Chapter 1: Dream Begins in Holy Soul Village
Year 2607 of the Douluo Calendar, located in the southwestern region of the Heaven Dou Empire, within the province of Fasnuo Holy Soul Village.
A small, unassuming village named after a former Soul Sage hails from here.
At this moment, a six year old boy lay lazily on a lawn covered in Blue Silver Grass, staring blankly at the sky with a sprig of young Blue Silver Grass between his teeth.
"So boring… It was way better in my old world. And all I did was stay awake for three days and nights working on a thesis for graduate school. How did I end up dropping dead from that? People in the old days didn't sleep for seven days straight and they were fine! Ugh, I've really let down our ancestors." Ye Wen murmured to himself.
Yes, this young boy was what one would call a "transmigrator." In his previous life, he was a dedicated academic and graduate student, pushing his limits to write a medical thesis. Unfortunately, his body couldn't handle the strain, and after three sleepless nights, he died and was transported to the Douluo Continent.
Having been a popular novel in his world, even the bookish Ye Wen had read Douluo Dalu. And, like Tang San, he too had transmigrated as a soul. But in the six years he had lived here, he quickly realized he was far worse off than Tang San had ever been.
For one, Ye Wen figured out that he had arrived on the Douluo Continent, though it was decades before Tang San would be born. How did a village boy like Ye Wen figure this out? Occasionally, he'd tag along with the village chief on trips to Notting City. Despite its remote location, the names of the top three sects were well known, and the current Pope of the high standing Spirit Hall was none other than Qian Xunji.
Moreover, unlike Tang San, who had cultivated his skills through mystical methods, Ye Wen was from a world devoid of any spiritual practice. His only training was through basic physical exercise and good nutrition. So the notion of innate full soul power was out of the question for him.
Then there was his background. Tang San had a full fledged family, with his mother as a hundred thousand year soul beast and his father as a prominent figure of the Clear Sky Clan. But Ye Wen's situation was tragic. His mother died from childbirth complications, and while his father was a Soul Elder, he was rather naive. He joined his Soul Master friends in the war between the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires three years ago, hoping to become a noble through military achievements. Unfortunately, he perished on the battlefield.
As for any military compensation? That was a lost cause. Although the original Douluo Dalu didn't detail its social structure, it drew elements from both Western medieval and Eastern feudal systems, so Ye Wen imagined it to be no different. If noble students bullied working students even at elementary academies, then things were likely much worse in this era.
Now, Ye Wen lived with the village chief. Notably, this village chief was actually Ye Wen's grandfather not Old Jack from the original story. His grandfather, named Ye Buyi, was a Soul Master with a single soul ring, whose fighting strength was practically negligible in his old age.
Ye Wen's outlook for the future was bleak. His fate was set to change today with his spirit awakening, yet he felt his chances of becoming a Soul Master were fifty fifty.
He'd once browsed through his family records out of boredom and found he was a descendant of the Soul Sage that gave Holy Soul Village its name. However, even the best bloodlines thin over time if not carefully nurtured. Still, there were rare cases of mutated martial souls on the Douluo Continent, so there was hope.
"Xiao Wen, time to go," Ye Buyi said in a trembling voice as he shuffled over.
"Got it, Grandpa," Ye Wen replied. He brushed off the Blue Silver Grass clinging to his clothes and quickly went to support his grandfather.
Ye Buyi wore a worn out, patched up robe and exuded an air of fragility that suggested he might dissipate with the wind. The recent wars between the two empires and his son's death had left him despondent. If it weren't for Ye Wen, he might have passed away already.
The pair slowly made their way to the village's humble Spirit Hall. In truth, it was little more than a well maintained wooden hut a building that Spirit Hall had specially constructed to help commoners awaken their spirits, a facility available in every village.
"Go on, Xiao Wen. Your life will begin here," Ye Buyi said with a look of hope and love.
Ye Wen nodded silently and went inside. A few other curious children from the village also trickled in.
A muscular man wearing the uniform of Spirit Hall entered and commanded in a deep voice, "Quiet, everyone line up!"
He didn't exude any aura, but his stern face and strong build made the five children, including Ye Wen, nervously line up.
"My name is Su Zhenhua, a twenty sixth ranked Grandmaster, and I'll be your guide. I'll now proceed with your spirit awakening, one by one. Remember, no matter what happens, do not be afraid."
With that, Su Zhenhua opened a bag on the table, taking out six round, black stones and a gleaming blue crystal ball.
He placed the stones in the slots of a hexagram magic array on the ground, then gestured for the first child to step in.
"Don't worry, just close your eyes and focus," he said. Suddenly, his eyes glowed, and he shouted, "Lone Wolf, Possess!"
Watching from the middle of the line, Ye Wen muttered, "I see… passing down the family legacy, huh?"
Yes, based on the name and martial spirit, Ye Wen couldn't help but think of Su Yuntao from the original story the comic relief character who awakened Tang San's spirit and became famous for his title "The Blind Douluo." After all, Su Yuntao had once dismissed Tang San, who eventually became a god.
