Douluo: Starting by Building Guns

"After two months on the road and twenty thousand li on foot, I've been looking forward to a big meal."

Dugu Bo paused, then burst into hearty laughter. "No problem, no problem."

"Heaven Dou City is my territory. Not only can I treat you to a feast, I could even take you to the palace for a state banquet."

Shen Feng waved both hands. "Please don't. I'm so outstanding and good-looking that if some princess in the palace catches sight of me, I'll be in trouble."

"Let's just find somewhere and have a simple meal. If you really want to treat me, we can have a proper feast once you're feeling better."

Dugu Bo laughed heartily. "All right. You're the guest this time, so you decide."

With that, Dugu Bo took on the air of a host and led Shen Feng into Heaven Dou City.

Heaven Dou City was extraordinarily prosperous, with wide streets paved entirely in bluestone.

The roads were bustling, with people and carriages flowing back and forth.

Shops of all sizes lined both sides of the streets, their signs painted in every color. The prosperity and grandeur of the city fully lived up to its name as the imperial capital.

As they followed Dugu Bo farther into the city, the number of pedestrians dwindled visibly.

About half an hour later, a wall roughly twenty meters tall came into view.

Standing at the city gate, Dugu Bo explained, "Beyond this gate is the inner city. It's where the nobles spend their time, and where Heaven Dou Imperial City itself is located."

"Compared with the outer city where the commoners live, the inner city is the real money pit—and the real paradise. Without enough money and status, you wouldn't even be able to set foot inside."

Looking at the splendor beyond the gate, Shen Feng was moved to recite:

"Beyond green hills, more green hills; beyond towers, more towers. How long will West Lake's songs and dances go on?"

"In lofty halls, songs by day and strings by night; beauties dance, captivating all beneath heaven."

"Dignitaries come and go, lost in luxury, carefree and content."

"Soldiers on the border die in a hundred battles. Who will sing a song for them?"

"Millions in coarse clothes and hemp robes—how many of their lives weigh on anyone's heart?"

Dugu Bo stared at Shen Feng, dumbstruck. "This..."

"Clap, clap, clap."

Suddenly, crisp applause came from behind Shen Feng and Dugu Bo.

"Fine poetry, fine poetry. It seems you're a young man with both great talent and concern for the world."

At that, Shen Feng and Dugu Bo turned around. A young man of striking bearing stood not far behind them, accompanied by two middle-aged guards who radiated formidable strength.

The young man looked about twenty-five or twenty-six. His features weren't especially striking, but his nose was straight and his mouth well-shaped, giving him a dignified, refined appearance. His long black hair was neatly tied back with a blue cloth band, and his clean blue robe lent him a fresh, composed air.

Though the two guards were middle-aged, they kept their imposing auras carefully restrained. The immense power within them made even Dugu Bo take notice. If the two joined forces, they might be able to fight him.

"Greetings, Senior Dugu. Qinghe pays his respects."

As soon as Dugu Bo turned around, the young man who called himself Qinghe bowed. His manner was exceedingly humble.

Dugu Bo, however, frowned slightly, sounding displeased. "Your Highness, why are you in the outer city?"

Hearing the young man introduce himself as Qinghe and Dugu Bo address him as the Crown Prince, Shen Feng couldn't help taking another look at him.

Qinghe? The Crown Prince? Was this Xue Qinghe, the one Qian Renxue was impersonating?

Xue Qinghe smiled faintly. "The spring plowing season is approaching, and Father is too busy with state affairs to attend to everything himself. With no other choice, Qinghe had to go out in his place and see how the people are doing."

"I happened to run into Senior Dugu on my way back. Then I heard this young brother recite such eloquent, incisive, and stirring poetry, and was so delighted that I came over to trouble you."

As he spoke, Xue Qinghe turned his gaze to Shen Feng. "My name is Xue Qinghe, and I'm the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. May I ask your name, young brother?"

Shen Feng bowed slightly and cupped his hands toward Xue Qinghe, neither servile nor arrogant. "This commoner is Shen Feng. Greetings, Your Highness."

"Shen Feng?" Xue Qinghe mused for a moment. "A sharp sword is forged through tempering; plum blossoms bloom with fragrance after bitter cold."

"A hidden dragon lies in the depths. The word 'Feng' suits your talent perfectly."

"Ahem!" Dugu Bo cleared his throat. "Your Highness, there's no need for flattery."

"It's getting late, and we have important business to attend to. We'll take our leave."

"Xiao Feng, let's go."

