Chapter 2: The Black Turtle Awakens
Yet when the heavy doors swung open, not a single mote of dust stirred in the air.
Strange. The pavilion had been unused for six years, yet it was pristine—as if some invisible force had been maintaining it all this time, keeping decay at bay.
Even in a backwater village, Spirit Hall's reach is thorough, Huang Wei thought.
Su Yuntao led them inside, and immediately the children's eyes went wide. The interior was far more imposing than the modest exterior suggested—high ceilings, intricate carvings along the walls, and at the center, a formation circle that seemed to pulse with latent energy.
The kids couldn't help but gawk, their heads swiveling to take it all in.
Su Yuntao reached the far end of the chamber and turned with a casual wave. Behind them, the doors swung shut with a resonant boom.
Outside, Huang Long clasped his hands and murmured to himself, "If only one of them could become a soul master... just one..."
Ever since that first soul master had emerged from Huangjia Village all those years ago, there hadn't been another. Not a single one.
What a shame.
He sighed, resigned to reality, and settled in to wait.
Inside the pavilion, Su Yuntao's expression softened as he regarded the seven nervous children.
"Listen up, little ones. My name is Su Yuntao—I'm a twenty-sixth level Great Soul Master, and I'll be guiding you through your martial soul awakening today."
He paused, letting that sink in, then continued with an encouraging smile. "No matter what happens next, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you. I'm here to help each of you awaken your martial souls, one by one."
His voice dropped into something more commanding. "Now then—Martial Soul, possess!"
The change was instantaneous.
Su Yuntao's legs spread into a combat stance, and a surge of soul power erupted from his body—overwhelming for these children who'd never felt anything like it. A spectral wolf materialized around him, merging with his form as his body began to transform.
Two soul rings rose from the ground, circling his body—one white, one yellow—their light casting dancing shadows across the walls.
The pressure was suffocating.
Every child's face went pale, including Huang Wei's. His breath caught in his throat as the sheer weight of a Great Soul Master's aura pressed down on them.
So this is a soul master... Huang Wei's hands clenched at his sides. And people call them weak? What nonsense. This is... this is incredible.
All those dismissive comments he'd read in web novels about soul masters being trash-tier—they were written by people who'd never felt this kind of power firsthand. Standing here, barely able to breathe under Su Yuntao's passive aura, Huang Wei understood the truth.
He was just a powerless mortal. Of course this felt overwhelming.
Su Yuntao's transformation completed. His fingernails had elongated into razor-sharp claws. His pupils had shifted into lupine slits, gleaming with predatory awareness and enhanced night vision. His teeth had grown into wicked fangs.
He looked every bit the werewolf—terrifying and magnificent in equal measure.
The other six children trembled visibly. Huang Wei fared slightly better, his adult mindset helping him maintain composure, but even he felt his pulse racing.
"Easy now," Su Yuntao said, his voice gentler despite his fearsome appearance. "I promised I wouldn't hurt you, and I meant it."
He gestured toward the formation circle. "Come. I'll awaken your martial souls one at a time."
With a flick of his wrist, he produced six black awakening stones and a luminous blue orb, channeling soul power into them. The objects floated into position around the formation circle, which immediately lit up with intricate patterns of light.
The awakening ceremony had begun.
"You—start with you." Su Yuntao pointed to a girl standing on the far right. "Step into the center of the formation."
The girl hesitated only a moment before obeying, her small frame looking even smaller within the glowing circle.
Su Yuntao raised his hand, and his soul power surged forth like invisible threads. The girl's body lifted off the ground, suspended in mid-air as the awakening process began.
Light enveloped her. Everyone held their breath.
Moments later, a small white rabbit materialized beside her—plain, unremarkable, but undeniably there.
"Oh!" Su Yuntao's eyes lit up. "A beast martial soul—the White Rabbit!"
A beast spirit on the first try? His excitement was palpable. Could she have soul power too?
"Congratulations," he said warmly. "Your martial soul is the White Rabbit beast spirit. Now, let's test whether you possess soul power. Place your hand on the blue orb—gently, just like that."
The girl's face flushed with excitement as she stepped forward. Her heart hammered against her ribs, hope blazing in her young eyes.
She pressed her palm against the orb.
And pressed.
And pressed.
Nothing. Not even a flicker of light.
Su Yuntao's expression fell. "...Ah. No soul power, then. You'll live as an ordinary person. Step aside and wait with the others."
