In an orphanage outside the Spirit Pagoda headquarters.
Bai Yuan looked at the place before him, a place he knew all too well, and couldn’t help but sigh softly.
He had been here for six years already.
His Martial Soul would awaken tomorrow; it was truly something to look forward to.
Life is unpredictable, full of twists and turns.
Who would have thought that he’d end up like this just because he got obsessed with that abstract honkai: star rail 4.0 PV.
After passionately typing “So abstract?” in the comment section, everything went black…
He had transmigrated.
And he didn’t even transmigrate into honkai: star rail, but into the Douluo Continent.
At the very least, shouldn’t this be a honkai: star rail crossover?
Isn’t this a complete mix-up?
Even more ridiculous, he had become an orphan living in this orphanage funded by the Spirit Pagoda.
His name, coincidentally enough, was still Bai Yuan.
Sharing the surname Bai felt like a tribute to his favorite character.
Six years was enough time for him to figure out his situation.
He was in the era of the legend of the dragon king in Douluo.
The good news was that this era was relatively peaceful; as long as he didn’t go looking for trouble in the core cities, he could live a decent life.
The bad news was—he was an orphan.
Bai Yuan knew very well that in this World, Martial Soul awakening was three parts mutation, seven parts luck, and the remaining ninety parts depended on how capable one’s parents were.
As for him, his parents were unknown, his Martial Soul was unknown, and he had zero trump cards.
“If a good Martial Soul awakens tomorrow, I’ll stay,” he exhaled deeply, muttering to himself.
“If not…
I’ll run away as soon as possible, find a remote little town, and live out the rest of my life in peace.” Staying low and surviving was the number one rule for a transmigrator.
Bai Yuan prayed silently.
Which mighty being from honkai: star rail is listening?
If you could just take pity on me and grant me any ability, even just a tiny bit, it would be enough for me to walk tall on this continent.
“Come, come, children, everyone gather ’round!” A staff member’s voice interrupted his wandering thoughts.
A large group of children swarmed in from all directions, gathering in a noisy circle.
Bai Yuan blended into the crowd, his mind sharp.
Everyone was so enthusiastic for one reason and one reason only: tomorrow’s Martial Soul awakening.
The Spirit Pagoda didn’t open this orphanage out of pure charity.
Their goal was simple: to pick out promising talents from among these orphans.
As long as they awakened Soul Power and were willing to sign a contract with the Spirit Pagoda, they could obtain a Soul Spirit for free.
It was called free, but that wasn’t entirely true.
The orphans were penniless, so the cost of the Soul Spirit was naturally “loaned” to them by the Spirit Pagoda.
Once they joined the Spirit Pagoda, how the debt was settled would be entirely up to them, wouldn’t it?
For the Spirit Pagoda, it was a guaranteed profit; they only had to provide a few hundred-year Soul Spirits to secure a group of talented Soul Masters.
While Bai Yuan was pondering these inner workings, his gaze inadvertently swept across the back of the crowd.
And then, he couldn’t look away.
It was a woman.
A long dress as brilliant as fire wrapped around her graceful figure; her features were as exquisite as a painting, and her temperament was cold and ethereal.
She stood there quietly, yet she made everything around her lose its color.
The staff member took the opportunity to introduce her, his tone tinged with a hint of pride: “This is the Vice Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda—the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo.
Normally, she wouldn’t attend such an occasion.
But this time, it’s a joint event between the Spirit Pagoda and the Federation, so she was specially invited…” Bai Yuan didn’t hear the rest.
Only one name echoed in his mind.
Leng Yaozhu.
Holy crap, isn’t she that famous…
He subconsciously swallowed hard.
If he could latch onto this powerful backer, would he ever have to worry again?
But as soon as the thought arose, he snuffed it out.
Calm down.
The result of tomorrow’s Martial Soul awakening is the key.
If a powerful Martial Soul awakens, there might be a chance.
If not…
He glanced at the woman with the overwhelming presence and silently added a thought.
Someone of her level probably wouldn’t even spare him a glance.
After the event, Bai Yuan returned to his dormitory.
Lying on his bed, he stared at the ceiling and couldn’t help but mock himself.
As a transmigrator, having no starting benefits at all was truly miserable.
But then again, at least he was alive.
As long as there’s life, there’s hope; everything is still on the table.
If a powerful Martial Soul awakens tomorrow, he’ll carve out a place for himself on this continent.
If there’s no Martial Soul, or if a useless one awakens…
Then he’d find something else to do.
He couldn’t just waste his life; he had to find something to strive for.
But before that!
Bai Yuan snapped his eyes shut and pressed his palms together, his expression as devout as a believer’s.
“The Hunt!
Did you hear me?
Give me strength!” “High Elder of the Vidyadhara!
Give me strength!” “Brother Lieyang!” He took a deep breath, his voice unconsciously rising: “Bring me the fire seed!!!” Having said his piece, he rolled over contentedly and fell fast asleep.
In the darkness, a white-haired figure slowly materialized.
A faint fire seed was quietly manifested beside him.
Golden light, like strands of silk, slowly flowed into his body.
Silently, it nourished every inch of his meridians and every piece of his bone.
And he was completely unaware.
…
The next morning.
The orphanage became lively early on as a large group of children lined up and were led into the already prepared awakening room.
Bai Yuan blended into the crowd, watching Leng Yaozhu take commemorative photos with the children.
He couldn’t help but complain in his head.
The Spirit Pagoda’s publicity work was truly thorough.
After the photos, Leng Yaozhu took her seat at the front, waiting with an air of boredom.
She wanted to see if she could encounter a few promising children today.
A Spirit Pagoda staff member stepped forward, and after explaining the precautions for the awakening, the process began.
“First one, come up.” A child nervously walked to the center of the awakening formation.
The formation lit up, then dimmed.
“Martial Soul: Iron Hoe.
Soul Power: Level 1.
Next.” The child walked down dejectedly.
“Martial Soul: Grass Vine.
A useless Martial Soul.
Soul Power: Level 3.
Next.” One after another, mediocre Martial Souls and low Soul Power.
Until— “Martial Soul: Blazing Tiger.
Soul Power: Level 6!” The staff member’s voice rose slightly.
The child froze for a second, then became so excited he almost jumped.
“Not bad.
You can report to a Spirit Pagoda subsidiary,” the staff member nodded, his gaze full of approval.
Leng Yaozhu glanced over, lacking interest.
Level 6 Soul Power, Blazing Tiger…
It was a decent prospect, but that was all.
As expected, the chances of encountering a truly talented child here were too slim.
She turned her head, whispered a few instructions to the manager beside her, and prepared to leave.
“Next—” The staff member looked down at the list and read casually: “Bai Yuan!” Bai Yuan took a deep breath and stepped toward the center of the awakening formation.
He stood in the center of the formation and instinctively closed his eyes.
He had prayed all night; he didn’t know if it would work…
“Begin.” The formation lit up.
At first, it was just a faint glimmer.
Then.
Boom!
A sudden burst of intense light exploded from the center of the formation, like a blazing sun crashing to the ground, instantly swallowing the entire hall!
Everyone was blinded by the sudden radiance, raising their hands to shield their eyes.
Leng Yaozhu’s footsteps came to a sudden halt.
She whipped her head around, her pupils shrinking.
Within that light, a power that even made her heart skip a beat was faintly awakening.