Shen Feng cupped his hands toward Xue Qinghe. "Your Highness, please don't see us off. This commoner, Shen Feng, will take his leave."

Shen Feng and Dugu Bo turned and entered the inner city. The corners of Xue Qinghe's mouth lifted slightly. "He was away for ten months, returned with a child, and is so eager to avoid talking with me."

"Dugu Bo, you're practically telling me outright that this child has secrets."

"Go investigate. I want a detailed report on him."

The guard bowed. "Yes, Young Master."

Xue Qinghe turned to the other guard. "You go too. Investigate my rather unruly uncle and my wastrel fourth brother, Xue Beng. Find out whether this boy has anything to do with them."

"Yes, Young Master."

After the two guards left, Xue Qinghe's expression shifted. He murmured to himself:

"Beyond green hills, more green hills; beyond towers, more towers. How long will West Lake's songs and dances go on?"

"In lofty halls, songs by day and strings by night; beauties dance, captivating all beneath heaven."

"Dignitaries come and go, lost in luxury, carefree and content."

"Soldiers on the border die in a hundred battles. Who will sing a song for them?"

"Millions in coarse clothes and hemp robes—how many of their lives weigh on anyone's heart?"

"Shen Feng? A young man with such remarkable talent mustn't fall into their hands."

"Let's hope nothing unexpected happens."

The chance encounter with Xue Qinghe at the inner-city gate left Dugu Bo looking quite unhappy.

Even after they entered Dugu Bo's residence in the inner city, his expression remained dark and unsettled.

"Old man, are you still upset about Crown Prince Xue Qinghe?"

Dugu Bo snorted. "No matter what, I'm an imperial Titled Douluo officially recognized by the Heaven Dou Empire. He's only a mere crown prince, yet he openly keeps tabs on my movements."

"Going out in his father's place to see how the people are doing? He was obviously there because of me."

Shen Feng smiled. "Old man, you said it yourself: you're the Empire's Titled Douluo, not Xue Qinghe's Titled Douluo."

"Given your relationship with Prince Xue Xing, it's only natural that he'd be wary of you."

"Xue Qinghe may already be Crown Prince and appear to have secured his position."

"But his uncle, Prince Xue Xing, intends to support the fourth prince, Xue Beng. For the sake of that one, lofty position, Xue Qinghe has to keep every possible risk under control."

"And you, old man, are the one uncertain factor in Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's eyes."

"If he can't even keep track of your comings and goings in the imperial capital, he probably won't be able to sleep at night."

"You've been dragged into their court politics."

Dugu Bo frowned, looking thoroughly fed up. "Forget it. I'll rest tonight, then go pick up Yanyan first thing tomorrow morning. After that, we'll head to my secluded place and cultivate in seclusion."

"This godforsaken imperial capital and its deranged royal power struggles are sickening. I can't stand being here another moment."

Seeing Dugu Bo's sour expression, Shen Feng shook his head slightly and said nothing more.

Night fell. After dinner, Shen Feng went to the bedroom Dugu Bo had arranged for him.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed and sensing his Soul Power nearly at its limit, Shen Feng couldn't help smiling.

"Four months have passed. I'm finally about to break through again. I'll put in some extra effort tonight and try to make it."

After absorbing the Ox Dragon Soul Ring, Shen Feng's Soul Power had already come close to level thirty-three. Just a few days after leaving the Star Dou Forest, he successfully reached level thirty-three.

Before level thirty, Shen Feng could gain four levels a year, or one every three months.

After level thirty, each level required considerably more Soul Power. His cultivation slowed from one level every three months to one every four.

He'd spent half a year in the laboratory with Dugu Bo and two months on the road. After eight months in total, Shen Feng was confident he could reach level thirty-five that night.

Shen Feng's cultivation speed seemed very fast, but in fact, this was the true pace of someone with Innate Full Soul Power.

Tang Hao had reached level ninety at the age of forty-five. Shen Feng awakened his Martial Soul at six with ten levels of Innate Soul Power, reached level twenty at eight, level thirty at ten, and was now level thirty-five at eleven. At this rate, he'd gain three levels a year and reach level forty before turning thirteen.

Based on this pace, Shen Feng would reach level fifty at seventeen, sixty at twenty-two, seventy at twenty-eight, eighty at thirty-five, and ninety at forty-three—three years faster than Tang Hao.

But Shen Feng absorbed Soul Rings beyond his level every time he broke through, and each Soul Ring helped him gain another two levels. Taking that into account, his cultivation talent was about the same as Tang Hao's: a fully developed Innate Full Soul Power talent.