The girl's shoulders slumped as she shuffled to the side, dreams already crumbling to dust.
"Next."
The second child—a boy this time—took his place in the formation with visible anxiety.
He floated. Light flared.
A dull copper glow emanated from his right hand, solidifying into a rusty, deteriorating sword.
Su Yuntao's hope rekindled like a dying ember catching flame. Maybe this one! A weapon spirit could be promising!
Everyone watched with bated breath as the boy touched the crystal orb.
Nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Huang Wei felt his stomach drop. Oh no. Oh no no no...
This wasn't looking good. Not good at all.
The boy walked away, devastation written across his young face.
"Third."
A kitchen knife. No soul power.
"Fourth."
A hoe. No soul power.
"Fifth."
A sewing needle. No soul power.
"Sixth."
A rat—a beast spirit, at least, but still no soul power.
One by one, they failed.
Su Yuntao's patience visibly eroded with each disappointment. His jaw tightened. His movements became more mechanical. Six children, six failures.
This is exhausting, his expression seemed to say.
Meanwhile, Huang Wei's anxiety had reached a fever pitch. His palms were sweating. His mouth was dry.
Six for six on failures. I'm completely screwed, aren't I?
Finally, Su Yuntao let out a long, weary sigh and turned to Huang Wei. "Alright, little guy. You're the last one. Your turn."
The disappointment in his voice was unmistakable.
Huang Wei's legs felt like lead as he walked toward the formation circle. Each step echoed in his ears like a countdown.
This is it. Make or break.
He stepped into the center. Su Yuntao's soul power enveloped him, and suddenly he was floating—
The sensation was bizarre. Weightlessness unlike anything he'd ever experienced. His stomach flipped. His skin prickled all over, an intense itching spreading across his entire body, as if something deep within him was stirring, pushing toward the surface, demanding release—
Something's coming out... what will it be? Please, please be something good—
Then, all at once, it emerged.
Su Yuntao's eyes went wide. His breath caught.
"A... turtle...?"
But even as the word left his mouth, he realized it was inadequate. This was no ordinary turtle.
The creature materializing above Huang Wei was massive—easily dwarfing the boy himself. Its head resembled a bird's, noble and fierce. Its tail writhed like a living serpent. The shell on its back was enormous, covered in strange, intricate patterns that seemed almost... mystical. Ancient. Profound.
An overwhelming presence filled the room—primal, majestic, regal.
This wasn't just a turtle. This was something far greater.
Su Yuntao's fatigue evaporated instantly, replaced by electric excitement. This is different! This boy is different! That martial soul—it's no ordinary beast spirit!
"The chances of soul power are high," he muttered under his breath. "Very high!"
At the same moment, Huang Wei felt a fundamental shift in his perception.
His pupils sharpened, the irises taking on a golden-yellow hue wrapped in an otherworldly charm. The world around him seemed to slow down, every detail crystallizing with supernatural clarity. He could see things he shouldn't be able to see—the flow of blue energy coursing through Su Yuntao's meridians, the subtle movements of soul power in the air...
And then, cutting through everything else, a cold mechanical voice resonated directly in his mind:
[Congratulations to the Host for awakening the Black Turtle beast martial soul and meeting system binding activation requirements.]
[The Turtle Invincibility System has been successfully bound!]
[The turtle represents an auspicious creature and symbolizes longevity.]
[Congratulations! You have activated one of the Turtle Clan's innate talents: "Turtle Longevity." Your lifespan has been dramatically increased. At your current level, even without cultivation, you need only eat, drink, and rest normally to live for three hundred years. Your body will not suffer from common diseases. Accidental death is not excluded.]
The words echoed in his mind like thunder.
Huang Wei's consciousness reeled. A surge of pure vitality flooded his body—life energy so potent it made him feel like he'd been reborn. Every cell sang with newfound vigor.
The system... it finally came! I'm not an abandoned protagonist after all!
Relief, excitement, and disbelief crashed over him in equal measure. He stood frozen, mind racing, until—
"Little guy? Little guy!"
Su Yuntao's voice snapped him back to reality.
Huang Wei blinked, refocusing on the soul master's eager face.
"What's the name of your martial soul?" Su Yuntao asked, barely containing his enthusiasm. "It doesn't quite match the Basalt descriptions I've read... but it's definitely a turtle-type beast spirit. That much is certain."
