1. The Awakening of Martial Souls

The story started in Sunnywood City, Skymoon Country.

In Su's Mansion, the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony was being organised in a vast martial practice field.

An altar stood in the heart of the martial practice field.

Many elders and disciples of the Su's were assembled in the field, watching the ceremony.

"Rank 2 Human Class Martial Soul!"

"Rank 3 Human Class Martial Soul!"

"Rank 3 Human Class Martial Soul!"

The elder hosting the ceremony continuously announced the ranks of the Su disciples' awakened Martial Souls.

The level of the Martial Soul indicated the cultivating talent of martial artists. Both Rank 2 and Rank 3 Human Class Martial Soul were common Martial Souls and were considered mediocre.

Many people in the martial practice field fixed their eyes on two young men standing in the front row.

One was dressed in teal clothes, and the other one was wearing purple clothes. They were both quite handsome.

The young man in teal was called Su Mo, the young master and son of the Master of the Su Family.

The young man in purple was the son of the First Elder.

They both were seeded disciples with great talents among all inferiors, especially Su Mo.

The young master had accomplished Lv 9 Body Tempering Realm at the age of 15. He was endowed with the highest talent among all inferiors.

Therefore, everyone looked forward to see what levels of Martial Souls they would awaken.

In the first row, Su Yu, dressed in purple clothes, glanced at Su Mo, next to him. He sneered and said, "You're called the top genius of the entire Su clan. I hope that you can awaken a Martial Soul that is well worthy of your identity."

The eyes of Su Yu were full of sarcasm. He had an extremely high talent, but Su Mo was spoken of more highly than him in the Su clan.

The so-called tag of top genius made Su Mo so famous that he stole Su Yu's honours.

As a result, Su Yu could only be second to him every time.

Su Yu was so furious because even the lady he liked had a crush on Su Mo.

Now, his opportunity had finally arrived. As long as he could awaken a Martial Soul with a higher level than Su Mo, he would claim to be the first genius among the Su.

However, Su Mo was unprovoked. He did not say anything because he clearly knew Su Yu's hostility toward him.

Then, the hosting elder exclaimed,

"Next up, Su Mo!"

Su Mo instantly strode onto the altar.

Right at this moment, all people fixed their eyes on him. The entire martial practice field immediately quietened. They wondered what level of Martial Soul could the first genius of the Su Clan awaken.

After entering the altar, Su Mo sat cross-legged with his eyes tightly closed.

Glowing runes emerged consecutively beneath the altar and entered Su Mo's body.

The surrounding disciples of the Su started to whisper after Su Mo entered the altar.

"Can you guess which level of Martial Soul brother Su Mo can awaken?"

"As the young master, the level of his Martial Soul must be very high."

"You're right. Su Mo accomplished Lv 9 Body Tempering Realm at less than 15 years of age, so he'll awaken a Martial Soul with an extremely high level."

Amidst the disciples' heated discussion, more and more sparkling runes floated above the altar and enveloped Su Mo's body.

Su Mo started to breathe quickly. With his legs crossed and eyes closed, and roaring sounds gradually arose from his breath.

Everyone stared closely at the altar.

Boom!

Finally, with a mighty booming sound, a dark shadow abruptly rose from his body.

This dark shadow was a colossal vortex, a bottomless black hole, making people feel a chill.

At the same time, a yellow halo appeared above the shadow.

Ah!

The Su were instantly glassy-eyed.

"Why is there only one halo?"

"His Martial Soul is Rank 1 Human Class."

"How is this possible?"

Everyone was stunned, and Su Yu was left with his mouth agape.

He had not expected that Su Mo would only awaken a Rank 1 Human Class Martial Soul.

The Rank 1 Human Class Martial Soul was the lowest one and totally useless.

Seated on the altar with his legs crossed, Su Mo slowly opened his eyes. He was NOT dumbfounded when he saw his Martial Soul.

