Night slowly settled in a quiet manner and bright stars began to appear.
On the hillside, a child about six years old is standing in a strange position. The child’s feet are stretched open, toes touching the ground with the heels lifted, hands raised high above the head, his head tilted up, and faint spiritual energy constantly circled within his small body.
Moonlight shone down, enveloping the child's body.
The boy continued his practice in this bizarre position, inhaling spiritual energy into his body, letting it flow along the meridians.
Night slowly passed.
As the moonlight faded, replaced by the first rays of sunshine, the child slowly lowered his palms. His eyes opened to reveal deep, dark pupils that seemed to have a sharp golden glint deep within them.
Huang Xiaolong breathed out a mouthful of foul air, his eyes staring at the rising sun. From the day he was born till the present day, it had been seven years since he came to this world. He started practicing the Body Metamorphose Scripture since he was three and now four years later, he had managed to reach the Third Stage: Palm Propping the Sky Gate.
In his previous life, his ancestors trained under the banner of the Shaolin Temple and the Body Metamorphose Scripture was an inheritance from his ancestors. Until now, Huang Xiaolong has been unable to understand the reason why, someone like him who was hailed as a prodigy of martial arts in his time, was brought to this world.
And the matter that depressed Huang Xiaolong the most was that he awoke in the body of a newborn baby.
Huang Xiaolong looked at his small thin arms and smiled sourly. He had been seventeen, and after fourteen years of hard work, he had managed to train in the Body Metamorphose Scripture up till the Ninth stage, but never could he have imagined that he would be starting all over again.
At this moment, Huang Xiaolong heard the soft rustle of footsteps, coming from the direction of the hillside. Huang Xiaolong knew who it was without having to look over his shoulder and sure enough, soon a tender, childlike voice cried out: "Big Brother, I know that you are here to see the sunrise. Dad and Mom are looking for you.”
Huang Xiaolong turned over his shoulder and saw a lovely little five-year-old girl, big round eyes and her hair braided into two long braids coming up the small hill. This little girl was Huang Xiaolong’s sister, Huang Min.
Other than Huang Min, Huang Xiaolong had another brother, three years younger than him named Huang Xiaohai.
"Dad and Mom are looking for me?" Huang Xiaolong asked. "What is the matter?"
"I don’t know." Huang Min’s voice was laced with innocence, "Brother, let’s go back. If we are late, then Dad and Mom will spank your backside!”
When Huang Xiaolong heard this, he smiled and squeezed Huang Min’s cute little cheeks before saying, "Let’s go then,"
Huang Min rubbed the spot where Huang Xiaolong pinched her little face, pouted then said sulkily: "Brother, you are truly hateful. I have told you, no pinching of my cheeks!”
However, just as Huang Min’s finished speaking, her cheeks were once again pinched by Huang Xiaolong, who laughed heartily as he made his escape. Huang Min chased after him screaming, trying to catch up.
"Brother, don’t run!"
The siblings frolicked all the way down the hill until they got back to the Huang Clan Manor situated at the foothills.
Although he was already seventeen in his previous life, being with his sister Huang Min brought out the child in him.
Soon, the siblings got to the Huang Clan Manor.
Back in the manor, Huang Xiaolong headed straight to the Eastern Courtyard’s main hall. When he arrived at the main hall, there was a scholarly looking middle-aged man in his mid-thirties dressed in a white robe sitting on the head seat, and next to him was a pretty woman. This married couple was Huang Xiaolong’s parents in this life, his father Huang Peng, and his mother, Su Yan.
"Dad, Mom, you were looking for me?" Huang Xiaolong asked as he walked into the hall.
Huang Peng raised his sharp, sword-like brows: "Where did you run off to so early in the morning?"
"It’s fine. Don’t frighten the child." Su Yan interjected with a smile: "Long’er, in a few days you will be seven years old. It’s about time to awaken the Martial spirit in your body. Your father and I are planning to bring you over to the Martial Hall for the awakening ceremony.”
