Dark clouds filled the sky.
Before the grave, the boy stood for a long time.
Huo Yuhao stood silently before a tombstone, arms crossed, gazing at it without a word.
The tombstone was tall, a full two meters, even taller than Huo Yuhao. It was made of rare and precious granite, with exquisitely carved patterns, lifelike in their detail. Behind the tombstone lay a magnificent and spacious grave.
With such a lavish burial place, the deceased must have been of immense wealth and status.
However, the location of the grave was inconsistent with this luxurious tomb; it was merely a remote hill overgrown with vegetation.
Huo Yuhao continued to stand silently, gazing, not knowing how long he had stood before the grave alone on this overcast day.
The wind howled, the trees rustled, dark clouds covered the sky, and occasional flashes of lightning illuminated gaps in the clouds, foreshadowing the impending downpour and adding an eerie atmosphere to the scene.
In this pitch-black world, Huo Yuhao, the boy standing alone before the grave, had a faint, icy blue light emanating from his cold, sharp eyes.
The owner of these eyes was only eleven years old, yet his handsome face was already shedding its childishness, and the determination in his eyes made him appear even more mature.
People in this world develop quickly; Huo Yuhao, at only eleven, was already 1.7 meters tall.
Why emphasize "this world"? Because Huo Yuhao wasn't originally from this world; he was a—transmigrator.
Huo Yuhao had forgotten how he transmigrated, only knowing that he arrived in this world eleven years ago.
This world was called—Douluo Continent.
On Douluo Continent, everyone could awaken their Martial Soul at the age of six, either a Weapon Martial Soul or a Beast Martial Soul. Those with talent could cultivate Soul Power and become Soul Masters.
Cultivation was the reason for Huo Yuhao's rapid development.
Weapon Soul Masters could summon weapons, Beast Soul Masters could possess their Martial Souls, but Huo Yuhao belonged to neither.
His Martial Soul was his eyes!
It belongs neither to weapon spirits nor beast spirits, but is a rare yet powerful body spirit!
Unfortunately, however, a powerful body spirit is not accompanied by powerful talent. When awakening a spirit, each person's innate spirit power is tested, ranging from zero to ten.
The highest level is level ten, known as innate full soul power, truly a dragon among men.
The vast majority of commoners simply lack the talent, and cultivation is out of reach for those without innate soul power.
So, how much innate soul power does Huo Yuhao possess?
One.
Innate one soul power.
This poor talent may have already foreshadowed his difficult fate.
A hint of incomprehension and resentment seemed to linger in Huo Yuhao's calm eyes as he stared at the tall tombstone before him.
Two lines of text were inscribed in the middle of the tombstone: "
Tomb of Beloved Wife (Mother) Huo Yun'er, Dai Hao (Huo Yuhao)."
This tomb belonged to none other than Huo Yuhao's mother in this world, Huo Yun'er.
Huo Yuhao was an orphan in his previous life. Although adopted by his uncle, who didn't mistreat him materially, his uncle, busy with work, didn't have time to fill the void of maternal love Huo Yuhao lacked.
He still cherished the maternal love he received in this world.
If that man, in terms of status, was his father, and could fulfill his responsibilities, then Huo Yuhao could enjoy complete familial love.
Huo Yuhao stared intently at a name on the tombstone.
Dai Hao.
This man was none other than the hereditary and esteemed Duke of White Tiger in the Star Luo Empire.
Huo Yuhao's mother, Huo Yun'er, was originally the Duke of White Tiger's personal maid, whom he had grown up with and who was deeply favored by him. Thus, one night, Huo Yuhao was born.
However, a maid is still a maid, and Huo Yuhao was merely an illegitimate child. The mother and son were constantly suppressed by the Duchess. When the Duke of White Tiger was frequently away due to his busy schedule with war, Huo Yuhao and his mother not only had to do all sorts of hard labor, but they were even forced to live in the Duke's mansion's woodshed.
"Old woman, I'll beat you to death!"
Young Huo Yuhao could only vent his emotions through cursing. Every time he gathered firewood, he would use the wood to beat his imagined Duchess eight times.
He also knew that he could not possibly shake the high and mighty Duchess, let alone that she was a member of the Star Luo royal family. (The original novel's setting regarding her status as a duchess was altered; this version retains the initial one.)
