Chapter 3: The Golden Thigh
Inside the Awakening Hall, Li Yunhai quickly completed the martial soul awakenings for the remaining three children. As expected, they were all ordinary martial souls—one horned horse and two antelopes. None of them possessed soul power. Only Dugu Chen stood out.
"Alright, children," Li Yunhai said with a gentle smile, "your martial soul awakenings are complete. Don't feel discouraged if you lack soul power. You can still inherit your family's trade and live a good life."
After offering a few words of comfort, Li Yunhai retracted his martial soul in a flash of red light, packed his things, and prepared to leave.
The doors swung open. Waiting outside was the anxious village chief, Ma Jun, who quickly asked, "Master, how was it? Did any children awaken soul power this year?"
Li Yunhai smiled broadly. "Hahaha, Old Ma, you'd better get ready to buy me a drink! One of the children not only awakened soul power—but it's innate full soul power!"
Whoosh—!
"Innate full soul power!"
"Whose child is that? Their ancestors' graves must be emitting green smoke!"
The five words—innate full soul power—instantly caused an uproar among the villagers.
Ma Jun was stunned. "I-Is that true, Master? Who is it?"
The crowd surged forward, eager to hear the name.
"That child's name is Dugu Chen," Li Yunhai said, still looking amazed. "He possesses a top-tier mutated beast martial soul. According to him, it's called the Qilin. In all my years conducting awakenings, this is the first time I've seen someone with innate full soul power."
"Xiao Chen…" Ma Jun stared at the boy in shock. Heavens above! Our Majai Village's ancestral grave really is smoking green! I had only hoped the child would have soul power, enough to become a soul master. But to think… innate full soul power!
"Grandpa Ma, I can become a soul master now. I didn't let you down," Dugu Chen said quietly, a little embarrassed under everyone's gaze.
"Good! Good child!" Ma Jun beamed, eyes moist with excitement. "I've always known you'd be someone great one day."
"It's getting late, and I need to head to the next village," Li Yunhai said, checking the sun overhead. He handed over a stack of documents. "Here are the martial soul certificates for the children. I'll leave them with you, Village Chief Ma. Dugu Chen's talent is extraordinary—you must guide him well. Only by joining Spirit Hall can such talent truly shine."
"I understand. I'll see you off, Master."
"No need," Li Yunhai waved cheerfully. "This time, your Majai Village has struck gold."
As he walked off, he gave Dugu Chen one last approving glance. With the village chief's persuasion, a genius from a remote village like this won't turn down Spirit Hall…
---
That evening, a grand feast took place.
Every household pitched in to host a flowing banquet. For the first time, the village had produced a child with innate full soul power—cause for great celebration.
Everyone knew: as long as Dugu Chen matured properly, the village's future would be bright.
By nightfall, the banquet concluded.
A crescent moon hung in the sky, casting gentle silver light over the courtyard. A cool evening breeze swept away the heat of the day.
Dugu Chen sat quietly, reflecting on everything that had happened. His martial soul had awakened—innate full soul power, just as he'd hoped. And now, in the other room, lay a certain powerful figure...
"Boy, aren't you coming in?"
A calm, hoarse voice broke through his thoughts.
Startled, Dugu Chen quickly stood up, went to the door, and pushed it open.
"Senior, you're awake. Are your injuries better?" he asked, bringing over a bowl of water.
The green-haired elder gave him a measured look. "Where am I? Was it you who saved this old man?"
"Yes, Senior. This is Majai Village, on the border between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire. It was I who brought you back yesterday."
Hearing this, the elder's expression softened. "This old man is Dugu Bo. Thank you, young friend. If not for you, my bones would be rotting in the wild."
"So it really is Senior Dugu," Dugu Chen thought, breathing a sigh of relief. He'd been 99% certain of the man's identity—but now that it was confirmed, he could finally relax.
"Senior, I'm Dugu Chen. It was just a coincidence that I found you. Since you're awake, I'll fetch some food for you."
"Oh? Your surname is also Dugu? Seems we're fated," Dugu Bo chuckled. "I heard quite the commotion outside earlier. Did something happen?"
"Yes, today was our village's martial soul awakening day. The commotion was because someone awakened innate full soul power."
Dugu Bo's hand paused as he drank the porridge. "Innate full soul power?" he repeated in surprise.
