"What a pile-of-shit novel. Two male leads, and it even got eunuch'd. The protagonist Xiaoyao was written like a side character. The characterization was seriously mediocre. I think Bai Ye was a little better, at least his characterization didn't contradict itself, but it was still shit."
In a university dorm room, Jun Yi lay in bed reading a novel titled "Douluo: My Soul Skills Are the Nine Secrets," furiously unleashing a barrage of scathing criticism.
"This male lead feels like a complete moron, like he doesn't have any ideas of his own. Bad review. Especially this opening. How could a child possibly get kicked out of the Clear Sky Sect? The logic doesn't hold up. Absolute trash."
"The author even eunuch'd it. How can he face his readers? What a XX! Fuck you, refund!"
Jun Yi put down his phone and lay on his bed, his hands behind his head, quietly staring at the dorm room ceiling.
"If I transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, what kind of Martial Soul would I awaken? Would I choose to join Spirit Hall, or follow Tang San around as his lackey? Forget it, forget it. I really don't have a good impression of Buddha Ancestor Tang. Better to stay on my own."
"Would I get a system? If I had a system, that would be awesome. I could just do a few quests and become a god, without having to take those god trials and all that crap. I hate exams more than anything."
Night had long since fallen, and the vast darkness shrouded the land. As Jun Yi fantasized, he drifted off to sleep.
Outside the window, a shooting star streaked across the pitch-black sky...
On the Douluo Continent, Heaven Dou City bustled with people coming and going, brimming with prosperity.
Many people had also gathered in a secluded street corner. They sat along the roadside, calling out prices, though it was impossible to tell what they were selling. No goods were displayed before them.
But all of them had young children beside them, boys and girls alike, sitting by their fathers in bewilderment.
Just then, an extremely handsome young man in fine clothes, looking every bit a young nobleman, entered the street corner and looked around.
"Young master, you're an unfamiliar face. First time here?"
A sly-faced man approached the young nobleman and asked.
"Yes, it's my first time."
"Need a guide, then? Cheap, just one Gold Soul Coin."
The sly man rubbed his hands together, studying the young nobleman's expression.
The young nobleman casually tossed the sly man a Gold Soul Coin and had him act as his guide.
"Thank you, young master. This way, please."
The guide immediately bowed in thanks and pointed the young nobleman toward the way ahead.
"Young master, what are you looking for today? We've just got a fresh batch of 'tender lotus roots.' Lovely and fresh. Would you care to take a look?"
"'Tender lotus roots'?" The young nobleman was puzzled.
The guide smacked his forehead and explained, "Look at this head of mine. I forgot this was your first visit. Everyone here speaks in code. 'Tender lotus roots' means pretty children."
"Oh, I see."
The young nobleman followed the guide to a small stall, where a vicious-looking man sat on the ground. The two children beside him, a boy and a girl, looked ill at ease, with tears even glistening on their faces.
"Oh, a distinguished visitor! Young master, would you like a flower or a stick of incense? Both of mine can stand."
Upon seeing the young nobleman, the vicious-looking man put on a smile, his face full of flattery.
The guide hurriedly explained to the young nobleman, "This gentleman is asking whether you want a boy or a girl. Both children are healthy."
The young nobleman looked at the two pitiful children and sighed, then turned and headed farther in.
"Sir, wait for me!"
The guide hurried after the young nobleman, heading deeper into the street.
The young nobleman merely walked through the entire street corner without doing anything else.
When he reached the end, he turned and asked the guide, "Are there any other places in Heaven Dou City where children are sold?"
"No, sir. Heaven Dou City is the imperial capital. A place like this only exists because this old hand has someone backing him. They say he has connections to the imperial family. You won't find a second one anywhere in Heaven Dou City," the guide explained.
"I see. In that case, I can rest easy."
The young nobleman snapped his fingers lightly, and in an instant, a large group of armored guards appeared beside him.
"Your Highness, First Prince, may we take action?"
The captain of the guards approached the young nobleman and knelt on one knee in salute.
"Do it," the young nobleman said slowly, waving a hand.
In an instant, the captain appeared in front of the fleeing guide and brought him before Xue Qinghe under arrest.
"Oh, Your Imperial Highness, spare my life! This place has nothing to do with me. I'm just a guide. I don't do any trading."
The moment the guide heard the title "Your Highness, First Prince," he had realized who this young nobleman was-Xue Qinghe.
He hurriedly begged for mercy and shirked responsibility, seeking only to stay alive.
"Are you willing to atone for your crimes through meritorious service?" Xue Qinghe asked mildly.
"Yes, yes!"
"Then help them arrest everyone."
"Yes, yes. I'll take you gentlemen there right away."
The guide hurriedly led the guards into the street corner, where they arrested everyone inside. Some tried to flee and were killed on the spot by the guards.
On the main street of Heaven Dou City, as Xue Qinghe led the guards in escorting all the traders to prison one by one, a crowd gathered to watch. Xue Qinghe approached the onlookers, bowed with his hands clasped, and said:
"Everyone, I am Xue Qinghe. Recently, there have been rumors of children disappearing in Heaven Dou City, supposedly at the hands of human traffickers. At first, I believed no trade in human beings could exist within Heaven Dou Imperial City. After all, this is the most heavily guarded place in the entire Heaven Dou Empire."
"But today, when I saw these innocent children being sold with my own eyes, I was shaken as never before. I never imagined such evil could lurk beneath the sunlight."
Xue Qinghe bowed to the crowd again in apology, leaving the onlookers deeply stunned. A prince of such standing was actually apologizing to commoners over human traffickers. Such a thing would never have happened with any other royal or noble.
"Now these traffickers have been arrested. From this day forward, there will be no more human trafficking in Heaven Dou City."
When he finished, applause rose from among the onlookers. Then everyone began clapping for this dutiful prince, showering Xue Qinghe with praise.
Just then, a guard approached Xue Qinghe with a crying infant in his arms and said:
"Your Highness, First Prince, the traffickers picked up this child along the way. It will be difficult to find his parents."
Xue Qinghe took the child and lifted him into his arms. The child's eyes remained fixed on him. Xue Qinghe gently stroked the child's head and said:
"Look for his parents first. If they truly can't be found, I'll adopt him. After all, it was because of me that he ended up here."
"His Highness Qinghe truly has a generous heart."
"Yes. If His Highness Qinghe inherits the throne someday, I imagine he will be a wise ruler."
The commoners praised Xue Qinghe one after another, sparing no words of admiration. They said he loved the people as his own children, treated others generously, and would surely become a wise ruler, and so on.
Xue Qinghe paid no attention to having become the focus of so many people's attention. Holding the child, he bowed to the crowd and left.
Meanwhile, the child in Xue Qinghe's arms looked all around, unable to believe what was before his eyes.
I've fucking turned into a baby? Where is this? Am I dreaming? Mommy, where are you? I'm scared!
(End of chapter)