Someone Stole Grandmaster's Famous Quote

At seven years old and already level ten... Her Innate Soul Power seemed quite strong, probably stronger than her father's. A food-type Soul Master with such outstanding talent was rare.

Then.

Xu Huxiao stared at his right hand and activated the Eye of Omniscience. Three seconds later, a stream of information entered his mind:

[Human]: Xu Huxiao

[Age]: Six

[Martial Soul]: Platinum Dragon-Patterned Arms, Monster Shrek, Hulk

[Level]: Ten (Maximum: 1,100 years)

[Soul Skill]: None

[Inner Motto]: The strong fear no challenges. I'm a man who will become a God!

One thousand one hundred years?

It was probably because he had yet to formally begin body tempering. Otherwise, this limit should have been even higher.

"Son, once you obtain your first Soul Ring, you'll officially become a Soul Master."

"Before that, Dad wants to tell you a story."

Just as Xu Huxiao was examining his information, Xu Bayan's deep voice came from beside him.

Xu Huxiao looked at his father, somewhat puzzled. Why was he suddenly telling a story?

A look of reminiscence appeared in Xu Bayan's eyes as he continued on his own, "This is a story about the origins of Spirit Hall. It happened a very, very long time ago..."

"Legend says that in the ancient era of Douluo Continent, the Gods slept while Soul Beasts and powerful exotic beasts ruled the continent. Humanity struggled merely to survive."

"At that time, a Stone Emperor rose to prominence."

"When his Martial Soul awakened, it was merely the most ordinary, most worthless, most useless pebble."

"Everyone called him a once-in-a-million useless Soul Master. They said such a Martial Soul was only fit for filling latrines, because back then, nearly everyone possessed powerful exotic beast Martial Souls or sharp weapon Martial Souls."

"But the Stone Emperor did not give up because of this. Instead, he cultivated diligently, endured countless hardships, encountered all kinds of fortuitous opportunities, and fought his way forward through thorns and briars until he ultimately reached the Titled Douluo realm."

"He named himself the Blue Star Douluo!"

"Though no one knew why the Stone Emperor chose Blue Star as his Title, that was unimportant. What mattered was that although he had been born with a useless Martial Soul, he defied fate through hard work and became a powerhouse of his generation."

"The Stone Emperor's legendary experiences earned the praise of countless Soul Masters!"

"His famous ultimate technique, 'Planetary Devastation,' and his Self-Created Soul Skill, 'Tathagata Palm,' made countless ancient God-clan beasts tremble in fear. None could stand against him."

"In the end, the Stone Emperor and his Seven Warlords squad led humanity's rise, founded Spirit Hall, and gradually brought prosperity to the continent's Soul Masters."

"The Martial Soul Codex preserved within Spirit Hall recorded a sentence once spoken by the Stone Emperor. It inspired countless Soul Masters. Huxiao, do you know what that sentence was?"

Xu Huxiao shook his head blankly. His mind was rather muddled right now.

Xu Bayan's eyes shone with soaring fighting spirit as he said:

"That is: 'There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never look down on a poor young man!'"

"This is the story of Spirit Hall's origins."

"Son, Dad wants to tell you through this story that although you awakened a mid-to-low-grade mutated Twin Arms Martial Soul and failed to inherit Dad's top-tier Martial Soul, you must not lose heart. As long as you wish to grow stronger, no one can stop your advance."

"You must believe in yourself!"

After thinking it over, Xu Bayan still decided to use the story his own father had once told him to encourage his son.

That line spoken by the Stone Emperor had even been something Xu Bayan secretly looked up in the Elder Hall at noon, all so the story would be more vivid.

After hearing it, Xu Huxiao was deeply shocked, though he did not forget to play along and show that he had accepted this bowl of inspirational soup.

He had never expected Spirit Hall to have such a legendary tale.

Xu Huxiao truly felt that his horizons had been broadened.

That Stone Emperor...

He was probably a transmigrator senior who had also come from Blue Star.

He had not transmigrated to the present, though, but to ancient times.

Don't ask why Xu Huxiao was so certain. After all, only the System could probably mash together the Seven Warlords from One Piece, the ninjutsu Planetary Devastation, and the martial art Tathagata Palm.

