The Crown Prince, or What?

Heaven Dou Empire,

Heaven Dou City, the Crown Prince's Residence!

A six-year-old child sat by the window, his eyes fixed on the books on the table.

He stared straight ahead, completely absorbed in the pages. A breeze blew in through the window, lifting the pages on the desk, but he paid them no mind.

It was as if the story in the book had captivated him, leaving him utterly unaware of everything around him.

"Knock!"

"Knock, knock!"

The sound of someone rapping on the door made the child frown slightly. He looked away from the book and toward the door.

"What is it?"

Outside the room, a guard heard the question and promptly replied with respectful deference, "Young Master Tian, His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for you in the main hall."

The child was named Qin Tian. He was six years old.

He had not originally been a resident of the Crown Prince's Residence. The Crown Prince had brought him back to the palace three years ago.

Qin Tian had not been from this world. He had been a fine young man in the twenty-first century, but through a twist of fate, he had transmigrated to this world.

At first, he had a happy family here too. His parents were alive, and they had lived reasonably well.

But it had all vanished in the disaster three years ago. The Fallen Ones had come to their village and killed everyone they saw.

He had survived only because his parents had hidden him in a cellar. Just then, Xue Qinghe happened to be passing through on an inspection. When he saw that Qin Tian was the only person left in the village, standing there all alone, he felt a kinship with him and took him in.

At first, Xue Qinghe had intended to send him to an orphanage. But the child was quiet and exceptionally well-behaved, so Xue Qinghe had decided to adopt him.

Over the past three years, Qin Tian had spent most of his time reading in the Crown Prince's study.

After three years of learning about this world, he had come to understand where he was and the timeline he had landed in.

He was five years older than Tang San, which meant he had five years to plan everything.

Douluo Continent was a world where Martial Souls reigned supreme.

Those who awakened a Martial Soul and possessed Innate Soul Power could become exalted Soul Masters.

Becoming a Soul Master could change one's fate.

An ordinary person who became a Soul Master could shed their poverty in a single stroke and join the ranks of the nobility.

All a Soul Master had to do was reach the rank of Soul Ancestor and join the empire to earn a title. Even an honorary title was enough to lift them out of the lower classes.

Commoners could only suffer under the nobles' oppression and exploitation, struggling to survive.

They not only had to contend with the nobles' exploitation, but also faced attacks from the Fallen Ones.

Douluo Continent? Qin Tian knew it well, if only because he had read the novel before transmigrating.

The protagonist, Tang San, had founded the Tang Sect and opposed Spirit Hall. He possessed Dual Godhood—a First-Level Main God and a God King—embodying both the Sea God and Asura God. In the end, he defeated Bibi Dong, the Rakshasa God, and Qian Renxue, the Angel God, before successfully ascending to the Divine Realm.

Qin Tian wasn't particularly fond of Tang San as a protagonist. Tang San was the sort to take his rice bowl, eat from it, then set it down and curse the person who'd given it to him.

Spirit Hall had helped him awaken his Martial Soul. After becoming a Soul Master, he had accepted Spirit Hall's subsidies, only to smash the table in the end...

He had joined Shrek Academy and faced Dai Mubai—Boss Dai at first, but later...

Of course, Qin Tian saw it all as a struggle between classes.

Spirit Hall represented the commoners, while Tang San represented the nobility. And let's not forget Tang San's identity and the identities of those backing him.

Even if Tang San had a personal grudge against Spirit Hall, there was still more to it...

Qin Tian rose slowly, opened the door, glanced at the guard, then headed for the main hall.

The guard immediately followed him.

After living in the Crown Prince Palace for three years, Qin Tian could find his way around even with his eyes closed.

Before long, he reached the main hall. Inside, he saw a young man in luxurious gold-and-white court attire, leisurely reading a scroll in his hands.

Qin Tian hurried over and stopped in front of him, a warm smile appearing on his face.

