"My martial soul?"
At these words, Ye Tian narrowed his eyes, gazing at the eager faces of Ye Shi and the elder from the Baiwu Pavilion, realizing they had deduced something significant.
To break through to the martial artist level and reach the peak of first-level martial artists in just a month implied he possessed at least a yellow martial soul, a conclusion not hard to reach.
No one in Ye Family Village had ever possessed a yellow martial soul, and it was no wonder the village leaders were so excited.
After a moment's contemplation, Ye Tian made his decision; he had no intention of concealing his martial soul. After all, he wanted to leverage his reputation as a genius to bring joy to his parents.
Furthermore, while a yellow martial soul was impressive, it was merely a stepping stone in the grand scheme of the vast Shenzhou continent; it was hardly noteworthy. No one would wish to harm him due to his "talent."
Of course, if he revealed the secret of his martial soul's potential for evolution, he would surely not survive the night.
Having thought this through, Ye Tian looked at Ye Shi, and, meeting the latter's slightly agitated and expectant gaze, slowly declared, "Report to the village chief, my martial soul is a yellow martial soul!"
A hush fell over the crowd, akin to a stone sinking into water, sending ripples throughout.
Although they had their suspicions, the moment Ye Tian uttered the words, a chorus of astonished gasps erupted from the onlookers.
Several elders began to shout with excitement, their faces alight with joy, as if they had suddenly regained their youth.
Ye Shi and the Baiwu Pavilion elder were equally elated, repeatedly exclaiming, "Excellent! Excellent!"
Beside them, Ye Tian's father, Ye Meng, froze for a moment before his eyes widened, shock mingling with overwhelming joy.
"Just as I thought!" The leader of the hunting team, Ye Feng, clenched his fists in exhilaration.
The surrounding villagers were equally stirred; in the martial artist-enthused Shenzhou continent, everyone knew the benefits a strong warrior could bring to a village.
It represented a glimmer of hope for the entire clan!
Once, when Ye Tian was in despair, a laundry woman sighed, "What a shame! If only this child had a martial soul, he could become the strongest martial artist in Ye Family Village, leading us out of this desolate backwater!"
Her humble words revealed the true impact a powerful warrior could have on a village.
To become a strong warrior, a martial soul was essential—it was everything. Thus, when the villagers learned of Ye Tian's yellow martial soul, their spirits soared.
Though they often had minor disputes, when it came to the collective interest of the village, the villagers of Ye Family Village always united as one. It was precisely this unity that made Ye Family Village one of the three strongest villages in Baiyun Town.
Ye Shi regarded the slightly juvenile figure before him, admiration shining in his eyes. He spoke earnestly, "Child, since you possess such a formidable martial soul, do not squander the gift bestowed upon you by the heavens. You must strive to become a strong warrior; the future of Ye Family Village rests on your shoulders."
Heavens? Hmph!
Ye Tian shook his head internally. His martial soul was not a gift from the heavens, but something he had fought for himself. Nevertheless, he refrained from contradicting the village chief and looked at the elderly man with deep respect.
Ye Shi was a formidable figure, a peak level ten martial artist, one of the top warriors of his generation in Baiyun Town. Yet, Ye Tian could see the wrinkles etched across the village chief's face—he was aging and would eventually be replaced by time. But still, he stood firm, shielding Ye Family Village from adversity.
In that moment, a profound sense of reverence surged within Ye Tian. He nodded solemnly and declared, "Village Chief, I, Ye Tian, vow to become a strong warrior. I will lead Ye Family Village out of Baiyun Town, elevating us to a distinguished family within the Shenzhou continent."
At that moment, the crowd remained immersed in the astonishment of the yellow martial soul, silent as the grave.
Ye Tian's slightly immature voice rang throughout the square, clearly reaching the ears of every villager in Ye Family Village.
All eyes turned to him in unison, each gaze filled with excitement and anticipation. Ye Tian felt a slight tremor as he sensed the fervor and expectation emanating from their gazes.
Though his vow seemed audacious, no one present doubted him. The yellow martial soul represented everything, especially considering Ye Tian's consistent display of genius; if someone like him could not become a strong warrior, then who could?
"I will not disappoint you!"
Surveying the enthusiastic faces of the villagers, Ye Tian's eyes shone with determination as he clenched his fists. The stronger one became, the greater the responsibility; Ye Family Village had nurtured him, and now it was time for him to give back.
"Excellent! Truly my son, Ye Meng!" A booming shout broke through, as Ye Meng laughed heartily, pride radiating from his face.
Seeing his father's joy, Ye Tian smiled slightly, feeling that all his efforts had finally borne fruit.
The elder from the Baiwu Pavilion approached, smiling softly, "Young man, make sure to visit the Baiwu Pavilion often; I will personally guide your training in martial arts!"
"Thank you, Elder!" Ye Tian replied, filled with joy. The elder, a master of many martial techniques, was the foremost authority in martial arts within Ye Family Village. With his guidance, Ye Tian knew his progress would be rapid.
