Deep in Sunset Forest, miasma filled the air, and towering ancient trees blotted out the sky. Even sunlight struggled to pierce the layers of leaves.
Only the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well at the forest's core formed a world of its own, cut off from the clamor and turmoil beyond.
As the saying went, time passed differently in the mountains; winter could end without anyone noticing the years. Chen Jieqi had been cultivating in seclusion here the whole time,
taking the Dao of Caution to its utmost, and a full five years had passed since he last hunted a Light Bird.
Thanks to his dedicated cultivation and prayerful meditation, Chen Jieqi's Soul Power had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Within two years of obtaining his Soul Ring, he had steadily reached level 30.
This time, Chen Jieqi hadn't gone out to hunt a soul beast. Instead, he'd asked Dugu Bo to bring back a Sacred Radiance Pegasus estimated to be nearly five thousand years old.
Under the protection of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Chen Jieqi absorbed the Soul Ring without incident, and his Soul Power leapt straight to level 33.
He had only just turned eight and a half.
"Truly the continent's number-one Soul Elder.
"Even Spirit Hall's little angel, Qian Renxue, probably hasn't managed this."
Looking at how much he had grown, Chen Jieqi praised himself quietly.
Meanwhile, Dugu Yan's cultivation was just as impressive.
At sixteen, she broke through to level 40. To be safe, they didn't let her choose a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Instead, she absorbed a White Armored Earth Dragon estimated to be nearly eight thousand years old, bringing her Soul Power to level 42.
Her talent and achievements made her famous at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, turning her into the brightest rising star in the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
As for Dugu Bo, after forming a Soul Core and curing the chronic backlash from his Martial Soul, not only had he become more handsome and imposing, but his Soul Power had also surged. He had finally shed the title of "weakest Titled Douluo."
And since he had long been stationed in Heaven Dou City, with a Titled Douluo guarding her, no one dared set their sights on Dugu Yan.
Half a year ago,
after a relentless push, Chen Jieqi, who was just over eleven, finally broke through that bottleneck.
His Soul Power surged upward like a blade cutting through bamboo, and he steadily reached level 40.
Perhaps because he had crossed into this world after being reborn, Chen Jieqi's innate spiritual power was extraordinary, naturally refined and formidable.
Three years ago, he had also absorbed the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew, further deepening his spiritual foundation.
That confidence gave Chen Jieqi, who had always followed the Dao of Caution, the resolve to choose a Radiant Giant Elephant nearly twelve thousand years old as his fourth Soul Ring.
Absorbing the Radiant Giant Elephant's Soul Ring proved a little arduous, but in the end, Chen Jieqi came through safely, and his Soul Power surged to just over level 42.
Unfortunately, the Radiant Giant Elephant hadn't dropped a Spirit Bone.
Another six months passed quietly. Nurtured by the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Chen Jieqi's Soul Power grew ever more robust and refined.
At eleven and a half, he was already very close to level 44. The Holy Light circulating around him carried a weighty power, and he could step into the next tier at any moment.
Far away at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Dugu Yan was eighteen and a half and had reached level 46. She was indisputably ahead of everyone else at the academy.
At this rate, she would rise to Soul King in another two or three years.
Gazing out through the layers of emerald mist, Chen Jieqi murmured,
"Five years."
A boy of only eleven and a half stood there, tall and slender, dressed in fitted white clothes untouched by a speck of dust, cleansed by the spiritual energy of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
Standing beside the well, he was like a piece of cold jade, apart from the world, with an aura of peace surrounding him.
His long hair was a rare silver-white, as if it had been bathed in Holy Light for years, its cool pallor blending moonlight with the chill of the Cold Spring.
It fell softly over his shoulders, stirring gently in the breeze and making his skin appear all the clearer and fairer, almost crystalline.
His expression was cool, his features clean and sharp. The roundness of childhood had faded, replaced by a steadiness and composure beyond his years.
His brows and eyes were clear, his brows a pale silver-gray. Not a trace of aggression marred his face. His eyes were the faintest gold, like cold stars formed from the Naaru Holy Light.
Most striking of all was the center of his brow—
a pale gold mark, half an inch across, shaped like the Heart of the Naaru, quietly embedded there.
It resembled a floating, sacred core of light, its patterns simple and solemn. Usually, it was barely visible, its Holy Light almost imperceptible.
