Douluo Dalu: From Shinobi to Spirit Master

There weren't many outstanding awakenings after Su Chen's, but there were still some worth noting. Among them was Xie Yue, Hu Liena's brother, who had an innate soul power of level 9.5.

Normally, such a level of talent would shock everyone. Yet, after Hu Liena's incredible display and Su Chen's overwhelming dominance, even a genius like Xie Yue failed to stir much excitement.

The others, with levels ranging from 7 to 8, fared even worse. Discussions about them barely surfaced, leaving them overshadowed.

One person, however, couldn't accept this outcome. A certain red-haired boy stood amidst the crowd, clenching his fists. His fiery eyes never left Su Chen, and frustration brewed within him. The sight of Hu Liena, her gaze fixed intently on Su Chen, only deepened his anger.

When Su Chen finally emerged from the venue, the crowd erupted into whispers. Everyone was talking about him, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena. Speculation about Su Chen's martial soul spread like wildfire, with countless eyes focused on him.

But Su Chen ignored the crowd. His expression was calm, his steps steady, as if none of this had anything to do with him. He scanned the crowd briefly, then his brows furrowed.

"A'Chen is my son, Su Xiao. How could I not know him?"

A middle-aged man with white hair stood not far away, his tone firm as he glared at the doubters around him.

"Don't make me laugh! A Soul King like you? No way you fathered a genius like that," someone retorted with disdain. "You must be dreaming. He's obviously the son of someone important in the Elder Hall."

"Dad," came a clear, calm voice.

The crowd parted, and the white-haired boy appeared. His gaze swept over the mocking onlookers before landing on the middle-aged man. Ignoring the shocked faces around him, Su Chen bowed slightly, his expression softening as he looked at the man.

At first, Su Chen had been distant toward this "father." As an orphan in his previous lives, he had never experienced this kind of parental care. Yet, Su Xiao's actions had moved him.

This man had endured countless hardships to bring him here, using promises and the last of his connections just to ensure Su Chen had the best opportunity to awaken his martial soul. Su Xiao had faced mockery and scorn without complaint, all for his son.

For Su Chen, who was used to calculating benefits and risks, this kind of selflessness seemed foolish. But seeing how far Su Xiao was willing to go for him, Su Chen's heart couldn't remain unmoved.

Su Xiao nodded, his excitement barely contained. Exhaustion was evident in his face, but he stood tall, pride radiating from his every movement. They had traveled far from their small city to reach Spirit Hall, and now, Su Xiao's efforts had been rewarded. His son had innate full soul power—the first in generations of the Su family!

As Su Xiao's emotions surged, tears welled in his eyes, but he quickly blinked them away. Crying now would only embarrass his son, and his son was destined to become a Titled Douluo one day.

Su Chen, noticing his father's exhaustion, decided not to waste time arguing with the mockers. Realizing their mistake, the onlookers shrank back in shame, quickly retreating.

Just as things seemed to calm down, a sharp voice broke the silence.

"Su Chen, stop right there!"

The red-haired boy stepped forward, his fiery aura flaring. He clenched his fists and glared at Su Chen with fierce determination.

"Do you dare to fight me?"

The sudden challenge attracted attention. The crowd, which had started to disperse, turned back to watch, curious about what would happen next.

Not far away, a blonde girl rushed over. Her bright eyes lit up as she spotted Su Chen. However, when she saw the red-haired boy blocking his path, her expression darkened. "Yan!" she called out angrily.

Turning back to Su Chen, she said apologetically, "Su Chen, I'm sorry. He's... just not himself today."

Su Chen nodded slightly and continued walking without a word.

He understood Yan's intentions. The conflict between Yan and Hu Liena in the original storyline was clear, and Su Chen wasn't interested in getting involved in their petty disputes.

"You coward! Are you afraid?" Yan taunted, his voice tinged with frustration and jealousy.

But just as he was about to continue, his words were cut short.

A strange, dagger-like object appeared, resting against Yan's neck. Its cold metal edge pressed lightly against his skin, leaving a sharp sting.

Yan froze. His fists loosened, and his body trembled. The indifferent gaze in Su Chen's dark eyes pierced through him, silencing any further protest.