"Brother Xue, may I ask why you sent for me?"

The young man was none other than Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Xue Qinghe lifted his eyes slightly. Seeing Qin Tian's beaming face, he returned a warm smile.

"Xiao Tian, you're six now. It's time to awaken your Martial Soul."

Hearing this, Qin Tian's eyes filled with anticipation, though a hint of nervousness showed as well.

Six years old. The time to awaken his Martial Soul—the moment that would determine his future—had come.

Would he awaken a powerful Martial Soul and possess high Innate Soul Power, soaring to success and becoming a divine dragon roaming the heavens? Or would he awaken a Trash Martial Soul with no Innate Soul Power and become one of the countless ordinary people?

Even though he knew about countless opportunities, if his Martial Soul awakened without any Soul Power, cultivation would still be extremely difficult.

Even if he awakened a Martial Soul, transforming and advancing a Trash Martial Soul would be an exceedingly difficult task.

Even with an Immortal Herb, transforming a Martial Soul would be no easy matter. And Immortal Herbs weren't easy to obtain either. He couldn't forget that Poison Douluo Dugu Bo was there.

He shouldn't underestimate Dugu Bo. Could a Titled Douluo really be weak? Even if he was weak, he was still a Titled Douluo.

Anyone below the rank of Titled Douluo—even a Soul Douluo—would have to treat Dugu Bo with respect.

"Phew!"

Qin Tian drew a deep breath, then exhaled heavily. Only after breathing out every last bit of stale air and steadying himself did he smile and speak.

"Brother Xue, then I'll have to trouble you. Please awaken my Martial Soul."

Xue Qinghe watched the changes in Qin Tian's expression and movements, which reminded him of himself in the past.

Back then, he had been just like Qin Tian: lost, uneasy, hopeful, nervous, and more.

"Xiao Tian, don't be nervous. Even if you have no Innate Soul Power, Brother Xue can still ensure you live a life of wealth and comfort."

At Xue Qinghe's words, Qin Tian's heart gave a faint twist. He could only smile helplessly.

Right now, I really want to say: Xue Qinghe—no, Qian Renxue—do you even hear what you're saying?

I know you're only saying this to comfort me, but is this how you comfort someone? Shouldn't you be offering me a blessing right now?

As a transmigrator, how could Qin Tian not know Xue Qinghe's true identity? But would he say anything? The answer was, of course, no.

If he said it now, he might not even know how he died.

Qin Tian had his own plans. If he awakened a powerful Martial Soul, he would come clean right away instead of continuing to act alongside Qian Renxue.

That was because he was a man who repaid kindness. Of course, Qian Renxue's beauty had something to do with it too.

He wanted to see just how beautiful the number one beauty on Douluo Continent really was. Now that he'd come to this world, how could he not have some thoughts about it?

If he awakened a powerful Martial Soul and had decent Innate Soul Power, he would come clean to Qian Renxue. With the bond they'd built over the past three years, he believed she wouldn't lay a hand on him.

After all, he hadn't spent those three years by her side for nothing. Their relationship was quite deep.

If he failed to awaken a powerful Martial Soul and had no Innate Soul Power, he would have to make other plans.

His reasons for wanting to come clean to Qian Renxue weren't just about her beauty. More important was the Worship Hall behind her.

The Worship Hall had seven experts with Soul Power above rank ninety-five. Its strongest was said to be unrivaled in the skies, a peerless powerhouse with Soul Power at rank ninety-nine.

If he could get Qian Renxue's support, then the Worship Hall would be...

"Brother Xue, let's get started with the Martial Soul awakening!"

Xue Qinghe glanced at Qin Tian and smiled as he nodded.

"Looks like Xiao Tian can hardly wait to awaken his Martial Soul. Since you're so eager, come with me."

With that, Xue Qinghe headed for his room.

Qin Tian silently followed behind him.

The two of them didn't speak along the way. They simply walked on in silence.