Chapter 2: Purple Brilliance Destroys the Sky Dragon, the Shadow King!
Six thousand years ago, Douluo Continent, having lost the protection of the divine realm, suffered an unprecedented catastrophe: the powerful invasion of the Abyssal Plane.
Abyssal creatures are species of the Abyssal Plane. Ordinary Abyssal creatures possess no consciousness or intelligence. They fear no life or death, possessing a single purpose: to devour all life within their reach, bringing it back to the Abyssal Plane and nourishing it.
Initially, under the suppression of the Douluo Plane's will and the reckless efforts of several major factions, the Abyssal creatures were completely driven back into the Abyssal Passage and subjected to countless seals.
Over time, Douluo Continent and the Abyssal Plane have been locked in a war for over six thousand years, a protracted conflict woven with blood and tears, with countless soldiers sacrificing their lives to fill the void.
The sudden appearance of the Abyssal Tide now unnerved Dong Zian's powerful heart. After all, he knew exactly what this signified.
A new struggle was about to begin.
"Commander, fortunately, the Abyssal creatures in this Abyssal Tide were the Ant King Clan, ranked 76th. Our timely rescue efforts prevented these creatures from spreading further,"
Li Jie reported in a serious tone, a flicker of relief in his eyes as he looked at the rescue message transmitted by his soul guide.
The Abyssal Plane has a total of 108 layers, and the higher the ranking, the stronger the race. The Ant King Clan is above average in strength, possessing both offensive and defensive capabilities.
Their Western Legion, stationed in the western frontier, is the Blood God Legion's strongest supporter. Snow City falls within their rescue range, so when the Abyssal Tide appeared in Snow City, they immediately set out, arriving at the first opportunity to encircle and eliminate the Abyssal creatures.
"But so many Federation citizens have already perished in Snow City. It's too late,"
Dong Zi'an lamented, then his eyes gleamed with a fierce glare as he spoke harshly.
"These damned bastards! When my lifespan draws to a close, I will enter the Abyssal Passage and slaughter them whole!"
He had already been there during the encirclement and suppression of the Abyssal creatures. A mere Ant Royal was no match for a Limit Douluo like him.
However, upon death, these Abyssal creatures do not dissipate. Instead, they carry with them the vitality they plundered, returning to the Abyssal Plane in a unique way to be reforged. This is the fundamental reason why the Abyssal Plane can continuously attack the Douluo Continent.
Previously, he had followed the deceased Abyssal creatures, observing their return to the Abyssal Plane and exploring whether new Abyssal Passages had appeared.
Unfortunately, his return was fruitless. The dead Abyssal creatures drifted through the air for a distance and then vanished into thin air, making it impossible for him, a Limit Douluo, to track them.
"Commander..."
Li Jie was about to say something, but Dong Zian interrupted him with a wave of his hand.
"Since I left, have you discovered any new clues or unusual locations?"
Dong Zi'an asked thoughtfully. He believed the Abyssal Tide's appearance over Snow City must have been unique.
"Not really..."
Li Jie shook his head thoughtfully, but then something clicked in his mind. He quickly flipped through the communication spirit guide in his hand, and the moment his fingers paused, he blurted out,
"Today is the day for Snow City to awaken its Martial Souls for all six-year-old children!"
"Martial Soul Awakening?"
Dong Zi'an's eyes flashed with a gleam as he took in the orderly state of Snow City. After a moment's deliberation, he ordered,
"Take me to see the surviving children."
"As you command! However, Commander, since today is the day for Martial Soul Awakening, the number of children killed and wounded is significant... and many are still in comas."
Li Jie hesitated, then reported.
Now that the Federation is unified, every city has established a free Martial Soul Awakening center, offering free services to children.
On the day of their awakening, facing the sudden onslaught of the Abyssal Tide, even though Snow City had promptly activated its defensive spirit devices and deployed its garrison, casualties were still heavy.
Abyssal creatures feared no death, but spirit masters did not. Spirit masters were independent individuals, possessing their own thoughts and emotions.
"Let's go check on those who have awakened first," Dong Zian said, his eyes closed in a veil of pain. Today was supposed to be the day for those children to enter the spirit master world, but instead, they were all heading towards death.
...
"You're not injured, but you need to rest more, little brother. Don't run around. If anything happens, just call me," the healing spirit master at the spirit emergency center said gently, after examining Jiang Xiu again.
"Well, thank you, sister,"
Jiang Xiu said, lying in bed. He knew she was doing it for his own good, but right now, he was more focused on awakening his spirit.
After facing death, he yearned for power even more!
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Steady footsteps echoed, and the soul-guided door opened. Jiang Xiu's gaze flickered as two uniformed soldiers entered. Judging by the military insignia on their shoulders, they were of high rank.
"Are these military personnel coming to pay their respects after the battle? Never mind. I'm just a child now, so I doubt they'll be able to offer their respects to me."
Jiang Xiu didn't think much of it. He clearly couldn't leave now, so he decided to take a short nap. He then rolled over.
The next moment, two dark figures appeared before Jiang Xiu, their tall figures blocking out the light.
Jiang Xiu opened his eyes and was met with two large faces.
