Simultaneous Transmigration: From Douluo Continent to the Pinnacle

The night was as dark as ink, splashed across the undulating outline of the stone desert city.

The Yangyue River in the west of the city is like a crumpled silver foil, its shimmering waves gently swaying in the night breeze, turning the reeds on the bank into a hazy gray-white.

On the riverbank, in front of a smooth bluestone slab polished by the river, a thin figure was hunched over, mechanically swinging a wooden mallet in the cool night.

That was Qinglin. She was only eleven or twelve years old, and her figure was even more slender than that of children her age. The coarse cloth dress that had been washed until it was faded looked loose on her body.

When the wind blows, it clings to his thin back, outlining his rugged shoulder blades.

He was tightly clutching half a soapberry in his hands, rubbing it repeatedly on his swollen, coarse cloth clothes.

The space between his fingers was filled with murky foam, and his fingertips were wrinkled from being soaked in the river water, turning an unnatural bluish-white.

There were several small cracks on the tiger's mouth, and a slight stinging sensation would come from the alkaline sap of the soapberry when it came into contact with them.

"It's that snake-man brat again..."

Not far away, two women who were also washing clothes were whispering to each other. Their voices were very low, but they still pierced Qinglin's ears like fine needles.

One of the women nudged her companion with her elbow, her gaze falling on the faint purple scales that were barely visible on Qinglin's wrist, her eyes filled with disgust.

"Look at that thing on her wrist, it looks really creepy at night. I heard her mother is a snake person, who knows if she might pass on some bad luck."

The other woman nodded quickly, glanced at Qinglin briefly, then looked away as if afraid of being contaminated by something.

"That's right, it's much better that her mother is dead, leaving this monster wandering around the city. If it were my child, she would have..."

The rest of the sentence was left unsaid, but Qinglin already understood.

She tightened her grip on the soapberry, her knuckles turning white, and the mallet struck the stone slab with even more force, producing a dull thud.

She quickly lowered her head, burying her face in the shadows. Her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow beneath her eyes, concealing the surging grievances and inferiority complex within them. She was already used to such gazes—contemptuous, fearful, pitying, and, when her mother was alive, those always complex and unpredictable eyes.

Qinglin still couldn't understand her mother's eyes. Sometimes she would stroke her mother's hair and whisper, "If only Qinglin were an ordinary child," her voice full of pity; but other times she would stare at the scales on her mother's wrist with icy eyes, as if looking at some irreconcilable enemy. Until her mother's death, those eyes were filled only with numbness, devoid of any warmth. From then on, Qinglin was truly all alone, earning a few copper coins by washing and mending clothes for merchants in the city to buy coarse grains to eat, living cautiously amidst the pointing fingers and whispers of others.

Just as Qinglin was gripping the mallet, the stinging pain in her fingertips almost overshadowing the bitterness in her heart, a slight ripple of air suddenly came from the night sky. The sound was faint, yet it carried an undeniable pressure, instantly silencing the noisy discussions on the riverbank. Everyone instinctively looked up at the sky.

Qinglin couldn't help but raise her head as well.

Under the moonlight, a cyan figure slowly descended from the sky. A faint aura of battle qi surrounded the figure, and a pair of wings formed from this qi spread out on their backs, each feather gleaming with a lustrous sheen. They fluttered gently in the night breeze, creating ripples on the river's surface. That was… wings formed from battle qi?!

The crowd on the riverbank erupted in a frenzy, gasps of astonishment rising and falling, yet no one dared to speak aloud, their eyes fixed on the slowly descending figure with awe. Battle Qi Wings—that was an ability possessed only by a Battle King! Stone Desert City was merely a small town on the border of the Jia Ma Empire, where even Great Battle Masters were rarely seen, let alone Battle Kings!

Qinglin was also stunned. She had never seen such a powerful being. The man wore a moon-white brocade robe with dark patterns embroidered on the hem, which swayed gently with his movements. His long, ink-black hair was tied back with a jade hairpin, and his face was handsome, with a calm and gentle temperament between his brows. When he landed on the riverbank, his steps were as light as if he were walking on clouds, without stirring up a speck of dust.

