Celestial Water City, the Xiao Family estate.
Early in the morning, the Martial Arts Arena was already a sea of people.
Today was the great day for the younger generation of the Xiao Family to awaken their Martial Souls, and all the Xiao Clan Members had gathered here!
On the main dais sat the Elders of the Xiao Family, with Old Master Xiao, Xiao Long, and the Patriarch, Xiao Chen, among them.
Their gazes were fixed on a young man in white and a young woman in green, their eyes filled with anticipation.
"Haha! Young Master Xiao Hao and Miss Yu are the two great prodigies of our Xiao Family. They’re sure to awaken powerful Martial Souls today!"
"Especially Young Master Xiao Hao! His comprehension is simply heaven-defying. He might even awaken a Silver Level Martial Soul."
The Xiao Clan Members all began to discuss excitedly.
The young man in white was named Xiao Hao, the adopted son of the Xiao Family Patriarch.
His comprehension had been extraordinary since childhood. At seven, he had cultivated a Mortal Level Low Grade Swordsmanship technique to the Perfection stage.
At ten, he had mastered a Mortal Level Middle Grade Martial Arts technique.
Now, at fifteen, he had already cultivated all five of the Xiao Family’s strongest Mortal Level Upper Grade Martial Arts to Perfection!
For this reason, he was hailed as the number one genius in Celestial Water City, and everyone held great expectations for him.
"Hmph! High comprehension doesn’t guarantee you’ll awaken a powerful Martial Soul. Xiao Hao, today I will show everyone that *I* am the true number one genius of Celestial Water City."
Hearing the crowd’s chatter, the young woman in green’s face frosted over as she directed a cold sneer at Xiao Hao.
Her name was Xiao Yu, the second-greatest genius of the Xiao Family.
Although her comprehension was also high, she was always overshadowed by Xiao Hao.
This left her feeling deeply resentful.
However, for a Martial Artist, the Martial Soul was the most important thing of all. It determined a Martial Artist’s cultivation speed and potential.
As long as the Martial Soul she awakened surpassed Xiao Hao’s, she could take his place as the number one genius of the Xiao Family.
"Is that so? Whatever makes you happy," Xiao Hao said calmly.
’This Xiao Yu... Since she’s always been one step behind me, she’s held a grudge and constantly looks for trouble with me over nothing.’
’However, I’m a transmigrator from Earth. I’ve been in this world for over a decade. Having lived two lives, my mind is far too mature, and I can’t be bothered to stoop to her level.’
"The auspicious time has arrived! The Martial Soul Awakening ceremony will now officially begin! Yu’Er, you will be the first to test," Grand Elder Xiao Yang announced from the center of the Martial Arts Arena, his expression full of expectation.
"Father, I will definitely awaken a powerful Martial Soul," Xiao Yu said, full of confidence, as she walked toward a stone stele on the arena floor.
Then, she placed her delicate hand on top of the stele.
HUMMM!
The next moment, the stele began to vibrate violently, erupting with nine dazzling rays of silver light!
Behind Xiao Yu, the phantom image of a Phoenix appeared, its entire body radiating a snow-white, chilling aura.
"Heavens! It’s the Snow Phoenix Martial Soul!"
"Haha! The Xiao Family is going to rise this time!"
The Xiao Clan Members shouted in excitement.
Xiao Yang, in particular, was so excited his entire body was trembling.
One must understand that Martial Souls were divided into three major Levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
Each Level was further divided into One to Nine-Stars.
And the Snow Phoenix Martial Soul that Xiao Yu had awakened was a Nine-Star Silver Martial Soul.
In the entire history of Celestial Water City, no one had ever awakened such a powerful Martial Soul.
"Haha! Congratulations, Grand Elder! Heartfelt congratulations!"
"With such a powerful Martial Soul, Miss Yu will surely be able to join the Profound Sword Academy!"
The Xiao Clan Members all rushed to congratulate Xiao Yang.
