Douluo Continent: Ink Bamboo as a Cauldron to Break Through Ten Thousand Heavens

"Alas, Huo Yuhao's childhood was truly tragic. Every word is heartbreaking, every sound tear-jerking, leaving the speaker choked with sobs and the listener heartbroken! There's no way around it; he was born in an era devoid of human rights and laws. Perhaps in ten thousand years, during the Federation era, there will be laws protecting the human rights of him and his mother. Even ten thousand years ago, with the existence of the Spirit Hall, a Soul Master capable of cultivation wouldn't have been reduced to such a state. After all, Huo Yuhao's decision to enter the Star Dou Great Forest alone at the age of 11 to seek a change of fate is inextricably linked to this era! No matter how much Tang San and the others criticize the Spirit Hall, ultimately they were exempt from..." Fei awakened his martial soul and regularly provided welfare to soul masters to support themselves, giving children who could cultivate an opportunity to study. He even kept soul beasts to reduce casualties among soul masters caused by hunting souls! Even assuming, during his existence, there weren't any evil soul masters on the continent who had killed thousands or tens of thousands of people. Those with a sadistic and bloodthirsty mentality would naturally stay in the Slaughter City. If they insisted on roaming the continent and harming living beings, no one would stop them. Come, think back to who the Grand Elder of the Spirit Hall's Hall of Worship is? And what is his martial soul? Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu! A level 99 Limit Douluo!

"Based on Ye Guyi's Angelic Martial Soul in Douluo Continent II, it's speculated that Angelic Martial Souls are inherently effective against Evil Soul Masters! Killing them seems to have a reward mechanism, like a system—the more you kill, the more you get. And Qian Daoliu is a level 99 Limit Douluo with an Angelic Martial Soul! I have reason to suspect that this old guy, in his youth, also rode around in his little car, then rushed at any Evil Soul Master he saw and slaughtered them indiscriminately. The Evil Soul Masters had their complaints, saying things like, 'Why can't Evil Soul Masters reform and become good people?' And since Qian Daoliu was young then, he was willing to nag before fighting, saying things like, 'I'm too lazy to reason with you, you don't deserve to listen!' or 'Once you're an Evil Soul Master, always you're an Evil Soul Master! A rotten orange is a rotten orange!' 'Flame Nawa!' Cough cough cough, I've gone off-topic. In short, the Spirit Hall definitely played a huge role, making all the Evil Soul Masters who still wanted to live 'voluntarily' enter the City of Slaughter. They said that place was their paradise, and thinking about it carefully, it makes sense—if you come out, you die; isn't the inside paradise?"

"Then, going back to the second era of Douluo Continent, the evil soul masters were able to create a sect that could influence the power of a nation? This sect could even participate in the continent-wide advanced soul master academy battle tournament? It could even influence the operation of an entire national machine and change the situation on the continent? Holy crap, that's outrageous! If such an organization existed ten thousand years ago, it would probably only dare to keep its tail between its legs, otherwise all those angels in the Hall of Worship would be enjoying a wonderful experience pack!"

"Wait a minute, you idiot! Why are you thinking that far ahead? Right now, I need to figure out how to talk to Huo Yuhao. The Chosen One is just a one-ring Soul Master, he's not even finished elementary school! Why are you thinking so far ahead?"

Chen Cheng sighed deeply. He felt that he had a long way to go and a heavy responsibility to bear. What he needed to do right now was to enlighten Huo Yuhao, who was in front of him. Huo Yuhao was a rough diamond, but without careful polishing, he would not become a great talent.

After searching for a while, I finally found a new tea set and poured in the tea I had brewed while thinking. The tea was rich in color, and wisps of aroma swirled around the rim of the cup before wafting into my nose, transforming into the unique fragrance of fine tea. I gently pushed the tea towards Huo Yuhao, who didn't refuse; his long conversation had left him parched. The tea entered his mouth, and the aroma surged from his lips to his nasal cavity! The initial bitterness almost numbed his tongue, but the next moment, a sweetness burst forth in the same spot, even more refreshing than the initial astringency. As the tea went down, a warm current flowed through his internal organs; though extremely faint, it did have a slight nourishing effect.