Lin Yao's gaze immediately fell on Qing Lin. While high in the air, he had scanned the riverbank with his spiritual power; the faint yet unique aura emanating from the child, and the distinctive scale on her wrist, had made him stop in his tracks. He strode towards Qing Lin, his steps unhurried, his gaze fixed on her without a trace of disdain or fear, only pure gentleness.

Qinglin felt flustered under his gaze and instinctively shrank back, trying to hide the scales on her wrist in her sleeve. However, in her haste, she accidentally knocked over a soapberry on the stone slab. The soapberry rolled into the river, splashing up a circle of tiny water droplets. Qinglin quickly bent down to pick it up, but as she stood up, she met Lin Yao's gentle gaze.

"Hello, little girl." Lin Yao's voice was like the sound of warm jade striking each other, carrying a reassuring power.

Qing Lin was startled, her eyes widening slightly as she looked at him blankly, wondering why this powerful figure was being so polite to her.

She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but because she hadn't had a proper conversation with anyone in so long, her throat felt tight, and she could only nod slightly.

Those around him dared not even breathe, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Lin Yao—a Dou Wang level expert would actually speak to an orphaned girl of snake-human hybrid descent? This was simply unheard of!

Seeing the confusion and fear in Qing Lin's eyes, Lin Yao's heart softened slightly. He crouched down to meet Qing Lin's gaze, trying to soften his tone as much as possible: "My name is Lin Yao. I see you here all alone, without anyone to rely on, and I wanted to ask you... if you would like to come with me and become my family?"

The word "family" struck Qinglin like a thunderbolt. No one had ever spoken such a word to her before. After her mother's death, she had grown up like a neglected weed in a corner of Stone Desert City, struggling to survive, having long forgotten what "family" meant. She looked into Lin Yao's eyes, eyes devoid of any discrimination, only sincere gentleness, like the Moonlit River under the moonlight, calm and warm.

Qinglin's lips trembled slightly, and tears welled up unexpectedly, blurring her vision. She didn't know why she was like this. Even though she was meeting this person for the first time, his gaze and his words were irresistible. She sniffed, wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and then, under Lin Yao's gentle gaze, nodded as if possessed.

Seeing her nod, Lin Yao's face immediately lit up with a gentle smile, a smile that seemed to dispel the chill of the night and warm the surrounding air. He reached out and gently took Qing Lin's hand—her hand was small and cold, her palms bearing the roughness and tiny wounds left by washing clothes, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings. Lin Yao's palm was warm, enveloping her small hand with a reassuring warmth.

"Then let's go." Lin Yao said softly. As soon as he finished speaking, the battle qi wings on his back unfolded again, and he slowly rose into the air with Qing Lin on his back.

Qinglin instinctively closed her eyes, gripping Lin Yao's hand tightly. Only when the wind around her gradually subsided did she slowly open her eyes—below her were the myriad lights of Stone Desert City, and in the distance stretched the endless desert. The moonlight bathed her, warm and gentle. This was the first time she had looked down upon the city she had lived in for so many years from high above, and the first time she had truly felt how vast and beautiful the world could be.

During the flight, Lin Yao gently inquired about Qing Lin's past. Qing Lin lowered her head and softly recounted her experiences—orphaned, discriminated against, and forced to make a living by washing clothes… She spoke calmly, as if telling someone else's story, but Lin Yao could hear the grievance and loneliness in her voice. When she spoke of the snake-human scales on her wrist, Qing Lin's voice noticeably lowered, and she even tried to hide her wrist.

Lin Yao gently grasped her wrist, carefully lifting it to examine the pale purple scales. The scales shimmered softly in the moonlight, smooth to the touch, without a hint of frighteningness. "These scales are beautiful," Lin Yao said gently. "Bloodline is never a standard for judging a person; you don't need to feel inferior because of it."

Qinglin suddenly raised her head, looking at Lin Yao with disbelief in her eyes. This was the first time someone had said her scales were beautiful, the first time someone had told her that her bloodline wasn't a mistake. Tears welled up again, this time because she was moved.

Upon returning to their temporary residence, Lin Yao immediately retrieved a small porcelain bottle. He poured out a small amount of milky-white ointment and gently applied it to Qing Lin's hand—it was a specially concocted healing ointment, highly effective for wound healing. The ointment brought a cooling sensation to the wound on his palm, instantly relieving the previous stinging pain.

