Xu Zihuang's Mother's Origins

Three days later, in an unknown sea where the waves rose and fell.

The sky was strewn with stars tonight as a majestic warship over a hundred meters long sailed slowly onward. At sea, one generally navigated by the sun during the day and the stars at night. However, due to the low visibility at night, the warship had clearly slowed as it traveled through these waters.

Starlight and moonlight mingled together, pouring through the glazed windows into a spacious room on the warship's highest deck.

Lying on the broad bed, Xu Zihuang's long eyelashes trembled slightly before he slowly opened his clear, amethyst-like eyes.

Though he had been born into Sun Moon Empire royalty, his appearance actually resembled his mother's more. He did not have the Sun Moon Empire royal family's typical dark complexion. Instead, he looked like a refined young man who perfectly matched popular tastes.

Sitting up and throwing aside the blanket made from fluffy Soul Beast fur, Xu Zihuang gave a bitter smile and raised his right hand to rub his brow.

"I was still too impulsive earlier."

A stabbing pain intermittently assailed his mind.

Although he could absolutely suppress Haixiao in terms of attributes, Ultimate Lightning was not so easily controlled. Of all attributes, Thunder Attribute had always been known as the most violent. It was only because he possessed the spiritual attribute Body Martial Soul, the Golden Eye Martial Soul, and had precise control over his Soul Power and Martial Soul that he had barely managed to condense that small web of lightning.

At that thought, Xu Zihuang's expression suddenly became complicated. He had clearly sensed the oppressive force of Haixiao's Eighth Soul Skill weaken in an instant at the very end.

How could he fail to see that Haixiao had been trying to help him until the very last moment?

He could not say that he felt any dislike toward someone like Haixiao. In his view, Haixiao was merely somewhat blindly loyal, but that was only because they stood on different sides. As a ruler, who would not like a subordinate like that?

"I wonder how long I was unconscious." Feeling the faint swaying beneath his feet, Xu Zihuang steadily pushed open the heavy door and walked out. The powerful physique he had tempered since childhood with all manner of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures showed its benefits now. His Soul Power and stamina had already recovered on their own; only his mental energy had been somewhat overly depleted.

The bone-piercing cold wind, carrying the scent of the sea, made him instinctively pull his purple formal robes tighter around himself. From the uppermost deck cabin, he could better overlook the entire warship and the boundless Black Sea Area surrounding it.

Having been granted a new life, his heart could not help but surge with hot blood.

From this day onward, the sky was vast enough for birds to fly, and the sea broad enough for fish to leap!

Before long, a series of hurried footsteps sounded behind Xu Zihuang.

The newcomer was Elder Yu, dressed in fitted black clothing. The several Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps Soldiers following behind him had also removed their armor and changed into close-fitting attire.

"Young Master, you're awake?!" Elder Yu looked at Xu Zihuang in delighted surprise. Noticing Xu Zihuang's thin clothing, he hurriedly took out a black fur cloak from his Storage Soul Tool and draped it over Xu Zihuang's shoulders.

The cloak looked thin and lightweight, but it was exceptionally warm. Its collar was further decorated with dense black feathers that shimmered beneath the moonlight. It was clearly no ordinary item.

"That's enough, Elder Yu. I'm not that frail."

Xu Zihuang waved his hand, helplessly stopping Elder Yu, who still wanted to search through his Soul Tool for more things.

"How long was I unconscious?"

"Young Master, you've been unconscious for three days," Elder Yu replied with an embarrassed smile. "Why don't you return to your room and rest first? I'll inform the Regiment Commander to come see you?"

"No need. I'll go see Elder Wang myself." A flash of brilliant golden light passed through Xu Zihuang's eyes. After speaking, he headed directly toward the deck. He had just used the Golden Eye Martial Soul to observe the color of the surrounding seawater and the currents within it.

