1: Bro, I Have the World-Destroying Black Lotus, and You're Calling Me an Evil Soul Master?

In a remote village outside Shrek City, six-year-old Lu Jing looked at the long line ahead of him, his childish face filled with worry and anticipation.

It had been six years since he had transmigrated to Douluo Continent. The moment that would decide his fate had finally arrived.

As long as he awakened a decent Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power, he would have enough confidence to carve out a place for himself in this chaotic age on the verge of war. After all, even Huo Yuhao, who had only level-one Innate Soul Power, had grown into the God of Emotion above the Nine Heavens. Knowing so much, there was no reason he could not do the same.

Of course, that depended on him getting every one of those opportunities under his control. Otherwise, he would still be finished.

As time passed, it was nearly evening by the time it was his turn to awaken his Martial Soul.

Before him stood a youth dressed in splendid clothes, accompanied by a sweet-looking maiden. They both looked noble and extraordinary.

"My name is Beibei, and I'm a disciple of Shrek Academy. If you awaken a decent Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power, would you be willing to join Shrek Academy?"

Looking at the youth before him, Beibei showed no impatience. Instead, he smiled and spoke gently.

"Yes, absolutely!"

Right now, as long as someone could help him awaken his Martial Soul, never mind joining Shrek Academy—even joining the Holy Spirit Cult would not be too much of a problem. After all, this was no longer Ten Thousand Years Ago, when Spirit Hall could awaken Martial Souls for free.

To put it bluntly, he was broke and had no background. Otherwise, why would he have to humble himself like this?

"Good!"

Beibei nodded in satisfaction. Then, under Tang Ya's and the surrounding villagers' watchful eyes, he began Lu Jing's Martial Soul awakening.

As Beibei's Soul Power flowed into him, a brilliant Golden Light lit up from Lu Jing's body.

Very soon, the Golden Light faded, replaced by a darkness as black as ink.

It was a black lotus, formed entirely from the purest chaotic aura of Annihilation. Its blackness was profound, as though it could swallow all light. Its petals overlapped layer upon layer, each one seeming to have been forged from black crystal. Dark Gold Dao patterns flowed along their edges, yet they also carried a bone-chilling deathly stillness and Destructive aura.

The lotus platform was covered in ancient and mysterious runes of Annihilation. These runes had not been drawn afterward; they had been born alongside the Black Lotus itself, manifestations of the laws of chaotic Destruction.

At times, the runes faded away, making the Black Lotus appear ancient and unadorned. At other times, they shone, releasing waves of destruction that sent ripples through the surrounding space, as though it might collapse at any moment.

At the heart of the lotus burned an eternal black flame of Annihilation. The flame was utterly silent, yet it possessed the terrifying power to burn everything to ashes, including time and space. Deep within its core, countless worlds could vaguely be seen cycling through birth and destruction. It was the embodiment of the chaotic destructive essence contained within the World-Destroying Black Lotus.

The instant the Golden Light vanished, the pitch-black lotus floated over Lu Jing's palm, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

Beibei's smile stiffened. His outstretched hand halted in midair, and a trace of shock and suspicion flashed through his eyes—he had never seen such a strange Martial Soul. The aura of destruction within that pure darkness even caused the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul inside him to stir restlessly.

Tang Ya covered her mouth, her sweet face full of astonishment, and even her breathing grew lighter. The villagers were utterly silent as well. Their expectant gazes from moments ago had all turned to shock, and they looked at the Black Lotus as if it were some monstrous calamity.

The silence lasted for three breaths before someone at the back of the crowd suddenly shrieked, "Evil Soul Master! That's an Evil Soul Master's Martial Soul!"

Like a thunderclap exploding out of nowhere, the villagers instantly erupted.

The words "Evil Soul Master" were like poison-coated needles, viciously stabbing into everyone's hearts—who had not heard the rumors of Evil Soul Masters slaughtering living beings? Those demons who nourished their Martial Souls through killing had always been synonymous with disaster.

"Kill him! We can't let an Evil Soul Master bring disaster upon the village!" An old man with a wrinkled face roared while leaning on his cane, vicious light bursting from his cloudy eyes.

"Master Beibei, Master Tang Ya, hurry and do something!"

Someone shouted at Beibei and Tang Ya, "That brat doesn't look like anything good. Keeping him alive will only bring trouble!"

"That's right! Get rid of him! We can't take the risk!"

Roars tangled with anger and fear rose one after another. The villagers gripped hoes and sickles as they closed in step by step, looking at Lu Jing as though he were already a corpse.

They did not care whether the child truly was an Evil Soul Master. They only knew that if he really was, this remote village would be the first to suffer.

Lu Jing trembled all over, the color draining from his childish face. He instinctively clenched his fists, and the Black Lotus quivered slightly with his movements. He protested, "I'm not an Evil Soul Master! This is the World-Destroying Black Lotus, it's..."

"World-destroying, huh?"

A burly man cut him off, spitting as he shouted angrily, "You're talking about destroying the world and still dare say you're not an Evil Soul Master? I think you're a spy sent by the Evil Soul Masters!"

"Exactly! He must be here to harm us!"

Lu Jing shook with rage, his chest heaving violently as his furious gaze swept across the vicious faces around him.

More than anyone, he knew that in this era, once one was branded an "Evil Soul Master," there were only two choices: be hunted to death, or truly seek refuge in the Holy Spirit Cult. Both paths led to death!

At that moment, Beibei moved.

His eyes narrowed, Blue Light blazing around his body as his Soul Power erupted without restraint. With a Dragon Roar, he threw a punch straight at Lu Jing's face. He could not take the risk. Shrek's duty was to protect. Even if the other party was only a child, as long as there was even the slightest threat, he had to make a move.

Lu Jing's pupils contracted sharply. At the brink of life and death, his body's instincts overwhelmed his fear. He suddenly swung out his right hand, sending the World-Destroying Black Lotus to meet the fist.

Bang!

The instant fist and lotus collided, a terrifying shockwave erupted. Beibei felt as though his fist had struck a chunk of black iron containing Destruction Power, numbing his entire arm. Lu Jing, meanwhile, was like a man struck by a boulder, sent flying backward before crashing heavily to the ground.

Though he had not suffered any serious injuries, he did not dare hesitate or linger. He hurriedly scrambled to his feet, the World-Destroying Black Lotus spinning behind him. The black aura it emitted forced back the villagers trying to approach.

He glanced at Beibei, who was closing in step by step, and the villagers with Killing Intent in their eyes. Gritting his teeth, he turned and sprinted toward the dark forest beyond the village—the Star Dou Great Forest was the only refuge he could think of now.

"Don't let him get away!"

"Get him!"

Shouts rang out behind him. Lu Jing did not dare look back. His small figure stumbled through the twilight, the World-Destroying Black Lotus in his palm giving off a dim glow that illuminated his face, streaked with tears and determination.

He knew that from this moment onward, his path was destined to be paved with blood and fire amid doubt and pursuit.