Chapter 1: The End-Time Bell Martial Soul
"Go to hell, you damned Goatman!"
That was the final line Huo Yuhao left behind in the Goatman Game lobby.
An orphan since birth, the moment he opened his eyes and saw the familiar surroundings, he instantly understood—he had died from staying up too late and overexerting himself... and now, he had transmigrated into the world of the Land of the End.
Just as he was beginning to make sense of the situation and was about to listen to the game tutorial from Goatman and obediently follow Brother Xia around like a sidekick... BAM! That bastard wearing the goat mask suddenly bashed his head in.
He didn't know what was happening now, but he could feel his soul being enveloped by a massive blood-red bell, seemingly dragging him into a completely different world.
Meanwhile, outside the Star Dou Great Forest, a frail boy lay unconscious. His life force was fading. In his subconscious, only deep resentment and boundless hatred toward fate remained.
[I heard the Echo of Destiny!!]
A thunderous bell toll echoed across the entire Star Dou Great Forest, brimming with oppressive power and an overwhelming sense of fate. Countless soul beasts shivered uncontrollably, trembling and bowing low to the ground.
Beneath the Lake of Life, the Silver Dragon King—possessor of peerless wisdom—was abruptly jolted awake from her slumber. Her immense form trembled, and nine-colored dragon scales shimmered with a dangerously enchanting glow.
Not since the gods ascended ten thousand years ago had she felt such uncontrollable power of destiny appear.
Her colossal body, stretching thousands of meters, quivered as her dominion as the sovereign (Co-ruler) of soul beasts descended upon the lake.
"Di Tian, investigate this!"
"Yes, my Lady."
Elsewhere, a giant white insect frantically burrowed underground, trying its best to hide and escape the forest's outer perimeter.
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God Realm.
A tall figure with long sky-blue hair was secretly observing the Douluo Star from the core of the God Realm.
This man was none other than [Pure and Innocent—Sea God, Pseudo Asura God, Interim Manager of the God Realm Core—Tang San].
Suddenly, an ear-splitting bell rang in his ears.
The power of destiny instantly turned chaotic. The rising new Douluo Star was suddenly obscured by a mysterious force, and he could no longer peer through the veil.
"Who?! Who dares to ruin my grand plan?! You have found the way to death!"
Tang San, who normally refrained from interfering with the mortal world, was using the God Realm Core's authority to monitor the Douluo Star. Now, he was utterly furious.
Recently, he had sensed a new "Child of Destiny" emerging on the Douluo Star. All his preparations were in place. He was just about to make his move.
But now—destiny was muddled, shrouded in fog. How could he possibly guide the chosen one along the "right path"? How was he to enact his ten-thousand-year plan?
This involved the revival of the Tang Sect and his master plan. He had already split his daughter's soul and sent her to the lower realm. Even his parents had been included in his schemes.
How could he accept this?
But before he could stabilize the chaotic destiny power in the God Realm Core, it had already caught the attention of the vigilant God of Destruction.
"Sea God! How dare you interfere with the lower realm on your own?"
Tang San's heart skipped a beat.
The God of Destruction was watching him.
At that moment, many other gods also noticed the disturbance and rushed from their divine residences.
Asura Sword's Sheath—Star Fury—his not-yet-revived lover—Xiao Wu, arrived by his side, clearly worried.
Now, the gathering gods had split into two factions, standing behind either the God of Destruction or Tang San.
The God of Destruction looked furious.
Normally, the five God Kings rotated in managing the God Realm Core. But with the Goddess of Kindness and God of Evil having stepped away, the authority had temporarily been handed over to Tang San.
And now, after casually checking in, God of Destruction just happened to witness the violent disruption in destiny and Tang San monitoring the mortal world.
Unacceptable.
Tang San quickly tried to explain:
"Destruction, I'm investigating too—this isn't what it looks like."
But the God of Destruction didn't buy it and sneered coldly:
"Don't make excuses. The evidence is clear. If every god acted like you, this realm would descend into chaos."
Xiao Wu wanted to defend her "Brother San," but the God of Destruction silenced her with a single glare.
The message was clear: "You? Know your place. Fluffy mascots don't get to speak here."
"Sea God, your selfishness has gone too far. You're no longer qualified to manage the God Realm Core. The gods are all here. There's nothing more to say—hand it over!"
Tang San refused to be anyone's scapegoat. With a shift in thought, he found a counterargument.
"Destruction, the Core has always been managed in rotation by the Five God Kings. Kindness and Evil are away. Are you targeting me like this because you covet the authority of the God Realm's core?"
"You're spouting nonsense!" The God of Destruction couldn't believe how shameless he was.
Just as the situation reached a breaking point, the Goddess of Life stepped forward. With a sigh, she walked to the God of Destruction's side and gave Tang San a meaningful look.
"Enough. The disruption in destiny on the Douluo Star isn't solely Sea God's fault. Right now, the priority is stabilizing the God Realm Core."
The God of Destruction scoffed and grumbled at the Goddess of Life, annoyed she always took Tang San's side.
