Chapter 1: Taiji, Qimen, Zhao Xuanzhen

Douluo Continent, Spirit Tower Headquarters.

The high tower pierced the heavens, standing tall and imposing, shimmering with a brilliant silver light. The tower had eight sides, its peak hidden within the sea of clouds, adding a touch of mystery to the continent's premier structure.

"A watermelon cut in two, one half for you, one half for me..."

The scorching sun hung high, pouring sunlight down from the distant sky, dispersing the thin mist hovering above the martial arts arena and illuminating that youthful yet undeniably handsome face, as well as the Taiji movements, each one full of profound rhythm.

"Xuanzhen, can this kind of slow, ancient martial art really be used in actual combat?"

Not far away, two young women moved in perfect synchronization, arms crossed over their chests, heads tilted, staring unblinkingly at the boy.

They were twins, their appearances as if the Creator had carelessly used the same mold twice. Their snow-white hair reached their waists, their features were exquisite with sharp contours; without any deliberate styling, they were as beautiful as elves who had walked out of a fairy tale.

The only difference was their eye color: the elder sister, Bai Haoze, had eyes like the azure sky, while the younger sister, Bai Zhicen, had eyes like the green of nature. At this moment, both pairs of beautiful eyes were shimmering with clear anxiety.

Hearing this, the corners of Zhao Xuanzhen's mouth curled into an arc. His Taiji Fist shifted from "Double Peaks Piercing the Ears" to "Turning and Left Heel Kick." A few strands of black hair fell rebelliously across his forehead, while the ends at the back of his head were tied into a small bundle, swaying with the changes in his fist technique.

"It's just for strengthening the body; it doesn't necessarily have to be applied to actual combat."

"Big Sister Big White, Little Sister Little White, you seem unusually restless today. You've been watching me all morning, and you haven't even practiced your Martial Soul Fusion Skill."

"We have lived together for over twenty years; our compatibility has long reached the limit of our martial souls. Even with more effort, it's hard to break through ninety percent."

Bai Haoze scrutinized Zhao Xuanzhen. The sunlight seemed to plate the boy's dark brown pupils with the color of heavenly radiance. When their gazes met, she could clearly see the red sun reflected in his eyes.

"But you, Xuanzhen."

Bai Zhicen took over from her sister, her crisp voice tinged with worry: "Martial soul awakening is the watershed that determines a soul master's entire life. If your martial soul isn't powerful enough, even Lady Tianfeng would find it difficult to secure the most precious cultivation resources within the Spirit Tower for you."

"After all, Tower Master Qian Gu is the controller of the Spirit Tower, and his philosophy has always been cold and rigid: the useless do not deserve to enjoy resources."

"As for martial souls, thirty percent depends on mutation, seventy percent on luck."

"The remaining ninety percent depends entirely on whether the parents are capable."

Zhao Xuanzhen remained calm and composed, showing not the slightest worry about awakening a useless martial soul like Blue Silver Grass. His tone was so indifferent that it made the two women very annoyed, giving them a strange sense of 'the emperor is not anxious, but the eunuchs are.'

The Bai sisters exchanged a glance, their natural telepathic connection as twins allowing them to reach a tacit understanding instantly.

Bai Zhicen activated her martial soul, Space Unicorn. With a flash of silver light, they appeared behind Zhao Xuanzhen almost as if by teleportation, simultaneously extending their 'mischievous hands'—one to tug at his ponytail, the other to pat his head.

Just a second before they thought their sneak attack had succeeded, Zhao Xuanzhen twisted his body and escaped from their demonic clutches!

Prediction!

Tugging his ponytail was fine, but patting his head was absolutely forbidden!

After finishing the final move of the Taiji Fist, Zhao Xuanzhen moved his palms apart, exhaled while pressing down, and finished his stance. He looked at the stunned sisters and asked with a light laugh: "By the way, has Teacher returned?"

"Lady Tianfeng went to the Xuanming Sect and will return to the Spirit Tower tomorrow morning." Bai Haoze, still immersed in the shock of the failed sneak attack, answered subconsciously.

"Xuanming Sect?"

Zhao Xuanzhen was slightly startled, then realized a moment later: "Teacher is making preparations for both possibilities..."