Take Feng Xiaotian from the original story, for example. He also had Innate Full Soul Power, yet was only level forty-eight at twenty-four. Tsk, tsk. Shen Feng really wondered if his cultivation had gone to the dogs.

Aside from the Golden Generation, whose levels and ages were at least somewhat reasonable, every other Soul Master with more than seven levels of Innate Soul Power had a level that seriously failed to match their age.

Shen Feng strongly suspected that the cosmic will in the original story had deliberately suppressed everyone else's true cultivation talents to make Tang San, the protagonist, look better—or had even altered their understanding of themselves.

But after transmigrating to Douluo Continent, Shen Feng had discovered that the real world wasn't filled with so many absurdities. At least among the Soul Masters he'd seen with his own eyes, their levels weren't seriously out of step with their ages.

Take Shen Feng's parents, Shen Rui and Ling Na. They both had eight levels of Innate Soul Power. Both reached level thirty at fourteen, level forty at eighteen, and were Soul Ancestors at level forty-five when they competed in the Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament at twenty-one.

Later, when Shen Feng was two, they reached level fifty at the age of twenty-four. Seven years later, when Shen Feng was nine, they reached level sixty-one at thirty-one.

By the time Shen Feng came with Dugu Bo to Heaven Dou City, the two of them had reached level sixty-three and become Soul Emperors before the age of thirty-three. That was entirely normal progress for people with eight levels of Innate Soul Power.

What's more, Shen Feng had learned from Dugu Bo that Dugu Yan had already reached level thirty-eight ten months ago, far surpassing her level in the original story.

And that was with Dugu Bo not daring to let her cultivate freely, out of fear that the poison in her body would build up too much and cause an accident.

Ten months had passed since then. Dugu Yan was probably close to level forty now; she might even break through in the next few days.

That was one reason Dugu Bo had come to Heaven Dou City first: he wanted to take Dugu Yan to the Sunset Forest and find her a suitable fourth Soul Ring while he had the chance.

After cultivating through the night, Shen Feng successfully broke through. When he opened his eyes, he found Dugu Bo standing not far from his room, watching him with a broad smile.

"You broke through again?"

Shen Feng was taken aback. "Uh, yes. I was lucky."

Dugu Bo sounded envious. "Tsk, tsk. Level thirty-five at eleven. You really do have Innate Full Soul Power. Breaking through seems as easy as drinking water. Truly terrifying."

"Eleven years ago, Tang Hao became a Titled Douluo at the age of forty-five. The Soul Master World called him the youngest Titled Douluo, and he was the talk of the town."

"Now you're level thirty-five at eleven. Your talent is every bit as good as that brat Tang Hao's. Try to surpass him and let this old man bask in your glory too."

Shen Feng chuckled and scratched his head, putting on a silly grin. "I'll do my best. I'll do my best."

Surpass Tang Hao? What's he got to brag about? Just take me to your medicine garden, old man, and I'll show you a god under twenty-five.

"Grandpa, is this the peerless genius you told me about?"

"Putting his decent cultivation talent aside, why does he seem a little silly to me?"

A girl's voice suddenly rang out. Only then did Shen Feng notice a pretty young woman leaning against the doorframe.

She looked about seventeen or eighteen, with the same unusual green eyes as Dugu Bo and short, dark-purple hair that gave her a spirited air.

Her looks weren't exactly stunning, but she had an alluring, almost bewitching charm. She seemed like the sort who knew how to "wrap" people around her finger.

Dugu Bo smiled awkwardly. "Xiao Feng, let me introduce you. This is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan."

"What do you think? Pretty, isn't she? Want me to give her to you?"

Shen Feng was speechless. Before he could answer, Dugu Yan objected first.

"Grandpa, stop joking around. I'm already eighteen, and he's only eleven. There's no way the two of us could ever be together."

"Forty-five levels, with a future Titled Douluo all but assured. She isn't much different from this Innate Full Soul Power little brother, either."

"And he treats me so well. I don't want to be separated from him."

Shen Feng's eyes lit up. "I'm with Big Sis."

"As the saying goes, you shouldn't tear down ten temples, let alone ruin one marriage."

"Old man, meddling in other people's relationships is a terrible thing to do. You really shouldn't."

Dugu Yan's eyes lit up too, and she found Shen Feng much more likable all of a sudden.

"Exactly, exactly. Grandpa, stop trying to play matchmaker. I'm already eighteen, an adult, and I have the right to choose my own happiness."