NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Both Parents Alive
Heavenly Soul Empire, Maple Leaf City.
It has been four thousand years since the great battle between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo, Heavenly Soul, and Dou Ling Empires.
Although the three empires, with the help of Shrek Academy, won the battle and defeated the Sun Moon Empire, renaming the continent as Douluo Continent, the war did not cease entirely.
Skirmishes on the borders between the Sun Moon Empire and the other three empires have never stopped.
Maple Leaf City is one such battleground.
As a major border city, Maple Leaf City holds a significant strategic position.
It serves as the main supply hub for the frontline troops of the Heavenly Soul Empire. Additionally, its border location makes it a crucial center for trade and economic activity within the empire.
However, with trade comes the inevitable infiltration of ill-intentioned individuals.
Various factions mix and meddle in the city.
Due to its importance, the Heavenly Soul Empire pays particular attention to Maple Leaf City.
Each City Lord of Maple Leaf City is a trusted confidant of the royal family, often a general of the highest caliber, commanding a squad of Soul Ancestor-level soul masters assigned by the empire, who maintain absolute control over all forces within the city.
However, as long as national interests are not involved, the city's attitude towards governance is relatively more liberal than in other cities.
---
Nighttime is when Maple Leaf City truly comes alive.
Both sides of the streets are lined with all kinds of stalls, and the bustling crowds are endless.
"Uncle, one… no, three candied hawthorns, please!" A child, around five or six years old, with delicate features, walked up to a stall. After a brief moment of struggle, he shouted his order.
"Luoheng! Sneaking out again, huh?"
"Hehe~"
"You little rascal, take it and hurry home."
The stall owner bent down, smiling as he handed over the candied hawthorns.
"Mm, see you, Uncle."
"Be careful on your way home, kiddo."
After placing the money on the counter, the little boy eagerly rubbed his hands together and took a big bite, squinting his eyes in satisfaction.
Holding the candied hawthorns in one hand, little Luoheng walked and ate along the way.
Unknowingly, it had been almost six years since he was reincarnated in the Douluo Continent. His memories of his past life had faded, but his love for candied hawthorns remained unchanged.
Unfortunately, his mother in this life always felt he was too young to eat too much of it, so he could only sneak out to indulge himself.
That's right, little Luoheng was a reincarnated person.
His current name was Su Luoheng.
"Better save the rest for tomorrow~"
"I better hurry home; it'll be trouble if Mom finds out!"
Su Luoheng put away the remaining two skewers and quickly made his way home.
---
"Mom and Dad should be asleep, right?"
"Great, there's no one in the courtyard!"
As he approached the house, the little guy carefully wiped the syrup off the corners of his mouth, poking his head out and darting his big, bright eyes left and right into the courtyard. Once sure there was no one around, he cautiously pushed open the door.
*Creak—*
Just as he was about to close the door, a gentle voice sounded.
"Luoheng, sneaking out to eat snacks again?"
"Dad, you scared me."
Seeing that it was his father, Su Luoheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They were on the same level in the family's "food chain."
The middle-aged man, dressed in a blue robe with a gentle expression, looked at little Luoheng with a half-smile.
This man was none other than Su Luoheng's father: Su Junran.
"What? Aren't you afraid I'll tell your mom?"
"Dad, have a candied hawthorn."
The little guy's eyes flashed with a sly glint as he eagerly handed over a skewer. Only after his father took a bite did he reveal a triumphant smile. "Dad, you must keep my secret, or I'll tell Mom you sent me to buy them!"
"You little rascal, are you threatening me now?"
Su Junran looked at the candied hawthorn in his hand, momentarily at a loss for words, then chuckled helplessly.
"You little rascal."
"Hehe~"
"Alright." Su Junran rubbed little Luoheng's head with a smile and said, "Put your candied hawthorns away, brush your teeth, and go to bed early tonight. Tomorrow morning, we'll take you to awaken your Martial Soul."
"Awaken my Martial Soul?!"
"I can awaken my Martial Soul now?!"
Su Luoheng's eyes widened, and his spirits instantly lifted. He was so excited that he even forgot to take the candied hawthorns from his father.
"Yes, you're of age now. Go to bed quickly."
Su Junran chuckled at Luoheng's enthusiasm, reminded him to sleep early, and then returned to his study with his hands behind his back.
He recalled being just as excited when he awakened his own Martial Soul back in the day.
As for these candied hawthorns?
Since his son didn't take them back, as a father, he might as well accept this "gift" from his thoughtful son!
And to be honest, the taste wasn't bad at all—it's no wonder the little guy loved them so much.
---
Late at night.
Lying in bed, Su Luo Heng tossed and turned.
The thought of awakening his Martial Soul the next day made him too excited to sleep.
Though his memories of his previous life were almost faded, he still retained impressions of Douluo Continent.
The most exciting thing about this world was undoubtedly the extraordinary Martial Souls and Spirit Rings.
Even though netizens in his previous life often mocked the series as a basic fantasy, he had always yearned for the extraordinary powers that defied logic.
He had felt this way ever since his reincarnation.
"Phew~"
Unable to sleep, Su Luoheng turned his head to gaze at the bright moonlight outside the window.
Over the past six years, he had figured out that this was the timeline of Huo Yuhao, though he wasn't sure if Shrek Academy was still involved.
Tang San had certainly ascended to the God Realm long ago.
He was busy turning Douluo Continent step-by-step into his Tang Family Continent.
Overall, this wasn't exactly the best of times.
But it didn't matter to Su Luoheng.
Tang San, the great god-king, was too busy dealing with Huo Yuhao and certainly wouldn't care about a mere nobody like him—a reincarnated person without a system, secret techniques, or any grand identity.
He had no grand dreams or ambitions for now. His only goal was to become a soul master.
He wasn't fond of fighting or killing.
Enjoying life was what really mattered.
When the time was right, he'd find a woman he loved and live a simple, happy life as an ordinary soul master.
A perfect life.
That was the future Su Luoheng longed for the most.
"What kind of Martial Soul will I awaken?"
He muttered softly, stretching out his small hand as if trying to grasp the starry sky.
His mother was a Soul Ancestor above level forty, and although he didn't know his father's exact soul power level, he estimated that he was at least a Soul King, maybe even stronger!
Genetically speaking, he should inherit a decent Martial Soul from his soul master parents.
It shouldn't be too bad, right?
At the very least, he should inherit some of their soul power.
Thinking this, Su Luoheng calmed down a little about the upcoming awakening.
"Am I forgetting something?"
"Whatever, can't remember~"
"Sleep, sleep, so tired…"
Finally feeling drowsy after some time, he gradually drifted into sleep.
In his dreams, he fantasized about awakening powerful Martial Souls that allowed him to conjure fire in one hand and ice in the other, roaming the Douluo Continent with boundless freedom and joy.