"I am an orphan, with no blood kin, born of humble origins, no different from any of you. I came from the mud, and was born from dust."
"Because of a spark of starlight, I embarked on a path different from yours, obtaining an identity, status, strength, and future that you once thought unattainable."
Wang Zhong stood on the mountaintop, spreading his arms wide, embracing the sky and yearning for the sun.
The words he murmured seemed to be for himself, yet also for all unseen beings.
"I was once as lowly as dust, and now I shine with brilliance."
"Is it because of it, or because of them..."
The system's light, which did not reside in his sea of consciousness, flickered. Yet, the scene from his memory was crystal clear.
"Wang Zhong, Innate Full Soul Power, Tree Martial Soul!"
Excited and fervent voices echoed throughout the plaza. He saw the envy and yearning in the eyes of elders and children alike. He also saw the disappointment and sorrow in the eyes of those children without soul power or with废武魂.
The Empress who sat on the highest throne in the Martial Soul Palace, and the radiant holy light of the angels soaring in the sky, who was the bringer of hope?
Both! Both were!
Angels shone in the sky, bringing hope and the future, while the Empress sowed the seeds of hope throughout the mortal realm.
Even commoners had a chance to rise! The awakening of their martial souls was the moment of change!
"Leaping the dragon gate, commoners becoming nobles, is not an impossible dream. I, Wang Zhong, am the most dazzling symbol and testament to this."
"Here, light, hope, possibility, the future, they are eternal!"
Wang Zhong slowly retracted his outstretched arms, clasping them together over his chest. His head bowed slightly, his posture like that of a devout believer in prayer.
Boundless radiance erupted from his palms, scorching and dazzling, more brilliant than the sun.
The Angelic Holy Sword rose from the ground, soaring into the heavens. Intense and formidable light bloomed from its blade, transforming into a second sun, illuminating the sky.
The blinding radiance caused the honored elders of the Judgment Hall to shield their eyes.
Powerful as they were, they dared not gaze directly at the shining light!
Streams of holy soul power spread from the sword, filling heaven and earth. The entire Martial Soul City seemed to be cleansed under the sword's glow.
Hot, so hot!
The heat that surged outward from the depths of her being scorched Qian Renxue, leaving her parched and gasping for breath.
She clutched her chest with a slender hand, desperately suppressing the fervor that threatened to ignite her entire body.
"Little Xue, what's wrong!"
Sensing Qian Renxue's change, Qian Daoliu swiftly moved to her side, reaching out to support her shoulder. But as his palm made contact, a terrifying and ferocious pure white flame erupted violently from the point of contact.
The immense power of the flame turned Qian Daoliu's entire hand crimson, forcing him to retreat.
"What, what kind of flame is this?"
Looking at the burn on his hand, Qian Daoliu's gaze towards Qian Renxue was filled with astonishment. A mere touch had injured him so severely.
His strength had once dropped from level ninety-nine to ninety-five due to the corruption of his martial soul. However, as the guardian of the Angelic Martial Soul, Qian Daoliu had his ways to supplement the lost power and his martial soul.
He was still a peak Douluo expert at level ninety-nine!
Yet, even so, he was burned by a mere wisp of flame. This was utterly inconceivable.
On the mountaintop, Wang Zhong slowly opened his palms, pushing the radiant orb, like a sun, from his hands into the sky. His expression was gentle and devout.
He was a tree that grew from the lowly mud and dust, much like his constantly transforming and growing tree martial soul. Because of the free martial soul awakening offered by the Martial Soul Palace, he had embarked on the path of a soul master, and it was also because of the Martial Soul Palace that he had grown to his current stature.
Benefiting from this light and hope, Wang Zhong wished that all those like him in the world would have a future to anticipate and look forward to.
The light was dazzling, brilliant and radiant!
"Bloom!"
"The hope from within endless baseness!"
"Fly!"
"The future from the mud and dust!"
"Descend!"
"The light from within darkness and despair!"
Let the angels' hope be conveyed to the world, let the light of hope illuminate the continent, and let those who pray from the mud have a future to look forward to.
And I am the guardian of that hope and light!
"Ah!"
A long cry erupted from Qian Renxue's crimson lips, deafening.
"Little Xue!"
Qian Daoliu was extremely anxious, but he was utterly unable to approach.
For at this moment, a vast and dazzling sphere of light enveloped Qian Renxue, isolating everyone outside. Even with all his might, Qian Daoliu could not breach it.
Boundless and profound holy soul power erupted from Qian Renxue's body, surging like an endless tide, even suppressing the sun's brilliance in the sky.
Her slender hand clutched her chest, the heat and purity emanating from within causing her immense pain, yet also a deep craving.
Faith devoid of all impurities and selfish desires filled her heart, making her tremble.
This fervent and pure emotion threatened to melt her heart and her entire soul.
"Wang Zhong, is it you..."
Her crimson lips whispered. Qian Renxue's usually beautiful, heroic, and cold purplish eyes now resembled a pool of spring water, tender and alluring.
Her eyes gently closed. She had felt this sensation before, during the martial soul fusion brought about by their mutual protection in the Star Dou Great Forest. What filled her body was precisely this.
Fervent, pure, sincere.
Within the pure white sphere of light, Qian Renxue's golden hair fluttered. She spread her arms, no longer suppressing the fervor and surge within her heart, allowing them to course through her entire being.
Her Angelic Martial Soul manifested behind her, its unique light and holiness suddenly pressing down, enveloping the entire world.
The Angelic Holy Sword trembled before Qian Renxue. The blade and its sheath clashed, producing crisp, clear sounds.
Under the astonished gazes of Qian Daoliu and the honored elders, Qian Renxue, with her arms outstretched, her martial soul behind her began to burn fiercely. Pure, holy flames emitted terrifying and astonishing heat.
The heat wave washed over them, searing their skin and penetrating deep into their souls and bones.
"What is this flame?"
"What astonishing power!"
"Great Honored Elder, what has happened to our Young Mistress!"
Qian Daoliu ignored the words of his companions. He stared blankly at the figure standing in the flames, his eyes lost and shocked.
The martial soul was enveloped and ignited by the flames, and within the boundless inferno, a new life was being nurtured.
Boom!
In the next instant, an arm pierced through the flames, grasping the Angelic Holy Sword that stood before Qian Renxue. Dense flames clung to the golden armguards, burning fiercely. As the arm emerged, the flames began to extinguish and recede.
Finally, when the flames disappeared, what stood before everyone was a formidable female warrior clad in armor, exuding an aura of awe. Behind her, six pairs, a total of twelve pure white angelic wings, shone dazzlingly in the sunlight.
The long sword was drawn, stirring up endless winds and flames, carrying a terrifying majesty like mountains, like the sea, like the netherworld, causing the hearts of the honored elders below, all at level ninety-six and above, to pound.
Then, unexpectedly, the twelve-winged Angelic Valkyrie, after drawing her sword, planted it and stood, her form slowly fading. Eventually, along with the Angelic Holy Sword, she transformed into flowing light and entered Qian Renxue's body, disappearing.
At that very moment, Qian Renxue's eyes snapped open. A flawless white radiance suddenly erupted behind her, and three pairs of wings unfurled in the wind, holy and luminous.
"Six Wings!"