Reflections of a Prince

In a vast garden, there is a small resting area overlooking a serene lake. Inside this gazebo, a maid sits with a child on her lap, whose feet swing happily. The child is about a year old, with golden hair that seems to compete with the sun itself. His face is delicate, making it hard to tell whether he's a boy or a girl, and his eyes are a light blue, like the sky.

The child radiates a gentle aura, a happiness that seems to brighten everything around him, able to put a smile on the face of anyone nearby. He's eating a small peeled fruit, carefully prepared by the maid.

"This apple is really soft, big sister Jiangqi," the child says cheerfully while being fed by the maid.

"Of course, this fruit is specially grown for babies like you, young master Bai," the maid replies, feeding him with one hand while gently stroking his golden hair with the other.

The child takes his time eating, neither too fast nor too slow. "Big sister Jiangqi, let's go back. It's almost time for my lesson with Teacher Qi," he says, patting the maid's thigh lightly.

The maid simply smiles and places the child on the ground. Another maid, who had been standing nearby, comes over to collect the dishes. Jiangqi takes the child's hand, and together they walk slowly toward a large mansion.

While walking hand in hand with the maid, the child drifts into his thoughts once again.

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At this moment, I'm exactly one year and one month old. Much has changed since I was reborn in this world. Some of these changes have been positive, but others… leave me with a sense of unease.

My name is Dai Mubai, and this world is called Douluo Dalu. Well… actually, Douluo Dalu is the name of the continent we live on, from what little I know. The timeline is far back enough that this world hasn't fully received that name yet.

Here, everyone has something called a "Martial Soul."

This continent is divided between two empires: the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. Thanks to the "Noble Birth" reward, I was born into a high-ranking family within the Star Luo Empire.

The Star Luo Empire is the most powerful empire on this continent, though it's not yet the strongest force that exists.

By tradition, the empire is ruled by a family whose Martial Soul is the White Tiger. The name of the imperial family is Dai… and, as you might guess, I am a member of this imperial family. Yes, I am an imperial prince. It's like winning the lottery, isn't it?

Or, at least, that's what I'd like to think, say, and shout for everyone to hear. But reality is different.

I read the story of Douluo Dalu a long time ago, from the first to the second manhua. Many details have faded from my memory, but some things remain clear.

Dai Mubai is the son of the Star Luo emperor. The Star Luo Empire follows a somewhat… brutal tradition: if more than one child is born into the royal family, their identities are kept secret until they reach maturity. When that time comes, they fight for their lives, ensuring that the next generation is led by the strongest.

As the imperial family traditionally possesses the White Tiger Martial Soul, any child born with this spirit is destined to fight for their position.

And Dai Mubai, one of the protagonists of the first book, has this Martial Soul. I'm not sure if my reincarnation has altered this fate, but I don't hold out much hope—luck has rarely been on my side.

Of course, I'm not concerned about the life-or-death battle with my "brother." In the original story, Dai Mubai won that fight, and with all the rewards I've received, repeating that feat shouldn't be difficult.

My concern is that, in the original story, Dai Mubai eventually fled the empire. He was a somewhat indulgent person, so for him to abandon everything and escape to another empire, the situation must have been serious.

Even with his identity concealed, he still had to flee. This means that his identity was exposed while he was still in the empire.

Dai Mubai has two brothers, both older, with at least a three-year age gap. From what I remember, one was killed and wasn't introduced, while the other is the one Dai Mubai faced.

In the end, all the benefits of being an imperial prince won't last long. Even with all the rewards, I doubt I'll be able to face my older brother while still in the Star Luo Empire.

In an imperial setting, being the eldest is a huge advantage, whether it's for accumulating resources or securing allies.

Even with my advantages, it will take time for me to become strong enough to ensure my safety. In fact, in this situation, showing talent is dangerous—the more talented, the worse the situation. If it's not my brother trying to eliminate me, it could be the Spirit Hall, the most powerful force on the continent at the moment. Not even the emperor could protect me; after all, the Star Luo Empire has no Titled Douluo.

Despite their power, the empires are still the weakest forces due to the lack of Titled Douluo.

For now, my only option is to wait for my Martial Soul to awaken. If it's something other than the White Tiger, I may be able to secure a stable position within the Star Luo Empire. But if it's the same as in the original story, then I'll need to start gathering resources to leave the empire.

Of course, not everything is so bleak. The rewards I received as compensation are a huge advantage in this world. Especially the Grand Talisman Formation, which I've finally completed. It's only a matter of time until I reach the level of Titled Douluo.

After reaching the age of one and learning to speak, I was formally introduced to this world. My tutor, Teacher Qi, is part of the royal family's direct lineage of educators and is the only one who knows my true identity as an imperial prince. She will be responsible for my education until my Martial Soul awakens at six years old.

The amount of knowledge she teaches is impressive, very different from what I experienced in my previous life. I'm not complaining—everything I learn here is useful, every piece of information can be an advantage.

Soon, we arrive at the study room located in the mansion, where I am accompanied by my older sister, Jiangqi. She is the youngest maid in the mansion, practically my personal maid. Jiangqi has long, bright red hair that almost looks like flames and intense blue eyes like the sea. She is the daughter of the head maid and will one day inherit that position, along with her mother's striking physique and considerable assets. Her posture is always impeccable, and her expression remains neutral and vacant, though she relaxes slightly when she's with me. Jiangqi is somewhat protective of me, so with her blank expression, she gives off an intimidating vibe when she's upset.

Jiangqi is 17 years old and has a tool-type Martial Soul, a Morningstar. She is currently a level 27 Spirit Grand Master, which makes her quite respectable, even though she's not considered a genius.

Upon arriving at the room, we find Teacher Qi already organizing the lesson materials. With gray hair and a firm posture, she has a calm and intelligent demeanor but doesn't hesitate to be strict when necessary.

"Teacher Qi," I greet her respectfully, following the protocol she taught me. At first, I found it strange to greet people in the Chinese way, something uncommon in my past life, but after several firm reprimands, I got used to it.

"Dai Mubai, you've arrived. Sit down," she responds with a slight nod, and I position myself at my desk, the only one in the room, as I am the only student.

"Today, we'll talk about Martial Souls," she begins. "They are divided into two types…" The lesson wasn't long, but it was filled with crucial information.

I took the opportunity to clarify some doubts. I asked, for example, why plant spirits were classified as beasts, while other similar Martial Souls were considered tools, and why new categories weren't created for Martial Souls. She explained that, since new Martial Souls constantly emerge, it would be impractical to create specific categories for each one; thus, the simplified division between beast and tool types was established.

This continent really is in its early stages.

After the lesson, I went straight to my room. I've been waiting for this moment; it's time to examine the complete formation.