Given Lady Tianfeng's status as the Deputy Tower Master of the Spirit Tower, visiting the long-declined Xuanming Sect was a condescension. The only reason worth her making the trip was the Xuanming Sect's unique medicinal pill: the Profound Water Pill, refined from the essence of numerous water-attribute soul beasts and plants.

Humans born on the Douluo Continent have martial souls as part of their bodies, which can be any animal, plant, or object. They awaken their martial souls through an awakening ceremony at the age of six.

Tomorrow is Zhao Xuanzhen's sixth birthday, and also his martial soul awakening day.

Zhao Xuanzhen's parents, who died in battle, both had talents ranked in the upper-middle tier; his father had an innate soul power of level 8, and his mother had an innate soul power of level 7.

According to martial soul genetics, excluding rare cases like Huo Yuhao, where long-term malnutrition caused innate soul power to drag down the martial soul, Zhao Xuanzhen's future would generally not be particularly bad.

However, in this new era where soul master talent far exceeds that of ancient times, a mere level 7 or 8 innate soul power simply didn't match the 'bling-bling' golden legendary title of 'Direct Disciple of the Spirit Tower's Deputy Tower Master.' That was why Lady Tianfeng had gone to the Xuanming Sect to collect Profound Water Pills in advance to help Zhao Xuanzhen raise his innate soul power by one level.

"You two keep practicing, I'm heading back."

Having finished today's training, Zhao Xuanzhen waved at the Bai sisters and turned to leave.

"Get some good rest tonight; we'll accompany you for your awakening tomorrow," Bai Zhicen called out.

Zhao Xuanzhen pressed his index finger and thumb together, making an 'OK' gesture.

Seeing Zhao Xuanzhen's back gradually disappear from view, the two sisters let out a deep sigh.

Immediately after, their exquisite, lithe bodies suddenly expanded, turning into the typical 'Korean double-door refrigerator' physique—beauties transformed into muscular men.

They were secret weapons heavily cultivated by the Spirit Tower, the future left and right prime ministers of the Tower Master. This was unknown to outsiders, so they had learned the art of disguise. But Zhao Xuanzhen was different; from the day he returned to the Spirit Tower, he had been watched by the two sisters as he grew up, making him one of their own.

Zhao Xuanzhen left the martial arts arena, passed the identity verification with ease, and took the high-level elevator straight to the ninety-ninth floor.

The Spirit Tower had 108 floors. The top eight floors belonged to the Qian Gu family of the Tower Master's lineage. Lady Tianfeng's Leng family occupied the five floors just below the Qian Gu family, with the ninety-ninth floor designated for Zhao Xuanzhen's exclusive residence.

In the living room of the luxurious flat, floor-to-ceiling windows reflected the sunlight into the room, as if the entire world were collected here. On a row of exquisite bookshelves, ancient books were displayed in dazzling variety, each one revealing the owner's taste.

"History of Douluo," "Encyclopedia of Continental Martial Souls," "The Language of Steel Wool Flowers," "Complete Collection of Soul Beasts"...

Zhao Xuanzhen walked to the bookshelf, his gaze sweeping over the many ancient books, and pulled out "Basic Theory of Soul Guidance Devices," sitting down to read quietly on a luxurious sofa made from the fur of a ten-thousand-year Flame Lion King.

Even though he was a transmigrator, there wasn't much he could do before his martial soul awakened. Practicing Taiji every day to strengthen his body was a habit from his past life, and coming into contact with soul guidance devices was laying the foundation for his secondary profession.

In his past life, Zhao Xuanzhen was also an orphan, picked up by an old fortune-telling Taoist who claimed to be the Sect Master of the Two Instruments Gate. The old Taoist discovered that he possessed Yin and Yang energy within his body, making him a once-in-a-millennium cultivation genius, and before passing away, he taught him the Taoist arts of the Two Instruments Gate.

Unfortunately, Zhao Xuanzhen had been weak since childhood and was destined not to live past twenty. The old man passed away at the end of his natural life (sobbing).

Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life; Zhao Xuanzhen preserved his memories and transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, living a second life.

At this age, other children were playing with mud, but Zhao Xuanzhen was directly 'opening the book' relying on his past-life memories.

After reading for a while, Zhao Xuanzhen stretched, suddenly feeling the room becoming exceptionally hot. A trace of deep blue flashed in his eyes, and he said lightly:

"Xun character, third gear."

In an instant, a cool breeze arrived...

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 2 =====