Chapter One: The Angel

“Level ten... I’ve finally broken through!”

Huo Yuhao, sitting cross-legged atop a pile of thatch, opened his eyes. For the first time, a vague sense of power surged through his usually slender frame.

Level ten—it was now strong enough to absorb a soul ring. Next, he only needed to find any ten-year-old soul beast to deal with, and he could continue ascending.

Perhaps, after this, all the hardships would finally be behind him...

“Mother…”

Huo Yuhao stared at the empty bed. “Did you see it?”

It was his own weakness.

Even the servants’ children could break through a soul ring in as little as three years. He had taken five long years, wearing down his mother until she passed away, only managing this breakthrough a year after her death.

If only it had been sooner, if only he had been stronger.

“Damn it…”

Huo Yuhao slammed his fist into the thatch. “Why am I such a waste?”

If only he had stronger innate soul power, the duchess wouldn’t dare treat him with such cruelty.

If his awakened martial soul had been the Evil-Eyed White Tiger, how could those servants have had the audacity to swagger around and boss him about?

Why, in this world...

“Are the lowly born to remain lowly forever?!”

Huo Yuhao roared in defiance.

His words seemed to stir something. A thunderous roar echoed in his ears. The colors and sounds around him swiftly faded away, and his consciousness was cast into a pitch-black void.

Click—

A crack appeared in the darkness before him, a door opening with golden light spilling through.

...

Within the golden space, a translucent figure hovered midair.

A sigh escaped the ethereal angel as she opened her eyes. The scattered fragments of light around her grew more numerous, unable to conceal the cracks on her form.

She was fading.

Lingering at the edge of demise.

There were no windows here, only a portal connecting to the outer darkness. Suspended at the center of the ceiling was a golden hourglass, its base inscribed with strange patterns.

It was something she had crafted idly in this empty world. The flowing golden sand measured the dwindling moments she had left.

“Someone’s coming…”

The angel murmured, descending to the floor. As the golden light shimmered, she took on the appearance she had in life.

At that moment—

Creak—

The door softly opened.

---

“Y-hello…”

A slight, thin boy peeked his head through the door gap, glancing inside. “Excuse me, where is this place?”

Was he sent to probe her? Or was it the fragmented divine essence naturally drawing someone here?

No matter which, it no longer mattered. She had little time left.

Qian Renxue crossed her arms, her eyes vacant as she assessed the poor-looking boy. “I don’t really know where this is either... Come in.”

“Oh.”

Huo Yuhao squeezed through the door and shut it behind him, standing by the door nervously, not daring to move.

Proper and well-behaved.

“Heh.”

Qian Renxue was oddly amused but her eyes softened with pity.

In her lifetime, even the palace servants rarely showed such humbleness and caution as this boy did. It was as if he had been bullied since childhood, terrified of revealing anything unusual.

“W-what’s wrong…”

Huo Yuhao tensed, fearing she might strike him.

There were many maids in the duke’s mansion, yet they were ruthless when they wanted to be, often choosing places that left no marks. Even with his mother advocating for him, he was left defenseless.

The girl before him looked about twenty, noble and dignified—clearly no commoner.

If he angered her...

Suddenly, the image of a certain young master flashed through his mind, and his gaze darkened.

That damned bastard...

“A boy with a story.”

Though several meters apart, Qian Renxue could clearly see the fleeting pain and rage on his face. She found herself intrigued by this poor boy who had appeared out of nowhere. “What’s your name? Where is your home?”

“Huo Yuhao.”

He pressed his lips tightly. “No home. No family.”

Homeless?

No family either...

Qian Renxue sighed deeply.

Compared to him, her life had been somewhat fortunate. Though she had only truly connected with her biological mother after her downfall, she always had a grandfather who loved her and a group of loyal old retainers.

Poor boy...

“Um, sister…”

Seeing her expression soften, Huo Yuhao mustered courage to ask, “What exactly is happening to my body? Why am I transparent? Am I... dead?”

She glanced over his form, noticing his awkward movements.

“No, you’re still alive. Your soul has just accidentally entered this space.”

---

Qian Renxue extended a finger, sending a strand of spiritual light into him. His ethereal, faint form immediately solidified somewhat. “It’s just that your soul is so weak it’s difficult to maintain.”

Even as a fading remnant consciousness, she could perceive Huo Yuhao’s strength.

“You’re lacking a soul ring, aren’t you?”

Qian Renxue smiled. “Though my residual power is limited, it’s enough to grant you a first soul ring perfectly suited to your body.”

“Isn’t it only soul beasts that can grant soul rings?”

Huo Yuhao stared incredulously. “Are you... a god?”

“Heh. Once, I was.”

Qian Renxue gave a bitter smile, unwilling to elaborate. “So, do you want it?”

The chance to receive a first soul ring... perfectly matched.

A rare opportunity.

Huo Yuhao’s eyes gleamed with indescribable joy.

By his own means, he likely had no chance to claim a soul ring aged a hundred years or more. Now, this great blessing lay right before him.

A chance to rewrite his fate.

“I…”

Huo Yuhao’s voice was hoarse. “I refuse.”

“Huh?”

Qian Renxue, gathering her last strength, was taken aback. “Why?”

“Since you were once a god, you must be searching for a successor, right?”

Huo Yuhao bit his lip. “I’m sorry to disappoint you. My innate soul power is only level one. That soul ring would be wasted on me.”

His mother’s last words before she died echoed in his mind: “It’s not meant for you. Don’t desire it.”

He had never forgotten.

“...Level one?”

Qian Renxue was stunned.

So with innate level one, one could reach the first soul ring by age eleven?

In her lifetime, anyone reaching the first soul ring before twelve was considered a genius in a small city.

“Has Douluo Continent advanced so rapidly?”

Qian Renxue sighed like an old woman, her heart heavy. But she quickly composed herself and patted Huo Yuhao’s head.

“Don’t be disheartened. In my time, no one starting at your level could catch up to you. Not even those with innate soul power at levels four or five.”

Her hand paused, watching the light at her fingertips crumble and fade. Another sigh escaped.

“Very well. I’ll grant you a twist of fate. It’s the last thing I can leave in this world.”