C1 My Martial Soul Is Actually a Game Console!

In the Black Tortoise Empire's Oldgarde, within the confines of the Blood Soul Sect, a grey-robed youth sat cross-legged on his bed, his handsome features clouded with bewilderment.

Qin Xiao could scarcely believe his luck in snagging the limited-edition Dragon God Game Machine, a treasure coveted across the Heavenly Land. But before he could revel in his triumph, a harrowing scene unfolded at his school's entrance: a male student with a menacing glare was wildly brandishing a fruit knife amidst the crowd.

Compelled by a surge of valor, Qin Xiao dashed forward just as the blade neared a girl. And then... darkness. When he next opened his eyes, he found himself in a strange world, inhabiting the life of another "Qin Xiao."

The irony of his would-be heroics morphing into a sacrificial act weighed on him. Yet, there was solace in knowing the girl had escaped, for without that, he could never have found peace in death.

Now in this new reality, Qin Xiao remained composed. He shelved his somber thoughts and delved into the memories of his current body to understand his circumstances.

In the Aberrant Realm, martial prowess reigned supreme, and strength dictated one's destiny. It was a world where the fantastical became reality, where humans harnessed the essence of heaven and earth. Upon awakening their martial souls, they wielded powers beyond anything imaginable in Qin Xiao's former life.

Every youth aspired to be a formidable warrior, and Qin Xiao was no exception. But with lackluster talent and his fifteenth birthday looming, his martial soul remained dormant. If he failed to awaken it by then, he'd be forever barred from the warrior's path, relegated to a fate less significant than even a mere foot soldier in the relentless carnage of battle.

In stark contrast stood Qin Xiao's sister, Qin Huan, who seemed to defy the odds. At thirteen, she awakened not one, but two martial souls: the Sunset Bow and the Golden Peacock, embodying both offense and defense with formidable combat prowess. Unmatched by her peers, she had by fourteen ascended to the peak of the Milky Stage, poised to break through to the Boundless Ocean Stage at any moment.

A child of destiny with limitless potential!

Qin Huan was even promised by Elder Bai Yu that if she could break through to the third layer of the Boundless Ocean Stage before turning fifteen, she would be taken on as a true disciple!

Such a prodigy burdened by a brother like Qin Xiao evoked pity from many. Yet, the external commotion never once swayed their bond.

In a daring move to awaken Qin Xiao's martial soul, Qin Huan secretly ventured into the Haunted Forest, a Forbidden Ground, in search of the legendary Heart Pill Fruit known to directly awaken one's martial soul.

The Haunted Forest, one of the three great Forbidden Grounds, was a place even seasoned warriors feared to tread. Despite Qin Huan's exceptional talent, she was but a junior martial cultivator at the Milky Stage. After disappearing into the forest for half a month, all contact was lost.

Qin Xiao was beside himself with worry, but as someone not even part of the Blood Soul Sect's Outer Sect, he lacked the freedom to come and go as he pleased. Moreover, with his current strength, venturing into the Haunted Forest would be tantamount to suicide.

Meanwhile, without Qin Huan's protection, those who harbored ill will towards Qin Xiao began to harass and pressure him, driving him to a desperate forced awakening of his martial soul. The attempt ended tragically in instantaneous death from Qi deviation.

At this sight, Qin Xiao nearly wept. His soul had transmigrated at the most inopportune time. Though the original soul had perished, the Qi deviation had not ceased, and he found himself inhabiting a body on the brink of explosion!

What misfortune!

Cursing his luck inwardly, Qin Xiao suddenly felt a malevolent fire coursing through his belly, his once stable meridians swelling as if they were a balloon stretched to its limits!

If it were to burst, he'd be utterly obliterated!

Desperate and tearless, Qin Xiao had thought that while fate had shut a door on him, it had mercifully opened a window. To his dismay, that window was firmly locked!

With no time to spare, he frantically combed through the original owner's memories, discovering that the only solution was to channel in origin energy to quell the malevolent fire.

Qin Xiao acted decisively. Drawing upon the cultivation memories innate to his current body, he immediately initiated the Green Cloud Technique.

Pale-white strands of origin energy streamed into Qin Xiao's body. The moment they infiltrated, the malevolent fire within him reacted as if provoked, flaring up and raging towards his vital organs with the ferocity of a wildfire!

"Why is it so excruciatingly painful!"

Qin Xiao nearly leapt up in agony, feeling as though his entire body was engulfed in scorching flames, yet his mind remained alarmingly clear, intensifying his awareness of the torment!

Seizing the moment of weakness! As if sensing Qin Xiao's trepidation, the tumultuous inferno intensified, allowing him no respite to catch his breath!

"You're trying to break me, but I refuse to bend to your will!"

A wave of fury rose within Qin Xiao. Clenching his teeth against the severe pain, he persisted in channeling the Green Cloud Art, much like a drowning man clinging desperately to a lifeline, unwavering despite the relentless onslaught of the river's current.

Failure meant death, but to endure was to pave a path to the heavens!

...

Upon regaining consciousness, Qin Xiao felt his meridians were unusually distended. The sinister fire had vanished, leaving behind threads of white Yuan Qi.

He was momentarily taken aback, then overwhelmed with joy!

It was common knowledge that without an awakened martial soul, the meridians could not retain Yuan Qi, serving only to purge impurities. However, once the martial soul was awakened, the meridians would brim with Yuan Qi!

Could it be that he had truly awakened his martial soul?

Qin Xiao brimmed with anticipation. In the Aberrant Realm, there were countless formidable martial souls, ranging from offensive weapons like swords and sabers to Profound Beasts with ancient lineages. Not to mention, the natural elements such as wind, frost, snow, and rain also constituted powerful martial souls, along with other unique types.

He was curious about the nature of his own awakened martial soul. If it were the Sovereign Longsword of the Hundred Armies, that would be ideal.

Containing his excitement, Qin Xiao submerged his consciousness into the depths of his mind, where a faintly glowing silhouette hovered. As Yuan Qi infused the shape, it began to coalesce into a solid form—a palm-sized, rectangular object, dull and unassuming, reminiscent of the ubiquitous green paving stones from his past life.

Could he have actually awakened a brick as his martial soul?

What good was a brick? In future martial arts contests, while others gracefully soared with their swords, would he be left to brandish a brick and yell, "Behold the brick!"?

The mere thought made Qin Xiao cringe.

Sensing Qin Xiao's disdain, the once lackluster green stone brick sparked to life, the familiar water-ink screen glowing softly. Hidden amongst the chaotic patterns on the back, a black dragon lurked, its eyes gleaming with a fierce intensity.

"No way!"

Astonishment gripped Qin Xiao as an incredible notion took root. This wasn't just any green stone brick—it was the limited edition Dragon God Game Machine he'd won earlier that day!

The screen flickered, prompting him to "Create a username and password."

Now Qin Xiao was certain—the Dragon God Game Machine had indeed become his martial soul!

Yet, in the Aberrant Realm, awakening to anything other than a weapon as a martial soul was unheard of. This could only mean one thing: his martial soul had undergone a mutation!

It wasn't the sword martial soul he had hoped for, but Qin Xiao was content. Eager to explore its capabilities, he focused his consciousness on the username field and mentally inscribed "Qin Xiao." To his annoyance, a "1" appeared alongside his name.

His slight OCD urged him to erase the number, but the game machine flashed a stern warning.

[Warning! Warning! Each soul can only be bound to one account!]

It was unremovable.

Qin Xiao's brow furrowed, but he let it be, entered his password, and completed the setup. The screen transitioned to the main interface, showcasing the games available on the Dragon God Game Machine.

Three games, three icons—two were grayed out, indicating "Loading..." Only one shone brightly, the game titled "Immortal Path."

He wondered if it would actually work.

Driven by curiosity, Qin Xiao tapped into "Immortal Path," and in an instant, he was engulfed in a flash of white light.

A majestic scene unfolded before him, reminiscent of an ink wash painting, while the gentle strum of a zither and the soft melody of a flute accompanied the slow reveal of a celestial pathway stretching into the heavens.

He never imagined it would actually work!

The initial thrill quickly gave way to awe. It might have been because the Dragon God Game Machine had merged with his martial soul, but the vistas unfolding before Qin Xiao felt astonishingly real!

Distant, mist-shrouded peaks loomed, while clouds of a pristine white suggested the breath of immortals. Moss-veiled steps hinted at a realm beyond, nearly convincing him he had stepped into another world.

And there he was, perched atop this summit of clouds, gazing down upon the myriad realms below!