NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The Youth Of The Chenlin Village
This story takes place a hundred years before the events of Douluo Dalu, not simply fanfiction but a fresh narrative with entirely original characters and plots. Strictly speaking, it's not fanfiction.
The writing style combines the Spirit system from Douluo Dalu with elements of xianxia literature, centering on a family saga in the Douluo universe.
Warning! Warning!
This is a family saga, not a solo monster-fighting and leveling-up story, so it won't progress quickly.
It will strongly challenge your preconceived notions about Douluo Dalu fanfiction and ignite your imagination.
Don't blame me for forewarning you! Be careful! Be careful! Be careful!
Oh, and there's a cheat ability in this story.
Mild spoiler alert: The first volume is rather unconventional and complex. If you find it confusing or have questions about the plot, check out the "Author's Notes and Recap" or the "First Volume Summary" for clarification.
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Fassno Province, Wushan County, Lincheng City, Goding Town, Chenlin Village
Douluo Calendar: June 13, 2531
That afternoon, by the lakeside, a small grassy slope called Shibei Slope rose gently. A five- or six-year-old boy sat atop a large boulder. His skin glowed with a healthy wheat color, and his short black hair was neat and tidy. He wore a well-fitted blue bodysuit, looking exceptionally clean.
At this moment, he gazed at the distant sunset, its fiery glow spreading across the Shaolin Lake before him. Nearby, lotus flowers swayed gently in the breeze. Immersed in the scene, he mused to himself:
"In a week, I'll awaken my Spirit . Father should be back in a few days. I wonder if I'll awaken the Seven Kill Sword, a top-tier tool spirit."
Since he was three, his grandfather and father had immersed him in medicinal baths—first monthly, then biweekly, and eventually weekly. He also consumed medicinal meals regularly.
Every day, he trained his body, practiced basic swordsmanship, footwork, and boxing, and studied language, poetry, calligraphy, arithmetic, geography, and history of the continent. Fortunately, there were no foreign languages to learn.
The children in this world developed both mentally and physically faster than in his previous one. Perhaps the difference in spiritual energy between the two worlds was the reason.
His grandfather and father forbade him from meditating to cultivate soul power before the age of six. Before awakening, he wasn't allowed to practice any soul-related techniques, likely for reasons he didn't yet understand.
"I've always been someone who listens to advice and eats well because of it."
"At first, I wanted to see the glory of the protagonist group, but…"
"When my elder brother, Chen Jianjun, passed away, he was 108 years old. Chen Xinjian was 72, and my unborn nephew was 36. When Xinjian's sword shattered for the last time, he was 101, and Tang San was 25. That's a 76-year age difference, meaning my elder brother was 112 years older than Tang San."
"This year, my elder brother is about to turn 12. So, counting from here, it's exactly 100 years until Tang San is born."
"Ah, I'm so slow. This year is 2531. Tang San was born in 2631. I could've just checked the calendar—it's still 100 years."
"I'm speechless. Who knows if I'll even live long enough to see Tang San."
"Forget it. Even if I can't participate in the main plot, witnessing the legendary soul masters from a hundred years ago isn't a bad deal."
"Heh, at 25 years old, the current Holy Son of the Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu, made a name for himself three years ago when he led the Spirit Hall to victory in the Advanced Elite Soul Master Tournament as a Soul Emperor. Apart from the cheat-level protagonist group, that's already very impressive."
"Unfortunately, Tang Chen hasn't risen yet, so there's no news about his exploits. As for Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi… heh, that's far off—she might not even have been born yet."
Chen Jianxin. That was the name his father originally gave him. But last year, when he turned five, he stubbornly insisted on changing it to Xiaojun. It was obvious why.
If his father was named Chen Xun, his elder brother Chen Jianjun, and their family Spirit was the Seven Kill Sword, how could he not realize he'd been reincarnated into the Douluo Dalu world?
The Chen family should really be the Chen Clan. As a family of swordsmen, their inherited Seven Kill Sword Spirit was said to be the strongest attack-type Spirit on the continent. He couldn't understand why his family chose to hide their surname, claiming to be the Chen family instead.
