Star Crown Sect

Atop a peak called Starfall Mountain, in the western mountains of the Star Luo Empire.

Several children around five or six years old were circling the Training Field. They called it running, but it was really closer to a morning walk.

"Children, come over and rest for a bit. Don't wear yourselves out."

The Star Crown Sect Great Elder looked at the little sprouts before him, smiling so broadly his eyes narrowed into slits.

This was the most populous generation the Star Crown Sect had ever had—there were a full six of them.

His gaze fell on the little sprout running at the very back, and he could not help letting out a soft sigh.

Since its founding by the First Generation Star Crown Douluo, the Star Crown Sect had already existed for several thousand years. It was a hidden sect within the Star Luo Empire.

Most of the sect's disciples avoided the world, living a paradise-like life removed from ordinary affairs.

Hearing the elder's words, the little sprout in the lead brought his five followers running up to him.

"Chunyi Grandpa, we're here! Where's today's sweet water?"

"Heh heh, look how impatient you all are. It's right here. Drink up, one bowl each."

The Great Elder stepped aside, revealing the iron bucket behind him. What was inside was precisely the sweet water the little sprouts had to drink every day after training.

"Drink slowly, drink slowly. Remember to walk around after you finish, and all of you must go to your Uncle Fangluo's place."

The Star Crown Sect—or rather, the Star Crown Clan—generally did not actively take in outsiders apart from through marriage, so its numbers were fairly small.

All children of the clan began receiving the sect's training at the age of four, continuing until they awakened their Martial Souls at six.

Only with the help of Support Soul Masters and sweet water made from precious herbs could the children improve their physical potential through training.

Without those, making an ordinary four-year-old train every day while only eating steamed buns and radishes would leave them not far from ruined, even if they did not collapse outright.

Besides, the so-called training was nothing more than a slow jog, and would absolutely not harm the children's bodies.

Speaking of Support Soul Masters, one had to mention the Martial Soul passed down through generations of the Star Crown Sect: the Star Crown.

As an all-rounder Martial Soul that combined offense, defense, and support, the Star Crown Martial Soul would gain different Soul Skills depending on the Soul Rings produced by the different soul beasts it absorbed.

Its appearance was like a resplendent crown. When used, it hovered above the Soul Master's head, exquisite and beautiful.

Many gemstones were set upon it, as though it were a work of art painstakingly carved by the finest craftsman.

After the little sprouts finished their sweet water, they said goodbye to the Great Elder and slowly walked to Uncle Fangluo's home.

This was a rule of the sect. Walking slowly after drinking the sweet water helped the body absorb it.

"Uncle Fangluo, we're here!"

The door opened, and a middle-aged man with a full beard walked out.

"Mingguang's here, and the rest of you too. Training was hard today, wasn't it?"

As he spoke, Xu Fangluo's Star Crown Martial Soul appeared above his head, and five Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and one black—appeared beside him.

The Star Crown Martial Soul bloomed with light, and the second yellow Soul Ring and third purple Soul Ring lit up at the same time.

A warm yellow-orange light shone over the six little sprouts, cozy and very comfortable.

Xu Fangluo was one of the few Support Soul Masters in the Star Crown Sect. His Second Soul Skill, Star Healing, came from the Morning Light Butterfly and could ease physical fatigue and lift the spirit.

His Third Soul Skill, Star Mend, came from the Star Patterned Snake. This soul beast could absorb starlight to recover after being injured, and the Soul Skill obtained from it could repair a Soul Master's injuries.

With the two Soul Skills layered together, guiding the sweet water they had drunk, it could more or less completely eliminate all negative effects that training brought to their still-developing bodies.

"Thank you, Uncle Fangluo. Then we'll head back first."

"Alright. Mingguang, all of you be careful on the way back. Don't fall down. I don't want to see you running back here crying."

"Uncle Fangluo, you're bringing that up again. If you don't mention that, we're still good friends."

The childish little voice made Xu Fangluo burst into hearty laughter. The little sprouts ignored him, and under Xu Mingguang's lead, they ran off chattering away.

Watching the six little sprouts run off, Xu Fangluo felt as if he had grown a little younger himself.

However, when he looked at the little sprout running at the very back, the one who had not said a single word since coming over, he still felt a bit of a headache.

"That child Mingxi still dislikes talking this much. If only he were like Mingguang."

And Xu Mingxi, who seemed somewhat withdrawn in Xu Fangluo's words, returned home, looked at himself in the mirror, and let out a deep sigh.

Xu Mingxi had been called by this name in his previous life as well. After graduating from university, he could not find a job and became a shut-in.

Unable to endure the gossip of all the aunts and relatives who came visiting, he had told his parents in advance and gone out to clear his head.

If he could not afford to offend them, could he not avoid them?

Who would have thought that while he was taking a walk, a truck would suddenly lose control and send him flying?

Through the efforts of the Heavenly Sovereign, Xu Mingxi was finally sent to the Douluo Continent.

"Five years already. I'm really still not used to pretending to be a child. Good thing Brother Mingguang is taking the lead."