But whenever his thoughts stirred, a gentle golden radiance shone from his brow, carrying a sacred presence that brooked no desecration.
His nose was straight, his lips pale. When pressed together, they formed a crisp, hard line.
A smile often played at the corners of his mouth, giving him a holy charm that made others instinctively want to draw near.
His presence was solemn and immaculate, utterly sacred, like a young saint standing where ice, fire, and Holy Light converged.
Silver hair, pale skin, golden eyes, a sacred mark—
ice and fire within him, Holy Light in his heart. He said nothing, yet a single glance brought peace and left no one daring to harbor wicked thoughts.
This was our protagonist, Chen Jieqi.
After all these years in Douluo Continent, having crossed over as a swaddled infant and grown to this point, he finally had some means of protecting himself.
Looking toward distant Heaven Dou City, wreathed in clouds and mist, the faint golden light in Chen Jieqi's eyes flickered. His thoughts rang with conviction.
"In the original story, Tang San rose to godhood and ruled over the world. There's no reason I, Chen Jieqi, can't do the same!"
He stood and flexed his fingers, a trace of cold light passing through his eyes.
"He already claimed the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, one of Tang San's greatest advantages, and seized a head start in development that no one else even knows about.
"All I have to do is destroy Tang San's still-dormant Blue Silver Emperor inheritance, then capture that unruly rabbit.
"Then the so-called 'chosen one' will be nothing but a Clear Sky Hammer Soul Master with somewhat decent talent.
"As for the Blue Silver Grass he's already cultivated into a complete mess, it's no threat at all."
Though Chen Jieqi had no quarrel with Tang San for now, he knew the course of Tang San's growth in the original story. If left unchecked, Tang San would become a grave threat in the future.
Besides, among Soul Masters, the strong had always taken what they wanted. And that rabbit was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form—there was no reason to let her go.
The key was Tang Hao. He regarded the rabbit as his own, was immensely powerful, and had no qualms about fighting dirty.
Going by Chen Jieqi's memories from his previous life, Tang Hao should currently be around level 93 or 94, and likely hadn't surpassed level 95.
Although his old injuries might keep him from fighting at full strength, Tang Hao could still "cheat"—not only could he drag others down with him, he was also an expert at escaping.
Given Dugu Bo's fighting style, he might be able to suppress Tang Hao, but keeping a Clear Sky Hammer Soul Master of that caliber would be all but impossible!
In the past few years, Dugu Bo's cultivation speed had returned to normal after he formed a "Poison Sac Soul Core." Then he took an Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid, and his progress accelerated by leaps and bounds.
His Soul Power had now reached the peak of level 94. The barrier was as thin as a cicada's wing, and he could break through to level 95 at any moment, becoming a true Super Douluo.
But Dugu Bo's fighting style still leaned toward crowd control and group battles. With a Soul Core, he could also wear down opponents in a long fight.
He could hold his own against opponents of equal rank. His one weakness was a lack of explosive power.
That meant that against a "mad dog" like Tang Hao, he might be able to suppress him and keep him occupied, but there was no chance he could make him stay.
At that thought, Chen Jieqi's brows knitted together.
A hint of conflict crossed his face, but it soon faded. He muttered,
"If we can't keep him here, there's no need to rush.
"Let Tang the Hammer stay in his 'crippled' state and wallow for another two years.
"Two years will be enough for me to reach new heights. Then I can find allies and deal with him together. We'll find a way."
The reason Chen Jieqi had chosen to leave seclusion now was that he was honoring Dugu Yan's earlier request—
to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy and prepare for the Soul Master Tournament a few years from now.
Standing at the exit of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, Chen Jieqi's silver-white hair stirred in the breeze. His heart was calm.
As far as he was concerned, winning the Soul Master Tournament would be as easy as reaching into a bag. It was a sure thing.
Making a name for himself and becoming the center of attention—or even being granted land and a noble title—were only part of the reason.
More important was the plan he kept hidden deep within: the Heart of the Naaru gave him the power to wield Holy Light, and faith could gather to strengthen it.
Chen Jieqi needed to establish and spread his faith. Only after making a name for himself could he benefit from the "celebrity effect" and make his efforts count.
That was the fastest way to gather enough faith. The more abundant and pure the faith, the stronger the Holy Light—and it could even evolve!
This wasn't something that could be done overnight. It would be a long, arduous undertaking. He needed to steady himself and make his plans step by step, guiding events as he went.