Heaven Dou Empire, Fasinuo Province.
Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy, research room.
Grandmaster stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the sharp-browed, bright-eyed young man before him, carrying a hint of disdain.
"Changge, you've worked like an ox and a horse all these years. You've really had it rough."
"Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore! Your frail Goblin Cub Beast Martial Soul is so weak it belongs in a latrine. It'll never evolve."
"Leave. Get out of Notting City, and the farther you go, the better! I'm about to take Tang San as my disciple, and I don't want him to get the wrong idea."
Hearing those words, Su Changge froze in place as if struck by lightning.
Confusion! Helplessness! Fear! Resentment...
Countless negative emotions surged forth, swallowing his consciousness in an instant.
When he was six, his parents had ventured into the Star Dou Great Forest for his sake and both perished.
To seize even the slightest chance of Martial Soul Evolution, he—a mere child—had brought hundreds of thousands of Gold Soul Coins and sought refuge with Yu Xiaogang.
Over the past ten years, hundreds of thousands of Gold Soul Coins had been spent supporting Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul research.
Ten years! Even if he'd earned no credit, he'd still put in the effort!
Ten years—even a dog would've grown familiar with him by then.
But Yu Xiaogang?
He was worse than a dog.
After draining every Gold Soul Coin from Su Changge, Yu Xiaogang had found someone more suitable and cast him aside without a second thought.
After a long while, Su Changge came to his senses and let out a crazed laugh.
"Heh... Hahaha, fine! Grandmaster, I understand what you mean."
"I'll leave Notting City today. I won't get in the way of you and Tang San."
He didn't argue, didn't protest, and didn't make any threats.
Ten years had been enough for him to see Yu Xiaogang for exactly who he was.
Ambitious as the heavens, conceited, hypocritical, cowardly, hungry for fame...
If he reacted too strongly, he might not make it out of Notting City alive.
Yu Xiaogang might be a good-for-nothing, but Su Changge... was an even more pathetic good-for-nothing than Yu Xiaogang.
His Soul Power was stuck at the peak of level nine, and he couldn't even fuse with his First Soul Ring.
What difference was a Soul Master without a Soul Skill from a battle-weak commoner?
"Fine. If I weren't about to take Tang San as my disciple and trying to avoid bloodshed, would I let you leave alive..."
"Su Changge, you really are one lucky dog."
Standing outside the research room, Yu Xiaogang watched Su Changge stumble away. The murderous intent in his eyes gradually faded.
He was nothing but a good-for-nothing, after all.
Without a Soul Skill and without a single coin to his name, how long could Su Changge survive in a world where the strong ruled?
Even if Yu Xiaogang didn't kill him, Su Changge would die all the same.
At the thought of Tang San's twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, Yu Xiaogang's eyes blazed once more.
Only a disciple with such talent could carry his Ten Great Martial Soul Theories forward.
Like a walking corpse, Su Changge crossed Notting Academy's square, its training grounds, and all the other places he'd known for ten years.
He'd been cast aside.
On the very day he turned sixteen.
Where was he supposed to go now? He had no idea.
"Third Brother..."
Just as Su Changge was about to step out of Notting Academy, a tender voice caught his attention.
Xiao Wu, her long ponytail swaying, threw herself into Tang San's arms.
Looking at Tang San, a trace of resentment appeared in Su Changge's eyes.
But the next instant, Su Changge quickly suppressed it.
It was laughable. He didn't even have the strength to take revenge on a mere six-year-old brat.
"What a damn rotten world."
Su Changge cursed inwardly.
They were both transmigrators. Why did Tang San get heavenly fate, powerful allies, a distinguished background, talent, and...
And why had Su Changge ended up so miserable?
After leaving Notting Academy, Su Changge returned to the house he rented in the city.
That was right. After working like an ox and a horse for Yu Xiaogang for ten years, Su Changge hadn't even qualified to live at Notting Academy.
