Chapter 1: Prelude
The night sky stretched endlessly above, stars scattered like shards of crystal across the dark canvas. A cool breeze rustled through the trees, their leaves whispering secrets of the past. Inside a small, humble cottage, a toddler stirred in his sleep, his tiny fists clenched, and his brow furrowed in discomfort. His chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, troubled dreams plaguing his rest. A faint whimper escaped his lips.
Then, his eyes shot open—wide, curious, and far too alert for a child his age.
He blinked, dazed. The world around him felt strange, foreign, yet achingly familiar. 'I actually transmigrated into Soul Land? This can't be happening...' The thought settled in his mind like a heavy weight, making his heart race. 'A world of superpowers where people kill soul beasts to grow stronger? I'm doomed.'
His body, far too small and weak, could do little to express his inner turmoil. His panic rose, but it remained trapped within his infant form, unable to escape. He felt vulnerable—no, utterly powerless. The life he once knew as a young adult, orphaned but surviving on grit, had been reduced to this fragile, helpless state.
'Twenty-three years of life, gone... and now, I'm stuck in this tiny body. How am I supposed to survive in a world like this?'
Though only five months old, his mind retained every memory of his previous life. He had been an avid fan of the Soul Land series, devouring every detail of its lore and dangers. But now, knowing the world and living in it were two vastly different things.
As he lay in his crib, his gaze wandered to the ceiling beams, the soft flicker of candlelight casting shadows on the wooden walls. His parents, their voices low and soothing, cooed over him. Their words were incomprehensible, but the tone felt comforting. He strained his ears, realizing the language sounded vaguely like an ancient form of Chinese—familiar but elusive. 'First things first… I need to figure out the era I've landed in. If it's during the events of Soul Land 1 or 2, I'll need every ounce of luck just to stay alive.'
His tiny eyelids grew heavy. Despite the flurry of thoughts racing through his mind, his body couldn't keep up. Exhaustion tugged at him, and soon, the darkness reclaimed him, pulling him into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Timeskip: 1 Year Later
The sun filtered through the cottage windows, casting golden rays on the floor. Lin Tian, now one year old and able to walk unsteadily, sat on a small woven mat by the hearth. His brow was furrowed in concentration as he absentmindedly played with a wooden block.
'So, I know the time period now… and it's bad. Really bad.' He glanced at his parents, who were discussing something in hushed tones nearby. He had listened to enough of their conversations during his daily walks to piece together the situation.
'Tang San and the Shrek Seven ascended to the God Realm three thousand years ago. The Martial Soul Palace has fallen, and now the common folk are struggling just to awaken their martial souls. The soul awakening fees are crippling for ordinary families.'
His name, Lin Tian—Tian, meaning "heaven"—was a constant reminder of the expectations his parents had for him. They believed he would grow into someone exceptional, but he knew how bleak the future looked without a powerful martial soul.
'It all depends on my martial soul awakening… If I end up with something below average, I'm finished.' His small hands clenched the wooden block tighter, the determination burning in his chest. He had six years to prepare before the awakening ceremony, six years to make himself as strong as possible.
His parents, though kind and loving, were not strong soul masters. His father, with a Sky Azure Vine martial soul, was an auxiliary type soul master. His three rings—two yellow and one purple—indicated he was around level 31 to 40. His mother, slightly more powerful, possessed the Lightning Flame Spear martial soul and had four rings—two yellow, two purple—placing her between level 41 and 50. They were capable, but far from elite.
Lin Tian's greatest asset was his knowledge. He had been careful to learn the language as fast as possible, eavesdropping on every conversation, absorbing information like a sponge. His parents were astonished by his rapid speech development, believing their son to be a genius. By one and a half, he could speak in full sentences, though he was cautious to only reveal a fraction of his intelligence. Drawing too much attention would only bring trouble.
His thoughts drifted to cultivation. He knew that physical fitness played a key role in absorbing soul rings—'Something I can start working on even now,' he mused, flexing his small fingers. Whenever he could, he walked, ran, and climbed, strengthening his infant body.
'Say what you will about Yu Xiaogang… his theories still hold up. Physical fitness can make a huge difference when it comes to cultivation.'
His mind turned to Tang San's Xuantian Gong. Most people in Soul Land believed that cultivation could only begin after a martial soul was awakened, but Tang San had proven otherwise. 'What was it about Tang San's technique that allowed him to cultivate before his martial soul emerged?' Lin Tian rocked back and forth, deep in thought.
His mother's voice broke his concentration. "Look at him, so serious! Our little genius," she said softly, smiling as she approached.
Lin Tian turned, grinning widely. "Mum!"
"Yes, baby. Are you thinking hard again?" she teased, bending down to kiss his forehead.
"Thinking! Fun!" he exclaimed, bouncing in place.
"Do you want to run, Xiao Tian?" she asked, noticing his energy bubbling over.
"Run!" Lin Tian shouted, his face lighting up with excitement as he toddled toward the open space outside.
His mother laughed, chasing after him in a playful game of tag. Lin Tian's giggles filled the air as he ran, but his mind was already working on another plan. Every step, every dash, every playful chase was part of his effort to strengthen his body.
'Knowledge is power,' he reminded himself, watching his mother with sharp eyes as she slowed down to let him catch her. 'In this world, just like in the one I left behind, those without knowledge are at the mercy of those who wield it.'
And Lin Tian had no intention of being powerless ever again.
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