Awakening of the Ancient Soul

Chapter 1: Martial Arts Prowess

Liuzhou City is located at the foot of the Hundred Barbarians Mountains of Miaojiang, nestled between mountains and rivers, with picturesque scenery. The people here, mostly descendants of the ancient Jiuli tribe, are strong, brave, and rugged. Their youth are robust, with broad shoulders and sturdy frames, well-versed in hunting. They can easily carry wild boars weighing over a hundred pounds and still walk briskly.

Unlike the customs of the Central Plains, the people here are untamed, worshiping the Ten Earth Demon Lords, keeping altars for demonic gods, and practicing spirit conjuring and witchcraft. As a result, the region of the Hundred Barbarians Mountains is a gathering place for the sorcerers of the dark arts.

In the early morning, deep within the woods outside Liuzhou City, a young boy dressed in blue stood quietly on a grassy field. His stance was steady, his eyes half-closed, breathing slowly and rhythmically.

If any martial arts master were to witness this, they would be astonished, for the boy's breathing was long and deep, far beyond what an ordinary person could achieve.

The boy's internal organs had been tempered to the point where they were as strong as steel, and with each breath, the gusts he exhaled bent the grass in front of him. Even seasoned martial arts practitioners, who had spent decades refining their skills, would struggle to accomplish such a feat.

The boy's name was Ye Xu, courtesy name Shaobao. He was only fourteen years old, his face still slightly youthful, yet handsome. He was part of the branch family of the Ye clan in Liuzhou, ranking seventh among his generation.

The Ye family was a renowned clan in Liuzhou, a powerful and influential sorcerer family. The head of the clan, Ye Sidao, was one of the most famous dark sorcerers of Miaojiang. He practiced the Great Strength Sorcery of the Fierce Toad, mastering the art of witchcraft, making him the most formidable sorcerer in Liuzhou.

The Ye estate spanned over a thousand acres, lavish and grand, with countless courtyards and thousands of servants. The place was so vast that even long-time servants would sometimes get lost.

The Ye family, being so wealthy, had their entire household, including their servants, practice martial arts. Among them were many martial arts experts, and even some servants had reached the realm of innate martial arts.

Ye Xu's parents had passed away when he was young, and by the time he was seven, he had begun practicing the Cangming Body Tempering Technique. In half an hour, he had developed his inner energy, his progress rapid and extraordinary. Within two years, he had reached the fourth level of the Cangming Body Tempering Technique, his advancement astonishing. He was widely recognized as a prodigy within the Ye family, even earning the favor of the family head, Ye Sidao, who invested in his training.

However, from that moment on, Ye Xu was met with constant peril. There was even a time when he discovered a poisonous substance, the Breaking Qi Powder, in his tea. If not for his mastery of the sixth level of the Cangming Body Tempering Technique, which granted him immunity to most poisons, he would have lost all his martial prowess and become a cripple.

In powerful families, competition was fierce. Even among the descendants of prestigious clans, some had lower status than favored servants. However, those who managed to elevate themselves to the rank of sorcerers would rise to greatness, gaining favor and influence, even among the once-dominant servants.

Ye Xu understood this well and thus feigned losing all his martial power after being poisoned. Though he was neglected by many, his life was spared.

Now, he had secretly cultivated to the ninth level of the Cangming Body Tempering Technique. His martial prowess was unmatched among the Ye family descendants, yet even so, he concealed his true strength.