***ANNOUNCEMENT***
New novel coming soon!
Name:Douluo: God of Machinery
「 An Unrivaled Tang Sect (Douluo Dalu 2) Fanfiction 」
Synopsis
Ten thousand years after the Battle of the Gods, the Sun Moon Empire and the Douluo nations remain as irreconcilable as fire and water. Four great empires stand opposed, vying for supremacy in a balance so fragile that a single push could shatter it.
High above the clouds, an unseen hand moves pieces across a vast chessboard, toying with the fate of every living soul. In the shadows below, pawns who fell ten thousand years ago still stand watch over a God Position slowly taking shape within the Underworld, guarding it in the God King's name.
Two Sons of Destiny are born beneath the same mandate of fate. One walks in the light. The other is the answer given by the darkness, and he takes machinery itself as his Martial Spirit.
Zero Genesis. Mechanical Growth. Mechanical Combustion. Mechanical Empire...
The world of Spirit Guidance Technology is about to welcome a genius without equal.
Yet deep within the young man's body, a dormant gray seed begins to stir, roused to life by the descent of the Necromancer Holy Law God.
Flesh is frail. Machinery ascends!
Reincarnation never ceases. Answer eternity!
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Story tags
Action, Adventure, Slice of Life, Romance, Harem, Genius Protagonist, Decisive Protagonist, Clever Protagonist
Story elements
MC is aware of the original story. No system or game-like interface.
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The first 12 chapters are already up on my Patreon, and you can read them without a paid subscription, so feel free to give the story a try and see what you think.
[email protected]/kisshot
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Word Count: 3,236 Words
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Xiao Xuan was already dead. By now, he had seen through everything and no longer clung to the obsession of becoming a Dou God.
The Ling Clan and the Shi Clan had been annihilated precisely because they never let go of that obsession. Their extermination had been absolute. Unlike the Xiao Clan, which had at least left behind common descendants and clansmen who escaped to preserve a final spark, those two clans had been wiped from existence entirely.
Now that the Xiao Clan no longer possessed the Tou She Ancient God's Jade, it had instead become an outsider to this storm. By staying clear of the struggle, it could preserve itself and remain above the fray.
"That's true enough," Xiao Yan agreed with a smile. "Even losing something precious can turn out to be a blessing in disguise."
Xiao Xuan's eyes lit up, and a burst of hearty laughter escaped him. "That does make sense. A great deal of sense! The Xiao Clan lost its jade, yet who can say that wasn't a blessing? If we had never possessed the Tou She Ancient God's Jade to begin with, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out so badly after all."
He looked at Xiao Yan with a warm smile. "In all things, just follow your nature. We aren't some unparalleled heroes of legend. We cultivate so bitterly for one reason only: to protect the people we wish to protect."
"Xiao Yan has taken Ancestor's words to heart," Xiao Yan said with a respectful nod.
Xiao Xuan patted him on the shoulder. "I truly do like you, little fellow. It's just a pity you were born so many years too late..."
After speaking at length with Xiao Xuan and heeding the former Clan Head's counsel, Xiao Yan had charted a clear path forward for the Xiao Clan.
The conclusion was plain. This time, Xiao Yan, or rather the Xiao Clan, had no intention of obstructing the Hun Clan's attempt to gather the ancient jade. They would remain neutral.
After all, the Hun Clan currently held the greatest chance of success. Rather than trying to stop them, it was better to let them fight their own battles. And more to the point, Xiao Yan had no way to stop them even if he wanted to.
With everything settled, Xiao Yan prepared to leave the Heavenly Tomb.
"Xiao Yan, I can help you break through to the Emperor State soul."
The voice rang out suddenly from behind him. Xiao Xuan was still seated cross-legged on the ground.
Xiao Yan slowly turned his head and looked at him. Something seemed to pass through his eyes, as if he understood what that offer truly meant. He shook his head. "Spare me. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility, but I don't actually enjoy carrying too much on my shoulders. Ancestor, at least let me catch my breath."
He waved a hand casually and walked out of the tomb residence.
"Oh, right." He paused at the entrance and glanced back. "Clan Head Gu Yuan asked me to pass along his regards. If you ever get bored, Ancestor, perhaps you could invite him in for a chat or a game of chess. That wouldn't be so bad, would it?"
His conversation with Xiao Xuan had not been without its gains. At the very least, Xiao Yan had learned several things he hadn't known before and confirmed the Xiao Clan's direction going forward.
They would preserve themselves by staying out of it. If the others wanted to fight over the Tou She Ancient God's Jade, they could fight over it themselves. This time, the Xiao Clan would not get involved.
