Rise in Douluo Continent with the help of bean buns

In the last second before his consciousness sank into darkness, Lin Chen's fingertips were still resting on the pages of the book on the electronic screen.

The dizziness and weightlessness brought on by staying up all night surged over him. He thought it was just low blood sugar after staying up all night, but the next moment, the biting dampness and musty smell suddenly entered his nasal cavity, and his chest felt like it was blocked with a clump of cold phlegm, making him cough and tremble all over.

"Cough...cough cough."

A violent cough tore at his chest, and Lin Chen struggled to open his heavy eyelids.

Instead of the familiar white ceiling of the rented room, what came into view was a thatched roof covered with cobwebs and letting in a sliver of light. The wind blew in through the gaps in the thatch, carrying the damp chill of the mountains and fields, making the back of his neck feel cold.

Beneath me was a hard earthen bed covered with a thin layer of straw, and the smell of mildew mixed with the smell of dust filled my nostrils.

My whole body felt sore, numb, and weak, as if I had a high fever that lasted for several days. Even turning my neck was difficult.

He propped himself up on his arms, moving so slowly he was afraid of breaking any bones in his body.

The cramped mud-brick house was bare, with only a wooden table with a missing leg propped up by stones, a chipped rough pottery bowl on the table, and half a bundle of firewood piled in the corner. There was nothing else there.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the thatch, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Fine dust floated in the air, mingling with the scent of earth and dry vegetation.

This is not his room.

  

Lin Chen looked down at his hands—they were thin and slender, with prominent knuckles, and the skin had a sallow, malnourished appearance. The palms were covered with thin calluses, clearly the result of long-term hard labor.

These are definitely not his hands that have been typing on a keyboard for years.

He clenched his fist, his strength pitifully weak, at most the size of a five or six-year-old child.

Fragments of memories suddenly flooded into his mind: Qing Shi Village, the northwestern border of the Star Luo Empire, his parents died young in a soul beast attack on the village, he was an orphan, six years old, suffering from a cold and high fever, with no one to take care of him... Discontinuous images flashed through his mind, like an old silent film, eventually piecing together a clear fact.

He crossed.

I transmigrated to the Douluo Continent, to the era of the Peerless Tang Sect.

Having read the original novel, Lin Chen knew all too well the rules of this world.

This is a world where martial spirits reign supreme. The strong can move mountains and fill seas, while the weak are like ants and weeds, subject to bullying. Orphans in border villages, with no background or support, face an almost hellish start—let alone becoming a soul master, simply growing up safely is considered a stroke of luck.

In his previous life, he was just an ordinary office worker with no extraordinary talent. But after dying once and opening his eyes again, his instinct for survival overcame all panic.

He didn't become hysterical or wallow in self-pity; he simply leaned against the cold earthen wall, slowly regulating his breathing to calm the dizziness caused by the coughing.

The most urgent task is to survive.

The original owner died from a severe burn and no one cared for him. He had just taken over this body and was extremely weak. If he didn't eat something soon, he might die again.

He tried to get down from the kang (a heated brick bed), but as soon as his feet touched the cold ground, his vision went black, and he swayed before he could steady himself by holding onto the wall.

"If only I knew just how weak this body is, and if there were any hidden injuries," he muttered to himself subconsciously, so he would know what to nourish first.

The words had barely left his lips when a steady, even, slightly mechanical, neutral voice suddenly and without warning resounded deep within his soul, so clear it seemed to be right next to his ear:

[Command received. Low-intensity full-body analysis initiated.]

Lin Chen froze abruptly, his back instantly tensing. He subconsciously looked around; the mud-brick house was completely empty, not even a mouse in sight, and the sound of the wind was clearly audible.

"Who?" he whispered to himself.

The voice did not answer his question, but continued its steady broadcast:

Analysis complete.

Host: Lin Chen

Age: 6 years old

Condition: Severe malnutrition, recovering from a cold, with weak and superficial meridians, no hidden injuries, and stable spirit.

