Chapter 103: Martial Soul, It’s Time to Awaken!

Martial Soul.

Wang Che knew that the power of this Lightning Howling Sky Tiger’s electric shock far exceeded the norm and was definitely related to its owner’s Martial Soul.

Through normal cultivation, a Soul Pet like the Green Caterpillar could unleash a Rattler Tail Strike or Silk Spitting with power far beyond its Soul Power Cultivation level through special training.

But it absolutely could not defeat a Soul Pet that countered the Green Caterpillar in one hit, unless its Soul Power Cultivation completely overwhelmed the other.

However, the electric shock of the Howling Sky Tiger could even take down a Soul Pet of the same Soul Power Cultivation that countered it in a single strike.

That was definitely abnormal.

There had to be other reasons.

Thinking about the thunderstorm that day, and how they were all students currently in the stage of awakening their Martial Souls,

Wang Che realized there must be a connection.

“I never expected Martial Soul power could bring such a huge change to a Soul Pet,” Wang Che thought to himself.

He didn’t know what He Zhenfeng’s Martial Soul was, but it could actually accumulate some Heavenly Thunder power for the Howling Sky Tiger.

Unfortunately, it happened to run into the current Magnetic Sword.

Otherwise, that one electric shock might have turned even a Green Caterpillar into a charred mess.

Of course, if it were the Green Caterpillar, the Howling Sky Tiger wouldn’t even have had a chance to attack.

This was the first time Wang Che had seen a Martial Soul affecting a Soul Pet.

Though it was on someone else.

“I admit defeat today,” He Zhenfeng said.

He walked over to the Howling Sky Tiger, took out a box of medicine, and fed it to the tiger.

In just a short while, the Howling Sky Tiger recovered somewhat and followed behind He Zhenfeng as he slowly walked off the stage.

He Zhenfeng grinned. “Wang Che, you’re strong. I believe we’ll meet again in the Qihang Cup. What you said is true, but my Martial Soul isn’t fully awakened yet. I only dare to accumulate a little Heavenly Thunder power during thunderstorms and with the help of tools.”

“When my Martial Soul fully awakens, it won’t be so easy for you to beat my Howling Sky Tiger next time.”

After saying that, He Zhenfeng left No.1 Middle School with a man and a woman in combat suits, stepping away under the moonlight.

“Next time…”

Wang Che shook his head. Even if you could accumulate a full Heavenly Thunder strike, it wouldn’t give you much chance against the Magnetic Sword.

Actually, once the Howling Sky Tiger completed its Third Stage Evolution, if it didn’t use its Thunder-Element Soul Skills,

and relied only on physical attacks, the Magnetic Sword wouldn’t stand a chance.

After all, the gap in Soul Power Cultivation was there.

Currently, the Magnetic Sword had only practiced the Divine Sword Thunder Control True Scripture once and was just getting started.

Unfortunately, He Zhenfeng wouldn’t imagine what the Magnetic Sword had been through.

It was also hard for him to give up the Howling Sky Tiger’s biggest advantage.

“Martial Soul.”

Wang Che closed his eyes.

For now, the issue with the Magnetic Sword was resolved.

Next, he needed to sense his own Martial Soul.

After practicing the Divine Sword Thunder Control True Scripture, both he and the Magnetic Sword needed to rest for a while.

They needed to recover their energy.

Wang Che wasn’t planning to teach the Magnetic Sword any Soul Skills just yet.

First, he wanted to increase his Soul Power Cultivation to prepare for the next practice session.

Soul Skills weren’t urgent.

The Divine Sword Thunder Control True Scripture contained matching sword techniques.

Plus, every Magnetic Sword had a different origin, so their Soul Skill Sequences varied quite a bit.

Even among the same type, the Soul Skills they could learn were very different.

“Damn, so it was the Martial Soul… These students from Rong City really are impressive,” Yuan Xiaole said as he walked onto the stage.

Most knowledge about Martial Souls wasn’t taught in detail until university.

Middle school and high school focused on basic subjects and general knowledge about raising Soul Pets.

Of course, modern middle and high school students would naturally pick up some information about Martial Soul power through various channels.

But when it came to actual use, they were mostly in the dark.

“By the way, Che Ge, can you sense the form of your Martial Soul now?” Yuan Xiaole asked.

