Death

"Am I dead?"

Tang Wulin's consciousness floated through an endless expanse of chaos. Gray nothingness surrounded him; he could hear no sound and feel no touch, only a coldness and loneliness that seeped deep into his soul.

As he sensed the chaos around him, he came to this conclusion about his current situation.

He tried to move his little hands, only to discover that he could not even feel his body. There was only a faint wisp of consciousness drifting through the darkness.

Then an indescribable sorrow surged up from the depths of his consciousness, nearly drowning that fragile wisp completely.

"I'm sorry, Dad, Mom... I couldn't become a Soul Master like you wanted..."

He choked out the words to the emptiness, to the adoptive parents he believed he would never see again.

His voice echoed through the chaos, carrying the helplessness and innocence unique to a six-year-old child.

He had only just awakened his martial soul. He had not had the chance to become a powerful Soul Master, nor had he had the chance to properly repay his father and mother. Was he going to die just like this?

Just then, a voice carrying a hint of impatience yet startlingly clear suddenly exploded beside his ear.

"Tang Wulin, stop fucking sleeping and wake up!"

The voice was deep and magnetic, carrying unquestionable authority. Like a thunderclap, it instantly split apart the darkness of chaos.

Hearing that voice, Tang Wulin shuddered. His somewhat scattered consciousness immediately became a little clearer.

Instinctively, he "opened his eyes" again, and the scene before him underwent a heaven-shaking transformation.

The chaos vanished, replaced by a small space shrouded in endless starlight.

Countless tiny golden motes floated and flickered through the air, like a miniature glittering galaxy.

Beneath his feet was solid golden ground that radiated warmth, utterly different from the coldness before.

He looked upward and saw eighteen enormous patterns floating in the starry sky above, each emitting holy golden light.

The patterns were ancient in shape, like mysterious runes. They were arranged layer upon layer and exuded an immense, majestic aura that made him instinctively feel awe.

Not far in front of him stood a tall golden figure.

That figure was condensed entirely from pure golden light. Its features could not be seen clearly; only a vague humanoid outline was visible. Golden dragon-scale patterns flowed around its edges, radiating dragon might that made even Tang Wulin's soul tremble.

"Who are you? Where am I? What are those?"

Tang Wulin instinctively took a small step back. His tiny consciousness trembled slightly from nervousness as he fired off the three questions weighing most heavily on his mind.

Everything before him was too unfamiliar and strange, making him afraid.

The golden figure lowered its head slightly, looking at the tiny consciousness of a six-year-old. Its voice was gentler than before, though it still carried a trace of dragon might.

"I am the Golden Dragon King, also called Jin Qiu. You can call me Brother Jin.

"This is your Spirit Sea, the dwelling place of your soul.

"And those eighteen are god-level seals your biological father personally set down specifically to seal my power."

Hearing that, Tang Wulin became even more confused, his little brows drawing tightly together.

He tilted his head, his large eyes full of bewilderment.

"Why is there a seal inside my body? And why are you in my Spirit Sea? Besides, my dad is just an ordinary person."

Jin Qiu looked at his innocent expression and sighed inwardly. He knew that what he was about to say would be far too shocking for a six-year-old child.

"Those eighteen seals were not placed by your current father. They were personally set upon you by your biological father—Sea God, Asura God Tang San, one of the Divine Realm's supreme God Kings."

He paused, watched Tang Wulin's eyes widen instantly, then continued.

"Back in the Divine Realm, I took advantage of the loosening of the world's restrictions caused by Spacetime Turbulence and finally broke through my seal.

"Because our positions differed, your father Tang San, the Evil God King Ji Dong, and the Kind God King Lie Yan pursued me.

"Later, I encountered you just after you were born. To survive, I could only compress all my origin power and divine consciousness to the utmost limit before merging them into your body. That allowed me to evade the pursuit of the three God Kings and arrive on Douluo Continent."

Seeing Tang Wulin's still-bewildered expression full of question marks, Jin Qiu roughly guessed what confused him.

This child had not yet realized just how astonishing his background was.

