A new beginning

The atmosphere in Zhen Hua's private Forging Room grew solemn and sacred. The hammer blows and crackling flames that usually filled it had fallen silent, replaced by a heart-stopping aura of life and strange fluctuations of fusion.

"Wulin, sit cross-legged." Zhen Hua's voice was low and grave. His eyes, which had weathered countless storms, remained fixed on Tang Wulin. "This isn't ordinary soul ring absorption. It's soul spirit fusion. If anything goes wrong, the pain of a soul spirit's backlash will be more than any human can endure. Are you afraid?"

Though Tang Wulin was young, the domineering bloodline of the Golden Dragon King and the Tang family's tenacity flowed through his bones. He shook his head, his gaze clear but firm. "I'm not afraid, Teacher. Let's begin!"

Beside him, Tang Wutong looked calm, but her fingers tightened slightly. She silently vowed, With me here, nothing will happen to you.

Zhen Hua nodded and suddenly raised both hands. Two clusters of light hovered above his palms. On the left was the nimble Little Green Snake. Though it possessed only ten years of cultivation, it emitted strange spatial fluctuations. On the right was the exquisitely vibrant Nine Heart Begonia, its rich aura of life seemingly capable of cleansing the soul.

"Remember, guide them into your meridians and let them meet inside you!" Zhen Hua commanded in a low voice, thrusting both palms forward.

The two clusters became streaks of light and instantly sank into Tang Wulin's forehead.

In an instant, Tang Wulin's body shuddered violently.

From the outside, fine patterns of green scales appeared on the skin of his left arm, as though an invisible Green Snake were swimming through his blood vessels, bringing icy, tearing pain. Meanwhile, over his heart on the right side of his chest, the phantom of a nine-petaled begonia blossomed. Warm vitality surged through every limb and bone like a tide, frantically repairing the damage left by the snake's passage.

It was a bizarre sensation in which ultimate agony and ultimate comfort existed together.

"Ugh..." Tang Wulin clenched his teeth. Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat instantly soaked his clothes. The Green Snake's corrosive power and the Nine Heart Begonia's healing power collided wildly inside him.

"Steady your mind! Guide the Green Snake to take the lead, and let the begonia attach itself to it!" Zhen Hua instructed anxiously from beside him, fine beads of sweat forming on his own forehead.

Enduring the searing pain, Tang Wulin began trying to control the two forces with his spiritual power, which far surpassed that of ordinary people. The Golden Dragon King bloodline within him seemed to stir at the conflict as well. A thread of golden bloodline power quietly circulated and, like an emperor descending, instantly suppressed the two restless energies.

Under the harmonizing influence of that golden bloodline power, something remarkable happened.

The raging Little Green Snake seemed to have encountered both its natural enemy and its sovereign. It obediently coiled at the position of Tang Wulin's second soul ring. The Nine Heart Begonia, meanwhile, seemed to have found the perfect soil. Its petals unfurled, and its roots sank deep into Tang Wulin's Origin of Life, blending perfectly with the Little Green Snake's soul ring glow.

There was no earth-shaking roar, only a strange soul ring slowly rising, deep purple flecked with emerald green and pink.

The soul ring held both the Little Green Snake's uncanny agility and the Nine Heart Begonia's flourishing vitality.

"It worked!" Zhen Hua slapped his thigh, his eyes brimming with wild joy. "A perfect fusion! Not only did they not reject each other, they complemented each other beautifully! The Little Green Snake provided the vessel for the fusion and some of its traits, while the Nine Heart Begonia became the soul ring's true core power!"

Tang Wulin slowly opened his eyes. Deep within them, a glimmer of green and pink seemed to flash and vanish. He felt a new force inside him, gentle yet overflowing with vitality, as though any fatigue or pain would disappear the moment it circulated.

With a thought, faint green scales appeared on the skin beneath his left sleeve, while a phantom begonia flower blossomed in his right palm.

"Sister, Teacher, I feel... I think I've become stronger. And I'm all warm inside. It doesn't hurt at all anymore." Tang Wulin gazed at his hands in wonder.

Tang Wutong stepped forward and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, her eyes filled with pride and relief. "Well done, Wulin. This was President Zhen Hua's most treasured possession. As expected, only you could master it."

Watching them, Zhen Hua released a long breath and marveled, "Incredible. Truly incredible. The Nine Heart Begonia is an exceptionally delicate martial soul. Even an ordinary soul master needs extraordinary fortune and the right constitution to absorb it. I never imagined that, through fusion with the Little Green Snake, it would become your soul ring so easily. And it's a twin soul spirit soul ring, too! Wulin, the road ahead of you may be even broader than your father's was."

