At dusk, Beixuan sat atop a hillside, beginning his cultivation of the Sun and Moon Divine Art from the Sun and Moon Secret Codex.
This moment, when the sun and moon exchanged places in the sky, was the best time to cultivate this technique. Since he was born with innate full soul power, his goal today was not to increase his cultivation but to transform his internal energy into Sun and Moon True Qi.
Different cultivation techniques produce unique forms of true energy. Just like Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill, which granted him an abnormally fast soul power recovery rate, allowing him to defeat Meng Yiran in a soul power clash despite being one level lower.
The internal energy of the Sun and Moon Divine Art did not provide such a recovery advantage, but it possessed unparalleled offensive capabilities. For instance, if two opponents of the same level, with equally strong martial souls and soul skills, were to clash, the one using Sun and Moon True Qi would unleash attacks far stronger than those using ordinary soul power.
With his extraordinary talent, Beixuan managed to convert half of his soul power within just a few hours. Once the transformation was complete, he would have successfully cultivated the first layer of the Sun and Moon Divine Art.
At that point, he could begin training in the four martial techniques recorded in the Sun and Moon Secret Codex: Blazing Sun Demon-Slaying Palm, Moon Shadow Footwork, and the most powerful Sun and Moon Demon-Slaying Sword and Sun and Moon Golden Body.
Unfortunately, Beixuan's martial soul did not include a sword, and in this world of Douluo Dalu, aside from the Asura Divine Sword, there seemed to be no legendary swords available for him to wield. The Seven Kill Sword? That was someone else's martial soul, not a physical weapon he could use.
Beixuan pulled up his sleeve, revealing a sword-shaped mark on his wrist. It was formed by the sword energy transmitted to him by Beiluo before he crossed over into this world. However, at his current level, he was unable to sense any power from it.
As for the Sun and Moon Golden Body, it required refining the body through ice and fire, something Beixuan had no method to achieve for now. He estimated that he would need to use the power of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in the future.
After finishing his cultivation, Beixuan returned home. Yulin was already fast asleep on the rooftop. It was his own request—being a wandering soul master, he was long accustomed to sleeping in such places. However, despite the late hour, the house remained brightly lit.
"Grandfather, what are you doing?" Beixuan asked upon entering, noticing that Beihan was packing a bundle—filled with Beixuan's clothes, no less.
"Beixuan, my child," Beihan said softly, "since you have such great talent and have caught the attention of a soul master, you will surely leave this little village one day to venture into the outside world. This place is not where you are meant to stay. So, I am preparing your things in advance, so you won't have to pack in a hurry when the time comes."
Though his voice was calm, Beixuan could hear the deep reluctance within.
Beixuan remained silent for a moment. Indeed, he had to leave. Cultivation required resources—herbs, soul beast meat, and training grounds with simulated environments, all of which were only available in high-level soul master academies.
Yulin, despite being a Title Douluo, was penniless, having never joined any organization. At most, he could serve as Beixuan's guardian.
"Grandfather, don't worry. I will become a powerful soul master and return to take you away to live in comfort," Beixuan reassured him, holding his grandfather's hand.
"I'm already old and won't live much longer. Whether I live in comfort doesn't matter. As long as you are safe and well, I will have no regrets," Beihan said with a sigh, his words filled with indifference toward the future.
Beixuan knew that making more promises would be meaningless, so instead, he simply assured his grandfather that he would always prioritize his own safety and live well.
Hearing this, Beihan finally smiled. That was what truly mattered. Becoming a powerful soul master was irrelevant to him—what was most important was for Beixuan to survive and live a good life.
This sentiment coincidentally aligned with what Beiluo had told Beixuan when sending him to the world of Douluo Dalu.
The next morning, Beixuan resumed cultivating the Sun and Moon Divine Art, aiming to complete the full transformation of his internal energy by the end of the day.
Meanwhile, the entire village was bustling with activity. Today was the day the Spirit Hall soul masters would come to awaken the children's martial souls.
A small village like Nightfire Village was likely among the last in line. In major cities like Heaven Dou City, or villages that had produced a Soul Saint before, the awakening ceremonies had already been completed. Tang San, for example, had probably already started school by now.
For children between the ages of six and twenty, every day mattered in martial soul cultivation—starting even one day late meant falling behind.
"Children, the soul master from Spirit Hall has arrived. You must cooperate fully during the awakening process. I hope some of you will be fortunate enough to become soul masters," the village elder announced to the gathered children.
The group included not only children from Nightfire Village but also from a few neighboring villages, as multiple villages shared a single awakening quota.
"Enough talk, follow me inside. I don't have time to waste," a young man standing behind the village chief said impatiently. He was the Spirit Hall representative sent to conduct the awakening ceremony. Compared to Su Yuntao, the blindfolded deacon, this young man appeared far more arrogant and ill-mannered.
"Wait! Village Chief, Soul Master, my brother Beixuan hasn't arrived yet! Can we wait for him a little longer?" Ma Hongjun pleaded anxiously.
"Hmph, if he can't even show up on time for such an important event, then he's not worth my time. If he wants to awaken his martial soul, he can go to the Spirit Hall branch in the city himself," the soul master sneered. What was Beixuan's background compared to his own?
He was a soul master. Why should he wait for a mere commoner? A village like Nightfire had not produced a single soul master in decades—this entire process was probably just a waste of time anyway.
"But—"
Ma Hongjun wanted to argue further, but the soul master cut him off coldly, "Shut up! It's not your place to speak. One more word, and you're out too!"
"Enough, Hongjun!" the village elder quickly intervened. Beixuan missing the ceremony was his own responsibility; he couldn't let Ma Hongjun lose his opportunity because of it.
"...Understood," Ma Hongjun murmured, lowering his head.
"Hah, this little brat actually cares about my young master even at a time like this? Quite loyal, isn't he?" Not far away, Yulin observed in amusement. He hadn't expected a chubby little kid to have the guts to argue with a soul master for Beixuan's sake.
Not bad. If his martial soul turned out to be decent, Yulin might consider taking him along for training.
Unlike Saint Soul Village, which had a dedicated awakening hall, Nightfire Village held its ceremony in the village square.
The children stood in a neat line as the soul master scanned them with an arrogant gaze. "My name is Song Shan, my martial soul is a hyena, and I am a nineteenth-level, one-ring Battle Soul Master."
With that, he activated his martial soul—his teeth became razor-sharp, his hands transformed into claws, and his legs grew more muscular. A single white soul ring circled his body.
This was Beast Martial Soul Possession.