“I’m about 80-90% sure based on the rough form I sensed that it’s the Hundred Refined Rod, my family’s heirloom.”

“By the time I graduate from high school, I should be able to awaken it on my own and sense my Martial Soul.”

Yuan Xiaole said with pride.

Martial Soul was a power that humans could control.

Having control over your own power was more real than anything else.

“Me…” Wang Che smiled. “Soon.”

As the battle ended, many students left the school chatting excitedly.

A Magnetic Sword had managed to defeat a Third Stage Evolution Howling Sky Tiger—the spectacle was truly impressive.

And it was done by a talented student from Xiyue Continent, which made the students of No.1 Middle School very proud.

However, there were less than three weeks left until the Graduation Unified Exam.

Soon, the students put the event behind them and focused on studying hard during their final days.

Time flowed by like water.

Three weeks passed in the blink of an eye…

At the Tianxin City Soul Pet Base,

Professor Yan watched the battle replay and sighed.

“I never thought Wang Che would actually pull it off… incredible. I hope this Magnetic Sword can grow up healthy under his care… Oh, that’s right, their unified exam is in two days, isn’t it? Any news from No.1 Middle School about that kid’s Martial Soul?”

“No, but Miss Xi’s Martial Soul has already awakened ahead of schedule.”

“Oh?”

“How is it?”

“The sensed form of her Martial Soul reached 95%. Based on this year’s Martial Soul form scoring, that’s 95 points. That score should be among the highest in Xiyue Continent. As for grade… it’s a flash-gold Mythical Tool Martial Soul, the Phoenix Feather. Her innate talent is tenth level, her Life Soul Pact has reached the maximum, and her special training has shown remarkable results.”

Martial Souls were divided into several grades. According to modern classifications, there were currently seven grades:

Common, Excellent, Superb, Heritage, Mythical, Destiny, and Supreme.

The grade of a Martial Soul determined its strength.

The higher the grade, the stronger the Martial Soul.

The innate grade was fixed, but there were ways to improve it later.

The forms of Martial Souls were only divided into Tool Martial Souls and Spirit Martial Souls.

Tools referred to objects. Spirits referred to living beings.

Objects included everything currently known to humanity, from tiny ordinary screws to precise Soul Guiding Devices, and even more powerful modern firearms.

Living beings included all creatures in the present world, from ordinary ants to powerful Soul Pets, and even Humanoid Martial Souls. All were possible.

Therefore, Martial Souls could be said to be ever-changing.

But for most Martial Souls, the most important aspect was not the grade, but the form, because the form determined the function of the Martial Soul.

As long as the Martial Soul had a function, no matter how low its strength, it could be developed and used.

An innate level ten meant the cultivation speed of the Martial Soul was ten times the normal rate.

The talent could be said to be extremely high.

“Family heritage… hard work… that is what made Miss Xi so outstanding…”

Professor Yan sighed, “This year, our Xiyue Continent will produce several prodigies who will shine on the world stage…”

Beside Professor Yan, Li Yanming gazed into the distance at the vast mountains.

That was the direction of the Floating Forest.

“Only two months left…” Li Yanming’s voice was weary and distant.

——

In distant Rongdu.

Streaks of dazzling purple and blue light shot straight into the sky.

Every year at this time, the people of Rongdu would watch with deep emotion.

They knew those were the lights emitted when this year’s senior high school students sensed their Martial Souls.

Blue represented Martial Souls of Peerless Grade quality. Purple represented Martial Souls of heritage quality.

In other cities, purple was very rare.

But in Rongdu, though purple Martial Souls were uncommon, a few appeared every year.

Only gold was the rarest.

Because that represented Martial Souls of Mythic Martial Soul quality.

Myths referred to powerful Martial Souls that had shone brightly even in the Ancient Era.

When a student sensed their Martial Soul to over seventy percent, a phantom of the Martial Soul would appear, releasing intense energy fluctuations.

Different energy fluctuations would flash with strong light before slowly settling.

At that moment, a golden light flashed from a certain location in Rong City.

“A Mythic Martial Soul! This year, Rong City has finally produced a Mythic Martial Soul!”

“I wonder who it will be…”

“Wow, it’s from our city district!”

“Mythic… Xiyue Continent is lucky to produce one or two each year… A future Heavenly King for sure!”

“…”

In a villa in Rong City.