"Good! Very good. As expected of my granddaughter, you truly haven’t disappointed me."
Even Old Master Xiao, Xiao Long, on the dais, was ecstatic.
"Xiao Hao, did you see that? I awakened the Snow Phoenix Martial Soul. I’d like to see what you have to compete with me," Xiao Yu said provocatively, walking up to Xiao Hao.
"Don’t worry, I definitely won’t be any worse than you."
With that, Xiao Hao walked toward the stele.
’In this world, a Martial Soul is simply too important for a Martial Artist. It practically determines their future achievements.’
’The stronger the awakened Martial Soul, the greater their accomplishments tend to be.’
’Conversely, if one awakens a useless Martial Soul, it doesn’t matter how outstanding they are in other aspects.’
’Therefore, I naturally hope to awaken a powerful Martial Soul myself.’
"It’s Young Master Xiao Hao! I wonder what kind of Martial Soul he’ll awaken?"
"His comprehension is far greater than Miss Yu’s. Maybe he’ll awaken a legendary Golden Martial Soul!"
The Xiao Clan Members were filled with anticipation.
HUMMM!
Soon, under everyone’s watchful eyes, Xiao Hao placed his hand upon the stele.
The next moment, an extremely faint bronze glow bloomed from the stele.
And behind Xiao Hao, an extremely tiny, earthworm-like black snake materialized!
"Heavens! Am I seeing things?!"
"Young Master Xiao Hao actually awakened the lowest-grade Black Snake Martial Soul!"
"A Martial Soul like that is no different from a trash Martial Soul!"
"Fuck! And I had such high hopes for him. Turns out he’s just a useless piece of trash!"
"From now on, Miss Yu is the number one genius of Celestial Water City. He’s just a joke."
In an instant, the entire arena was in an uproar. All the Xiao Clan Members looked as if they had seen a ghost, and many even began to mock Xiao Hao.
Their current disappointment was as great as their previous expectations for him had been!
After all, the Black Snake Martial Soul was the weakest of all, a One-Star Bronze Martial Soul, only a sliver better than a trash Martial Soul.
Someone who awakens this kind of Martial Soul not only has an extremely slow cultivation speed, but their Attack Power is also pitifully weak.
What use was it even if Xiao Hao’s comprehension was high?
"Impossible! Big Brother, is there something wrong with the Testing Stele? How could Hao’Er possibly awaken such a weak Martial Soul?" Patriarch Xiao Chen said, his face ashen.
"Second Brother, there’s nothing wrong with the Testing Stele. Your adopted son is just trash. You’d better accept it!" Xiao Yang sneered, gloating.
’How could this be? This makes no sense!’
At this moment, even Xiao Hao himself was frozen in place, completely unable to accept this reality.
’My comprehension is clearly so much higher than Xiao Yu’s. How could I awaken such a trash Martial Soul?’
’This is completely illogical.’
"Heh! Xiao Hao, and here I thought you’d awaken some powerful Martial Soul. Turns out you’re just a complete and utter piece of trash. To think I considered you my greatest rival all these years... I must have been blind. In this year’s clan competition, I’ll definitely crush you under my heel."
Beside him, Xiao Yu held her head high, her eyes filled with derision.
In past clan competitions, she had always lost to Xiao Hao. This year, however, she could finally vent her frustrations.
CRACK!
Xiao Hao’s fists clenched involuntarily, his expression a mask of pure indignation.
One moment, he was the number one genius of Celestial Water City.
The next, he had become a piece of trash mocked by all.
Even for someone who had lived two lives, this immense contrast was difficult to bear.
"Master, there is no need to be discouraged. Your Martial Soul is not the trashiest of them all, but the one-of-a-kind, Heaven-Devouring Martial Soul! With it, you will surely rise."
Just as Xiao Hao was sinking into utter despair, a mysterious voice suddenly rang out in his mind, causing his entire body to tremble!