He thought to himself, Yun Ming, oh, Yun Ming. You haven't merely found a student. You've found a future guardian deity for the Douluo Continent.

Looking at Tang Wulin's utterly unruffled expression, Zhen Hua could not calm the shock in his heart for a long time. He rubbed his hands, scratched his head awkwardly, and turned to Tang Wutong. "Um... Miss Tang, there's something I need to confess."

Tang Wutong turned toward him, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Oh? Is there something else you've kept from me, President Zhen Hua?"

Zhen Hua drew a deep breath and lowered his voice. "This Nine Heart Begonia... isn't actually an ordinary ten-thousand-year soul spirit. Its true age is... a hundred thousand years."

"A hundred thousand years?" Tang Wulin's eyes widened. Even Tang Wutong could not help letting out a soft exclamation.

"Yes." Zhen Hua gave a bitter smile, his eyes holding a trace of lingering fear and disbelief. "This was a treasure I'd kept tucked away for years. I could never bear to use it. I originally thought a hundred-thousand-year age was nothing but a tale from the Arabian Nights for a child who had only just awakened his martial soul. I never expected him to absorb it successfully. My plan was to have him absorb the Little Green Snake first, then gradually guide the Nine Heart Begonia into him. I never imagined... never imagined this little fellow's constitution would be so terrifying that he could easily dissolve even the pressure of a hundred-thousand-year soul spirit."

Surprise flashed through Tang Wutong's eyes, then gave way to understanding. A hundred thousand years? Anyone else might have exploded and died, but this was her younger brother, whose veins carried the Golden Dragon King bloodline. His ability to withstand the impact of a hundred-thousand-year soul spirit did not seem quite so difficult to accept.

She nodded. Rather than blame Zhen Hua for concealing it, she said calmly, "Since he's already absorbed it successfully, it was meant to be. If it's a hundred thousand years old, the soul ring will naturally grant two soul skills. Wulin, close your eyes and feel carefully. What are the two skills?"

Tang Wulin obediently closed his eyes. As he sank his awareness into his body, the soul ring's aura, which had been somewhat muddled by the fusion, instantly became clear.

Then a brilliant ray of light shot skyward from his body.

It was a red soul ring!

Only at a hundred thousand years did a soul ring turn red!

Golden patterns flowed across the red soul ring, which radiated an ancient, heart-stopping pressure. Though Tang Wulin's suppression kept that pressure from spreading far, all three people present could clearly sense the terrifying energy contained within the red ring.

"A hundred thousand years... it really is a hundred thousand years..." Zhen Hua murmured, gazing at the red soul ring with greed and awe in his eyes. As a Divine Craftsman, he had seen countless soul rings, but this was the first time he had seen a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring belonging to a soul master who had only just begun.

A moment later, Tang Wulin opened his eyes, excitement sparkling in them. "Sister, Teacher, I felt them! There are two abilities!"

"Tell us about them." Zhen Hua's interest was piqued as well. Soul skills bestowed by a hundred-thousand-year soul spirit were bound to be extraordinary.

Tang Wulin cleared his throat and said earnestly, "The first ability is called Blue Silver Redemption!"

"Blue Silver Redemption?" Tang Wutong repeated softly.

"Yes!" Tang Wulin nodded. "It can instantly heal teammates' injuries, just like the Nine Heart Begonia's original ability. It can also weave Blue Silver Grass into armor for my teammates, strengthening their defenses! It's like... like putting a growing shield around them!"

Zhen Hua's eyes shone brightly at his words. "Both offense and defense, able to attack when advancing and guard when retreating! This is no mere support soul skill. It's an all-purpose skill combining offense and defense! A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skill truly lives up to its reputation!"

Tang Wulin continued, "The second ability is called Blue Silver Absorption!"

"This skill is even more powerful!" Tang Wulin gestured excitedly. "I can make Blue Silver Grass parasitize enemies and drain their soul power, weakening them. At the same time, I can draw on the energy of nature around us and absorb the vitality of nearby Blue Silver Grass to restore our side's vitality! It's like... like turning the entire forest into our supply station!"

After listening, Tang Wutong's lips curved into a satisfied smile. One skill focused on defense and healing, while the other focused on weakening enemies and sustaining allies. They perfectly suited Tang Wulin's future combat style. With control, support, and self-recovery, these were practically divine skills tailor-made for team battles.

"Very good. Very good." Tang Wutong nodded approvingly. "Wulin, now that you've gained these soul skills, practice them properly. You mustn't waste the power of this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring."

