Chapter 2: Martial Soul Awakening
Dugu Chen lived in the northernmost part of Majia Village, in a two-hundred-square-meter standalone courtyard. The north side bordered a small hill where he trained daily. It was mealtime, and the villagers were busy, so no one noticed him bringing a wounded stranger into his home.
He carried the green-haired elder into his own small room. The house had three bedrooms: one for his parents, one for himself, and a guest room. After his parents passed away, their room was locked up, and the guest room turned into a storage space. Only his own room remained tidy.
After changing the elder's tattered clothes, Dugu Chen carefully applied the last of his trauma medicine to the man's injured leg. As he worked, he mumbled, "You'd better be Dugu Bo. Otherwise, I'm at a huge loss here. I saved your life and even used the heirlooms my parents left me. I don't need you to pay me back like an ox or horse—just give me ten or eight immortal herbs from your vegetable garden. If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes."
Once the medicine was applied and the elder's expression eased slightly, Dugu Chen let out a sigh of relief. If this really was Dugu Bo, with his Titled Douluo vitality, he should survive.
Just then, a voice came from outside. "Xiao Chen, Xiao Chen, are you home?"
It was the old village chief, Ma Jun—the strongest and most respected elder in Majia Village. The children all affectionately called him "Grandpa Ma."
"I'm here, Grandpa Ma!" Dugu Chen quickly scooped up the old clothes in a bundle and opened the door.
He casually tossed the tattered clothing into the stove used for boiling water and went to welcome the chief.
Standing outside was a man who looked to be in his seventies. Slender yet energetic, his clothes were neat, and his long hair was well-groomed. In truth, Ma Jun was only in his fifties, but like the unconscious elder inside, high cultivation preserved his youth. Seeing him reminded Dugu Chen just how far he still had to go. If Titled Douluo were already like this, what must the gods in the Divine Realm be like?
"Grandpa Ma, what brings you here?"
"Hehe, Xiao Chen, tomorrow's the day of your Martial Soul Awakening. I came to see if you're ready," said the old chief kindly.
Dugu Chen felt warmth surge in his heart. Since his parents passed away, Grandpa Ma had been the only one who truly cared for him. Even if it was partly because of his potential, that didn't lessen the chief's concern.
"Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll definitely awaken spirit power," Dugu Chen said firmly.
Ma Jun nodded, a gratified expression on his face.
---
That night, Dugu Chen lay in the courtyard, staring up at the moon. He reached out toward it and whispered, "Tomorrow is my Martial Soul Awakening. Holding the sun and moon, plucking stars—there's no one like me in this world. I'll make it."
He got up and returned to the house. After confirming the elder was still unconscious, he made do by sleeping in the storage room for the night.
---
At dawn, nearly a hundred people had gathered in front of the wooden house in the village square. Their chatter filled the air with anticipation and excitement.
Only nine children were scheduled to awaken their Martial Souls today.
Outside Majia Village, an exquisite carriage arrived. Inside sat a young man and his coachman. The man, about twenty-five, wore a tight white uniform and looked somewhat fatigued.
Leaning on his hand, he muttered, "It's hard to find spirit power in a village this small. Hopefully the next one surprises me."
When Dugu Chen arrived, he saw the old village chief and two local spirit masters escorting the young man to the center of the square. The man's white uniform bore a large "Soul" character at its center—standard attire for Spirit Hall personnel. On his chest was an emblem featuring three crossed swords, marking him as a third-rank Great Spirit Master, and the sword icon showed he was a Battle Spirit Master.
"Alright, children," said the chief. "This is a Spirit Hall Battle Spirit Master. He'll guide you through your Martial Soul Awakening. Be sure to cooperate. Grandpa hopes some of you can become spirit masters."
The young man scanned the children. "My name is Li Yunhai, a twenty-ninth-rank Great Spirit Master. I'll be awakening your Martial Souls today. No matter what happens, don't panic."
He took out six dark stones and a gleaming blue crystal ball, arranging the stones into a hexagon on the ground. Then he motioned for the first child to step inside.
"Close your eyes and feel carefully."
Li Yunhai suddenly roared, "Fire Leopard, possess!"
A red light emerged from his brow, spreading up through his hair, which turned crimson and grew longer. Red fur sprouted on his arms, and his body expanded as flames coiled around him. Two yellow spirit rings appeared beneath his feet and circled up his body.
The children weren't frightened; they stared with awe and excitement.
Li Yunhai channeled energy into the stones, creating a golden light barrier. As the first boy extended his hand, a horned horse Martial Soul appeared in his palm.
"It's your village's ancestral Horned Horse," Li Yunhai said. "Now test for spirit power."
The boy placed his hand on the crystal ball. Nothing happened.
"No spirit power," said Li Yunhai, dismissively. "Next."
One by one, five more children awakened similar beast-type Martial Souls—horned horses, antelopes—and none had spirit power.
Then it was Dugu Chen's turn.
The golden light from the hexagram grew unusually intense. Li Yunhai raised an eyebrow and pushed more spirit power into the array. Dugu Chen felt warmth envelop his body, then a sudden jolt surged toward his right hand.
A distant roar echoed—profound, thunderous.
Back in Dugu Chen's house, the green-haired elder sat bolt upright, eyes sharp. "That was Martial Soul suppression... How can it be?"
In the village square, Dugu Chen's right hand glowed. A creature manifested—dragon head, horse body, deer-like shape, ox tail, red patterns on its back, golden-yellow underbelly, and dragon-clawed hooves covered in scales.
Li Yunhai's Martial Soul trembled in fear.
"A Qilin?" Dugu Chen gasped, thrilled. He retracted the Martial Soul just as a faint light descended from the sky and merged with his body.
Li Yunhai snapped out of it. "Quick! Test his spirit power! This is a top-tier mutated beast Martial Soul!"
Dugu Chen placed his hand on the crystal ball. Instantly, it lit up like a radiant star, pulsing with energy.
"Innate full spirit power!" Li Yunhai's voice trembled. "Child, join the Spirit Hall!"
"Uncle, there are still others waiting to awaken," Dugu Chen said, politely stepping back.
"Right, right. Sorry, I got too excited." Li Yunhai calmed down. "Your Martial Soul... I've never seen it. What's it called?"
"Qilin," Dugu Chen replied solemnly. "It's called the Qilin."