Just as Su Changge finished packing his luggage, completed the paperwork to end his lease, and prepared to leave...
A faint buzz, like the whine of a mosquito, stirred deep within his consciousness.
Ding! The host has turned sixteen. Soul Ring limit unlocked. Obtain your First Soul Ring to achieve Martial Soul Evolution and receive a First Trait reward.
What was this?
Su Changge stood there, dazed, as the luggage in his hands crashed to the ground and spilled everywhere.
A system!
Sixteen years! Sixteen years!
After enduring countless hardships, was he finally about to see the light at the end of the tunnel?
"Hey, system bro?"
Su Changge tried to establish a connection with the system, but after that voice appeared, it seemed to fall silent.
No matter what he tried, he couldn't get a response.
"Su Changge, why haven't you gotten out of Notting City yet? Don't forget your promise to Grandmaster!"
The abrupt voice brought Su Changge back to his senses.
When he looked up, several well-dressed brats were staring coldly at him.
He knew all of them. They were upper-year students at Notting Academy.
They were the free labor Yu Xiaogang had gathered around himself.
Though they were five or six years younger than him, every one of those brats was a genuine Soul Master.
Any one of them could kill him with ease.
"I'm leaving now."
Su Changge took a deep breath, forced down his humiliation, gathered his luggage, and headed for the gates of Notting City.
The brats followed him all the way, only stopping once they'd seen Su Changge leave the city.
Standing at the far edge of the horizon, Su Changge gazed back at Notting City beneath the night moon, looming like a shadowy beast, and let out a beast-like howl: "Yu Xiaogang! In this life, either you or me—only one of us will survive!"
He'd still overestimated how low Yu Xiaogang could sink.
The man was determined to humiliate him to death, to grind him into the mud.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
After a long journey, Su Changge crossed the Balak Kingdom and arrived at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
During the ten years he'd followed Yu Xiaogang, Su Changge had spent most of his time doing dirty, exhausting work, but he'd secretly learned quite a few things as well.
Such as Martial Soul Theory, types of Soul Beasts, the logic behind Soul Ring combinations, and general knowledge about the Douluo Continent.
"Hundred-Year Soul Ring, all-inclusive service! Just ten Gold Soul Coins!"
"First Soul Ring hunting—recharge for top-tier VIP service and get a personalized Soul Ring under five hundred years old! Recharge now: not 188, just 98 Gold Soul Coins!"
"All-female Soul Master team, offering you an Emperor's exclusive service. Your First Soul Ring for just 168 Gold Soul..."
Su Changge had just steeled himself to enter the forest when the sight before him left him stunned.
Dozens of Soul Masters, in more than a dozen Soul Master teams, had set up several stalls at the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest... at the entrance where novice Soul Masters often came.
They sang out their hawking calls as if they were soliciting customers.
Sure enough, wherever there was demand, an entire industry would spring up.
A sharp-eyed Soul Master spotted Su Changge from a distance and hurried over.
"Handsome, are you looking to hunt a Second Soul Ring or a Third Soul Ring? Want to book a group?"
"Since you're so handsome, I can give you a twelve percent discount."
Seeing several Soul Masters from other stalls rushing over behind the man, Su Changge turned and ran.
It wasn't just that he was completely broke right now. Even if he had money, he wouldn't dare.
Someone like him, with no backing or powerful allies, would absolutely be captured and dissected by other factions if his Martial Soul Evolution came to light.
"Hey, handsome, why are you running?"
"I haven't even given you a price yet. If you think it's too expensive, you can bargain, handsome."
"Book a group for the first time and get a full bath and massage thrown in. All the beauties are at least sixteen, handsome..."
In an instant, Su Changge's steps faltered. Unable to resist, he turned back and met that hopeful gaze. He couldn't help replying, "Good buddy, for that all-inclusive package, once I've earned enough Gold Soul Coins, I'll definitely come back and book a group with you. No... I'll book for a whole year. No discounts!"