Beside her, Zhen Hua nodded repeatedly, looking forward to Tang Wulin's future even more. A hundred-thousand-year red ring and twin soul skills. Isn't this starting point a little too high?

Under the approving gazes of his sister and teacher, Tang Wulin clenched his small fists and silently swore, I'll train hard and live up to Sister's and Teacher's expectations!

The atmosphere in the Forging Room grew even livelier. Under Zhen Hua's guidance, Tang Wulin began experimenting with his two newly acquired soul skills. As his soul power circulated, strands of Blue Silver Grass broke through the ground, sometimes becoming tough vine armor, sometimes blood-draining tentacles. The entire Forging Room seemed to become his private garden.

Another year passed, spring giving way to autumn.

Ever since Na'er had left without a sound, Tang Wulin's world seemed much quieter. The mischievous little girl with long silver hair who had always followed him around had left behind only a letter and that silver bracelet. The paper was thin, but the words seemed carved into his heart: "Brother, I have to leave for somewhere very far away. Don't look for me, and don't be sad for me."

Those few brief words kept Tang Wulin sitting in that room for an entire day. He did not cry; his golden eyes merely grew deeper. He knew that if Na'er had chosen to leave, she must have her reasons. All he could do was grow stronger—strong enough that, if she needed him one day, he would have the power to stand beside her.

Time flew, and two more years passed in the blink of an eye.

At nine years old, Tang Wulin had shed the childishness of his earliest days. Though his frame remained slender, every movement carried a steadiness beyond his years. Over those two years, he had turned all his longing into fuel for cultivation. Every day, he rose before dawn to train his body and compress his soul power. Through pain most people could never endure, he gritted his teeth and persevered without a sound.

Now, the registration desk at Eastsea Academy buzzed with voices.

Liu Yuxin, the senior student handling reception, was bent over sorting forms. Only when a clear voice greeted her with "Hello, senior!" did she look up.

Standing before her was a boy of about nine, dressed in a rather plain blue tracksuit and carrying a bulging backpack. He stood perfectly straight. Though young, he had an inexplicable tenacity in his clear golden eyes.

"Hello there, little fellow." Drawn by the child's gaze, Liu Yuxin handed him a form and spoke gently. "Are you here to register? Fill this out first, then let me see your recommendation letter."

"Thank you, senior." Tang Wulin took the form, picked up a pen, and carefully filled it out, stroke by stroke. His handwriting was neat and strong, much like him.

As she waited for him to finish, Liu Yuxin asked casually, "What's your name? How old are you?"

"Tang Wulin. Nine."

"Nine?" Liu Yuxin looked a little surprised, then smiled. "You really are young. Did you come from Aolai City?"

"Yes. I graduated from Red Mountain Junior Academy." Tang Wulin handed over the completed form along with the recommendation letter Zhen Hua had written especially for him.

Liu Yuxin took the letter and scanned its contents, her brows creasing slightly. It praised the child extravagantly, even using phrases such as "a prodigy unmatched in his era." But this martial soul...

"Your martial soul is Blue Silver Grass?" Liu Yuxin looked at Tang Wulin in disbelief and asked for confirmation. "Little fellow, Blue Silver Grass is widely recognized as a trash martial soul. I've heard of people reaching level forty with it, but they're as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. You..."

Tang Wulin said nothing. He simply released his soul power.

"Please examine it, senior."

In an instant, powerful soul power fluctuations erupted from his small, slender body. Blue light swirled around him. Though there was only one soul ring, its purity and solidity far surpassed those of his peers.

Liu Yuxin extended a finger and lightly touched that soul power. Her pupils abruptly contracted, and she froze.

"This... how is this possible?" Liu Yuxin cried out, her voice trembling with agitation.

Level thirty-nine!

The nine-year-old child before her had actually reached level thirty-nine in soul power! He was only a single step away from the threshold of level forty!

Even in Eastsea Academy's history, such a genius was exceptionally rare! And his martial soul was Blue Silver Grass?

Liu Yuxin felt as though her entire understanding of the world were collapsing. A level-thirty-nine Blue Silver Grass soul master? This was even more unbelievable than the legendary twin martial souls!

"You... how did you do it?" Liu Yuxin looked at the almost excessively calm boy before her, storm-tossed waves surging in her heart. This was no new student coming to register. He was a monster!

Tang Wulin withdrew his soul power. There was not a trace of pride on his face as he said calmly, "I just... didn't want to stop."

Liu Yuxin took several deep breaths before she could barely suppress her shock. Looking into Tang Wulin's resolute eyes, she solemnly stamped his form with the seal of approval.

"Student Tang Wulin, welcome to Eastsea Academy."