Chapter 2: The Pinnacle of Qi Refining
"Ding... Transmission complete. Please check your personal attributes, Host."
The next moment, a faint golden screen reappeared before Zhou Chen:
- **Name:** Zhou Chen
- **Profession:** Plane Transmigrator
- **Race:** Human
- **Trait:** Handsome
- **Martial Spirit:** Not yet awakened
- **Strength:** Pinnacle of Qi Refining
- **Cultivation Technique:** The Inner Canon of the Yellow Emperor
"The pinnacle of Qi Refining, sounds pretty powerful," Zhou Chen shamelessly mused. Just then, footsteps approached from outside the room, growing closer.
In the next instant, a man in his sixties pushed open the door, his aged face filled with concern. The elderly man was tall and lean, his clothes tidy, and his hair meticulously groomed.
"Are you alright, Chen'er?" The old man asked anxiously.
"Grandpa Jack, I'm fine." Zhou Chen quickly went over to support the old man.
This old man was Old Jack, the village chief of Holy Soul Village, known from the original Douluo Continent storyline for sending Tang San to school and famously disparaging Tang Hao as a failure.
"Phew... As long as you're alright. Just a moment ago, a beam of light descended from the sky, crashing straight into your room. I was worried something might have happened to you..." Old Jack sighed in relief, patting Zhou Chen's little head, and glanced around, his eyes landing on the circular hole in the roof.
It seemed that wasn't just a hallucination.
After all these years, that familiar pillar of light had returned once again!
Thinking back, Old Jack couldn't help but lose himself in memories.
It was a night six years ago...
At the time, as the village chief, Old Jack was patrolling the village when suddenly a massive beam of light descended from the sky, striking a nearby hill directly!
The intense light turned night into day!
Fearing something terrible had happened, Old Jack bravely climbed the hill to check for the safety of the villagers.
There, he found an infant.
Old Jack later adopted and lovingly cared for the child. He knew in his heart that this child was no ordinary being, as the pillar of light seemed like a divine descent!
And indeed, his suspicions were gradually confirmed.
The child spoke at birth, named himself Zhou Chen, and was extraordinarily handsome, with many miraculous traits that amazed the villagers time and again.
For example, the hotpot Zhou Chen invented at the age of three.
This was a method of cooking various slices of meat and vegetables in a copper pot, paired with Zhou Chen's secret dipping sauce, which quickly won over Old Jack and all the villagers' palates.
Afterwards, Zhou Chen, eager to gather 10,000 Gold Soul Coins to activate his system, persuaded Old Jack and the villagers to pool their resources and open a hotpot restaurant in Notting City, which thrived.
Next, Zhou Chen copied the iron smelting method from Earth and opened a blacksmith shop in Notting City, which also did excellent business.
Later, Zhou Chen opened over a dozen shops, becoming immensely wealthy, with the villagers benefiting as well. Holy Soul Village became a model of shared prosperity.
Now, most villagers have moved to Notting City, with Old Jack naturally moving into the city as well, taking care of little Zhou Chen's daily needs...
Returning to the present, Old Jack didn't mention the light beam again, instead lovingly looking at Zhou Chen and reminding him:
"Chen'er, the Spirit Hall will soon hold the annual awakening ceremony. You're nearly six years old; it's time for you to awaken your martial spirit."
"Yes, I..."
Zhou Chen was about to respond when a crisp voice suddenly interrupted:
"Brother Chen, Grandpa Jack, are you alright?"
Following the voice, they saw a small figure running towards them.
This was also a child about six years old.
His skin was wheat-colored, his short black hair neat, and his plain linen clothes clean. His most striking feature was his eyes, exceptionally bright, with a fleeting purple hue.
The Tang Sect's technique, Purple Demon Eye.
Indeed, this child was none other than Tang San, the protagonist of Douluo Continent, reincarnated.
Currently, Tang San and his father Tang Hao had also ridden the wave of prosperity Zhou Chen brought to Holy Soul Village, moving from the village to Notting City.
Thus, Tang San was always grateful to Zhou Chen, following his lead in all matters, and had become Zhou Chen's loyal little follower.
Seeing Tang San running over in such a hurry, Zhou Chen immediately greeted him with a warm smile, "Of course we're fine. What, have you been out practicing again?"
"Yes, I just finished my morning exercises and saw a giant beam of light by Brother Chen's house. I was worried, so I came to check," Tang San nodded.
"Don't worry, we're all good," Old Jack smiled reassuringly, patting Tang San's little head.
"That's good."
Tang San was about to breathe a sigh of relief when his heart suddenly skipped a beat. He noticed an unusual energy fluctuation within Zhou Chen!
This made Tang San momentarily stunned.
After all, they spent every day together, and Tang San was well aware of Zhou Chen's situation.
Although Brother Chen was extraordinarily handsome and exceptionally intelligent, not at all like a child, which Tang San admired greatly, Zhou Chen had always just had an ordinary body. How could there be an energy fluctuation?
This wasn't normal!
Thus, Tang San quietly activated his Purple Demon Eye, intending to use spiritual power to probe Zhou Chen.
However, at that moment, a faint sword hum emanated from Zhou Chen's brow, instantly shattering Tang San's Purple Demon Eye!
Tang San let out a muffled groan, feeling dizzy, with a faint trickle of blood seeping from his nose!
"How is this possible!"
His Mysterious Heaven Skill had already reached the peak of the first layer, equivalent to a soul power level of 10. To break the Purple Demon Eye, it would require someone several times stronger!
Could it be... This possibility sent a shock through Tang San as he looked at Zhou Chen, who seemed unaware, filled with astonishment!
---
**In the evening, within the study.**
The room's desk was adorned with expensive tomes made from beast hide or silk, such as "The Conditions for Becoming the Son-in-law of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan" and "On How to Marry a Princess of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family"...
Indeed, Zhou Chen was ready to cast away his integrity, live off others, and sell himself for wealth.
He felt forced into it. The spending system was a gold-devouring beast, and relying solely on the dozen shops Zhou Chen had wasn't enough. Only by living off others could he quickly acquire large amounts of gold coins.
However, Zhou Chen wasn't reading those shameless books at the moment. Instead, he was diligently poring over an exceptionally hefty tome—"The Complete Illustrated Guide to Martial Spirits."
This tome recorded all the martial spirits discovered by humans over millennia. Its compilers were the Spirit Hall, which boasted an Angel God, a Holy Maiden, and a Beautiful Pope!
The reason Zhou Chen studied the book overnight was that the Spirit Hall's awakening ceremony was tomorrow. He didn't want to be unable to recognize his own martial spirit when the time came.
"Creaaak..."
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and Old Jack hurriedly entered.
"Grandpa Jack."
Seeing Old Jack come in, Zhou Chen immediately stood up.
"Chen'er, it's done."
Old Jack said with joy, "I found a deacon in the Spirit Hall who agreed to help you and Tang San awaken your martial spirits separately, without waiting in line. You know, he's a Grand Soul Master."
Mentioning the Grand Soul Master, a look of envy appeared in Old Jack's eyes.
"That's great, thanks to you," Zhou Chen said gratefully.
In the Douluo Continent, every child around the age of six could go to the Spirit Hall to awaken their martial spirit for free.
Though Notting City was small, there were at least hundreds of eligible children each year, not to mention their accompanying parents. The Spirit Hall's square would be packed tomorrow.
Therefore, not wanting to waste time queuing, Zhou Chen asked Old Jack to find a deacon in the Spirit Hall, gifting him twenty Gold Soul Coins to arrange a private martial spirit awakening for himself and Tang San.