Ten SSS-Grade Martial Souls? You’ve Got to Be Kidding! - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: A Classic Among Classics, The Perfect Life Choices System

An S-Grade Martial Soul!!

Xiao Mei had awakened an S-Grade Martial Soul!!

Gasps and cries of shock erupted throughout the crowd.

“Damn, an S-Grade Martial Soul! There’s actually an S-Grade Martial Soul!”

“As expected of Goddess Xiao Mei!”

“Waaah, now she and the academic prodigy Xu are truly a power couple!”

Everyone looked at Xiao Mei with envy. With an S-Grade Martial Soul, barring any accidents, she was destined to become a high-ranking figure in Great Xia. Becoming a powerful Martial Artist was practically guaranteed!

“Good, good, good!”

“I never expected an S-Grade Martial Soul to appear in this awakening ceremony. You must work hard and strive to make it onto the Qingyun Honor Roll in the future!” the principal of No. 3 High School said excitedly.

Getting onto the Qingyun Honor Roll was no easy feat. One not only had to become a top Martial Artist in Qingyun City but also make significant contributions to the city and even to humanity. Of course, with an S-Grade Martial Soul, Xiao Mei undoubtedly had the opportunity to achieve it. Moreover…

“With an S-Grade Martial Soul, I can apply for more cultivation resources from the Education Bureau!” the principal thought joyfully.

Xiao Mei walked off the stage excitedly and looked at Xu Qiu. “Ah Qiu, I awakened an S-Grade Martial Soul! It’s your turn now. I believe you can do it too!”

Xu Qiu smiled slightly. “Congratulations.”

Then he walked onto the stage.

All eyes were on him.

Xu Qiu was extremely famous in the school. With outstanding performance in every subject, he was an academic prodigy whose every move attracted attention. Almost everyone believed he would awaken a high-grade Martial Soul.

“At the very least, the academic prodigy Xu will awaken an A-Grade Martial Soul, right?”

“Heh, could it be another S-Grade?”

The crowd buzzed with discussion. Even the principal watched Xu Qiu with anticipation.

Xu Qiu took a deep breath and placed his hand on the crystal.

One second. Two seconds. Three seconds…

More than ten seconds passed, yet the crystal showed no reaction.

Strange expressions began to appear on everyone’s faces.

“No way… there’s no reaction?”

“What’s going on?”

“What else could it be? No reaction means no Martial Soul!”

“But that’s the academic prodigy Xu! How could he not have a Martial Soul?”

“Hahaha! So the great the academic prodigy Xu doesn’t even have a Martial Soul?!”

Standing on the stage, Xu Qiu’s lips twitched.

Well, well.

Starting off as a useless nobody?

Was it really going to be this cliché?

[Ding! The Perfect Life Choices System has been activated!]

At that moment, a mechanical voice echoed in Xu Qiu’s ears.

A system!

Great!

Now this was truly the ultimate cliché!

Xu Qiu couldn’t help but smile. No Martial Soul? It didn’t matter. With a system, there was nothing to fear!

Seeing that Xu Qiu was still smiling, some people exchanged puzzled glances.

“How is the academic prodigy Xu still smiling?”

“Did he go insane from the shock?”

“What academic prodigy? He’s now the useless one Xu without a Martial Soul!”

Lin Ziyang, who had always been at odds with Xu Qiu, led others in mocking laughter.

On the stage, the principal looked at Xu Qiu with disappointment and said helplessly, “Xu Qiu, you don’t have a Martial Soul. You may step down.”

“Alright,” Xu Qiu replied with a slight nod, showing no sign of discouragement.

Seeing this, the principal sighed inwardly. “Calm and composed, with an exceptional temperament. What a pity. Even a slightly inferior Martial Soul could have given him a great chance to become a strong Martial Artist. But now… sigh…”

An ordinary Martial Artist without a Martial Soul…

Even after a lifetime of cultivation, breaking through to the fifth tier would be extremely difficult. Becoming a true powerhouse was almost impossible.

Xu Qiu stepped down from the stage and returned to the crowd. When he looked at Xiao Mei, he found that her once warm and eager gaze had turned cold.

His heart skipped a beat.

