Douluo 2: Anomaly's Path Through Fate (Soul Land Fanfiction)

Three days had passed since the banquet, and the entire continent was in an uproar. But honestly, none of that had anything to do with me.

I was sitting in the garden, peeling an orange, trying to distract myself from the conversation I'd had with my mother earlier.

I had told her, somewhat hesitantly, that I might have made friends with Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen. Might was the key word here—while we had exchanged a few words and they seemed friendly, we hadn't explicitly said we were friends. Did that count? I wasn't sure.

But when I told my mother, her face turned cold. She said she would "investigate the matter properly" before allowing me to associate with them. I understood she cared about my safety, but it didn't sit well with me. I didn't want to lose potential friends just because my mother didn't approve. I had to find a way to convince her.

Adding to my frustration was her sudden shift in focus to the so-called spiritual power cultivation method gifted by Prince Xu He. It dampened my mood.

The system confirmed her reaction—she was genuinely excited to study and potentially make a breakthrough. I had skimmed through the method as well, but I didn't really understand its details. From her books, I knew spiritual power was useful for crafting soul tools and resisting soul shocks when absorbing spirit rings, but beyond that, I was clueless.

Out of curiosity, I browsed the system's shop and found several cultivation methods far superior to the one provided by the prince. After some deliberation, I purchased one that seemed both powerful and intriguing.

[Spiritual Augmentation Art]:

This profound technique refines the energy within one's soul sea, merging it with the essence of thought. It unlocks mental clarity, focus, and resilience while converting three types of energy: the soul essence of individuals, the natural soul power of heaven and earth, and divine power. It purifies souls, removing impurities, and grants immense benefits when absorbing pure souls. The art has five levels, with each granting unique abilities upon advancement.

The cost was steep—5,000 system points—but as knowledge flooded into my mind, I felt a newfound sense of purpose.

Curious to test it, I glanced at the maid tending to the garden nearby. Activating the Spiritual Augmentation Art, my vision shifted. My eyes turned white, and I could see her soul. It was almost pure, with only a few dark spots. Those blemishes likely signified either mistakes she'd made in the past or lingering resentment and hatred.

How exactly these "dark spots" were determined, I wasn't sure. Was it a moral judgment? An imprint of emotional scars? Regardless, this ability to perceive souls was astonishing.

Even without formally cultivating, the Spiritual Augmentation Art had already granted me this extraordinary power.

I considered sharing this discovery with my mother, but hesitation held me back. How would I even explain it to her?

Should I tell her that I had "discovered" this method, like the prince had claimed with his? Honestly, I had no idea how to pull that off convincingly. For now, I decided it was better to keep this a secret.

I also toyed with the idea of revealing the system to my mother. She cared about me deeply, and part of me wanted to share everything with her. But the system warned me against it, and I couldn't deny the logic. Some secrets were better left untold.

|••••

The Divine World

Tang San stood amidst the boundless expanse of clouds, his gaze serene yet distant. As a law enforcer in the God Realm, he fully understood the disparity in time between the divine and mortal realms. A single day in the God Realm equated to a full year on Douluo Continent. Though he had spent little more than two decades in the God Realm, countless millennia had passed in the mortal plane.

All his former enemies had long turned to dust, their names and deeds forgotten by the flow of time. Among the living, only he remained—once a mortal, now enthroned as a God King, gazing down upon the world he had left behind.

The thought of Yu Xiaogang, his former teacher, surfaced in his mind. Yu Xiaogang, too, had perished many years ago, his mortal life extinguished. Tang San had never brought him to the God Realm, not for lack of ability but because he believed it was unnecessary. Tang San hadn't even asked his teacher whether he desired such a fate; he thought he understood Yu Xiaogang well enough to make that decision for him.

"The God Realm would not have suited him," Tang San murmured to himself. "Here, amidst eternal life and boundless power, there is no true peace. Such a life runs counter to everything teacher pursued—a life of simplicity, understanding, and meaning within mortal limits."

He reflected briefly on Bibi Dong, once Yu Xiaogang's lover and an enemy in war. "If Bibi Dong had won, perhaps she would have defied all to bring the teacher here. Her love for him was undeniable. But history is written by the victors, and Bibi Dong lost. Despite her failures, the teacher found fleeting happiness with Master Erlong, however brief their time together."

Tang San's thoughts swirled in a quiet tempest until Xiao Wu, his wife, interrupted his reverie with a gentle touch on his arm.

"Brother San," she said softly, her voice filled with comfort. "Time changes all things. The decline of the Tang Sect was inevitable."

Tang San sighed, his expression a mix of acceptance and regret. "Yes, Xiao Wu, nothing lasts forever. Hidden weapons, once revolutionary, have become relics of the past. Still, the Tang Sect was my creation. Its fall weighs heavily on me. If only the laws of the God Realm didn't forbid direct interference in the mortal world, I would have done everything in my power to preserve it."

"Even so," Xiao Wu replied, "the rise and fall of empires and sects are part of the natural order."

Tang San nodded. "True. And yet, a new star has appeared in Douluo Continent, a mortal with a fate that seems tied to my Tang Sect. Perhaps this individual will be the key to its revival."

A faint smile graced his lips as he contemplated this newfound hope. "Xiao Qi is aging, but she still has her role to play. I can arrange for her to encounter this rising star. If he proves worthy, I'll test him—put him through trials. Only then will he be given the chance to inherit my divine throne."

Tang San's mind whirled with countless methods to temper this 'New Star', crafting elaborate trials that would make the individual awe him. The prospect filled him with anticipation. Yet, as he gazed deeper into this new star's destiny, his smile faltered.

There was a strange veil covered almost all Doulou Star and he found not one but more than ten golden lines, which indicated Son Of Luck and among only was one was most brighter. Even as a God King, Tang San was not omniscient. He could only catch glimpses of what lay ahead, and those fragments left him uneasy.

"Something is changing," he muttered. "The course of this change not only new star's fate but even Douluo planet fate is changing... but by what, I cannot say."

Though uncertain, Tang San felt a renewed sense of purpose. The golden aura surrounding new star hinted at something extraordinary.

"No, I must use the Evil and Kindness method," Tang San muttered to himself, his expression serious.

He asked Xiao Wu to step out, citing the need to inspect the God Realm's security. Once she was gone, he sent messages to Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Zhu Zhuqing, summoning them urgently.

When they arrived, their confusion was evident, but Tang San wasted no time getting to the point.

"You've all been with me for so many years," Tang San began, his tone calm but firm. "Now, Douluo Planet is facing a crisis. As gods, we are forbidden from intervening directly. However, there's another way—we can send our children to the mortal world."

The group exchanged uncertain glances but remained silent as Tang San continued.

"I've already sent Xiao Qi," he revealed. "Now, I want the rest of you to have children as soon as possible. To expedite this, you'll spend time within a Time Array. One day in the God Realm will equate to two and a half years inside the array. Together, we can recreate the Seven Shrek Monsters to protect Douluo Planet once more."

As Tang San's words sank in, shock spread across their faces. Their eyes widened in disbelief.

'Tang San... are you out of your mind we know you are hiding something with your calm facade?'

The thought echoed in each of their hearts, but none dared to voice it aloud.