In the ancient continent of Man Gu, a martial soul is an essential element for every martial artist's cultivation.
Martial souls are divided into ranks, from low to high: Yellow, Mystic, Earth, Heaven, Emperor, and Divine.
"Brother Lin Bai, your soul power is getting stronger. With your current talent, today's martial soul awakening should at least be an Earth-level martial soul."
On a small path in the Lin family, a lovely girl clung affectionately to the side of a young man who was basking in the glory of success, smiling.
This girl was named Lin Zier, the daughter of the Lin family's Grand Elder. She was known for her exceptional talent since childhood and was hailed as the first genius girl in Lingxi City. The young man beside her was Lin Bai, one of her childhood playmates.
Lin Bai, the only son of the previous family head, Lin Duo, also displayed astonishing martial talent from a young age. He and Lin Zier were known as the "Golden Boy and Jade Girl" of Lingxi City.
"These years, I've taken so many soul-nourishing pills left by my father, and my soul power has greatly improved. I feel that my martial soul is already above Earth level." Lin Bai said with a slight smile, his gaze firm and shining with unusual light.
From Lin Bai's eyes, it was clear that he placed great importance on today's martial soul awakening.
"Once I awaken an Earth-level or higher martial soul, I will have enough strength to find my father. When my father left without a word, I suspect it has something to do with my mother." Lin Bai said slowly.
Lin Zier smiled obediently: "Brother Lin Bai, no matter why Uncle Lin Duo left without a word, I believe that with Brother Lin Bai's talent, you will definitely find him, and you will definitely find your mother."
"Okay, let's go, Zier. It's not early anymore, we should head to the training ground."
Lin Zier smiled obediently, looking affectionate, and held Lin Bai's hand, walking into the training ground.
...
Entering the Lin family training ground, a sea of disciples waited for their awakening.
"Martial soul awakening, now begins!"
"Lin Hai, come up for your awakening."
In the training ground, there was a raised platform, on which a huge black stone was placed. This was the martial soul stone.
Hearing the call, a robust young man, with an excited look, walked up to the martial soul stone and placed his hands on it for a moment. Subsequently, a crimson light shone from the black martial soul stone.
"Lin Hai, Yellow-level Fifth Rank martial soul, Swift Lightning Leopard!"
The disciple named Lin Hai, upon hearing that his martial soul was Yellow-level Fifth Rank, immediately burst into tears of excitement: "Hahaha, I'm Yellow-level Fifth Rank, Yellow-level Fifth Rank, haha, I'm going to become a martial artist, I'm going to become a supreme expert!"
A Yellow-level Fifth Rank martial soul was already quite high among the Lin family's disciples.
Lin Hai descended from the platform amidst the envious gazes of the martial artists.
"Go down, next, Lin Zier."
The elder called out.
Lin Zier smiled at Lin Bai: "Brother Lin Bai, I'm going."
Lin Bai smiled: "Go, good luck."
"Okay."
Lin Zier nodded obediently and walked up to the platform.
Shortly after Lin Zier placed her hands on the martial soul stone, a towering red light column shot into the sky, visible to all martial artists within a hundred miles!
"Red light piercing the sky! It's Heaven-level!"
"Heaven-level martial soul!"
"My goodness, even Lin Duo back then was only Earth-level, and Lin Zier is actually Heaven-level!"
The elder standing beside the martial soul stone was stunned by the red light, and it took him a while to recover, exclaiming: "Lin Zier, Lin Zier, Lin Zier, Heaven-level Fifth Rank!"
"Primordial Goddess Dao, what kind of martial soul is this!"
Hearing the exclamations around him, Lin Bai said calmly: "Primordial Goddess Dao is a martial soul that has the potential to become a Divine-level martial soul. Once awakened, it will be granted a unique cultivation technique. This should be considered one of the top hundred Heaven-level martial souls!"
"Sister Zier indeed did not disappoint me."
Lin Bai smiled: "Sister Zier's soul power is not as strong as mine. Since she has awakened a Heaven-level martial soul, and my soul power is stronger than hers, then my martial soul must be..."
Thinking of this, Lin Bai became so excited that his mouth went dry.
Lin Zier, with a flushed face, ran joyfully to Lin Bai's side amidst the envy of thousands of martial artists, shouting happily: "Brother Lin Bai, did you see that!"
