The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Tattoo

"There's... Innate Soul Power?"

"Wonderful! With Innate Soul Power, my son can become a Soul Master."

Tang Xue hugged Xu Qing tightly. Her eyes reddened at once, and tears of excitement surged up, carrying all her joy with them.

She had awakened Blue Silver Grass back then, while her husband Xu Yan's Martial Soul was a Black Snake. But neither of them had Innate Soul Power, so neither could become a powerful Soul Master. This was also the greatest regret of their lives. She had never imagined that her son would actually have Innate Soul Power.

"Right, Xiao Qing, what Martial Soul did you awaken?" Tang Xue released Xu Qing and hurriedly asked.

Xu Qing extended his right hand. A faint light flickered in his palm, and a slender blade of pale blue grass grew out, slowly unfurling its leaves.

"Mom, my Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."

"What?"

The joy on Tang Xue's face abruptly froze. Her pupils contracted slightly, and even her voice grew quieter. "Blue Silver Grass?!"

Of course she knew about Blue Silver Grass, the Douluo Continent's universally acknowledged trash Martial Soul.

Even with Innate Soul Power, the road ahead for a Blue Silver Grass Soul Master would probably be incredibly difficult. Over hundreds and thousands of years, almost none had made it far.

At once, the hope that had just ignited was shrouded in gloom again.

Watching his mother's eyes instantly dim, Xu Qing felt warmth in his heart. He raised a hand and gently patted her back, smiling brightly. "Mom, it's fine. It's just Blue Silver Grass. At least I have Innate Soul Power. I can cultivate and become a Soul Master! I'm already very happy with that."

Tang Xue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed her disappointment, and managed a smile. She reached out and ruffled Xu Qing's hair. "Xiao Qing, you're right. Being able to become a Soul Master is already wonderful. Come on! Let's go home and tell your dad the good news!"

"Okay!"

Afterward, Tang Xue led Xu Qing out through the gates of Red Mountain Academy.

There were still quite a few parents on the street bringing their children to awaken their Martial Souls. Naturally, some went in happily only to emerge dejected, while others went in worried and came out happy.

But just as Tang Xue and Xu Qing had walked a short distance from the academy, a male teacher's clear shout suddenly rang out from the grounds behind them.

"Tang Wulin!"

The name struck his ears like a thunderclap.

Xu Qing, who had been walking steadily forward, suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, his whole body freezing.

Tang Wulin?!

That incredibly familiar name sent violent tremors through his mind.

Fuck, holy mother, could he really be the Tang Wulin I'm thinking of?!

Xu Qing instinctively looked around.

Not far away, a handsome little boy with black hair raised his small hand high and stepped forward in response. He followed closely beside a middle-aged man as they headed into Red Mountain Academy together.

A familiar scene, familiar character traits.

Looks like I really did transmigrate into the era of The Legend of the Dragon King. And from the looks of things, I'm the same age as Tang Wulin.

Xu Qing could only say, Holy god of transmigration!

Look where you've dumped me! In any other era, I could've kept my head down and developed, but are you kidding me right now? With Tang Wulin and his Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline around, even breaking through to Titled Douluo is questionable, let alone becoming a god.

What an absolutely unmatched starting hand.

Beside him, Tang Xue keenly noticed Xu Qing's unusual behavior. She stopped and looked down at him in confusion. "Xiao Qing, what's wrong? Why did you suddenly stop?"

Xu Qing abruptly came to his senses. Suppressing the emotions churning inside him, he gently shook his head and said in a natural tone:

"Nothing, Mom. Let's hurry home."

Although Tang Xue did not understand her son's unusual behavior, she did not ask about it.

When they returned home, Xu Yan had already finished work and was sitting in the living room waiting.

Seeing mother and son return, he came forward with an expectant expression.

"How did it go? Can Xiao Qing become a Soul Master?"

A complicated expression appeared on Tang Xue's face.

Seeing this, Xu Yan immediately had a very bad feeling.