…
A few hours later in the outside world, the void around the Heavenly Tomb twisted and Xiao Yan's group stepped out from within. Gu Yuan smiled when he saw them emerge. "Did you see Xiao Xuan?"
Xiao Yan nodded, then turned to Cai Lin and the others. "You all head back first. I need to discuss a few things with father-in-law."
A trace of worry surfaced in Xun Er's beautiful eyes. Both she and Gu Yuan knew that Xiao Yan carried the bloodline of the Hun Clan.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge..." she called softly, the words catching in her throat.
Xiao Yan gently took her jade-like hand and patted its back. "Don't worry. It's just an ordinary conversation."
"Mm. I'll wait for you to come back."
Xiao Yan looked toward Gu Yuan. The two exchanged a tacit nod, then flew together toward the depths of the Gu Realm.
The Gu Realm naturally had a place for the clan's descendants to cultivate, rest, and discuss important matters. Just as the massive Heaven Hall hung suspended over the Xiao Realm, the Gu Realm had a similar place of its own.
Inside the discussion hall, Gu Yuan was not the only one present. Three white-haired elders dressed in flowing white robes also occupied the chamber, each carrying the detached, otherworldly bearing of legendary immortals. Xiao Yan had once heard Xun Er mention that the Gu Clan harbored three extraordinarily powerful Dou Saints, known within the clan as the Three Gu Immortals.
Beyond the Three Gu Immortals, a middle-aged man sat in the place of honor. Clad in black armor, he rested with his eyes closed, his presence heavy and utterly still. This was undoubtedly the second strongest expert in the Gu Clan after Gu Yuan: the supreme commander of the Black Submerged Army, the Black Submerged King, Gu Lie.
These four represented the Gu Clan's greatest combat strength beneath Gu Yuan himself. Unsurprisingly, each of the Three Gu Immortals was a 7-star Dou Saint, while Gu Lie had reached the level of an 8-star Dou Saint. That alone spoke volumes about the terrifying depth of the Gu Clan's foundation.
Of course, as the current Clan Head of the Xiao Clan and a 6-star Dou Saint in his own right, Xiao Yan did not humble himself overly. He simply offered the four of them the courtesy due from a junior.
"Junior Xiao Yan greets the four seniors."
Gu Lie slowly opened his eyes and studied Xiao Yan with quiet deliberation. Sincere admiration filled his gaze. "To reach 6-star Dou Saint at such an age, with Spiritual Strength at the half-step Emperor State and the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame in your possession... for the Xiao Clan to produce a genius like you once more is truly a miracle."
In every sense, Xiao Yan was now a second Purifying Lotus Demon Saint. Factor in his alchemy, and he was perhaps even more monstrous than that legendary figure. After all, the Purifying Lotus Demon Saint had once suppressed an entire era!
"Senior Gu Lie flatters me," Xiao Yan replied with an easy smile, neither arrogant nor overly modest.
"Sit down, Xiao Yan." Gu Yuan wore a kindly smile. After all, Xiao Yan was now his son-in-law. Calling him half a son would not have been an exaggeration.
Once Xiao Yan took his seat, the atmosphere in the hall turned somewhat heavy. The first to break the silence was Gu Dao, one of the Three Gu Immortals.
"Clan Head Xiao Yan, forgive this old man's bluntness, but I would like to ask: how did you come to possess the Hun Clan bloodline?" Every gaze in the hall fixed on Xiao Yan the instant Gu Dao finished speaking.
The Ling Clan and the Shi Clan had vanished without a trace, the fate of their members unknown. Outsiders might still speculate whether the Gu Clan or the Hun Clan was responsible, but the Gu Clan knew perfectly well that this was the Hun Clan's handiwork.
And the purpose was equally clear: to gather the Tou She Ancient God's Jade and open the Tou She Ancient God Mansion.
Xiao Yan had long expected he would need to explain this matter. After a brief moment of thought, he spoke. "There was nothing particularly special about it. When I was young, I joined the Hall of Souls in pursuit of strength. The Hun Clan possesses methods to transplant their Dou God Bloodline into others. To me, the so-called Dou God Bloodline is simply another form of power, no different from a Heavenly Flame or a medicinal pill. It holds no deeper meaning."
Just as Xiao Xuan had said, for those born into Dou God Clans, the Dou God Bloodline represented far more than talent or raw strength. It was also a matter of faith and honor.
But for someone like Xiao Yan, who had grown up without any Dou God Bloodline at all, that bloodline was merely a tool for increasing his strength. Otherwise, he would never have spent such a vast number of soul points trading for blood vials.
