NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: Xu He
When I entered the grand hall, my eyes immediately sought out my mother. She stood near the center, conversing with a middle-aged man who exuded an air of authority despite his frail appearance. His golden hair shimmered faintly under the hall's lighting, but his pale complexion made him seem weak.
As I approached, their conversation came to an abrupt halt. My mother turned to me with a warm smile, scooping me into her arms. Despite my age making such gestures feel a bit childish, she showed no hesitation. Her embrace was firm, protective, and undeniably comforting.
The middle-aged man gave a polite nod, a faint smile crossing his lips. "Lady Death God, I shall take my leave now," he said, bowing respectfully. Then, with one last glance at me, he turned and walked away.
Curiosity sparked within me as I watched him leave. "Do you know who he was?" my mother asked, her voice soft but carrying an undertone of significance.
I opened my mouth, ready to excitedly proclaim that I might have made my first friend, but she spoke before I could. "He is Prince Xu Zhen, the brother of the current Emperor."
Her voice suddenly echoed in my mind, startling me. "It's telepathic communication," she explained, her tone carrying a hint of pride. "Only individuals as powerful as me can use it. You see, your mother is quite extraordinary, my darling."
There was a playful note in her voice, as though she was waiting for me to shower her with admiration. Smiling, I hugged her tightly. "Of course, Mother is the best. I already know that."
She seemed delighted by my response, her eyes sparkling as she pulled me closer. Together, we turned our attention to the stage at the far end of the hall. A boy stood there, he was older than me, holding out his hand. A radiant sun blazed in his palm, brighter and more intense than anything I had seen before. Seven girls, who I assumed were his sisters, stood behind him. Beside them were the Emperor and Empress, observing with expressions of pride.
Whispers rippled through the crowd like a wave.
"That's not an ordinary fire…"
"Could it be the Ultimate Fire?"
"It must be. Look at the intensity!"
I glanced at my mother, puzzled. "What's the Ultimate Fire?"
Her expression softened as she crouched slightly to meet my eyes. "Ultimate Elements are rare and incredibly powerful. They can dominate similar elements with absolute authority. For example, the Crown Prince's Ultimate Fire can easily overwhelm another fire-element martial spirit of the same level, even without using any skills. Against someone stronger, the pressure alone would hinder their abilities."
Her voice turned more serious. "Ultimate Elements have no natural weaknesses except for their direct opposites. Ultimate Fire's only true counter is Ultimate Ice."
I nodded slowly, absorbing this wealth of information. My mother smiled and added, "But don't trouble yourself over it for now. We'll focus on your martial spirit awakening when the time comes."
I mulled over her words, feeling a flicker of determination. If I didn't have an Ultimate Element, I'd work hard to overcome the gap. I still had my system, which I'd rarely used, and I could always rely on training if needed. Still, I couldn't resist asking my system for a hint.
"System, what are my martial spirits' elements?" I asked silently, knowing it could read my thoughts.
[Host, you need not worry. You will possess Ultimate Ice, Ultimate Darkness, and Ultimate Evil.]
Three Ultimate Elements?! My breath hitched, and I struggled to keep my composure. I glanced at my mother, who was now watching the Crown Prince with a cold, calculating expression.
"Mother," I whispered, "are Ultimate Elements really that rare?"
She turned back to me, her gaze softening. "Yes, my darling. They're incredibly rare. This is the first time in the Sun Moon Empire's history that someone possesses Ultimate Fire. The last recorded Ultimate Element belonged to a genius from Shrek Academy, and that was over four thousand years ago. Why? Are you hoping for an Ultimate Element of your own?"
Her words sent a shiver through me. I could hardly believe my fortune. Where others might never encounter even one Ultimate Element, I would have three.
"I'll wait and see what I awaken, Mother. I'm not greedy," I said softly, trying to ease her cold expression.
But her reply sent a shiver down my spine. "My daughter, if you want an Ultimate Element, just tell me in the future. The Crown Prince's death would be a small price to pay." Her tone was icy, her eyes sharp as they fixated on the boy on stage.
I stiffened in her embrace, a cold sweat forming on my back. Since the Crown Prince revealed his Ultimate Fire, my mother's mood had grown darker and more dangerous.
Is she planning to kill him? I thought nervously.
Unable to ignore someone like him, I discreetly checked the Crown Prince's status using my system.
---
[Name Xu He]
Age: 6
Martial Spirit: Eternal Sun, Cigar
Spirit Power: 10
Spirit Skills: None
System: Not Chosen
Profession: None
Special Cheat or Ability:
Reborn Immortal: His real name is He Caitou. This is his second life. When the original Xu He died shortly after birth, He Caitou's soul took over his body. He retains all the memories of his previous life, including his inheritance as the Sun Saint, granting him the Protagonist Halo.
Tool Side Character (Devoured): This would have been his original cheat, but it has been devoured, enhancing his Protagonist Halo.
Special Attributes:
•Charm: 65
•Luck: 300
Alignment: Chaotic Neutral
Identity: Crown Prince of Sun Moon Empire, Reborn Immortal
---
My eyes widened in shock as I processed the information. This guy was reborn? And he has memories from his previous life?
A sudden sharp pain shot through my head, but it faded as quickly as it came. I wasn't unfamiliar with this feeling. It was a reminder of my own secret—I was reincarnated too.
However, unlike Xu He, I had no memories of my past life. It felt as though they'd been stripped away, leaving only a vague sense that this was for the best. I never questioned it. Why would I, when I had such a wonderful mother now?
I hugged her tightly, resting my head on her shoulder. To an outsider, I might have looked too old to act like this, but in her arms, I found peace I didn't want to lose.
She placed a gentle hand on my back, patting it softly. The warmth of her touch reminded me of what mattered most in this life.
---
'System, this boy has the highest luck I've ever seen. Is he the key to saving my mother? If she kills him, can she absorb his luck? Or is there another way—subduing him, perhaps? But I don't it is possible due to him being Crown Prince now.'
The system responded immediately, its cold, mechanical tone echoing in my mind.
[Analysis]:
Luck Thresholds: The average creature's luck ranges from 0 to 5 on Douluo Star. Your mother's luck is currently -500 due to her numerous heinous acts. To reach neutral luck (0), she would need to absorb at least 1,000 luck. However, even this would not guarantee her freedom from her fate chains.
Path to Freedom: The only way to break her fate is for you to become powerful enough to suppress or eliminate individuals with great luck who threaten her and you. Luck alone will not break the chains of fate.
[Target: Xu He]:
Xu He's luck is 300. To kill him, his luck must drop below 10. Alternatively, only two kinds of people can kill him:
1. Someone with great luck.
2. Someone like you, who exists outside the fate chains and is unaffected by them.
[Method to Reduce Luck]:
Xu He's high luck stems from his knowledge of his previous life. Removing those memories would significantly lower his luck, but the difficulty of doing so is extremely high.
Recommendation:
For now, let events unfold naturally and focus on becoming stronger.
---
I let out a slow breath, my mind racing. Xu He's existence was both a threat and an opportunity. His luck could potentially save my mother, but it also made him nearly untouchable.
For now, the system's advice was clear—I needed to grow stronger, no matter what.