Chapter 1: Divine Soul Awakening, Dao Seed of Cyan Lotus

The God Soul Continent.

Nine Provinces Holy Court.

Yangzhou City, Sixth High School’s Awakening Square.

Qin Shu awaited the beginning of the divine soul awakening ceremony.

In this world, every individual undergoes a divine soul awakening before reaching adulthood. Upon successful awakening, they are automatically transported to the Infinite Abyss for training.

Typically, the survival rate of awakened beings in the abyssal world is less than fifty percent.

However, those who can survive from the abyssal world achieve a leap in social status.

A blinding light blossomed from the awakening orb, its brilliance rivaling that of the sun above.

“Sunlight Rank Divine Soul! It’s a Sunlight Rank Divine Soul!” exclaimed several people near Qin Shu, their excitement palpable as if they had awakened such a soul themselves.

An artifact with blood-red patterns materialized above them. “It’s the Artifact God Soul, Guque Sword! How incredible!”

Awakened souls varied widely, generally categorized into three types: Artifact God Souls, Spirit God Souls, and Qi God Souls.

These were further classified by potential into seven tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Starlit, Moonshadow, Sunlight, and Mythical. A Sunlight Rank soul represented the pinnacle of power.

“Qin Shu, wasn’t that Chen Gong just now? Awakening a Sunlight Rank Artifact God Soul like that—it’s truly formidable.”

The speaker was Ye Yunqing, a girl from Qin Shu’s neighborhood. They had been classmates since elementary school and later attended Yangzhou Sixth High School together.

Due to his good looks even as a child, Ye Yunqing grew quite close with Qin Shu.

“He’s truly powerful!” Qin Shu nodded in agreement.

Chen Gong was well-known at Yangzhou First High School, having inherited the legendary Guque Divine Soul through his family lineage.

However, only a few members of the Chen family could awaken their legacy divine souls. Now that Chen Gong had done so, he would undoubtedly be groomed by the Chen family as their prized seed for future generations.

“I wonder what kind of divine soul we’ll awaken,” Ye Yunqing said excitedly.

Qin Shu shared her anticipation. Neither his parents nor Ye Yunqing’s had ever awakened any divine soul, meaning they likely wouldn’t possess any legacy souls either.

“It’s hard to say. The awakening process is full of uncertainties. Besides, without any legacy soul, it’s not guaranteed that we’ll awaken one at all.”

He felt somewhat nervous; the awakening ceremony was crucial for him, despite the low chances of surviving afterward in the Abyss World.

Suddenly, Ye Yunqing grabbed his left hand, “Qin Shu, I’m feeling a bit anxious.”

His hand could feel her cool touch and slight tremors.

“Me too,” Qin Shu reassured her with a comforting pat on her hand.

Ye Yunqing gazed at Qin Shu’s face, her voice tinged with surprise. “I never thought you’d be nervous; you’ve always been so composed.”

Qin Shu smiled wryly. How could I not be anxious? My mental age is far beyond eighteen now.

If it weren’t for someone stealing that manhole cover in my previous life, I wouldn’t have suffocated to death on my way home from a night shift.

Now, reborn into this world, I refuse to live a cowardly existence again.

At the center of Awakening Plaza, Chen Gong was swiftly escorted away by the Chen Clan elders as the awakening ceremony continued.

“Since we’ve perfected our spiritual observation technique,” Qin Shu said, “our chances of awakening a divine soul are quite high.”

“Mm-hmm!” Ye Yunqing didn’t let go of Qin Shu’s hand, choosing instead to keep their fingers entwined.

One after another, individuals began their awakenings. Many who succeeded awakened Bronze Divine Souls, indicating modest potential but limited prospects. A greater number, however, failed to awaken entirely.

Those who awakened Bronze Divine Souls looked like they had suffered a great loss, while most who failed actually breathed sighs of relief.

In the first Abyss World, the majority of those who perished were Bronze Divine Soul Awakeners.

The higher the potential rating of an awakened being’s divine soul, the greater their chance of surviving the First Abyssal Realm. Conversely, the survival rate for Bronze Divine Soul Awakeners stood at less than ten percent.

However, since the majority of awakened beings were Bronze rank, the Nine Provinces Holy Court naturally had the most Bronze-ranked individuals.

