Southwest of the Heaven Dou Empire, on the Douluo Continent—
Holy Soul Village!
A small settlement of over three hundred households, nestled in the wilderness, named after an elusive Soul Saint who once hailed from there. It lay in the Fasinuo Province, just south of Nuoding City.
As the sky glowed with the purples of dawn, villagers trickled out in twos and threes toward their farmlands.
Rise with the sun, rest with the moon.
Along the winding dirt path, a lone child stood out.
A boy of five or six, clad in coarse linen, with short, neatly trimmed black hair. His bright, lively black eyes sparkled with innocence when he smiled.
Around his neck hung a square wooden box filled with small green fruits. At his waist, two gourds dangled, emitting a faint mix of alcohol and fresh grass fragrance.
From afar, villagers greeted him warmly.
"Xiao Qiu, what now? Knocked down another beehive?"
Ye Qiu turned back with a grin.
"Auntie, how are you always so smart?"
"Oh, hush! Stop acting cute. Those bumps on your head are about to grow horns!"
"Ha!"
Scattered laughter echoed around.
"Xiao Qiu, come here!"
"Give Aunt Zhang two of those honey pomelos. My youngest loves them!"
"Got it, Aunt Zhang!"
Ignoring the villagers' teasing, Ye Qiu cheerfully ran up to the burly woman, pulling out two pomelos and placing them in her basket.
"Here you go! Don't forget to invite me for a meal sometime—I won't say no!"
Aunt Zhang chuckled, pressing two copper coins into his palm.
"Sure, sure. Be a good boy!"
"Thanks, Aunt Zhang! Take care!"
Ye Qiu waved as she walked away.
Since he had become self-sufficient, he rarely needed to scrounge meals from the villagers.
Greeting the farmers along the way, he slowly made his way back into the village.
Suddenly—
Ye Qiu's eyes lit up.
He turned to the side of the village and waved toward a small hill.
"Yo, Xiao San! Up early for training again?"
On the hill stood a thin figure, around the same age as Ye Qiu.
The rising sun bathed him in warmth, his tanned skin reflecting his time under the sun's relentless heat. His clothes were plain but clean, his short black hair neatly kept.
Though still a child, his agility would put even some adults to shame.
With swift, fluid movements, he leaped down the hill, light as a swallow.
Yet just as he was about to land, Ye Qiu's voice distracted him.
His foot slipped.
He nearly stumbled.
At once, Tang San's expression darkened, his eyes darting around warily, ensuring no one had noticed his unnatural movements.
Then, he shot Ye Qiu an annoyed glare.
"Ye Qiu, you're younger than me. Stop calling me that!"
With that, he abandoned any further display of skill, choosing to run home to the blacksmith shop like an ordinary child.
Tang San had always kept to himself, avoiding the village kids and preferring solitude.
"Slow down, Xiao San! If you trip, Uncle Haozi won't feel sorry for you!"
Ye Qiu didn't mind the cold shoulder. He simply chuckled, waving goodbye and adding loudly—
"Tell Uncle Haozi I said hi! Oh, and don't forget the tab for the wine!"
"…"
Tang San furrowed his brows.
He didn't bother responding, continuing his way home.
"Tch. Guess the Mysterious Heaven Record didn't teach him manners."
Ye Qiu clicked his tongue.
Every time he went to collect debts, Tang San and his father gave him the coldest reception.
Sometimes, Ye Qiu was tempted to call him "Little Brat San" out of spite.
But unfortunately, his strength didn't allow such luxuries—unless he wanted a silent sleeve arrow embedded in his forehead.
"Xiao Qiu."
Just as he finished watching Tang San disappear, an elderly voice called out.
Ye Qiu's youthful face lit up with a grin as he spotted a tall, lanky old man in the distance.
Without hesitation, he ran toward him.
"Grandpa Jack, are you here to buy something or to buy alcohol?"
"Haha, you little rascal."
Village Chief Old Jack stroked his neatly groomed beard, looking energetic and spirited.
He reached out and ruffled Ye Qiu's hair.
"I'll pass on the alcohol. Your liquor is as weak as watered-down horse piss—only that drunkard Tang Hao would like it. Just give me a few sticks instead."
"Got it! Here you go!"
Ye Qiu grinned innocently.
With a quick grab, he caught five nuts between his fingers and handed them to Old Jack.
After carefully storing the money away, Ye Qiu looked back up at Old Jack and smiled as he asked,
"Grandpa Jack, did you come to find me for something?"
"That's right. I came to inform you about the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony in three days."
Old Jack chuckled, placing a candy stick in Ye Qiu's mouth, his eyes filled with deep hope—perhaps even desperation.
It had been many years since the village had produced a Soul Master.
"In three days?"
Ye Qiu's expression shifted slightly, and a glimmer of anticipation appeared in his eyes.
"Yes, it will be held at the Martial Soul Hall in the village center. Make sure you come."
Old Jack nodded kindly.
"Alright, drop by for a meal sometime. I need to go inform the other children now."
"Take care, Grandpa Jack!"
Ye Qiu stood on tiptoes and waved his small hand.
Once the streets were quiet, Ye Qiu finished his morning sales, carrying his box as he headed home.
A lonely, silent wooden cabin.
That was Ye Qiu's home.
No family, no wealth—this was the reality he arrived in.
He had grown up eating food from different households, surviving on charity.
"Hu~"
Lying on the cold, hard wooden bed, Ye Qiu let out a long sigh.
Douluo Continent, Martial Soul Awakening…
As someone familiar with this world, Ye Qiu naturally understood the importance of a Martial Soul.
"I wonder what kind of Martial Soul I'll awaken. Will it be the same as my parents—a frog?"
Ye Qiu muttered to himself, then quickly shook his head in disgust.
"I'd rather not."
Maybe he would awaken an ancestral Martial Soul, something powerful, with high innate soul power?
"I'm so tired of this ordinary and mediocre life."
A hint of melancholy crossed Ye Qiu's face.
"If my Martial Soul turns out useless… I guess I'll just try to find someone to support me. Hahaha."
As soon as he said that, Ye Qiu couldn't help but laugh.
Wanting to give them a warm home—wasn't that just a normal desire?
…
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Under Old Jack's organization, many children of the right age gathered at the village center's Martial Soul Hall.
The so-called Martial Soul Hall in Holy Soul Village was nothing more than a large wooden house.
It was enough to keep out the wind and rain.
With so many children present, it was also a great opportunity for business.
Ye Qiu had his box hanging from his neck, energetically calling out to sell his goods.
Tang San stood quietly in place.
Hearing Ye Qiu repeatedly call out the same phrase three times before stopping, he started feeling inexplicably annoyed.
"Hey! Little San, want one on the house?"
Ye Qiu grinned as he approached Tang San, handing him a bright green candy stick.
"No need."
Tang San shook his head coldly.
He had no interest in small favors between children.
"Suit yourself."
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes.
He didn't have any strong opinions about Tang San for now—just that the guy could be a bit irritating at times.
Before long, after completing a few small sales, Ye Qiu noticed Old Jack greeting a young man with a polite smile.
"Slurp~ slurp~"
Tang San stood in front of Ye Qiu.
Hearing the exaggerated sipping noises behind him, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
The young man wore a Martial Soul Hall uniform, had decent looks, and carried an air of arrogance and superiority. With a casual wave, he dismissed Old Jack.
Then, he began today's main event—the Martial Soul Awakening!
Wishing everyone a good day!