Chapter 3: Awakening of the Martial Spirit

The last day of the year, December 31st.

This day had been Qian Yunyu’s birthday in her previous life, and in this life, she still cherished it, so she chose this day to emerge from the stone.

Qian Yunyu was reborn, and Qian Daoliu also designated this day as her birthday.

Bibi Dong, upon hearing of Qian Yunyu’s birth, wished to visit the Worship Hall to see her daughter, but she did not get the chance to meet Qian Yunyu.

After all, considering her two prior offenses, Qian Daoliu dared not let her see his precious granddaughter; should anything like what happened before occur again, he would surely lose his mind.

Six years passed in the blink of an eye.

Within the dazzling, golden palace of the Worship Hall, a six-year-old girl sat at her desk. She wore a platinum-colored gown, her golden braid cascading down her back, and a golden butterfly hair ornament perched atop her head.

Qian Yunyu set her book aside, touching the golden mark on her brow as she fell into thought.

In her past life as a Genshin Impact player, she knew this mark well—it was unmistakably the Geo element symbol.

Six years ago, after saving her father, she fell into a deep slumber. She hadn’t expected to recover so soon and had prepared herself for the worst. Unexpectedly, a mysterious force surged into her body, replenishing her depleted vitality.

Though asleep, she sensed a vague presence at the time, one that felt oddly familiar. The mark on her forehead only deepened her bold suspicions.

Today was the day she would awaken her martial soul; whether her guess was correct would depend on the outcome.

"Yuer, are you ready? It’s time to go to the main hall for your martial soul awakening," Qian Xunji’s voice rang out in the hall. He arrived together with Qian Renxue.

Because of Qian Yunyu’s intervention, Qian Xunji had not been devoured by Bibi Dong, and Qian Renxue had not been forced by Bibi Dong to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire as a spy. Now, at sixteen, Qian Renxue was not only breathtakingly beautiful but had also reached level 51 as a Soul King.

Qian Yunyu shook off her thoughts, looked up at Qian Xunji and Qian Renxue, lifted her face into a sweet smile, and ran toward them.

“Father, Sister!”

Qian Xunji reached out to embrace his little daughter, his expression full of doting affection. “Yuer, slow down, don’t trip!”

Qian Xunji adored this little girl immensely. He feared she would dissolve if held in his mouth, or break if cradled in his hands.

Within the Spirit Hall, Qian Yunyu was everyone’s little darling. Not only Qian Xunji, but Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue, and several of the worshippers in the hall all treated her as a treasure, eager to give her the stars if not the moon.

Even Bibi Dong, who regarded her two daughters as a disgrace, softened her attitude toward Qian Yunyu, even beginning to care about Qian Renxue because of her.

Surrounded by such fervent affection, raised in a cocoon of love, Qian Yunyu grew up bright and confident.

Qian Renxue pinched her little sister’s cheek and smiled, “Yuer, are you nervous?”

Qian Yunyu shook her head, “Not at all! I’ll awaken an incredibly powerful martial soul, just like Sister!”

As a doting father, Qian Xunji believed every word his daughter said and nodded solemnly, “That’s right, our Yuer is the best!”

Qian Renxue smiled helplessly, clearly agreeing with Qian Xunji. After all, her little sister had always displayed extraordinary ability; it would be odd if her awakened martial soul wasn’t powerful.

Qian Xunji, holding Qian Yunyu, walked to the main hall with Qian Renxue.

At the entrance, they happened upon Bibi Dong, who had come from the Pope’s Hall. The atmosphere instantly grew tense, but only between Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong; Qian Yunyu and Qian Renxue were unaffected.

Bibi Dong had become the Pope of Spirit Hall, while Qian Xunji, after stepping down, served as a Judgement Elder in the Worship Hall.

Qian Yunyu asked Qian Xunji to put her down, then took Qian Renxue’s hand and ran to Bibi Dong, giving her a sweet smile. “Mother!”

Qian Renxue also smiled and called out.

Seeing her daughters’ smiles, Bibi Dong’s expression finally softened. Over the past few years, she had come to realize that the children were innocent, and her resentment toward Qian Xunji should not be directed at them.

Moreover, when her soft, adorable daughter acted spoiled toward her, she simply couldn’t resist, no wonder Qian Xunji spent his days doing nothing but clinging to Yuer.

“Mother is here for Yuer’s martial soul awakening ceremony. I’m so happy!” Qian Yunyu held Bibi Dong’s hand, her voice sweet as honey.

Bibi Dong’s voice was gentle, “This is an important moment for Yuer, of course Mother wouldn’t miss it!”

Witnessing Bibi Dong’s tenderness, Qian Renxue felt a pang of envy. When she had awakened her martial soul, Mother had been deeply disgusted by her. She had waited for so long, but Mother never came.

Bibi Dong noticed Qian Renxue’s expression and hesitated. “Xue, I…”

Qian Renxue smiled softly, “Mother, it’s alright. I don’t blame you.”

Bibi Dong was startled. For the first time, she realized she hadn’t cared enough for her elder daughter. In the past, her hatred for Qian Xunji had spilled over to Renxue, and after changing her attitude, she had poured all her affection into Yuer, only sparing some for Renxue.

But Xue was her daughter too; she shouldn’t have treated her so differently.

Inside the main hall, Qian Daoliu had already prepared the array and beckoned to Qian Yunyu. “Yuer, come, stand in the center of the formation.”

Qian Yunyu walked to the center, looked up at Qian Daoliu, and said, “Grandfather, let’s begin. I’m ready.”

Qian Daoliu extended his hand, soul power flowing into the array. Qian Yunyu’s feet left the ground as her body slowly rose, a rainbow of colors shimmering around her. Light-infused white wings unfurled from her back.

Bibi Dong, seeing the holy wings, glared furiously at Qian Xunji. Why was his bloodline so dominant? Both daughters had inherited his Angel martial soul, while none of her own martial souls had passed to them.

At this moment, Qian Yunyu’s awakening was not yet complete. The golden mark on her forehead burst into brilliant light.

From that golden glow, a figure clad in a deep gold-black robe walked forth, tassels swaying at the waist, amber eyes glimmering with patterns like flowing rock. An aura of ancient, steadfast majesty enveloped him, tempered by a gentleness and aloofness born of centuries, like a millennia-old stone statue wandering the mortal world.

With his appearance, all present felt an oppressive, awe-inspiring power.

Qian Daoliu was both shocked and delighted; the pressure exuded by this martial soul far surpassed even the divine-level six-winged angel. He hadn’t expected Yuer’s second martial soul to be so mysterious and formidable.

Humanoid martial souls were always among the most elite; the six-winged angel was the greatest of them, yet even its face was indistinct. But Yuer’s mysterious martial soul was as solid and vivid as a living person, its features sharp and beautiful.

This was unquestionably a divine-level martial soul—at worst, a divine-level martial soul!