Eastern Wilderness, Nanming Country.
Hundred Broken Mountain Range, Star Moon City Martial Soul Awakening Venue.
"Zhao Village, Zhao Yan, awaken Black-scaled Leopard, Soul Level: Level Eight!"
The crowded Star Moon City Martial Soul Awakening Venue resounded with a powerful, resonant voice.
On the Awakening Platform, a spirited young man stood proudly, a gleaming Black-scaled Leopard manifested out of thin air above his head, letting out soul-stirring roars before diving into the young man's forehead, disappearing completely.
This scene instantly stirred up a wave of commotion on the site.
"It's actually a Level Eight Martial Soul Black-scaled Leopard. After three years, Zhao Village has produced another extraordinary talent."
"Congratulations, Zhao Village Chief!"
"Hahaha, not at all, it's just that this child Zhao Yan has exceeded expectations. An eighth-level Martial Soul truly surprises even this old man."
Zhao Wuji, watching representatives from other villages come forward to offer congratulations, spoke humbly, but could not hide the pride in his eyes.
In the crowd, Ye Xiaofan watched all this, his breathing slightly rapid, because today was also his day to participate in the awakening.
"Hmph, it's just a Level Eight Martial Soul Black-scaled Leopard, not even a top Level Eight Martial Soul. What's there to be smug about?"
"Exactly, Brother Xiaotian's Martial Soul definitely surpasses his by a hundredfold."
Beside Ye Xiaofan, the people from Ye Village all looked unsatisfied, voicing their displeasure. Ye Village and Zhao Village, their neighbors, had harbored generational grudges and naturally didn't want to see the other surpassing them.
The young man named Ye Xiaotian showed complete disdain upon hearing this.
As the most promising of Ye Village's young generation to awaken a high-level Martial Soul, he harbored an inexplicable confidence about his yet-to-awaken Martial Soul. Even though Zhao Yan had clearly awakened a Level Eight Black-scaled Leopard, Ye Xiaotian still didn't think he would lose to him.
At this moment.
"Next, Ye Village, Ye Xiaotian."
The profound voice resounded once more from the Awakening Platform.
"Brother Xiaotian, you can do it!"
Many from Ye Village cheered Ye Xiaotian on, full of anticipation. Even people from Zhao Village turned to watch.
Hearing his name called, Ye Xiaotian didn't hesitate and strode confidently towards the Awakening Platform.
At the center of the Awakening Platform, as the awakening ceremony began, his surroundings instantly shone with intense light, as a massive shadow condensed above his head out of thin air.
This shadow resembled a long serpent with nine dragon-like heads, covered in dragon scales, exuding a terrifying aura that shook heaven and earth.
"Ye Village, Ye Xiaotian, awaken Nine-headed Hydra, Soul Level: Level Nine!"
These words instantly caused a commotion, and many gasped in shock.
"Gasp—It's actually Level Nine Martial Soul Nine-headed Hydra, and it's the top existence among Level Nines. Heavens, this must be the highest grade Martial Soul in Star Moon City this year, right?"
"Nine Hydras appear, True Dragon concealed, who can rival him? Ye Village is about to produce a powerhouse."
"Such a terrifying Martial Soul is bound to shake the Hundred Broken Mountain Range region. In a month's time, even the major sects at the Star Moon City competition are likely to come upon hearing the news. Ye Village is about to produce a True Dragon."
The people of Ye Village watched Ye Xiaotian on the platform, listening to the exclamations around them, each one extraordinarily excited.
Ye Village's village chief and clan head, Ye Wuyuan, even exclaimed 'good' three times on the spot, his face filled with irrepressible excitement, while the people of Zhao Village turned livid and someone immediately snorted and left in anger.
Compared to Ye Xiaotian's Level Nine Nine-headed Hydra, Zhao Yan's Black-scaled Leopard seemed momentarily overshadowed.
Zhao Yan stood dumbfounded, staring at Ye Xiaotian on the platform with disbelief. Their eyes met, releasing an invisible animosity between the two.
After a while, the Nine-headed Hydra entered Ye Xiaotian's forehead, and he stepped down from the platform, exuding natural confidence all the more freely.
"Next, Ye Village, Ye Xiaofan."