He leaned forward, studying the massive creature hovering above Huang Wei with intense curiosity. "And there's something unusual about it. The shell isn't positioned in front of you—it's on the creature's back. That's... different from typical beast spirit possession..."
He paused, eyes narrowing. "Wait. You haven't even activated possession yet, have you? The spirit is still externalized..."
"Xuangui," Huang Wei said, his voice steadier than he felt. "My martial soul is called Xuangui—the Black Turtle."
"Xuangui..." Su Yuntao rolled the word over his tongue, frowning slightly. "I've never heard of that species."
"The Black Turtle, also known as the Whirling Turtle," Huang Wei explained, the information flowing naturally—whether from his past life knowledge or the system, he wasn't sure. "It's a symbol of spiritual beasts. An auspicious creature."
Su Yuntao's confusion only deepened. "Spiritual beast? I'm not familiar with that term, but..."
He studied the massive turtle again, its sheer size and the inexplicable presence it commanded. Whatever this Xuangui was, it was clearly no ordinary martial soul.
Clearing his throat, Su Yuntao straightened. "Right, well—first things first. Take your martial soul back for now. Keeping it externalized will drain your soul power quickly. Just focus your mind and will it to return to your body."
Huang Wei nodded. Interestingly, he didn't feel drained at all—if anything, he felt energized. Perhaps that was another benefit of the Xuangui.
He closed his eyes, concentrated, and pulled.
The massive Black Turtle shimmered, then dissolved into motes of light that flowed back into his body. The oppressive majesty in the room faded.
"Good, good!" Su Yuntao gestured toward the blue orb, his excitement barely restrained now. "Now then—place your hand on this orb and let's see if you have soul power."
He met Huang Wei's eyes, his expression deadly serious. "This will determine whether you can walk the path of a soul master. Your entire future hinges on this moment."
Huang Wei's throat went dry. He'd been waiting for this moment his entire six years in this world.
Here goes everything.
He stepped forward and reached for the orb.
Behind him, the six children who'd already failed watched with wide eyes, still shaken by the sheer dominance of Huang Wei's Black Turtle martial soul.
The room held its breath.
Huang Wei's hand trembled as he pressed his palm against the blue orb.
For a heartbeat, nothing happened.
Then—
Light.
Brilliant, radiant, overwhelming light erupted from the orb like a supernova. It bloomed outward in waves, filling the entire crystal sphere until it blazed like a miniature sun. The illumination flooded the awakening chamber, casting everything in stark white brilliance.
"Whoa! It's so bright!"
"Agh—my eyes! I can't see!"
The other six children cried out, throwing their hands up to shield their faces from the searing glow. It was like staring directly at a treasure being unearthed from the heavens themselves.
Su Yuntao stood frozen, his mouth hanging open.
"This... this light..." His voice came out as a strangled whisper.
His throat worked. He swallowed hard. "Gulp..."
"So bright... I've never... could this be...?"
His eyes went impossibly wide. "INNATE FULL SOUL POWER?!"
The words exploded from him like a war cry.
"OH MY GOD! I'VE WON! I'VE WON THE GRAND PRIZE!" Su Yuntao threw his arms into the air, his composure shattering like glass. "I NEVER THOUGHT—IN MY ENTIRE LIFE—THAT I, SU YUNTAO, WOULD AWAKEN A SOUL MASTER WITH INNATE FULL SOUL POWER UNDER MY GUIDANCE!"
Tears actually welled in his eyes. He was laughing—half-hysterical, wholly ecstatic. "HAHAHAHA!!!"
His mind raced at lightning speed. This Black Turtle isn't some trash martial soul—it's backed by innate full soul power! This child is destined for greatness! If I can recruit him into Spirit Hall, my promotion is guaranteed! Salary increase! Status upgrade! I can finally marry Sisi!
Dreams he'd carried for years suddenly felt within reach.
The six failed children stared at Su Yuntao like he'd lost his mind.
Is... is this grown-up okay? their expressions seemed to ask. Should someone get the village doctor? He looks crazy...
Finally, Su Yuntao seemed to realize how completely he'd lost control. He coughed sharply, his face flushing crimson with embarrassment.
"Ahem! My apologies. I... may have gotten a bit carried away."
Meanwhile, Huang Wei stood in stunned silence for an entirely different reason.