A handsome young man with a slightly eerie aura was bathed in golden light.

Beside him floated a Magpie Fairy Dragon that had completed its second stage evolution, hovering gracefully near the youth.

Above the youth’s head, a golden cloud swirled.

It made the youth seem as if he were in a celestial realm.

Then, the youth murmured softly:

“Wang Che, Wang Batian… what exactly did you do in the Floating Forest…”

——

At an ancient peak on the border of Xiyue Continent.

Lin Xi stood at the mountain’s summit, bathed in the soft morning light that fell on her face, making her look ethereal and peerless.

Beside her, the Zhiyun Snake had also completed its second stage evolution, becoming a Feathered Spirit Snake.

It was about as tall as Lin Xi, its body appeared more elegant, and the small white feathery wings by its ears had grown, resembling two little wings, adding a touch of cuteness to its grace.

“Classmate Lin, tomorrow is your school’s Graduation Unified Exam. Will you go back?”

A questioning voice came from below.

Lin Xi opened her palm, and a beautiful feather with red and green colors floated clearly above her hand.

It emitted a powerful and vigorous force.

Lin Xi gazed at the feather and nodded slightly.

“Of course, it’s time to go back.”

——

In Tianxin City.

At home.

Wang Che sat cross-legged on the floor.

After three weeks of recovery, the weakness from cultivating the Divine Sword Thunder Control True Scripture had completely vanished.

His body was now extremely strong, and his spirit had reached a high state.

During these three weeks, Wang Che steadily nurtured both Green Caterpillar and Magnetic Sword.

He didn’t teach any other Soul Skills.

Green Caterpillar mainly practiced and consolidated the many Soul Skills it had learned.

Magnetic Sword continued to stabilize the Mechanical Energy within and experience the Heavenly Thunder Sword Momentum, adapting to its physical strength.

Magnetic Sword’s previous one hundred twenty years of Soul Power Cultivation were unstable.

Unlike Green Caterpillar, which Wang Che had trained from the start with a solid foundation.

Magnetic Sword’s cultivation of the Divine Sword Thunder Control True Scripture brought huge improvements, so without stabilizing the foundation, problems could easily arise later.

At that moment, the most important thing was:

“Several days ago, the Supreme Soul-Nourishing Chapter successfully reached the first layer: Divine Sense Transforming into Fireflies.”

If in the Cultivation World, reaching the first layer of the Supreme Soul-Nourishing Chapter would be quite difficult.

Without opportunity, it could take decades or even centuries to reach the first layer.

With opportunity, it could be achieved in a few months or less than a few years.

After his experiences in the Floating Forest, Wang Che gained significant opportunities, allowing him to reach the first layer in less than half a year.

It could be said to be very challenging.

Divine Sense was a powerful form of Spiritual Power.

In the Cultivation World, achieving Divine Sense was impossible without reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

Improving it was even harder.

Although Wang Che had just reached the first layer of Divine Sense, it was from the Supreme Soul-Nourishing Chapter.

His soul was very stable, like a rock, and his Divine Sense was highly refined.

When he expanded his Divine Sense, he could detect subtle changes within dozens of meters.

His sensing of Soul Pets was even more detailed.

Moreover, with Divine Sense, he could look inward.

He could fully sense his Martial Soul.

Wang Che focused his mind intensely. The moonlight was beautiful that night.

Having stabilized the first layer, it was time to sense his Martial Soul.

“These past few days, Tianxin City had many unusual energy fluctuations, emitting strange lights… probably other students’ Martial Souls awakening naturally… most grades weren’t high… I wonder what my Martial Soul will be…”

“No matter what, after eighteen years in this world and less than five months since my memories returned… I’m finally about to start cultivating…”

Wang Che felt deeply emotional.

At that moment, no one in the entire world could understand the emotions in his heart.

He was a peerless prodigy who, under the Heavenly Tribulation, had endured for years, exhausted countless treasures, destroyed many small worlds, and persisted until his last dying breath.

After failing at the very threshold of the path to immortality.

He was now reigniting his lofty ambitions to tread that mysterious and ancient celestial path once more!

Wang Che calmed his mind, focused on his soul, and his Divine Sense became tangible, sweeping away the haze deep within his soul like a broom:

“Martial Soul, it’s time to awaken!”

In an instant, a brilliant light erupted, soaring into the sky…