The Cauldron Stabilizes Heaven and Earth

Dead silence.

Inside the Spirit Hall branch in Nuoding City, time seemed to have frozen. Whether it was Su Yuntao on the platform or the children and parents below, everyone seemed to have been struck by a paralysis spell, their vacant gazes fixed on Zhang Bufan and the pile of Crystal Ball fragments at his feet, faintly gleaming blue.

"Gulp."

Someone swallowed with difficulty, the sound exceptionally clear in the pin-drop silence.

Su Yuntao's body swayed slightly, as if he could barely remain standing. He stared fixedly at Zhang Bufan, his wolf eyes glowing green from Martial Soul Possession, filled with utter shock, confusion, and a trace of... fear?

As a Spirit Hall deacon, he had traveled far and wide and seen his share of the world. He had seen geniuses with Innate Soul Power at level five or six, and had even heard of peerless prodigies in major cities with Innate Soul Power at level eight or nine. But... making the testing Crystal Ball explode outright? Having a Soul Power Level displayed as "???"?

This had completely overturned everything he knew! This was not something Innate Full Soul Power—level ten—could explain! This child's Soul Power was like an abyssal sea, unfathomably deep, even exceeding the detection limit of this low-grade Crystal Ball!

"Mon... monster..." A nearly inaudible word slipped from one parent's lips, carrying indescribable terror.

Zhang Bufan's scalp prickled under everyone's stares, especially Su Yuntao's gaze, which seemed ready to peel him apart and study every bone in his body. A chill ran down his back. He cautiously raised the hand still held in midair and asked weakly, "Um... Master Su Yuntao? This Crystal Ball... it exploded on its own. I... I don't have to compensate for it, right? I really don't have any money..."

His voice carried the clear brightness unique to a young boy and echoed through the silent hall, though its content was utterly out of place amid the solemn—or rather, horrifying—atmosphere.

"Pfft—"

A few parents with stronger nerves nearly burst out laughing, but immediately clamped their hands over their mouths when they realized this was not the right occasion.

Su Yuntao was also pulled back to reality by that utterly unexpected question. The corner of his mouth twitched. Looking at Zhang Bufan's innocent yet uneasy expression—mostly because he was afraid of paying compensation—he did not know how to respond for a moment.

Compensation? Was this really the time to be thinking about that?!

He took a deep breath, then another, forcibly suppressing his surging blood and chaotic thoughts. His professional instincts told him that what had happened before him was beyond his ability to handle. An unknown and powerful Martial Soul, a "monster" with bottomless Soul Power... this had to be reported immediately. At once! To the main hall, perhaps even to higher authorities!

"You..." Su Yuntao's voice still carried an imperceptible tremor as he tried to sound calm. "What is your name?"

"Zhang Bufan."

"Zhang Bufan..." Su Yuntao repeated the name, as though engraving it into his heart. He looked at the record book, where he had written, "Martial Soul: Unknown Bronze Cauldron," "Soul Power: Level ???," and felt the pen in his hand weigh as much as Qian Jun.

"Child, you are very good." Su Yuntao forced a kind smile, though it looked somewhat stiff. "Wait to the side for now. Once the ceremony is over, I have some matters to discuss with you... and your family." Instinctively, he assumed a child like this might have an extraordinary background.

"Family?" Zhang Bufan froze, then his expression dimmed. "I'm an orphan. I don't have any family."

"An orphan?" Surprise flashed through Su Yuntao's eyes, only to be replaced by even greater confusion. How could an orphan possess such heaven-defying talent? It made no sense!

But he did not ask further, merely nodding. "Then wait to the side for now."

Zhang Bufan obediently walked to one side of the platform and leaned against a cold stone pillar. He could feel everyone's gazes still focused on him like searchlights, filled with complicated emotions—curiosity, reverence, jealousy, and even a trace of inexplicable fear.

He lowered his head and spread open his right hand, his thoughts stirring slightly.

The ancient, dark Bronze Cauldron silently appeared above his palm once more, slowly rotating. This time, he had the chance to examine it carefully.

The more he observed it, the more violently his heart shook.

The Patterns on the cauldron were by no means simple decorations. Some resembled winding rivers, some undulating mountain ranges, some mysterious star charts, while others looked like ancient writing he had never seen before. Together, they formed a vast and mysterious tapestry, as though explaining the birth of Heaven and Earth, the evolution of civilization, and some supreme truth.