Martial spirit awakening? Huang Xiaolong blanked for a moment.
In this world, humans have an existence termed as martial spirits in their body. Human warriors’ strength was closely related to the talents of these martial spirits, and they were graded into low, average, and high; within each grade, they are rated one to ten. Martial spirits graded ten and above were considered as superb talent martial spirits, a heaven-defying existence. The higher the talent the better the body absorbs the world’s spiritual energy and become a strong Warrior.
Nevertheless, there were also people born without martial spirits or crippled martial spirits were unable to train. In Martial Spirit World, these people were labeled as wastes!
Martial spirits….. A light flashed across Huang Xiaolong’s eyes for he too wanted to know if he possessed any martial spirit in his body and if he does what martial spirit would it be?
Thus, Huang Xiaolong was led by Su Yan and Huang Peng went to the Martial Hall of the Huang Clan Manor. When they arrived at the outer area of the scared hall, it was already packed with people waiting with their children wanting to awaken martial spirits; other than Huang Xiaolong, there were also other brothers of the Huang Clan Manor who were present.
...
An imposing middle-aged man stood in the center of the Martial Hall; he had a square face and thick, dense eyebrows, and an oppressive aura came from him. This man was Huang Peng’s older brother, Huang Ming. Also Huang Xiaolong’s Uncle; and next to Huang Ming stood a boy the same age as Huang Xiaolong; Uncle Huang Ming’s second son, Huang Wei, also here for the martial spirit awakening ceremony.
Huang Peng and Su Yan led Huang Xiaolong to the hall center, greeting Huang Ming, Huang Peng called out: "Big Brother.”
Huang Xiaolong followed, calling: “Uncle.”
When Huang Ming saw it was Huang Peng and Su Yan, his expressionless deadpan face loosened slightly, he nodded lightly and said: "You’re here."
In Huang Xiaolong’s memory, he had never seen this uncle of his laugh. Huang Ming was in charge of the Huang Clan Manor’s Punishment and Disciplinary hall; therefore, he was a very strict person.
Huang Ming did not utter another word after that, and Huang Peng knowing his brother's temperament, took no offense.
Not long after Huang Xiaolong arrived, a hearty laughter resounded from outside the hall. As Huang Xiaolong and the others turned to look, a healthy looking old man surrounded by a group of people entered the hall. This old man was none other Huang Xiaolong’s grandfather, Huang Qide, the Huang Clan Manor’s lord for the past forty years, the very person who established the Huang Clan.
"Old Manor Lord!"
Upon Huang Qide’s arrival, residents of Huang Clan Manor present in the hall quickly rushed over to pay their respects.
Huang Ming, Huang Peng, and Su Yan also moved forward quickly: "Dad!”
Huang Xiaolong and Huang Wei both came forward: "Grandpa.”
Huang Qide smiled, nodded his head at Huang Ming’s group before turning to face the rest of Huang Clan Manor’s people-- he smiled and said: "Do not stand on ceremony. Today, I came over just to have a look.” Usually, the Old Manor Lord would not make an appearance during the martial spirits awakening ceremony at the Martial Hall, however, this year was special because of Huang Wei and Huang Xiaolong. This, Old Manor Lord exited his closed-door retreat earlier than planned.
Huang Qide walked to the front of the main hall, his eyes swept over the crowd in the hall before finally stopping on an old man in a gray robe standing next to him, laughing amiably Huang Qide said: “Since everyone is already here, let’s begin.”
"Yes, Manor Lord." The old man in gray-robe answered respectfully, and then he walked to the center of the hall.
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The old man in a gray robe was Huang Clan Manor’s Chief Steward Chen Ying; Huang Xiaolong heard his father said Chen Ying had been a follower of Grandfather Huang Qide for a long time-- even before Huang Qide established the Huang Clan Manor, he was already by grandfather’s side.
