1 Ch.1: A New Life

I have decided to listen one of my reader's opinion and tried to separate the dialogue and the paragraphs to make it easier to read. So here it is. I will also update the rest of the chapters until the end of the day.

...........................................

Li Xin gazed at the computer screen; his thoughts consumed by the dramatic events that had unfolded. After Tang San ascended to godhood, Dugu Bo, despite his incredible strength, had ended up with just one granddaughter. Ultimately, he passed away alone on the Douluo Continent. Dugu Bo might not have been the most potent Titled Douluo, but he was undoubtedly the most formidable and dedicated in team battles. Sadly, the era of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor martial soul had come to an end in the annals of the Douluo Continent's history.

Li Xin's gaze shifted from the screen to a picture of Dugu Bo, his figure slender and resolute, overshadowed by the brilliance of Tang San. A deep sigh escaped Li Xin's lips. "Tang San may have managed to somewhat fill Dugu Bo's void, but he wasn't Dugu Bo's child. Despite all his sacrifices and accomplishments, he left behind very little, except for the antidote."

Turning off the computer, Li Xin attempted to regain his composure. He picked up his phone and started browsing through humorous content. Outside the small rental house, the wind howled, rain poured, and thunder rumbled. Despite the storm, Li Xin found himself sweating profusely. As the lightning flashes grew shorter and thunder echoed in his ears, Li Xin remained undistracted. He had entered a state of deep focus.

Exhausted, Li Xin prepared to close his eyes and rest, when suddenly, a blinding light filled the room. Struggling to keep his eyes open, Li Xin pondered, "An angel, perhaps?"

The light drew closer, revealing its source as a slender figure. Shock washed over Li Xin as he realized, "Hold on, it's... electricity!" As the lightning dissipated, all that remained was a charred corpse within the room. Even the paper on the bed had turned to ashes, scattered by the wind.

Li Xin's consciousness faded rapidly, his final thoughts echoing, "I haven't deleted my browser history yet…!" Soon, the blaring sound of a siren cut through the air. The evening news began, with a beautiful host reporting.

"This evening, a massive fire engulfed a black rental house on West Oak Street in our city's North District. Due to electrical malfunctions and inclement weather, one fatality was reported. The deceased, Li Xin, a 22-year-old male graduate from Nanyang University's Chinese Department in Hope City. We remind citizens to prioritize electrical safety and cherish life by avoiding subpar accommodations."

The news swiftly transitioned to other topics. The host's cheerful voice announced, "With increased pork production, pork prices, which had been soaring, are now on a steep decline. Wishing everyone prosperity."

Li Xin felt enveloped in warmth, a gentle current flowing through him. However, discomfort followed as a surge of pain coursed through him, then slowly ebbed away.

Overwhelmed by weariness, Li Xin mused that he might be dreaming before succumbing to sleep. Time passed in an indistinct manner. Li Xin's consciousness gradually cleared, but the pain that accompanied it lingered longer. Then, one day, a powerful tremor shook Li Xin's world. An instinct within him surged, a movement beginning from within and rippling downward. Suddenly, light flooded his senses, followed by a cold sensation. He felt enshrouded, then placed beside a beautiful woman.

An old woman's voice rang out, filled with affection, "It's a young boy, madam." Pale yet loving eyes gazed at Li Xin from the beautiful woman's face. Despite her weakening life force, her love was undeniable. The old woman's concern escalated, "Something's amiss, sir, madam. She can't..."

Interrupting, a man dressed in green and black burst into the room. With remarkable speed, he reached the woman's side. Jade soul power coalesced in his hands, infusing her entire being. With determined effort, he choked out, "Hang on, Yue'er. Everything will be fine."

Though her strength waned, the beautiful woman managed a smile, raising her hand to touch Li Xin. She whispered, "This child... so much like you, Bo. I've already chosen a name for him. Du... Gu... Xin." As life slipped away, her reluctant gaze fixed on Li Xin. He wept as he sensed her departure.

The man clung to the woman's cold form, tears streaming down his face. In despair, he cried, "It's my fault... my poison."

After a while, he tenderly placed her down. Picking up Li Xin, he spoke with a desolate tone, "I, Dugu Bo, swear to ensure our Xin'er's safety."

While holding Li Xin, his eyes widened, and he trembled, whispering, "Poisonous hair dye..." A jade feather adorned Dugu Xin's head. Dugu Bo cradled him, his anguish transforming into fury.

"God, you're heartless!" Soul power erupted, shattering the ground. Dugu Bo, now 35 years old, had reached level 60 Spirit King.

For the year that followed, Dugu Xin received meticulous care. Dugu Bo even tamed a 900-year-old Flaming Cow to produce milk for him. A combination of drugs and sporadic use of soul power were used to combat the toxins in Dugu Xin's body. As time passed, Dugu Xin grew aware of his presence in the Douluo Continent's world. He was the son of Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo. By the time he was over a year old, he began to utter his first words.

His memory was mostly confined to the Douluo plot. He knew that Tang San had a beast martial soul, like his grandfather Dugu Bo, whose Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor martial soul was also a beast. Unlike weapon martial souls, which could channel toxins into weapons, Dugu Bo's couldn't, leaving only the option of forcing toxins into a soul bone. Dugu Xin earnestly conveyed this information to Dugu Bo, who merely patted his head, dismissing it as childish talk.

This pattern continued, and Dugu Xin's persistence eventually piqued Dugu Bo's curiosity. Rather than battling poison with poison, he tried guiding the toxins into the family's heritage soul bone. This soul bone originated from a 70,000-year-old Datura Snake Right Arm Bone. Dugu Bo's eyes widened in shock as he felt the toxins decrease. It wasn't a substantial reduction, but it was undeniably progress.

Excited, he burst out of the cultivation room, scooping up Dugu Xin. Planting a kiss on his chubby cheeks, Dugu Bo laughed, "Xin'er, you're truly our Dugu family's lucky star. We're saved!"

Then a hint of sorrow crossed his face, and he murmured with a bitter smile, "If only you had been born earlier."

Dugu Xin wobbled toward his father, embracing him. Amidst incoherent babbling, he pledged, "Father, we'll live to be a hundred years old, and I'll become a Titled Douluo to bring honor to our Dugu family."

With a chuckle, Dugu Bo said, "You're just a little kid with big dreams." Lifting Dugu Xin, he suggested, "Since I'm not cultivating today, how about we go out and have some fun?"

Dugu Xin cheered, his voice full of delight. "Great, Father!" Dugu Bo doted on him, but an undercurrent of worry always lingered on his face. His dedication to cultivation had barely wavered. Finally, it seemed as though the tension had been eased, and father and son could enjoy some leisure time together.

...…

Spring and autumn arrived in swift succession as time raced forward, and before they knew it, six years had already passed for Dugu Xin. Dugu Bo, now equipped with the knowledge to mitigate and eliminate toxins in martial spirits, had set his sights on finding a suitable soul bone for his son. However, the renowned "Treasure of the Blood River," a soul bone, proved to be an elusive goal. Spirit beasts of a thousand years were rare possessors of soul bones, although and the prospects were higher when aiming for a ten-thousand-year spirit bone. Dugu Bo harbored concerns that such a bone might hinder rather than enhance Dugu Xin's potential. As for a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone, the likelihood of obtaining one was nearly impossible. The quest for a one-thousand-year spirit bone alone was proving to be a formidable challenge. Dugu Bo nurtured a fervent hope of discovering a hundred-thousand-year spirit bone, drawn not only to its two incredibly potent abilities but also its potential to elevate martial spirits from low-level to high-level.

Dugu Xin's journey had commenced even before his birth when he was tainted with the Imperial Poison of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. His rigorous training had started at the age of three, laying the groundwork for the imminent awakening of his martial spirit.

Presently, in the courtyard of the Dugu Family, a young figure assumed a horse stance, balancing three bowls of water—one in each hand and the last atop his head. Despite trembling and perspiring profusely, Dugu Xin clenched his teeth and persevered. This young protagonist was none other than Dugu Xin himself. A middle-aged man, moving with the grace of a serpent, slithered into the courtyard's shadows. His eyes rested on Dugu Xin in satisfaction.

After observing for a while, he spoke slowly, his voice carrying a paternal warmth, "Xin'er, today's training is done. Remember, your body is still fragile, and excessive exertion could lead to hidden injuries."

Dugu Xin, taking in his father's advice, turned around and threw himself into Dugu Bo's embrace. Though Dugu Xin had lived 25 years in his previous life, he had never experienced the warmth of family due to his orphaned upbringing. Despite Dugu Bo's strictness, his kindness provided a newfound sense of belonging for Dugu Xin.

In reality, regardless of his chronological age, Dugu Xin remained a child at heart, resisting the pull of adulthood. Dugu Bo, fondly holding Dugu Xin, spoke tenderly, "Xin'er, tomorrow marks your sixth birthday, and you shall awaken your martial spirit."

Elation surged within Dugu Xin, who exclaimed joyfully, "Finally, I'll be able to awaken my martial spirit. I aspire to be as formidable as you, Father. I yearn to become a Titled Douluo and restore honor to the Dugu family."

Dugu Bo's response was filled with encouragement, "Indeed, my dear Xin'er, you will surpass me in strength and attain the title of Titled Douluo. My little Titled Douluo, now go wash up, get ready for dinner, and rest well today. Tomorrow, we shall awaken your martial spirit."

Each time Dugu Xin caught sight of the martial spirit enveloping his father during cultivation, his eyes betrayed a hint of envy. After all, his rebirth in the Douluo Continent had endowed him with an intense fascination for martial spirits. As for Dugu Bo, despite his concerns, he harbored a wish: if only he could prevent Xin'er's spirit from awakening. After awakening, the toxins within Dugu Xin's body would grow stronger. Yet, as both a father and the present head of the Dugu family, he couldn't strip away his child's aspiration for strength. If only Xin'er's constitution was strong enough to accommodate a ten-thousand-year spirit bone. He would've acted without hesitation, even if it meant sacrificing his own progress.

In the present, Dugu Xin's physical strength stood at par with that of a Spirit Grandmaster's, an impressive feat for someone his age, as most children never truly train their bodies. This has created an enticing possibility for Dugu Bo —the absorption of an 800-year spirit ring.

The inevitability of the toxins' growth upon awakening was not lost on Dugu Xin. However, his trust in his father's strength and resilience against the toxins bolstered his confidence. Dugu Bo had devised a method to mitigate their effects, hastening toxin suppression and allowing for more time devoted to training. Dugu Bo himself, now aged 41, had ascended to the rank of Spirit Emperor at level 69, a far cry from the portrayal in the manhua where he attained Spirit Saint at age 50. Within the next year, Dugu Bo was poised to achieve Spirit Saint status. Once he accomplished this, he could seek out a ten-thousand-year spirit bone, using its power to forcibly expel the toxins from Dugu Xin's body. And let's not forget the Fire and Ice Well. Dugu Xin steadfastly believed his fate would differ from the tragic ending in the manhua; he would ascend to the rank of Titled Douluo, perhaps even transcend to godhood.

Resting well, Dugu Xin greeted the next day with groggy eyes. Dugu Bo had already been waiting, and he beckoned Xin'er to join him, saying, "Xin'er, let's have breakfast together before we set out."

Swiftly consuming his meal, Dugu Xin then followed his father, his thoughts playful. "Will my martial spirit will be awakened by the Blind Douluo, Su Yuntao,?" he mused, a thought that elicited laughter from Dugu Bo.

Turning to ruffle Dugu Xin's hair, Dugu Bo teased, "Why such mirth upon discovering your old man's plan to awaken your martial spirit?"

Dugu Xin chuckled, clarifying, "It's not quite that, Father. I was simply pondering who Spirit Hall might dispatch to awaken my martial spirit." Dugu Bo's expression shifted, and he explained with a smile,

"Xin'er, what you're imagining is how ordinary people outside our circles awaken their martial souls. Families like ours, sects, noble families of the Heaven Dou Empire, and even the army awaken martial spirits within themselves. There's no need for them to register at the Martial Soul Hall for soul power assessment."

Dugu Xin's curiosity flared, prompting him to ask, "Is Spirit Hall a benevolent institution?"

A sardonic smile danced across Dugu Bo's lips as he replied, "It's a mix of both. Spirit Hall's resources for awakening are, in fact, supplied by the two major empires and even smaller kingdoms, as well as from their internal funds. However, they not only take credit for these resources but also wield an air of dominance. Were it not for the Upper Three Sects and the two empires keeping them in check, even our Dugu Family might have been compelled to submit. If not for your grandfather's standing as a Rank 91 Titled Douluo at the time and our possession of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison, we might have ceased to exist."

Dugu Xin's confusion prompted Dugu Bo to recount a tale. "Your grandfather's strength had stagnated for years. In his bid to protect the family from Spirit Hall's oppression, he sustained many hidden injuries. Coupled with the Jade Phosphor Serpent Poison's eruption over time, he passed away when I was 32."

Dugu Xin inquired further, "How did our family survive then?"

With gravitas, Dugu Bo recounted, "When Spirit Hall had begun to assimilate smaller families, the Clear Sky Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, intervened. Their leader, Tang Chen, a Rank 96 Clear Sky Douluo, halted Spirit Hall's advance. Even the formidable Rank 96 Angel Douluo, Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall's head, was defeated by Tang Chen."

Connecting the dots, Dugu Xin realized, "So, Spirit Hall is our enemy?" Dugu Bo's response was serious.

"For the Dugu Family, weakness is our true enemy." Opening the door to the cultivation room, Dugu Bo gestured, revealing the intricate Jade Phosphor Serpent pattern. His voice carried pride as he said. "We've arrived, Xin'er."

Stepping into a space adorned with a Jade Phosphor Serpent insignia, Dugu Xin found his gaze drawn to nine awakening stones encircling the engraved snake. At its mouth lay a precious orb. Dugu Bo positioned himself at the head of the serpent and spoke with solemnity, "Are you prepared, Xin'er?"

A resolute reply echoed, "I am ready, Father."

With a sweeping gesture, Dugu Bo's spirit power surged, prompting a massive Jade Phosphor Serpent to emerge from the ground. The immense serpent"s head faced Dugu Xin, its cold eyes locked onto him. Though keenly aware of his father's strength, Dugu Xin couldn't shake a tremor of fear. Dugu Bo's voice cut through, commanding, "Dugu Xin, if you are my child, lift your head and meet my gaze."

Suppressing his unease, Dugu Xin raised his head to meet the piercing gaze of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. The awakening stones began their dance, swirling in the air. A surge of power coursed through Dugu Xin's body—though incomparable to his father's, it was undeniably there. Behind him, a serpent's roar echoed as a smaller, greener Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor materialized, locking eyes with both Dugu Xin and his father. The unspoken bond between them was palpable.

Dugu Bo's satisfaction was evident as he murmured, "Indeed, just like me—the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor."

As if responding to this revelation, the orb emitted a blinding light. Dugu Bo's shock was evident as he observed the orb, "Innate Full Soul Power! Xin'er, your potential exceeds mine."

Dugu Bo had achieved Rank 9 upon his own awakening, his martial soul a mutation of his father's Jade Phosphor Serpent King, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor. This achievement marked him as the most promising talent in the Dugu Family to ascend to Titled Douluo in a millennium. Amid his joy, a flicker of worry crossed Dugu Bo's face, for greater potential also meant Dugu Xin's martial soul, the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, might possess even more potent toxins than his own.