Prologue: An Extra Point from a Truck and a New World

"Finally, I'll activate the Ultimate Evolution Pill in my hand, banish Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring and Petiteranodon from my Graveyard, and Special Summon my Dinosaur Big Brother, Ultimate Conductor Tyranno, from my Deck!"

As the hat-wearing man's voice grew somewhat agitated, his hands rapidly searched through his Deck. He picked out one card and slapped it onto the table. There were five cards on the table, bearing the names "Ultimaya Tzolkin," "Crystal Wing Synchro Dragon," "Evolzar Laggia," "Yang Zing - Jiaotu," and the freshly played "Ultimate Conductor Tyranno."

"Finally, I'll activate the effect of the Nemesis Corridor in my hand, return the banished Ash Blossom & Joyous Spring to the Deck, Special Summon itself, and finally transform into Thunder Dragon Colossus."

"All right, all right, stop, stop. I concede, I concede." The man across from him returned all the cards in front of him and in his hand to his Deck and shuffled them as he spoke. "There's something wrong with you, kid. How do you keep drawing Dragonic Diagram and Nemesis Corridor? Aren't you only running one of each?"

The hat-wearing man was also gathering up his cards. As he did so, he said, "That's called a bond, okay? What would someone with dozens of Decks like you know about bonds?"

"Yes, yes, I have no bond with my Deck, all right? It's pretty late today. Want to go grab something to eat together?"

"No. I have to get up early for work tomorrow. Simplified Chinese's Classic Pack 3 is about to come out, and the new Japanese Dinosaur cards are coming too. I still have to bring the Dinosaurs home. I'm off." The hat-wearing man waved, hoisted his backpack onto his back, opened the door, and walked out. The next moment, a large truck sped past, and the hat-wearing man's figure vanished from everyone's sight.

Douluo Continent—Outside Holy Soul Village

A man carrying a sickle and a large basket on his back was making his way through the mountains. Although he was sturdy, the wrinkles on his face and the strands of white in his hair showed that he was already fairly old.

"It's so hot today. I'd better replenish my water before I continue picking mushrooms." The man muttered to himself, changed direction, and headed toward the stream. As soon as he reached the stream, he noticed a black mass beneath a large tree. Upon walking closer to inspect it, he found a black fur coat with a child wrapped inside.

The man picked up the child and saw a Pendant hanging around the sleeping child's neck. A single character, "Gu," was written on it. "My wife died young, and I never had any children. It seems Heaven didn't want me to die alone, so it sent you to me. The character on this Pendant may be your surname. Hmm... You, you'll be called Gu You from now on."

Perhaps awakened by the man's voice, the child in his arms opened his eyes and waved both hands around, making an indistinct sound. "Where am I? Why can't I see anything clearly?"

Time flew by, and six years passed.

"Xiao San, let's go. Grandpa said you should come with me to see him today. He seems to have something to tell you." A cute-looking boy with deep-set eyes spoke to a plain-looking boy who was staring directly at the rising sun.

"Got it, Xiao You. I'll go back and finish making Dad's meal first, then I'll go find you and Grandpa Jack." The boy called Xiao San picked up the basket from the ground and followed the boy called Xiao You. He asked, "Is something wrong? Why did he call me to your house so early in the morning?"

"It should be about the Martial Soul Awakening. After all, we're six now. Judging by the timing, the Lord Soul Master from Spirit Hall should be coming to our village in the next few days."

"Right, I completely forgot about the Martial Soul Awakening." Xiao San's eyes lit up. "I wonder what kind of Martial Soul we'll awaken. I'm really looking forward to it."

"Didn't you ask Uncle Tang?" Gu You asked. "Hasn't Uncle Tang ever used his Martial Soul at home?"

Xiao San spread his hands. "I did, but Dad wouldn't tell me, and he wouldn't show me his Martial Soul either. I don't know if it's because his Martial Soul is ordinary. When I asked what Mom's Martial Soul was, he seemed to get angry and went inside."

"Xiao San, do you remember what I told you before? Try guessing what your father's Martial Soul is." Gu You asked.

"It should be some kind of Hammer or another Tool, though it could also be metal like an iron block. I also guessed it might be an elemental Martial Soul like Flame, but you said you'd read in a book that elemental Martial Souls like Flame usually came with Innate Soul Power, allowing their owners to become Soul Masters. My dad is just a blacksmith, so it's unlikely that his Martial Soul is elemental."

"You also said that Martial Souls and people's occupations are often connected. It isn't necessarily accurate, but people with Tool Martial Souls often choose their jobs according to their Martial Souls. Those with a hoe or sickle Martial Soul become farmers, those with a Hammer become blacksmiths, and those with spears or blades take up combat-related professions, like guards or security officers. My dad is a blacksmith, so it should probably be a Hammer."

"Not bad, kid. You remember it pretty clearly. So even if Uncle Tang refuses to tell you, you have a general idea." Gu You spoke to Xiao San. "Let's split up here, then. Go home and finish making Uncle Tang's meal, then come to my house. You can eat lunch at my place too. Afterward, take some food back to Uncle Tang. In the afternoon, we'll go fishing at our usual spot, and I'll tell you about some new ideas I've had."

"All right, then I'll be off. I'll tell Dad, and then I'll hurry over as soon as I can." After Xiao San finished speaking, he turned and ran toward home, waving backward as he went.

Gu You stood where he was, watching Xiao San leave. In a voice so faint that even someone standing right beside him could barely hear it, he muttered to himself, "Tang San, you've finally reached the starting point of your destiny. I hope all the work I've put in during this time won't be wasted."

Gu You raised his head and looked at the sky. "I never thought I'd end up here, or even become Old Jack's grandson. I don't know if I'll be able to awaken Soul Power successfully. What a damnable world."

"Forget it. No point overthinking things." Gu You shook his head. "Success or failure will be decided tomorrow. Whether or not I awaken Soul Power, at the very least, I should be able to smoothly change the first turning point in Tang San's life. If I have Soul Power, then I can change the second turning point too. But if I don't, whether the second turning point goes smoothly or whether any subsequent changes happen won't be up to me."

"Come to think of it, why did I end up in a world like this? Wasn't I just getting a perfect starting hand every game? There was no need to send me to another world on a one-way ticket. Fortunately, it's a world I'm fairly familiar with, and it's still relatively peaceful. Otherwise, as a modern person who has never even killed a chicken, I'd probably have conceded right at the start."

"If I'm the protagonist of a novel, then at least my Soul Power is guaranteed. Maybe I'd even have a system cheat and take off immediately. But this is reality. What am I supposed to do?"

After saying that, Gu You crouched down with his hands clasped over his head. Only after a long while did he stand back up and rub his stomach. "I'm hungry. I should go home and eat first." With that, he ran toward home.

This is a new author's new book, so I hope everyone will support it. You should be able to tell from this chapter that this book is different from the current mainstream. It doesn't define Tang San as a purely irredeemable villain. I have some different views on this character, and I hope everyone will be willing to continue reading. I'll work hard to bring you an interesting story.