Province of Fasno, Craftsman Soul Village.
At the rear mountain of the village, a handsome little boy with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes was fiercely swinging a wooden sword. Determination shone in his gaze.
"Xiaotian, why are you still practicing sword skills here? The soul master responsible for awakenings has already arrived. If you miss the chance, you'll have to pay to find someone else!" an anxious voice called out from nearby.
"Grandpa Village Chief, is it that soon? Let's go now," Xiaotian said as he sheathed the wooden sword and went to support the village chief.
"Boy, why do you seem so uninterested in awakening your martial soul?" the chief asked, disappointment creasing his face.
Xiaotian replied coldly, "Grandpa Village Chief, there's no point in me being anxious. Awakening the martial soul depends on bloodline. I'm just an orphan that no one cares for. The martial soul doesn't matter. This sword in my hand is enough."
A glint sparked in Xiaotian's eyes. "By the way, Grandpa Village Chief, didn't you say you would give me a longsword once my martial spirit awakens? I don't want to keep using a wooden sword—it always feels a bit lacking."
The village chief smiled helplessly. "Alright, alright, I'll give it to you after your spirit awakens. It's already prepared."
Since he was a child, Xiaotian had a special fondness for longswords. The chief simply hoped his martial soul would awaken well.
Most villagers in the Artisan Soul Village had martial spirits related to forging, so no one knew what Xiaotian would awaken. Why was he so indifferent about this ceremony?
Because, of course, he was a time traveler—or rather, a reincarnated person. Memories from his past life awakened since he could remember.
In his previous life, aside from reading countless online novels, he loved practicing swordsmanship and collecting famous swords. He had a special connection with swords.
Unfortunately, that life had been in the "End of Dharma Era." When he realized he was reborn in the world of Douluo Continent, he didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
The good news: cultivation was possible here.
The bad news: everything depended on bloodline.
Martial souls were inherited by blood!
For ordinary people, the only way to gain stronger innate soul power was through mutation!
This was discouraging, but Xiaotian recalled the few geniuses in Douluo Continent who defied odds. The one that impressed him most was Ji Juechen!
Ji Juechen's innate soul power was only level three, but he relied on sword comprehension to reach the rank of Titled Douluo. Why couldn't Xiaotian try as well?
So from as far back as he could remember, he had been pestering the village chief for a wooden sword and trained in swordplay day and night, even while eating and sleeping!
He never cared much about what his martial soul was, or whether it even had a system. After all, the higher the hope, the greater the disappointment.
Soon, guided by the village chief, Xiaotian arrived at a village house specially built for martial spirit awakenings.
"Mr. Soul Master, everyone's here. Thank you for your help," the chief greeted the soul master with a smile.
Xiaotian glanced up and thought, Wow, isn't this a coincidence? The blind Douluo Su Yuntao from the original novel!
Su Yuntao said impatiently, "Alright, no delays. After this, I have to rush to the next village."
"Alright kids, follow the soul master inside and awaken your martial souls. I hope you all awaken a good one," the village chief urged the children without hesitation.
Inside the room.
"Children, don't be afraid no matter what happens. My name is Su Yuntao, a level 26 Great Spirit Master, and I will guide you," Su Yuntao said gently. He took out six black round stones and a crystal ball, arranging the stones in a hexagon. Then he motioned the first child to step inside.
"Sickle martial spirit—no soul power."
"Hammer spirit—innate first-level soul power."
"Nail spirit—no soul power."
...
As the ceremony proceeded, it was finally Xiaotian's turn.
At Su Yuntao's signal, Xiaotian took a deep breath and stepped into the hexagon.
Despite his earlier calm, nerves crept in. Who wouldn't want a strong martial soul and innate power for easier cultivation later?
Under Su Yuntao's guidance, a rusty iron sword suddenly appeared in Xiaotian's right hand.
Sensing something, Xiaotian instinctively said, "Sword Fifteen?"
Su Yuntao frowned at the iron sword. "Sword Fifteen? Strange name. Since it's a sword martial spirit, it likely has soul power. Let's test it."
Excitement tinged Su Yuntao's voice. He had helped many villages awaken martial spirits, but none had soul power—due to their bloodlines, commoners rarely possessed it. Still, he remained a bit disappointed.
But Artisan Soul Village was different. Each year at least one person awakened with soul power, which was impressive.
Xiaotian looked at the rusty sword. Could it really be Sword Fifteen?
If so, even with moderate innate soul power, there was hope to change his fate!
More so, Xiaotian clearly sensed Sword Fifteen's spirit—he considered it an intelligent spirit, akin to the intelligent soul rings invented by the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm ten thousand years later.
Among the sword martial spirits he knew, not even Jian Dao Chen Xin's Seven Killing Sword was as spirited as Sword Fifteen.
The biggest difference: Sword Fifteen could move on its own without Xiaotian's deliberate control, unlike other weapon spirits.
Of course, he'd have to test this after the ceremony.
Taking this in, Xiaotian placed his hand on the crystal ball.
"Innate soul power, level five!"
Su Yuntao was surprised. He hadn't expected an ordinary iron sword to grant Xiaotian level five soul power. When he awakened Lone Wolf, it was only level two!
Xiaotian was pleased. Level five innate soul power was decent, and with a sword martial soul, he could try cultivating sword intent like Ji Juechen.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host on awakening their martial soul. The system is now binding.]
[Ding! Warning! An 80,000-year-old Blue Silver King has been detected nearby. Please evacuate immediately to avoid life-threatening danger!]
Xiaotian: ???
Oh no! Was this true? He instantly grew alert but confused. Isn't the Blue Silver King supposed to guard the Blue Silver ancestral land? Why show up in their small village?
"System, any solution?"
[Ding! None. But don't worry, host. The Blue Silver King is usually gentle and won't attack unless provoked. If unlucky, I may have to switch hosts.]
Xiaotian felt the system was unreliable. Something about the alert didn't sit right. It was unlikely for a Blue Silver King to appear here, but Blue Silver Grass did grow plentifully.
P.S. In this chapter, the story introduces Xiaotian, a reincarnated youth with memories from a past life, determined to forge his own path in a world where martial souls and bloodlines decide destiny. His awakening ceremony reveals a rare, spirited sword martial soul and strong innate power, but danger looms with the sudden detection of an ancient Blue Silver King nearby, setting the stage for challenges ahead.
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