Jiang Chen wisely stood at the very end of the line, leaning casually against the wooden door with his arms crossed, looking a bit slack. Old Jack noticed Jiang Chen's relaxed posture and blew his beard in frustration, shooting him several warning winks. Reluctantly, Jiang Chen straightened up.
About five meters in front of him, Tang San kept turning his head nervously, staring at Jiang Chen as if afraid the boy would suddenly pounce and land a "fatal blow." Seeing Tang San's cautious expression, Jiang Chen couldn't help but smile mischievously. He raised both hands to his fair face, bared two cute little tiger teeth, and stared at Tang San playfully. Tang San shivered all over, quickly averted his gaze, and dared not look back.
Su Yuntao looked at the children lined up and said, "My name is Su Yuntao, a level 26 soul master. I will be your guide. Next, I will awaken your martial souls. When the martial souls are released, it might be a bit scary, but please don't be afraid! Don't be afraid! Don't be afraid!" He repeated the warning three times, clearly frustrated — children often ran away out of fear, which slowed his progress.
After speaking, Su Yuntao took out his tools for awakening the martial soul: six jet-black stones and a blue crystal ball. He arranged the stones into a hexagram on the ground and motioned for the first child to step into the circle.
"Close your eyes and focus. Don't open them without my order."
"Lone wolf, possessed!" Su Yuntao roared, transforming before the horrified children's eyes. His long hair whipped around, his body grew larger, and his clothes stretched to the breaking point. Jiang Chen watched curiously. Except for his handsome face, Su Yuntao looked just like a werewolf from the Western movies Jiang Chen had seen in his previous life.
Except for Jiang Chen and Tang San, the other children trembled in fear. The first child shut his eyes tightly, but he couldn't see Su Yuntao's terrifying form.
Su Yuntao was satisfied — if the first awakening went smoothly, the rest would be easier.
He didn't stop moving. Activating the magic circle, a golden glow enveloped the child. Countless golden light spots floated from the black stones into the boy's body, calming his trembling nerves.
"Extend your right hand," Su Yuntao said softly.
The boy instinctively stretched out his hand, and a sickle slowly materialized.
Su Yuntao's disappointment was clear. Though a sickle could be used to attack, he had never heard of a powerful sickle soul master. This martial soul was only good for farming.
He picked up the crystal ball to test the boy's soul power — but the result was disheartening. There was no soul power at all, meaning the child couldn't cultivate.
Su Yuntao's disappointment grew as six children were awakened in succession — all farming tool spirits.
The little girl standing before Tang San awakened a blue silver grass.
"You have a useless martial spirit with no combat ability," Su Yuntao said bluntly. "Blue silver grass is the most useless martial spirit on Douluo Continent." The little girl burst into tears.
Su Yuntao tested her soul power and found none, confirming his judgment.
Finally, it was Tang San's turn. Without waiting for Su Yuntao's command, Tang San stepped into the magic circle.
"Come on, Tang San!" Jiang Chen shouted from behind.
Tang San nodded solemnly. None of the seven children before him had awakened a usable martial soul, and his heart sank. Becoming a soul master really was difficult.
Su Yuntao activated the magic circle again. Tang San's right hand successfully condensed his martial spirit: the same gently swaying blue silver grass.
Su Yuntao's expression brightened as golden light spots poured from the magic circle — more than all the previous children combined. But seeing Tang San's martial spirit, his smile faded.
"Waste Wuhun," Su Yuntao said coldly, waving his hand dismissively. "Next!"
Old Jack, watching from the sidelines, was heartbroken. His face was full of disappointment. This year really seemed hopeless.
"Uncle, haven't you tested my soul power yet?" Tang San asked.
"There's no need. You have a waste martial soul — there's no way you have any soul power," Su Yuntao said lightly.
"Let me try," Tang San insisted.
Jiang Chen also said, "Master Soul Master, please test him. It won't take much time."
"Fine." Su Yuntao reluctantly turned back, walking in front of Tang San with the crystal ball, his face indifferent.
Seeing Su Yuntao's indifferent expression, Jiang Chen secretly smiled. Tang San's soul power would surely shock Brother Tao to death.
Su Yuntao held the crystal ball before Tang San impatiently, not even looking at it.
Suddenly, dazzling light burst from the crystal ball, illuminating the entire room in an instant.
Old Jack finally smiled, and Su Yuntao's face paled in horror. He stared at the crystal ball, bright with blue light, utterly disbelieving.
"First… Congenitally full of soul power!" he stammered, shocked.
"How is this possible?" he repeated in disbelief.
Finally, Su Yuntao removed the crystal ball and looked at Tang San with a complicated expression.
"Innately full of soul power… but it's a pity it's useless," Su Yuntao sighed. "If Tang San's martial soul weren't blue silver grass, it would have been perfect."
Tang San absorbed the new vocabulary — "congenital full soul power" — and hurriedly asked for an explanation.
Perhaps out of sympathy, Su Yuntao patiently explained some soul master knowledge to Tang San.
But in the end, he shook his head repeatedly.
"It's a pity. Being born with full soul power is rare genius… but it's unfortunate to have such a useless martial soul. Otherwise, I could have done so much…"
Tang San didn't feel disappointed. He stepped aside quietly, looking curiously at the remaining Jiang Chen.