"The quality of the Battle Through the Heavens anime is really getting worse and worse. How did they make the Ancient Void Dragon so ugly? Good grief—and that Steel-Reinforced Flame, too."
"Could that person wearing a bamboo hat be Qing Lin? She caught Zi Yan, and she has the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. That's awesome. No doubt about it—she's definitely Qing Lin."
The boy sat at his computer desk, watching the newly updated Battle Through the Heavens anime and muttering complaints nonstop.
"Man, I wish the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils could capture Dragon Race members. Snake-type magical beasts are just too weak." The boy chuckled softly, mumbling to himself.
With a pop, the room suddenly went dark. A moment later, he cursed, "Damn, why's the power out again?"
As the boy got up, a sharp crack sounded from the desk. He knocked over the glass of water, and before he could react, the lights came on. He collapsed, motionless.
On Douluo Continent stood an ancient city. Its most striking feature was the vast stretch of ruins atop a nearby mountain. A thousand years ago, this place had been known by a much grander name: Spirit City.
But a thousand years had passed, and after Sea God Tang San's victory, Spirit Hall had been driven out and suppressed. The Soul Master families and factions that had once occupied the city had long since scattered like birds and beasts.
All that remained was the battered Angel Statue, bearing silent witness to the city's former glory.
At that moment, a child of about six stood on a slope that offered a distant view of the old Spirit Hall ruins.
Xiao Yi gazed toward the ruins. Though he was only six, his eyes held a maturity far beyond his years.
After watching for a while, Xiao Yi sighed. "Why did it have to be this era?" It wasn't the first time he'd lamented that.
After all, this era wasn't like the one a thousand years ago, when everyone stood at the same starting line and there had still been plenty of opportunity.
But this era was different. God King Tang lorded over all Douluo Continent, and the path to godhood was all but closed. Unless he became a dog for the Tang family—which Xiao Yi absolutely refused to do.
He was a transmigrator. In his previous life, he'd been electrocuted while watching the Battle Through the Heavens anime. When he opened his eyes in this world, he'd first been confused, then excited. Had he really ended up in the world of Battle Through the Heavens?
The reason for his excitement was the wisp of flame in his father's hand. Xiao Yi had been beside himself with excitement at the sight. A real flame!
That meant his father in this life was at least a fourth-grade alchemist! Maybe even higher.
Unfortunately, things hadn't gone the way Xiao Yi had hoped. When he saw the yellow Soul Ring, he realized this wasn't Dou Qi Continent. It was Douluo Continent. The wild swings from hope to despair had been enough to make his head spin.
Xiao Yi had been born in Sin City, in a minor clan that lived within what had once been Spirit City. At least he wouldn't be unable to awaken a Martial Soul in this era.
His parents in this life had died early, though, and his clan's elders had raised him. There'd been no melodramatic child-abuse nonsense. While Xiao Yi hadn't lived in luxury, he'd had plenty to eat and wear over the past six years.
Today was the day Xiao Yi would undergo Martial Soul Awakening, and the clan's courtyard was already packed with people.
In this era, there was no organization like Spirit Hall to awaken Martial Souls for ordinary people free of charge.
Usually, the local City Lord's residence, or a family, sect, or other faction, would organize the awakening ceremony.
Xiao Yi walked through the gate. No one paid him much attention. An elder above glanced at him and gave a slight nod, signaling for him to join the line.
Xiao Yi naturally went to the end of the line, watching the awakening ceremony ahead with curiosity.
The person responsible for awakening their Martial Souls was the clan's second-strongest expert, a Soul Elder.
Xiao Yi's small clan had always had few members. After his parents died, only a handful remained. The clan's oldest elder was Xiao Yi's great-uncle by marriage, Xiao Zhan, a Soul Ancestor.
"Tang Xiaogang. Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass. Innate Soul Power: 0.5. Next."
"Xiao Yan. Martial Soul: Flame. Innate Soul Power: 3. Next."
Watching the Martial Souls being awakened one after another, Xiao Yi couldn't help feeling nervous.
I hope my Innate Soul Power is high. Xiao Yi prayed silently.
Soon, it was his turn. Xiao Yi took a deep breath and stepped onto the Awakening Platform.
As yellow light gathered around him, a warm current coursed through his body. It felt as if he were bathing in sunlight, his whole body warm and relaxed.
Xiao Yi involuntarily narrowed his eyes, sensing Soul Power move through his body before splitting into two streams. One flowed toward his right hand, the other toward his eyes.
Holy crap, I hit the jackpot! Xiao Yi cried out inwardly. He immediately gathered his thoughts, shut off the unknown eye Martial Soul, and slowly raised his right hand.
A scorching presence began to spread through the empty courtyard. A transparent flame hovered in Xiao Yi's palm. Its intense heat nearly extinguished the flame Martial Soul in the Soul Elder's hand as he presided over the awakening.
Xiao Yi gazed at the little flame in his hand, eyes shining with delight.
Damn, the Fallen Heart Flame! Xiao Yi screamed inwardly. Everyone around him—and especially his relatives—stared in stunned disbelief.
"This... this temperature. Could it be...? Quick, Xiao Yi, test your Innate Soul Power!" Xiao Zhan, utterly astonished, urged him on.
Xiao Yi placed his hand on the crystal ball. It immediately erupted in blinding light.
"Innate Full Soul Power!!" Cries of astonishment erupted around him. Even after a thousand years, Innate Full Soul Power remained a rare gift.
As the crowd dispersed, Xiao Zhan called Xiao Yi into the house. Looking at his grandson with immense satisfaction, he nodded.
"Excellent. My grandson Xiao Yi has the makings of a Titled Douluo! Hahahaha!"
"Your great-uncle may not amount to much, but I do have a few old friends. When you're old enough to enroll, I'll get in touch with them and have them arrange a City Lord Recommendation Letter for you. Then I'll send you to Shrek Academy."
Xiao Zhan patted Xiao Yi on the shoulder, then headed toward the back courtyard, laughing heartily.
Xiao Yi's mouth twitched. Shrek, huh...
Well, his elder had meant well, and Xiao Yi couldn't bring himself to refuse. For now, something else mattered more...
Xiao Yi rushed into his room, shut the door, and pulled a mirror from the drawer. He stared into his own eyes, momentarily stunned.
Three petals shimmered faintly in his green eyes. Even through the mirror, Xiao Yi could see the disbelief in his own gaze.
"The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils." A wave of delight swept over him. The Fallen Heart Flame, the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils—he'd thought he hadn't gotten a cheat after transmigrating, and had been a little uneasy. So that was what it had been waiting for. Now Xiao Yi had nothing to worry about.
After examining the information that came with his Martial Souls, Xiao Yi couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from lifting. In the end, he couldn't hold back and let out a chilling, strange laugh.
"Ke ke ke... Ahem. No, with these two great Martial Souls, I can claim the God King's throne too! Ke ke ke..."
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