Planet Heavenly Dou – Center of Martial Soul Awakening
A tall, sturdy-looking man stood near the massive iron doors. His gaze was fixed on his son, approaching them.
Today, the boy had turned six. In the Federation, this age was a milestone for every child. It was at this moment that their Martial Soul awakened, and perhaps, their Spiritual Power.
A Martial Soul was unique to each resident of the Federation, inseparable from their culture and life. They came in three types: Beast Martial Soul, Body Martial Soul, and Instrument Martial Soul. They were also classified into four tiers: Low, Middle, High, and Divine.
Spiritual Power, on the other hand, was a rare gift. Those who awakened it became Spiritual Masters, the most respected and influential profession in the Federation. Spiritual Masters protected and developed the world, while Spiritual Power itself enhanced both the body and the Martial Soul.
When a child awakened Spiritual Power, its level was measured — from a minimum of 1 to a maximum of 10.
Children with a level 10 Spiritual Power were called Innate Full Spirituals, reflecting their immense potential. Their Martial Souls were at least upper-middle tier or higher, and their self-cultivation progressed far faster with fewer bottlenecks.
The ranks of Spiritual Masters were divided into nine Realms:
Soul Disciple (0): Spiritual Power 1–9
Soul Lord (1): Spiritual Power 10–19
Soul Grandmaster (2): Spiritual Power 20–29
Soul Elder (3): Spiritual Power 30–39
Soul Ancestor (4): Spiritual Power 40–49
Soul King (5): Spiritual Power 50–59
Soul Emperor (6): Spiritual Power 60–69
Soul Saint (7): Spiritual Power 70–79
Douluo Soul (8): Spiritual Power 80–89
Title Douluo (9): Spiritual Power 90–99
To ascend to the next Realm, a Spiritual Master had to absorb an Artificial Spiritual Soul or form a contract with a Spirit Beast, turning it into a True Spiritual Soul. Once obtained, they could break through and form a Spiritual Ring, containing a Spiritual Skill, the fusion of the Martial Soul's traits and the Spiritual Soul.
A third, forbidden method existed: the Spiritual Master could slay a Spirit Beast, condensing its power into a Spiritual Ring. Absorbing it allowed a breakthrough, but this was strictly prohibited, as killing Spirit Beasts could ignite war.
Spirit Beasts, the second most powerful beings in the Federation, had been driven nearly to extinction over 40,000 years due to constant hunting. Ten thousand years ago, their patience ended, and they rose up. Yet war never came, thanks to the Queen of Spirit Beasts and the era's strongest Spiritual Master, who brokered peace. Hunting Spirit Beasts was thereafter strictly forbidden.
Spirit Beasts also cultivated, absorbing Heaven-and-Earth Qi, but their strength depended heavily on age — the older, the stronger. They could not live forever. They were classified into six ranks:
10 years old: White Spiritual Ring
100 years old: Yellow Spiritual Ring
1,000 years old: Purple Spiritual Ring
10,000 years old: Black Spiritual Ring
100,000 years old: Crimson Purple Spiritual Ring
Legendary (1,000,000 years): Unknown, presumed Gold
Artificial and True Spiritual Souls followed the same classification.
With eyes full of anticipation, the boy gently pushed open the metal door. Entering the circular chamber, he froze, taking in the surroundings.
At the center stood an elderly man in long black robes, adorned with mysterious patterns of Spirit Beasts. His gaze was deep, and his gray beard lent him an air of wisdom.
"I am Luo Min. Stand in the center of the formation, boy."
"Hello, my name is Fan Yue," the boy said, stepping obediently into the intricate spiritual array inscribed on the floor.
"I will begin," Luo Min said, activating the formation.
Instantly, symbols blazed with brilliant light, enveloping the boy. A strange warmth spread through his body — but it vanished in a flash. The light extinguished, leaving him cold and confused.
It all happened so quickly that Fan Yue couldn't comprehend it. He glanced at the elderly man, questioning. The old man's expression was unusual, tinged with pity.
He exhaled heavily."Ha… boy, call your parent here."
Sensing something was wrong, the boy nodded calmly and left, returning moments later with his father, whose face was tense.
"Greetings… is there a problem?" he asked.
Luo Min looked at Fan Yue with sympathy before turning to his father."Your son… he has no Martial Soul."
Hearing this, Fan Yue felt as if his world had been turned upside down. His legs wobbled, and the ground seemed to vanish. But before he could fall, his father scooped him up, covering his eyes. Moments later, Fan Yue was asleep.
Luo Min stared in astonishment."You… are a Spiritual Master?"
The man nodded."Can you explain why he has no Martial Soul?"
Luo Min's shock deepened."He is a Spiritual Master… but why can't even I, a Soul Saint (7), sense his Spiritual Power?"
He quickly pushed aside his thoughts and spoke to the boy's father:"Such cases are extremely rare. Once every 500 years, at most. The last Martial Soul-less child appeared over 520 years ago. Spiritual Masters studied this phenomenon extensively, yet no clear answer exists. These children are called Born with an Empty Soul, or simply, the Empty Ones."
The father nodded silently, carrying his son out of the Awakening Center.
Fan Family Residence
Fan Hobin sat on the couch, lost in thought. Scarred hands clenched tightly."How do I tell him? His dream was to become a Spiritual Master. I'd be fine if he didn't… but having no Martial Soul is something else. If others find out, he'll be ridiculed, ostracized…"
The sound of footsteps drew him from his thoughts. He turned to see Fan Yue emerging from his room.
"Dad… does that mean I can't become a Spiritual Master?" His voice trembled, tears streaming down.
Fan Hobin felt his heart constrict. He hugged his son tightly."I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. This is all my fault…"