"Take this ointment. Apply more when you do laundry in the future, so you don't hurt your hands again." Lin Yao handed the porcelain bottle to Qing Lin, and then continued, "I also have a younger sister named Zi Yan. She is a magical beast in human form. She has a very lively personality. I will introduce you to her when there is a chance."

Qinglin held the porcelain bottle, feeling a warmth in her heart. She looked at Lin Yao and suddenly noticed that his gaze had fallen on her eyes. Her eyes were different from ordinary people's; her pupils were a light turquoise with subtle patterns in the center, but she usually kept her head down, so few people noticed.

Lin Yao's gaze sharpened slightly. He recognized it as the Azure-Eyed Three-Flower Pupil—an extremely rare and special pupil technique, though currently unawakened. He didn't immediately reveal this, but instead looked gently at Qing Lin: "I know you've always felt inferior because of your bloodline and circumstances, but I want to tell you that you are actually very talented. As long as you're willing to work hard, I can teach you cultivation, help you control your power, and make you a strong person so you'll never be bullied again. Are you willing?"

To become strong?

Qinglin's eyes lit up instantly. This was something she had never dared to hope for. She looked at Lin Yao; his eyes were full of sincerity, without a trace of falsehood. She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and gently grasped Lin Yao's hand, her voice trembling slightly but firm: "I do! Young Master!"

Lin Yao looked at her and couldn't help but smile. He took her hand in return and gently shook his head: "You don't need to call me Young Master, just call me Brother. From now on, I'll call you Xiao Yue, Yue as in Qing Yue, okay?"

"Qingyue, brother..." she whispered, her eyes welling up with tears again. This was the first time she had family, the first time she had someone she could rely on. She nodded vigorously, "Yes! Xiaoyue understands, brother!"

For the next two weeks, Lin Yao helped her settle down in Shimo City. He prepared a comfortable room for her and personally cooked meals every day, taking meticulous care of her daily needs. At first, she was quite reserved, always trying to do things for Lin Yao—laundry, cooking, cleaning—as if trying to make up for something. Lin Yao didn't stop her; he simply told her not to be so cautious, that this was her home.

With Lin Yao's companionship, she gradually rediscovered her natural childlike liveliness. She would chase butterflies in the yard, quietly read books while Lin Yao cultivated, and share the interesting things that happened to her that day with him during meals. At the same time, she did not forget Lin Yao's words and cultivated diligently every day. Based on her physique, Lin Yao selected the most suitable cultivation method for her and patiently guided her in cultivation techniques.

In just half a month, her progress was rapid. She had originally only reached the third level of Dou Qi, but had actually broken through to the seventh level! Feeling the surging Dou Qi within her body, she excitedly ran to Lin Yao, her eyes filled with excitement: "Brother! I broke through! I've reached the seventh level of Dou Qi!"

Seeing her happy expression, Lin Yao couldn't help but smile: "Xiao Yue is really amazing, even more hardworking than I imagined."

While taking care of the situation, Lin Yao didn't neglect his own affairs. He used this time to gather information from the local mercenaries through his mental power, confirming the approximate location of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame—it was in a desert depression southeast of Stone Desert City. He also prepared the supplies needed to enter the underground cave, including fire-avoidance talismans, antidotes, and luminous pearls for lighting.

Several days later, with everything ready, Lin Yao led his men to the depression in the desert.

The desert was exceptionally hot during the day, the sun scorching the sand and the air seeming to distort. Lin Yao erected a barrier of battle qi to keep out the heat, and even prepared a sun hat for her. Following beside Lin Yao, she curiously looked at the surrounding desert—although she lived in Stone Desert City, she rarely came to the depths of the desert, and everything here was new and exciting to her.

Upon reaching the depression, Lin Yao retrieved a specially crafted heavy sword, channeled his battle qi, and slammed it down into the ground. With a deafening roar, a massive crack appeared in the ground, revealing a dark cave below. Lin Yao lit a luminous pearl and jumped down first, followed closely by others.

The cave was damp, with a faint smell of sulfur in the air. The passage was winding and the temperature increased the further in you went. After walking for about half an hour, a hissing sound suddenly came from ahead, accompanied by strong fluctuations of fire element.

