69novels Chapter 14 Martial Soul Awakening: The Road Ahead is Bright
Chapter 14 Martial Soul Awakening: The Road Ahead is Bright
This discovery made Yan Zu fall into deep thought.
"The power of civilization..." he murmured to himself, "Does it refer not to individual strength, but to one's contribution to the entire world?"
In his previous life, he had thoroughly read the original novel and was intimately familiar with the development trajectory of the Douluo Continent. This world, possessing extraordinary powers like Martial Souls, was strangely slow in its progress of civilization.
Ten thousand years ago, the Douluo Continent was in the agricultural era.
Ten thousand years later, when Tang San ascended to godhood, it was still the agricultural era.
Ten thousand years after Tang Shenwang became a god, it was still the agricultural era, and evil spirit masters were rampant. As for the development of civilization, it was not as good as before.
Although there were rudimentary forms of soul tools, everyone used them for combat, and few people thought of using the power of soul masters to improve people's lives.
Food-type Soul Masters can make sausages that restore stamina, but no one has researched how to feed ordinary people.
Support-type Soul Masters can amplify combat power, but no one thinks about how to improve production efficiency.
The entire superstructure of the continent revolves around the word "battle".
The Spirit Hall wants to unify the continent, not by developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods, but by conquering by force.
The nobles of the two great empires were vying for power and profit, not thinking about the benefit of the country and its people, but about cultivating stronger Soul Masters.
The three upper sects dominate their respective regions by relying on the intimidating power of their sect's strong members.
This is a world where the strong prevail, but it is also a world where civilization stagnates.
"Ridiculous." Yan Zu shook his head. "Possessing extraordinary power, yet limiting it to killing. If this power were used for production, construction, and research, Douluo Continent would have already entered a different era."
He thought of Earth. That world, without supernatural powers, advanced from the Stone Age to the Information Age in just a few thousand years through wisdom and cooperation alone. Humanity uses technology to transform the world, culture to nourish the soul, and systems to ensure fairness.
In the Douluo Continent, despite the existence of the heaven-defying Martial Soul, ten thousand years have been wasted in constant fighting and killing.
This made Yan Zu feel both amused and regretful. A world possessing the extraordinary power of soul force should have had a wider scope for development, but it was bound by the concept of "power supremacy" and stagnated.
To propel civilization forward and become an existence surpassing even gods… this goal is far too grand, far too weighty. Yan Zu is currently just a six-year-old child, and even with twin martial souls and a daily sign-in system, he is acutely aware of his own insignificance. He needs to constantly grow even to protect his family and Xiao Wu, let alone shoulder the responsibility of the entire continent's civilizational development.
He shook his head, suppressing these thoughts for the time being. Right now, his priority was steady growth, increasing his strength, and protecting those around him. As for the development of civilization, that was a long process, and Yan Zu was not yet in a position to consider it.
Just then, a system notification sounded in my mind:
Just then, the system notification sounded again:
[Host has completed Martial Soul Awakening, triggering a special reward.]
Congratulations on obtaining: Blue Star Literature Collection - Enlightenment Volume.
[Reward Description: Includes three works that enlightened civilization, laying the foundation for its development.]
As soon as Yan Zu had a thought, the contents of the three works flooded into his mind.
The Epic of Roland: The story of knight Roland and his unicorn companions fighting to protect civilization.
The Legend of King Arthur: The legend of King Arthur pulling the sword from the stone, establishing the Knights of the Round Table, and pursuing equality and justice.
One Thousand and One Nights: A collection of short stories full of exoticism and imaginative wisdom.
"This is..." A hint of realization flashed in Yan Zu's eyes.
The system is paving the way for him.
Directly advancing civilization is too difficult. But we can start with culture, using compelling stories to open people's hearts and subtly plant the seeds of civilization. When the time is right, it will naturally blossom and bear fruit.
"Brilliant!" Yan Zu exclaimed.
He stood up, feeling the surging soul power within his body, and looked at the two martial souls in front of him, his heart filled with excitement.
The Xuanyuan Sword slowly dimmed its light, transforming into a stream of light that disappeared into his body. The little Qilin, with its short legs, rubbed against his trouser leg and then vanished in a flash.
"Huh? Where did it go?" Xiao Wu looked around.
"It's back in my body," Yan Zu explained.
Xiao Wu nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Can it still come out to play in the future?"
Yan Zu thought for a moment and said, "It should be fine."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up: "Great! I'm going to touch it every day from now on!"
Yan Zu: "..."
He suddenly became a little worried that Xiao Wu might pet the little Qilin until it was bald.
Yan Hu finally recovered from his shock, stepped forward, squatted down in front of Yan Zu, and looked at his son intently:
"Grandpa, listen to what your father has to say."
Yan Zu nodded.
Yan Hu lowered his voice, his expression serious: "Having twin martial souls is an immense opportunity, but also a tremendous hidden danger. The Spirit Hall and all the major sects are coveting geniuses. Once your twin martial souls are exposed, it will inevitably bring endless trouble, and may even endanger the lives of our entire family."
Su Qing quickly echoed, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes: "Yes, Grandfather, you must never reveal your twin martial souls to outsiders. Only use one martial soul at a time. Remember that!"
Yan Zu nodded emphatically: "Father, Mother, I understand. I won't expose it easily. I will protect myself and our family." He knew the cruelty of this world, and the secret of twin martial souls must not be revealed, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.
Xiao Wu also came over and said, "Little brother Azu, I will keep it a secret for you! If anyone dares to bully you, I will beat them up!" As she spoke, she waved her little fist, looking very serious.