Chen Xinjian was one of his favorite characters. If he were named Chen Jianxin, Xinjian probably wouldn't exist in the original story. Most importantly, the phonetic resemblance to "cheap" in his name would lead to endless teasing later.
[T/N: The pronunciation of "Jianxin" (剑心) in Chinese sounds somewhat like "jian" (贱) in the same language, which means "cheap" or "lowly." If someone emphasized this similarity, they might tease him by calling him "Chen Cheap" instead of "Chen Jianxin."]
"Young master, the madam calls you back for dinner." A chubby boy ran over from afar. He was the son of the family steward.
His name was Zhu Wuneng. When Xiaojun first heard it, he was nearly struck speechless. Still, the chubby boy was quite adorable with his round figure.
The Zhu family had served their Chen family branch for over a hundred years. Each generation accompanied the Chen family heirs, growing alongside them. Their inherited spirit, the Stone-Armored Boar, boasted excellent defense, strong attack, and impressive endurance, making them reliable companions for the Chen family descendants.
The chubby boy was third in line in his family. His elder brother Zhu Wukui trained and played alongside Xiaojun's elder brother, Chen Jianjun. The chubby boy would likely become Xiaojun's future partner.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming. Let's go. By the way, Xiao Wuneng, you're awakening your Spirit soon too, right?" Xiaojun patted his pants and started walking home.
"Yeah, in half a year. When I awaken, I'll still follow you around," Zhu Wuneng replied with a cheerful grin.
"Your father's Spirit is the Stone-Armored Boar, and your mother's is the Nine-Tooth Rake. Who knows, maybe your Spirit will mutate into a rake-wielding boar—a mighty force, sweeping across the battlefield! I'll be counting on you then," Xiaojun teased.
"Hehe, that'd be great. Thanks for the good wishes, young master." Zhu Wuneng laughed heartily.
"I've already thought of a name for your mutated Spirit: Marshal Tianpeng, commander of all boar-type spirits!"
"…" The chubby boy was momentarily stunned. "Young master, what does 'Tianpeng' mean?"
"'Tianpeng' symbolizes expansive thinking, being a heaven-born prodigy, broad-mindedness, positivity, and youthful ambition."
"I can't live up to that. It suits you better, young master." Zhu Wuneng wasn't dumb and deftly passed the ball back.
"Boring. Forget it. Anyway, if you're going to stick with me in the future, we've got to do something about your figure. Sure, they say pretty faces are a dime a dozen, but interesting bellies bounce all over the place. Your belly is impressively springy, but why hasn't it shrunk despite training with me every day?"
"Young master, it's not like I want it this way. But my dad and brother are the same. It must be genetic—I can't slim down."
Chenlin Village was a small village with fewer than 50 households.
Xiaojun's house was in the northwestern part of the village, no more than two li away. The estate was quite large, with multiple courtyards—a typical rural setup, prioritizing space.
[T/N: 1 li = 0.5 KM]
After entering the main gate, the chubby boy veered off through a side entrance to his own house. They shared the same large compound, but Xiaojun's family lived in the main courtyard further inside, while Zhu Wuneng's family stayed closer to the outer gate.
As Xiaojun walked deeper into the compound, he saw his mother, Ye Xiuxin, stepping out of the kitchen with two dishes. She wore a light yellow silk dress, her tall and slender figure exuding elegance. Her hair was styled neatly, adorned with a simple sea-tang hairpin. Her gentle and serene beauty was unmistakable.
Spotting Xiaojun, she chided, "You little rascal. When you go out to play, stick to the village. Who knows where you ran off to? Only Xiaosan can find you."
She called Zhu Wuneng "Xiaosan" because of his birth order.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Xiaojun responded dismissively.
"Wash your face and hands and head to the main room. Your grandfather and brother are waiting." Ye Xiuxin's voice was soft yet firm.
"Got it, Old Mom." With that, Xiaojun dashed off toward the washstand.
"Who are you calling old? You little brat! Looking for a beating?"