left hand tightly.

Because inside it… was a hammer.

"It's truly a pity. Next!"

Su Yuntao quickly composed himself and turned to the last child—Ye Qiu.

Ye Qiu followed the others' example and stepped into the hexagram.

As Su Yuntao injected his soul power, golden light seeped into Ye Qiu's body.

Suddenly, he felt his blood boil, as if something inside him was about to break free.

Strands of black energy coiled around his body.

Su Yuntao's eyes gleamed with interest, and he gently instructed,

"Little one, quickly stretch out your right hand."

Ye Qiu complied.

At that moment, golden light burst forth, dark energy surged, and power converged.

Even Tang San, who was about to leave, paused at the commotion.

As Ye Qiu's Martial Soul manifested, Su Yuntao's anticipation turned into stunned disbelief.

"W-What?! A… a tadpole?!"

Everyone turned to look.

Ye Qiu's expression immediately darkened.

"Damn it… is this some kind of ancestral regression? Did I jinx myself?!"

Resting on the pad of his middle finger was a small, comma-shaped black tadpole. A white symbol resembling a pair of eyes covered half of its tiny body.

Su Yuntao lost interest instantly.

"Another trash Martial Soul…"

He shook his head, disappointed.

Even if it was a tadpole, it was far too small! Its energy seemed weak, its vitality low—completely unhealthy!

"I thought this kid would awaken something impressive, but instead… he got a tiny piece of kalarami."

Ye Qiu sighed but didn't dwell on it.

His Martial Soul might not look impressive, but he could feel soul power within him.

That alone was enough for him to take a chance!

He didn't know his exact soul power level, but he didn't dare to hope for much.

Tang San, seeing the ceremony was over, turned to leave.

Despite his disappointment, Su Yuntao still had a job to do.

"Alright, let's test your innate soul power."

"Hmm."

Ye Qiu calmly placed his small hand on the crystal ball.

In the blink of an eye, the crystal ball was filled with dazzling light.

"Innate full soul power?!"

Su Yuntao cried out in disbelief, eyes wide in shock before immediately clutching his chest in despair.

"What kind of cruel joke is this?!"

He had just witnessed two children with innate full soul power—both with 'trash' Martial Souls!

Tang San, who had just stepped out, froze and turned to look at Ye Qiu in surprise.

Unlike Su Yuntao's frustration, Ye Qiu was ecstatic. His black pearl-like eyes shone with excitement.

"There's no way my Martial Soul is ordinary!"

Ye Qiu was certain of it!

Innate full soul power was proof against all doubts!

"What a waste…"

Su Yuntao sighed helplessly.

Nonetheless, he did his duty, recording Ye Qiu's Martial Soul and soul power on the registry.

Ye Qiu said nothing.

Now wasn't the time to prove his Martial Soul's worth.

His voice carried little weight now, but once he arrived in Nuoding City, someone was bound to recognize its potential.

At that time, the choice would be his to make.

—

Before long, Su Yuntao led Ye Qiu and Tang San outside the wooden hut.

Old Jack rushed over excitedly.

"Master, how did it go? Did our village produce a future Soul Master?"

Su Yuntao's arrogance had faded somewhat, replaced by bitterness. His voice was heavy.

"Old Jack… congratulations."

"This year, your village has produced two talents. See for yourself."

Without another word, Su Yuntao shoved two Martial Soul certificates into Old Jack's hands and hurried off.

"My task is heavy. I won't stay any longer."

But just as he turned to leave—

"What?!"

Old Jack's cry pierced the air, making Su Yuntao flinch.

"Innate full soul power?! But… both are trash Martial Souls?!"

Old Jack felt like he was dreaming.

The words "Innate Full Soul Power" and "Trash Martial Soul" clashed in his mind, leaving him utterly confused.

Seeing Old Jack on the verge of collapsing, Su Yuntao actually felt a little better and quickly left.

"This is just cruel…"

Old Jack lamented.

Ye Qiu, covering his ears, sighed.

"Grandpa Jack, don't strain yourself yelling."

Old Jack sighed deeply, then smiled and patted their heads.

"Don't lose heart, little ones. At least you can become Soul Masters. I'll take you both to the academy soon."

Ye Qiu grinned.

"Thanks, Grandpa Jack. Want some snacks?"

Old Jack chuckled.

"Alright. But let's eat together. Tang San, you too."

Tang San hesitated, then shook his head.

"Grandpa Jack, I have to go home. My father is waiting for me."

"Tsk, that drunkard…"

Old Jack scowled but said nothing more.

"Fine. I'll walk you home then."