Notting City
Dali Village - Martial Soul Awakening Hall
A six-year-old boy stepped into the awakening circle, his face full of anticipation.
He looked ordinary - wheat-colored skin, short, neatly cropped hair, and a pair of bright, intelligent eyes.
He wore a rough gray linen shirt with black pants, and simple blue-and-silver straw sandals.
A typical village child.
The only thing that set him apart was his height - slightly taller and sturdier than others his age.
The awakening array lit up. Golden light poured into his body, and warmth spread through his limbs.
He raised his right hand.
A martial soul appeared.
Su Yuntao glanced at it and said flatly,
"Monkey. Beast-type martial soul."
"Let's test your soul power. Hopefully you won't have none."
The boy stared at the small monkey spirit in his palm, confusion and disappointment flashing in his eyes.
After steadying himself, he dismissed the martial soul and placed his hand on the crystal ball.
A faint glow flickered within it.
"Ah…" Su Yuntao sighed. "You do have soul power… but only half a level."
"My child, don't be too discouraged. If you work hard, you may still become a soul master."
The boy clenched his fist tightly, unwillingness burning in his eyes.
His name was Yu Zhantian.
And he was a transmigrator from Earth.
In his previous life, he had been an overworked office worker, endlessly exploited by his boss. One day, pushed beyond his limits, he fell asleep at work…
And never woke up.
When he opened his eyes again, he was here.
At first, he thought he would be like the protagonists in novels - blessed with a system, rising to power, surrounded by beauties.
But reality proved otherwise.
No system.
And now, after awakening his martial soul, his talent was barely above average.
Just half a level of soul power.
He had once hoped that, even without a system, he might still have a chance to compete with the protagonist, Tang San.
Now?
Let alone surpassing him - it wasn't even certain he could become a soul master at all.
Just as despair began to creep in, a mechanical voice suddenly echoed in his mind.
[Ding - Martial soul detected]
[Activating Loot System… 1%… 30%… 50%…]
[Ding - System successfully activated and bound to host]
"…System?"
[Yes.]
"It really is a system!"
The gloom vanished instantly, replaced by a surge of excitement. Mother Earth must've felt sad for sending a son to such a faraway land and took pity on him.
He had thought his life was doomed to mediocrity - but now, everything had changed.
It felt like fate had finally smiled on him.
Without waiting for the others to finish their awakenings, Yu Zhantian hurried out, too excited to even say goodbye.
Watching him leave, Su Yuntao shook his head.
"He looked like he was about to cry earlier. Now he's smiling so brightly… must've taken quite a hit."
"Understandable," someone replied. "He has soul power, but only half a level. That's hard for anyone to accept."
...
A simple farmhouse,
In the courtyard, an old man sat hunched over on a small wooden stool, skillfully husking corn.
Chickens gathered around him, pecking at the scattered kernels.
"Cluck! Cluck!"
A rooster crowed proudly, as if announcing the time.
"Grandpa! I'm back!"
Yu Zhantian ran in, calling out happily.
This old man was Yu Jun - his grandfather in this life.
Yu Jun stood up, wiped his hands on his clothes, and smiled warmly.
"Back already, Xiaotian? Did you awaken a good martial soul?"
Yu Zhantian scratched his head awkwardly.
"Just a monkey… and only half a level of soul power."
Yu Jun froze for a moment, then gently patted his head.
"That's still wonderful. You have soul power - that means you can become a soul master."
"I never thought someone from our family would have that chance."
"Come, I'll cook something nice today to celebrate."
With that, he headed toward the chicken coop.
Watching his grandfather's ageing figure, Yu Zhantian felt a tightness in his chest.
Not long after he was born, his father had been conscripted by the army of the Heaven Dou Empire.
By autumn, news came back.
His father had died in battle.
His mother, heartbroken, fell gravely ill soon after.
Despite spending everything they had, they couldn't save her.
By spring, his grandfather had borrowed money just to bury them.
That year, Yu Zhantian lost both parents.
And Yu Jun lost his son and daughter-in-law.
Since then, the two had depended on each other.
His grandfather worked tirelessly every day, always giving him the best he could.
Now, that once-strong man had grown frail - his black hair streaked with white, his back permanently bent.
Yu Zhantian's eyes grew moist.
He swore silently:
"Grandpa… I'll become a powerful soul master. I'll give you the life you deserve."
---
Yu Zhantian's Room
The room was small but clean.
A worn wooden bed.
A dented table.
A chair propped up with stones.
That was all.
A few basic textbooks lay on the table, while crude training equipment made from wood and stone sat beneath the bed.
Lying down, Yu Zhantian called out in his mind:
"System?"
[Ding - I'm here.]
"What can you do?"
[This is a Loot System. By defeating enemies, the host can obtain items, abilities, or traits from them.]
[The system also includes a personal panel for viewing stats, as well as missions that reward the host upon completion.]
[Additional functions will unlock after future upgrades.]
"I see…"
So its core ability was looting.
Plus missions.
And a status panel.
"Open the panel."
A blue screen appeared before him.
---
Loot System
Host: Yu Zhantian
Bloodline: Ordinary
Martial Soul: Monkey
Soul Power: Level 0.5
Physical Strength: 0.1
Combat Rating: 0 Stars
Skills: None
Soul Rings: None
Soul Skills: None
System Space: Beginner Gift Pack
Main Mission: Enrol in Notting Academy (Reward: Unknown)
---
His stats were… painfully average.
Even his body was only slightly stronger than that of other kids.
As for the mission, enrollment wouldn't happen for another month and a half.
His gaze shifted to the system space.
"…Open the beginner gift pack."
[Ding - Gift pack opened]
[Congratulations! You have obtained:]
* Ten-Star Hybrid Saiyan Bloodline
* Four-Star Technique: Nine Yang Divine Art
* Four-Star Skill Mastery Card
* Four-Star Weapon: Ruyi Staff
* One-Star Item: Turtle School Martial Arts Uniform
Yu Zhantian froze.
Then exploded with excitement.
"This is insane!"
He had expected maybe a powerful martial soul… or a cultivation technique slightly stronger than the Xuan Tian Gong.
But this?
This was completely overpowered.
The Nine Yang Divine Art was one of the strongest internal techniques in Jin Yong's novels - generating endless inner energy, enhancing strength, speed, defense, and even granting resistance to poison and illness.
It far surpassed many of the skills Tang San mastered in his previous life.
Then there was the Skill Mastery Card - instantly bringing any four-star technique to perfection.
(Beginner - Mastery - Major Completion - Perfection)
The Ruyi Staff…
A weapon once used by Son Goku.
It could extend and retract freely, indestructible - though not as powerful as the legendary golden cudgel.
But the most important reward of all—
The Hybrid Saiyan Bloodline.
A race with limitless potential from Dragon Ball.
And as proven by Gohan…
Hybrids could be even stronger than pure-blooded Saiyans.