Star Luo City.
At an orphanage on the outskirts of the city, a boy in black lay on the roof, gazing up at the sky, where stars filled the heavens.
He had neat, short black hair and a pair of large, dark eyes. His features were delicate and handsome, though a hint of sorrow that didn't belong in a child's face lingered between his brows.
"Ah, when will these hard days ever end?"
Liu Lin gazed at the star-filled sky and couldn't help sighing.
Six years ago, he had been hit by a car that ran a red light. By some strange twist of fate, he had ended up in the world of Douluo Continent.
In this life, both his parents had been officers in the Star Luo Empire's military. At last, he'd had the good fortune to be born with both parents alive.
Then disaster struck when he was three. His parents had given their lives for their country in a border conflict with the Sun Moon Empire.
The relatives divided up the property his parents had left behind, including their house and the compensation paid for their deaths. Perhaps they couldn't bear to abandon him, so they took turns looking after him for a year before sending Liu Lin to the orphanage.
Afterward, Liu Lin found himself at odds with the other children in the orphanage because he had the memories of an adult from his previous life.
As time went by, his greatest pleasure at the orphanage became climbing onto the roof every night to gaze at the stars filling the sky.
Thinking of all this, Liu Lin's heart was heavy with melancholy. All he could do was pin his hopes on tomorrow's Martial Soul Awakening ceremony. As long as he could test positive for Soul Power, he'd accept even a Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul. After all, that way, he'd have a chance to find the people who had killed his parents.
"Xiao Lin, why have you climbed onto the roof again? It's dangerous up there. Hurry and come down." A voice filled with both concern and reproach rang out, drawing the boy from his thoughts.
Hearing the voice, Liu Lin rose to his feet and nimbly climbed down the ladder beside the wall.
"Sorry for the trouble, Dean Zhang." As soon as Liu Lin came down from the roof, he saw Dean Zhang beside him and apologized.
Dean Zhang said nothing. She came straight over to Liu Lin and patted the dust off his clothes.
"You child, what am I supposed to do with you? The wind is strong on the roof. What if you fell?"
Hearing Dean Zhang's words, Liu Lin didn't know what to say, so he could only lower his head.
Seeing him like that, Dean Zhang sighed.
"Forget it. Go get some rest. You have to attend the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony tomorrow."
"Come on, Xiao Lin. I'll walk you back to your room."
With that, Dean Zhang headed inside the orphanage. Liu Lin nodded obediently and followed her to his room.
The two of them walked along the dim corridor until they reached Liu Lin's door.
After seeing Liu Lin to his room, Dean Zhang said goodbye and left.
After bidding the dean farewell, Liu Lin went inside.
The room was tiny, with just enough space for a desk and a bed.
Once inside, Liu Lin took off his shoes, changed his clothes, and got into bed in one smooth sequence.
Lying in bed, he thought about the Martial Soul awakening the next day. Before long, he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, warm sunlight streamed through the window and into Liu Lin's room.
Feeling the warmth of the sunlight outside, Liu Lin opened his eyes.
He glanced at the sun outside the window, sat up on his little wooden bed, changed his clothes, and went out to wash up.
At the orphanage, Liu Lin stood in the courtyard after washing up, enjoying the morning breeze and sunlight as he narrowed his eyes contentedly.
About twenty minutes later, he opened his eyes and headed toward the orphanage's dining hall.
By the time he got there, breakfast had already been laid out on the tables for the children: a bowl of porridge and a plate of side dishes.
After collecting his breakfast, Liu Lin carried his tray to a secluded corner of the dining hall and slowly enjoyed his meal.
By the time he finished eating, the other children were only just beginning to arrive, one after another.
Liu Lin placed his tray in the return area, left the dining hall, and headed back to his room.
Once he was back in his cramped room, Liu Lin sat down at his little wooden desk and reached into the drawer underneath. He took out the History of the Star Luo Empire that he had borrowed from the dean a couple of days earlier and began reading with relish.
From reading the History of the Star Luo Empire and asking the dean questions, Liu Lin had learned that the current emperor of the Star Luo Empire was Xu Jiawei, who had ascended the throne only a few years ago.
That told Liu Lin that he was probably living in the era of Peerless Tang Sect, before Huo Yuhao had come to prominence.
Knock, knock, knock—
A knock sounded at the door, followed by Dean Zhang's voice.
"Xiao Lin, the Soul Master who's here to awaken your Martial Soul has arrived. Come with me, quickly."
Hearing her, Liu Lin set down the book in his hand, got up, walked to the door, and opened it.
"Grandma Zhang, I'm here."
When Dean Zhang saw Liu Lin open the door, she took his right hand and led him out of the orphanage toward a room set aside for Martial Soul Awakening.
When Dean Zhang and Liu Lin arrived at the room, the children who were the same age as Liu Lin had already lined up in a row, waiting obediently for their Martial Souls to be awakened.
Once inside, Dean Zhang pointed toward the group of children and sent Liu Lin over to join the line.
Liu Lin nodded at Dean Zhang's words and went to the back of the queue.
After watching Liu Lin join the line, Dean Zhang hurried over to a middle-aged man and said cautiously, "Lord Wang Wei, these are the children at our orphanage who meet the requirements. Could you take a look and see if we can begin?"
The Soul Master called Wang Wei gave a slight nod. He looked at the children lined up in a row, then turned and walked over to the awakening array.
Six Awakening Stones had been arranged into an awakening array. Wang Wei took out a crystal ball and placed it on the table. Then he pointed to the child at the front of the line.
"Stand inside."
"Don't be nervous. Stay calm. No matter what you see, don't be afraid. Hold out your right hand."
The child at the front nodded at Wang Wei's words and walked to the center of the awakening array.
When Wang Wei saw the child reach the center of the array, he gave a low shout. Four Soul Rings, two yellow and two purple, appeared at his feet.
Then a long white blade appeared in Wang Wei's right hand.
Several of the children looked at the long blade in Wang Wei's hand with longing in their eyes.
After releasing his Martial Soul, Wang Wei poured his Soul Power into the six Awakening Stones.
As a burst of white light flared from the awakening array, a green bamboo appeared in the child's right hand.
"Martial Soul: Lone Bamboo. Plant-type Martial Soul. Unfortunately, no Soul Power. Next."
"Martial Soul: Sickle. Tool-type Martial Soul. Innate Soul Power: Level One. Next."
Wang Wei looked at the last little boy and couldn't help sighing. So many Martial Souls had awakened today, but the only child with Soul Power had been the boy with the Sickle Martial Soul.
When Liu Lin heard his name called, he stepped into the center of the awakening array.
Seeing that Liu Lin had entered the center of the array, Wang Wei poured his Soul Power into the awakening array once more.
As the array was infused with Soul Power again, a hum rang out, and a faint white light enveloped Liu Lin's body.
At once, Liu Lin felt two completely different energies arise within him. His eyes underwent a strange change: his right iris turned a brilliant reddish gold, while his left eye turned icy blue.
Immediately afterward, two utterly different dragon roars rang out, and two enormous dragon shadows appeared behind Liu Lin.