Yandu City, Jiang Family Estate.
The Jiang Family Estate was bustling with activity today, as all the younger members of the family had gathered.
It was the grand day of the Jiang Family's ancestral worship ceremony, and it was also time for family members under the age of fifteen to undergo their Martial Soul Awakening.
"Brother Chen, you have such incredible Martial Arts Talent! You're the only one who has cultivated all eighteen of the Martial Skills Uncle Taixu left behind to the Realm of Perfection. When it's time for the Martial Soul Awakening, I'm sure your Martial Soul will be the most powerful of all!" A beautiful young girl, as nimble as a sprite, skipped over, her eyes filled with adoration as she looked at the young man beside her.
The young man had ruby-red lips and pearly-white teeth, his face as smooth as jade. His delicate features were so perfectly defined they looked as if they'd been carved by a master sculptor.
The young man's name was Jiang Chen!
He was also a member of the Jiang Family of Yandu City, albeit from a different branch of the family.
Jiang Chen had come to the Yandu City Jiang Family with his father at the age of two and had stayed for thirteen years.
Jiang Chen smiled at the girl before him and ruffled her hair. "Ziyou, your Martial Soul won't be weak either. For the past six years, I've given you more than half of the Nourishing God Pills my father left for me. This time, you should be able to awaken a Profound Tier Martial Soul or higher. As long as you reach the Third Stage of Martial Arts before the Yulan Festival, you'll be able to enter Yulan Academy!"
Jiang Ziyou paused, then shook her head. "So what if I get into Yulan Academy? Brother Chen, you have a Saint Martial Order specially issued by the Saint Martial Sword Sect. You just have to wait until you turn fifteen to use it and become a disciple of the Saint Martial Sword Sect directly, right?"
The Saint Martial Dynasty had a well-established administrative structure, divided into ten mansions, one hundred commanderies, and three thousand cities.
Yulan Academy was the number one martial arts academy within Yulan Mansion, one of the ten mansions. All the prodigies of Yulan Mansion yearned to enter Yulan Academy.
As for the Saint Martial Sword Sect, it was the most powerful Martial Arts Sect in the entire Saint Martial Dynasty—a true Martial Arts Holy Land.
It was countless times more powerful than Yulan Academy!
A look of longing appeared on Jiang Chen's face. "That's right! After you go to Yulan Academy, I'll head to the Saint Martial Sword Sect. Only by getting to the Saint Martial Sword Sect can I find clues about my father."
"Brother Chen, I know you can do it!" Jiang Ziyou said.
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "I think so too!"
"Hey, look! Jiang Rui awakened a Yellow Tier Fifth Grade Martial Soul and advanced directly to the Martial Arts First Stage!"
"If his cultivation is at the Martial Arts First Stage now, he could very well reach the Third Stage of Martial Arts before the Yulan Festival. That means he'd qualify for Yulan Academy!"
On the ceremonial altar, a richly dressed young man wore a smug expression.
Jiang Rui reveled in the crowd's compliments. His gaze swept around and suddenly fell upon Jiang Chen and Jiang Ziyou standing close together. A cold glint of jealousy flashed in his eyes. He clenched his fists and ground his teeth. "Damn it, that little bastard is with Sister Ziyou again. Just you wait, Jiang Chen! Now that I've awakened my Martial Soul, it won't be long before I surpass you. When that time comes, I'll defeat you fair and square and show Sister Ziyou who the real genius is!"
The family Elder on the altar announced coolly, "Next, Jiang Ziyou!"
"Wow, Miss Ziyou is going up!"
"What kind of Martial Soul do you think she'll awaken?"
"At least Yellow Tier Fifth Grade or higher..."
The crowd chattered excitedly.
On the Qiankun Continent, the Martial Dao flourished.
The prerequisite for anyone to become a Martial Artist was to awaken a Martial Soul. Martial Souls were ranked from lowest to highest into six tiers—Yellow, Profound, Earth, Heaven, Saint, and Divine—and each tier was further divided into nine grades.