"Your current parents, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue, are not your biological parents."

Jin Qiu's voice was calm, but the words exploded within Tang Wulin's consciousness like a bomb.

"If you observe carefully, you will find that neither of them looks anything like you.

"Your biological father is the Sea God of the Divine Realm, Asura God Tang San. He possesses two god positions and is one of the five great God Kings. Your biological mother is Xiao Wu, the sheath of the Asura God's sword and likewise a powerful deity.

"You also have an older sister named Tang Wutong, who inherited the Butterfly God position. Your brother-in-law is Huo Yuhao, the Emotion God, one of the Divine Realm's important deities and also the first master of the Spirit Pagoda.

"As for the rest of your background... I do not know much either. After all, I was sealed in the Divine Realm for hundreds of thousands of years."

"Huh?"

Tang Wulin's consciousness froze abruptly, his mouth hanging wide enough to fit an egg.

He felt as though his head had been struck hard by a sledgehammer. It buzzed loudly, then went utterly blank.

Biological parents? Sea God? Asura God? Deities? Sister? Brother-in-law?

He had only heard such words in the stories his father told him.

And now, someone was suddenly telling him that the figures from those stories were actually his family?

A six-year-old child had suddenly been told that the home he had lived in for six years was not his real home; that the father and mother closest to him were not his biological parents; and that his true relatives were all omnipotent deities from legend.

It was more bizarre and unbelievable than any story he had ever heard.

After all, anyone would be dumbfounded if such an explosive background were thrown in their face.

He was completely stunned. His mind was a mess, and he temporarily lost even the ability to think.

"Then... then how did I get from the Divine Realm to Douluo Continent?"

Only after a long while did Tang Wulin barely recover his voice and ask haltingly.

There was a barely perceptible tremor in his voice, carrying both shock and an indescribable fear.

"This is what happened..."

Jin Qiu began explaining patiently.

He started with the Spacetime Turbulence in the Divine Realm, then told of Jin Qiu's rampage after breaking free of his seal. He explained how Tang San, in order to protect the newborn Tang Wulin, had no choice but to place eighteen seals upon him, personally open a spatial passage, send him to Douluo Continent, and entrust him to Tang Ziran and Lang Yue to raise.

He also briefly explained what deities and the Divine Realm were, as well as how Soul Masters who cultivated to the utmost limit could have a chance of breaking through level one hundred, ascending to the Divine Realm, and becoming deities.

Naturally, he made certain revisions that favored himself.

This included, but was not limited to, portraying the Golden Dragon King and Silver Dragon King as merely differing in their use of power while concealing matters concerning their personalities.

He also turned his rampage in the Divine Realm into an act of helplessness under emergency circumstances.

He explained this knowledge, far too profound and vast for a six-year-old child, to Tang Wulin bit by bit in language that was as easy to understand as possible.

Tang Wulin listened with his eyes wide and his mouth agape. His tiny consciousness stood there blankly while his mind raced frantically, trying to digest and process all this sudden information that was enough to overturn his entire worldview.

His biological father was a God King? The Golden Dragon King's power was sealed in his body? He had come from the Divine Realm?

Those revelations flooded his mind like a tide, leaving him incomparably shocked and lost.

He even began to wonder whether this was some absurd dream he was having before death.

"Tang Wulin, let me ask you: do you want to become a god?"

Just as Tang Wulin remained immersed in shock and confusion, unable to pull himself free, Jin Qiu suddenly spoke and asked a question that shook the heavens.

His voice carried a hint of temptation as it echoed through the starlit Spirit Sea.

"Become a god...?"

Tang Wulin repeated the words instinctively, his eyes somewhat lost.

Becoming a god meant possessing endless life and power capable of destroying heaven and earth. It meant being able, like the deities of legend, to protect everything he wanted to protect.

Yet faced with Jin Qiu's question, Tang Wulin hesitated almost not at all. His eyes instantly became incomparably resolute.

He shook his head, his voice clear and pure.

"Right now, I only want to live happily with Dad and Mom. That is enough.

