"Tuoba Xuan, Soul Power Level—three!"
Tuoba Xuan stared fixedly at the faintly glowing crystal ball before him.
The boy's eyes were impossibly bright, as though they held countless rays of light.
Even dressed in plain clothes, he would have been the first person anyone noticed in a crowd.
But now, the corners of the boy's eyes were tinged with sadness.
"Five years, and my soul power still hasn't improved at all?"
The boy murmured to himself, his fists unconsciously clenching tight.
Listening to the countless jeers and sighs around him, the boy showed not the slightest anger or shame.
Eleven years ago, Tuoba Xuan had unexpectedly transmigrated to Douluo Continent and become the grandson of Tuoba Xi, the Sect Master of the Sacred Dragon Sect.
By rights, this wasn't the most exceptional start, but it was still an excellent one.
But everything had been turned upside down five years ago, at the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony.
"Tuoba Xuan, Innate Soul Power... level three. Martial Soul... uh... a yellow-brown pig..."
Those words from five years ago were carved into Tuoba Xuan's mind as if with knife and chisel.
"Hahahahaha, his Innate Soul Power is only level three..."
"I'm dying! Go sit with that purple pig from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. One yellow, one purple—they make quite the pair..."
"What a useless fool. The sect poured so many resources into him, and all they got was someone with a mud pig for a Martial Soul..."
"Get out of the sect! Get out! A useless fool like you doesn't deserve to stay here..."
Mockery! Ridicule! Cold stares! Contempt!
For five years straight, those words had stabbed into Tuoba Xuan's ears every day.
Tuoba Xuan gave a faint, self-mocking smile. "Forget it!"
Then he turned his gaze to the imposing old man beside him.
"Grandpa, thank you for all the years the sect has spent nurturing me, and for never giving up on me." Tuoba Xuan's voice was utterly resolute. "But I really have been holding the sect back. I'm asking you to let me leave the sect!"
As soon as Tuoba Xuan finished speaking, the entire hall was stunned. Even those who had mocked him earlier stood with their mouths agape.
"This useless fool has a bit of backbone, at least..."
"Hmph, he should've gotten out of the sect long ago. Don't you know how much amusement this useless fool has given everyone over the years..."
"Exactly, exactly. He's eaten the sect's food for so many years. It's about time he left..."
Several more merciless jeers rang out.
"Enough!" A deep voice boomed through the sect's great hall.
Sect Master Tuoba Xi stared at Tuoba Xuan, his eyes filled with complicated emotions.
This was his most beloved grandson. In his heart, his grandson had always been the best—no worse than anyone else.
"Xuan, you don't have to do this. As long as your grandpa is here, I won't let anyone bully you again!"
Tuoba Xuan shook his head, his gaze utterly firm.
"Grandpa, thank you. But this is my choice. One day, I'll come back. And when I do, I'll be a mighty powerhouse who can hold up the heavens and stand firm on the earth."
The entire hall fell silent!
What incredible boldness! What unshakable resolve! What confidence!
The sect disciples swallowed hard, feeling an unnamed blaze burning in their hearts.
"A powerhouse who can hold up the heavens and stand firm on the earth?"
Tuoba Xi burst into hearty laughter, his broad hand gripping Tuoba Xuan's shoulder tightly.
"Good! Grandpa will wait for that day—the day my grandson becomes a mighty powerhouse who can hold up the heavens and stand firm on the earth!"
Deep in the night, someone gently pushed open a secluded little gate in the Sacred Dragon Sect.
Tuoba Xuan stepped outside with a shoulder bag on his back. The icy night wind rushed at him, and he couldn't help sneezing.
A frost-covered maple leaf drifted down into Tuoba Xuan's hand.
"How vivid it is!" Tuoba Xuan exclaimed. He opened his hand and let the maple leaf go, watching it blow away on the wind.
"Grandpa!" Tuoba Xuan gazed at the bright full moon. Its light fell over him, casting a tall shadow.
"Xuan, are you really leaving?" Tuoba Xi emerged from the darkness.
"I really am, Grandpa. A person has to do something with their life!"
Tuoba Xuan looked resolutely north. It was the direction he had always dreamed about, as if something there were guiding him.
Tuoba Xi gave a slight nod and handed Tuoba Xuan a ring.
"Xuan, if anyone bullies you, come back to Grandpa. Remember, the Sacred Dragon Sect will always be your home!"
Tuoba Xi's voice held a note of sorrow, then faded into the darkness.
Tuoba Xuan slipped the ring onto the index finger of his right hand and bowed deeply toward the darkness.
"Don't worry, Grandpa. That day won't be far off."
Tuoba Xuan examined the ring.
It was a Storage Soul Tool called the Green Wood Ring. Inside were some Gold Soul Coins and resources his grandpa had given him.
Though the night was cold, a trace of warmth welled up in Tuoba Xuan's heart.
Of all the people he was leaving behind, his grandpa was the one he felt most sorry toward.
Though Tuoba Xuan was the Sacred Dragon Sect's young sect master, his beginnings followed the classic pattern for a novel's protagonist.
That was—his parents were both dead!
Not only that, Tuoba Xuan was Tuoba Xi's only grandson and his only direct descendant.
Having read the original story, Tuoba Xuan knew the Sacred Dragon Sect's fate, and he knew the tragic fate awaiting his grandpa.
Since he had come to this world, Tuoba Xuan had to do something.
For the Sacred Dragon Sect, for his grandpa, and for himself.
For five years, whenever Tuoba Xuan tossed and turned, unable to sleep, he would always dream of the same scene.
It was a valley with no end in sight. Countless remnant souls roared at him, struggling.
Bones lay in heaps, and it seemed that countless living beings were waiting for him in the valley.
Tuoba Xuan had no idea how long he had walked before he reached a stream. At last, he felt a trace of weariness.
Tuoba Xuan drank a mouthful of sweet water. Moonlight shone down, rippling across the surface, and his reflection vanished.
"Not bad-looking!" Tuoba Xuan laughed, then immediately sensed something was wrong.
The ripples were far too pronounced. And why was something covering his shadow?
"Ahhh!" Tuoba Xuan spun around and nearly jumped out of his skin.
"Holy crap, a ghost!" Tuoba Xuan shrieked, scrambling to get away.
"Hey, kid. Do you want to become stronger?"
The 'ghost' suddenly spoke, startling Tuoba Xuan all over again.
"Ghosts can talk?" Tuoba Xuan tried to steady his wildly pounding heart.
"You're the ghost! Your whole family's ghosts!"
The 'ghost' snapped irritably.
"You might not know who I am, but I still have to thank you for helping me these past few years."
"Who the hell are you?"
Tuoba Xuan's anger surged. He seemed to remember this scene from the story he had read in his previous life, and he even remembered it vividly.
"Me? You can call me..."
Tuoba Xuan cut the 'ghost' off.
"Wait. You've been hiding in my body all this time, absorbing my soul power for the past five years, haven't you?"
Tuoba Xuan shouted through clenched teeth. Only now did he get a good look at the 'ghost' before him.
It was a tiny dragon-shaped shadow, yellow-brown all over, with two spiraling horns. Its wings fluttered slightly, its dark-brown round scales overlapped in layers, and its thick tail seemed to hold the strength of ten thousand jun.
"Um, you guessed right. But I'm not a ghost. I'm the Mountain Dragon King!"