Even as a Titled Douluo, he couldn't help but marvel—this was incredibly rare. In the past hundred years, only nineteen people across the continent had ever awakened innate full soul power.
"Then your village's future is assured. Oh, did you awaken your martial soul today as well? What is it? What level of innate power?" Dugu Bo asked.
Dugu Chen scratched his head sheepishly. "I'm the one who awakened innate full soul power…"
Pfft!
Dugu Bo nearly spat out his porridge.
"You?!"
He stared at Dugu Chen like he was looking at a freak of nature.
Just last year, he'd nearly died when the poison in his body flared up again. But by luck, he stumbled into a treasure trove, which not only suppressed the poison but helped him break through to Titled Douluo.
Recently, he'd returned from registering at Spirit Hall's Douluo Hall and had encountered his old rival, Yue Guan (Chrysanthemum Douluo), along the way. The two fought, and once again, he nearly lost his life. If not for this boy, he'd have died. And now, the boy turned out to have innate full soul power?
Could it be… that my luck has turned?
After a moment, Dugu Bo regained his composure. "Good child, your talent is stronger than mine back then. Show me your martial soul."
Dugu Chen stepped to the center of the room. "Senior, my martial soul is the Qilin, a mutated beast martial soul. Please give me your guidance."
"Qilin Possession!"
With a loud shout, red and yellow light burst from his body. Red dragon scales covered his arms, yellow scales covered his chest, and his body crackled with energy as his muscles expanded and tore at his clothes. Even the air around him thickened with pressure.
His short black hair grew to his waist in an instant, turning golden and bursting into flames.
His hands transformed into crimson dragon claws. With a mere twitch, the air around them trembled visibly.
His eyes became heterochromatic—one red, one yellow—emitting a deep, explosive aura.
At the same time, a ring of yellow light expanded out from under his feet, enveloping a fifty-meter radius.
Dugu Chen felt an immense surge of strength—as if he could crush mountains. He could even sense energy from the earth flowing steadily into his body.
"How about it, Senior?" he asked with a grin, seeing Dugu Bo's stunned expression.
Dugu Bo had already jumped to his feet, completely forgetting his injuries. "A top-tier mutated beast martial soul… fire and earth dual attributes… and an innate domain?! You really are a little monster!"
He narrowed his eyes, voice turning cold. "But little monster… you revealed everything so easily. Aren't you afraid I might kill you to silence you? After all, a dead genius is still just a corpse."
A chill ran down Dugu Chen's spine. The air seemed to solidify. His martial soul was forcibly dispelled, and he staggered back several steps, falling onto his backside.
Looking up, he met Dugu Bo's sharp gaze—his face pale with fear.
"Of course I'm afraid to die," he said honestly. "But I've done you no harm, Senior. I believe you won't kill me."
They stared at each other for a long moment. The tension grew unbearable—
And then, Dugu Bo suddenly burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Good! Since you trust this old man so much, how could I repay kindness with betrayal?" he chuckled. "Little monster, are you willing to take me as your master?"
Dugu Chen, soaked in sweat but inwardly ecstatic, thought: These old guys always love to test people. Fortunately, I've read the plot. I knew you wouldn't harm me. The golden thigh… is finally mine.
He straightened his clothes, knelt down respectfully, and said, "Disciple greets Master."
"Eh? What are you doing?" Dugu Bo exclaimed in surprise. "Why kneel? That's reserved for emperors and parents. A bow is enough."
"A teacher for a day is a father for life," Dugu Chen said solemnly. "You deserve my kneeling."
Dugu Bo's eyes grew misty. He stepped forward to help him up, voice trembling, "Good child… how fortunate I, Dugu Bo, am… to have such an excellent disciple…"
His gaze grew distant, clearly lost in thought—perhaps remembering someone from the past.
He's thinking about his son, Dugu Chen guessed. That poison… it brought him both success and tragedy. I'll have to tell him Tang San's cure as soon as possible. Just to be safe, he should verify it himself. And as for his granddaughter, Dugu Yan… I'll make sure to get along well with that little snake. Let's call it compensation for scaring me earlier.
From now on, you'll be Master… and I'll be grandson-in-law.
If Dugu Bo knew what Dugu Chen was really thinking… he might have slapped him straight into the wall.