--- Chapter 9 ---
I met my sister outside.
She was about to ask me what Martial Soul did I awaken, but my gloomy expression made her realize something wasn't right.
She hurriedly dragged me to the alley.
"What happened?"
"Did you awaken a weak Martial Soul?"
"No." I shook my head and raised two fingers before shushing her to be quiet.
I can see her eyes widen in disbelief. Her body trembled because her brother was actually the legendary Twin Martial Soul.
However, she quickly regained her calm. "I will tell Grandpa Mu that we will stay in the town for a few days. Does that sound good?"
I nodded, "That's perfect."
"I will be waiting outside of the east gate. Meet me in the forest, Sister."
My sister hugged me and left with a determined expression. "Okay, let's meet there."
After that, I used Flash Step and exited the Free Leaf City as quickly as possible. I entered the forest and groaned because my left hand felt it was going to explode.
BOOOOOOOM!
I crashed to the ground, and my clenched left hand opened, causing an arrogant and heavy aura to permeate the area. The surrounding tree near me turned into dust upon making contact with this aura. Weirdly enough, there is no sign of Martial Soul appearing.
That's when I noticed a black ant on my left hand. At first glance, it looked like an ordinary ant with a segmented body less than ten centimeters long, six legs, and a pair of antennae.
However, with my Eyes of Truth, I saw something different. Before me stood a terrifying creature on two legs. It had a "shiny" black, armor-like exoskeleton, sharp, knife-like fingers, crown-shaped antennae, and two crimson-red eyes.
The ant exudes its own gravitational force as the sheer weight of its body is several thousands of tons.
Even the infamous Fifteen Ton Ants weren't this domineering.
"Clear Sky Ant King..." I couldn't help but feel shocked by the name of my second Martial Soul. This beast-type Martial Soul was 'actually' related to the strongest tool-type Martial Soul, Clear Sky Hammer.
No matter how I see it, this was illogical.
I can understand that my Blue Silver Grass mutated as it gained lightning attribute, but this ant is something else. It's like watching a block of iron turned into a living cow.
[Name: Clear Sky Ant King]
[Type: Beast-type]
[Grade: Top-tier Martial Soul]
[Talent: Ultimate Strength, Ultimate Defense, Ultimate Speed, Ultimate Adaptation]
[Description: The Clear Sky Ant King is a Martial Soul that should not exist in the Douluo Dalu universe. Formed due to a powerful influence of "void" energy, which impacted one's Soul. This energy somehow attracted the essence of the Clear Sky Hammer, transforming it into a living creature known as the Ultimate Living Creature.]
My eyes widened in disbelief because this Martial Soul was insane. Your typical Martial Soul doesn't even have an Ultimate Attribute, but mine has four!
I tried communicating with the Clear Sky Ant King, but the ant vanished into my palm.
I groaned in pain as my body forcibly transformed, becoming taller and leaner as thick, exoskeleton armor covered my body from head to toe.
A moment later, a black-armored figure stood in the forest.
"Yuan, is that you?" A voice awakened me.
I clenched hard and used all my will to cancel this ant's transformation, returning to my appearance. I gasped for air, kneeling on the ground because his mind was full of tyrannical thoughts for a moment there.
My sister approached me and checked my condition. She sighed, "Thank God. You're fine."
"That black armor... Is that your second Martial Soul?"
"I heard that someone Mutated Blue Silver Grass earlier."
I nodded, "Mm, it's me."
"But the armor itself is not my Martial Soul. My second Martial Soul is this ant."
My sister stared at the black ant on my left palm and was shocked to see her brother's Martial Soul turned out to be an ordinary-looking ant. Even then, my sister didn't dare to look down on my Martial Soul.
Although my sister was a little slow, I had taught her about Martial Soul Theory, how they are born, and what aspects could change them.
My sister understood that the "Twin Martial Soul" doesn't just appear from thin air. Unlike a 'certain' Grandmaster who guessed luckily about a Twin Martial Soul Owner, she knew certain criteria must be met, starting with the bloodline, similar qualities of Martial Souls that shouldn't contradict each other, inheritance, and possessing Innate Full Spirit Power (not always the case).
"Let's see..." I unsummoned the Clear Sky Ant King, summoned my mutated Blue Silver Grass and used the Eyes of Truth.
"How beautiful..." My sister muttered upon seeing the mutated Blue Silver Grass. No, we should call it Purple Silver Grass now because the grass is purple and has a silver streak.
[Name: Purple Silver Grass (Unawakened)]
[Type: Tool-type (Plant Sub-type)]
[Grade: High-level Martial Soul]
[Talent: Ultimate Life (unawakened), Ultimate Lightning (partially awakened), Thunder God's Blood, Flame of Life]
[Description: Purple Silver Grass is a Martial Soul that should not exist in the Douluo Dalu Universe. It is a combination of the Blue Silver Emperor and the Thunder Hell Prison Vine, inheriting the life-giving qualities of Blue Silver Grass and the destructive power of Thunder God. This Martial Soul is 'inherently' linked to the void and the God, an anomaly.]
[Note: Please reach Spirit King Realm to awaken the Purple Silver Grass into Purple Silver Monarch, an existence above Emperor]
"It's actually the combination of Blue Silver Emperor and Thunder Hell Prison Vine!" I was enthusiastic. Both are powerful plant-type Spirit Beasts, representing the extreme side of plant life.
One is the ruler of all plants.
And the other is the avenger of all plants.
"Purple Silver Grass and Clear Sky Ant King. Fate really works in a weird way." I lamented, realizing Tang San should have awakened his Martial Soul in Holy Soul Village now.
I shook my head, "But I don't feel like my Martial Souls are just this."
"What do you mean, Yuan?" asked my sister. After all, there shouldn't be Triplet Martial Soul in the history of the Douluo Continent.
I sensed the vague sensation in my chest and summoned neither Purple Silver Grass nor Clear Sky Ant King, allowing a pile of white clouds to hover above my palm.
"What is this?" My sister was confused. She knew this pile of white clouds was Martial Soul, but it gave her a weird feeling.
I smiled, "Technically speaking, it should be my third Martial Soul, but something happened in the Spirit Awakening Ceremony, and the Martial Soul failed to awaken and become like this."
"Now, it's just a handful of white clouds... An incomplete Martial Soul with nothing but origin power."
"This... It won't put you in danger, right?" My sister worriedly looked at me.
I waved my hand at her, "Being formless is actually a good chance for me. With it, I can possibly replicate the Martial Soul of others or even make a new one for myself."
"Still, I won't do it now."
"My hands are full with Purple Silver Grass and Clear Sky Ant King."
"So, you're actually awakening Two and a Half Martial Soul? This is possible??" My sister was speechless.
I laughed, "Hehe, you can think of it that way."
"Martial Soul is the wonder of this world, after all."
"Anyway, I successfully awakened my Martial Soul. It's time for us to hunt our first Spirit Ring."
"You have been training a year straight for this."
My sister pumped her slender fist, "Hmph, finally! Just wait and see. This sister will become strong for you, Yuan!"
"Okay, okay, I know," I replied in amusement. Still, I felt touched by her words.
"Let's go to the nearest Soul Hunting Forest. The Merchant Union has gathered information about Yin-type Spirit Beasts we can hunt and recruited a few mercenaries to protect us."
"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" My sister excitedly grabbed my hand and walked out of the forest with a happy smile.