"Rank 1 Human Class Martial Soul…" Su Mo murmured with a bitter smile on his lips. He had thought that he would not awaken a lowest rank Martial Soul.

After a while, everyone regained consciousness, and the martial practice field was suddenly in an uproar.

"Oh my, my eyes must be playing tricks on me. It's a Rank 1 Human Class Martial Soul, the totally useless one."

"He awakened a useless Martial Soul. Crap, I can't believe I anticipated for so long!"

"He isn't a genius but the most useless person in our clan!"

"…"

The spectators talked, while the elders and inferiors of the Sus had a change in their view.

They used to look at him with respect and admiration, but now, they were looking at him with disappointment and contempt.

On the altar, Su Mo slowly stood up and stretched.

He looked around and saw their expressions. "What snobbish people they are!" Su Mo smiled satirically in his heart.

Previously, when he was considered to be highly talented, everyone showed respect to him. Wherever he went, they all swarmed to him and kissed his ass.

Now, after he awakened a so-called "useless" Martial Soul, they all instantly looked at him with contempt.

After a while, Su Mo took a deep breath and strode off the altar.

"Next one, Su Yu!" exclaimed the hosting elder.

Glancing at Su Mo, he shook his head secretly. The former genius was a genius no more!

Upon hearing this, Su Yu walked toward the altar with a prideful look.

When he passed by Su Mo, he coldly laughed and disdainfully said, "I used to regard you as my rival. But from now on, the rivalry is gone, and I'll tread you under my foot forever!"

Su Yu felt extremely happy. Now that Su Mo had awakened the lowest rank Martial Soul, Su Mo would not even be eligible to lick his shoes.

Even if he awakened a weak Martial Soul, it would still be higher than Su Mo's.

Su Yu strode onto the altar after saying these words.

Without responding to his provocation, Su Mo returned to the martial practice field and calmly observed the ceremony.

Standing in the martial practice field, he felt some disparaging eyes fixed upon him and saw the disdainful expressions of disciples around him.

Su Mo's heart could not stop twitching. He was very uncomfortable. After all, the feeling of falling from heaven to hell was indeed torture.

Now, Su Yu sat on the altar cross-legged. The glowing runes emerged from the black alter and entered his body.

The martial practice field quieted down again, and everyone looked forward to seeing his Martial Soul.

Su Mo had awakened a useless Martial Soul, so Su Yu couldn't awaken another useless one.

Otherwise, the Su would become a joke in Sunnywood City.

Howl!

As everyone was anticipating, a beast's roar abruptly came out from Su Yu's body.

A giant virtual shadow of a snake rose above his head triumphantly.

There were five dazzling yellow halos around the python's shadow.

The hosting elder was stunned at the sight of his Martial Soul. Then, he shouted excitedly, "Five halos! It's a Rank 5 Human Class Martial Soul —Iron-scaled Python."

The Rank 5 Human Class Martial Soul was the highest one in all of Sunnywood City. Finally, another genius had appeared in the Su.

The entire martial practice field fell into silence at the sight of Su Yu's Martial Soul.

Then, it was an uproar.

"Rank 5 Human Class Martial Soul!"

"Haha! The top genius appeared in the Su clan."

"Brother Su Yu turned out to be the first genius of our Su clan. Su Mo is nothing!"

"You're right! Su Mo only has a useless Martial Soul. He can't be compared with Su Yu!"

All disciples of the Su looked at Su Yu with admiration.

On the altar, Su Yu saw that he awakened a Rank 5 Human Class Martial Soul. He bathed in the surprise and admiration from the crowd.

Pride arose in his heart, and he felt that everything was beautiful. He was full of high spirits and thought that no one could rival him.

He arrogantly turned to Su Mo and looked at him with eyes full of sarcasm as if saying, "I will always tread you under my foot from now on."

After seeing Su Yu's proud look and hearing the praise from the crowd, Su Mo sighed in his heart and left the martial practice field.