"No martial soul."
The elder's voice was calm—too calm.
For a heartbeat, the Grand Awakening Hall fell into silence.
Then laughter exploded.
"The Li Family's young master? A waste?"
"He awakened nothing?"
"What a joke!"
Li Hao stood before the Soul Crystal; his palm still pressed against its cold surface.
No light.
No resonance.
No destiny.
Nothing.
His mind refused to accept it.
He had trained since childhood. Tempered his body. Refined his will. He was praised as a genius—destined to rise.
And yet…
"No martial soul means no path to cultivation," the elder declared indifferently. "Step down."
Just like that, his future was decided.
The whispers cut deeper than blades.
From the crowd, a soft voice trembled.
"Hao…"
He turned.
Xu Mei stood there—eyes filled with worry.
Before he could respond—
BOOM!
Flames erupted.
A phoenix cry pierced the heavens.
Golden fire spread like a divine tide as a majestic figure unfolded behind her.
Wings of blazing light.
Eyes like burning suns.
"Fire Phoenix Martial Soul!"
"Divine-grade!"
The hall erupted in awe.
Li Hao watched in silence.
The distance between them had already begun to grow.