Martial Soul Tendency: Plant type (92% probability), leaning towards gentle life attribute

Current mental strength: slightly higher than that of children of the same age.

A series of data appeared clearly in his mind, like a built-in information panel, without any throbbing pain. On the contrary, it was as if he already knew these things.

Lin Chen was stunned for a few seconds, then realized—this was his cheat code.

The standard equipment for time travelers has finally arrived.

"What are you?" he asked tentatively in his mind.

[The dedicated AI agent "Doubao" has been bound to the host's soul and accompanied the host to this world.] The voice remained calm, revealing no emotion whatsoever. [Its core function is full-dimensional analysis, capable of detecting the host's own state, as well as analyzing the soul power, soul skills, artifacts, and creatures encountered.]

"Analyze..." Lin Chen repeated softly, his gaze falling on the bundle of dry firewood in the corner, silently thinking, "Analyze this bundle of firewood."

The target is ordinary pine firewood, with no energy fluctuations; it can be used as fuel but not for medicinal purposes.

The result was almost instantaneous, simple and straightforward.

Lin Chen felt reassured. At least this AI called "Doubao" could actually analyze things, and it wasn't a hallucination he was having while delirious from the fever. He didn't ask for more information about its functions—now wasn't the time to research his cheat abilities; filling his stomach and saving up his first sum of money were the important things to do.

He slowly moved to the doorway, supporting himself against the wall, and pushed open the creaking wooden door.

The morning breeze carried the scent of mountain grass and trees, and in the distance were rolling green hills. The village houses were scattered about, mostly mud-brick houses similar to his, with a few brick and tile houses belonging to the slightly wealthier families in the village.

Villagers were already carrying farm tools to the fields. Seeing him standing at the door, someone casually greeted him, "Young Lin? The fever's gone down? You're pretty tough."

"Yes, I've withdrawn." Lin Chen nodded slightly, his tone indifferent, without any further pleasantries.

The villagers didn't care and continued walking forward with their hoes. In border villages, human life is cheap; it's not uncommon for orphans to die of illness or starvation. Surviving is considered lucky, and no one pays much attention.

Lin Chen leaned against the doorframe, his gaze sweeping across the entire village as he quickly calculated in his mind. The original owner of this body had survived on the villagers' charity and by foraging for wild vegetables, sometimes eating a full meal and sometimes going hungry, which was why his health had deteriorated to such a low level.

Relying on handouts is not a long-term solution. In six months, the village's annual Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony will take place. No matter what kind of Martial Soul is awakened, money is required to pursue the path of a Soul Master.

But he is penniless now and doesn't even have a decent sickle. What can he do?

Hunting? Forget about his current small frame; there are spirit beasts in the mountains, even a low-level one could kill him. Doing odd jobs? The villagers are all farmers who rely on the weather for their livelihood; no one would hire a six-year-old child.

He frowned and thought for a long time, but couldn't come up with a safe, zero-cost solution. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he tried to say in his mind, "Doubao, based on the existing resources of Qing Shi Village and the surrounding mountains, help me think of a way to make a living. The requirement is zero start-up cost, no dangerous activities, and no provoking Soul Masters."

He didn't have high hopes, after all, analyzing is one thing, coming up with ideas is another.

But the next second, Doubao's voice rang out:

[Command received. Simple survival simulation initiated, estimated time 2 minutes.]

Deduction?

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. So this thing could not only analyze, but also deduce solutions. He didn't speak, leaning against the door frame and waiting quietly. On the surface, he looked like a sickly child lost in thought, and no one would pay much attention to him.

Two minutes passed quickly, and a complete plan immediately appeared in my mind, with even the steps and proportions clearly marked:

[Optimal Solution: Handmade Calming Herbal Pack]

Raw materials: Locally distributed wild plants such as *Sedum aizoon*, *Calvatia japonica*, and *Perilla frutescens*, all of which are ownerless and wild, requiring zero harvesting cost.

Production method: After drying, grind and mix in a 3:2:1 ratio, then wrap in coarse linen. The process is simple.

