Chapter 2: Tang San's Frustration
Sheng Hun Village.
On a small hill neighboring Sheng Hun Village, no more than a hundred meters tall—
Tang San sat cross-legged on the rocky summit, cultivating Xuan Tian Gong.
Suddenly, his spine trembled, and a chill ran down his body. He felt weak in his limbs, dizzy and dazed, as if something had been stripped away from him by an unseen force.
Caught off guard, Tang San rolled off the rock and fell face-first into the dirt.
It took a while for him to come to.
"Ptooey! Ptooey!"
He spat out mud and bits of grass from his mouth.
For some unknown reason, an annoying, smirking face surfaced in Tang San's mind. That face wasn't unfamiliar—it belonged to that brat from the neighboring village who had been pestering him recently, even insisting Tang San call him "ancestor."
Dusting himself off, Tang San grew angrier the more he thought about it.
"Damn brat! It's all his fault I lost focus during cultivation and made a mistake practicing Xuan Tian Gong.
Hmph, next time I see him, he'd better watch out."
Tang San made up his mind: the next time he saw that brat, he'd teach him a proper lesson.
[Ding. Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline has been stolen. His Blue Silver Grass martial soul has reverted to ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Hatred value: 5%. Tang San now deeply dislikes the host. Host has gained 500 hatred points.]
Seeing that stealing Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline only generated 5% hatred, Zu Zong was confused. He had already mentally prepared to be beaten up by Tang San.
"System, I stole Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline. Without it, his Blue Silver Grass is completely worthless. Even with that 'scumbag' Yu Xiaogang's theories, its power will be heavily reduced. I've basically destroyed half his talent. Why did I only get 5% hatred?"
[Ding. Because Tang San is currently unaware that he will no longer awaken the Blue Silver Emperor, his hatred remains low. Once he realizes the truth, hatred will instantly jump to over 70%, and he will develop killing intent.]
"So what's the use of hatred points?"
[Host can consume hatred points to actively teleport to worlds the system has previously stolen from.]
"I see… so that means I can travel freely across the heavens and worlds in the future! And if I run into danger in Douluo Dalu, I can use hatred points to escape to another world!"
[Host, in theory, yes. However, teleporting from the main world (Douluo Dalu) will send you to a random location. Use with caution.]
"Got it! OJBK!"
Another system prompt rang out in Zu Zong's mind.
[Ding. Blue Silver Emperor bloodline detected. Begin fusion?]
"Of course! But first, show me my personal stats."
[Ding. Displaying personal stats.]
[Host: Zu Zong
Gender: Male
Age: 5 years, 11 months (Mental age: 25)
Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass (Unawakened)
Innate Soul Power: 0
Soul Power Level: 0
Base Strength: 3 (Average adult male: 10)
System Inventory: Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline
Overall Evaluation: Trash inferior to trash
Remaining Theft Attempts: 0
Hatred Points: 500
Theft World: Douluo Dalu]
Seeing the stats, Zu Zong rolled his eyes.
'Trash? Sorry for not living up to your high standards!'
"System, begin fusion with Blue Silver Emperor bloodline."
[Ding. Blue Silver Emperor bloodline fusion in progress.]
'Hmm, this should hurt, right? But your little ancestor can take it. Let the storm come!'
Fifteen minutes later, the excruciating pain he had imagined never arrived.
[Ding. Fusion complete.]
"System, why hasn't my body changed? I thought after awakening the Blue Silver Emperor my hair would turn blue, my figure would improve, my face would become handsome?"
[Ding. Martial soul awakening is required. View updated personal stats?]
"Yes, show me!"
[Host: Zu Zong
Gender: Male
Age: 5 years, 11 months (Mental age: 25)
Martial Soul: Blue Silver Emperor (Unawakened)
Innate Soul Power: Level 10
Soul Power Level: 0 (Unawakened)
Base Strength: 5 (Average adult male: 10)
System Inventory: None
Overall Evaluation: Barely above trash]
Remaining Theft Attempts: 0
Hatred Points: 500
Theft World: Douluo Dalu
"Haha! As expected of the Blue Silver Emperor, a martial soul that can rival the Clear Sky Hammer—it's actually innate full soul power."