In a remote place like Yandu City, awakening a Martial Soul of Yellow Tier Fifth Grade or higher was already considered exceptional. As for Profound Tier or above, those were as rare as a phoenix's feather.
"Brother Chen, I'm going up now!" Jiang Ziyou said as she leaped onto the altar.
Watching her back, Jiang Chen murmured to himself, 'For the past six years, I've given Ziyou more than half of the Nourishing God Pills my father left me, and I've even used the Secret Technique he taught me to help clear her meridians. Her Martial Soul shouldn't be too bad, right?'
Just as Jiang Chen was lost in thought, a pillar of light erupted from Jiang Ziyou's body on the altar.
BZZZMM—
The Martial Soul Testing Stone Monument in front of her burst with dazzling rays of light. One, two, three, four... a total of eighteen brilliant beams shot out, unbelievably bright.
As her Martial Soul awakened, the aura fluctuating around Jiang Ziyou also began to skyrocket.
Once a Martial Soul awakens, it feeds powerful energy back to its owner.
Jiang Rui's awakening of a Yellow Tier Fifth Grade Martial Soul had directly raised his cultivation to the Martial Arts First Stage. Jiang Ziyou, on the other hand, had awakened a Profound Tier Ninth Grade Martial Soul, which propelled her cultivation straight to the Third Stage of Martial Arts.
HISS!
The entire Jiang Family training grounds fell silent. Everyone was utterly dumbfounded.
"Holy fuck, a Profound Tier Ninth Grade Martial Soul?"
"The young miss's talent is terrifying! A genius with a Profound Tier Ninth Grade Martial Soul has never appeared in our Yandu City before!"
"So damn incredible!"
The Elder's face was flushed with excitement as he said respectfully, "Congratulations, Young Miss, on awakening a Profound Tier Ninth Grade Martial Soul! Your future achievements will be limitless!"
"Thank you, Elder!" Jiang Ziyou grinned, leaping off the altar and returning to Jiang Chen's side. "Brother Chen, didn't Ziyou do well? Is there a reward?"
"Very well done. You completely exceeded my expectations!"
Jiang Chen smiled faintly. He paused for a moment before taking out a secret manual and handing it to Jiang Ziyou. "Haven't you always wanted an Entry Tier Martial Skill? I'm giving you this Yellow-Tier Martial Skill, the Aurora Sword Technique, as a gift for your Martial Soul Awakening."
"Brother Chen is the best!"
Jiang Ziyou clutched the Aurora Sword Technique secret manual, her face alight with excitement.
「A short while later...」
The Elder on the altar spoke up, "Young Master Jiang Chen, it's your turn!"
Jiang Chen nodded and ascended the altar.
Down below, the powerful experts of the Jiang Family all had looks of anticipation. 'Jiang Chen's Martial Arts Talent is so high that he mastered over a dozen Martial Skills without even awakening his Martial Soul. His Martial Soul is probably even stronger than the young miss's!'
"It shouldn't be any lower than Profound Tier Ninth Grade!"
The crowd chimed in one after another.
Their words reached Jiang Ziyou's ears. Upon hearing everyone speculating that Jiang Chen would be even stronger than her, a flash of anger and a cold light flickered in her dark eyes.
Her eyes were fixed intently on the Martial Soul Testing Stone Monument on the altar.
However, when Jiang Chen placed his hands on the Martial Soul Testing Stone Monument, there was no reaction for a long time.
After a moment, a single, dim point of light finally appeared.
Just one!
A single ray of light—a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul. The absolute dregs among Martial Souls, the trash of trash!
PFFT!
"Damn it, Yellow Tier First Grade? Fuck, and here I was getting all hyped up, but it's just a damn Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul?"
"Sigh, I thought with his Martial Arts Talent, he would awaken a powerful Martial Soul. I can't believe he's this pathetic..."
"What a fucking disgrace!"
In the crowd, Jiang Rui roared with laughter, tears streaming down his face. "Hahaha, Yellow Tier First Grade? This is killing me! What a waste!"
Jiang Ziyou was stunned for a moment, but a flicker of delight quickly passed through her eyes.
