Luo Yu knew he couldn't explain his origins, so when he "woke up" and faced the Shui family, he feigned amnesia, claiming to only remember his name.
Given Shui Dongsheng's cautious nature, he initially wouldn't have kept Luo Yu around. Shui Bing'er was also hesitant, weighing the options.
However, Shui Yue'er insisted on keeping him, citing concerns for Luo Yu's safety.
What surprised Shui Dongsheng was that Luo Yu hadn't awakened a Martial Soul. No matter how he channeled his Soul Power into Luo Yu's body, there was no reaction. Could there really be someone on the Douluo Continent who hadn't participated in a Martial Soul Awakening ceremony by the age of six?
However, the attack on Shui Bing'er and the crisis facing the Shui family diverted Shui Dongsheng's attention. He paid little attention to Luo Yu, who was now considered "ordinary." However, Shui Yue'er was always thinking of him.
Seeing the pure and beautiful Shui Yue'er running towards him with enthusiasm, Luo Yu felt a headache coming on. After recent interactions, he realized that she wasn't entirely after his looks; instead, she was somewhat genuine and innocent.
From what he observed, Shui Dongsheng, as the head of the family, didn't spend much time with his daughter. Shui Bing'er was focused on improving her strength and revitalizing the academy. It was easy to imagine how lonely Shui Yue'er's life had been. Also, the women in the academy had instilled some thoughts in her...
The result was like this.
"Brother Yu, guess what this is?" Shui Yue'er, with her fair, slender legs on display and wearing tiny azure boots, approached Luo Yu. She held up a blue crystal ball with both hands.
Luo Yu rolled his eyes inwardly but didn't say anything. He subtly took a step back, increasing the distance between them.
Shui Yue'er's moist lips pouted, and her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed. She was displeased. "Brother Yu, am I a beast? Why do you hide whenever you see me?"
Luo Yu waved his hand, speaking tactfully, "Second Miss is the famous ice-element genius in Skywater City, while I'm just an ordinary person. If we're seen together, it could affect your reputation."
Shui Yue'er retorted, "Oh? Is that so? By avoiding me like this, people might think you're afraid of me ruining your reputation."
Luo Yu smiled wryly. "Second Miss, there are plenty of young and talented men in Skywater City vying for your attention. Why would you bother with an ordinary, amnesiac person like me?"
Shui Yue'er's eyes, like clear autumn water, glared at him. She scoffed, "What young talents? They're just a bunch of lechers who covet this lady's looks and figure."
"Aren't there any you like?" Luo Yu asked.
Shui Yue'er seemed to recall something, and sneered, "There are some who look presentable, but they're all 'high-level players' with hidden agendas, thinking they can fool this lady."
"Er…"
Luo Yu almost had black lines appearing on his forehead. This woman clearly understood everything and was a little arrogant, so why did she seem so… chuuni around him?
He felt he understood too little about women. After all, although he had countless admirers in his previous life, he was dedicated to the duty of guarding China in the Zhenye Division, and had no interest in romance.
"Alright, Yu-ge, you always say we can't play together, one being an ordinary person and the other a Soul Master. I didn't bring you the Awakening Stones here, right?" Shui Yue'er revealed a smile, like a snow lotus blooming on Tianshan Mountain.
Luo Yu waved his hands repeatedly to stop her. Although he also wanted to awaken his Martial Soul, he wouldn't do it under the public eye. Heaven knows what Martial Soul he, with the Chinese bloodline, would awaken. Making a commotion might not end well. It was better to be low-key and cautious when he didn't have the strength.
Shui Yue'er thought Luo Yu was worried about awakening a useless Martial Soul, and comforted him, "Don't worry, Yu-ge. Daddy said your physique is very good, and your Martial Soul will probably not be too bad. Although you've missed the golden age of cultivation, you can at least become a Soul Master."
Luo Yu's lips twitched slightly. You think I'm afraid of awakening a useless Martial Soul and losing face? I'm afraid the Huaxia bloodline is too terrifying…
Who knows if I might accidentally awaken a Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors…
Shui Yue'er placed the crystal ball on the bluestone and took out six dark Awakening Stones from the small bag behind her, quickly arranging them on the ground to form a Hexagram Array.
"Brother Yu, you can go in, but don't move. Just let me do it." Shui Yue'er called out.
Luo Yu's expression was strange as he bent down and picked up the black stones one by one, taking the small bag and putting them back inside.
Shui Yue'er seemed to want to stop him, but she raised her hand and didn't touch his body.