A sensation of blood connection and effortless control arose naturally. This cauldron was part of his body, an extension of his soul.

"[Nine Cauldrons of Huaxia]..." A name exploded in the depths of his mind like thunder!

As a modern young man who had received compulsory education, how could he not know the legend of the Nine Cauldrons? Yu gathered metal from the Nine Provinces and cast the Nine Cauldrons, symbolizing Jiuzhou. They were revered as national treasures, symbols of supreme royal authority, national unity, and prosperity! They were among the oldest and most sacred artifacts of Chinese civilization!

The legend was real?! My Martial Soul is actually the [Nine Cauldrons of Huaxia]?! Though there only seems to be one right now... Zhang Bufan's heart churned like a raging sea. Guarding Jiuzhou, stabilizing Heaven and Earth... isn't that prestige a little too absurd?!

He tried to sense the power of the little cauldron. As his consciousness sank into it, it was as though he had plunged into a boundless universe where Chaos had yet to unfold. There was no light, no darkness—only the most primordial, vast, and ancient power flowing slowly. This power seemed to encompass everything and contain endless possibilities—creation and destruction, order and chaos, time and space... as though the origin of the world itself lay within!

Although all he could currently draw upon was an insignificant wisp from that universe, even so, he could feel a terrifying might capable of shaking mountains and overturning rivers!

"Hiss—" Zhang Bufan sucked in a sharp breath and hurriedly severed the connection. Even that slight contact had made his soul feel as though it would be assimilated and devoured by that boundless power.

This thing... seems a little too ridiculously powerful! Zhang Bufan stared at the little cauldron in his palm with lingering fear, finally understanding why Su Yuntao and the others had looked as though they had seen a ghost.

He secretly glanced at Su Yuntao, who was still forcing himself to calmly preside over the ceremony, though his gaze kept drifting back. This "Blind Douluo" was probably regretting it so badly his intestines had turned green. If he had known, he should have brought a higher-grade Crystal Ball, right?

But what does level "???" mean? What exactly is my Soul Power level? Zhang Bufan was somewhat confused. Could it be that because of the Nine Cauldrons, the quality or attribute of my Soul Power is special and beyond normal testing standards?

He recalled the warm energy that had poured into his body earlier—the power of the Awakening Array. Upon touching the Nine Cauldrons Origin, it had been like a stream flowing into the sea, assimilated and absorbed without even raising a ripple.

Looks like my cheat... is a little bigger than I imagined? Zhang Bufan rubbed his chin, the corners of his mouth rising uncontrollably. His previous gloom and worry over transmigrating into an orphan's body had already been swept away by this enormous surprise.

Crushing everyone while invincible? Picking up girls? It seemed... those were no longer distant dreams.

While his mind played out grand visions of a bright future, Su Yuntao finally hurriedly concluded the awakening ceremonies for the remaining children—without surprise, they still had useless Martial Souls and no Soul Power. But at this moment, no one cared about them anymore.

Su Yuntao quickly walked over to Zhang Bufan, his expression incomparably serious and even carrying a trace of respect. "Zhang Bufan, correct? Please come with me. Master Ma Xiunuo wishes to see you."

"Ma Xiunuo? The master of Nuoding City's Spirit Hall?" Zhang Bufan's heart stirred. He knew the real show was beginning. Whether it was fortune or disaster, he had to face it.

He nodded, put away his Martial Soul, and followed Su Yuntao toward the rear of the hall.

As he passed the children and parents still standing there dumbfounded, he heard scattered whispers.

"Heavens, what did I just see? The Crystal Ball exploded?"

"What was that child's Martial Soul? A cauldron? I've never heard of one before!"

"Soul Power level '???'... could he be a reincarnated immortal?"

"Nuoding City is about to produce a true dragon..."

Zhang Bufan kept his eyes forward, but his heart burned with excitement.

He knew that from today onward, the name Zhang Bufan would no longer remain unknown. What kind of monstrous waves would this [Nine Cauldrons] from China stir up in this world called Douluo Continent?

He was looking forward to it immensely.

His journey was the Sea of Stars... uh, no, that was wrong. It was beating Tang San into submission—if necessary—winning Huo Wu over, and incidentally... becoming invincible beneath the heavens!

His horizons had just opened right up, hadn't they?