In front of Zhu Ziyang's home.
His parents, along with the other children from the village who were eligible for Martial Soul awakening, had already gathered with their families.
"Dad, Mom," Zhu Ziyang called as he walked over, holding Jiang Nannan's hand.
"Mm." His father, Zhu Changhe, a graceful and handsome man, smiled warmly as he saw his son approaching. "Everyone's here. Kids, get on the carriage."
"Yes!" The other seven children boarded the Zhu family's carriage under the expectant eyes of their parents.
"Village Chief, we're counting on you!" the children's parents said respectfully to Zhu Changhe.
"Don't worry. You can all head back. We're setting off now."
Zhu Changhe was indeed the village chief of North River Village and the strongest person in the village. At thirty-five years old, he was a Rank 28 Grandmaster Soul Master. Nearing forty but still just a Grandmaster, he had little hope of ever becoming a Soul Ancestor.
His Martial Soul was the Dusklight Scythe — a fairly ordinary tool-type soul of the light attribute. For six generations, it had been passed down in the Zhu family, starting from his great-great-grandfather. Zhu Ziyang was the seventh generation, giving him a 50% chance of inheriting the same Martial Soul.
Why only 50%?
Because his mother, Liang Ying, was also a Soul Master. Two years younger than Zhu Changhe, she was thirty-three and a Rank 25 Grandmaster Soul Master. Her Martial Soul was the Snow Dragon Lizard, a beast-type soul with diluted dragon blood. In terms of quality, the Snow Dragon Lizard was slightly superior to the Dusklight Scythe, though not by much.
The other 50% chance for Zhu Ziyang's Martial Soul lay with the Snow Dragon Lizard.
Since both options were ordinary — one tool-type, one beast-type — it didn't really matter to Zhu Ziyang. As long as he could cultivate, a common Martial Soul was fine. With all the knowledge in his head and the vast library at his disposal, he believed there had to be a path to success hidden among it all.
Liang Ying brought Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan into the carriage while Zhu Changhe took the reins, steering toward nearby Anyang City.
North River Village was located just outside Anyang's southern gate — only two or three li (about one kilometer) away. Their destination, the City Lord's Mansion, was just a few hundred meters further beyond that.
They arrived in about fifteen minutes. Honestly, the distance was short enough to walk, but Zhu Ziyang had no complaints about his father's decision.
For many of the children, this was their first time entering the city. Wide-eyed, they took in the surroundings with awe and curiosity. But Zhu Ziyang had visited Anyang City many times before.
To him, it was just a small town.
That was the impression Zhu Ziyang had of Anyang City.
Located in the northern frontier of the Heaven Soul Empire, Anyang sat at the edge of the frigid northern tundra. To the north lay the vast outer forests of the Extreme North Icefield. To the south was a massive east-west mountain range known as the Northern Range. To the east stood Longcheng, the main city of the northern province. And to the west ran a deep canyon stretching from north to south.
Because of the complex terrain on three sides, Anyang held little strategic value. Few cared to visit. It was a largely forgotten place.
Its size was also modest. Though called a city, in reality, it was little more than a large town with a population of around 200,000. The strongest person in town was the city lord, Hong Zhen — a baron of the Heaven Soul Empire and a Rank 42 defensive-type Soul Ancestor.
The carriage pulled up to the City Lord's Mansion.
Zhu Changhe was considered a man of some standing in Anyang City. He was one of the deputy captains of the city guard and, more importantly, a relative of Hong Zhen. Hong Zhen's grandmother was the younger sister of Zhu Changhe's grandfather — which made them cousins.
The gatekeepers at the mansion respectfully took the reins from Zhu Changhe and led the carriage away. Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying brought Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, and the other seven children into the mansion. They moved with ease, clearly familiar with the place, and soon arrived at the hall designated for Martial Soul awakening.
There, they immediately spotted a towering man nearly two meters tall.
"Ha! Changhe, my good brother, you're here!" the large man greeted with a booming laugh.
"Brother Hong!" Zhu Changhe smiled back. "We'll be in your hands today."
This man was none other than Hong Zhen — City Lord of Anyang, a baron, and a Rank 42 Soul Ancestor with the Martial Soul of the Icefield Elephant.
Today, he would personally oversee the Martial Soul awakening for Zhu Ziyang and the others. That the city lord himself was officiating, and for free, was a tremendous blessing for these children.
In most parts of the three great empires, free awakenings for commoners were nothing but fantasy. If they wanted to awaken their Martial Souls, they had to either sell themselves to the imperial military or to a noble family. Otherwise, they could only pray to encounter a kind-hearted high-level Soul Master willing to help.
Martial Soul awakening had become the exclusive domain of the noble class.
It was a tragedy.
Zhu Ziyang had read about it in historical texts. This sorrowful state had originated ten thousand years ago, after a battle known as the Victory at Jialing Pass.
All official histories across the three empires described the event the same way: under the leadership of the great Sea God, Prince Lan Hao, and the Thousand-Hand Douluo, the allied imperial armies defeated the evil Spirit Hall's ambition to unify the continent. The war ended in victory, preserving stability and peace.
After the war, Bibi Dong — the last pope of Spirit Hall — died. The Saintess Qian Renxue disappeared. And with them, the Church Era came to an end. The Spirit Hall that once offered free Martial Soul awakenings to all was destroyed, and the golden age of commoner Soul Masters vanished with it.
And now, it was this small northern town that carried on the Church's former glory.
What irony.
"Brother Hong!"
"Uncle Hong!"
Liang Ying and Zhu Ziyang stepped forward to greet him as well.
"You're here too, Ying!" Hong Zhen smiled. He then looked at Zhu Ziyang and laughed. "Little Yang is already old enough to awaken his Martial Soul? Time flies!"
"Yes," Zhu Changhe said with a tinge of emotion.
"Alright then, enough small talk. Let's begin." Hong Zhen was a straightforward northern man who never wasted time once things were ready.
Under Zhu Changhe and Liang Ying's guidance, the nine children lined up in a row. Zhu Ziyang stood at the front, followed by Jiang Nannan and the others.
"Little Yang, come here to Uncle."
Hong Zhen had already made all the preparations. Seeing that the children were ready, he called for the first one — Zhu Ziyang.
Without hesitation, Zhu Ziyang walked quickly toward him. His heart was racing. He couldn't help it. No matter how calm he appeared, it was impossible not to feel nervous. This was a moment that would shape his entire life.
He really didn't want to live another life full of mediocrity — especially in a world as grand as this.
A few steps brought him before Hong Zhen. Under his guidance, Zhu Ziyang stepped into a six-pointed star formation composed of six pitch-black stones.
He recognized them immediately. They were Awakening Stones — highly coveted resources monopolized by the imperial aristocracy and major powers. They enabled the most effective form of Martial Soul awakening.
Once Zhu Ziyang was standing in position, Hong Zhen sent out six streams of soul power. Each one precisely entered one of the Awakening Stones.
The next moment, the six stones began to glow, and a dome of light formed around Zhu Ziyang, enclosing him in its center.
"Close your eyes. Calm your heart. Focus and feel."
Zhu Ziyang had no choice but to follow instructions. Instinctively, he activated the Lesser Light Breathing Method. His emotions immediately settled, and he felt a strange power stirring within him — something being drawn out from deep inside.
He realized at once — this was his Martial Soul.
Without thinking, he extended his right hand.
Just then, Hong Zhen's voice came again.
"Extend your right hand!"
(End of Chapter)
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