Chen Ying stood at the center of the hall, a light glowed in his hands, spreading an overwhelming force around the hall.
Huang Xiaolong eyes flashed; is this power of a Ninth Order Warrior’s battle qi? So strong! Even with the strength of his previous life, having trained in the Body Metamorphose Scripture till the ninth stage, he still would not be Chen Ying’s opponent.
With Chen Ying’s channeling his battle qi, suddenly, in the center of the hall, a bright hexagonal pattern shone, forming a beam of light.
"Huang Wei, you first." Huang Qide looked to Huang Wei.
"Yes, Grandfather." Huang Wei answered and stepped forward into the hexagonal pattern light beam. As the beam of light fell on Huang Wei, the focus of everyone in the hall was on Huang Wei who was now standing within the beam of light. Huang Ming’s face which had always been expressionless showed a faint trace of tension as he watched his son.
The beam of light wrapped around Huang Wei for a brief moment before a black light took over, and enveloped around Huang Wei. Finally, the black shadow of a tiger gradually emerged from behind Huang Wei. It was a black tiger with three eyes. As the shape of the black tiger condensed and become more real, a ferocious tiger’s roar echoed in the main hall.
Everyone was stunned.
Huang Qide stared at the faint black shadow behind his grandson Huang Wei; his eyes shone brightly as he let out a big laugh, tremendously pleased.
"This is a grade ten martial spirit, the Three-Eyed Black Tiger!" The Chief Steward Chen Ying cried out in a trembling voice.
A Three-Eyed Black Tiger martial spirit was considered one of the top among the high-grade martial spirits; it was infinitely the closest to being a superb talent martial spirit.
Huang Wei’s martial spirits turned out to be a grade ten martial spirits, the Three-Eyed Black Tiger!
"A grade ten martial spirit, it turned out to be a grade ten martial spirit!"
A grade ten martial spirit was very uncommon. Not only in Canglan County, but the entire kingdom.
Huang Ming looked at the Three-Eyed Black Tiger hovering behind his son. Both of his fists were clenched tightly, barely able to contain the excitement he felt at that moment. Even so, his body trembled slightly.
Huang Qide’s laughter continued to reverberate in the hall for some time. He did not expect his impromptu visit to the Martial Hall would give him such a wonderful surprise!
"Good, good, good!" Huang Qide repeated the word ‘good’ three times with a wide smile. Inhaling deeply, he gathered himself as he tried to suppress the excitement in his heart.
His eyes were full of joy as he looked lovingly at this grandson who possessed a grade ten martial spirit. He believed with the support and cultivation resources provided by the Huang Clan Manor, Huang Wei's achievements would surely surpass him, allowing his grandson to reach a realm that he spent his entire life dreaming of.
At this moment, Huang Peng walked towards Huang Ming to offer his congratulations: "Congratulations Big Brother.”
Huang Ming looked at Huang Peng’s sincere face, then he patted Huang Peng’s shoulders and said: "Thank you, Second Brother. Let’s wait awhile, Xiaolong has yet to awaken his martial spirit, there is a chance that he too might possess a grade ten martial spirit.” However, those who heard this understood that they were only words of comfort. After all, grade ten martial spirits weren’t white cabbages.
In the big hall, Huang Clan Manor Elders and some stewards were busy congratulating Huang Ming.
"Wei’er, come here." At this time, Huang Qide, who was standing in the center of the hall, laughed as he waved at Huang Wei.
“Yes, Grandfather." Huang Wei replied. Before arriving at Huang Qide’s side, he passed in front of Huang Xiaolong, and his eyes inadvertently swept past Huang Xiaolong, carrying obvious complacency and arrogance. This little exchange went unnoticed by others, however it did not escape Huang Xiaolong’s perception.
Grade ten martial spirit, Huang Xiaolong calmly looked back at him.