Then he let out a helpless sigh.

No way.

Was it really going to be this cliché?

“Mei’er, you…”

“Xu Qiu, you should call me Xiao Mei, or simply Student Xiao,” she said indifferently.

Hearing this, the others immediately adopted expressions of eager anticipation, ready for a spectacle. Xu Qiu looked at Xiao Mei as if she were a stranger, only now realizing her true nature.

“The original owner must have been blind to find a girlfriend like this,” Xu Qiu thought, sighing inwardly.

He wasn’t particularly heartbroken. 

After all, he had never truly accepted her in his heart.

At that moment, just as everyone was preparing to enjoy the unfolding drama, a surge of intense cold suddenly erupted from the stage, followed by a sharp, piercing cry.

From the crystal ball on the platform, a phantom of an ice phoenix, covered in glittering frost crystals, burst forth and soared through the air in a graceful arc. Its magnificent form stirred awe and excitement in everyone present.

Then, the ice phoenix dove toward the stage and merged into the body of a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a blue gown. Her aura grew even colder, and she appeared like an unapproachable iceberg.

“I-It’s an SSS-Grade Martial Soul—the Frost Divine Phoenix!!” the principal of No. 3 High School exclaimed in shock.

The students gasped, staring at the woman on the stage in utter amazement.

“An SSS-Grade Martial Soul?! Am I seeing things?”

“My god! This is my first time seeing such a Martial Soul in real life. Luo Qingxue’s luck is unbelievable!”

“Waaah! Great family, great grades, beautiful, and now she’s awakened an SSS-Grade Martial Soul. Heaven is so unfair!”

Xu Qiu was also surprised. He hadn’t expected someone to awaken an SSS-Grade Martial Soul.

He recognized the woman on stage—Luo Qingxue, one of Qingyun High School’s two campus belles alongside Xiao Mei, and also his academic rival, whose grades were second only to his.

After awakening her Martial Soul, Luo Qingxue stepped down from the stage. Under the crowd’s reverent and envious gazes, she walked up to Xu Qiu and said calmly, “Even without a Martial Soul, you can still walk the path of a Martial Artist. You won’t give up, will you?”

“Of course not,” Xu Qiu replied with a slight smile.

“Good. I’ll be waiting for you on the path of martial arts,” Luo Qingxue said with a nod, still regarding him as her rival.

At that moment, Lin Ziyang walked over and sneered, “Luo Qingxue, so what if he doesn’t give up? Without a Martial Soul, he’s destined to be a mediocrity—and a mediocrity who can’t even keep his girlfriend!”

Luo Qingxue ignored him and instead looked at Xiao Mei. Having witnessed her earlier behavior, she spoke calmly yet firmly, “You’re not worthy of him.”

Xiao Mei raised her eyebrows. “I’m not worthy of him? Luo Qingxue, is there something wrong with your eyes? I awakened an S-Grade Martial Soul! And he? He’s a useless nobody without even a Martial Soul. He’s the one who’s not worthy of me!”

After saying that, she looked at Xu Qiu and said, “Xu Qiu, we’re destined to walk different paths. Let’s break up. It’s better for both of us.”

Hearing this, the crowd looked at Xu Qiu with teasing expressions.

Many people loved to elevate someone to the status of a god—but they loved tearing that god down even more. Watching the once untouchable the academic prodigy Xu become a useless nobody and get dumped by his girlfriend satisfied the darker side of their hearts.

As Xu Qiu faced Xiao Mei’s breakup declaration, a panel suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

Three choices were displayed:

[Choice 1: Kneel and beg Xiao Mei not to break up. Lose all dignity and receive an additional reward from the system—ten slaps to the host!]

[Choice 2: Calmly agree to the breakup and secretly resolve to work hard and surpass her in the future! Reward: S-Grade Martial Soul—Storm Hammer!]

[Choice 3: Step forward and slap her, declare that you are the one dumping her, and defend your dignity! Reward: The Martial Souls of the Ten Ferocious Beasts!!]

Xu Qiu was momentarily stunned as he looked at the three options.

Was there even a need to choose?!

Hesitating for even a second would be a sign of disrespect to the Ten Ferocious Beasts!