A Stranger from Another World

On a blue planet, a young man had just finished playing Honor of Kings and gone to sleep. But when he woke, a new set of memories filled his mind. Once Yang Xiu had sorted through them, he realized he had crossed into another world—and not just any world, but the Douluo Continent he knew so well. He had never imagined something like this would happen to him. The boy whose body he now inhabited had been unlucky enough already, being an orphan. Then he had lost his footing, fallen off a cliff, and died. What had he done to deserve that? Still, Yang Xiu could hardly talk about the boy that way now. The boy was him. He fell silent.

His Soul Power was decent. Reaching level 31 at fifteen took real effort, given the boy's circumstances. But wasn't his Soul Ring Configuration a little terrible? One white ring and two yellow ones. Could that even be fixed?

"Where's my cheat? My system? Come out."

"Ding! Hello, host. I am the Yanhuang Civil and Military Officials System. It is a pleasure to serve you."

"There really is a system?" Yang Xiu said, startled. "What can you do? Tell me quickly. Is there a beginner's gift pack or anything?" I wonder if there's something that can increase the age of my Soul Rings. Their age is part of my strength, after all.

"Ding! Hello, host. A beginner's gift pack has been placed in your System Inventory. Please check it. The system has three main functions: missions, summoning, and the System Shop. Its purpose is to bring people of Yanhuang blood who left glorious marks on history into Douluo."

"There really is a gift pack! Open it." "Ding! Congratulations, host. You have received two Unrestricted Martial Strength Pills, one Martial Soul Evolution Pill, one Advanced Summoning Card, and the tool Martial Soul Dragon Soul Spear."

"That's a generous gift pack," Yang Xiu said. "It's a shame there's nothing to increase my Soul Rings' age. I understand the rest, but what's a Martial Strength Pill? Let's take a look."

Martial Strength Pill (Unrestricted): Randomly increases martial strength by 1–5 points. The lower the user's level, the greater the increase. (Converted to Soul Power Level in Douluo.)

This is incredible. If I summon a top-tier general and give him one, wouldn't he break through to God-Tier? Yang Xiu thought.

"Host, please stop letting your imagination run wild. Only you can take an Unrestricted Martial Strength Pill. And even if a civil or military official's strength exceeds 100, they will not become a god. Their path to godhood will unlock only after you become a Titled Douluo. No further information is available for now."

"All right, so there's a restriction. Without it, this would be far too powerful."

"System, use everything except the summoning card, then open my status panel."

"Ding! Use successful. Please wait, host. Unrestricted Martial Strength Pills used successfully: Soul Power increased by nine levels. Martial Soul Evolution successful: Divine Shadow Leopard has become a Top-Tier Martial Soul. God-Tier Martial Soul Dragon Soul Spear acquired."

Name: Yang Xiu (15 years old)

Soul Power: Level 40 (white, yellow, yellow)

Martial Souls: Divine Shadow Leopard, Dragon Soul Spear

Defense: Level 51 (physique equivalent to a level 51 Soul King)

Spirit: Level 59 (two souls merged during the crossing). Physical attributes have been transformed by both Martial Souls.

Inventory: Advanced Summoning Card ×1

"My spirit and defense are both above level 50. System, does that mean I can absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as my fourth?" Yang Xiu asked.

"That's right, host. You can understand it that way."

"System, what's this Advanced Summoning Card? Are there other grades?"

"Ding! Host, there are four kinds of summoning cards: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Random. Apart from Random Summoning Cards, all can summon people with values from 60 to 99. Only the odds differ."

Basic: 60–70 (80%), 71–80 (17%), 81–90 (2%), 91–95 (0.9%), 96–99 (0.1%)

Intermediate: 60–70 (50%), 71–80 (40%), 81–90 (7%), 91–95 (3%), 96–99 (1%)

Advanced: 60–70 (40%), 71–80 (30%), 81–90 (20%), 91–95 (7%), 96–99 (3%)

Random: Every value has the same odds. It all depends on luck. A Random Summoning Card may also summon a troop type, with 10–1,000 soldiers each time.

"System, summon." Historical figures flashed before Yang Xiu's eyes, one after another, until they stopped on a single man. "I didn't expect him."

Not bad. I hit a seven-percent chance. I just wonder whether he'll try to kill Lord Guan when he shows up. The man was Hua Xiong, whom Guan Yu had slain before his wine grew cold. Name: Hua Xiong

Soul Power: Level 91

Martial Soul: Demon Bear

Soul Rings: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black

A standard configuration. But how had these people obtained their Soul Rings?

"Host, before summoned people appear, they are sent to a Special Space, where they face a trial every ten levels. Unless someone is exceptionally powerful, they generally receive a standard configuration, though exceptions are possible. Like Tang San, someone might receive a black fourth Soul Ring, or even a red one later. They retain all their combat experience. Having fought through life-and-death battles, they are exceptionally strong among those of the same level, and some can even fight above their level. They retain little of their memories from their previous lives, but the system provides them with knowledge of this world and its basic affairs, so it is not unfamiliar to them. They are also one hundred percent loyal to you."

"Hua Xiong greets My Lord." Hua Xiong cupped his fists and bowed.

"No need to be so formal," Yang Xiu said. "We both have Yanhuang blood and come from the same place. Here, we're family." At the same time, a bold idea took shape in his mind: he would let the people of Yanhuang shine with the brilliance they deserved in this world. He already had a plan for the first step.

"Thank you, My Lord."

"Call me Young Lord for now."

"Yes, Young Lord."

Yang Xiu looked around and asked the system where they were and what era of Douluo this was. It told him that Tang Shan was in his third year of schooling in Nuoding City, and the school year had only just begun. In other words, Tang Shan was eight. They were near the Star Dou Great Forest, on a cliff above which stood a small village. There's still time before the story gets going. I can keep my head down and grow stronger. If I complete some missions, earn summoning cards, and draw someone with a value above 95, I won't let Tang San go through the same story again if I can help it. He's a descendant of the dragon too. With that thought, Yang Xiu rose and turned toward the forest.

"Hua Xiong, let's go. Help me get my fourth Soul Ring." Hua Xiong said nothing. He simply followed behind Yang Xiu. Just then—

"Ding! Missions issued."

"Mission one: Obtain a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. Reward: Increase the age of the host's first three Soul Rings to a thousand years."

"Mission two: Gather five people and establish a Sect. Recruits from Douluo Continent must have at least level 6 Innate Soul Power; summoned people have no such requirement. Reward: five Innate Soul Power Pills, one summoning card for a person with martial strength above 95, one Advanced Summoning Card, one Random Summoning Card, and 10,000 Soul Coins."

"Mission three: Reach level 50 within one year. Reward: The host may claim three Special Martial Strength Pills from the System Shop for free each year. (Each increases Soul Power by 1–2 levels. Anyone can use them, with no level restriction, but only one may be used per ten levels. The host is exempt.)"

So many missions at once. Why does the first reward feel like the system is looking down on me? Still... I'll take it, Yang Xiu thought. "The second mission is manageable, but system, are you sure I can finish the third?" "Work hard, host. You may manage it if you complete more missions."

"...I suppose that's true." With that thought, Yang Xiu made his way toward the Star Dou Great Forest.