"Xu Sanshi's tea is indeed top-notch! I usually don't even dare to drink it!" Chen Cheng took two sips, gently placed the teacup on the table, letting the aroma fill the air, thought for a moment, adjusted his posture, and asked, "Is your enemy Dai Huabin, who severely injured your mother? Or the Duchess who has been secretly bullying you? Or perhaps the entire White Tiger Duke's Mansion?"

Huo Yuhao didn't speak. He paused, his hand still holding the teacup. The rich aroma of the tea rose and climbed onto his face, obscuring his vision and concealing his vulnerability. Time slowly passed, the tea stopped steaming, and the two silently gazed at each other, listening to each other's heartbeats.

Huo Yuhao gripped the teacup tightly, then gently placed it on the table, his other hand unconsciously tapping the chair. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Chen Cheng, I think you're a good person, that's why you've always been willing to help me, right?"

Chen Cheng patted his shoulder, then leaned back in his chair, casually crossed his legs, and looked up at the soul-guiding lamp on the ceiling. "It's a pity I don't smoke, otherwise I could be even more carefree!"

Chen Cheng chuckled self-deprecatingly, then calmly said, "Although I don't think it's right to constantly bring up your orphanhood to gain sympathy, it's the truth, so there's no need to always avoid it." Huo Yuhao was startled by these words, then sat up straighter and listened attentively to Chen Cheng's explanation.

"I've never met my parents since I was born. Every villager in Chenzhuangou is my family. I've eaten at every house, and every piece of clothing I wear has their cloth. My martial spirit was awakened thanks to the efforts and money they all contributed, using their connections to help me. So, without them, I wouldn't be who I am today. If one day someone were to harm them, I believe I would not let it go unpunished!"

After Chen Cheng finished speaking, a murderous aura seemed to surround him. Even though it was fleeting, the surroundings still felt cold, and Huo Yuhao couldn't help but shiver.

"Let me tell you a story. I've forgotten where I saw it. It's not about Soul Master cultivation, nor is it any myth or legend. You could even say I made it up. But when listening to a story, the important thing is the story itself, not where it comes from."

"There were two countries, one called Wu and the other called Yue. In their struggle for supremacy, their emperors led their armies into battle, and the old emperor of Wu died on the battlefield. Subsequently, a new king of Wu ascended the throne. In order to avenge his defeat, he led his army to a great victory over Yue, killing only a thousand Yue soldiers who fled into the mountains and were forced to surrender."

"To humiliate the King of Yue, the King of Wu agreed to his request to become his slave. For three years, the King of Yue personally pulled the carriage, tasted excrement to diagnose illnesses, and used all sorts of humble acts to gain the King of Wu's trust. The Prime Minister of Yue also constantly sent beautiful women and money to undermine the King of Wu's will, making him believe that the hatred between the two countries could be resolved, and even that the enemy who killed his father could be forgiven!"

"The sycophants around him repeatedly spoke well of the King of Yue, while the truly loyal Wu Zixu seized every opportunity to suggest killing the King of Yue, lest he suffer a backlash, yet he was repeatedly met with suspicion. When the King of Wu defeated the King of Yue, only Wu Zixu could see through him. The King of Yue's desperate kowtows, drawing blood, revealed his true heart—a burning desire for revenge! How tragic that the King of Wu, whom he served, chose to trust such a man consumed by hatred! He even bluntly told the King of Wu: 'If a man like the King of Yue is not killed, the Kingdom of Wu will surely perish at his hands!'"

"The King of Wu ultimately failed to convince him and even bestowed upon him a sword, ordering him to commit suicide! Before his death, he uttered the most chilling words: 'Gouge out my eyes and hang them on the east gate of the Wu capital. I want to see with my own eyes how the Yue invaders will sweep in from the east and destroy the Wu kingdom!'"