"Becoming a god is still too far away for me, and I do not need such powerful strength."

In his heart, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue were his only father and mother.

The days he spent with them were not wealthy, but they were full of warmth and love.

That was enough. He did not need the identity of a deity, nor did he need great power.

Jin Qiu had more or less expected Tang Wulin's response.

He had long known that this child had grown up under the love of his adoptive parents. He was kind and filial and valued family bonds above all else.

He did not get angry. Instead, he continued to "talk him into it" with a perfectly serious expression.

"Let me tell you, a person needs lofty goals. You need to learn to look ahead and not limit yourself to the happiness right in front of you.

"And do not worry. With me here, I can make you the strongest god on Douluo Continent, even in the entire Divine Realm."

He paused, watching Tang Wulin's gaze waver slightly, then continued.

"Besides, do you truly not want enough strength to protect all the people close to you?

"Think about it. If one day the people closest to you encountered danger, but you did not have enough strength to protect them, what would you do then?

"Could you only watch helplessly as they were hurt?"

"I... Aaaah! O(≧口≦)O"

Before Tang Wulin could fully react, before he could organize his words and answer, Jin Qiu suddenly extended a large golden hand and gave him a gentle push.

A gentle yet irresistible force instantly enveloped Tang Wulin's consciousness.

Tang Wulin felt the starlit space before him begin to twist and spin, while a howling sound rang in his ears.

He instinctively let out a terrified scream.

Jin Qiu watched the direction in which he vanished, a faint smile curling across his lips.

He had actually already roughly known the answer.

Deep down, this child still longed for strength. He simply had not yet realized how important that strength was to him.

"Go out and think it over carefully. Once you have figured it out, come find me again."

His voice softly echoed through the empty Spirit Sea, carrying a trace of anticipation and a trace of understanding.

"Tangtang! Tangtang! You can't let anything happen to you! If something happens to you, what will Dad and Mom do?!"

Intermittent sobs burrowed into his ears, carrying heart-wrenching despair.

Tang Wulin's eyelids felt as heavy as lead. He used all his strength before he could barely pry them open a crack.

The glaring white light made him squint instinctively. Only after a long while did he gradually adjust to the light around him.

What entered his sight was a familiar white ceiling, while the faint scent of disinfectant lingered beneath his nose.

He turned his stiff neck and saw his parents on either side of him, their heads lowered as they lay by his bed and wept.

Lang Yue's shoulders shook violently. Her black hair hung down in disarray, obscuring her face, while tears continuously slipped through her fingers and dampened the white hospital gown he wore.

Tang Ziran tightly gripped his little hand. His palm was rough and cold, his knuckles white from exertion. His usually gentle face was filled with exhaustion and fear. His eyes were red, yet he forcibly held back his tears.

"Dad, Mom, where am I...?"

Tang Wulin's voice was terribly hoarse, like sandpaper scraping across wood.

Hearing his voice, the two people immersed in grief abruptly looked up.

"Tangtang! You're awake! You're finally awake!"

Lang Yue threw her arms around him, holding him incredibly tightly, as if she feared he would disappear the instant she let go.

Scalding tears fell onto his neck, carrying the warmth unique to a mother.

Tang Ziran also let out a breath of relief. His taut body instantly slumped, and he raised a hand to wipe his face, brushing away the dampness at the corners of his eyes. A smile of surviving disaster appeared on his face.

"That's wonderful, that's wonderful... As long as you're all right. As long as you're all right."

He reached out and gently touched Tang Wulin's forehead. Only after confirming that his temperature had returned to normal did the heart hanging in his chest finally settle.

"Mom, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."

Tang Wulin stretched out a little hand and awkwardly patted Lang Yue's back to comfort her.

He remembered suddenly feeling an intense pain in the awakening room, after which he knew nothing.

As for what had happened in the Spirit Sea, he instinctively did not mention it.

That was a secret between him and the golden figure called Jin Qiu.

"You little rascal, you scared your father and mother to death."

