Nezha, Third Prince

"Aunt Rou said I'm human." Nezha could only bring up Ah Rou's words. "You'll know tomorrow when my Martial Soul awakens."

"Fine, fine."

Xiao Wu jumped down from his arms and shook her head. "Let's not talk about that for now. Mom bought something tasty outside and sent me to call you to eat. Hurry, hurry!"

Nezha nodded, set aside his jumbled thoughts, and followed Xiao Wu toward the treehouse.

Nezha followed Xiao Wu through the dense forest and arrived before an enormous ancient tree.

This place was quite a distance from the outer edge of the Lake of Life.

Although Nezha had been adopted by Ah Rou, he was ultimately human, not a Soul Beast.

A human's presence would disturb other Soul Beasts, so he could not live in the core region of the Lake of Life. He could only stay in this more remote area.

The treehouse had been built atop thick branches, with a ladder woven from vines hanging down and unknown wildflowers blooming all around it.

Ah Rou was cooking in front of the treehouse.

A large iron pot rested on a Mu Jin stove, bubbling with steam. Whatever was stewing inside smelled delicious, its fragrance drifting far into the distance.

Er Ming, the Titan Giant Ape, squatted nearby, his enormous body like a small mountain.

He watched the iron pot cautiously, swallowing from time to time.

Da Ming, the Sky Azure Bull Python, was coiled around the branch of another huge tree nearby. With a bull's head and a serpent's body, he looked imposing and majestic. Yet even his vertical pupils kept glancing toward the pot.

"Big Sister Xiao Wu! Nezha!"

Seeing Xiao Wu and Nezha return, Er Ming let out a delighted low growl and thumped his huge fists against the ground twice.

"Big Sister Xiao Wu." Da Ming inclined his head slightly toward Xiao Wu, his voice deep.

"Da Ming! Er Ming!"

Xiao Wu skipped over and rubbed herself against Er Ming's massive arm.

"I'm starving, I'm starving! Mom, is it ready yet?"

"Almost." Ah Rou looked back with a smile and stirred the soup in the pot with a ladle. "Go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

Nezha silently walked over and sat beside Ah Rou.

"I'll help."

"No, no." Ah Rou waved him off. "Just sit and wait. It'll be ready soon."

Nezha did not leave. He simply sat quietly beside her, watching her busy back.

Six years.

Six years ago, this very woman had picked him up from a pile of fallen leaves in the Star Dou Forest and given him a home.

Ah Rou was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had undergone Transformation and cultivated anew as a human.

According to the rules of Soul Beast Transformation, she had now entered the Mature Stage and possessed the cultivation of a Soul Sage.

Thus, though she looked gentle and delicate, her strength was absolutely not weak.

Yet such a powerful Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form had died at Bibi Dong's hands in the original story.

Thinking of this, Nezha's gaze darkened.

"Time to eat, time to eat!" Ah Rou called everyone over, carrying dish after dish of fragrant food onto the table.

Xiao Wu was the first to rush over. Da Ming slid down from the tree, while Er Ming carefully edged closer. He was too large and could only lie on the ground to eat.

The family gathered around together, chatting and laughing.

"Nezha, eat more." Ah Rou placed a large piece of meat into Nezha's bowl. "Your Martial Soul awakens tomorrow. You need to keep up your strength."

"Thank you, Aunt Rou."

Nezha lowered his head and quietly ate.

"Oh, Nezha." Ah Rou suddenly asked, "Do you have any feeling about what Martial Soul you might awaken?"

Nezha thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"I don't know either."

He was telling the truth. After transmigrating here for six years, aside from growing three heads and six arms, he did not seem to have anything particularly unusual.

Oh, right. He was indeed a bit stronger than ordinary people, but that probably was not anything remarkable on the Douluo Continent.

"No matter what Martial Soul you awaken, it doesn't matter." Ah Rou smiled gently. "As long as you're safe, that's enough."

Nezha nodded, but his feelings were complicated.

Did he truly not know what his Martial Soul would be?

Actually, he had a guess.

A crazy guess.

His name was Nezha.

He had Three Heads and Six Arms.

If that was not a coincidence...

Then could his Martial Soul really be...

Nezha did not dare think any further. That was too crazy.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves and fell upon the treehouse, while birdsong came from every direction.

Inside the treehouse, Ah Rou had already prepared everything in advance.

Six Awakening Mu Jins had been arranged in specific positions, forming a small hexagonal array. Each Mu Jin was the size of a fist, with a faint sheen flowing across its surface.

Ah Rou also held a crystal ball in her hands.

"Are you ready?" Ah Rou looked at Nezha gently.

Nezha took a deep breath and nodded.

He stepped into the center of the array.

Ah Rou gave a soft cry, and a gentle light bloomed from her body.

Her figure instantly grew taller, and two long rabbit ears rose from her hair.

Martial Soul Possession.

"Remember, no matter what happens, don't be afraid." As Ah Rou spoke, she injected Soul Power into the six Awakening Mu Jins. "Extend your right hand."

Nezha nodded firmly.

Buzz—

The six Awakening Mu Jins lit up at the same time.

Pale golden light emerged from within the Awakening Mu Jins like six golden threads, weaving and intertwining in midair before ultimately forming a pale golden barrier that completely enveloped Nezha.

A warm force surged into his body.

At that moment, Nezha only felt as if his body were about to explode, as though something was trying to come out.

He thought bitterly, Why is my awakening different from everyone else's?!

Nezha let out a roar.

A crimson-gold pillar of light shot explosively from his body into the sky.

The pillar pierced through the treehouse roof and soared into the heavens. Powerful energy ripples spread in all directions, startling countless birds into flight.

"This is..."

Ah Rou's eyes widened abruptly.

Crimson-gold flames gathered behind Nezha, slowly manifesting into a phantom figure.

The phantom grew taller and larger, gradually becoming clear.

Three Heads and Six Arms!

It was a phantom with Three Heads and Six Arms, identical to Nezha!

The face in the middle had its eyes closed, its expression solemn, sacred and divine.

The face on the left wore a slight smile, its features compassionate, like a bodhisattva saving all living beings.

The face on the right glared with wide eyes, overflowing with baleful aura, as if it would tear apart every demon and monster.

Three faces, three expressions.

Below those three faces, six crimson-gold phantom arms spread out at once.

Within each palm, the outline of a weapon faintly condensed—

A spear, the Fire-Tipped Spear!

Swords, the Yin-Yang Swords!

A saber, the Demon-Slaying Saber!

A ring, the Qiankun Ring!

A brick, the Golden Brick!

A shield, the Nine-Dragon Divine Fire Shield!

Six weapons, their killing intent chilling.

Even more shocking, a crimson sash floated behind the phantom, twisting and dancing like a swimming dragon.

Beneath its feet were a pair of wheels burning with raging flames, releasing the howling sound of wind and fire.

Red Armillary Sash!

Wind Fire Wheels!

Three-Headed Six-Armed Dharma Body!

This was Nezha, the Third Prince!

Ah Rou was too shocked to speak.