While Zhu Ziyang and his family were talking, Jiang Nannan had already completed her martial soul awakening.
"Goodness! Another one with innate level eight soul power!" boomed Hong Zhen's loud and hearty voice, drawing the family's attention with his surprise.
They looked over and saw Jiang Nannan testing her innate soul power. The blue crystal ball in her hands wasn't glowing as fully as Zhu Ziyang's, but it was still lit more than halfway—clearly indicating innate level eight soul power!
"Today must be my lucky day! First, someone with full innate soul power, and now someone with innate level eight! Could Anyang City be on the rise?" Hong Zhen muttered excitedly, then turned to Jiang Nannan with a pleased look. "Young lady, what's your name?"
"My name is Jiang Nannan," she answered instinctively, her eyes still fixed on the glowing crystal. Having spent so much time around Zhu Ziyang, she fully understood what innate level eight soul power meant. Her joy showed clearly—her eyes curved into happy crescents.
"Jiang Nannan?!" Hearing the name, Hong Zhen instantly realized her identity. A flash of guilt crossed his face. "You're Jiang Ning's daughter!"
"Yes, Brother Hong," Zhu Changhe responded as he walked over. His gaze toward Jiang Nannan held both sympathy and warmth.
Jiang Nannan didn't pay them much attention. Though she knew they were talking about her father, the little girl didn't want to dwell on the topic. Instead, she skipped over to Zhu Ziyang.
"Brother Ziyang, I'm a soul master too now!" she chirped joyfully, as if she were showing off an achievement.
"Mm-hmm! Nannan, that's amazing!" Zhu Ziyang smiled and patted her head affectionately.
He was genuinely surprised. Jiang Nannan's martial soul was just the ordinary Soft-Boned Rabbit, yet she had innate level eight soul power—a rare and impressive talent. He hadn't expected his childhood friend to not only be cute but also so gifted. Fate had truly favored him.
"That's right, Nannan is amazing!" Liang Ying echoed, gently holding Jiang Nannan's small hand.
She had always adored this well-behaved, sweet girl. Not only was she adorable, but now she had such a rare talent. She and their Yangyang were simply a perfect match. Thinking this, Liang Ying's gaze toward Jiang Nannan grew even more loving. "If your mother knew, she would be so proud."
"She definitely will be!" Jiang Nannan said with a hopeful look in her eyes. If she hadn't needed to wait for the others to complete their awakenings, she would've run home already.
After Jiang Nannan, the remaining seven children also awakened their martial souls—but unfortunately, Hong Zhen's hope for a wave of prodigies didn't materialize.
Out of the seven, only two had soul power. The remaining five had useless martial souls, unable to cultivate. Of the two with soul power, one was named Zhu Xiaoling, who had level three innate soul power and a scythe martial soul. Unlike Zhu Ziyang's Radiant Scythe, hers was just a basic farming tool. The other was named Jiang Cheng—his martial soul was Blue Silver Grass, and he had only level one soul power. It was likely that he'd never reach even the third soul ring in his life.
"Brother Hong, we'll head back now. See you at the end of the month," said Zhu Changhe at the city lord's mansion gate, standing by their carriage and addressing Hong Zhen, who had personally come to see them off.
"Alright, see you then, Brother Changhe," replied Hong Zhen. "And don't forget to send little Yang to Anyang Academy. With his talent, maybe our academy can finally produce someone accepted into Shrek Academy!"
His face lit up with anticipation. At the mention of Shrek Academy, his eyes gleamed with reverence.
"If that really happened, I could die happy!" Zhu Changhe replied with hope written all over his face.
Hearing their conversation, Zhu Ziyang felt a stir in his heart. Shrek Academy!
As someone well-read, he certainly knew about this legendary institution hailed as the best academy in the world. From the biographies he had studied, at least half of the titled Douluo came from Shrek Academy—proof of its prestige across the continent.
He was determined to enter Shrek Academy!
"Alright, off you go. I have kids in the next village waiting to awaken their martial souls," said Hong Zhen, brushing aside his earlier sentiments and regaining his vigor.
"Alright then, we'll head back," said Zhu Changhe, climbing into the carriage.
"Goodbye, Uncle Hong!" Zhu Ziyang poked his head out and waved.
"Goodbye!" Hong Zhen replied.
Zhu Ziyang hoped to maintain a good relationship with Hong Zhen—the strongest person he currently knew—since he might need his help in the future to hunt soul rings.
The carriage rolled along and soon arrived back in Beihe Village.
In front of the Zhu family home, the children's parents were already waiting anxiously, hoping for news that could shape their family's future.
At the back of the crowd stood a pale, beautiful woman leaning against a wall. She bore a strong resemblance to Jiang Nannan and appeared frail, her eyes full of worry. She was Jiang Nannan's mother, Bai Xinyi.
When the carriage arrived, the children disembarked and quickly reunited with their parents. Those without soul power were devastated, while the families of those with soul power were overjoyed. The sharp contrast brutally divided them into two very different worlds.
"Mommy!" As soon as she saw her mother, Jiang Nannan dashed toward her with a beaming smile that was truly contagious.
"You're back," Bai Xinyi whispered as she embraced her daughter.
"Mom, I awakened my martial soul! It's the Soft-Boned Rabbit, and I have level eight soul power!" Jiang Nannan said proudly, lifting her chin high.
Hearing this, Bai Xinyi hugged her tightly, her eyes misting with tears. She murmured, "Brother Ning, do you see? Nannan awakened the Soft-Boned Rabbit martial soul too!"
"Don't be sad, Mommy…" Seeing her mother's tears, Jiang Nannan's smile faded as she gently tried to comfort her.
"No, sweetie, Mommy's just happy," Bai Xinyi said, wiping her tears and smiling. "Let's go home. I'll make you something delicious."
"Yay!" Jiang Nannan cheered, smiling brightly again. She turned to wave goodbye. "Bye, Brother Ziyang, I'm going home!"
"Okay, see you! Don't forget to train tonight!" Zhu Ziyang called back with a smile.
"Don't worry, I won't!" the little girl said, holding her mother's hand as they left.
"Village chief, we'll head out too," said the other children's parents.
"Alright, I won't see you off," replied Zhu Changhe, then turned specifically to the two parents whose children had soul power. "Xiao Jiu, Jiang Wu—make sure to prepare tuition for your kids. Having soul power isn't easy. They must attend Anyang Academy."
"Got it, Second Brother," the two parents answered.