Xu Mingxi had transmigrated in the womb. Having thoroughly read the original Douluo II and Douluo I fanfics in his previous life, he naturally knew what kind of place he had arrived in.

Fortunately, in his previous life, he had also had an older brother who was better than him by an unknown number of times. If one said his parents valued Xu Mingxi, that was not really accurate either.

And so, with someone to look after his parents in his previous life, Xu Mingxi gradually came to accept his relatives and friends in the Star Crown Sect.

But he truly had no idea how to act like a child. To avoid exposing himself, he could only play the part of someone who did not talk much.

"Mingxi, come out and eat."

"Coming."

Xu Mingxi walked out of his room. His parents in this life were already seated at the dining table.

"Mingxi, hurry and wash your hands. It's time to eat."

The one speaking was Xu Mingxi's mother, Xu Ya, a Level 56 agility-attack type Battle Soul King with the Jadeite Singing Luan Martial Soul. She had been born a commoner, and had met and fallen in love with Father Xu while traveling.

She wore a pale blue robe, with an emerald-green hairpin coiling up her hair, looking intellectual and elegant.

The handsome man seated beside her was Xu Mingxi's father, Xu Fangming, a Level 61 assault type Battle Soul Emperor with the Star Crown Martial Soul.

"You little brat. I heard from the old man that you came in last again during today's training?"

The old man Xu Fangming spoke of was none other than the Star Crown Sect's First Elder, Xu Chunyi, Xu Mingxi's grandfather.

The First Elder was a Level 91 assault type Titled Douluo powerhouse. It was just that he had never gone to Spirit Hall to accept an official title, so outsiders did not know of him.

"Dad, Brother Mingguang did a pretty good job leading us on the run."

"Ah, you... Still, Mingguang really is a good child."

Where there were people, there would be competition. Xu Fangming naturally hoped his own child would do better.

It was just that Xu Mingguang was the sect master's grandson, and even more so, he was publicly recognized within the sect as outstanding.

Once he awakened the Star Crown Martial Soul with Innate Soul Power above rank nine, his position as Young Sect Master would probably be established.

Xu Mingxi did not care much about this either. Since his last life, he had long since grown used to his elder brother's excellence, and was perfectly willing to remain an invisible nobody behind him.

Besides, if he remembered correctly, the Star Crown lineage was the imperial clan of the Star Luo Empire in Douluo Two, right? Spirit Hall's war probably would not affect Starfall Mountain... right?

Xu Mingguang had been raised from childhood by his sect master grandfather as his successor. Internally, he looked after his younger brothers and sisters; externally, he had earned the approval of the vast majority of the elders.

Moreover, Sect Master Xu Chunxing was a Level 95 control type Titled Douluo, titled Star Crown.

His grandson Xu Mingguang was the undisputed successor. No one could shake his position.

Xu Mingxi ate in big mouthfuls. Was the Soul Beast Meat in his bowl not fragrant anymore, or was the sweet water not tasty anymore? Why waste all that effort fighting Brother Mingguang?

After dinner, Xu Mingxi was called out by a few young companions who came to his door.

Although he only wanted to lie in bed, he still lost under his parents' concerned gazes and was dragged outside by Xu Mingguang.

"Brother Mingguang, slow down, slow down. Where are you taking me?"

"Mingxi, we're taking you somewhere good."

"Mm-hmm, we found it ourselves."

The ones chiming in were a pair of twins, Xu Mingyue and Xu Mingxing, one boy and one girl. They were Second Elder's descendants, and were also five years old.

Following at the very back were two even smaller little turnips, Xu Mingjie and Xu Mingying, both only four years old.

Their parents were merely ordinary soul masters of the sect. On normal days, they always followed behind the four of them, calling them elder brothers and elder sisters.

The twins were young, so the place they had found naturally would not be very far. The group soon arrived at their destination.

This was a small hill on Starfall Mountain. The entire hill was covered in Blue Silver Grass that could be seen everywhere. Starlight scattered down, and the specks of light were truly beautiful.

The few of them lay on the Blue Silver Grass and gazed up at the starry sky. That vast sea of stars was the faith of every member of the Star Crown Sect.

"Brother Mingguang, what Martial Soul do you think we'll awaken after a while?"

"Do you even need to ask? It'll definitely be the Star Crown Martial Soul. I'm definitely going to become an amazing soul master like Grandpa."

Before Xu Mingguang could speak, the twins were already chattering over each other, their words full of a child's yearning for the future.

Xu Mingxi simply lay quietly beside them, gazing up at the starry sky. Whether it was his father's Star Crown or his mother's Jadeite Singing Luan, he could accept either.

To put it in the words of a certain great theoretical Master who would one day stand at the peak of Soul Grand Masters: there were no useless Martial Souls, only useless soul masters.

Isn't that right, Light Holy Dragon trapped in the body of a swine, Luo Sanpao?

That was right. It was still early in the timeline, according to information his parents had inadvertently let slip.

Five years ago, the sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had been blessed with a son, and named him Yu Xiaogang.

Xu Mingxi, Yu Xiaogang, Tang Hao, and the others were all of the same era.