Douluo Dalu: Sword!

[Yes, I use AI help to build the chapters.]

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Chapter 1: Awakening in Holy Sword Village

The morning sun cast its golden rays over the modest Holy Sword Village, a small hamlet nestled at the foot of a towering mountain range.

For most six-year-olds, today was a day of anxious hope: the day of the Martial Soul Awakening.

But for Gu Lin, it was the day he had been anticipating for over a year.

Outside the village's Spirit Hall, a slightly grander building than the rest, children lined up, their faces a mixture of nervousness and excitement.

Gu Lin stood among them, an ordinary-looking boy with short black hair and dark eyes that held an unusual depth for his age. No one could guess the whirlwind of thoughts and secrets hidden behind that calm façade.

A sigh escaped his lips.

A year ago, he had woken up in this world, in this child's body.

The pain of losing his "parents" in this world was a fabricated memory, but the kindness of the villagers who helped him survive was genuine, and he was truly grateful for it.

They saw him as a pitiable orphan; he saw this village as his first step toward the future.

"Next!" Su Yuntao's voice, the Spirit Hall deacon, echoed from within. He was a tall man with short hair and a Spirit Master aura that intimidated the village children, especially the lone wolf spirit behind him.

One by one, the children entered and left, most with sighs of disappointment. Martial Souls of farm tools and non-existent spirit power were the norm.

'It's exactly like Holy Spirit Village. Probably like Tang San, I'll be the only one here to awaken a Martial Soul.'

Finally, it was Gu Lin's turn.

'Come on, calm down. I hope my Martial Soul isn't anything too flashy. Otherwise, I'll be screwed.'

He entered the hall, the sunlight partially blocked by the door, casting long shadows. Six black crystals were arranged on the floor, and Su Yuntao looked at him with an air of professional boredom.

Behind him, the green-colored Lone Wolf spirit remained menacing.

"Step into the circle," Su Yuntao said, his voice devoid of expectation. "Don't be afraid. Just feel the energy entering your body, and extend your hand."

"Alright."

Gu Lin nodded, his calm eyes meeting the deacon's. He stepped into the center of the crystals.

With a few hand seals from Su Yuntao, a faint golden glow emanated from the crystals, enveloping Gu Lin's small body in a cocoon of warm light.

Golden particles of light surged around him, much denser than those of the other children, making him float in the air.

"It's warm..." Gu Lin murmured, feeling the spiritual energy flowing through his entire body as if searching for something.

He closed his eyes and delved within himself. Almost immediately, he felt it. A warm, powerful force churning in his depths. Suddenly, something seemed to break, like a dam bursting, and an overwhelming power flooded his being.

"Extend your right hand," Su Yuntao commanded.

Gu Lin obeyed, slowly extending his hand, praying it wouldn't be anything abnormal or useless.

From his open palm, a profound darkness erupted, not like a shadow, but like a hole in reality itself.

The darkness solidified, taking the form of a long, elegant sword. Its blade was a matte black that seemed to drink the light, but running along its length, from hilt to tip, were intricate details resembling streams of electricity, glowing in a powerful, electric purple hue.

The guard was thick and angular, with short points projecting sideways. The grip was straight, with engraved dark rings. The pommel held a simple purple crystal. The entire sword had a solid finish, with sharp lines and a robust shape.

Su Yuntao's eyes widened slightly. "A sword! A Tool Martial Soul. Not bad." A weapon was always better than a tool. "Now, let's test your spirit power." He gestured to the blue crystal sphere beside him. "Place your hand on it." He was confident this boy would have some spirit power. It was just a matter of how much.

Gu Lin approached and, without hesitation, placed his palm on the cool sphere. Internally, he smiled. 'Here we go. Not too extravagant, not too common.'

The crystal sphere trembled and began to glow with a soft blue light. The light intensified rapidly, surging and filling the sphere with a dazzling brilliance.

"This is..." Su Yuntao leaned forward, his hopeful expression completely swept away by one of shock and disbelief.

The blue light stopped expanding, having filled a significant portion of the sphere.

"Spirit Power... level 7!" Su Yuntao's voice was a mix of astonishment and excitement. He had traveled through countless villages and rarely found anyone with innate spirit power, much less someone with such a promising level.

This was without considering the previous Blue Silver Grass with innate power. But he had already cast that out of his mind.

'Perfect,' Gu Lin thought. 'Level 7. That's good enough to be considered a minor genius, but not so absurd as to attract the wrong kind of attention from the Spirit Hall.'

What Su Yuntao and the rest of the world didn't know was that this was a facade. The entity that had sent him to this world had fulfilled his requests with precision.

His current common appearance would transform into an ethereal beauty within a few months.

His body, currently weak from an orphan's malnutrition, would be strengthened by his secret cultivation technique, the "Star Jade Body Path." And his spirit power wasn't merely 7. It was full. Full innate spirit power. But this trump card, along with his second Martial Soul, would remain dormant for another three months.

A calculated move to avoid the greedy, controlling gazes of the Spirit Hall, especially those of a certain Supreme Pontiff. He needed time to grow on his own terms.

"Boy, what's your name?" Su Yuntao asked, his demeanor completely transformed. He now looked at Gu Lin like a treasure.

"Gu Lin, sir," he replied politely.

"Gu Lin," Su Yuntao repeated, savoring the name. "You are the only one to awaken a Martial Soul with spirit power in this village. With your talent, you have a bright future! Would you like to join our Spirit Hall? We can provide the best resources, the best teachers..."

Gu Lin offered an innocent smile but shook his head. "I appreciate the offer, Deacon Su. But... my grandfather, before he passed away, made me promise that I would attend the academy where he studied. It's a promise I must honor."

"Hmm?" Su Yuntao frowned. "Your grandfather? And which academy would that be?"

"Nuoding Primary Spirit Master Academy," Gu Lin said, the name leaving his lips with practiced familiarity. It was the same academy where the original protagonists had met, a perfect place to begin his own legend.

The disappointment on Su Yuntao's face was palpable. Nuoding was just an ordinary primary academy. To waste a level 7 talent like that... it was a crime! But filial piety was a respected virtue, and he couldn't force the boy.

"It's a pity," Su Yuntao sighed. "But the choice is yours." He handed Gu Lin proof of his Spirit Master ranking. "With this, you can enroll in Nuoding."

Gu Lin thanked him, bowed respectfully, and left the hall, leaving behind a disappointed deacon and the envious gazes of the other children. His plan was in motion.

---

A month and a half passed.

Gu Lin didn't waste a single day. Every night, under the cloak of darkness, he practiced the "Star Jade Body Path" atop a smaller mountain near the village.

The technique was miraculous, nourishing his body from the inside out. He could feel, day by day, his muscles becoming denser, his bones stronger, and his senses sharper. The technique's sets of movements and strikes were fluid and deadly, a sequence of swift, lethal motions.

During the day, he familiarized himself with his Martial Soul.

He summoned his sword, feeling his connection to it, the hum of power in his veins. He didn't have a spirit ring yet, so he couldn't use any abilities, but he could practice basic swordsmanship, combining it with the footwork and movements of his body technique.

The villagers soon began to notice his changes. The orphan boy seemed healthier, more vibrant. There was a new confidence in his steps, a light in his eyes. They attributed it to the joy and effect of becoming a Spirit Master.

Finally, on a clear morning, Gu Lin felt he was ready. He had packed a small bundle with a few clothes, some dried food, and the money he had saved by doing small jobs for the villagers in recent days. He looked at the small shack he had called home for a year and then at the road that stretched away from the village.

He didn't formally say goodbye to anyone.

It was easier that way. His journey wasn't in Holy Sword Village. His destiny was the outside world, where geniuses were as common as birds in the sky. And, of course, the beauties.

With an amused smile on his face, Gu Lin turned and began to walk. He was no longer just an orphan waiting for an awakening. He was Gu Lin, a Spirit Master with a plan, a transmigrator with foreknowledge, and, soon, a legend in the making.

His adventure was just beginning. Nuoding was the first destination. And after that... the whole world. And, of course, the various girls he was eager to meet. Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Hu Liena, Bibi Dong... the list was long, and he had all the time in the world.

"World, I've arrived!"