"Don't be nervous, little one. I'm from the military, and we're all good people. I'd like to ask if anything unusual happened when you awakened your martial spirit?"
Li Jie patiently asked Jiang Xiu. He had already asked several children, but to no avail. After all, what could a child know? They were just trying their luck while offering comfort.
Behind Li Jie, Dong Zi'an narrowed his eyes slightly at the sight of Jiang Xiu's strange purple eyes. Seeing Jiang Xiu's side under the light, his thick eyebrows raised sharply, but he said nothing, instead mobilizing his soul power.
"No, I passed out before I even awakened my martial spirit,"
Jiang Xiu replied truthfully, shaking his head slightly. For some reason, he knew a great deal about the Federation's military, and lying wouldn't do him any good.
Besides, he had indeed fallen asleep.
"You haven't awakened your spirit yet? Well, thank you, little one."
After his spiritual sense confirmed that Jiang Xiu wasn't lying, Li Jie thanked him and turned to leave. As a general and the third-in-command of the Western Legion, he possessed the cultivation of a Super Douluo, so discerning truth from falsehood was a breeze.
"Wait, since the little one hasn't awakened his spirit yet, Li Jie, please help him do it,"
Dong Zi'an instructed, reaching out to hold Li Jie's hand. He then smiled at Jiang Xiu, but the smile, against Dong Zi'an's fierce face, made it look worse than tears.
"Help me awaken my spirit?"
Jiang Xiu's heart stirred slightly, a faint sense of anticipation building within him. His parents in this life were both spirit masters, notable ones, and both served in the Blood God Legion.
But four years ago, when they left for the last time, they returned with only two small medals and from then on, he was taken to the accommodations provided by the Snow City Federation branch.
That's why he was so eager to awaken his martial soul. Born in troubled times, only by gaining strength could he avoid being slaughtered!
Furthermore, if he had enough, he'd try to avenge his parents in this life.
"Little friend, do you want your uncle to help you..."
"Yes!"
Jiang Xiu nodded before Li Jie could finish. After all, even if he left here and went outside, he would still need to seek the Federation's help to awaken his martial soul. With the convenience of this, it was natural to awaken first.
"Okay, then, let's begin."
Li Jie didn't waste any more time. Six awakening stones suddenly flew out of his hand, landing on the ground in a strange arrangement.
"Buzz!"
With a soft sound, Li Jie's eyes suddenly transformed into a yellow-brown dragon pupil. His martial soul was clearly a powerful dragon-type martial soul. Immediately, a surge of soul power was injected into the awakening stones, and a hexagram formation appeared, marking the beginning of the awakening ceremony.
"Don't worry. Even if your spirit is Blue Silver Grass, you'll have a future."
Dong Zi'an watched Jiang Xiu step into the formation, offering a rare, quiet encouragement. Jiang Xiu paused, his lips twitching. He truly couldn't speak.
As Jiang Xiu entered, countless golden rays of light emerged from the hexagram formation, seemingly finding their home and surging madly into Jiang Xiu's body.
Jiang Xiu felt as if enveloped in warm sunlight, his entire body radiating warmth. The next moment, a roar erupted from within him, and something seemed to shatter under the pull of the golden light.
"Ah!"
A resounding dragon roar echoed, and suddenly, a giant dragon, its body covered in dark purple scales and ablaze with blazing purple flames, flashed behind Jiang Xiu. Its eyes, a crimson-gold hue, blazed like flames, revealing boundless majesty and brutality. Each scale exuded a terrifying aura of destruction.
The next moment, illusory dark purple dragon scales appeared on Jiang Xiu's body. His purple eyes suddenly transformed into dragon pupils, shimmering with a crimson gold. Two surging flames of destruction rose from either side of Jiang Xiu's shoulders.
"What...what is this?"
Li Jie's pupils trembled in disbelief. He actually felt a sense of suppression from Jiang Xiu. This suppression had nothing to do with cultivation, but rather the suppression of his martial soul bloodline!
After all, his martial soul was a True Dragon!
"It's the Purple Brilliant Heaven-Slaying Dragon! The Purple Brilliant Heaven-Slaying Dragon possesses the ultimate destructive attribute."
Sensing the ultimate destructive aura, Dong Zi'an narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in a deep voice, emphasizing each word.
"The Purple Brilliant Heaven-Slaying Dragon, didn't it disappear during the change of dynasties in the Sun and Moon Imperial Family ten thousand years ago..."
Li Jie's pupils trembled upon hearing this, and he immediately remembered it, but hesitated.
"Alright, Li Jie, you go out first."
Dong Zi'an waved Li Jie off, his gaze deep as he gestured for him to leave. Li Jie nodded gravely, walked out of the Soul Guidance Emergency Center, and remained outside.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xiu suppressed the surging excitement within him. While feeling the powerful destructive properties of the Purple Brilliant Heavenly Dragon, he clenched his left hand tightly, a flicker of ultimate darkness quietly shimmering.
"Don't be so nervous, kid. You should still have a martial spirit,"
Dong Zi'an said, his smile, uglier than tears, once again, as he gently coaxed him.
"!"
(End of Chapter)