Xiao Lin, the time has come for you to awaken your martial soul. I hope your awakening allows you to rise like a phoenix and make your father and me proud. Don't be like that bastard Xiao Chenyu, with his average potential.
I felt a bit exasperated hearing what my mother said.
As time went on, I became more aware of our family situation. Although it wasn't too complicated, my mother was the second wife of the city's mayor, and I was her only son.
Besides that, she had a strong rivalry with my father's main wife and was quite upset that a mere servant had a child with him before she did. However, she didn't seem to have too many complex feelings about my older brother, Xiao Chan, who was the son of the main wife.
To be honest, I wasn't too interested in this mansion because I'd have to leave it once I awakened my martial soul. It would be like going to Hogwarts, where you can only visit your family during holidays. Unless I enrolled in Nuoding Academy. Besides, I already had a much more affectionate family, even if they had fewer resources.
That said, I wasn't going to be ungrateful and disregard my mother Xiao Len's ambitions and feelings. Now that I think about it, I kind of felt like a child adopted by two different families.
Alright, Mother. I swear I won't let you down.
She gave a radiant smile before sending me off to get ready for the awakening of my martial soul.
To my discomfort, my other body was woken up to go have breakfast.
Liam, do you want scrambled eggs with tomato or freshly baked bread. My Danmachi mother asked sweetly when she saw my eyes open.
Freshly baked bread. Ma, can you let me sleep a little longer. I'm still kind of sleepy, I asked while gently rubbing one of my eyes.
Alright, just don't oversleep. She started caressing my head. By the way, you should also go out and play with other kids. I'm worried you spend too much time alone and don't socialize.
Sure... I'll make some friends later... I murmured before putting my Danmachi body back to sleep.
This lifestyle is pretty uncomfortable, I thought to myself. Living with both bodies had been really annoying. I still couldn't control them at the same time to do different things, but I had managed to adapt a bit. When I focused more on one body, the other went inactive, which helped me manage this double life.
I made one sleep at different intervals, planning a routine to do similar things at the same time like jogging, even if it was just light runs. After all, it would be weird for a kid under six in Soul Land to start doing push-ups, squats, and the like.
I didn't live in an isolated place like Tang San's village, where you could act suspiciously and no one would say anything. On top of that, I was the mayor's son, so rumors would spread, and that would be a real headache.
Leaving those useless thoughts behind, I headed to the Spirit Hall of Nuoding City.
When I entered the building, after the guards let me in and I left the servant outside with many other parents hoping their children would become soul masters, I saw other kids my age also waiting to awaken their martial souls.
There were about fifty of them. It seemed like there should have been more, but this Spirit Hall wasn't that big compared to the main branches, so they assigned different time slots to several groups.
Is everyone gathered. asked a rather beautiful woman in Spirit Hall robes as she came down the stairs.
After giving us a brief look, she began introducing herself.
I'm Wan Sisi, a Spirit Hall Deacon. I'm in charge of awakening your martial souls. Follow me so we can begin the awakening.
Isn't the awakening of my martial soul supposed to be done by the legendary blind Title Douluo.
I stopped thinking about it when the kids' murmurs fell silent because Sisi had already reached the entrance of a large room, lit by the many glass windows surrounding the hall.
She walked over to a table to pick up a glowing blue orb, then moved to a small formation made of several round black stones.
Everything is ready. Who wants to be the first to awaken their martial soul. Her gaze swept over us, then landed on the boy next to me, who wouldn't stop raising his hand excitedly.
I want to awaken my martial soul. the boy exclaimed. Then everyone started doing the same.
One by one, calm down. Let's start with you. Step into the formation.
When the boy stepped forward, she held his hand and said, Close your eyes and try to feel your martial soul.
Then she said softly, Swan Possession.
A milky white light began to cover her, and her appearance started to change. Her black hair gained white streaks, her face became more refined, her eyes shone with a silver gleam, and her pupils turned blue with a faint crystalline glow.
Snow-white feathers appeared on her shoulders and upper arms, forming an elegant cape that draped down her back. Her Spirit Hall robe fluttered slightly, and behind her, the translucent projection of a majestic white swan rose, spreading its wings gracefully.
The boy seemed enchanted. His gaze turned a little silly, as if he were looking at the love of his life. Many were amazed by the scene, unlike with Su Yuntao, who used to scare kids during martial soul awakenings.
I just scoffed a bit. I only hoped I'd get a decent martial soul and not one with a degrading mutation and a bunch of defects.
I saw how a golden light emerged from the stones and began to cover the boy's body. He trembled for a moment before going silent.
Extend your right hand.
The boy started manifesting a feather. When I thought something else would happen... it was over. It was just a simple feather.
I noticed Sisi's expression flash with a bit of disdain before she composed herself and said.
Alright, you've awakened your martial soul, which is a feather. If you have the talent to cultivate, it could become a support-type martial soul if you choose the right spirit rings. Now let's test your soul power. Just remember how it felt to summon it and place your hand on this crystal.
The boy frowned a little, then started to manifest the feather in his hand.
I did it. he exclaimed happily. But when he touched the crystal and Sisi placed her hand over his, nothing happened. Sisi's next words shattered his world, his hopes, and his dreams.
Not only do you have a trash martial soul, but you also can't become a soul master because you have no soul power. So please step aside and let the next one through.
She simply moved the now-dejected boy off the platform and pointed to a girl.
You're next. Come forward.
After that, nine more kids went up with trash martial souls, and only one boy and one girl had level 1 soul power.
Finally, it was my turn. As the light surrounded me, I felt a warm sensation, but what was most surprising was that my other body suddenly woke up and was feeling the same thing. I extended both of my right hands.
From one, a strange gray wolf emerged. It had four eyes, though it looked like just two at first. Next to each eye was a gem, suggesting they were another pair of eyes. It also had two tails, indicating it was a mutation. At the same time, my other body began to manifest a silver bow with intricate wolf-themed designs.
I saw how Sisi looked quite surprised before regaining her composure.
I don't recall seeing this kind of soul beast in any book I've read, so I can't say for sure what kind of martial soul it is. Maybe it's a mutation. Put your hand on the crystal so we can examine your soul power.
Hearing that, I extended my hand and recalled how it felt to manifest the wolf. I felt Sisi's hand over mine and the orb started glowing with a deep blue light.
Your soul power is level 9. Would you like to join Spirit Hall. With your talent and martial soul, you're destined for greatness. Once you join Spirit Hall, you'll be able to enroll in the Spirit Hall Academy, where you'll study from age 6 to adulthood and become a soul master with a very promising future.
Although she said it calmly and gently, I could feel the greed in her eyes. If I remember correctly, Spirit Hall rewards members who find talented individuals and recruit them. They're rewarded not just for their luck but also for the successful recruitment of a potential genius.
I'm not sure. I'll think about it and give you an answer tomorrow.
I saw her frown slightly before smiling and saying.
No worries. This Spirit Hall branch isn't going anywhere. You can come back once you've made up your mind. I'm sure I'll be pleased with your answer.
I walked away from her and headed straight for the exit.