Notting City, Xiahe Village
On the riverbank outside the village, a young boy gazed into the distance. Beneath his black hair, his sharp and well-defined features carried a maturity beyond his years.
The clear water flowed quietly, river grass swayed beneath the surface, and a gentle breeze brushed against his face. Lin Bai murmured to himself, "Today is my sixth birthday—and the day I awaken my martial spirit. I just hope that one day, I'll have a golden finger that can enhance it."
He wasn't simply daydreaming—he had reason to believe it was possible.
For six years since arriving in this world, Lin Bai had received extraordinary gifts on every birthday. Each one could serve as a "golden finger" powerful enough to make him the protagonist of a story.
On his first birthday, golden bows, golden arrows, and lead-tipped arrows had fallen from the sky, striking his tiny head before melting into his mind. The result? His spiritual sea was unlocked—something even Soul Saints in Soul City struggled to achieve. These were no ordinary weapons either; they were Cupid's Arrows, a divine artifact capable of making people fall in or out of love, even overriding Apollo's will. A must-have for a stallion novel protagonist.
If charm wasn't enough, external forces would make up for it.
On his second birthday, he had found a blue-covered book on a table corner—The Yin-Yang Nine Dragon Art, a dual cultivation method suspected to belong to an "Urban Dragon King" protagonist. It strengthened the body, improved longevity, and... well, had certain "social advantages."
When unsure, use internal energy to resolve the issue.
At three, he had picked up a wooden ring—a storage ring, no less. An old man with a white beard had emerged from within, bestowing upon him the lost skills of a Medical Saint protagonist.
The Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate—capable of bringing the dead back to life. One shot could save a person, ten shots might force the King of Hell into early retirement.
And this was only what he had gained by the age of three.
Year after year, his birthday gifts never failed to deliver. By now, Lin Bai had every reason to suspect that he was the protagonist.
However, he couldn't shake the feeling that his martial soul would be a disappointment. His parents had been commoners with weak martial souls—his father's was a Silkworm Baby, his mother's an Embroidery Needle. Neither had been soul masters, and both had passed away early.
Martial souls were largely determined by bloodline. With parents like his, Lin Bai had little reason to be optimistic.
Just then, distant footsteps approached, accompanied by hurried breathing. A middle-aged man waved at him from afar.
"Lin Bai! The Wuhun Hall's master is here. Hurry to the east end of the village! Don't keep the soul master waiting."
Six years ago, Xiahe Village had suffered a disaster. A passing Titled Douluo had fought nearby, and the aftermath had killed over a dozen villagers—including the old village chief and Lin Bai's parents. The man calling him now had been chosen as the new village chief.
"Got it, village chief! I'm coming."
Lin Bai started walking towards the gathering point, eyes scanning his surroundings.
"This year's golden finger is late."
A strange unease settled in his chest. Would his yearly luck run out? Without a new golden finger, he could still rely on his existing five, but life would be much harder.
"I shouldn't be greedy. Five golden fingers already put me on Tang San's level."
The village air was fresh, the sun bright, its golden light warming his face. His worries faded, replaced by firm resolve.
He had been practicing the Yin-Yang Nine Dragon Art for four years. Though he hadn't fully mastered it, simply absorbing Yin-Yang Qi from the sun and moon had strengthened his internal energy. Like Tang San's Xuantian Technique, he had reached a bottleneck.
With such a strong foundation, becoming a soul master wouldn't be difficult. The real challenge was whether his martial soul would be any good.
Suppressing his concerns, Lin Bai arrived at Wuhun Hall—a simple thatched house.
Inside, eight children his age stood with their parents.
A young man in white robes, looking quite handsome, stood before them. A Great Soul Master badge was pinned to his chest.
"Respected soul master, we appreciate your time." The village chief bowed respectfully.
The young man returned a slight nod. "I don't have much time. Let's begin. Children, line up."
Lin Bai took his place at the far left.
The young man, Su Yuntao, led them inside, smiling faintly.
"My name is Su Yuntao, a twenty-sixth-level Great Soul Master. I'll be your guide today. Now, we'll awaken your martial souls one by one. Relax. Don't be afraid of what happens next."
The children huddled together nervously. Lin Bai instinctively tensed, sensing danger. For a brief moment, his fingers almost launched an attack, an Embroidery Needle hidden between them. He shook his head at Su Yuntao's poor choice of words and put the needle away.
And then—
A mechanical voice rang in his mind.
[The Unlimited Recharge System is now at your service.]
[In this system, you can buy anything you desire. As a first-time bonus, your first deposit of any amount will grant you a High-Level Martial Soul Awakening Card!]
[Would the host like to recharge?]
Lin Bai froze.
It wasn't an illusion. It was real.
He had obtained a system before, but it had uninstalled itself after a year. Even so, he had experienced its power firsthand. Compared to every other golden finger, a system was the ultimate cheat.
"Recharge! One… copper coin!"
Lin Bai was broke. The storage ring on his finger was worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins, yet inside, he only had eight silver coins and fifty-three copper coins.
Thankfully, the system didn't care. One copper coin vanished from his storage ring, and in return, a glowing purple High-Level Martial Soul Awakening Card appeared.
"With this, I can awaken any high-level martial soul I want."
Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Civet, for example, was considered a high-level martial soul.
At that moment, it was his turn.
"Kid, hold out your hands," Su Yuntao instructed.
He looked tired. The last eight children had nothing—not a single one had soul master potential. He hoped this last one would be different.
Lin Bai complied, activating the awakening card as he did. The purple card shattered, turning into a viscous liquid that seeped into his skin and spread throughout his body.
"So hot…"
Golden light flooded the thatched house. Auras of sharpness and gentleness intertwined, paradoxically conflicting yet perfectly balanced.
Lin Bai's eyes widened.
"This is… my martial soul? The Golden Needles of the Ghost Gate?!"
Thirteen golden needles, as thin as ox hairs, hovered in his palm. His expression twitched.
"Damn it. I really became a healing-type soul master?"
Su Yuntao hesitated, unfamiliar with this martial soul. "I don't recognize it. You can name it yourself. Now, let's test your soul power. As long as you have even a little, you can become a soul master."
Suppressing his frustration, Lin Bai placed his hand on the blue crystal ball.
A dazzling light erupted.
Innate full soul power!