Chapter 2: Martial Soul Awakening Day
The sun rose early over Holy Soul Village, golden rays spilling over the simple houses and dusty paths.
Today was a special day — the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony.
All the six-year-old children of the village gathered in the small village square, their faces filled with excitement and nervousness.
Ye Feng stood among them, silent and calm, but inside, his heart pounded like a drum.
"Today... I'll know my future."
Old Jack stood nearby, smiling kindly at the children, though his eyes paused a little longer on Ye Feng, full of silent worry.
At the center of the square stood a man in white robes, embroidered with the golden symbol of Spirit Hall.
His name was Sun Yutong, a Spirit Hall official sent to small villages like this one to awaken the children's martial souls.
One by one, the children stepped forward.
Most awakened ordinary martial souls — hoes, sickles, small tools.
Some had no soul power at all.
Only one child caused a stir: Tang San.
He awakened a strange martial soul, Blue Silver Grass, but what truly shocked everyone was the result:
Innate full soul power, level 10.
A rare genius, even in the entire Douluo Continent.
Old Jack's face lit up with joy when he saw Tang San's talent.
"Perhaps our Holy Soul Village will have another great Soul Master," he muttered, eyes misty with hope.
Finally, it was Ye Feng's turn.
He stepped forward calmly, ignoring the curious whispers from the other children.
Sun Yutong glanced at him without much interest and waved his hand.
"Place your hand on the awakening stone," he said lazily.
Ye Feng placed his hand on the cold crystal.
A soft white light enveloped him, and then — something extraordinary happened.
Two martial souls appeared at once.
In Ye Feng's right hand formed a simple, plain Copper Sword.
Its blade was old, a little dull, and looked far too ordinary compared to glorious weapons like spears or halberds.
In his left hand bloomed a small Purple Seed, pulsing faintly with a strange inner light.
The villagers gasped in surprise.
Sun Yutong frowned deeply, stepping closer.
"Two martial souls?" he muttered. "But... both are so strange. A rusty sword and a seed? Hmph."
He touched the awakening stone again, and numbers floated up:
Innate soul power: Level 3.
A sigh rippled through the crowd.
Even Old Jack's expression fell a little.
Sun Yutong shook his head, his voice cold and without pity.
"An odd, useless pair of martial souls," he announced loudly.
"Level 3 soul power is barely enough to cultivate. In my opinion, this child has no great future. Spirit Hall will not sponsor him."
His words cut into Ye Feng's heart like a knife.
Ye Feng stood frozen, staring at his plain Copper Sword and the tiny Purple Seed in his hands.
Memories flashed through his mind:
Climbing the mountains with bleeding feet...
Training under the burning sun while others played...
The promise he made to his dying mother...
"Was all my effort... for nothing?"
Tears burned at the corners of his eyes, but he gritted his teeth and bowed stiffly to Sun Yutong before turning away.
Ignoring the stares and the whispers, Ye Feng ran —
Ran back to the small wooden hut Old Jack had given him.
Ran to the tiny hidden box under his bed, where a precious memory waited.
His mother's letter.
With trembling hands, Ye Feng opened the old parchment.
The handwriting was faint, but the words burned deep into his heart:
> "Feng'er, no matter what happens, you must remember — the strength of a soul is not given by others. It is built by your own hands, with every drop of sweat, every scar, every dream.
Even if the world looks down on you, even if fate itself laughs at you... never, ever bow your head."
Tears finally rolled down Ye Feng's cheeks.
He wiped them away fiercely, biting his lip until it bled.
He stood up, a new fire burning in his chest.
"I will not give up," he whispered fiercely.
"I will defy fate... I will defy heaven itself!"
He turned to the other treasure hidden in the box —
The scroll his mother had given him before her death.
With reverence, Ye Feng carefully unrolled it.
On the cover, written in bold, ancient characters, were the words:
"Heaven and Earth Body Refining Scripture"
A path not for the gifted, but for those who dared to fight against destiny itself.
Ye Feng smiled through his tears, his heart steady once more.
"Even if it takes me 100 years... I will become a god."
And so, a new chapter of his life began — the first step on a path of endless struggle and unimaginable glory.