Chapter 1: The Beginning
The night was serene, the moonlight spilling gently like water.
In front of a small wooden cabin, a man and a woman stood quietly.
The man was dressed in white, with black hair and deep, dark eyes. His appearance was both handsome and graceful. The woman beside him wore a blue dress, her long dark blue hair and deep blue eyes making her strikingly beautiful.
Cradled in her arms was a baby, wrapped in luxurious brocade. Inside the blanket lay a delicate jade pendant.
"Brother Tian, are we really going to leave Xiao Ye here?" the woman asked, her brows furrowed, her voice thick with worry as she glanced down at the baby in her arms.
Tian sighed, his tone heavy. "Zhi Xin, where we're headed, no one can predict what will happen. If it's safe, all will be well. But if it's dangerous, even with my strength, I may not be able to protect you, let alone Xiao Ye. Bringing him with us would only put him in harm's way."
Zhi Xin's eyes filled with sorrow as she looked at the baby. "But… without us by his side, what if he gets bullied? And leaving him in such a poor village—how will he survive? Why can't we leave him with my family?"
As she spoke, her voice began to choke with emotion.
Seeing his wife on the verge of tears, Tian's heart softened. He gently pulled her into his embrace with a sigh.
"Zhi Xin, don't worry. We're entrusting Xiao Ye to the village chief. No one will dare bully him. Besides, with the excellent bloodline he's inherited from both of us and the gifts I've left for him, he won't be the one getting bullied—if anything, others should worry about him bullying them."
Tian paused, his voice more serious. "As for leaving him with your family, we might never return from this journey. People's hearts are unpredictable. What if someone covets the things we left for him?"
"So, leaving him here is the safest option. No one will know his true identity. By the time he grows up and leaves this village, he'll be strong enough to protect himself. I've laid out a path for him. When the time comes, he'll find us."
Zhi Xin remained silent for a moment, her eyes red, but she nodded in acceptance. "Brother Tian, I understand. We'll leave Xiao Ye here."
Seeing his wife finally agree to his plan, Tian smiled, relieved.
With their decision made, Zhi Xin gently caressed the baby in her arms, her eyes filled with love and sorrow. She walked toward the cabin's door, carefully placing the baby on the ground before knocking gently on the door.
Knock, knock, knock...
The sound of knocking echoed in the quiet night.
From within the cabin, an elderly voice responded, "Who's there?"
Footsteps could be heard after the creak of a bed, as the figure inside approached the door.
"Zhi Xin, it's time to go," Tian urged softly, noticing his wife lingering as she gazed longingly at their child. He stepped forward, pulling her gently to his side.
At that moment, the air around them rippled, their figures beginning to blur, though their eyes remained fixed on the baby lying on the ground. Slowly, their forms disappeared entirely from view.
The next second, the wooden door creaked open, and an old man with a hunched back and silver hair emerged, his face full of confusion.
"Huh? A baby? Who left this child here?" the old man mumbled, stepping out of the cabin to pick up the infant.
As his hand touched the luxurious brocade swaddling the baby, its fine craftsmanship and texture surprised him. His eyes widened when he noticed the intricate jade pendant tucked inside.
"What exquisite fabric and jade... Could this child belong to some noble family? But why would they leave him here? Do they want me to adopt him?"
The old man couldn't make sense of the situation, shaking his head in confusion.
"Strange..."
"Still, if you wish for me to take care of him, I'll do just that. A noble child might even awaken a martial soul in the future and become a Soul Master!"
The thought made the old man smile.
He carefully took the jade pendant out from the swaddle, examining the inscription on it. Then, with a warm expression, he gazed down at the baby.
"Child, your name is Lin Ye, is it? I am Jack, and from today on, I'll be your grandfather."
---
Six years later.
Heaven Dou Empire, Province of Phanos, Holy Soul Village.
Dawn had just begun to break, and the entire Holy Soul Village was still shrouded in a thick, misty fog. The wooden cabins of varying sizes were faintly visible amidst the haze.
Within one such cabin, the door creaked open with a soft groan. A young boy emerged from inside.
He had black hair and black eyes, appearing to be about six or seven years old. His build was balanced, his skin fair, and his features were delicate, though his expression seemed a bit cold.
After stepping out, the boy gently closed the door behind him.
From within the cabin, the old man's voice called out, "Xiao Ye, remember to come back early. The Soul Master from the Notting City Martial Soul Sub-Hall is coming today to conduct the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony. Don't be late!"
"I know, Grandpa," Lin Ye responded calmly with a nod, his voice steady, before he turned and walked away from the cabin.
As he made his way out of the village, Lin Ye headed toward the back mountains. Passing by the west side of the village, another boy of about the same age emerged from one of the houses.
This boy also appeared to be around six or seven years old. He wore simple clothes made of rough fabric, with black hair and dark eyes, and tanned skin. His features were plain and unremarkable.
Seeing Lin Ye, the boy smiled and greeted him, "Lin Ye, you're up early to train again?"
"Mm," Lin Ye nodded lightly. "Tang San, you're up early too."
Tang San chuckled, "Well, it's different for me. I'm older than you!"
It was true—Tang San was indeed older than Lin Ye, not only physically but mentally as well.
On the surface, Tang San appeared to be a child, but with memories from his past life, he was closer to thirty years old in terms of his mental age.
However, Lin Ye was just an ordinary boy. Yet, despite being so young, he showed such remarkable discipline, waking up early every day to train. His self-control was something even many adults couldn't achieve, let alone a child.
How could Tang San not be impressed?
As they exchanged a few more words, the two eventually reached the foot of the mountain and parted ways, each heading toward different peaks.
Lin Ye continued along a small path leading to the left side of the mountain. After passing through a field of blooming flowers, he finally arrived at the base of a steep slope.
The incline was so steep it was nearly vertical, close to seventy degrees.
It would be difficult for even an adult to climb, let alone a child. Yet, as Lin Ye gazed at the slope, his expression remained calm and unafraid.
Boom!
With a powerful push from his right foot, Lin Ye's body shot into the air. His left foot planted firmly on the slope as though it were rooted there, while his right hand quickly reached out to grasp a protruding rock. With another swift push of his legs, he leaped higher, climbing the slope with ease.
It was hard to believe that a child no more than six or seven years old could display such agility!
Like a nimble monkey, Lin Ye ascended rapidly, and within just a few breaths, he had already climbed more than ten meters, reaching the top of the steep slope.
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