The Divine Realm.
A certain God King holding a Golden Fork frowned and raised his hand, sending a dark-red beam shooting forth. His voice rang with authority. "How dare an alien species interfere with the Douluo Continent? You've sealed your own doom!"
"Third Brother, what's wrong?" cried a woman in a pink dress, her hair braided into a scorpion tail. She hurried over from behind him, worry in her eyes, and gently took his wrist.
Tang San's handsome face softened with affection and concern. He slowly shook his head. "It's nothing. Sorry for worrying you."
"After ten thousand years of development, the Tang Sect has long since fallen into decline. And that rising star has countless ties to my Tang Sect..."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Tang San's face. Blue light flashed in his eyes as he looked down, and his expression changed dramatically. "The planet Douluo Continent... What's going on?"
Tang San swept the area below with his Divine Sense and discovered that the dark-red beam he'd fired hadn't pierced the so-called alien species. Unnoticed by Tang San, the alien species had enveloped a Soul from Another World and precisely cast it into the White Tiger Duke.
Then, the system's White Light Sphere transformed into a mass of White Unknown Liquid. Like batter coating a chicken leg, a membrane spread over the entire Douluo Continent.
Tang San tried to activate his Divine Sense, only to be shocked to discover that it couldn't penetrate the membrane. He could no longer interfere with the lower realm.
The gods' inability to interfere with the lower realm had become a reality.
Fifty miles outside the Star Luo Empire stood a magnificent palace: the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
That night was destined to be extraordinary.
Dark clouds shrouded the sky outside, lightning flashing and thunder rumbling.
Inside, dim lamplight illuminated the corners of a room measuring less than thirty square meters, where the servants lived. A baby had just been born.
"Waaah, waaah!"
The piercing cries rang in time with the lightning and thunder outside, heralding the child's unusual nature.
The pale, delicate-looking woman gazed lovingly at the tightly swaddled baby, whose eyes were closed and skin was wrinkled. A happy smile spread across her face.
The woman was named Huo Yun'er, and she was the personal maid of the current White Tiger Duke of the Star Luo Empire.
The child was hers and the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao's. Since Huo Yun'er was only a maid, the child had naturally become an illegitimate son.
The Duke stood second only to the imperial family. Aside from the White Tiger Duke's First Madam, only a handful of people knew of Huo Yuhao's birth.
Dai Hao had spent years away at war and still didn't know that he'd somehow gained a son—and that the child was an idiot...
"Reporting to First Madam, that boy called Dai Yuhao..."
The White Tiger Duke's First Madam gave the maid a cold look, making her shudder. She hurriedly corrected herself. "That bastard maid's son, Huo Yuhao, is three years old now. He can't speak, let alone recognize his mother. In this servant's opinion, the child won't amount to anything."
Only then did First Madam's expression ease. A contemptuous smile curled her lips. "She thinks that just because she's pretty, she can seduce the Duke. She should know her place. Still, this works out well. I'd thought that child might threaten Huabin and Yue Heng. If he's an idiot, then let him be."
"And don't forget: from now on, give that bastard maid all the dirty, exhausting work in the household. A maid should know her place. If I ever see her resting, you'll do the same work she was supposed to do."
Those were the last words the White Tiger Duke's First Madam left behind.
From then on, Huo Yun'er grew thinner by the day. There was always more work to do. Though she was young and should have been in the prime of her beauty, her slender fingers—once as tender as spring onions—were now covered in scars and calluses. Even in the depths of winter, she had to soak them in icy water to wash clothes.
Huo Yun'er wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked up at Huo Yuhao beneath a tree, staring blankly up at the sky. All her troubles faded away.
To outsiders, her son was an idiot, a fool. But to Huo Yun'er, he was her precious child—the one person, besides Dai Hao, who mattered most to her.
Spring passed, autumn came, and six years went by in the blink of an eye.
Martial Souls were a miracle of the Douluo Continent. Everyone, regardless of gender, could awaken one upon reaching the age of six.
Martial Souls were divided into Beast Martial Souls and Tool Martial Souls. Apart from these two types, there was also the Body Martial Soul, which centered on a part of the body.
Body Martial Soul Owners were rare. The renowned Body Sect in the Soul Master World was a gathering place for Body Martial Soul Soul Masters. If a Body Martial Soul underwent a Second Awakening, its future would be promising.
At the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, the Duchess was personally present to oversee the ceremony.
The Duchess sat on a luxurious, plush Sofa, her gaze lowered as she surveyed the children awaiting their Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony that year.
Some of the children were from the Duke's concubines, some were White Tiger Guards, and others were the children of servants like Dai Yun'er.
A flicker of emotion appeared in the Duchess's composed eyes.
Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao stood at the front of the line, mother and son having chosen the first spot. Huo Yun'er had no complaints about her treatment at the Duke's Mansion. Even knowing the Duchess was deliberately making things difficult for her, she had always kept a calm outlook.
"Tool Martial Soul: sickle. No Soul Power."
"Beast Martial Soul: leopard. Soul Power Level Three."
The person in charge of awakening the children's Martial Souls was the Duke's Mansion's butler. Whenever he announced a child had Soul Power, a servant would immediately lead the child away to register.
Any child with Soul Power could become a Soul Master, regardless of Martial Soul Quality. Whether they chose to go to war with the Duke or become a Soul Master in the Duke's Mansion, they would at least escape the status of "servant."
Soon, Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao stood before the butler.
The Duke's Mansion's butler was named Dai Li. He had once served as a Guard to the previous Duke. After being injured on the battlefield and retiring, Dai Hao had appointed him butler to help the Duchess manage the household.
Butler Dai Li couldn't bear to see what had happened to Huo Yun'er and her son, and had quietly helped the pitiful mother and son in secret.
"Uncle Li." Huo Yun'er didn't look up to meet the Duchess's eyes, but she greeted the butler.
The butler's expression was complicated, but there was a hint of delight in his eyes.
The child before him, Huo Yuhao, was the Duke's son. Even if he was illegitimate, he was still Dai Hao's flesh and blood.
"The Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony is about to begin. Yuhao, come over here to Uncle Li."
Huo Yuhao, whose mind had yet to awaken, looked up blankly. His clear eyes studied Uncle Li with curiosity, then turned toward his mother, who was encouraging him with a smile. He instinctively walked between the six Black Stones.
At that moment, the air grew heavy. The Duchess gripped the Sofa's armrest, a hint of murderous intent in her eyes.
Her eldest son, Dai Yueheng, had awakened the White Tiger Martial Soul and had recently enrolled at Shrek Academy. Her youngest son, Dai Huabin, had also awakened the White Tiger Martial Soul, and his talent was even greater than his elder brother's.
If that bastard maid's child awakens the Duke's White Tiger Martial Soul too, won't he become a threat to Yueheng and Huabin?
The Soul Power took on a pale-golden hue. Six Black Stones revolved around Huo Yuhao, and as the Soul Power entered his body, warmth spread through him. At that moment, a bright golden light gleamed in Huo Yuhao's eyes.
Dai Li, who was in charge of the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony, couldn't help feeling disappointed when he realized Huo Yuhao hadn't awakened the White Tiger Martial Soul. If the child had awakened it, then even as an idiot, he would have drawn the Duke's attention.
Almost instinctively, Dai Li and Huo Yuhao met each other's eyes.
In that instant, Dai Li felt the Time Flow around him slow. Even the movement of his raised hand grew sluggish.
The next second, Dai Li's eyes closed, and he collapsed to the floor with a thud.
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