Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Martial Soul Awakening, My Golden Finger
"Children, my name is Xiao Meimei, a Level 25 Soul Master and your guide. Next, I will awaken your martial souls one by one."
After speaking, Xiao Meimei waved her hand, and six black stones emanated a golden glow, swirling in the air. The astonishing scene left the five children, including Xiao Wu, in awe.
"Remember, no matter what happens next, don't be afraid. You—yes, you! Step forward!"
Xiao Meimei pointed to the boy on the far right.
The boy, filled with excitement, walked under the hovering stones.
"I'm about to start; don't be scared!"
With a thought, Xiao Meimei infused her soul power into the stones. The stones radiated brilliant golden light, forming a peculiar formation. At the same time, pink soul power surged from Xiao Meimei, and two soul rings—a white one and a yellow one—descended from above her head.
"Lone Fox, possess!"
The pink soul power surged violently, and in the blink of an eye, it coalesced behind Xiao Meimei into a bizarre shape resembling a human with a fox's head.
The fox head had bright red eyes, appearing like a demon from hell. It gazed intently at the boy standing in the formation.
"Ah?"
The boy was utterly astonished and let out a scream, his eyes wide open, forgetting to step back.
Seeing the boy's terrified expression, Xiao Meimei felt a sense of superiority welling up inside her. With a smug smile, she quickly added, "I told you not to be afraid. This is my martial soul, Lone Fox. If any of you can become a soul master in the future, you can also unleash your own martial soul like I do."
After finishing her words, Xiao Meimei extended her hand, channeling her soul power to awaken the martial soul of the child before her.
As the gentle golden light enveloped him, the boy's body began to rise off the ground.
"Extend your right hand," Xiao Meimei instructed.
The boy complied, and a bit of light seeped from his palm, finally coalescing into the shape of a bow.
"Weapon Martial Soul!"
Xiao Meimei commented, "As a weapon martial soul, the bow possesses a certain level of attack power. If you have soul power, you can become a soul master! Now, let's see if you have soul power!"
She took out a blue crystal ball from her soul guide.
Under Xiao Meimei's guidance, the boy touched the crystal ball with his palm. However, it emitted no light.
"With no soul power, you cannot become a soul master. Reclaim your martial soul with your thoughts; in the future, you can summon it with your thoughts as well. You can step down now. Next!"
Under Xiao Meimei's direction, the children from Emperor Soul Village began awakening their martial souls in an orderly manner.
"Sickle, weapon martial soul. With no soul power, you cannot become a soul master."
"Hoe, useless martial soul. With no soul power, you also cannot become a soul master."
"Blue Silver Grass, a standard useless martial soul. No attack power, no support ability. You cannot become a soul master!"
"Alright, next."
Xiao Meimei's gaze landed on Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu felt a sense of resistance, specifically a strong aversion towards humans and soul masters.
"Go ahead, Xiao Wu," Mu Chen encouraged, gently patting her hand.
Xiao Wu nodded slightly, trembling as she walked to the peculiar formation formed by the six stones.
Thud!
Xiao Wu's martial soul awakening was surprisingly smooth. Pink light swirled around her, making her look even cuter. At the same time, a yellow soul ring descended from above her head.
"Is that a soul ring?"
Xiao Meimei's expression turned to one of shock as she looked at Xiao Wu, asking, "You've awakened your martial soul and received a hundred-year soul ring?"
"I… I don't know," Xiao Wu replied hesitantly.
"You don't know? You've awakened your martial soul and received a soul ring, yet you don't know?" Xiao Meimei questioned incredulously.
"I really don't know. I saw an uncle doing something strange to a dead soul beast, and I just imitated him," Xiao Wu said, telling a little white lie to hide her true identity as a soul beast.
"Uh!"
Xiao Meimei's eyes lost their initial arrogance, now filled with envy as she gazed at Xiao Wu. While Xiao Meimei's first soul ring was a ten-year white soul ring, Xiao Wu's first soul ring was a hundred-year one. The soul ring had four patterns on it and was over four hundred years old.
The limit for a soul master to absorb their first soul ring was four hundred twenty-three years, and Xiao Wu's first soul ring had already reached this threshold.
"Extend your hand; let me see your soul power," Xiao Meimei instructed.
Xiao Wu complied, her small hand touching the crystal ball. The previously dormant crystal ball immediately radiated dazzling light.
"Level eleven!" Xiao Meimei exclaimed, staring at Xiao Wu. "Child, are you really only six years old?"
"Yes," Xiao Wu nodded.
"What's your name?" Xiao Meimei asked.
"My name is Xiao Wu," she replied.
"Xiao Wu, would you like to join the Martial Soul Hall?" Xiao Meimei invited.
"Martial Soul Hall?" Xiao Wu murmured.
"Yes, the Martial Soul Hall has the most soul masters on the continent and is comparable in overall strength to the two great empires. If you join the Martial Soul Hall, you can receive better education," Xiao Meimei earnestly encouraged.
"I don't want to," Xiao Wu replied without hesitation.
"Xiao Wu, you might not understand the benefits of joining the Martial Soul Hall. Joining the Martial Soul Hall can…"
"I said, I don't want to!"
Xiao Wu ran back to Mu Chen's side, glaring at Xiao Meimei with hostility.
Sighing, Xiao Meimei couldn't comprehend why Xiao Wu was so resistant. Since Xiao Wu didn't want to join, there was no reason to force her. With a helpless sigh, she said, "Xiao Wu, if you ever change your mind, you can come to find me at the Martial Soul Hall in Notting City. Now, next!"
Xiao Meimei couldn't understand why Xiao Wu harbored such aversion to the Martial Soul Hall. Of course, she couldn't possibly guess that Xiao Wu's mother had died at the hands of a soul master, and Xiao Meimei had just mentioned that the Martial Soul Hall housed the most soul masters on the continent. Naturally, Xiao Wu's heart would be filled with resistance!
Mu Chen also understood why Xiao Wu, with her innate full soul power, eventually went to the junior soul master academy in Notting City instead of the Martial Soul Hall's soul master academy.
Hearing Xiao Meimei's call, Mu Chen stepped forward to stand beneath the six stones.
Xiao Meimei activated her soul power, and the six stones radiated golden light again. The light enveloped Mu Chen, and he felt as if he were basking in the spring sun, warmth flooding his entire being. A warm current flowed through his body, as if something within him was about to awaken.
"Ding dong!"
"The system has detected that the host is undergoing martial soul awakening. The Chaos System is being activated!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone