Chapter 3

This magnificent palace-like structure, with its golden glazed tiles shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight, exuded a grand and solemn aura. The palace’s golden roof and red doors, with their ancient and elegant style, evoked a sense of reverence.

From a distance, the palace was shrouded in mist, the tiles glistening like a single brick. Its vast expanse stretched as far as the eye could see. The main gate, towering at fifty feet, bore the three large characters “Duke’s Mansion.”

This enormous mansion, covering more than three thousand acres, did not belong to any city but was built fifty miles northwest of the capital, Xingluo City, of the Xingluo Empire. This location alone indicated the exalted status of its owner within the Xingluo Empire.

At midday, the bright sunlight illuminated the crystal-clear glazed tiles, casting a dazzling golden glow over the entire Duke’s Mansion, visible even from the walls of Xingluo City.

The back door on the north side of the Duke’s Mansion opened silently, and a small, slender figure slipped out.

It was a boy who looked to be about eleven or twelve years old. He had a well-proportioned build, wore a simple, clean gray robe, and carried a small bundle on his back. His short black hair was neat and tidy, and his handsome face displayed a resolve that surpassed that of his peers.

He gently closed the back door of the Duke’s Mansion, took a few quick steps, then suddenly stopped and turned to look back at the mansion. His deep blue eyes were filled with intense hatred.

“Mother, may you watch over me from heaven. No matter how much effort it takes, one day I will return and trample everything here underfoot. From now on, I will take your surname and be known as Huo Yuhao.”

After saying this, he took another deep look at the Duke’s Mansion, turned, and walked away resolutely.

He did not head toward Xingluo City to the southeast but ran north instead. His small figure gradually faded into the distance under the intense midday sun, but despite his slender build, he did not appear helpless.

Wide official roads extended in every direction from the Duke’s Mansion. As Huo Yuhao ran forward, his eyes gradually reddened.

“Mother...” The image of his mother’s reluctant and unwilling expression at the time of her passing involuntarily surfaced in his mind, and Huo Yuhao clenched his teeth.

I must be strong. Mother taught me that one can only rely on oneself. Only by being strong can one survive better.

Scenes from his past flashed through Huo Yuhao’s mind.

Huo Yuhao’s mother was the Duke’s personal maid, having grown up with him since childhood. Personal maids were meant to serve their masters, and twelve years ago, Huo Yuhao quietly appeared in her womb.

After ten months of pregnancy, he was born.

Regardless of his mother’s status, Huo Yuhao was ultimately the Duke’s son. Although his treatment within the mansion was not particularly good, it was not too bad either. His mother no longer served as a maid and had her own small courtyard due to her son’s status.

Everything should have proceeded smoothly, but disaster soon struck.

The Duke represented the Xingluo Empire in battles abroad, and all affairs within the mansion were managed by the Duchess. The Duchess had two sons and a daughter, and she suppressed any potential threats to her children. While the Duke was present, things were better, but once he left, the Duchess ruled the mansion. She was also the youngest and most favored daughter of the current emperor of the Xingluo Empire.

Huo Yuhao’s mother, having grown up with the Duke, was deeply loved by him, which made her the primary target of the Duchess’s jealousy. The Duchess claimed that Huo Yuhao’s mother had a contagious disease and forced them to live in a shed behind the servant quarters, cutting off all their financial support. At that time, Huo Yuhao was only two years old.

The harsh life gradually broke down Huo Yuhao’s mother’s already frail health, exacerbated by the constant oppression from the Duchess’s servants. Finally, when Huo Yuhao was ten, she fell ill and passed away.

The Douluo Continent, due to a collision with the Riliu Continent that drifted over from the western sea four thousand years ago, not only increased in size but also saw frequent wars.

Ten thousand years ago, the Douluo Continent had only two countries: Tiandou and Xingluo. Today, the original Douluo Continent has become three countries. The Xingluo Empire still exists, but the royal family has changed. Fortunately, they unified all the kingdoms within their territory, becoming the strongest force.

The Tiandou Empire, however, split into the Tianhun Empire and the Douling Empire due to the power of the major kingdoms at the time.

The Riliu Continent, vast and resource-rich, is slightly smaller than the Douluo Continent but is a single country, the Riliu Empire.

After the collision of the two continents, war immediately broke out. The three major countries of the Douluo Continent, united in their enmity, formed a coalition and fought for nearly twenty years, finally defeating the Riliu Empire. The continent was then unified and renamed Douluo, with the name Riliu no longer existing, except for the Riliu Empire on the Douluo Continent.

Although the Riliu Empire was defeated, it was not completely conquered. Leveraging its own advantages and the conflicts among the three major empires of the original Douluo Continent, a stalemate gradually formed, but wars continued year after year.

The Duke, often on the battlefield, spent little time in the mansion. Huo Yuhao and his mother, deliberately hidden by the Duchess, were gradually forgotten by him. When the Duke inquired, the Duchess only mentioned that Huo Yuhao’s mother had a serious illness.

Huo Yuhao’s mother raised him with great hardship. At the age of six, he underwent his Wuhan awakening in the mansion.

Wuhan, a power possessed by everyone on the Douluo Continent, is also fundamental in the Riliu Empire, though their development paths differ.

Everyone is born with a Wuhan, which can be awakened at the age of six. Wuhan can be anything, such as tools or animals. Animal Wuhan is generally called Beast Wuhan, while other types are collectively known as Tool Wuhan. There are also some special variant Wuhan.

After Wuhan awakening, only a small portion of people’s Wuhan brings a special power called Soul Power. Only those who possess Soul Power at awakening can become Soul Masters, the most prestigious profession on the Douluo Continent.

Soul Masters are divided into nine ranks, from lowest to highest: Soul Scholar, Soul Master, Great Soul Master, Soul Respected, Soul Sage, Soul King, Soul Emperor, Soul Saint, and Soul Douluo.

The higher the rank of a Soul Master, the more powerful their abilities. At the highest rank of Soul Douluo, they possess nearly god-like powers, capable of moving mountains and filling seas.

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I’ve reached the top of the Fantasy chart, and a reader has already come to me. I’m a bit confused. I didn’t specify clearly; I meant the top of any chart on the homepage... The weather asked if I would acknowledge it. Alright, I’ll acknowledge it. I’ll confirm that I will continue to update early if I’m at the top of any homepage chart. But regardless, I’ll acknowledge it today. One chapter might not be enough, so I’ll do two chapters as a punishment for my mistake. Fair enough, right?

{Piaotian Literature}