Xiao Yan swept his gaze across the hall before settling it on Gu Yuan. His voice dropped low. "Clan Head Gu, I will now state my position in my capacity as Clan Head of the Xiao Clan."
"The Xiao Clan no longer possesses the ancient jade, nor does it retain a Dou God Bloodline. Our Dou God Bloodline has completely dried up. My own was transplanted after birth and cannot be passed down to the next generation. Therefore, in the struggle over the Tou She Ancient God's Jade and the Tou She Ancient God Mansion, the Xiao Clan will not participate."
He paused briefly, then added, "Nor will I personally join the scramble."
Xiao Yan understood very well what the Gu Clan wanted. Xun Er was his wife, and the Yan Alliance's strength was in no way inferior to the former Ling Clan's. On top of that, the three great magical beast tribes of the Beast Region had either joined or submitted to its banner. The Yan Alliance's overall power was formidable in the extreme.
But he had no intention of dragging the Yan Alliance or his loved ones into the whirlpool surrounding the ancient jade.
He was an alchemist. Whoever eventually obtained the embryonic pill, so long as they could meet his price, Xiao Yan would not mind helping them refine it. The Yan Alliance would remain neutral.
The Three Gu Immortals exchanged uneasy glances, brows faintly furrowed. At present, the Lei Clan, Yan Clan, and Yao Clan had formed an alliance, creating what was essentially a three-way standoff. The Gu Clan clearly held no advantage in that arrangement, which was precisely why they had hoped to draw Xiao Yan and the Yan Alliance onto their side.
Gu Yuan let out a sigh and shook his head. "Since that is the Xiao Clan's decision, we will respect it." His expression softened, and he continued, "Xiao Yan, I'm not saying this as the Clan Head of the Gu Clan. I'm saying this as Xun Er's father. I'm entrusting Xun Er to you."
Xiao Yan's expression turned solemn, his eyes grave. He nodded heavily. "You can ask me to say it as many times as you wish. I, Xiao Yan, will protect her safety with my life."
The weight of that promise visibly eased Gu Yuan's heart. He threw his head back and laughed. "Hahahaha! In the past, everyone said Xiao Xuan's methods were brilliant. But now I think it's Xun Er's judgment that is truly exceptional."
After the laughter faded, Gu Yuan's tone shifted. "There is one more matter. I would like to place some of the Gu Clan's younger descendants within the Yan Alliance. Would that be possible?"
"Of course."
After discussing the arrangements for the Gu Clan's younger descendants, Xiao Yan departed the Gu Realm and returned to the Xiao Realm to prepare for the Yao Clan's Medicinal Ceremony, which would begin before long.
Events had already progressed to this point. The Yan Alliance, the strongest faction on the Dou Qi Continent, naturally needed to declare its stance.
Once Xiao Yan had gone, Gu Yuan addressed the room. "Let the matter of the Yan Alliance rest here. Its neutrality is not without benefit to us. No matter what the future holds, even in the worst case, the Gu Clan will not be completely exterminated. At the very least, some of our bloodline will endure in this world."
Gu Dao, one of the Three Gu Immortals, frowned. "But Clan Head... what Hun Tiandi values in Xiao Yan should be his alchemy. If Xiao Yan refuses to help him refine the pill, then even if Hun Tiandi obtains the Di Tier Embryonic Pill, it will be useless. He still won't be able to break through to Dou God."
Gu Yuan glanced at the Three Gu Immortals and gave a bitter smile, shaking his head. "I've crossed hands with Hun Tiandi before. If any of you believe he absolutely needs the Di Tier Embryonic Pill to be fully refined before he can break through to Dou God, then you are gravely mistaken."
"From what I know of him, Hun Tiandi certainly has another trump card in reserve. Refining the Di Tier Embryonic Pill into a true Di Tier pill would grant him the greatest possible benefit, but that does not mean becoming a Dou God is possible only through a completed Di Tier pill."
The Three Gu Immortals and Gu Lie fell silent. None of them could find grounds for rebuttal.
A thousand years ago, during the battle at the Heavenly Tomb, both the Gu Clan and the Xiao Clan had been present. Everyone had believed Hun Tiandi would never dare interfere with Xiao Xuan, not when both Xiao Xuan and Gu Yuan, two peak-level experts, stood guard.
And yet Hun Tiandi appeared all the same. He fought a great battle against Xiao Xuan while the Hun Clan's army slaughtered the Xiao Clan until almost nothing remained, ultimately forcing Xiao Xuan to sacrifice his own clansmen in a desperate attempt to break through.
It was not that the Gu Clan had been unwilling to intervene. They had been blocked by the Nihility Devouring Flame, several 8-star Dou Saints, and a vast host of Hun Clan experts working in concert.