The Yan couple looked at Xiao Wu with eyes full of relief. This girl they had taken in had long since become a member of their family.
As night deepened, the chirping of insects in Five Souls Village gradually subsided, and the illusory Qilin in the courtyard had mostly dimmed its light, leaving only a faint, warm aura surrounding Yan Zu. Xiao Wu lay on her small bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
She could clearly feel a pure and auspicious life force coming from the direction of Yan Zu next door. It surged into her body through the bond of the auspicious beast talisman, causing her damaged soul beast essence to tremble faintly, and her soul power circulation speed was several times faster than usual.
This feeling was so comfortable and reassuring that it subconsciously reminded her of the warmest sunlight in the Starry Sky Forest.
After hesitating for a moment, the little girl tiptoed off the bed and walked barefoot to Yan Zu's bedside. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating her flushed cheeks. Looking at Yan Zu's sleeping profile, she mustered her courage and gently nudged him: "Little brother Zu, can I... sleep in the same bed with you?"
Yan Zu was not really asleep. He was sorting out his thoughts after the awakening of his two martial souls. When he heard this, he opened his eyes, and there was no trace of sleepiness in his dark eyes.
Seeing the dependence and trepidation in Xiao Wu's eyes, and sensing the soul power within her that was becoming increasingly active as she got closer to him, he understood—the auspicious aura of the Qilin had a natural attraction for Xiao Wu, who had transformed into a soul beast, and could also accelerate her growth.
"Come on up." Yan Zu moved aside to make room for her.
Xiao Wu happily snuggled into the covers and lay down close to Yan Zu. As soon as she got close, she felt an even stronger vitality envelop her, making her limbs and bones feel warm and comfortable. Her soul power seemed to have found an outlet, flowing happily through her meridians.
She couldn't help but nuzzle Yan Zu's arm and whisper, "Brother Zu, your aura is so comforting. I feel my soul power increasing."
"Go to sleep," Yan Zu said softly. "From now on, every night, I'll have Xiaoyu accompany you in your cultivation."
"Mmm!" Xiao Wu responded sweetly, hugging Yan Zu's arm, and quickly drifted off to sleep. Her breathing was steady and long, and a relieved smile lingered on her lips.
Yan Zu, however, could not fall asleep for a long time.
He stared with his eyes open at the dark roof beams, his mind churning with thoughts.
Awakening his twin martial souls today is undoubtedly a tremendous opportunity, but it also means he has officially stepped into the heart of this continent's vortex. The Spirit Hall, the Three Upper Sects, the two great empires... these behemoths will not let any genius go unpunished, let alone someone with twin martial souls.
What made him even more wary was Tang San.
According to the timeline, Tang San should have awakened his Blue Silver Grass in Holy Soul Village by now and be cultivating under Yu Xiaogang's guidance. In the original story, Tang San's path to growth involved stepping on the corpses of countless soul beasts, using the guise of "purity and innocence" to act selfishly and self-servingly.
But before this, Yan Zu had never thought of deliberately targeting him.
The reason is simple—everyone has their own ambitions, and this is inherently a diverse world. Tang San walks his broad path, and I walk my narrow bridge; we keep to ourselves. If one were to eliminate someone simply because they don't like them, how would that be any different from a bully who preys on the weak and eliminates those who disagree with them?
True strength should not be led astray by prejudice.
But things are different now. He possesses the two great martial spirits of the Xuanyuan Sword and the Qilin, and also carries the mission of the civilization and its traditions.
What did Tang San do after becoming a god?
He became a God King, yet treated the Douluo Continent as his own backyard. The rules he established for the God Realm nearly severed the path to advancement for Soul Masters in the lower realms. The Tang Sect's secret techniques he inherited only benefited himself. Ten thousand years after his ascension, the progress of civilization on the Douluo Continent nearly stagnated, Soul Guidance Device technology developed abnormally, the people suffered, and evil Soul Masters ran rampant.
What kind of god-king is this?
Yan Zu recalled a story he had read in his previous life. Duke Huan of Qi once asked Guan Zhong, "I am fond of hunting, women, and wine. Will this hinder my ambition for hegemony?" Guan Zhong replied, "Excessive indulgence leads to the loss of followers; lack of intelligence leads to failure. If you can maintain control of the overall situation and employ people appropriately, these vices are harmless."
The key is to "fulfill one's duties in one's position".
A person can be despicable, selfish, and greedy. But to become a God-King, one should bear the responsibilities of a God-King. Tang San, upon assuming that position, only sought to protect his own interests, even going so far as to betray his own daughter to covet Huo Yuhao's fortune—purely... (system censors)... contributing nothing to the development of the entire plane. He consumed the fortune of an entire realm to sustain himself, yet refused to give back a single drop to the common people.
"This isn't called being pure and virtuous; this is called holding a position without doing any work."
Yan Zu thought coldly to himself.
He wanted to promote the growth of civilization on the Douluo Continent, to build and develop it, and to ensure that the power of Soul Masters was used for the benefit of the people rather than for killing. This inevitably meant blocking Tang San's path to godhood. There was no possibility of compromise between them.
Since we are destined to be enemies, we cannot be soft-hearted.
"Tang San, I, Yan Zu... will surely cut off your path to godhood."
"This is not a personal grudge, but... a struggle over principles."
He murmured softly, his voice as firm as the clang of a sword.
I could hear Xiao Wu's even breathing beside me. The little girl was sleeping soundly, with a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth.
Yan Zu looked down at her, then at the bright moonlight outside the window, and suddenly felt that it was more practical to take care of the rabbit in front of him than to worry about being a god-king.
He gently pulled the blanket up to cover Xiao Wu's exposed arms.