"An Armored Earth Dragon?"
Feeling the raw, primal strength coursing through his body, and recalling Su Yuntao's explanation, Chen Ming slowly raised his arm, examining himself in silence.
How should he describe it?
This wasn't the typical full-beast transformation that most beast-type Martial Soul users underwent. Instead, what covered his body felt more like a structured layer—something akin to armor.
He could clearly sense that a new "skin" had formed over his body. This layer retained all of his original senses while boasting far superior defensive properties. Beneath it, his real skin still existed, though the two seemed to have temporarily fused together.
Dragon scales intertwined with earthen energy, shaping his form into something that was both partially bestial and partially armored. The wild, ancient power of a dragon blended seamlessly with the solid, immovable stability of armor, creating a presence that was both ferocious and unshakable.
Even without seeing his full reflection, just glancing down at himself was enough for Chen Ming to be certain—
He looked impressive. Very impressive.
"Child, quickly—test your Spirit Power!"
Su Yuntao eagerly pressed a crystal ball into Chen Ming's hands, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Before Chen Ming could even consciously channel his energy, the crystal ball reacted the moment it touched his palm. A powerful suction force drew the Spirit Power from his body, causing light to bloom within the sphere. As more energy flowed in, the glow intensified, growing brighter and brighter until it shone like a small radiant lamp.
"Innate Spirit Power… Level Seven?! Such exceptional talent!"
Su Yuntao sucked in a sharp breath, clearly stunned.
"With this level of talent—and such a Martial Soul—could you be a descendant of that Spirit Saint from years ago? No… that Spirit Saint didn't possess an Earth Dragon Martial Soul…"
He paused briefly before shaking his head, his excitement undiminished.
"Regardless, with your aptitude, your chances of reaching Spirit Emperor—or even Spirit Saint—in the future are extremely high! Who knows? Holy Soul Village might produce another Spirit Saint someday!"
Turning to Old Jack, he gave Chen Ming's shoulder a firm pat before offering his congratulations.
"Village Chief, congratulations! Your village has produced a truly outstanding seedling!"
But before either Old Jack or Chen Ming could respond, a voice suddenly cut in.
"Innate Level Seven… is that considered high?"
Tang San stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Chen Ming's imposing, armor-like form. There was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes—along with something else… envy.
"You don't even know about innate Spirit Power?" Su Yuntao looked at him in surprise. "Didn't your parents ever tell you?"
"I don't have a mother."
A trace of displeasure flashed through Tang San's eyes. Though Su Yuntao's question had been casual and without ill intent, it still left him faintly irritated.
"Well, your father should have—"
Before Su Yuntao could continue, Chen Ming tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"Spirit Master, Tang San's father is known in the village for being lazy and irresponsible. He's had to take care of his father since he was very young, so it's understandable that he doesn't know."
Then Chen Ming turned toward Tang San and explained calmly,
"Innate Spirit Power represents a person's natural talent. The higher the level, the greater the potential. The minimum is Level One, while the maximum is Level Ten—what's known as full innate Spirit Power, the highest possible talent. My Level Seven is already comparable to that legendary Spirit Saint from our village's past."
"Level Seven… Spirit Saint…"
Tang San murmured softly, a trace of longing surfacing in his eyes. To him, a figure like a Spirit Saint—someone said to possess the power to overturn rivers and seas—was nothing short of a legend.
"If only I could have Level Seven innate Spirit Power too…"
"Alright, Xiao San, back in line."
Old Jack pressed a hand on Tang San's shoulder and guided him back to the end of the queue, then quickly pulled Chen Ming aside, his expression eager and restless.
After his Martial Soul awakened, Chen Ming could faintly sense a subtle connection between himself and the earth beneath his feet. If he hadn't willingly followed Old Jack, the old man might not have been able to move him at all—even with force.
Meanwhile, the awakening ceremony continued.
One after another, the children stepped forward, most awakening ordinary farming tools or the common Blue Silver Grass. Finally, it was Tang San's turn—the last in line.
Just as it had been described before, under the glow of the awakening formation, a strand of Blue Silver Grass appeared in Tang San's hand.
This time, however, it wasn't just Su Yuntao who showed a look of disappointment—Tang San himself stared at the grass, so intimately connected to his own bloodline, with undisguised disdain.
After all, comparison was the thief of satisfaction.
Among the various farm tool Martial Souls awakened by the other children, Blue Silver Grass didn't seem particularly out of place. But standing nearby was Chen Ming, still in his Martial Soul–possessed form, clad in the fierce and imposing armor of the Armored Earth Dragon. The contrast between the two was so stark that it needed no explanation.
A mighty dragon… versus a weed that grew by the roadside.
There was simply no comparison.
Just as Su Yuntao was about to pack up his things, Tang San—unwilling to accept this outcome—finally spoke up, asking for the crystal ball to test his innate Spirit Power.
"Blue Silver Grass… it's nothing more than a useless Martial Soul you can find anywhere," Su Yuntao said bluntly, though he still handed over the crystal ball. "I've never heard of anyone with that Martial Soul possessing innate Spirit Power."
And yet, the moment the light flared—
both Su Yuntao and Old Jack were stunned.
Only Chen Ming, who already knew how things would unfold, remained unsurprised.
"How strange…" Su Yuntao muttered, frowning. "A powerful Martial Soul like the Armored Earth Dragon doesn't have full innate Spirit Power, yet Blue Silver Grass does? That's completely backwards…"
He shook his head, quickly regaining his composure.
"But Blue Silver Grass is still just Blue Silver Grass. Even with full innate Spirit Power, it's far inferior to a proper Martial Soul—let alone one with true dragon blood like an earth dragon variant."
With that, he turned away from Tang San, clearly losing interest, and began pulling Chen Ming aside to speak further.
Watching this, Tang San's fists clenched tightly, his gaze toward Chen Ming and Su Yuntao growing colder, laced with unmistakable resentment.
Why?
Why was it that he, with full innate Spirit Power—the highest possible talent—received less attention than someone with only Level Seven?
Could it really be that a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was so utterly looked down upon?
By all logic, his talent should have been superior. And yet, Su Yuntao had practically ignored him.
This was simply…
Hmph.
Fine.
Just wait.
When he reestablished the techniques and hidden weapons of the Tang Sect in this world, these people would regret the way they treated him today.
At this point, Tang San firmly believed that the techniques recorded in the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record were unrivaled under heaven. As long as he grew stronger, he could rely on the methods of the Tang Sect to carve out his own place in this world. Compared to that, his Martial Soul didn't matter as much.
But being overlooked—despite clearly having greater innate talent—left a bitter taste in his mouth.
After all, in his previous life, it was precisely because he had only been an outer sect disciple that he had been forced to resort to theft at the age of eight just to obtain the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Had he been an inner disciple, he would never have needed to take such measures.
This situation stirred up that same old frustration.
Tang San conveniently ignored the fact that his so-called "innate Spirit Power" was, in truth, the inner strength cultivated through the Mysterious Heaven Skill. He also ignored the reality that, had the Tang Sect not taken him in as an orphan, he might have died in infancy.
Without waiting for Old Jack to say anything, Tang San let out a low huff and stormed out the door, leaving everyone else behind.
Old Jack frowned slightly at the sight, a trace of displeasure flashing across his face—but it quickly faded.
A useless Martial Soul was still useless, even with full innate Spirit Power. If the boy was upset, then so be it. Tang San had always been a sensible child, calling him "Grandpa" with such warmth and familiarity, and Old Jack had often helped him in return. Surely, he wasn't the narrow-minded type—just someone who struggled to control his emotions.
Give it some time, and he would likely come to terms with it.