"And I as well!" Village chief Ye Shi added with a smile, "With your remarkable talent, we will spare no effort in nurturing you, aiming for you to reach level seven of the martial artist realm by the age of thirty."
Reaching level seven of the martial artist realm by thirty was already considered a mark of strength in Baiyun Town, and those who achieved such talent before that age were extremely rare.
Ye Shi dared to make such claims because of Ye Tian's extraordinary potential with his yellow martial soul.
"Indeed, I will strive for that!" Ye Tian nodded.
At this moment, he became the focal point, the embodiment of hope for all the villagers of Yejia.
No one opposed the decision made by Ye Shi and the elder of the Baiwu Pavilion; how could a genius with a yellow martial spirit not be cultivated with utmost dedication?
Not far away, Ye Feng gazed at the young boy surrounded by the crowd and nodded to himself, "I was worried about when I would be able to go to Xueyu City to take the Blood Garb Guard's assessment, but with this child's presence, there is hope for Yejia Village to rise again. Now I can pursue my dreams in Xueyu City with peace of mind."
To become a formidable warrior, not only is possessing a martial spirit fundamental, but access to training resources is equally vital. Just like Ye Shi, if he had some treasures to enhance his cultivation, he could also break through to the Martial Master level.
Unfortunately, in the impoverished land of Baiyun Town, such treasures are virtually nonexistent; even the natural spiritual energy is considerably thinner than in other places, rendering it a truly destitute locale.
Thus, for the warriors of Baiyun Town seeking precious cultivation resources, they must venture beyond its borders and join a powerful faction.
The Blood Garb Guard of Xueyu City stands as the largest force within a thousand miles and is the aspiration of many warriors; one only needs to witness the imposing presence of the Blood Garb Guards when they initially visited Yejia Village to understand their renown.
Ye Feng possesses notable talent; among the strong, adult generation of Yejia Village, he is the most formidable. Yet he is acutely aware of his limits; like the village chief, he can only reach the same level. The prospect of breaking through to become a Martial Master seems nearly impossible.
As a result, Ye Feng feels deeply discontented. He has long wished to join the Blood Garb Guard in Xueyu City, but Yejia Village needs him, compelling him to remain behind.
Ye Feng is a man of deep emotions, unwilling to abandon the village for personal gain, and so he waits—waiting for a genius to rise who can take his place, allowing him to shed his burdens and pursue his ambitions in Xueyu City.
In addition to being the captain of the beast-hunting team, Ye Feng serves as a mentor for the children of Yejia Village. He recognized Ye Tian's talent long ago and has always held hope for him.
However, after the news of Ye Tian's failure to awaken his martial spirit, Ye Feng's hopes had waned. Fortunately, things have turned around now; Ye Tian's talent remains intact and surpasses his wildest expectations.
"What a fortunate lad, with a yellow martial spirit—such a beacon of hope for many! With you here, Yejia Village can surely rise!" Ye Feng cast a slightly envious glance at the surrounded Ye Tian before turning to leave.
The lively annual festival reached its zenith with the battle between Ye Tian and Ye Wei.
The title of the village's top genius returned to Ye Tian.
Not only that, but he also acquired a divine halo—Yejia Village's hope.
Amidst all this, Ye Tian appeared somewhat composed, yet within, he fervently desired to attain even greater strength. He could hardly wait to commence his training; he yearned to become a more formidable warrior.
Through the days of despair and perseverance, he deeply understood that this was a world that reveres the strong; only by becoming mightier could he secure a position and possess everything...
As the festival gradually waned amidst joyous celebrations, Ye Tian bid farewell to Ye Niu and supported his inebriated father, Ye Meng, on their way home.
"Son, I am so happy today! Those people will no longer dare to call you a useless child, never again…" Ye Meng slurred, blissfully intoxicated.
Listening to his father's drunken ramblings, Ye Tian felt a pang in his heart; he could only imagine how much ridicule his father had endured during this time.
As for his mother, ever since he failed to awaken his martial spirit, she had not stepped outside. He understood that she did not want to hear others speak ill of him to his face.
"Father, I promised that from now on, I will never let you down again!"
As Ye Tian hoisted his unconscious father onto his back, he gazed up at the dazzling starry sky, murmuring to himself. His eyes brimmed with confidence.
In the darkness, a brilliant shooting star streaked across the sky, leaving behind the most beautiful arc, vibrant and resplendent.
Upon returning home, Ye Tian entrusted his father to his mother before retreating to his own room.
"Meow!" The little white tiger, napping on the bed, opened its eyes upon sensing Ye Tian's arrival and affectionately crawled toward him.
"Little one, you've been sleeping quite comfortably, haven't you? Ha ha!" Ye Tian playfully teased the small creature before sitting cross-legged on the bed to commence his training.
"Today, I have redeemed myself; my mind is clear and perhaps I can break through to the second level of martial artist!"
Slowly, Ye Tian closed his eyes, a confident smile gracing his features.
Soon, thick spiritual energy surged from all directions, converging into Ye Tian's body.