Taiji, Qimen, Zhao Xuanzhen

Chapter 1 Taiji, Qimen, Zhao Xuanzhen

Spirit Transmission Tower Headquarters, Douluo Continent.

The towering structure pierced the heavens, majestic and imposing, shimmering with brilliant silver light. The tower had eight sides, its peak hidden in the sea of clouds, adding a touch of mystery to the continent's foremost edifice.

"Cut a watermelon in half, you get half, I get half..."

The scorching sun hung high, its rays pouring down from the distant heavens, dispelling the thin mist that coiled above the training ground. It illuminated a face that, despite its youthful tenderness, held an undeniable handsomeness, and the Taiji movements, imbued with profound meaning in every step.

"Xuanzhen, can this slow-paced ancient martial art really be used in actual combat?"

Not far away, two women moved in perfect sync, arms crossed, heads cocked, their gazes fixed on the young man without blinking.

They were twins, looking as if the Creator had carelessly used the same mold twice. Their snow-white hair cascaded to their waists, their features exquisite with sharp contours. Without any need for adornment, they were beautiful enough to be elves from a fairy tale.

The only difference was their eye color. The elder sister, Bai Haoze, had eyes as azure as the sky, while the younger sister, Bai Zhicen, possessed eyes as green as nature itself. At this moment, both pairs of beautiful eyes were shimmering with impatience.

Hearing the question, a smile curved Zhao Xuanzhen's lips. His Taiji fist technique transitioned from "Double Peaks Piercing Ears" to a turning left kick. A few strands of black hair, unruly, fell across his forehead. The end of his hair was tied into a small bun, fluttering with his movements.

"It's just for strengthening the body; it doesn't necessarily have to be used in combat.

Sister Da Bai, Sister Xiao Bai, you both seem particularly restless today. You've been watching me all morning, and you haven't even practiced your Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"We've been together day and night for over twenty years. Our compatibility has long reached the limit for Martial Souls. It's hard to break past ninety percent even with more effort."

Bai Haoze studied Zhao Xuanzhen. The sunlight seemed to have gilded his dark brown pupils with a heavenly radiance. When their eyes met, she could clearly see the red sun reflected in his eyes.

"But you, Xuanzhen."

Bai Zhicen picked up where her sister left off, her clear voice tinged with worry. "Martial Soul awakening is a watershed moment that determines a Soul Master's life. If your Martial Soul isn't powerful enough, even Her Majesty Sky Phoenix will find it difficult to secure the most precious cultivation resources within the Spirit Transmission Tower for you.

After all, the Qiangu Tower Master is the one who controls the Spirit Transmission Tower. His philosophy has always been cold and harsh: the useless do not deserve resources."

"Martial Souls, you know, are thirty percent mutation, seventy percent luck.

The remaining ninety percent depends entirely on how capable your parents are."

Zhao Xuanzhen appeared nonchalant, showing no concern about awakening a trash Martial Soul like Blue Silver Grass. His calm tone annoyed the two women immensely, giving them a strange feeling of the emperor not being worried while the eunuchs were anxious.

The Bai sisters exchanged a look. The natural telepathy of twins allowed them to reach a tacit understanding instantly.

Bai Zhicen activated her Martial Soul, Space Unicorn. With a flash of silver light, they appeared behind Zhao Xuanzhen almost instantaneously. Simultaneously, they extended their villainous Anrokuzan claws, one grabbing his hair tie, the other reaching for his head.

Just a second before they thought their sneak attack had succeeded, Zhao Xuanzhen twisted his body and escaped their clutches!

Prediction!

Pulling his pigtail was fine, but touching his head was absolutely forbidden!

After finishing the last move of his Taiji fist, Zhao Xuanzhen lowered his hands, exhaled, and pressed down, concluding his stance. He looked at the stunned sisters and asked with a light laugh, "By the way, has Teacher returned?"

"Her Majesty Sky Phoenix went to the Mystic Nether Sect and will return to the Spirit Transmission Tower tomorrow morning," Bai Haoze replied subconsciously, still immersed in the surprise of her failed sneak attack.

"Mystic Nether Sect?"

Zhao Xuanzhen was slightly taken aback. After a moment, he realized, "Teacher is making preparations on both fronts..."