Although it was hard work, requiring a lot of chores, whenever Huo Yuhao saw his mother's gentle smile and she softly touched his wounds, a warm current of happiness would surge through his body.
Was this maternal love…?
When he had a moment to himself, Huo Yuhao would sometimes feign a childish tone and deliberately ask his mother, "Where's Daddy?"
"Why doesn't he come to see us?"
Huo Yun'er would always gently reply, "Your father went to fight for the country."
"Yuhao, don't hate your father…"
Each time, it was the same kind of answer, still tinged with maternal love, yet constantly eroding Huo Yuhao's patience.
Why?
Why would you think that?
Don't you know what kind of life you're living?
Why did you forgive that man?
Huo Yuhao couldn't understand why Huo Yun'er was so…foolish?
But he continued to tolerate it, his negative emotions constantly suppressed, far from reaching their breaking point.
Finally, after days of hard work, Huo Yun'er fell ill. That year, Huo Yuhao was only seven years old.
Although Huo Yuhao only possessed one innate soul power, his physical constitution was stronger than that of ordinary people. Huo Yun'er, on the other hand, was a weak girl without even a trace of soul power!
A simple cold could easily take this woman's fragile life.
"Mom, you rest for a while, I'll go find a doctor."
After settling Huo Yun'er, who was slightly better, Huo Yuhao resolutely left the Duke's mansion.
He didn't understand medicine, nor did he know where to find a doctor, but his eyes were resolute, his goal clear—
Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger.
Huo Yuhao understood deeply that this man was the root of his mother's suffering.
He could easily flee the Duke's mansion and end it all, but for his mother's sake, he had to resolve the problem completely!
No one knew how the seven-year-old Huo Yuhao had managed to traverse hundreds of miles alone to find the White Tiger Duke's military camp.
Just as Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger had achieved a major victory in a medium-sized battle and was preparing to congratulate his soldiers, he was astonished to see a seven-year-old child arrive at the army camp, demanding an explanation.
When he learned that this angry child was his and Huo Yun'er's child, Dai Hao rushed back to the Duke's mansion like a madman.
From that moment on, Huo Yun'er's fate changed.
The White Tiger Duke's attitude was resolute, and even though the Duchess wanted to say something, it was to no avail. After all, the Duke's mansion ultimately obeyed the White Tiger Duke!
Huo Yun'er had a legitimate status and no longer needed to do manual labor. Huo Yuhao now officially held the title of Duke's son, though only as an illegitimate one. His treatment improved, his nutrition improved, he no longer had to work, and his physique grew increasingly robust.
The servants who had previously oppressed them alongside the Duchess now treated Huo Yuhao and his mother with utmost respect.
However… the kind-hearted Huo Yun'er couldn't bear to burden the servants, still personally handling many chores.
After a few years of peace, Huo Yun caught a cold. This time, however, she wasn't so lucky; despite the best medicine, she still succumbed to her illness.
"I beg you, please, take better care of yourself!"
After a long silence, a surge of inexplicable anger welled up in Huo Yuhao's heart, and he gritted his teeth, uttering those words.
His tone was full of pity for her misfortune and anger at her lack of self-control.
A thunderclap
boomed in the sky, followed by the gradual falling of raindrops.
"Is it raining?"
Huo Yuhao slightly raised his head, extending his right hand to feel the increasingly dense raindrops.
His palm filled with rainwater, then a chill emanated from it, and the rainwater in his palm froze into ice.
Huo Yuhao calmly put the ice cube into his mouth and chewed it gently.
*Crack*—the
ice cube shattered, releasing a cool sensation in his mouth and a sense of calm into his mind.
This was Huo Yuhao's second martial soul—
Ice!
He was also a rare holder of twin martial souls!
He didn't know when it had started, but chewing ice cubes had become a habit Huo Yuhao used to force himself to stay calm. *
Whoosh*
—heavy footsteps sounded behind him on the damp grass and soil, seemingly able to sense the heaviness in their hearts.
Huo Yuhao snorted coldly, knowing who it was without turning around, and said sarcastically,
"What a rare guest~"
"What wind blew you here?"
"Duke White Tiger?"
(End of Chapter)