(Su Yuntao: "How unfair! I haven't even been born yet, and I'm already slandered!")
The awakening and testing process went by quickly, and soon it was Ye Wen's turn. The two children before him had awakened sickles and hoes unfortunately, both useless martial spirits without any soul power.
"It's my turn; it's my turn. This is my shot at a good life! May the Jade Emperor, the Three Pure Ones, the Buddha, and Hallelujah bless me!" Ye Wen muttered in anticipation.
"Step forward," Su Zhenhua instructed calmly.
Ye Wen steadied himself and stepped onto the awakening array. Following the same process, Su Zhenhua injected soul power into the six black stones, activating the array and enveloping Ye Wen in a faint golden glow.
This time, however, the glow was noticeably stronger than it had been for the children without soul power, and Su Zhenhua's eyes flickered with delight. Although he couldn't determine the strength of Ye Wen's spirit, the existence of soul power was certain. His bonus was guaranteed.
A strange energy surfaced in Ye Wen's right hand, and suddenly, a shadow appeared a square, black cloth about one meter across. At the same time, a silver white circular mark appeared on the back of his hand.
In the center of the mark was a twisted, tilted square, with what seemed like a vortex in the middle.
Ye Wen immediately understood; this was the soul mark, an original concept from the Douluo comics. So, this Douluo world had soul armor too. That was exciting what boy could resist the allure of a cool suit of armor?
But why hadn't he noticed it in the village before? Maybe everyone instinctively kept it hidden. Grandpa might know how to hide it; he'd ask him later.
Su Zhenhua frowned slightly, looking at Ye Wen's spirit and muttering to himself, "A rag? It's big, but doesn't look useful for combat."
(PS: Spirits and soul marks vary widely, and only widely known spirits are documented, so spirit masters often name their own. Thus, Su Zhenhua didn't bother verifying it.)
As the face of Spirit Hall's public service, Su Zhenhua maintained a calm expression and said, "Extend your left hand. Let's test your soul power."
Ye Wen instinctively complied, though his mind was still buzzing due to the effect of the awakening array. It wasn't just the piece of cloth in his right hand; he felt as if something else was also present in his left hand.
Just as his hand was about to touch the crystal ball, Ye Wen suddenly understood his situation.
"Holy crap! I've got twin martial souls! And twin martial souls mean that both spirits are at least top tier. If I expose this now, I'll likely be whisked away by Spirit Hall to be groomed, and who knows what kind of nonsense will start happening around me. No way. My goal is to keep a low profile, avoid any unnecessary conflict, and grow in peace. I have to mitigate this risk. Given my innate full soul power, though, I should be able to use meditation to regulate it. If the essence of soul power is as they say an extension of thought then controlling it will just be a matter of mental suggestion. I have to give it a shot."
Ye Wen reflexively shifted the black cloth behind his back. It began flickering faintly as if it could disappear at any moment, and the previously surging soul power seemed to thin out. The crystal ball in Su Zhenhua's hand emitted a faint, flickering light.
Su Zhenhua took no special notice, merely assuming that the child had poor control over his soul power.
"Innate soul power level four, not bad at all," Su Zhenhua said, his eyes flashing with approval. "Keep up the hard work, kid; you've got a shot at becoming a Soul Elder someday."
Su Zhenhua was in high spirits. He'd been conducting spirit awakenings in village after village, and so far, no one with the potential to become a Soul Master had shown up. Since his bonus was linked to finding Soul Master candidates, Ye Wen's qualification was a bright spot.
Thankfully, the dim lighting in the room and the captivating glow of the awakening array had kept everyone's attention off the faint platinum colored soul mark on Ye Wen's left hand. Because of his angle, Su Zhenhua had not seen it either, and Ye Wen quickly tucked his left hand away.
That was close, but the awakening ceremony was finally over.
Outside, Ye Buyi hurried forward to meet Ye Wen, asking eagerly, "How did it go, Xiao Wen?"
Seeing the hopeful look in Ye Buyi's eyes, Ye Wen smiled with excitement. "I awakened a piece of cloth, Grandpa, and I have innate level four soul power. Master Su said I might be able to reach Soul Elder, even stronger than Father."
Tears gathered at the corners of Ye Buyi's eyes, his lips trembling as he muttered over and over, "The Ye family's legacy hasn't ended… it hasn't ended."
Su Zhenhua, who had just finished tidying up, approached the overjoyed old man. In his experience, this was a common sight in remote rural villages, where Soul Masters were extremely rare, and a child with cultivation potential was like a gift from the heavens.
"Sir, here is the test certificate for this child. In one month, classes will begin at Notting Elementary Academy. Make sure to send the child there it's free of charge. Spirit Hall has established a work study system across the continent. As long as the child does some chores at the academy, tuition and meals are covered. If he reaches rank ten and gains a spirit ring, bring him to the Spirit Hall in Notting City to register his level. He'll even get a one gold coin monthly stipend."