Although Huang Wei was his cousin, the two of them weren’t close. Two years ago, Huang Wei and several other children of the Elders were bullying his sister Huang Min and coincidentally, Huang Xiaolong happened upon the scene. Thus the consequence needs no explanation. Huang Wei and the several Elders’ children were beaten up miserably. Ever since then, Huang Wei has held a grudge.
Huang Wei walked over and stood in front of his grandfather. Huang Qide’s hand reached out to rub Huang Wei’s head, smiling and filled with love. Laughing, he turned to Huang Ming and said, “Huang Ming, you did a good job of giving birth to an excellent grandson!”
On the other end, Huang Ming felt a little embarrassed while listening to his father’s praise, ”Dad, don’t you think we should first continue with the awakening ceremony?”
Huang Qide nodded in agreement, this was not the proper time to discuss this matter. Smiling amicably, he said: “Right, let’s continue with the awakening ceremony.”
After Huang Wei, it was Huang Xiaolong’s turn. When Huang Qide spoke, the elders, stewards and disciples could not help but turn to look at Huang Xiaolong. Huang Wei as one of Huang Qide’s grandsons has a grade ten martial spirit. What about Huang Xiaolong?
With the assembled clan members watching, Huang Xiaolong calmly stepped into the hexagon-patterned light beam.
Huang Peng and Su Yan could not help but hold each other’s hand nervously, even their heartbeats quickened while watching their son stepping into the hexagonal light beam.
Huang Xiaolong did not stay inside the light beam filled area for very long. Just like Huang Wei, a black light also appeared around Huang Xiaolong’s body. Seeing this scene, the crowd stared blankly, and subsequently a blue light suddenly appeared next to the black light. Two different lights flashed intermittently, giving off a devilish sensation.
Then, a black shadow and a blue shadow appeared behind Huang Xiaolong’s head. Everyone saw a serpent-like creature that had two heads − one with a black head, the other a blue head.
The surrounding people exchanged glances with each other.
A double-headed serpent martial spirit?!
Within their knowledge of beast type martial spirits, a double-headed serpent was either red or yellow in color, but this double-headed serpent appeared in black and blue.
Huang Qide looked at the martial spirit behind Huang Xiaolong, his puzzled eyes were tinted with a trace of disappointment. In his opinion, this grandson’s martial spirit was nothing but a variation of the double-headed serpent martial spirit. Some Huang Clan Manor disciples also possess variation types of martial spirits. Therefore, the emergence of a variation martial spirit was not uncommon. Even though a grade seven double-headed serpent was considered a high-grade martial spirit, compared to Huang Wei’s Three-Eyed Black Tiger, the difference was like heaven and earth.
Huang Peng and Su Yan looked at the martial spirit hovering behind their son, Huang Peng’s expression differed not from Huang Qide. Although compared to the majority of the clan people a grade seven martial spirit’s talent was considered high, Huang Peng was still a little disappointed with the outcome. Which parent doesn’t wish the best for their children?
"Old Manor Lord, what do you think?" Chief Steward Chen Ying couldn’t help but refer to Huang Qide.
Huang Qide declared: "A variation of the double-headed serpent, grade seven martial spirit."
All Elders and stewards present in the temple hall nodded their heads, apparently agreeing with the Old Manor Lord’s judgement.
Grade seven martial spirit, a variation of the double-headed serpent? Huang Xiaolong stepped out from the hexagonal patterned light beam, his face calm. Only he knew his martial spirit wasn’t as simple as a variation of the double-headed serpent.
Seeing Huang Xiaolong’s martial spirit was only a grade seven variant double-headed serpent, Huang Wei’s mouth curved into a mocking sneer, his eyes provoking as directed them at Huang Xiaolong.
Huang Xiaolong naturally noticed Huang Wei’s provoking eyes, but he didn’t mind in the least, for he was too lazy to play a staring game with a little kid.