Lang Yue released him, wiped the tears from her face with her sleeve, and gave him a reproachful look. Yet her eyes were full of heartache.

"The doctor said that the energy impact during your Soul Power awakening was too great, causing you to fall unconscious. If it had been any later, the consequences would have been unthinkable."

Just then, the ward door was gently pushed open.

A doctor in a white coat entered, followed by two others.

One was the Spirit Pagoda Envoy from yesterday, the one wearing the pink JK outfit. Today, he had changed back into a normal black Spirit Pagoda uniform, and the goofy expression he had worn yesterday was gone. He looked far more serious.

The other was a middle-aged woman wearing glasses and holding a folder. She was a teacher from Red Mountain Academy responsible for martial soul awakenings.

"Little one, you're awake? How do you feel? Is anything bothering you?"

The doctor walked to the bedside, took out a stethoscope, and gently questioned Tang Wulin as he examined him.

"I'm fine now, Doctor. I'm just still a little dizzy," Tang Wulin answered obediently.

The doctor examined him carefully, checked the readings on the nearby instruments, and nodded.

"Mhm. All your physical indicators have returned to normal. You are just a little weak. Rest for a few days, and you will be fine."

Hearing the doctor's words, Tang Ziran and Lang Yue were finally completely relieved.

At that moment, the Spirit Pagoda Envoy stepped forward with an apologetic smile on his face.

"Mr. Tang, Mrs. Tang, we are truly sorry. What happened yesterday was our oversight. We did not anticipate that this situation would arise."

He paused and handed over a document he was holding.

"Fortunately, student Tang Wulin was not seriously harmed, and his martial soul awakening ceremony was actually completed successfully. This is his martial soul awakening report."

Tang Ziran hurriedly accepted the report, his hands still trembling from what had happened.

Lang Yue leaned closer as well, anxiously looking at the contents of the report.

"Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass."

When they saw those three words, disappointment appeared on both Tang Ziran and Lang Yue's faces.

Blue Silver Grass was the most common useless martial soul on Douluo Continent and had almost no prospects for cultivation.

But when their eyes moved to the next line, their eyes instantly lit up.

"Innate Soul Power: Level Ten!"

"Innate Full Soul Power?!"

Tang Ziran could not help crying out. He abruptly lifted his head and looked at the Spirit Pagoda Envoy.

"Teacher, are you sure? Innate Full Soul Power?"

An Innate Soul Power of level six or above was already considered genius-level. Innate Full Soul Power was among the very best talents in all of Aolai City.

What was more, it was with a useless martial soul like Blue Silver Grass. Possessing Innate Full Soul Power was practically unheard of; aside from Tang Sect ancestor Tang San, there had basically never been a second person like him.

"That's right. We checked repeatedly. It really is Innate Full Soul Power."

The Spirit Master nodded, a hint of surprise on his face. "This is one of the highest Innate Soul Powers awakened at Red Mountain Academy in all these years.

Although his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, Innate Full Soul Power is already enough for him to become an outstanding Soul Master."

Tang Wulin had also heard their conversation.

At first, he was a little disappointed that his martial soul was actually the most useless Blue Silver Grass.

But when he heard that his Innate Soul Power was level ten, a happy smile appeared on his little face again.

No matter what, he had Soul Power. He could become a Soul Master! He had not disappointed his father and mother!

"That's wonderful! Tangtang, you're amazing!"

Lang Yue excitedly hugged him again. Tears streamed down her face once more, but this time, they were tears of joy.

Tang Ziran was grinning from ear to ear as well. Holding the awakening report, he read it over and over, as though he could never get enough of it.

The doctor smiled as he watched the family's joy.

"Since the child is all right now, you can complete the discharge procedures today.

After you go home, make sure he gets plenty of rest. Avoid strenuous exercise, and keep his diet light."

"All right, all right. Thank you, Doctor. Thank you, Teacher." Tang Ziran hurriedly expressed his thanks.

The Spirit Master and the academy teacher gave them a few more reminders about enrolling as a Soul Master, telling them to report to Red Mountain Academy when the time came, before leaving the hospital room.