Chapter 1: The First Capture at the Star Dou Forest
The air outside the Star Dou Great Forest was thick with the scent of ancient pine and damp earth.
Within the borders of the Heaven Dou Empire, this place was a sanctuary of primal danger. Shadows flickered as low-level spirit beasts prowled the perimeter, their predatory eyes searching for prey.
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a pillar of blinding golden light. It descended like a falling star, coalescing into the radiant silhouette of a man. The sheer intensity of the aura sent the nearby spirit beasts into a frenzy of terror, and they scrambled back into the deep brush to escape the divine glow.
As the light faded, it revealed a youth standing in the clearing.
He had a handsome, delicate face a striking contradiction to his imposing presence. Although his bone age was only eight years old, his stature stood at a sturdy 1.6 meters.
His eyes were glazed, fixed on a world only he could see.
A few brave soul beasts, driven by hunger, lunged toward the stationary boy. Before they could even graze his clothing, an invisible force rippled outward. With a silent flash, the attackers were reduced to ash. The remaining beasts didn't wait to see more; they fled for their lives.
Inside the boy's mind, a cold, mechanical voice echoed alongside flickering images.
<"Host is currently in the Protection Period. Any hostile attack will be annihilated!">
<"Congratulations, Host Cao De, on arriving in the world of Douluo Continent. Your body has been reshaped. Bone age: 8 years. Martial Soul: Capture Space. Natural Full Soul Power: Level 10.">
<"Excellent talent. Supreme physique. You may capture as you wish! For details, please check the Martial Soul Capture Space Panel. May you survive to the end. Goodbye!">
The voice vanished. Cao De stood still, slowly processing the reality. He had been an ordinary college student who died suddenly, only to be reborn here. He had a system, yet it seemed to have left him with nothing but a final gift: a singular interface.
With a thought, he summoned the panel.
Martial Soul Capture Space Panel
* Host: Cao De
* Martial Soul: Capture Space
* Soul Power: Level 10
* Soul Ring: None
* Soul Bone: None
* Captured: None
Description:
* The Power to Capture: For every ten levels of Soul Power, the Host can forcibly capture one woman.
* Soul Ring Synchronization: The age of the Host's soul ring is the sum of all soul rings owned by the captured subject.
* Synergy: With each person captured, the Host's Martial Soul, talent, soul power, mental strength, and physique receive a massive permanent boost.
* Treasure Appraisal: Includes the ability to detect and analyze information on any item or being.
"Capture? Now that is a power I can get behind!"
Cao De was a man who went with the flow. If destiny had dropped him into the law of the jungle that was Douluo Continent, he would survive it by any means necessary. To protect himself, he needed power. To get power, he needed to utilize his unique Martial Soul.
He walked toward a nearby pool to inspect his new reflection. He gasped.
"Handsome... I've never been this good-looking!" He splashed water on his face, grinning. "Eight years old and already 1.6 meters. I'm going to be a giant among men. It would be a waste of such a face if I didn't make a name for myself."
As he admired his reflection, a rustle came from the foliage. A small, cute girl dressed in pink hopped out from the trees. She looked innocent, yet she was wandering the Star Dou Great Forest alone.
A little girl? Alone in the forest? Cao De's mind raced. Pink clothes... bunny-like energy... could it be?
"Is that Xiao Wu?" he whispered. There was only one way to find out.
His Capture Space required two things: the Host must be at the correct level, and the target must respond to their name. Cao De took a breath and called out.
"Xiao Wu!"
"Who's there?" the girl replied instinctively, turning her head.
The moment the words left her lips, she vanished.
Inside Cao De's mental landscape, a small island appeared amidst a boundless sea. It was barely ten square meters of lush grass with a single, towering coconut tree. Xiao Wu blinked, looking around the strange, isolated paradise in a state of total panic.
"Success!" Cao De cheered. "It really is her!"
Immediately, he felt a surge of energy.
[Soul Power increased to Level 11!]
He checked his status. A white soul ring now circled his feet. It was white because Xiao Wu, currently in her human form, had not yet condensed her own rings. But the bond was formed. As she grew stronger, he would grow exponentially.
"This is incredible," he muttered. "I don't even have to train. I just have to help her grow, and I become a god by proxy."
His mind began to wander to the future. If he got one capture every ten levels, he had nine slots to fill.
Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong... The names of the continent's most powerful and beautiful women flashed through his mind.
"Am I greedy? Am I a scumbag?" He laughed to himself. "No. I'm just giving them a home. Why settle for a mundane life when you can live like a king in another world?"
He composed himself and turned his attention back to his Capture Space. The bond ensured 100% loyalty and trust. Xiao Wu would never betray him, and more importantly, her heart would be locked to him alone.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned her back to reality.
Xiao Wu appeared in front of him, stumbling slightly, her expression a mix of confusion and an inexplicable sense of safety.
"Xiao Wu," he said softly.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?" she asked, her eyes wide. She wanted to be wary, but looking at Cao De, she felt a strange, deep-seated kindness radiating from him—as if he were her closest kin.
"I'm Cao De," he replied with a charming smile. "You can call me Brother Cao. I know what you are, Xiao Wu. I know you're a soul beast. But don't be afraid. I'm here to protect you."
Xiao Wu froze.
"How do you know I'm a...?" She stopped, her heartbeat settling. "It's strange. I don't know you, but I feel like I can trust you with my life."
Cao De reached out a hand.
"You can. From now on, we're in this together."