C1 Trash Xiao Ling

On the Divine Martial Continent, within the Flame Yellow Empire, nestled at the base of Holy Martial Mountain, lies the Holy Martial Institute.

"Ha! Ha!"

The morning calm of the training field shattered under the chorus of grunts from a group of young men and women.

There, rows of youths practiced not mere fist techniques but a complex formation. This was the Vajra Mantle, the Holy Martial Institute's famed protective array.

"Tsk, facing an enemy, just take them down. Who needs a defensive array?"

Lounging in a nearby tree, a blade of Xiao Grass dangling from his lips, a young man named Xiao Ling watched the disciples with a lazy gaze, his comment cutting through the air.

"Ugh, cursed heavens, why must you be so troublesome!"

Staring up at the clear blue sky, Xiao Ling was consumed by frustration.

He wasn't originally from the Divine Martial Continent but a homebody who had crossed over from Earth.

Now, he was an orphan with no parents, taken in by the head of the Holy Martial Institute and raised as one of its disciples.

On this continent, strength is everything. Xiao Ling's initial talent in cultivation was dazzling; he was the first of his age to reach the ninth layer of Soul Refining, garnering widespread admiration and high expectations.

Years passed, and at sixteen, his inability to awaken his martial soul left him stagnating at Layer Nine, overtaken by all his peers and left in their dust.

Once a prodigy, now scorned as worthless, Xiao Ling became the laughingstock of his contemporaries.

The bitterness at the edge of his lips prompted a tight fist and a look of defeat. "If only I could cultivate, I'd be out there training right now."

But reality was harsh; he remained unable to awaken his martial soul, unable to pursue further cultivation.

In the Divine Martial Continent, without a Martial Spirit, one is no different from an ordinary person, destined for a life of mediocrity.

"Senior Brother Xiao, I knew I'd find you here."

A servant clutching a broom glanced at Xiao Ling with scorn and remarked casually, "The elder has summoned you to test your strength. I've delivered the message; whether you go or not is up to you, though I doubt the outcome will be any different..."

With a few dismissive words, the servant swept away, broom in hand.

Listening to the stinging comments, Xiao Ling numbly hopped down from the tree and sighed, "Without strength, even a mere sweeper looks down on me..."

To be admitted into the Holy Martial Institute, one must awaken their martial soul and make strides in the Martial Tao.

This young servant had awakened his martial soul at thirteen. By contrast, at sixteen, Xiao Ling still hadn't awakened his, making him feel inferior even to a sweeping servant.

It wasn't just this servant; many of the Institute's lower staff shared the same contemptuous and disdainful tone.

In the past, when his talent was recognized, these same people would fawn over him. Now, he had come to grips with the harsh realities of the world.

It was time for him to head to the Testing Hall to gauge his strength.

At the Holy Martial Institute, disciples' strength was typically tested every three months, but Xiao Ling, being an exception, was required to go monthly.

Xiao Ling muttered bitterly, "What bad karma have I accrued to be unable to awaken my martial soul?"

On the Divine Martial Continent, the typical age for awakening one's martial soul was ten. Prodigies with exceptional gifts often awakened theirs even earlier, yet here he was, still at Layer Nine of soul refinement, with no signs of awakening his martial soul.

Without the awakening, one couldn't become a warrior, unable to embark on the path of martial arts.

"Look, everyone! Isn't that Senior Brother Xiao Ling?" a youth shouted.

As Xiao Ling made his way to the Testing Hall, crossing the training field, the practicing boys and girls paused, gazing at him as if he were a spectacle.

"Yes, that's him, the once-proclaimed genius disciple!"

"Genius disciple? What a joke! A failure who can't even awaken his martial soul doesn't deserve the title."

"It's truly unfortunate. He was the first to reach the Ninth Layer of Soul Refining."

"Indeed, but despite being the first to reach the Ninth Layer, he's been unable to awaken his martial soul for years. He's sixteen now."

"He must have committed some misdeeds in his past life, and now karma is catching up with him..."

A cluster of youths watched Xiao Ling enter the training field, their sighs tinged with a mix of mockery, disdain, and, for many, sheer schadenfreude.

Back then, Xiao Ling's talent was unparalleled. At just one year old, he could sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and by three, he had reached the Ninth Layer of Soul Refining. In the Flame Yellow Empire, he was hailed as a once-in-a-millennium prodigy.

Yet, years passed, and Xiao Ling remained stuck at the Ninth Layer, unable to awaken his martial soul. Disappointment spread, and gradually, he was forgotten.

The surrounding whispers of pity and scorn pierced Xiao Ling's heart like daggers, quickening his breath.

Lifting his head, Xiao Ling's dark eyes swept indifferently over his peers, their jeers bouncing off him as he mustered a self-deprecating grin.

"Without strength, you're nothing..."

With a bitter smile, Xiao Ling quickened his pace toward the examination hall, his solitary figure a stark contrast to the world around him.

"Look, the failure's heading to the examination hall!" one youth called out, eyeing Xiao Ling's retreating back.

"Let's all go watch. Let's see if this 'failure' is still just treading water at the Ninth Layer."