Su Zhenhua carefully instructed Ye Buyi, treating him as if he were a clueless peasant.
Ye Buyi, still brimming with joy, nodded repeatedly, uttering, "Yes, yes, yes."
After Su Zhenhua departed, Ye Buyi happily led Ye Wen back to their old brick house.
Even after six years, Ye Wen couldn't help but notice the shocking poverty gap in this world. The disparity surpassed even the feudal dynasties of old. Though their brick house was the best in Holy Soul Village, other villagers lived in wooden or even mud houses.
Once inside, Ye Buyi carefully checked the surroundings before locking the door tightly.
Watching his grandfather's actions, Ye Wen grew curious, sensing that his grandfather was about to show him something important, something valuable enough to keep hidden.
Ye Buyi entered the inner room, moved aside an old cabinet, and revealed a hidden compartment on the floor.
Seeing this, Ye Wen was intrigued. Who would have thought his ordinary home had a secret stash? But then again, given that his family was once a minor soul master lineage, it made sense to hide what little they had.
"Grandpa, what is this?" Ye Wen asked curiously.
Ye Buyi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gazed at a small box inside the hidden compartment with a look of deep sentiment. Slowly, he opened it, revealing a booklet, a large bag of gold soul coins, and a roughly hewn ring.
"Xiao Wen, although neither your father nor I were blessed with much talent, our ancestors were once an illustrious line descended from a Soul Sage, so we do have a little heritage. But as they say, 'a treasured possession invites trouble.' For years, we've kept up a poor front to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
"This booklet contains a meditation technique left by our ancestor, the Soul Sage, and it's tailored to our family's Willful Headband martial spirit. Even though our martial spirit is support type, this technique lets us cultivate as fast as tool spirit masters do.
"Unfortunately, I only have half a level of innate soul power. Even with this technique, I'll never surpass the rank of Grandmaster. Your father had better talent, but he was taken to war by that damned empire at a young age."
As Ye Buyi recounted their family's former glory, he also lamented his own misfortune and the tragedy of Ye Wen's father. If he had been a battle spirit master, he might have escaped conscription. But with a support type martial spirit, they had no chance to escape the draft.
Hearing that his grandfather only had half a level of innate soul power, Ye Wen couldn't help but think of the so called "Trash Master" Yu Xiaogang, who also had half a level of soul power but relied on his family's resources to grind his way to rank 29. The gap between commoners and nobles was indeed vast.
But then Ye Wen remembered that his martial spirit didn't seem to be the Willful Headband his grandfather mentioned, and he interrupted, "Um, Grandpa, my martial spirit doesn't seem to be this 'Willful Headband' you're talking about."
Ye Buyi, who had been lost in his memories, froze and looked at Ye Wen in disbelief. "What? Isn't your martial spirit a piece of cloth?"
"It is a cloth, but I don't think it's related to the Willful Headband. I'm not sure how to explain it; maybe it's better if I summon it so you can see for yourself."
Ye Wen called forth his martial spirit again.
Ye Buyi's eyes narrowed as he inspected the cloth. He could sense that it differed from the Willful Headband his family had always inherited. A mysterious energy emanated from it, and the latent Willful Headband in his own body seemed suppressed in its presence.
"Xiao Wen, does this martial spirit of yours have any unique abilities? Our family's Willful Headband enhances mental alertness once tied to the head," Ye Buyi explained.
Ye Wen scratched his head, realizing he hadn't closely examined his martial spirit due to the mental strain of hiding his soul power earlier. He began focusing on it now.
"It seems that this cloth contains a space where I can store objects? I think I'll call it the 'Containment Cloth.'"
The surreal sensation made Ye Wen uncertain, but Ye Buyi was more decisive. He grabbed a cup from the table and tossed it toward the cloth.
The moment it touched the cloth, it vanished as if swallowed whole, without any impact.
Seeing this, Ye Buyi's eyes lit up. As an educated man, he didn't subscribe to the village superstition that a child with a different martial spirit from their parents was illegitimate. He knew of rare and special cases of martial spirit mutations.
It was clear that his grandson had not awakened their family's traditional Willful Headband martial spirit but had instead been blessed with a mutation.
Perhaps years of rural life had dulled his memory, but finally, after much thought, he recalled the concept of mutated martial spirits from decades ago.
"Xiao Wen," Ye Buyi said in a grave tone, "I don't think your innate soul power is only level four, is it?"
Ye Wen was surprised his grandfather could tell, but the trust they'd built over the years compelled him to nod. "You're right, Grandpa. You know I hate trouble, and you've often told me how major powers on Douluo Continent go after prodigies. So when I was tested, I instinctively held back my soul power, so it only registered as level four."
Hearing this, Ye Buyi smiled with pride. Although his soul power was low, he'd seen much of the world in his youth and witnessed firsthand the cruel methods big powers used to capture talented individuals.
Ye Buyi was gratified to see his grandson had learned to keep a low profile rather than seek the limelight.
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