"But looks like I'll still have to lie low for another month. Might as well use the time to train my body!"
He walked out of the latrine.
Ptooey!
That's a thatched house.
Zu Zong was in a much better mood now, no longer forcing a fake smile.
Gone was his lazy salted-fish attitude.
Humming a little tune—
"Girl's little feet, so pointy and small, embroidered with a white jade bird, someone tries to catch her, but she flies away…"
He strolled slowly to Old Tom's house.
To freeload a meal?
Wrong.
As the only hope of Di Hun Village, the blooming flower of the motherland…
How could that be called freeloading?
You know what I mean—he was the future successor of socialism.
In the countryside, there wasn't much to do for fun. People went to bed early. The sun hadn't even set yet, but Old Tom had already finished cooking dinner.
Seeing Zu Zong show up uninvited, Old Tom wasn't surprised—he just smiled and shook his head.
Since Zu Zong's parents died over five years ago in a great disaster, the whole family of three had been wiped out, with only the not-yet-two-month-old Zu Zong surviving. He'd been found and taken in by Old Tom, and only last year—after Zu Zong's repeated insistence—was he allowed to live independently.
That disaster had destroyed more than half of Di Hun Village, which had once housed over 400 families.
Many died, many fled, and now only the old, weak, and sick remained.
Old Tom scooped a big bowl of rice for Zu Zong and scolded with a smile, "You brat, eat up and get to bed early. Remember to train tomorrow!"
Zu Zong didn't stand on ceremony. He grabbed the bowl and devoured the food like a starving wolf. "Thanks, Grandpa Tom!"
Watching the boy eat like he hadn't eaten in days, Old Tom couldn't help but think of the past.
He turned around and walked into the kitchen. A glimmer of tears welled up at the corners of his eyes.
"If only my grandson Jerry were still alive… he'd be about the same age."
Of course, Zu Zong didn't hear that.
Time flew like an arrow; a month passed in the blink of an eye.
After finishing his morning jog, Zu Zong leisurely enjoyed the breakfast Old Tom had made—sweet potato porridge.
Slurp, slurp
Zu Zong drank happily.
Old Tom glared at him and barked, "You brat, hurry up and finish. I'm taking you to Sheng Hun Village's Spirit Hall to awaken your martial soul!"
"Got it, Grandpa Tom!"
Zu Zong quickly picked up a piece of pickled vegetable and shoved it in his mouth, then drained the rest of the sweet potato porridge in one gulp.
Not long after breakfast, Old Tom tidied up the bowls and took Zu Zong toward Sheng Hun Village.
The sweet potato porridge this morning had been particularly good, and with martial soul awakening coming up, Zu Zong, who had been lying low for a whole month, was in a great mood. He smiled and asked Old Tom, "Grandpa Tom, why are we going to Sheng Hun Village to awaken my martial soul? Isn't the soul master supposed to come here?"
Old Tom replied with some sadness, "Times have changed. Ever since the disaster over five years ago, Di Hun Village has declined—so many dead, so many fled. This year, you're the only six-year-old in the whole village. We didn't want to trouble the soul master to come all this way for just one child. Since Sheng Hun Village is nearby, we arranged to awaken your martial soul there together."
Zu Zong nodded, but inwardly he thought, That disaster over five years ago… it must've been Tang Ritian's battle against the Spirit Hall!
My parents died in that very disaster. One of the main culprits, Qian Xunji, is already dead. That just leaves Tang Ritian…
Thinking of this, Zu Zong clenched his fists, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Then he relaxed and opened his hands. Until I have enough strength to stand equal with my enemies, I'd better keep a low profile.
Old Tom saw Zu Zong bow his head in silence, thinking he was nervous about not being able to awaken soul power. He comforted him, "You brat, even if you can't awaken soul power, it's fine. Once I'm gone, you can take over as village chief of Di Hun Village!"
Zu Zong rolled his eyes. Seriously? You call that a "great position"?
(End of Chapter)