"Isn't it obvious? Xiao Ling is definitely stuck at the Ninth Layer."

The group of boys and girls giggled as they trailed behind Xiao Ling. His trips to the examination hall to test his strength, only to embarrass himself and show no improvement, had become their regular amusement.

Now, with Xiao Ling set to test again, they were eager to witness yet another spectacle of his supposed disgrace.

"Just wait and see—once I've gained the strength, I'll silence you all!"

Xiao Ling felt the eyes of the young men and women trailing behind him, and with gritted teeth, he silently vowed to himself.

By the time Xiao Ling reached the Test Hall, it was swarming with people, all there to measure their might.

These youths were disciples of the Holy Martial Institute, all under the age of twenty, and even the least skilled among them possessed the prowess of a martial artist, a testament to the Institute's abundance of talent.

Xiao Ling found a nondescript corner to wait for his turn.

He harbored no illusions of dazzling anyone; he simply wanted to get the test over with and escape this torturous place.

At that moment, at the very front, beside the crystal ball used for strength assessment, stood an elder with a rigid face.

Before him, a confident young man in white was preparing for his test.

Suddenly, another youth approached and murmured something to him. The corners of the white-clad youth's mouth curled into a sly grin as he turned and cast a smiling glance in Xiao Ling's direction.

"Well, well, if it isn't my dearest junior brother, Xiao Ling?"

Lin Wu stood with his hands behind his back, his smile as warm as a spring breeze, enchanting countless young female disciples who cast him admiring glances, though he paid them no mind. "Since you've arrived, as your senior, it's only right that I let you test first. After all, you do have a unique status..."

Lin Wu, the celebrated prodigy of the Holy Martial Institute, was adored by all.

He had awakened his sword martial soul at ten, a truly exceptional talent, and now his power had soared to that of a Nine-star Martial Cultivator.

As Lin Wu's words fell, the disciples in the Test Hall shifted their attention to Xiao Ling.

The principal's adopted son! The once prodigious talent!

"Thank you, Senior Brother Lin Wu..."

Under the weight of their stares, Xiao Ling's dark eyes blazed with fury as he made his way to the crystal ball, each step a battle.

Lin Wu, his senior brother, had once been a constant shadow in his younger days, seeking guidance for his cultivation queries, which Xiao Ling had always patiently answered. Their relationship had been one of joyful camaraderie.

However, Lin Wu's true nature emerged once he realized he couldn't awaken his martial soul. Beyond the constant jeers and mockery, he frequently bullied Xiao Ling.

"Go ahead, Junior Brother Xiao Ling."

Lin Wu's smirk grew as he observed Xiao Ling's pallid complexion. He stepped aside, extending his arm in a welcoming gesture.

"Xiao Ling, proceed with the test."

The elder's eyes betrayed a flicker of sorrow as he regarded Xiao Ling.

The once-celebrated prodigy now cut a forlorn figure, a sight that truly tugged at the heartstrings.

"Yes, Elder."

Xiao Ling responded, his dark eyes fixed on the crystal ball. He placed his arm atop it, his breaths growing labored.

"I must awaken! I simply must!"

Amidst the scrutiny of numerous onlookers, Xiao Ling cried out, funneling all his soul power into the crystal ball.

Time seemed to stand still in that moment.

All eyes were glued to the crystal ball as beads of sweat rolled down Xiao Ling's youthful cheeks.

The crystal ball's glow intensified, casting a radiant light throughout the hall to the astonishment of all present.

"Surely this failure isn't about to awaken his martial soul?"

The thought crossed everyone's minds as Lin Wu's expression turned icy, his mood fluctuating wildly.

"We're so close, just a fraction away!"

The elder's eyes gleamed with anticipation as he watched the crystal ball's brilliance.

Could this once-great talent be on the verge of a powerful comeback?

"Heh, I always knew I'd make it."

A rare smile crossed Xiao Ling's face as he beheld the crystal ball's blinding light, only to be followed by a wave of despair.

The soul power he had infused into the crystal ball continued to fade away. Despite channeling all his might into it, reversal was beyond reach.

"No!"

Drained, Xiao Ling collapsed to his knees, drenched in sweat, his eyes void of hope.

In the end... he had failed.

"Layer Nine of soul refining..."

The elder looked upon the dimmed crystal ball, shaking his head as he emotionlessly announced the outcome.

He had held out hope for Xiao Ling to perform a miracle and awaken his martial soul, but it now appeared utterly out of the question.

"Trash will always be just that, stuck in the same spot."

Upon hearing the result, a collective sigh of relief swept through the crowd. The lump in their throats finally dislodged, and they all silently wiped away beads of cold sweat.

Lin Wu, with a look of utter contentment, made his way over to Xiao Ling after hearing the outcome.

"Don't lose heart, Junior Brother Xiao Ling. Even if you don't pursue cultivation, you can remain at the Holy Martial Institute. You'll have your basic needs met, free of charge, and can lead a simple life. The world outside is far too harsh, and I fear that if you ventured out, the villains would leave nothing of you, not even scraps. Haha!"