In fact, Luo Yu had noticed this recently. Although Shui Yue'er was a little infatuated with him and very close in words, she always kept a certain distance physically.
"Brother Yu, what are you doing!" Shui Yue'er questioned.
"I might get a bit nervous when it comes to Martial Soul Awakening, especially with other people around. So, it's better if I go back and try it alone."
As Luo Yu spoke, he picked up the small bag containing the Awakening Stones, ignoring the crystal ball used to test Innate Soul Power, and practically fled towards the exit.
Shui Yue'er didn't stop him, a mischievous look on her face. "Hmph, without Soul Power to activate it, let's see how you awaken the array on your own."
Luo Yu left the Shui residence, carrying the small pouch and heading towards the outskirts of Skywater City, a thoughtful expression in his eyes.
Every night, with the help of Night Force for healing, his body had basically recovered. However, his strength was still greatly diminished due to the unknown cause of his physical shrinking.
Only at night could he rely on the long-accumulated Night Force to activate his bloodline and transform, restoring some of his strength.
But the lack of strength during the day meant a lack of self-preservation. It seemed that awakening a Martial Soul was truly imperative.
After a long time, Luo Yu quickly arrived at a mountain valley, where a natural Stalactite Cave was hidden.
This was a location he had discovered while exploring the surroundings of Skywater City at night.
After cautiously surveying his surroundings and confirming there was no one nearby, Luo Yu approached the stone cave and picked up the black obsidian.
Relying on his incredible memory, which allowed him to remember everything he saw, he arranged the Hexagram Array for awakening according to Shui Yue'er's instructions and stepped inside, immediately closing his eyes.
At this moment, a beautiful figure, who had been carefully concealing her aura and following closely behind without making a sound, was somewhat puzzled. Although she was suspicious as to why Luo Yu had returned here, she still wore an expression as if she were waiting to watch a good show.
"Hmph, without any Soul Power, let's see how you activate the array."
Luo Yu had been careless. He hadn't expected a Soul Master to be bored enough to tail a normal person. He was currently trying to mobilize the faint energy he had cultivated within his body.
The cave was silent. Shui Yue'er, hiding in the darkness and enjoying the show, revealed a smug expression, inwardly feeling proud. "Without this young lady, you still can't do it, right? How could you possibly activate an awakening array without Soul Power? I've never heard of anyone being able to awaken their Martial Soul themselves."
Just as she was about to step out and mock him, the Hexagram Array slowly began to glow with golden light. The golden light became increasingly intense, until it resembled an inverted golden bowl, enveloping Luo Yu's tall, yet somewhat immature, body.
"Huh??" Shui Yue'er was shocked.
How could this be possible? If this guy had a Martial Soul and Soul Power, what exactly was he doing right now? And if he hadn't awakened his Martial Soul yet, how could he possibly use Soul Power to activate the array?
The array's power was like a spark, igniting Luo Yu, who was a powder keg. The surging Golden Sun light within the array swirled like a sea of clouds before violently exploding towards the entire cave.
Shui Yue'er disregarded her previous doubts, her beautiful eyes trembling repeatedly: "Is this... awakening a Martial Soul??? How could it possibly have such power??"
"Rumble..."
Within the golden torrent that filled the entire cave, there seemed to be a point of crystal-clear, dark-green light that remained eternally undying, emitting an ancient and primordial aura.
The green point steadily grew larger, revealing a shadowy, dark-green great banner covered in mysterious patterns and filled with a demonic aura. However, the great banner appeared tattered and damaged, as if it had suffered severe harm, before disappearing into Luo Yu's crown.
Ignoring the blinding golden light, Shui Yue'er rubbed her eyes, her expression uncertain. It seemed that within the golden light, a black hammer shadow and a circular object had flashed by just now???
The golden light within the cave slowly subsided. Shui Yue'er widened her watery eyes and exhaled deeply, staring at Luo Yu in astonishment. Just who was he? What exactly was the Martial Soul he had awakened? How could it be so terrifying?
She was about to step forward to question him.
Who would have thought that what was supposed to be the end of the Awakening Ceremony had only just begun?
Within the nearly extinguished Hexagram Array, Luo Yu's left and right palms respectively manifested a golden Golden Sun and a Bright Moon, erupting with extraordinary gold and silver radiance.
A terrifying aura rapidly spread throughout the relatively spacious Stalactite Cave. The earth trembled, and the stone cave instantly began to shake, as if a supreme being was about to materialize.
(End of Chapter)