Soul Land: Xiao Yan Reincarnates as Huo Yuhao

The young man's closed eyes fluttered slightly as he absorbed the last wisp of energy into his body. A moment later, his dark eyes abruptly snapped open.

"Damn it! Whether I cultivate Dou Qi or attempt to cultivate this world's soul power through meditation, nothing seems to work."

"How can this be? After all this time, my Dou Qi hasn't even reached the third stage…"

In his black pupils, a faint white light flashed briefly, tinged with a hint of pale green.

Slowly exhaling the stagnant air from his chest, the young man stood up from his bed. He sighed, lifting his hand to touch a simple, ancient black ring. "You came with me to this world, but… what good are you? I still can't cultivate, and even Mother…"

A bitter smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head, feeling an indescribable grievance in his heart.

The young man's name was Xiao Yan, and he harbored a secret only he knew: he wasn't originally from this world. Or rather, his soul didn't belong here—it came from a place called the Dou Qi Continent.

If traced further back, his soul was once from a blue planet known as Earth. After two journeys through different worlds, he eventually found himself here, on this place called Douluo Continent.

As for why he arrived here, Xiao Yan couldn't explain such a strange journey. He only vaguely remembered that back on Dou Qi Continent, his Dou Qi had vanished overnight, and soon after, he had been transported to this new world.

Accompanying him in this journey was the only gift his mother from his previous life had left him—a simple, ancient black ring.

As he grew older, Xiao Yan gradually gained a basic understanding of this continent.

On Douluo Continent, people possessed something called a martial spirit. A martial spirit could be part of their body, an animal, a plant, or an object. At the age of six, through an awakening ceremony, they could awaken their martial spirit.

If a martial spirit was a hoe, the individual would be particularly skilled in farming; if it were an animal, the person could exhibit certain basic abilities of that animal.

Thus, martial spirits had long since become an integral part of people's lives on this continent.

In this world, to cultivate, one must possess soul power. Soul power, much like Dou Qi, nourished the martial spirit. While everyone had a martial spirit, only about one in a thousand individuals might possess soul power.

On Douluo Continent, soul power equaled one's future, one's strength. When a martial spirit awakened with soul power, people could enhance it through meditation, growing stronger and earning respect.

"Mother, don't worry—I will personally avenge you. From today on, I will no longer go by Dai Yuhao; I will reclaim my original name, Xiao Yan!" Images of his mother's final moments, her expression filled with reluctance and defiance, surfaced in his mind, and Xiao Yan gritted his teeth.

In his past life, his mother had passed away early, leaving Xiao Yan to be raised solely by his father. Thus, he had never known motherly love. Yet in this world, his mother showered him with care and affection, endearing him to call her "Mother" from the bottom of his heart.

Memories flashed across Xiao Yan's mind, filling him with a yearning to leave this place—yet he didn't know where to go, adrift like a lone boat on an open sea.

His mother in this world was named Huo Yun'er. She had grown up with the White Tiger Duke but was only his personal maid. In this world, maids existed to serve their masters, and ten years ago, Xiao Yan had quietly appeared in her womb. Although favored by the Duke, Huo Yun'er suffered from the Duchess's jealousy, who persecuted her cruelly when the Duke went to war, ultimately leading to her untimely death.

Xiao Yan had tried to resist numerous times, but his inability to cultivate rendered him helpless, and he was often beaten by the Duchess's henchmen. "Mother… I won't forget a single person in the White Tiger Duke's Manor who ever bullied you." Clenching his fists, he let the faint taste of blood spread in his mouth as he gritted out through clenched teeth, "Thirty years of fortune and thirty years of misfortune—never underestimate the poor and young!"

"One day, I'll trample everything here beneath my feet. Mother, watch over me. Though I can't cultivate now, no matter how much effort it takes, I'll avenge you myself!"

"Hehe, young one, seems you're in need of some help, hmm?"

Just as Xiao Yan was vowing silently, a strange, elderly chuckle echoed in his ear.

Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Yan's face changed instantly, fearing that his oath had been overheard by one of the Duchess's spies. He turned sharply, his hawk-like gaze scanning the room.

But there was no one in sight.

"Hehe, no need to look around. I'm right here, on your finger."

The strange laughter came again, this time from the ring on Xiao Yan's hand.

Eyes narrowing, Xiao Yan stared at his right hand, suppressing his fear as he asked in a trembling voice, "Are… are you the one speaking?"

"Yes, it's me." The voice from the ring confirmed. "I come from the Dou Qi Continent, just like you."

"What did you say? You're also from the Dou Qi Continent? Who exactly are you? Why are you hiding in my ring? What's your purpose?" Xiao Yan asked, enunciating his words clearly after a brief silence.

"Hahaha, who I am isn't important right now. All you need to know is that I mean you no harm. Honestly, I owe my survival to your offerings over the years, or I would still be in deep slumber."

"Offerings?" Xiao Yan's expression darkened as he shouted furiously, "Are you saying my inability to cultivate, and my loss of Dou Qi back in the Dou Qi Continent, were all your doing?"

"Hehe, you're pretty sharp, kid. But I was left with no choice; otherwise, I wouldn't have drained your Dou Qi. Don't blame me!"

"Ultimately, I am the true owner of this black ring. But since it's chosen a new master, it seems we're bound by fate."

"Damn you! Get out! To hell with your 'fate'!" Xiao Yan, usually calm and composed, suddenly seemed possessed, yanking the black ring from his finger and hurling it out the window.

"Do you know that because you absorbed my Dou Qi, I was left at the mercy of everyone in the White Tiger Duke's Manor? Without you, I could have at least protected myself with my talent."