After tens of thousands of years of development, humanity has built a vast steel forest across the Douluo Continent. The cities that once protected humans from soul beast attacks are gradually squeezing out the remaining space for the beasts.
Pristine natural landscapes are now rare on the continent.
But in the eastern center of the continent, beside the land-scarce Shrek City, a tract of primeval forest covering over ten thousand square kilometers remains.
This was once a paradise for soul beasts, home to over a third of the Douluo Continent's soul beasts, and its area is more than a thousand times larger than it is today.
Furthermore, the remaining Star Dou Great Forest is enclosed by a twenty-meter-high white wall.
An eighty-story building stands beside the white cage, its base piercing the earth and its top reaching the clouds. Standing a thousand meters tall, its base is octagonal, occupying a vast expanse of land. With every ten floors, the building narrows inwards, culminating in a peak at the summit.
The structure exudes a technological and futuristic aesthetic, its crystals reflecting a dazzling brilliance as sunlight falls on the exterior walls.
Occasionally, a few patrol mechas flew past the building, whistling in the wind.
This was the headquarters of the Spirit Pagoda, the tallest structure on Douluo Continent, bar none.
Primarily engaged in the sale of souls and the raising of spirits on the Spirit Ascension Platform, the Spirit Pagoda has, after millennia of development, become the continent's wealthiest organization. The Qiangu Family is undeniably the Spirit Pagoda's foremost family.
The Qiangu Family isn't simply the Spirit Pagoda's foremost family; it's even been called the Douluo Continent's foremost family, all thanks to their remarkable mastery of three extremes within a single family.
The area surrounding the Spirit Pagoda still retains much of the atmosphere of the Star Dou Great Forest, with a small courtyard nestled among trees.
Inside, a boy sat on a swing under a large tree, gazing blankly at the ivy-covered courtyard wall.
The boy had black hair and a hint of baby fat on his face, but his dark eyes held a maturity and composure beyond his age, as well as a hint of loneliness that couldn't be concealed.
Qiangu Qitian had been on the Douluo Continent for six years, over two thousand days and nights, yet he still hadn't developed a sense of belonging to this vast and magical land.
Three years earlier, an accident had severed his only bloodline.
Back then, he wasn't Qiangu Qitian, but rather the same name as his pre-time travel self: Qitian.
When he first traveled through time, Qitian had a happy family. They lived in a secluded, eastern coastal town called Aolai City, their villa nestled beside a mountain called Huaguo Mountain.
In this life, Qitian's father was Qi Fengning, and his mother's surname was somewhat strange: Qiangu Roufeng.
Qitian had no idea what world he had traveled to, only gratitude for being able to live another life.
He had imagined a peaceful upbringing, but as expected, it was to be.
On his third birthday, he saw Qi Fengning and Qiangu Roufeng for the last time, or rather, their bodies.
The couple lay dead on the grassy lawn where Qi Tian had taken a walk the day before. Just a day later, they lay frozen to the bone, their deaths horrific.
Their once-fair faces were marred by bruises, and a faint, black aura emanated from them, a faint trace of which could be seen with the naked eye. A large hole pierced the chest of their armor-like suits.
Next to their bodies lay a cake scattered on the ground. The cream-filled shape had been shattered by the impact, but the surface was still faintly recognizable: a small boy carved from cream on top, surrounded by the words "Happy Birthday... to... Tianbao...."
Qi Tian squatted on the ground, scooped up a little cream with his finger, and placed it in his mouth, tears welling in his eyes.
No one's heart is made of iron. Even though Qi Tian had twenty years of memories, three years of daily companionship had subtly ingrained in him the idea that Qi Fengning and Qiangu Roufeng were his true parents.
Qi Tian had been brought here by a middle-aged man of ordinary appearance, who stood silently, saying nothing.
Later, he brought Qi Tian and the couple's bodies to the Spirit Pagoda headquarters.
Qi Tian was renamed Qiangu Qitian.
Qiangu Qitian's arrival at the Spirit Pagoda headquarters did not attract much attention, and he maintained a very low profile.
Two years ago, upon learning that the current Spirit Pagoda master was Qiangu Dongfeng and that Yun Ming was still the continent's foremost being, Qiangu Qitian's heart was in suspense.
When news spread throughout the clan that the Qiangu family's genius young master, Qiangu Zhangting, had attained level 30 spirit power at the age of eleven, Qiangu Qitian's heart was finally at peace.
Seven years older... wasn't this perhaps the Douluo Continent during the Dragon King legend?
It was the best of times, the worst of times, but generally speaking, the worst of times.
Crises abound, both overt and covert. A hawk-dove struggle within the Federal Parliament casts a shadow of war over Douluo Planet.
The abyssal plane of the western Endless Mountains threatens to devour the continent. The Holy Spirit Cult, secretly colluding with the Spirit Pagoda and the Abyss, plots to establish the Holy Kingdom of Death.
With the Silver Dragon King about to be born, she, destined to lead the soul beasts in revenge against humanity, begins a romance with the Buddha's son, calling him "Grandma Rabbit." Buddha Tang secretly plots his long-term plans.
Furthermore, it was during this era that the Tang Clan's rule over the continent was firmly established.
Surrender would have been the best option. The protagonist, Tang Wulin, had been raised an upright man by his adoptive father, Tang Ziran, and following him wouldn't have been a big deal.
The problem, however, is that his surname is now Qiangu, and the Qiangu clan... well, that's not the point.
All that matters is that the only person comparable to Qiangu Dongfeng is Sun, the greatest villain of China's five thousand years.
After committing such heinous acts, his members of the Qiangu clan will likely face retribution.
"Tomorrow is the day when the martial soul awakens."
Qiangu Qitian muttered in his heart.
"If the innate soul power is lower than level seven, then it will be exhausted! If you stay, you can't even be cannon fodder; if the innate soul power is higher than level seven or even full innate soul power, then you can develop it after a wave of development! If you stay, you will be cannon fodder."
Qiangu Qitian did not have any of the arrogance that comes with a time traveler. He did not regard himself as a prophet who was high above and overlooking the creatures on the continent.
In six years, he was careful enough to feel that the people around him were real people with flesh and blood.
More importantly, his parents' talents were not good, otherwise they would not have chosen to live alone in a small town and were "accidentally killed" by a passing fugitive.
"I have been walking on thin ice all my life. Do you think I can reach the other side..."
Qiangu Qitian muttered to himself as he looked at the setting sun.
(End of this chapter)