He discovered that they seemed to have entered the Deep Sea. They could encounter powerful Sea Soul Beasts here at any moment, so Wang Xiao, as the Regiment Commander, was better off remaining at the center to oversee things. He did not want to put everyone in danger over such a matter.

"Young Master..." Elder Yu quickly followed behind Xu Zihuang, while also instructing the several subordinates behind him to remain where they were and keep watch over their surroundings.

Xu Zihuang's prediction had been correct. Over the past three days, they had already suffered several attacks from Sea Soul Beasts, including some with Cultivation exceeding ten thousand years. Fortunately, everyone was powerful, and the warship possessed various highly destructive Soul Tools, so there had been no casualties.

The Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps Soldiers on the spacious deck had all changed into casual clothing. If not for the ever-present killing intent they exuded, it would have been difficult to tell that they were a formidable Elite Soul Engineer Corps.

When everyone noticed Xu Zihuang approaching, they respectfully bowed to him. However, none of them left their posts without permission.

Wang Xiao, who had been seated atop a storage crate in the center of the deck, rose to his feet and approached Xu Zihuang alongside Yaoyang, who wore luxurious silver-white Soul Master robes.

"Young Master."

"Zihuang."

Xu Zihuang nodded warmly at the two of them.

He had far too many questions, but for now, he could only ask them one by one. The thing that puzzled him most was his Second Martial Soul, the Purple Blazing Sky Dragon Martial Soul. He indeed possessed a pure Purple Sun Annihilating Heaven Dragon Bloodline, but he could not explain why his Martial Soul possessed the Extreme Thunder Attribute.

After his brief time with Yaoyang, he could sense Yaoyang's sincere concern for him. Furthermore, from the close relationship between Yaoyang and Wang Xiao, he knew that Yaoyang likely shared deep ties with his parents.

He had no intention of concealing these matters from Yaoyang, Elder Yu behind him, or the Imperial Dragon Soul Mentor Corps Soldiers.

They were all people absolutely worthy of his trust. He had no interest in playing weak before them only to reveal his strength later. He wanted to tell everyone: I am a genius!

"Elder Wang, Brother Yang, is the mutation in my Martial Soul related to my mother?" Xu Zihuang extended his hands from beneath the black cloak and asked the two thoughtfully.

His long, fair left hand was gradually enveloped in deep purple flames, becoming crystalline like jade. The flames drifted in the wind and looked no different from ordinary fire, yet they carried a fearsome Destruction Aura, as though they could destroy all life.

Meanwhile, blackish-purple lightning surged within his right palm, radiating a heart-palpitating aura.

Just as expected.

Wang Xiao's eyes lit up. A long-lost smile appeared on his fierce face as he nodded. "Young Master, the change in your Martial Soul is indeed related to Princess Consort."

At those words, Yaoyang also turned his gaze toward Wang Xiao.

Could it really be...

He knew nothing about Xu Zihuang's mother, but there were few powerful lightning attribute Martial Souls on the entire continent. And one capable of rivaling the Purple Blazing Sky Dragon Martial Soul was likely only the inherited Martial Soul of that ancient clan from the former Douluo Continent.

A look of reminiscence appeared on Wang Xiao's face, and his gaze toward Xu Zihuang carried a trace of bitterness.

Princess Consort had already passed away. There was no longer any need to hide those matters.

"Princess Consort came from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that, Ten Thousand Years Ago, was known as the sect with the number one Beast Martial Soul in the world."

"What?!" Xu Zihuang looked at Wang Xiao in astonishment. It made sense, yet it was also beyond his expectations.

Now, he finally understood why his mother had never mentioned her origins to him. The union between his parents had likely been unacceptable to both sides.

If you like it, please cast a recommendation vote. I put a great deal of effort into writing this opening because it was really for the protagonist's first two Soul Rings. They'll appear within twenty chapters. As for those complaining that the pacing is slow, there's nothing I can do about that. This is simply my style—I can't have him transmigrate in the first chapter, awaken his Martial Soul in the second, and obtain Soul Rings in the third...