And the System was usually standard equipment for transmigrators. Combined with the fact that the Stone Emperor had named himself the Blue Star Douluo...

He probably... missed home.

What a coincidence, meeting a fellow villager in another land!

Unfortunately, so much time had passed. Even if that ancient Stone Emperor had not kicked the bucket, he had probably taken his System and ascended to some other world to roam around.

After all, with something as heaven-defying as a System, the Stone Emperor probably would not have been willing to remain bound by the God Realm.

As for that famous quote...

Uh...

It was obvious that the Stone Emperor had probably liked reading webnovels too.

Xu Huxiao did not feel much about the phrase, "There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters."

In his view, whether it was his Three-Life Martial Soul or his Innate Full Soul Power, he had absolutely nothing to do with being useless.

Besides.

So-called judgments of uselessness were merely the vicious shortsightedness of other people's despicable minds.

They were the most meaningless things in the world.

He cultivated and grew stronger not to prove anything to anyone, but simply to achieve his own goals.

That was all.

But the little girl across from him, Bao Jingjing, did not see it that way.

After hearing the story, Bao Jingjing's adorable bun-like face was full of admiration. She gently tugged Bao Dexian's sleeve and whispered softly:

"Dad, the Stone Emperor is so amazing. Can Jingjing become such an amazing Soul Master too?"

Bao Dexian knew full well how difficult it was for food-type Soul Masters to cultivate, but he did not want to shatter his daughter's beautiful fantasy. He smiled honestly and said:

"Of course. But even if you can't become an amazing Soul Master, being a happy Soul Master is still pretty wonderful."

Hearing this, Bao Jingjing nodded vigorously.

"Mhm~ But I'll still work hard to become an amazing Soul Master. Then I'll buy Dad a house as big as the old master's."

The father and daughter had both spoken quietly, but in the enclosed space of the carriage, they could still be heard clearly.

When Xu Bayan and Xu Huxiao heard their conversation, the corners of their mouths unconsciously lifted.

The carriage left Spirit City through its southern gate.

More than two hours later.

Xu Huxiao's group arrived at the gathering town outside Soul Hunting Forest, where many Soul Masters came and went.

There were vendors selling dried rations and medicine, as well as Soul Master mercenary groups forming teams to hunt Soul Beasts.

Cries of hawking and calls for companions rose and fell one after another, making the place exceptionally lively.

Outside Soul Hunting Forest's fence, squads of neatly arranged iron-armored warriors patrolled with long spears in hand. The distinctive emblem of Spirit Hall was displayed on each of their chests.

This Soul Hunting Forest belonged exclusively to Spirit Hall. A three-story Lou Gao Martial Soul Enforcement Hall stood at the center of the gathering town and was responsible for guarding it.

The Xu Family's carriage, driven by the butler Luo Ming, stopped directly outside the Martial Soul Enforcement Hall.

Xu Bayan, draped in a black-and-gold cloak, stepped down from the carriage. A simple steel prosthetic was attached where his left leg should have been, making his steps halting and uneven, but his tall frame still exuded imposing power.

"Welcome, Demon Bear, to the Martial Soul Enforcement Hall—!!"

The guards at the entrance immediately dropped to one knee upon seeing him, their manner extremely respectful.

The warriors stationed here had once belonged to the temple guard force under Xu Bayan's command, and they were all very familiar with Elder Demon Bear before them.

"Rise. Where is your commander, Wang Zhong? Have him come out."

Xu Bayan smiled as he spoke, leading the others into the Enforcement Hall.

It was Xu Huxiao's first time visiting this Soul Hunting Forest. He looked around and found everything orderly, with people entering and leaving in an organized fashion.

It seemed the enforcement warriors managed this place quite well.

The inside of the Enforcement Hall was simple and spacious. A massive bronze command tablet over three meters tall stood in the main hall, engraved with six different patterns.

Xu Huxiao knew that they represented the Martial Souls of six powerful Titled Douluos.

After entering the reception room to wait, Xu Bayan took the opportunity to analyze the cultivation direction of Xu Huxiao's twin-arm Martial Soul.

"For a Twin Arms Martial Soul, the control path seems a little forced. The agility-attack path has issues with speed and one-hit killing power. A more well-rounded assault path would be best."

