Douluo Continent — Heaven Dou Empire.
Nuoding City.
Early morning. The sky in the east had just begun to lighten with a faint, silvery glow, gently casting the first rays of dawn upon the homes below.
In one small courtyard…
Inside a modest room, a boy around five or six years old with short black hair and delicate features hurried to get dressed after climbing out of bed.
Today was the day of his Martial Soul Awakening.
He had to arrive early at the Nuoding City branch of the Spirit Hall to line up for the awakening ceremony—if he went too late, the wait could stretch for hours.
"I wonder what Martial Soul I'll awaken…" he thought while quickly dressing.
His name was Ye Yu—a transmigrator from Blue Star.
In his past life, he was just an ordinary teenager from China. He liked to draw and read novels in his spare time. During a trip, something went wrong—one moment he was safely upstairs, and the next, he was struck by a freak incident.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in the world he once knew only from stories—the Douluo Continent.
His background in this life was humble. Both parents were commoners. His father, a squad leader in the Heaven Dou Empire's border army, died in a skirmish with the Star Luo Empire when Ye Yu was just three years old—before he could awaken his Martial Soul.
His mother passed not long after, overcome with grief and illness.
In the years since, he'd been raised by his father's old friend, Wang Hongshan, a former soldier now serving as the captain of Nuoding City's garrison.
Only a few days ago, Ye Yu finally awakened his past life's memories.
Because of his parents' civilian status, he didn't expect much from his Martial Soul awakening.
But—there was still a glimmer of hope.
In countless Douluo fanfics he'd read before transmigrating, protagonists always awakened their systems just before or during their Martial Soul ceremony.
If the legends held true, and all transmigrators received golden fingers (cheat abilities), then he might yet rise to greatness and forge a mythic path.
But if not?
Well, then fate could do whatever it wanted—he'd accept it.
Just as Ye Yu finished dressing, a loud knock came from outside the courtyard.
"Xiao Yu! Are you up yet?"
A booming voice followed.
"It's your Martial Soul Awakening today! I'm taking you there—hurry up!"
"I'm up, Uncle Hongshan! Coming now!"
Surprised that Uncle Hongshan had come so early, Ye Yu quickly opened the gate.
Standing there was a tall, broad-shouldered man in his thirties, with tanned skin, scars covering his face and body, and a gruff yet kind expression. He was holding a few warm buns in his hands.
"Uncle Hongshan! Don't you need to lead the patrol today?"
"Bah! What are you saying?" Wang Hongshan barked. "Awakening your Martial Soul is one of the most important things in all of Douluo Continent!"
"Your parents couldn't be here today, but I'm like an uncle to you—how could I miss this?"
Ye Yu was touched as he accepted the warm buns.
"Now eat up," Wang Hongshan said. "Once you're done, we head straight to Spirit Hall!"
Ye Yu nodded, deeply moved. In the garrison, getting leave wasn't easy—it even meant losing pay. Uncle Hongshan always looked out for him without complaint. He silently swore:
One day, when I succeed, I'll repay Uncle Hongshan!
Unlike certain bald-headed protagonists who only talk big, Ye Yu meant it.
Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch.
Located in the city's center, its tall, majestic building shimmered under the morning sun, with its glazed dome casting rainbow hues in all directions.
At the gates, Wang Hongshan gave Ye Yu one final push of encouragement.
"Don't be nervous, Xiao Yu—you've got this!"
Inside, due to the number of children, parents weren't allowed to accompany them.
A smiling, uniformed female soul master led Ye Yu through the halls.
"Come with me, little one. The awakening ceremony is just ahead."
"Thank you, big sister," Ye Yu said politely before stepping into the hall.
"What a polite and adorable boy," she said, smiling as she turned to guide the next group of children.
Inside, the Awakening Hall was vast and quiet, with only four or five children ahead of him.
But what stunned Ye Yu was that the ceremony wasn't being led by the legendary Su Yuntao—a.k.a. Brother Tao!
Instead, a soul master with the Martial Soul Iron Rod and the rank of Soul Elder (three rings) stood at the head of the formation.
Ye Yu's heart sank.
In all the fanfics, the MC always awakened in front of Su Yuntao. He was supposed to shout "trash Martial Soul!" no matter the result—even if it was Innate Full Soul Power—and that curse would secretly serve as a buff.
Now what was he supposed to do without Tao Ge?
Brother Tao! Where are you? Without you, what am I going to do?!
Still, Ye Yu quietly took his place at the end of the line and waited.
"Martial Soul: Wooden Stick. No soul power. Next!"
"Martial Soul: White Cat. Innate Soul Power: Rank 1. Next!"
"Martial Soul: Short Blade. Innate Soul Power: Rank 2. Not bad. Next!"
Five children awakened before him. Two had soul power; three did not.
Then it was Ye Yu's turn.
"Come, little one—stand inside the array," the soul master instructed.
Nervously, Ye Yu stepped into the six-pointed star formation made of black stones and closed his eyes.
Warm energy began to surge into his body.
"Summon your Martial Soul!"
A commanding voice rang out.
Ye Yu instinctively opened his eyes and extended his right hand, reaching deep within for that mysterious connection.
In the next moment, bathed in a soft blue light—
—a glowing, translucent Blue Silver Grass emerged from his palm, gleaming like a watermelon sprout with a faint azure shimmer.
"…Blue Silver Grass?"
Ye Yu stared, dumbfounded.