Ye Yunqing muttered to himself, “If I awaken a Bronze divine soul, it might be better not to have awakened at all.”

“Are you scared?” Qin Shu asked with a smile.

“Yeah, a bit.” Ye Yunqing became even more nervous, but his anxiety wouldn’t postpone the awakening ceremony.

“Number 276, Ye Yunqing, please prepare yourself.”

“It’s your turn now,” Qin Shu released Ye Yunqing’s hand and gently pushed him towards the light orb. “Go ahead, don’t be too nervous.”

“Okay!” Ye Yunqing took a deep breath, as if awaiting his own judgment.

“Place your hand on the awakening light orb,” instructed the Awakening Official.

“Yes sir!” Ye Yunqing pressed his hand against the glowing sphere.

In an instant, a dazzling five-colored light illuminated, less blinding than the previous Sunlight Rank soul awakenings, yet more captivating.

“A-a five-colored Mythical Rank divine soul! What is this?”

From their seats above, the school administrators leapt to their feet in excitement.

The vibrant column of light pierced through the heavens.

Within Yangzhou City, the top-tier awakened beings first froze in astonishment upon witnessing this spectacle. Then, as if by prearrangement, they simultaneously teleported to Yangzhou Sixth High School.

Qin Shu stared blankly at Ye Yunqing standing in the center of the square, A Mythical rank? Another transcendent powerhouse.

Within the five-colored light, a divine soul slowly materialized.

Everyone watched with wide-eyed silence, their jaws agape.

Screeee! A phoenix danced amidst the radiant colors before plunging into Ye Yunqing’s sea of consciousness. The multicolored glow dissipated.

“A five-colored phoenix! My goodness! Such a spiritual god soul appearing at our Sixth Middle School.”

As these words spread, the entire school erupted in excitement, resembling a chorus of birds paying homage to the phoenix.

Ye Yunqing stood dazed on the spot, enveloped by immense joy. “A Mythical-ranked divine soul… for me?”

“Yes, it is indeed for you,” declared an exceptionally handsome man as he stepped forward. “Little girl, this venerable one wishes to take you as his apprentice. What say you?”

“Get lost!” Before Ye Yunqing could respond, a delicate hand pushed him aside. A breathtakingly beautiful woman, dressed in imperial attire, took center stage. “Kid, I’m the most suitable teacher for you.”

As she spoke, a five-colored peacock materialized—a Sunlight Rank divine soul, the Five-Colored Peacock.

“Come to me, child,” Kong Yanran said. “In three days, you’ll face your trial in the Abyssal Realm. I can provide you with the greatest support, ensuring your safe return.”

“Kong Yanran, what do you mean?” Ji Ming interjected. “Are you implying I’m not allowed to offer her my support?”

“Ji Ming, stop causing trouble.” Kong Yanran leveled him with a death glare before turning to the surrounding luminaries. “Honored ones, who among you believes they could be more suitable than myself as this young lady’s mentor?”

Silence reigned supreme. The high-ranking officials from Sixth Middle School trembled even more, well aware that the influential figures standing at the heart of the square were far beyond their usual sphere of interaction. Now was not the time for any bold moves.

“No one speaks? Then there must be no objections,” Kong Yanran declared, once again fixing her gaze on Ji Ming. “What say you?”

Ji Ming chose his words carefully. “Never mind, I’d rather not risk being devoured by your radiant mystical light.”

Kong Yanran seemed pleased with his submission. She turned to Ye Yunqing. “Very well, let us depart first.”

Ye Yunqing finally found his voice. He glanced towards Qin Shu’s location. “Master, I wish to wait for my friend.”

“Oh!” Interest flickered across Ji Ming’s face. “Where is he?”

The phoenix is a divine beast. If this young man could befriend someone who awakened with a phoenix spirit, he must not be too ordinary himself.

Kong Yanran also turned her gaze towards Ye Yunqing.

“Over there!” Ye Yunqing pointed at Qin Shu.

Ji Ming and Kong Yanran saw him simultaneously.

“Perfectly balanced spiritual energy,” Kong Yanran commented. “Impressive.”

Ji Ming smiled. “He has three parts of my old charm.” Then he turned to others nearby. “If he awakens, none of you shall steal him from me.”