'Yellow Tier First Grade? Damn it, is this some kind of joke?' Jiang Chen himself was dumbfounded, a bitter smile forming on his lips as he stared at the dim light on the Testing Stele.
The Elder glanced at the Testing Stele, his attitude doing a complete one-eighty. He said coldly, "Jiang Chen, you can get down. Don't stand here and hold up everyone else's Martial Soul Awakening!"
"..."
Seeing the Elder's cold demeanor, Jiang Chen was speechless. 'Human nature... just as fickle and snobbish as they say!'
Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Jiang Chen walked toward Jiang Ziyou.
"Sister Ziyou—"
Before Jiang Chen could even finish his sentence, the little girl who had clung to him since childhood, always calling him "Brother Chen," spoke with a cold and indifferent expression, "From now on, please address me as Young Miss."
"Uh..." Jiang Chen froze, staring at Jiang Ziyou in disbelief. "Sister Ziyou, what do you mean by that?"
At this moment, Jiang Chen felt that the girl he had grown up with had suddenly become a complete stranger.
She was no longer the innocent girl who used to trail after him, happily calling him "Brother Chen," begging him to teach her Martial Skills, the girl for whom he had willingly given more than half of his precious Nourishing God Pills.
A thick layer of contempt covered Jiang Ziyou's pretty face. She waved a dismissive hand, her expression full of impatience. "It means nothing. Just stay away from me! Being seen with a waste like you is an insult. I don't want anyone to think that I, Jiang Ziyou, have anything to do with a good-for-nothing like you!"
STOMP, STOMP, STOMP!
Jiang Chen stumbled back three steps, his face pale. He stared at Jiang Ziyou for a moment, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh. "I get it now. I thought you weren't materialistic like them, but I guess I was wrong. Fine. I'll just go."
With a desolate figure, Jiang Chen turned and walked away.
His lonely shadow stretched long under the fading light of the blazing sun.
Completely out of place in this world.
Watching Jiang Chen's departing figure, Jiang Ziyou's expression was indifferent.
It was as if the young man who had spent the last six years giving her precious Nourishing God Pills to nurture her Soul Seed and painstakingly teaching her Martial Skills was nothing more than a stranger.
"Ziyou, why did Jiang Chen leave?"
A deep voice sounded by her ear. The newcomer was none other than Jiang Ziyou's father, the current Patriarch of the Jiang Family—Jiang Tai.
"Father!"
Jiang Ziyou started, bowing to Jiang Tai with a mocking sneer on her face. "I thought he was a genius and that I could get more benefits from him. Who knew he'd turn out to be a waste with a Yellow Tier First Grade Martial Soul... If it weren't for the fact that he gave me those Nourishing God Pills all these years, I would have already slapped him to death!"
"Who would have thought that the son of a god-like man such as Jiang Taixu would be such a waste?"
Jiang Tai shook his head and sighed.
"Father, what do you think... If we go to the Elder Council now and ask them to give that Saint Martial Order to me, would they agree?" Jiang Ziyou asked, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
"The Saint Martial Order?"
Jiang Tai was taken aback. He hadn't realized that Jiang Ziyou had been eyeing the Saint Martial Order left by Jiang Taixu all along. His eyes flashed as he mused aloud, "Back then, Jiang Taixu left the Saint Martial Order in the care of the Elder Council. Those old men on the council always assumed Jiang Chen's talent wouldn't be weak, so they've guarded the Saint Martial Order. But now, his Martial Soul Awakening has proven he's just a waste. I imagine that with a bit of maneuvering from my side, they will agree to give the Saint Martial Order to you!"
A cold glint flashed in Jiang Ziyou's eyes as the corners of her lips curved into a sinister smile. "How is a waste like Jiang Chen qualified to go to a Martial Arts Holy Land like the Saint Martial Sword Sect? The Saint Martial Order... should be inherited by me!"
"But will Jiang Chen agree?"
"He's just a waste. Does it really matter if he agrees or not?"
The father and daughter exchanged a look and let out a series of cold laughs.