After the middle-aged Soul Saint escorted Li Changan back to the Li clan estate, he didn't linger. With urgency in his heart, he departed immediately to report to His Majesty, Emperor Xue Ye.
Meanwhile, Li Changan, under the pretense of fatigue, dismissed the servants and retired to his quarters. Once the door shut behind him, he dove into his martial soul cultivation without hesitation.
His martial soul, the Bi-Scale Sword, had two distinct forms—Sword Form and Snake Form. Before, only the Sword Form had been tested in battle. But after obtaining his first soul ring from a Poisonous Sword Bamboo, even the Snake Form underwent a transformation.
"Transform."
As he invoked his martial soul, the sword in his hand gleamed faintly. The coiled blue-scale serpent pattern along the blade shimmered, then pulsed with life. In a soft flash, the sword's body liquefied and morphed. The snake carved onto the hilt slithered out—alive.
A serpent, nearly three meters long and as thick as a grown man's thigh, floated in the air. Its scales glistened like emerald jade, its eyes bright with cunning. Small, budding horns protruded from its head, evoking the image of a miniature eastern dragon.
Li Changan stood beside it, observing quietly.
In this form, he couldn't release sword energy like before—but the serpent's scales could be launched like venomous flying knives, a deadly echo of the Poisonous Sword Bamboo's abilities. Its venomous fangs were now sharper, capable of piercing soul power defenses with ease.
"It seems... I chose well."
He nodded with satisfaction. The soul ring hadn't just granted him a technique—it deepened the essence of his martial soul. The Bi-Scale Sword's serpent side was now a potent force in its own right.
Li Changan understood a truth most soul masters ignored: soul rings weren't just tools to gain new abilities—they were refinements, enhancing the very origin of the martial soul.
Just like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan only sought dragons to purify their bloodline, he too would only pursue soul beasts aligned with his martial soul's dual nature—serpents and blades.
Still, there was a drawback.
His martial soul could only exist in one form at a time. If the Snake Form was active, the sword vanished from his grasp, leaving him exposed in melee combat.
"The sword is my armor and spear. Handsome and practical," he muttered, smirking.
But the Snake Form couldn't be discarded. It could provide powerful support or even be used to ambush enemies from unexpected angles. What if—just what if—he could use both forms at once?
His mind flashed to the elders of the Clear Sky Clan. One of them had a soul skill that could split his martial soul, manifesting two hammers simultaneously. If he could develop something similar...
"A clone technique," he whispered, eyes alight. "A sword in my hand… and a serpent at my side."
The possibilities thrilled him.
The Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace
Li Changan arrived at the palace in a special carriage, the insignia of the Soul Saint he met earlier in hand. When he revealed the token to the guards, their suspicion turned to deference. One soldier hurried inside to deliver word.
Moments later, a pale-faced, beardless eunuch arrived, his smile as practiced as it was sycophantic.
"Oh! You must be the young Baron Li? A true dragon among men!"
Li Changan responded with polite nods and minimal words. The eunuch's fawning continued until Li Changan steered the conversation to the matter at hand: his audience with His Majesty.
They walked through ornate marble halls as the eunuch explained royal etiquette. Despite the endless chatter, Li Changan listened patiently. He knew that even an annoying eunuch could wield subtle influence in this place.
Eventually, they reached the grand throne hall.
Upon the golden dais sat Emperor Xue Ye himself, robed in the regalia of the empire.
"Your Majesty, Lord Li has arrived," the eunuch announced.
Li Changan stepped forward and performed a noble's bow. "This humble servant greets Your Majesty."
"No need for formality," the emperor said kindly, his eyes gleaming with appreciation.
Emperor Xue Ye had already received word of the boy's martial soul and its extraordinary potential. He saw in Li Changan the seed of a future Titled Douluo, perhaps even more.
And in this empire, such talent had to be secured.
What began as casual conversation gradually turned into subtle probing—about Li Changan's loyalty, values, and thoughts on the empire. The boy answered flawlessly, pledging himself with the conviction of a patriot.
Pleased beyond measure, Xue Ye made a bold declaration.
He would marry his daughter, Princess Xue Ke, to Li Changan. A six-year-old genius who might one day become a god—what better way to bind him to the Heavenly Dou Empire?
And so, Li Changan became a Marquis, skipping the ranks of viscount and earl. Though it was an honorary title with no land or soldiers, it came with an imperial stipend—and more importantly, influence.
He accepted with a bow and a composed smile, hiding the calculations in his heart.
As they left the palace, Li Changan asked about his future fiancée.
Princess Xue Ke, it turned out, was only four years old. Her martial soul would likely be the traditional Swan of the imperial line. A gentle spirit, suited for healing or support—not battle.
"Xue Ke... That name appeared in the original story," Li Changan thought.
Beautiful and poised, she was a minor but notable character. If it was her, he had no complaints. But even if she had been ugly, he would have accepted.
After all, what were looks compared to the resources and power granted to a royal consort?
As a transmigrator, he knew the future. He knew Tang San was already at Notting College, playing house with Xiao Wu. The clock was ticking.
Tang San would become a god.
And if Li Changan didn't beat him to it, the window would close. Tang San would monopolize godhood, just like in the original—where only those of the Tang Clan and their loyal dogs ascended.
"The Douluo Continent became Tang Continent," Li Changan sneered inwardly.
But he had foresight.
He knew of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud—hidden in the royal treasury. The key to Seagod's inheritance. Tang San couldn't have it.
First, he'd need to befriend Dugu Bo, secure the immortal herbs, and then claim the Seagod's favor.
It was a race against time.
Why not aim for the Shura God's position instead? Why not prevent Tang San from ever claiming it?
Because it was already set in stone.
Shura had chosen Tang San long before the story began. Even his transmigration might've been part of the divine plan. His lineage, his grandfather Tang Chen's unfinished trials—all of it reeked of preordained fate.
"But I'll break fate."
Li Changan clenched his fists.
"I'll seize godhood before Tang San. I'll carve my own legend—not as a dog of the Tang Clan, but as a sovereign!"