"Xiao Qing awakened rank-three Innate Soul Power."

"Rank-three Innate Soul Power!" Xu Yan's eyes lit up. He immediately crouched down and looked at Xu Qing. "Well done, son! Not bad at all. Our Xu family finally has a Soul Master!"

However, Xu Yan soon noticed Tang Xue's hesitant expression.

"Is something wrong?"

Tang Xue thought for a moment before saying, "But Xiao Qing awakened the same Martial Soul as me."

The joy on Xu Yan's face faltered slightly.

"Well..."

Although Xu Yan was also somewhat disappointed, he soon returned to normal.

Having no Innate Soul Power himself, he knew very well how difficult life on this continent was for ordinary people without Soul Power.

Xu Qing had Innate Soul Power and could become a Soul Master. Even if he was only the most ordinary Blue Silver Grass Soul Master, his future life would still be far better than an ordinary person's.

He reached out and patted Xu Qing's shoulder, his tone sincere. "Then Blue Silver Grass it is. Although it's called a trash Martial Soul, having Innate Soul Power already puts you ahead of the vast majority of people. Your Martial Soul is only your starting point. How far you go from here depends entirely on you."

Xu Qing nodded. "Dad! I know. Don't worry!"

Xu Yan nodded. He did have some understanding of his son's carefree personality. As a parent, all he could do was quietly support him.

For dinner, Tang Xue made an especially lavish spread to celebrate Xu Qing's awakening of Innate Soul Power.

After dinner, Xu Qing planned to head to the bathroom and enjoy a comfortable bath.

He entered the bathroom and took off his shirt. As he turned, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of the dressing mirror beside him.

When the mirror reflected his back, Xu Qing's eyes flew wide, and his entire body froze.

What's this?

A Five-Clawed Golden Dragon!!

A golden dragon-shaped tattoo had actually appeared on his back.

It had deer antlers, a camel's head, a snake's neck, eagle claws, and tiger paws, with two long dragon whiskers hanging beside its mouth.

The design looked as though countless golden threads had been engraved into his skin. Under the light, it seemed to possess a spirit of its own, looking as if it might suddenly fly out from Xu Qing's back.

Xu Qing stared blankly at the design in the mirror. Instinctively, he raised a hand and gently reached around to touch his back.

Beneath his fingers, his skin was smooth and even, without any raised areas or the slightest scar. Yet that golden dragon tattoo was truly imprinted on his body.

Could this be my golden finger?

No way, right?

Who the hell gets a tattoo as their golden finger?!

Xu Qing tried injecting Soul Power into the tattoo. Good grief, his Soul Power was like a clay ox entering the sea-not a single response.

Xu Qing studied it for a while longer, only to discover that it did nothing besides glow.

Fuck! Heavens, how am I supposed to use this thing you gave me?! At least give me an instruction manual, hey!

Am I supposed to blind enemies with the golden light from the tattoo?

After that, Xu Qing stopped bothering with the tattoo and continued the task at hand.

After his bath, Xu Qing returned to his room.

Lying on his soft bed, he slowly closed his eyes. A wave of fatigue gradually washed over him, and before long, he fell into a deep sleep.

Night quietly enveloped all of Aolai City.

In his dreams, Xu Qing's consciousness sank into a haze.

He seemed to stand amid a boundless sea of golden clouds. Golden light surged around him, and he could vaguely make out an enormous dragon silhouette circling deep within the clouds. Its outline was actually identical to the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon on his back.

The enormous dragon made no sound, but an ancient, immense pressure weighed heavily upon Xu Qing.

It pressed down until even Xu Qing's consciousness grew somewhat heavy. His body could not move, and he could only stare blankly at that magnificent dragon silhouette.

Just then, the silent, motionless Five-Clawed Golden Dragon slowly lifted its enormous head.

A pair of golden dragon eyes, as brilliant as blazing suns, abruptly opened.

Boom-

An immense draconic might erupted outward. The churning sea of golden clouds surged back in every direction like a receding tide.