The instant the orb had lit up, a new notification had chimed in his mind:
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering a mission: Help Su Yuntao Achieve Promotion.]
[Upon completion, you may choose one reward option:]
[Option One: Anti-Damage Reflection + Turtle Shell Enhancement]
[Option Two: Mystic Water Cannon Technique + Turtle Claw Strengthening]
[Option Three: Whirling Water Escape Technique + Turtle Tail Strengthening]
Huang Wei's heart leaped. A mission! And with rewards!
His mind worked rapidly. Help Su Yuntao get promoted? That's simple—if I join Spirit Hall with full innate soul power, his promotion is basically guaranteed. This is a freebie!
He analyzed the three options. They clearly represented different specializations—defense, offense, and mobility.
But wait. I'm a Black Turtle. Why would I worry about attack power or speed?
A slow smile spread across his face. If my turtle shell's defensive counter-damage is high enough... enemies will just hurt themselves trying to attack me. The best offense is an impenetrable defense.
"System," he said internally, decisively. "I choose Option One!"
[Ding! Selection confirmed. Reward will be automatically distributed upon mission completion.]
"—little guy? Hey, little guy!"
Su Yuntao's voice yanked Huang Wei back to reality.
He blinked, refocusing on the soul master's eager face.
"Ah, sorry. I was just... overwhelmed." Huang Wei gave what he hoped was a convincing childish smile.
Su Yuntao cleared his throat again, visibly trying to reassemble his professional demeanor. "Right, yes. Understandable. By the way—what's your name?"
"Huang Wei, Master Su."
"Huang Wei... that's a good name. A very good name." The pleasantries were clearly just preamble, because Su Yuntao immediately dove into what he really wanted to say. "Now then, Huang Wei—on behalf of Spirit Hall, I formally invite you to join our organization."
His tone turned persuasive, almost pleading. "We have the finest teaching resources on the continent. With your innate full soul power, we can not only waive all tuition fees, but provide substantial support for your growth. We can even arrange for a Titled Douluo to take you as a personal disciple! What do you say?"
Su Yuntao's internal monologue was practically screaming. Disciples with innate full soul power are incredibly rare—maybe a handful across the entire continent! This is the first time I've ever awakened one! I CANNOT let this opportunity slip away!
Huang Wei's face lit up with exactly the kind of excitement a six-year-old should display. "I'm willing! I want to join Spirit Hall!"
"Excellent! EXCELLENT!" Su Yuntao looked ready to weep again. "By the way, where are your parents? I should speak with them—"
"I don't have parents," Huang Wei said simply. "My grandfather adopted me when I was a baby. He's the village chief of Huangjia Village—you met him outside."
Su Yuntao's expression shifted, a flicker of genuine sympathy crossing his features. "Ah... I see. Too many irresponsible parents in this world..." He shook his head, then offered a warm smile. "Don't be sad, child. Once you join Spirit Hall, it will become your second home. I promise you that."
"Thank you, Master Su."
Su Yuntao nodded firmly, then turned to address the other six children—their faces still etched with disappointment. "The awakening ceremony for Huangjia Village is now complete. You six may not be able to walk the path of soul masters, but that doesn't mean your lives are over. Ordinary people can still live fulfilling, happy lives. Don't be discouraged—you have long roads ahead of you yet."
He produced a small leather notebook and made a checkmark next to "Huangjia Village," along with detailed notes: Seven children awakened. Six without soul power. One with innate full soul power. Martial Soul: Black Turtle (new species).
"Alright then." Su Yuntao gestured toward the door. "Let's go deliver the good news."
The heavy doors swung open, and Huang Long practically lunged forward, his weathered face tight with anxiety.
"Master Su! How did it go? Did any of them—"
"Very well indeed, Village Chief Huang." Su Yuntao clasped his hands behind his back, a satisfied smile playing at his lips. "Seven children total. Although only one possesses soul power, that one child has innate full soul power."
Huang Long's eyes went wide as dinner plates. "Who?! Which child—"
"It's me, Grandpa." Huang Wei stepped forward, unable to suppress his grin.
"GRANDSON!" Huang Long's face split into the widest smile Huang Wei had ever seen. His eyes actually glistened with unshed tears.
Su Yuntao continued smoothly. "Huang Wei has agreed to join Spirit Hall. If it's acceptable to you, I'll take him with me when I leave for the next village. I'll ensure his safety along the way."