"Be careful, there are monsters ahead." Lin Yao shielded his back and watched the front warily.

Soon, a figure burst out of the darkness—it was a two-headed fire spirit serpent, its entire body crimson, with faint flames burning on its scales. Each of its two heads flicked its tongue, its eyes filled with ferocity. The two-headed fire spirit serpent was at the Dou Wang level, which was indeed a considerable threat to them at this stage.

But Lin Yao remained completely calm. He dodged the two-headed fire spirit serpent's attack with a swift movement, simultaneously conjuring a cyan battle aura blade that precisely struck the serpent's vital spot. The two-headed fire spirit serpent let out a painful hiss, its body twisting violently, but it quickly lost its strength and collapsed to the ground.

Lin Yao didn't kill it. Instead, he took out a Binding Pill and fed it to the two-headed fire spirit snake. After the pill entered its mouth, a pale golden light immediately emanated from the snake's body, temporarily sealing its power. "Xiao Yue, come here." Lin Yao beckoned to her and then took out a Heart-Protecting Pill, which he had her take. "The fire power of this two-headed fire spirit snake is very pure; it's just right to help you awaken your Azure-Eyed Three-Flower Pupil."

Somewhat nervous, she obediently walked to Lin Yao's side. Lin Yao took her hand, channeled his battle qi into her body, and at the same time guided the flames of the two-headed fire spirit snake, slowly flowing towards her eyes.

As the power of the flames entered her body, she felt a warm sensation without any burning pain. She could clearly feel her eyes changing—the emerald green in her pupils deepened, and the patterns in the center gradually became clearer, transforming into three tiny petal shapes. A powerful force surged from her eyes, spreading throughout her body and instantly boosting her mental strength significantly.

As the last wisp of flame power was absorbed, she slowly opened her eyes—her eyes had completely changed. Three petal-shaped patterns were clearly visible in her emerald pupils, and her gaze held a newfound liveliness and majesty. Everything around her became clear; she could even see the fine dust in the darkness and sense the emotions of the two-headed fire serpent—it was no longer as hostile as before, but rather possessed a hint of gentleness.

"You succeeded!" Lin Yao smiled with satisfaction as he looked at you. "Your Azure Eyes Three-Flower Pupil has awakened, and it will become a great asset to you in the future."

Looking at her hands and touching her eyes, she was filled with excitement. She walked to the two-headed fire spirit snake and gently stroked its scales. The two-headed fire spirit snake rubbed against her hand affectionately, as if expressing its tenderness.

"Let's give it a name," Lin Yao said with a smile.

After thinking for a moment, looking at the crimson scales of the two-headed fire spirit snake, she said softly, "How about calling me She Yu?"

Lin Yao nodded: "She Yu, it's a very nice name."

Just then, she suddenly raised her head and looked at Lin Yao: "Brother, She Yu told me that the strange fire is under the magma pool ahead." She could communicate simply with She Yu through her three-flowered blue eyes, which was one of the abilities she had after awakening her pupil technique.

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Yao's eyes, and he quickly led He Yu and She Yu to continue forward. After walking for about fifteen minutes, a scorching pool of magma appeared ahead—the magma was churning and making a "glug-glug" sound, with red flames leaping on its surface, and the temperature in the air was astonishingly high.

She Yu jumped into the lava pool first, leading the way. Lin Yao erected his battle aura barrier to protect her, and followed She Yu into the lava pool. The lava was extremely hot; even with the battle aura barrier, a wave of heat still hit them. But she wasn't afraid, staying close to Lin Yao with a determined look in her eyes.

As they ventured deeper, the light at the bottom of the lava pool grew increasingly bright. When they reached a massive rock platform, they finally saw the legendary strange fire—

The Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame floated silently in the center of the platform, its entire body a pale blue, shaped like a blooming azure lotus, with faint flames burning on its petals. The surrounding space was slightly distorted by its intense heat. Although the aura emanating from the strange flame was scorching, it carried a pure power that inspired awe in all who beheld it.

"This is the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame." Lin Yao looked at the strange flame and said softly, "Xiao Yue, we've finally found it."