“Heh!” The other elites sneered; if Qin Shu had the potential for an awakening, they’d still try their best to recruit him.

Next, the soul awakening ceremony continued.

Qin Shu and Ye Yunqing exchanged glances across the room, feeling happy for each other, as they had been friends since childhood.

“Number 315, Qin Shu, please prepare.”

Exhaling deeply, Qin Shu slowly walked up to the Awakening Platform and reached out to touch the glowing orb.

A warm green light lit up, indicating his successful awakening.

The green light illuminated a small jade-colored lotus seed suspended in mid-air. It appeared tiny but emitted a radiant glow as it merged into Qin Shu’s forehead.

Qin Shu stared blankly ahead as he received the divine soul legacy. Grand Dao level? Higher than Mythical rank?

His heart swelled with immense surprise.

“Bronze! Bronze!” Ji Ming was dumbfounded for a moment before his face filled with disdain.

At that moment, a voice rang out, “Yunqing, you’re no longer of his world. Go bid him farewell.”

Qin Shu opened his eyes, looking at Ye Yunqing.

Ye Yunqing also gazed back at Qin Shu, his expression quite complex.

“Heh, if it weren’t for this little girl being his friend, this kid might not have even awakened,” Ji Ming chuckled before vanishing from Awakening Square.

The other big shots disappeared as well, accompanied by taunting voices:

“Hey, Ghost Ji, didn’t you say we should wait and not rush in? Why did you ditch your own disciple and run off?”

“Get lost, you bastard!”

Black lines covered Qin Shu’s face. I’m not just bronze, damn it! I’ve got a Dao Seed—the seed of a grand dao—and it’s above the mythical level! You people don’t know anything.

Of course, he kept these thoughts to himself. Should I really say something like ‘Your so-called divine souls are all garbage; mine is the real deal’? He decided it was best to keep quiet and enjoy his good fortune.

“Qin Shu!” Ye Yunqing’s voice cut through his musings.

Smiling at her, Qin Shu already knew what she wanted to say. “Go ahead.”

“I’m leaving with my master now,” she said, avoiding eye contact. “Take care of yourself.”

“Of course!” Qin Shu nodded, still smiling. “Stay safe as well.”

“Mm-hmm.” Ye Yunqing followed Kong Yanran away, neither sparing a glance for Qin Shu. The Bronze trash wasn’t worth their attention.

The surrounding students cast sympathetic glances towards Qin Shu. From this day on, the childhood sweethearts would belong to two different worlds.

It’s true they had grown up together, but Qin Shu simply saw Ye Yunqing as a younger sister next door—nothing more. After all, when they first met, they were just little kids.

He wasn’t some kind of pervert, after all.

Only after the big shots left did the teacher by the Spiritual Awakening Platform announce:

“Qin Shu, Bronze-grade spiritual soul, Cyan Lotus Core.”

“A Cyan Lotus Core? Is that the same thing as lotus seeds we eat? Sounds like the worst possible soul,” someone jeered, clearly relishing in others’ misfortune.

“Yeah! With a soul like that, your chances of surviving even the first Abyssal Fragment World are less than one percent. You’re dead meat.”

“No kidding. Lucky for him he has a friend who awakened a God-tier soul.”

The cold taunts from those around him were almost unbearable!

Meanwhile, Kong Yanran flew through the air with Ye Yunqing in tow.

“Did you like him?” Kong Yanran asked, her gaze fixed on Ye Yunqing.

“I did,” Ye Yunqing replied, feeling a sudden emptiness in his heart that quickly dissipated.

“Hmm!” Kong Yanran nodded approvingly. “This shows you’ve grown up. It’s time for a change. From now on, your family will reside at Jianghe Estate, and you shall cultivate alongside me.”

“Yes, Master!”

In that moment, Ye Yunqing understood that his destiny had been irrevocably altered. All he could do now was wait for the first Abyssal Training three days hence.

At Sixth High School, Qin Shu had just completed his awakening ceremony. After registering the relevant information, he set off back home, also preparing for the upcoming Abyssal Training in three days.

Translator Notes: The term “青莲” (qīng lián) can be ambiguous in Chinese, as “青” (qīng) historically refers to a color that can mean blue, green, or a mix of both, depending on the context. In this case, I decide to go with Cyan as it captures the duality of blue and green.