"When the three-year term was up, the King of Wu forgave the King of Yue as if releasing a dog, allowing him to return to Yue. Back home, the King of Yue slept in a house made of stones, with a bitter gall hanging from the roof. Every night before bed, he would taste the bitterness with his tongue. He wanted to use this method to remind himself of the irreconcilable hatred between Wu and Yue! He could not allow himself to forget the hatred like the King of Wu!"

"In the Kingdom of Yue, the prime minister introduced newly designed farming tools, ministers brought good seeds from neighboring countries, and the King of Yue personally worked in the fields with his people. During the off-season, the army was armed and trained, and every night the King of Yue placed his sword under his pillow to remind himself that his heart was as cold as the sword's gleam. The entire country endured and accumulated strength. This endurance lasted for ten years!"

"Ten years have passed, and the King of Wu never imagined that the King of Yue would once again raise an army to attack Wu. The King of Wu had long lost his will to fight and his hatred. When the King of Yue drew his sword and placed it against the King of Wu's neck, throwing him that dried-up gall bladder, would the King of Wu regret his initial peace agreement? Would he regret not heeding Wu Zixu's advice?"

The story was over, and the tea had gone cold. Chen Cheng picked up his cup and drank it all in one gulp. The cold water suppressed the tea's flavor, leaving it tasteless and bitter, just like the story itself. He refilled both cups with steaming hot tea and gestured for Huo Yuhao to drink first and continue listening to his rambling:

  

"Actually, there are no winners in this story. Everyone is a pitiful creature caught up in hatred. The King of Wu was the son whose father was killed by the King of Yue, who was an emperor who was insulted and tortured. As for Wu Zixu, his father and brother were killed, he endured hardship and fled, his hair turned white overnight, and when he finally had the chance to take revenge, he dug up his enemy's body and whipped it hundreds of times to vent his hatred!"

"When hatred becomes irreconcilable, the contest is not about who is more merciful, but who is more capable! As a man, you must know how to be patient, but patience is not about giving up hatred! You must learn to be merciful, but merciful to the innocent! You must also learn to be grateful, but gratitude is not about praising suffering, but about repaying those kind people who have helped you!"

"After hearing your story, to be honest, I am heartbroken. If I had been born ten years earlier, perhaps I would have been able to save your mother. But you don't need to be so hasty. Your talents are far beyond that of a Title Douluo. I have a strong feeling that you have the potential to become a god! Therefore, I want to advise you that revenge is something a man would want to do, and showing mercy and pity to your enemies is an act of cowardice. But I also don't want you to let hatred blind you, to let your anger spread to innocent and weak people, and to sow new seeds of hatred, making the karmic entanglement of hatred endless."

"Of course, I don't think your mother would want you to become a revenge machine, right? Life shouldn't be lived solely for revenge. Like this cup of tea I'm offering you now, its aroma can bring you temporary peace, and it was a gift from a good friend of mine. In this life, besides hatred, there are many other emotional bonds such as family, love, friendship, and teacher-student relationships. These are the moral and emotional anchors that define a person. If a person is blind to these truly precious things, then what difference is there between them and those soul beasts and evil soul masters who only know how to kill?"

After speaking, Chen Cheng stopped talking and quietly picked up a cup of tea to sip. This time, the tea hadn't completely cooled down, and the sweetness was still diluted by the unsuitable temperature. However, the tea, still warm, locked in its aroma. Just as the bitterness was about to hit his stomach, the aroma, like a gentle breeze, slowly swept over and spread out, softly smoothing away the bitter aftertaste.

"Whoosh!" Huo Yuhao abruptly stood up, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination. He bowed deeply three times to Chen Cheng, his shoulders trembling slightly with excitement. "Thank you, Brother Chen Cheng. Your words have clarified my goals. I will remember this hatred, but I will not let it cloud my judgment. This anger will only burn the three enemies: Duke Baihu, the Duchess, and Dai Huabin. It will never affect any innocent people because of me! In the process, I will also cherish the friendships around me. Perhaps Mother is watching me? I must live a better life; that would be the best response to her!"

In Huo Yuhao's spiritual sea, the once raging waves have now calmed down. The gray sphere of light has been unusually awakened and has been watching the outside world. Seeing this scene, it couldn't help but admire it in its heart.