"Sure, congratulations, Zier." Lin Bai said sincerely.
Lin Zier smiled: "My soul power is too weak, far inferior to Brother Lin Bai. Since I can awaken a Heaven-level martial soul, Brother Lin Bai must at least be an Emperor-level martial soul! I congratulate you, Brother Lin Bai, in advance."
"Hahaha. It's too early to congratulate me. I haven't awakened yet." Lin Bai shook his head and laughed, his heart pounding.
"Lin Bai, come up for your martial soul awakening!"
The elder shouted, and Lin Bai walked up to the platform.
"It's Lin Bai! Our Lin family's first genius!"
"His father is Lin Duo, who had a Ninth Rank Earth-level martial soul back then. Lin Bai is his son and has taken so many soul power pills since childhood. I believe Lin Bai's martial soul will be even more astonishing."
"Indeed, I'm looking forward to it. Lin Bai's martial soul must be at least Heaven-level!"
Lin Bai walked up to the platform and placed his hands on the martial soul stone. Subsequently, a crimson light shone from the martial soul stone.
The elder beside the stone, seeing the light, could hardly believe his eyes.
After a moment of surprise, the elder sneered: "Lin Bai! First Rank Yellow-level martial soul! A useless martial soul."
"What?"
"First Rank Yellow-level?"
"Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter, Lin Bai is actually First Rank Yellow-level."
"The Lin family has stood in Lingxi City for three hundred years, and there has never been such a useless martial soul!"
"Hahaha, you piece of trash, get down, you're embarrassing yourself. I'm Fifth Rank Yellow-level, and you're only First Rank Yellow-level." Lin Hai, who had previously awakened his martial soul, pointed at Lin Bai and mocked him.
"What a genius, all nonsense!"
Lin Bai stood on the platform, briefly surprised, then walked back to Lin Zier's side with a bitter smile: "Is this what people are like?"
"Let's go, Zier."
Lin Bai, having awakened a First Rank Yellow-level martial soul, became a laughingstock in the training ground and had no interest in staying there.
He reached out to hold Lin Zier's hand.
Slap!
Lin Zier slapped Lin Bai's outstretched hand, turning it purple.
Lin Zier said, "Hmph, who do you think you are, daring to hold my hand!"
"Lin Bai, you need to be mindful of your status. A First Rank Yellow-level trash, daring to approach me?" Lin Zier sneered: "I warn you, if you dare to come within three steps of me in the future, I will cut off your head!"
"Zier, even you are like this..." Lin Bai looked at Lin Zier in disbelief.
The Lin Zier who used to be affectionate and lovely beside him had now become a different person!
Lin Bai, his face flushed with anger, gritted his teeth and said: "Fine, fine, fine, I, Lin Bai, have been wrong about you for these ten years!"
"It's not that you were wrong about me, but that I was wrong about you. I originally thought that with your father Lin Duo's talent of awakening a Ninth Rank Earth-level martial soul, his son would at least be Ninth Rank Earth-level or higher."
"But who would have thought that you are a First Rank Yellow-level trash!"
"I was blind, thinking you could pave a path for me in the martial arts. Now, I've wasted over ten years of my time." Lin Zier looked at Lin Bai with disgust.
Lin Bai was shocked: "You approached me to have me pave a path for you in the martial arts... What about the vows we made, the promises of eternal love?"
Lin Zier mocked: "Hahaha, if your martial soul was higher than mine, I might have really married you. But look at you now, a First Rank Yellow-level trash. We are destined to be from different worlds, so don't even think about a toad lusting after a swan!"
"I'm a toad? Hahaha, fine, Lin Zier, I will make you regret it, just wait and see!" Lin Bai said angrily and stormed out of the training ground.
On the way, countless Lin family martial artists pointed at Lin Bai and laughed: "Hahaha, what a genius of the Lin family, just a First Rank Yellow-level trash."
"Trash, what are you looking at? I'm Third Rank Yellow-level, better than you. If you keep looking, I'll gouge out your eyes!"
"Trash is trash, getting angry? Do you, a trash, have the right to be angry?"
The ridicule on the way made Lin Bai feel humiliated. Clenching his fists, Lin Bai said firmly: "I will make you all regret it!"