Over the past few months, Liu Yan had been getting on friendly terms with Tang San. Fu Tian, not so much. Liu Yan had interacted with Fu Tian a few times and mostly he would just be lazing around under a tree, always asleep. He was exactly the type of person Liu Yan disliked, extreme talent and doesn't work hard. He had seen Fu Tian punch a tree with the strength higher than Tang San who still could lift a blacksmithing hammer.
Soon came Liu Yan's birthday, his parents having the extra bit of bronze soul coins decided to host a birthday party for Liu Yan. Most of the villagers came to celebrate, as Liu Yan looked around, he saw Tang San walking down from the path to his house. As expected, Tang Hao wasn't with him, Liu Yan had expected this.
"Pity... I knew it wouldn't happen but it would have been nice to see what the legendary Hao Tian Douluo looks like before he starts to resurface in the soul master world.' thought Liu Yan.
After the party had finished, everyone had went home. Liu Yan taking his gifts went to his room to open them. After opening them, he wasn't surprised that most of them were cheap gifts. After all, Soul Saint village was a small and poor village, not enough to buy big gifts. However, there was still on more he had not opened.
It was from... Tang San!
Liu Yan quickly opened them and inside was Tang San's earliest hidden weapon - Silent Kill Dart.
"It seems befriending Tang San was the correct move, though the Silent Kill Dart isn't the strongest, it is the easiest to carry" Liu Yan was excited to have this hidden weapon. He quickly put it on under his sleeves and it was indeed, very light weight.
"Alright, enough fooling around with this. Tomorrow is the day the children of age in the village awaken their martial souls. Can' wait!" Liu Yan immediately laid on the bed and went to sleep.
The next day, he was woken up by his mother, Mei Ling. Realizing he overslept, he hurriedly ate the prepared breakfast and kissed his mother goodbye and left.
After he arrived, he saw the children of age were all playing around the statue where the hand print of a soul saint laid. Fu Tian sat there too, leaning and dozing off while basking in the morning sun.
Liu Yan looked around and couldn't find Tang San, and remembering that grandpa Jack would be bringing Tang San and be a bit late. Liu Yan took a seat and patiently waited, thankful he wasn't the only person late.
Soon, a man dressed in silver robes, his face adorned with a slightly prideful look arrived. Liu Yan upon seeing him immediately realized who he was. Su YunTao, the blind douluo.
A few moments after Su YunTao arrived, Grandpa Jack could be seen walking towards them with Tan San behind him. "Examiner, please excuse us for being late" said Grandpa Jack.
"No worries, I had also just arrived. We will start the ceremony in the spirit hall" said Su YunTao with a humble tone.
As everyone entered the spirit hall located in Soul Saint Village, it was just as dilapidated as it was on the outside as it was on the inside, though it still functioned.
"I am the examiner. I am a level 26 Grand Soul Master. I am here to guide you to awakening your martial soul" said Su YunTao with authority in his voice. "Each of you line up from the shortest to the tallest"
Everyone followed suit. "Now whatever happens next, do not be afraid, the situation is under control, understand?" ordered Su YunTao.
"Lone Wolf, Transform!" screamed Su YunTao, suddenly his skin turned more and more orange, fur burst from his forearms and wolf ears appeared and grey hair grew. For a moment, everyone froze and the shortest fell backwards in fear.
"Like I said, do not be afraid. You, will be the first to awaken your martial soul" said Su YunTao as he grabbed the shortest boy who was still trembling by the back of the collar and placed in the middle of a circle formed by 6 crystals.
"Martial soul, awaken!" chanted Su YunTao as a bright yellow light enveloped the boy. A mark formed on his right hand and outcame... a hankerchief? The boy was stunned, however Su YunTao didnt say much about the martial soul.
"Touch this crystal ball, it will be able to tell your innate soul power, if you're worthy, then you become a spirit master" as the boy touched the crystal ball, expecting it to glow... 3 seconds passed and nothing. He tried harder but still nothing.
"No soul power, you cannot become a spirit master.", Though it sounded harsh, it was to dissuade the children that want to become spirit masters but can't from trying experimental and possibly fatal procedures.
Every child stepped into the circle and touched the crystal ball, mostly yielding the same results.
"Martial soul: hoe, zero soul power."
"Martial soul: empty bottle, zero soul power."
"Martial soul: blue silver grass, a waste martial soul, zero soul power"
Now it was Tang San's turn. As he stepped into the circle, a blue silver grass formed on his right hand.
"Another waste martial soul, here" Su YunTao said before handing Tang San the crystal ball. as Tang San touched the crystal ball, he felt the martial art: mystic mind was breaking through level 1. Suddenly a dazzling light filled the room.
"Impossible... Innate full soul power. What a pity, it was still a waste martial soul" Su YunTao thought to himself before writing the records down.
Now, it was Liu Yan's turn, he stepped into the circle and as the yellow energy enveloped him, he felt his right hand extend naturally. What appeared were a set of gauntlets, made of pristine and pure crystals and minerals.
Liu Yan, seeing this was excited but also a bit nervous. No one in the first soul land manhwa or anime had he seen someone with gauntlet martial souls. Wouldn't that mean he had to cultivate it and learn it by himself? Sigh... what to do. Fate always played him like this.
"Oh" Su YunTao said with surprise, recognising the martial soul Liu Yan had. When he was learning in spirit hall academy to become an examiner, he had to learn about all types of martial souls. The one Liu Yan held was extremely rare, only up to 7 people have had it in the recorded parts of history. Known as "Crystalline Glory"
Su YunTao handed the crystal ball to Liu Yan. When Liu Yan touched it, a bright light filled the hall once again. "Level 6 innate soul power, not bad"
As Liu Yan waked back to his spot, he saw Tang San give him a congratulatory nod while Fu Tian, who was hunched back walked lazily into the circle.
Liu Yan didn't know what the name of Fu Tian's martial soul was, but he saw it was a guandao with small lightning sparks. Fu Tian's innate soul power was level 8. Liu Yan was a bit frustrated, once again he was the one with the weakest talent amongst those who had talent at all.
As everyone exited the hall, most of the children had left to play while others went home directly in a dejected manner. Su YunTao had handed Grandpa Jack 3 pieces of parchment which recorded Liu Yan's, Tang San's and Fu Tian's martial soul and innate soul power.
"Congratulations, you three. In about a week, you will be enrolled into a elementary soul master academy. Make sure to ask your parents before we depart." said Grandpa Jack while beaming with joy. It was always a dream of his to have his village produce a soul master, now it had the chance to produce three.
"But Grandpa Jack, we dont have the money." said Liu Yan.
"Do not worry, Liu Yan. We can apply for work student spots. Every village has one work student spot but from what I heard, none of the villages around us had a child with soul power. I could borrow a spot from 2 of them. I'll handle it, you three go back first" said Grandpa Jack patiently.
"Alright" said all three of them before parting ways.
Liu Yan was excited, eager to get to Nodding Academy and start cultivating his martial soul. He, being used to hard work wasn't too afraid of doing it again.
"Would have been nice if the system shows up now..." thought Liu Yan
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Hello, my readers.
As you can see, I didn't upload a chapter in the past 3 days. I had been on a trip and my phone's webnovel bugged, causing me to lose my entire draft and having to type this chapter from scratch.
I am also keeping Fu Tian's side of the story vague, you will have to read "A Lord's Return (Soul Land Fanfic" that's written by my friend to understand his POV.
This was a long chapter to type, I hope I can make more longer ones though. Will get there soon.