"You happen to possess an exquisite and fierce palm technique. Combined with it, the power should be extraordinary."

"Son, do you have any preferred direction for choosing your Soul Skills?"

"I do!"

Xu Huxiao answered firmly.

"Father, I already have my first Soul Skill planned out. It would be best if it were an attribute-enhancement type, one that could increase the strength and defense of my Twin Arms."

"And my Platinum Dragon-Patterned Arms Martial Soul has one special trait: the Soul Rings it absorbs must come from draconic Soul Beasts."

"Oh? It must be a draconic type? Then once Wang Zhong arrives, we'll ask him whether this Soul Hunting Forest raises any strength- and defense-type draconic Soul Beasts. If not, we'll go to Star Dou Great Forest to find them."

As they spoke.

A man in a fitted silver suit of armor hurried in from outside. The instant he saw the people in the reception room, he immediately dropped to one knee, placed his right fist against his chest, and performed a solemn salute.

"Your subordinate Wang Zhong welcomes Demon Bear to the Martial Soul Enforcement Hall in the Soul Hunting Forest!"

Xu Bayan stepped forward and patted the subordinate who had once followed him.

"Sigh, I was the one who caused you all to be demoted here to guard Soul Hunting Forest."

Wang Zhong said emotionally, "Please don't say that, my lord. Without you, who knows what backwater corner us brothers would have ended up in!"

"We are content here, and it gives us the chance to focus on cultivating our Martial Souls through Heart-Submergence."

Xu Bayan nodded in satisfaction.

"Good! It's good that you think that way. Since I no longer participate in Hall affairs, it would not be appropriate for me to interfere with position assignments."

"Since you have the will to cultivate with Heart-Submergence, and you appear to be at the bottleneck between Soul King and Soul Emperor, I can lend you a hand."

Having said that.

Faint black flames flowed over Xu Bayan's arm. He brought two fingers together and swiftly tapped eight key acupoints across Wang Zhong's limbs before lightly patting his dantian with his palm.

Xu Bayan shouted in a low voice, "Wang Zhong, summon your Martial Soul!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Zhong immediately obeyed. Five Soul Rings in the optimal configuration emerged and pulsed in succession.

Roar!

A tiger's roar shook the heart with ferocious might.

Wang Zhong's Black Tiger Martial Soul completed its possession. His body grew taller and bulkier, sharp fangs and claws sprang forth, and in the blink of an eye, he became a fierce, God-forsaken-looking half-beast tiger-man.

At the same time, Xu Bayan pointed a finger containing Soul Power and vital energy at Wang Zhong's chest.

Buzz!

Immediately.

A clear fluctuation of Soul Power appeared. Wang Zhong's Soul Power, which had been trapped at level fifty-nine for two and a half years, began rising rapidly after the vital energy in his limbs was unblocked.

In an instant, he broke through to level sixty!

Feeling his cultivation break through, Wang Zhong could not conceal the joy on his face. He dropped to one knee in gratitude.

"Your great kindness cannot be repaid by Wang Zhong. If you ever have need of me in the future, simply give the order. This subordinate would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths!"

Xu Bayan smiled and calmly accepted the salute. "All right, cultivate well from now on. Remember, strength is the foundation of the Soul Master world."

"Yes!"

Xu Bayan continued, "I came today to hunt a Soul Beast for my son Huxiao and obtain his first Soul Ring."

Wang Zhong respectfully said, "May I ask what requirements you and Young Master Huxiao have for the Soul Beast?"

"Huxiao, tell him."

Xu Huxiao said, "Commander Wang, I need a strength- and defense-type draconic Soul Beast. Does this Soul Hunting Forest have one?"

The moment Wang Zhong heard this, he immediately said:

"Yes! Our Soul Hunting Forest has a specially isolated Dragon-Seeking Valley. It contains only draconic Soul Beasts, including ten-year, Hundred-Year, and thousand-year ones!"

Xu Huxiao's eyes lit up. He looked at his father and said, "Father, then let's go take a look at Dragon-Seeking Valley here."

"Good. Let's go. Wang Zhong, lead the way."

Wang Zhong withdrew his Martial Soul and accepted the order. "Yes!"