Upon hearing his younger brother Ye Xiaofan's name, Ye Xiaoyue knelt down and tidied his clothes, smiling lovingly, "Xiaofan, we won't compare ourselves to them. Sister believes in you; you will definitely awaken a Martial Soul."
"Mm!"
Ye Xiaofan nodded vigorously and turned towards the Awakening Platform, brushing past the descending Ye Xiaotian.
Ye Xiaotian looked down upon Ye Xiaofan, then slowly shook his head, "A waste who can't even sense the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, what kind of Martial Soul can you awaken? You're just like your useless father, living only wastes resources."
Ye Xiaofan ignored Ye Xiaotian's words, determinedly heading towards the Awakening Platform.
"Ye Xiaofan!"
Seeing him disregard his taunts, Ye Xiaotian called out to his back, "Don't forget, according to the rules, if you can't awaken a Martial Soul, you must leave Ye Village on your own, don't wait for the clan chief grandpa to expel you."
Hearing Ye Xiaotian's words, Ye Xiaofan standing at the center of the Awakening Platform clenched his fists unwittingly.
As the awakening ceremony officially began, the Star Array activated on the Awakening Platform, bursting into bright light.
Above Ye Xiaofan's head, a small shadow slowly took form.
Upon closer look, it was a tiny, insignificant sapling Martial Soul.
Soon, the resounding voice echoed through the Martial Soul Awakening Venue once more.
"Ye Village, Ye Xiaofan, awaken Plant Martial Soul, Soul Level: Below Level One!"
Crash—!
This announcement caused the venue to freeze momentarily, enveloped in silence.
Only after several breaths did uproarious voices begin to echo continuously.
"Plant Martial Soul?"
"Below Level One?"
"Isn't that the most useless Martial Soul?"
"This little guy from Ye Village actually awakened a symbol of waste?"
"Plant Type? This... hasn't appeared in Star Moon City in hundreds of years, right?"
"Let alone Star Moon City, it's a rare sight in the entire Nanming Country in a hundred years, hahaha."
"Below Level One? I'm dying of laughter, is Ye Village here to amuse us?"
Voices rose all around, with faces barely concealing their ridicule.
Upon hearing this, Ye Wuyuan's face turned livid, his expression more unpleasant than if he'd swallowed a fly.
The people from Ye Village were equally enraged, wishing nothing more than to rush and drag Ye Xiaofan off the platform.
"I told you he shouldn't have come. Ye Village's face is completely lost because of him."
In the crowd, a smirk of disdain emerged on Ye Xiaotian's face, gradually turning to scorn, "Trash is always trash."
After Ye Xiaotian spoke, a sudden rash of unrestrained laughter broke out at the venue.
"Hahahahaha...."
Zhao Wuji from Zhao Village laughed uncontrollably.
Feigning cordiality, he cupped his fists towards Ye Wuyuan, loudly mocking, "Congratulations, congratulations indeed, Brother Ye. Ye Village has obtained another 'fine seedling' unseen in hundreds of years, hahaha."
Upon Zhao Wuji's words, the crowd erupted into laughter once more.
Ye Wuyuan's complexion became even more varied with reds and blues, for in the Martial Soul Continent, awakening a Plant Martial Soul was a disgrace, more embarrassing than failing to awaken entirely.
Even Ye Xiaofan, gazing at his awakened Martial Soul, couldn't help but feel desolate.
Was he merely a waste after all?
Had he awakened the most useless Plant Martial Soul?
Just as Ye Xiaofan was engulfed in dismay, the sapling shadow descended, turning into an afterimage merging into Ye Xiaofan's forehead, blending with him. And at the moment of martial soul fusion—
Suddenly.
Boom—!!
Ye Xiaofan's body trembled violently as he felt a burst of secret power erupt from within the sapling, sweeping through and filling his entire body.
At that moment, the secret power released by the Martial Soul seemed to unlock something within his body, akin to a long-clogged pipeline being suddenly cleared, indescribably pleasant.
Moreover, at the instant of Martial Soul fusion, Ye Xiaofan felt invigorated, and his senses abruptly became exceptionally acute.
"What's this...?" Ye Xiaofan looked up blankly, then overjoyed, "Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, such a rich Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi."