The Old Grandpa I Picked Up at the Start

Douluo Continent, God Realm.

The clouds and mist changed endlessly. One moment, they surged like rolling waves; the next, they resembled a tranquil beauty. None of their changes followed any pattern, yet each brought even more beauty and wonder.

Deep within the God Realm, the Golden Dragon King Origin sealed inside the God Realm Center trembled faintly. A streak of golden light tinged with scarlet pierced through space and flew toward the lower realm. With a trace of anticipation in its heart, it murmured, "I don't have much time left."

The towering palace glimmered with a faint golden radiance beneath the halo of the God Realm. This was the highest point in the entire God Realm, as well as the place that controlled everything within it.

The God Realm Committee was responsible for judging the gods. It also governed the God Realm and maintained its rules.

The main hall was octagonal. None of the surrounding walls had any decorations, yet countless scenes flickered and shifted across them. Each light screen represented a world and a scene from a different planet in the mortal realm. This was also where the God Realm Committee monitored the planets throughout this star region.

A round table stood in the center of the hall. No one knew what material its surface was made from. Looking closely, one could see mist drifting across it, or perhaps an endless depth.

At that moment, a figure completely wrapped in Dark Red Magic Patterns stood silently before the light screens. Dark red radiance surrounded his body, making his appearance impossible to see clearly. Only the armor covering him could be vaguely discerned, its surface filled with Dark Red Magic Patterns.

Suddenly, the figure drew a Blood Giant Sword more than two meters long. Dark golden magic patterns densely covered its slender yet broad and thick blade. The entirely blood-red Long Sword brimmed with an intensely sharp aura of slaughter as he slashed toward some unknown space in the lower realm, sending out a murderous red sword light.

"Asura." A furious roar rang throughout the entire God Realm. Many deities looked up toward the source of the voice, inwardly grumbling that some unlucky fool must have once again been caught by Asura God. Only the other four God Kings frowned as they gazed toward the sealed region in the God Realm Center.

Hearing the roar, the dark red figure raised his head and looked toward the Golden Dragon King before giving a disdainful laugh. He turned to look at the Golden Light he had destroyed with a single strike, then transformed into a mass of Golden Mist and vanished above Douluo Star.

Yet no one noticed that a faint wisp of Purple Qi came from some distant, unknown place. At astonishing speed, it gathered some of the Golden Mist and streaked toward Douluo Star below.

Douluo Continent had the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. The grudges between the two great empires went back a long way. Both wanted to destroy the other and unify the Douluo Continent. The Star Luo Empire had stronger Soul Masters, while the Heaven Dou Empire possessed an army of a million. Neither side could do anything to the other. Moreover, the sacred land of all Soul Masters, the Spirit Hall, stood between the two empires and mediated between them. Only then did the two great empires cease fighting, allowing the continent to enter a period of peace.

Majia Village was just as its name suggested. It was a small village with only a little over six hundred households. Most of its residents awakened the Horned Horse Martial Soul, which was used to carry people from place to place. Aside from the occasional mutation that produced Soul Power, most people were ordinary folk without Soul Power. Although few villagers possessed Soul Power, horse-type Martial Souls had an innate advantage in taming horses. Majia Village was a horse market located at the border between the two great empires.

Outside the village, tall steeds could be seen running everywhere. Some villagers were training horses, while others were feeding them. Elderly villagers stood in their courtyards with kindly smiles, watching the children at the gates walk dogs and chase chickens. The entire village was brimming with life.

The sky had just begun to brighten. A faint fish-belly white glow rose in the eastern horizon. On a hill barely a hundred meters high beside Majia Village, a gray frog stood atop a two-meter-tall boulder, facing the rising sun and dreaming of becoming a prince.

Suddenly, the sky seemed to darken. Then it felt as though the entire world had been overturned. When the frog opened its eyes, it saw a gigantic bipedal creature sitting in its sacred place of creation, while it itself flew toward the foot of the hill as if riding on clouds and mist.

"Croak!" With a shrill cry, the entire world fell silent.

A five- or six-year-old child sat atop the boulder, basking in the sun's warmth. His skin was a healthy wheat color, and his short black hair looked neat and sharp. His clothes were simple but clean, clearly showing that he was someone who valued cleanliness.

At that moment, his swordlike brows were furrowed, as though some trouble vexed him. A moment later, the boy opened his eyes. His bright eyes revealed a helpless look as he shook his head and muttered, "Still not working? It seems I'll only be able to break through after the Martial Soul Awakening. Grandpa Village Chief said that a Soul Grandmaster from the Spirit Hall will come tomorrow to awaken our Martial Souls. I wonder what Martial Soul I have. Will it be Father's Earth Antelope or Mother's Fire Scale Horse?"

The boy was called Dugu Chen. He had come to Douluo Continent five years ago. He had originally been a fresh graduate, but unexpectedly became one of the many transmigrators. He had gone from his initial panic to his current calm acceptance.

Before he turned three, he had dreamed of awakening his Martial Soul, beating Tang San with his fists, kicking the Spirit Hall aside, marrying several beautiful women from Douluo Continent, ascending to the God Realm, and living a carefree life.

But all of that was shattered when he turned three. Dugu Chen's father and mother were both Soul Masters, and their Martial Souls had both undergone mutations. One was an Earth Antelope with earth attributes, while the other was a Fire Scale Horse with fire attributes. They were among the few Soul Masters in the village who possessed Soul Power. However, their Innate Soul Power was not high, only level three. Even so, they were Soul Grandmasters, making Dugu Chen the village's little prince.

Three years ago, Dugu Chen's father broke through to the Soul Elder realm. The couple hired a Soul Hunting Group to obtain a third Soul Ring.

Two months later, when two cold corpses were placed before Dugu Chen's eyes, his dream ended. This was a world where strength came first, no longer the lawful society of his previous life. Strength alone was fundamental. Survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle were displayed here to the fullest.

After that, Dugu Chen began running up this hill every morning to train his body. He imitated Tang San by watching the sun and absorbing Purple Qi. He did not know whether it would work, but even the slightest improvement was worth it.

Dugu Chen rose from the boulder and looked at the rising sun as he muttered, "I never expected that by using the Meditation Method taught by Grandpa Village Chief as the foundation, and my naturally powerful Spiritual Power as support, I could actually cultivate and look inward before the Martial Soul Awakening. I wonder whether I'm special, or whether anyone with powerful Spiritual Power can do it. After three years of cultivation, I already felt half a year ago that my Soul Power had reached its limit. Tomorrow's awakening should reveal Innate Full Soul Power. I originally wanted to see whether I could break through this boundary, but it seems that aside from a God Tier Martial Soul, the highest Innate Soul Power is only level ten. I've done everything I could. Now everything depends on what Martial Soul awakens tomorrow." He clenched his fists, feeling the strength within his body. This was his guarantee of survival in this world.

"I should head back, or Grandpa Village Chief will worry." Dugu Chen gathered his thoughts and leaped down from the boulder, sprinting toward the village. His vigorous stride was much faster than that of an adult.

When he reached the middle of the hill, Dugu Chen suddenly stopped. He frowned and twitched his ears. A heavy breathing sound reached him. "Someone—and they're injured." Dugu Chen could not help worrying. No one usually came here. Only Grandpa Village Chief would come looking for him. Could he have been injured?

Dugu Chen quickened his pace and ran toward the sound. Within a few breaths, he reached a thicket a hundred meters away. Pushing aside the branches, he saw an old man leaning painfully against the base of a tree. His entire body was covered in wounds, his luxurious robes were tattered, and his hair and beard were all dark green.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar figure, Dugu Chen wondered inwardly, Could this be Dugu Bo? Otherwise, whose hair could possibly be this green? But how did he suffer such severe injuries?

As he studied the old man who was likely Dugu Bo, Dugu Chen looked as excited as Ma Hongjun spotting a pair of twins. His eyes grew brighter and brighter. "The heavens saw that I didn't have a cheat and sent me an old grandpa!"

Dugu Chen lifted the old man onto his back and ran toward home with long, powerful strides, as though the weight on his back did not exist.

I'm new to writing. There aren't many good Douluo fanfictions on the Book City site, so I decided to write one myself. Please give me plenty of guidance!