Martial Soul Luo Sanpao?!

Spirit City, Spirit Academy, Library.

"If I were the young sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, awakened an unknown mutated dragon-type Beast Martial Soul, and had Innate Half-Level Soul Power, how should I choose my Soul Rings?"

"Setting my sights on dragon-type soul beasts would be a given, since it isn't exactly a secret among the upper class that absorbing high-quality Soul Rings from the same kind helps with Martial Soul Evolution. The key lies in what attribute of Soul Ring to absorb."

"Lightning attribute?"

"After all, it mutated from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. Unless Sect Master Yu suspected he'd been cheated on, that would most likely be his choice."

"So that world-famous move, 'Farting Like Thunder—Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao,' came about like this."

"Heh. Following the old Douluo Continent tradition of attributes being directly tied to names, the Golden Sacred Dragon might still have some connection to flames, but what the hell does it have to do with lightning..."

Thinking this, the youth leaning against the bookshelf chuckled. He casually picked up a copy of Chronicles of Continental Figures from beside him and skillfully flipped to the page containing information on the Golden Iron Triangle.

"Liu Erlong, Martial Soul Red Dragon, likewise a mutated Martial Soul of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon..."

"Flender, Martial Soul Cat Owl, the 'Horn of Flight' among the Golden Iron Triangle..."

"And that Soul Incantation: 'Sun and Moon Shine, Gold Turns'..."

As he pondered these matters, the youth's thoughts gradually drifted away.

One year and three months earlier.

Southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire, Fasinuo Province, Spirit Scholar Village.

There was nothing particularly special about this village. Compared to the neighboring Holy Spirit Village, it was worlds apart in terms of prestige.

However, it was worth noting that quite a few Spirit Scholars had emerged from Spirit Scholar Village over the past few decades, including several Soul Grand Masters. This made the nearby villages immensely envious. Even the number of Work-Study Student slots for Nuoding City each year had increased to three because of it. The village was truly flourishing.

That day, Su Yuntao, a newly appointed deacon of the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch, arrived at Spirit Scholar Village under the guidance of a senior colleague. He was performing Spirit Awakening for a group of six-year-old children.

"A scythe? It can barely count as a weapon. Too bad there's no Soul Power."

"A hoe... no Soul Power. Stand to the side for now."

"Blue Silver Grass? Isn't that the standard useless Martial Soul..."

As child after child failed to awaken any Soul Power, disappointment inevitably flickered in Su Yuntao's eyes. So this is the famous Spirit Scholar Village? Looks like this trip is destined to bring no worthwhile results.

Soon, it was the last child's turn. Su Yuntao looked at him, the anticipation in his heart already worn away. As usual, he gestured for the child to stand within the Awakening Array and said flatly, "Don't be afraid. Close your eyes and feel carefully."

At once, a layer of golden radiance was released from the six black stones, enveloping the child.

The child remained fairly calm from beginning to end, aside from some excitement at the start. This made Su Yuntao raise an eyebrow slightly.

Before he could think further, a flash of light appeared beside the child, and a strange little creature suddenly popped out.

"This is... a Beast Martial Soul?"

Su Yuntao said uncertainly.

Before him stood a creature that looked like a dog, had the body of a suckling pig, and was no more than half a meter long from head to waist. It was covered in light-purple fur, with two drooping little ears, large dark-blue eyes, four short and thick legs, and a faint bulge atop its head.

For the moment, Su Yuntao did not even consider the bizarre fact that someone in this little village had awakened a Beast Martial Soul.

He was simply astonished by the way this little beast had appeared. Normally, a Beast Martial Soul could only manifest as a fully tangible entity upon achieving Martial Soul Avatar. A newly awakened one like this usually appeared only as a phantom.

"Holy shit... Luo Sanpao?!"

At that moment, Su Yuntao suddenly saw the previously calm child before him become utterly stunned, with a trace of barely concealed collapse on his face.

"What is it?"

Su Yuntao asked. He had not caught the child's startled cry just now.

The child shook his head, naturally reining in his emotions before saying, "Big brother, can you test my Soul Power?"

"Of course."

Hearing that the child had not called him uncle, Su Yuntao froze for a moment, then happily handed a blue crystal ball to him.

Following the method Su Yuntao had taught earlier, the child recalled his Beast Martial Soul into his body and placed his small hand on the crystal ball.

A moment later, a faint blue glow lit up within the crystal ball.

"Innate Soul Power, one... no, could this be the legendary Innate 'Half' Soul Power?!"

Su Yuntao spoke in disbelief, then looked at the child with some regret.

What a pity, truly a pity. It was rare enough to awaken a Beast Martial Soul. Even if his Innate Soul Power had reached level one or two, he could have secured a decent position in Spirit Hall like Su Yuntao himself.

With that thought, Su Yuntao still comforted the child. "It's not bad either. At least you've awakened Innate Soul Power, which means that as long as you cultivate diligently, you can become a Soul Master respected by everyone."

The child nodded silently.

Who could have imagined how utterly stunned he was inside right now?

Why was it Luo Sanpao?

Why was it Innate Half-Level Soul Power too?

His heart churned with uncertainty, but outwardly, he merely retreated to the side in silence.

His name was Wang Zhao. He clearly remembered that his name came from the character "Zhao" created by Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian definitely did not exist in this world, so his identity was self-evident.

Perhaps he had transmigrated, or perhaps he had awakened memories from a past life. Who knew? Coincidentally, though, the character "Zhao" also existed in the Douluo World, so he did not need to worry about changing his name.

Of course, that was not important. What mattered was that among the countless web novels he had read in his previous life, most protagonists had cheats, but he did not!

Or rather, Wang Zhao's only cheat was the few fragmented memories in his mind concerning the novel Douluo Continent.

"I wonder whether this is still the novel version of Douluo Continent."

Wang Zhao was sometimes worried. The animated version would be fine, but if this was the heavily altered drama version of Douluo Continent with Clear Sky Bamboo Shoot, or the comic version where Bai Chenxiang impersonated Yu Feng, or even one of the countless Douluo Continent versions with fanfictional second settings, then even his sole cheat would be partially crippled.

After all, he had only read the novel version. He truly was not familiar with the drama or comic versions. The only reason he had heard about them was because he had learned a little from some fanfiction. As for fanfiction... he had read it for fun and then forgotten it. Sometimes he could not even remember the protagonist's name, much less the fanfiction authors' second settings.

Setting those worries aside for the moment, Wang Zhao's immediate problem was still his own Martial Soul.

By then, Su Yuntao had packed everything away. Carrying his bag, he came before Wang Zhao, bent down, and asked gently, "Child, are you willing to join Spirit Hall?"

"This... I need to go back and ask my grandfather."

Wang Zhao hesitated before deciding not to make a decision so quickly. He could join Spirit Hall whenever he wanted, but joining would mean it would be difficult to leave, and his future would be uncertain. He needed to consider it carefully.

In any case, delaying it for now could not be wrong.

"Very well."

Su Yuntao nodded and did not pressure him. He was only asking as a matter of routine. Then he headed outside.

The door opened, and a plainly dressed old man quickly came forward to greet Su Yuntao and the Spirit Hall senior who had been guiding him through his work. It was Old John, the village chief of Spirit Scholar Village.

"Lord Deacon, how was it? How many children from our village can become Soul Masters this year?"

Old John asked, his nervousness mixed with a hint of anticipation.

"There is one."

Su Yuntao replied.

"One is fine. One is good too..."

Old John smiled in relief, then asked, "How is his talent?"

"He has a Beast Martial Soul, but his Innate Soul Power is a little low. It's only..."

"That's fine."

Upon hearing this, Old John interrupted Su Yuntao before he could finish.

"For people from our village, awakening Innate Soul Power is already something to thank the heavens for. We wouldn't dare ask for more."

Su Yuntao glanced at the old village chief but said nothing more. He then left Spirit Scholar Village with the senior beside him.

Once they reached the outskirts of the village, the senior suddenly stopped, forcing Su Yuntao to stop as well.

"Uncle Li, what is it?"

Su Yuntao asked the Spirit Hall senior beside him in surprise. Only then did he realize that Uncle Li had seemed rather strange ever since awakening the last child's Martial Soul.

Uncle Li shook his head and cast a meaningful glance back at Spirit Scholar Village before speaking. "I've already told you the procedures and route you need to follow. Go perform Spirit Awakening in the next village on your own. I have something urgent to take care of, so I need to leave first."

Before Su Yuntao could voice his confusion, Uncle Li immediately possessed his Martial Soul Iron Eagle. Wings spread from his back, and with a whoosh, he flew away into the distance.

I've gotten a little addicted to reading Douluo fanfiction lately. I figured I should provide for myself, so I started this new book. If there are any inaccuracies, please point them out. And... ahem, go easy on the criticism.