Soon, the Core was stabilized by the collective efforts of the gods. However, Tang San's breach—secretly monitoring the mortal world—was not something he could just talk his way out of.
In the end, with the Goddess of Life mediating and Tang San agreeing to compromise, it was decided that both the Sea God and God of Destruction would each appoint a representative to jointly manage the God Realm Core.
Tang San chose his own man—Dai Mubai, a God of War, a 2nd Rank God.
The God of Destruction chose Zhou Weiqing, the God of Devastation, 1st Rank God.
This clearly showed that although Tang San held dual godhood as Sea God and Asura God, his foundation in the God Realm was still far inferior to the God of Destruction's.
As they departed, God of Destruction sneered at Tang San:
"Sea God, don't you dare pull any more stunts. I'll be watching you."
Even his old friends like Ning Rongrong and Ma Hongjun gave Tang San one last glance filled with disappointment before turning away.
This round's MVP: the God of Destruction.
Douluo Star just won by doing nothing.
Dai Mubai patted Tang San's shoulder silently, then entered the Core alongside Zhou Weiqing.
Tang San clenched his fists behind his back, his eyes bloodshot with suppressed rage.
He wanted to contact his parents left behind on the Douluo Star—but thought of the threat from God of Destruction and restrained himself.
His hands creaked with tension.
His anger was reaching its peak.
"Brother San..."
"Arghhh—!"
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Outer Area, Star Dou Great Forest.
Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes.
With all the memories flooding his mind like a tidal wave, his expression held no confusion—only gratitude and joy.
From the hellhole that even dogs wouldn't enter—the Land of the End—he had arrived in the "wholesome and harmonious" world of Douluo Dalu.
Even better, he had taken the place of this world's "Child of Destiny" with the same name—Huo Yuhao.
What more could he ask for?
Tiredly standing up, he stretched his sore body and smiled.
"The End-Time Bell became my second martial soul?"
He wasn't exactly sure how it happened, but he clearly remembered hearing that awe-inspiring, destiny bell sound in his subconscious.
[I heard the Echo of Destiny.]
Huo Yuhao extended his right hand. A massive blood-red bell materialized—it was his second martial soul.
There were no digital displays or sci-fi aesthetics. The Bell face bore strange runes, the twelve zodiac symbols, and the four mythical beasts.
It shone with a cold, metallic beauty—brimming with destiny power, now engraved onto the End-Time Bell.
He had his suspicions, but now wasn't the time to get lost in thought. There would be time for that later.
That bell sound was bound to have been heard by the powerful beings within the Star Dou Great Forest. He needed to leave first—then plan the next steps.
He glanced at the corpse of the wind baboon and the "White Tiger Dagger" on the ground.
Suppressing the urge to mock the weapon's name, he picked it up and trudged deeper into the forest.
His voice was quiet, yet filled with solemnity:
"Don't worry, Huo Yuhao. I'll avenge you—whether it's the White Tiger Duke's mansion or your mother's soul."
As a web novel enthusiast, Huo Yuhao had deep knowledge of many fictional worlds.
The infamous Tang Family Saga, often nicknamed the "Tang Family Backyard Five-Part Series" (or more like a trilogy), was one of the first he'd read. He remembered the plot well—if not word for word, then scene by scene.
Of course, only the first three parts. As for the later ones—Lan Xuanyu, "Revive My Lover," or "Why You Poking My Pig," he'd just treated those as memes.
Now, he had become the most favored by fate, the one with the most opportunities in the entire Douluo world. And also, in the original plot, the one most tragically manipulated—a puppet whose strings were pulled by a certain "pure and selfless" god-king.
He knew exactly what lay ahead.
Thus, the two major fateful opportunities awaiting him must not be missed.
Sure, back in the Goatman Game, he didn't mind being a background extra next to Brother Xia—he knew his limits.
But now? This was the Industrial Revolution-esque version of Douluo Dalu.
Of course, it was time to put on a show.
He is Huo Yuhao now.
Being manipulated by fate? That toxic tumor who restricted Douluo's progress wasn't worthy.
As for Shrek Academy, he had zero interest.
Just thinking about "track running punishment," "food fight cafeteria," "hundred-man toilet," or "Love Confession Challenge" made his skin crawl.
Compared to an academy known for empty promises and virtue signaling, there were much better options.
Was the Body Sect not strong enough in its research on body martial souls? Not loyal enough?
Was the Sun-Moon Empire's soul tool technology not powerful? Not wealthy enough?
Only a fool would choose.
Huo Yuhao wanted everything.
For now, he wouldn't rush into any faction. The Body Sect was mysterious and hard to find. The Sun-Moon Empire would take planning.
Shortly after he left, two teenagers—around fifteen or sixteen—arrived at the wind baboon's corpse.
The boy wore a purple combat suit and had short blue hair. The girl, dressed in pink with a ponytail, looked cute and lively.
They were none other than cosplay champions of "teacher-student romance"—Tang Ya and Bei Bei, the last heirs of the Tang Sect.
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(End of Chapter)