The child after Huang Xiaolong was Elder Zhou Guang’s son, Zhou Xuedong. Zhou Xuedong was one of the Huang Clan Manor children Huang Xiaolong beat up for bullying Huang Min.
Very quickly, Zhou Xuedong’s martial spirit was revealed to be a grade six martial spirit − the Blood-Eyes Wolf. One by one, more than a dozen of the Huang Clan Manor’s children stepped into the light beam and had their martial spirits awakened. Most of them possessed grade four martial spirits, some five, and even a few grade six martial spirits. There were a number of waste martial spirits and low-level ones as well.
In this round of the martial spirit awakening ceremony, though Huang Xiaolong’s martial spirit came in second, there was not much of a difference. He and the rest of the Huang Clan Manor children were just a sideshow, overshadowed by Huang Wei’s grade ten martial spirit.
After the awakening ceremony ended, Huang Qide smiled and said to Huang Ming, Huang Peng, and the other present elders: "I will personally be advising Huang Wei’s practice from now on.”
Personally advise? Everyone was astonished.
"Yes, Dad!" Huang Ming’s face bloomed, agreeing immediately.
Looking at his own son, Huang Peng sighed regretfully in his heart after hearing his father’s plan to oversee Huang Wei's cultivation personally.
After a while, the crowd dispersed and the Martial Hall was closed.
Returning to the Eastern Courtyard, Su Yan’s heart was brimming with dissatisfaction, "How could Dad show such favoritism? He wants to oversee Huang Wei's practice personally. What about our Xiaolong? Is Xiaolong not his grandson?”
Huang Peng frowned and waved his hand, his voice heavy as he said: “Don’t mention this anymore. No one is allowed to bring this matter up in the future.” However in his heart he too felt aggrieved, but with Huang Wei’s grade ten martial spirit it was granted that his father would want to do so.
"Xiaolong, your talent is also good. Put more effort into your practice, achieving Eighth Order Warrior will not be difficult for you.” Huang Peng turned towards Huang Xiaolong and attempted to comfort him.
"I understand, Dad." Huang Xiaolong opened his mouth wanting to tell Huang Peng and Su Yan that his martial spirit shouldn’t be grade seven. In the end, he could only reply as such and not say anything more.
Before Huang Xiaolong left, Huang Peng gave him a cultivation technique for training battle qi and explained the important points Huang Xiaolong should focus on during practice. Huang Xiaolong listened attentively and memorized them to heart.
After leaving the Eastern Courtyard’s main hall, Huang Xiaolong returned to his own small courtyard and began practicing his battle qi according to the cultivation technique his father gave him. He sat down on the bed and started absorbing the world’s spiritual energy according to the first order instruction.
As Huang Xiaolong utilized the cultivation technique, his martial spirit emerged from his body; the variant double-headed serpent manifested behind Huang Xiaolong. The so-called grade seven double-headed serpent suddenly stretched its jaw wide and devoured the surrounding spiritual energy at horrific speed, attracting the spiritual energy around Huang Xiaolong.
The spiritual energy devoured by the double-headed serpent flowed into Huang Xiaolong’s body, traveling along the meridians and gradually transformed into battle qi.
Night approached slowly. Moonlight came shining in from the small courtyard window.
A short while later, Huang Xiaolong opened his eyes. His face wore an extremely odd expression. Earlier, he followed the instructions from the cultivation technique his father gave him, the Xuan Qin cultivation technique’s first layer, to condense his battle qi by running spiritual energy along the meridians. He managed to direct the flow of spiritual energy for one complete turn without obstacles or difficulties.
Within these few hours, not only did he successfully convert spiritual energy into battle qi, he broke through to First Order Warrior!
Huang Xiaolong’s heart was filled with a sense of disbelief. If he remembered correctly, his father mentioned that his grandfather spent nearly six months before successfully breaking through to First Order Warrior!
His grandfather’s martial spirit was one of the top grade eight martial spirits, the Six-winged Golden Ape!