Given Sky Phoenix Douluo's status as the Vice Tower Master of the Spirit Transmission Tower, traveling to the Mystic Nether Sect, which had been in decline for a millennium, was a condescending act. The only reason for her to make the trip would be the Mystic Nether Sect's unique pill, the Mystic Water Pill, refined from the essence of numerous water-attribute Soul Beasts and plants.

In the Douluo Continent, the Martial Soul of a human is a part of their body. It can be any animal, plant, or object. It is awakened through an awakening ceremony at the age of six.

Tomorrow is Zhao Xuanzhen's sixth birthday, and also his Martial Soul awakening day.

Both of Zhao Xuanzhen's deceased parents had above-average talent. His father had a congenital soul power of level eight, and his mother had a congenital soul power of level seven.

According to Martial Soul genetics, excluding rare cases like Huo Yuhao's long-term malnutrition that caused his congenital soul power to hold back his Martial Soul, Zhao Xuanzhen's future would likely not be particularly bad.

However, in this new era where Soul Master talent far surpasses ancient times, a mere seven or eight levels of congenital soul power simply doesn't match the dazzling golden title of direct disciple of the Spirit Transmission Tower's Vice Tower Master. That's why Sky Phoenix Douluo went to the Mystic Nether Sect to procure a Mystic Water Pill in advance for Zhao Xuanzhen, which could raise his congenital soul power by one level.

"You two practice, I'm heading back."

His workout for the day was complete. Zhao Xuanzhen waved goodbye to the Bai sisters and turned to leave.

"Rest well tonight, we'll accompany you for your awakening tomorrow!" Bai Zhicen called out loudly.

Zhao Xuanzhen snapped his index finger and thumb together, forming an OK gesture.

As the two sisters watched Zhao Xuanzhen's back gradually disappear from view, they let out a deep sigh.

Immediately after, their slender and shapely bodies suddenly expanded, transforming into the typical "Korean double-door refrigerator" physique – beauties transforming into burly men.

They were secret weapons being vigorously cultivated by the Spirit Transmission Tower, the Left and Right Chancellors to the next Tower Master. Unknown to outsiders, they had learned disguise techniques. But Zhao Xuanzhen was different. From the day he returned to the Spirit Transmission Tower, they had watched him grow up. He was considered one of their own.

Zhao Xuanzhen left the training ground, navigated the identity verification process with practiced ease, and took the high-level elevator directly to the ninety-ninth floor.

The Spirit Transmission Tower had a total of 108 floors. The top eight floors belonged to the Qiangu family, the Tower Master's lineage. Sky Phoenix Douluo's Leng family occupied five floors, second only to the Qiangu family. The ninety-ninth floor was given to Zhao Xuanzhen for his sole residence.

In the luxurious penthouse living room, floor-to-ceiling windows let in the sunlight, as if the entire world was contained within. A row of exquisite bookshelves displayed a dazzling array of ancient books, each revealing the owner's taste.

Chronicles of Douluo History, Encyclopedia of Continental Martial Souls, The Language of Steel Wool Flowers, Compendium of Soul Beasts...

Zhao Xuanzhen walked to the bookshelf, his gaze sweeping over the numerous ancient texts. He pulled out a copy of Basic Theory of Soul Tools and sat on the luxurious sofa, made from the fur of a Ten-Thousand-Year Flame Lion King, to read quietly.

Even though he was a transmigrator, there wasn't much he could do before his Martial Soul awakened. Practicing Taiji daily to exercise was a habit from his previous life, and studying Soul Tools was to lay the foundation for his secondary profession.

Zhao Xuanzhen was also an orphan in his past life. He was found by an old fortune-teller who claimed to be the Sect Master of the Two Forms Sect. The old man discovered that Zhao Xuanzhen possessed Yin and Yang Dual Qi within him, making him a once-in-a-millennium prodigy in cultivation. Before he died, he passed down the Two Forms Sect's Daoism to him.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xuanzhen had been frail since childhood and was destined not to live past twenty. The old man died of old age after a decade (voice cracking).

Heaven has a virtue of cherishing life. Zhao Xuanzhen, retaining his memories, transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, living a second life.

At this age, while other children were playing with mud, Lao Zhen directly relied on his past life's memories to study.

After reading for a while, Zhao Xuanzhen stretched. He suddenly felt the room was unusually hot. A wisp of deep blue flashed in his eyes, and he said faintly:

"Xun Word, third gear."

Instantly, a gentle breeze blew...