Only then had Gu Yuan learned that the Nihility Devouring Flame was in the Hun Clan's hands!
In the end, although Gu Yuan managed to slay several 8-star Dou Saints, far too much time had already been lost.
The Nihility Devouring Flame's appearance had dealt the Gu Clan a devastating blow. To claim that a thousand years later, Hun Tiandi had no other means and had to rely entirely on Xiao Yan to refine the Di Tier Embryonic Pill... Gu Yuan simply did not believe it.
Hun Tiandi was the sort of man who never revealed the full depth of his hand.
"Regardless," Gu Yuan said at last, his voice hardening, "Hun Tiandi cannot become a Dou God unless he gathers the complete set of ancient jade. Guard it closely. All eight pieces must be assembled; if even one is missing, he cannot open the Tou She Ancient God Mansion. As long as we defend even a single piece to the death, Hun Tiandi will never succeed!"
…
Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, the Yao Clan's Medicinal Ceremony was almost upon them. After returning from the Gu Realm, Xiao Yan sealed himself inside a retreat chamber and threw himself into the study of alchemy.
His current path in alchemy was much like a blind man crossing a river, groping for stones underfoot and inching forward one careful step at a time. He had no experience to draw from, no predecessor to guide him, and not even a single person he could sit down with to discuss such matters in earnest.
The retreat chamber door groaned open. Xiao Yan stepped out with his hair in complete disarray, squinting against the light. He lifted his head and gazed toward the southern horizon. The Yao Clan's Medicinal Ceremony would begin tomorrow. It was said that the continent's finest alchemists gathered there, and he truly wanted to witness it with his own eyes.
This stretch of time had been unexpectedly peaceful. For a brief spell, the Dou Qi Continent seemed to have slipped back into the quiet years of old.
And it was in the midst of that calm that the Medicinal Ceremony arrived.
…
Atop the main peak of the Xiao Realm, Xiao Yan looked at the gathered faces before him and shook his head. "For this trip to the Yao Clan, I'll be going alone."
Xun Er's brow creased with concern. "The Yao Clan is one of the ancient clans. Their Medicinal Ceremony won't be a simple affair. Is Xiao Yan ge-ge really not bringing anyone along?"
"That's exactly why I should go by myself," Xiao Yan replied with an easy smile. "I'm going to attend a Medicinal Ceremony, not march off to war. If anything unexpected comes up, it'll be far easier to move on my own."
Though Xun Er remained uneasy, his tone left little room for argument. In the end, everyone could only relent. With Xiao Yan's current strength, if he truly encountered something beyond his ability to handle, the rest of them would be of no help anyway. They might even become a burden.
Xiao Yan turned to Cai Lin, who stood with Xiao Xiao's hand in hers, and his expression softened. "Take good care of the Yan Alliance while I'm away."
Cai Lin held his gaze for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "Mm. You can rest easy."
"Have a safe trip, Daddy!" Xiao Xiao called out sweetly.
Sisi~~
Xiao Cai slithered out in her small serpent form and nuzzled against Xiao Yan's cheek, while Xiao Xiao flew forward to plant a kiss on his other cheek, the two of them bidding their father farewell together.
Xun Er stepped forward and gently smoothed down a stray lock of his unruly hair. "Xiao Yan ge-ge, please be careful."
Xiao Yan smiled and caught her fair hand. "Relax. With my current strength, even if I run into trouble, getting away won't be a problem."
"Yi wa!"
Little Yi perched on Xiao Yan's neck and thumped his small chest proudly, as if declaring that with him along, his old man would be perfectly fine.
Xiao Yan couldn't help but laugh. His gaze drifted toward a nearby mountain peak, where Little Fairy Doctor stood quietly in the distance, raising a hand to wave at him.
"Hehe, alright then. No need to see me off any farther." Xiao Yan's body rose slowly into the air. He cast a warm smile down at everyone below, then turned and shot out of the Xiao Realm without looking back.
The Yao Clan was located in the Shenglong Mountain Range, far to the south of the Central Plains. In a sense, that region had already left the Central Plains proper behind, which made it rather remote.
But as the saying went, a mountain needed no great height so long as an immortal dwelled upon it. The same held true here. Though the Shenglong Mountain Range was a savage and untamed land, crawling with poisonous insects and teeming with ferocious beasts rarely seen in the Central Plains, the Yao Clan's presence still made the area extraordinarily lively. Moreover, the mountains were rich in all manner of rare medicinal ingredients, and countless alchemists journeyed from thousands of miles away to search for materials there. Because of all this, despite its remoteness, the Shenglong Mountain Range remained a place of remarkable bustle and activity.