Chapter 3: Four Years
Quan Yi's first task was to learn how to swim.
In both his previous life and this one, he had never swum before. For the first few weeks, he spent most of his time soaking in the water, gradually improving his sense of buoyancy.
Eventually, Quan Yi managed to float. Once he could float, he began moving his limbs to control his movement in the water.
Staying in the water for long periods consumed more stamina than expected, but it was very gentle on his joints and bones. This reassured Quan Yi that his choice was the right one.
And the soul beast meat brought him an even bigger surprise.
The cured soul beast meat, carefully roasted by his mother Su Ling'er, became a delicious dish that was rich in color, fragrance, and flavor. More importantly, whenever he ate a piece of soul beast meat, he could faintly feel a warm current flowing from his stomach.
As time went on, this warm current slowly spread from his stomach to every part of his body, greatly easing his fatigue and enabling him to train more effectively three times a day.
Everything was even more effective than he had expected. Once the results were confirmed, what Quan Yi needed to do was to push his body to its limits, then use soul beast meat to repair it. By constantly repeating this process, his body would grow stronger and stronger. But this would also be an extremely painful process.
After each training session, the main thing that kept him going was the soul beast meat. Su Ling'er, as expected of a fire-attribute soul master, had excellent control over heat. The meat she cooked was perfectly charred on the outside and tender on the inside—it melted in the mouth.
With extreme training, highly effective soul beast meat, and ample sleep, Quan Yi's body underwent an astonishing transformation.
His speed and endurance kept improving. To reach his limits faster, Quan Yi constantly changed his pace and breathing rhythm to increase the difficulty.
In this way, training, eating, and resting took up most of his time. Even in his remaining free time, Quan Yi stayed busy—he actively collected and studied knowledge about martial souls. As he learned more, he began to form a vague understanding of martial souls, soul beasts, and soul rings.
The more he understood, the more fascinated he became. He couldn't wait to see soul skills, fierce soul beasts, and the variety of martial souls up close. To do that, he had to become a soul master. This desire pushed him to train even harder.
And so, time passed. In the blink of an eye, four years had gone by.
Now six years old, Quan Yi could swim 1,500 meters in less than half an hour. His total swimming distance per day reached a staggering 10,000 meters.
And it wasn't a steady 10,000 meters—it was filled with accelerations and rhythm changes throughout.
In the swimming facility, after completing his morning session, Quan Yi lazily stretched out his arms, resting against the edge of the pool, quietly enjoying the peace after intense exercise.
His chest was rising and falling, now showing distinct muscular lines. Even more striking were his shoulders—broad and strong from years of swimming. Combined with a tight waist, his physique perfectly fit the description of a tiger's back and a wolf's waist.
The veins on his extended arms bulged clearly, and the muscles were well-defined and smooth. His body had been honed to perfection.
All of this was the result of four years of relentless training.
Today was the day Quan Yi had long dreamed of—his martial soul awakening day. Everything would be revealed today.
As usual, Su Ling'er approached with a stack of dry towels in her hands. She walked over to Quan Yi and handed him one.
"Xiao Yi, today is the clan's martial soul awakening day. You don't have to swim today."
Her eyes were full of pride. Though Quan Yi's sweat had flowed away with the stream into the sea, Su Ling'er would never forget what he had endured over these four years. If secrecy hadn't been necessary, she would have already boasted about her exceptional son to others.
Today was the day of truth. Strangely enough, she didn't feel anxious at all. What she felt was a quiet anticipation. She couldn't wait to see her son create a miracle.
"Mother, I've gotten used to it. If I don't swim, it actually feels kind of unsettling."
Even though today was the big day, Quan Yi didn't seem nervous or shaken at all. He calmly chatted with his mother.
These four years had trained not only his body but also his spirit.
It was a journey of mental cultivation.
Innate soul power is something no one can sense beforehand. Training without any feedback is like running in the dark. You don't know where you're heading, but you must keep running with unwavering faith.
There were moments when he wanted to give up. But Quan Yi had cut through all confusion with pure willpower.
By the time of the awakening, Quan Yi had done everything he could. Now, it was up to the results.
"Mother, I'm hungry. I feel like I could eat two whole plates of soul beast meat today."
Su Ling'er smiled at his words.
"Come on, I've already made breakfast. I used all the remaining metal-attribute and fire-attribute soul beast meat and stewed it together. Eat as much as you want."
In the dining hall, his mother brought out a basin-sized plate piled high with meat. The aroma was mouthwatering, and Quan Yi's appetite surged as he eagerly dug in.
After enjoying the hearty breakfast, Quan Yi felt an overwhelming sense of fulfillment and happiness.
Just then, Quan Yue entered from outside.
"Xiao Yi, the carriage is ready. We can leave whenever you are."
"Father, I'm ready. Let's go."
Quan Yue looked at his son. He had originally wanted to say a few encouraging words, but upon seeing the calm expression on Quan Yi's face, he realized his son didn't need reassurance.
"This kid… able to stay so calm even now—he really is my son," Quan Yue thought to himself.
Pride filled his heart. He knew how much effort Quan Yi had put in and believed that his son would definitely perform a miracle.
"All right, let's go. Let's go shock the world."
"Yes."
A quiet fire burned in Quan Yi's eyes.
Outside the Martial Soul Sub-Hall.
All the eligible children of the city had gathered here.
They were quietly waiting for the arrival of the Martial Soul Hall officials.
Their parents anxiously watched from the side, hoping their children would awaken powerful martial souls and become soul masters.
Amid the group of children was a clear empty space. A tall figure stood alone in the middle of it.
Quan Yi had inherited his parents' height. At just six years old, he was already as tall as a ten-year-old. His years of training had given him a wide, solid frame, and the thin layer of cloth on his body could not hide the full and well-defined muscles underneath. The strong, composed aura he gave off made the surrounding children unconsciously step away from him.
The scorching sun blazed overhead.
Finally, the people from the Martial Soul Hall opened the doors, and the long-waiting children were allowed to enter in an orderly fashion.
Soon, the martial soul awakening ceremony officially began.
(End of Chapter)