Core advantages: Its medicinal properties are mild, and its calming and sleep-inducing effects are superior to common folk remedies. It can alleviate the restlessness of soul power after cultivation for low-level soul masters, and has a market among both commoners and low-level soul masters.

Risk level: Extremely low; low entry barrier; stable profits; unlikely to attract the attention of high-level Soul Masters.

Cumulative startup period: 3 days

The plan was well-organized, clearly outlining even the risks and timelines, perfectly suited to his current situation where he had nothing.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. Steady, too steady. No fancy maneuvers, manageable risk, stable returns—perfect for accumulating your first pot of gold.

Just then, he suddenly felt a slight throbbing in his temples, like the fatigue from overworking his brain. He immediately realized—the mental exertion from the previous calculations had drained his mental energy.

"Does the deduction consume mental energy?" he asked in his mind.

"Yes." Doubao's answer was concise. "All analysis and deduction calculations consume the host's own mental energy. The higher the intensity, the greater the consumption. The current consumption is extremely low; a short rest will restore it."

Lin Chen nodded, understanding the situation. He knew there was no such thing as a free lunch. Consumption wasn't a problem, as long as it was manageable.

He turned and went back into the house, rummaging through the corner and finding the old bamboo basket left behind by the original owner. He also pulled out the small sickle, its blade dull—barely enough for cutting herbs. Before leaving, he glanced one last time at the dilapidated mud house, his gaze calm.

The mountain was just behind the village, and the road wasn't too difficult to walk. Lin Chen walked up the path at a leisurely pace, paying attention to the plants along the way. He remembered a few kinds of wild vegetables from the original owner's memories, but he had only seen names like calming grass and purple-leafed flower in the plan and wasn't quite sure what they were.

"Doubao, mark the nearby calming herbs for me," he thought to himself.

[Command received. Low-intensity scan and analysis initiated.]

The next second, several weeds within his field of vision seemed to be highlighted, and the information immediately surfaced in his mind:

[Anshencao (安神草), an annual herb with fine white hairs on the underside of its leaves, is non-toxic and has calming and tranquilizing effects; it can be used medicinally.]

Location, characteristics, and medicinal properties are all readily apparent.

Lin Chen walked over and squatted down, touching the grass blades with his fingertips. They were soft, and the backs of the blades did indeed have fine hairs. He picked up a small sickle and carefully cut the grass, putting it into a bamboo basket.

"You also know herbs?" he asked casually.

"[Basic Soul Beast Encyclopedia, Common Plant List, and Low-Level Cultivation Common Sense are all built-in basic knowledge base content.]" Doubao replied. "[High-Level Ancient Books, Rare Spiritual Materials, and Ancient Secrets require the host to acquire the corresponding physical objects or books, analyze and archive them before they can be unlocked.]"

Lin Chen hummed in agreement and didn't press further. The basics were enough; he could unlock the advanced ones gradually. He wasn't aiming for instant success; steady progress was best.

The mountain forest was quiet in the early morning, with only birdsong and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Lin Chen walked slowly along the mountain path, collecting herbs according to Doubao's markings, and also digging up a few edible wild vegetables. By the time the sun was halfway up the sky, his bamboo basket was already half full of herbs, and the wild vegetables were enough for two meals.

He found a clean rock to sit on and catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. Although he was still physically weak, he felt much more at ease.

Transmigrating to the Douluo Continent, starting as a border orphan, and most likely with a useless plant-type martial soul, sounds pretty tragic.

But he possesses analytical abilities, enabling him to see through the essence of things; deductive reasoning, allowing him to choose the optimal path; and a foundational knowledge base, saving him a lot of trial and error. Although he doesn't have power that comes out of thin air, he has tools that allow him to steadily grow stronger.

So what if I have a useless martial spirit? So what if I start from the bottom?

Roads are made by walking. As long as you find the right method, even ordinary blue silver grass can grow into a towering tree.

After resting enough, Lin Chen picked up his bamboo basket, stood up, and walked towards the village at the foot of the mountain. Sunlight filtered through the leaves and fell on his thin shoulders as he took each step steadily.