This guy... he's definitely killed before. Not just once, but many times...

Yan's body trembled as the realization hit him. He had seen such eyes before, but only in the Spirit Hall soul masters who returned from the blood-soaked battlefields.

Yet even those veterans, scarred by war, carried traces of humanity in their gazes—emotions that tethered them to the mortal world.

But the white-haired boy standing before him? His eyes were devoid of all that. They were calm, unshaken, and empty, like a frozen abyss.

"Move."

The word was spoken without emotion, but it struck Yan like a thunderclap. Instinctively, he stepped aside. The cold blade at his neck vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Su Chen walked away without sparing him a glance.

Yan staggered backward, his hand clutching his neck as he gasped for air. His eyes, wide with fear, remained fixed on Su Chen's retreating figure.

"That guy..."

The entire scene had unfolded so fast that no one could react in time. By the time the others processed what had happened, Su Chen and his father had already disappeared into the distance.

Silence hung over the crowd.

It wasn't just that Su Chen had drawn a weapon without hesitation—it was that no one had seen when or how he'd done it.

The boys and girls standing nearby exchanged nervous glances. Their throats felt dry, and they swallowed hard.

One thing became clear to all of them: Su Chen was someone they must never provoke.

Hu Liena, who had watched the entire confrontation, let out a slow breath. Her gaze lingered on Su Chen's retreating figure before she turned sharply toward Yan.

"Yan!" she snapped. Her tone carried anger and disappointment. "If you let your emotions affect others like this again, we won't be friends anymore!"

"No, I..." Yan's voice cracked as he tried to explain himself, but Hu Liena didn't give him the chance.

Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Yan standing there, his shoulders slumped and his expression one of anguish.

Unbeknownst to them, several pairs of eyes in the crowd had been watching intently. The events of the day were soon relayed to someone in a distant hall.

In the grand, empty hall of Spirit Hall, a lazy yet commanding voice echoed through the vast space.

"One with innate full soul power, two at level 9.5, and several more above level 7. This year's batch is truly exceptional."

The speaker was a woman of breathtaking beauty, her presence dominating the room. Below her, the awakening elders and a few others stood with utmost respect, heads bowed, not daring to meet her eyes.

"Congratulations, Your Holiness," one of the elders said with a reverent tone. "These children will undoubtedly become the backbone of Spirit Hall in the next decade. Su Chen, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and even Yan—all of them possess remarkable potential."

He paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Especially Su Chen. Not only does he possess innate full soul power, but his martial soul is unusual. It has the ability to slightly suppress the soul power of those near him. If trained well, his achievements in the future may..."

The elder's voice grew firmer, "...may even surpass the level of the elders in the Elder Palace!"

"Humph." A snort of disdain came from another elder. "His talent is undeniable, but his heart is too ruthless. He threatened someone's life over a simple quarrel. Brave and aggressive, yes—but such a character is likely to limit his future achievements."

The elder had always been partial to Yan and thus carried a bias against Su Chen.

"You're mistaken," a third elder countered. "The world of soul masters is one of survival of the fittest. It is not a child's game. Those who hesitate die early. I admire this boy's decisiveness."

"Well, I think the girl Hu Liena is even better, and Xie Yue is also quite impressive," another elder chimed in.

The group quickly descended into a debate, their voices growing louder as they argued over which child held the most promise.

"Enough."

A cold, commanding voice cut through the noise like a blade. Two simple words were all it took to silence the room.

The elders fell quiet instantly. The oppressive aura radiating from the woman on the stage left them breathless. Her strength was unmistakable, and even her subordinates couldn't help but feel awe.

Had her power grown yet again?

She's still so young...

"Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo." Her voice was calm but carried undeniable authority. "Take these little geniuses to the Star Dou Great Forest in a week. You may all leave now."

The elders bowed deeply in unison.

"As you command, Your Holiness."

Once the hall was empty, only the woman remained. Her jade-like fingers traced the surface of a portrait before her.

"Su Chen..."

Her delicate finger stopped at the painted white-haired figure, and a playful smile curved her lips.

"Interesting. Very interesting."