20demayo 1. The boy in the carriage
1. The boy in the carriage
In summer, at noon, the blazing sun hangs high in the sky, displaying its most dazzling side to the world.
Logically speaking, in such scorching weather, the intense sunlight should be enough to make everyone walking on the street feel the deep "love" from the sun.
However, for the Ice City, which is closest to the far north on the Douluo Continent, this level of sunlight only makes the locals feel slightly warmer than usual.
On one of the busiest streets in the inner city of Arctic Ice City, a seemingly undecorated carriage slowly moved forward, pulled by two horses.
This is an ordinary-looking carriage, but upon closer inspection, you will find that it has two features that are enough to make the people of the Ice City lower their proud heads.
First of all, the horses pulling the carriage ahead are the Icefang Horned Horses, known to everyone in the entire Ice City and kept only by the Ice Duke's Mansion.
Two snow-white unicorns with ice-blue horns on their heads and bright eyes, whose hooves left a faint frost in the area, slowly pulled the carriage forward. Judging from their leisurely pace, the weight of the carriage behind them was obviously negligible.
The driver in front of the carriage was a calm, middle-aged man who seemed ordinary, but you should know that the two Ice-Clad Wildebeests in front of him were no ordinary wild beasts.
Judging from their ice-blue horns and the two spiral rings on them, these two Icefang Horned Horses are both soul beasts with two hundred years of cultivation! Although Icefang Horned Horses are easy to tame because of their gentle nature, it does not mean that just any weakling can drive them.
To steadily control these two Ice-bladed horned horses, this seemingly ordinary middle-aged groom must be at least a Soul Master or even a higher level of power!
The fact that a Soul Venerable or higher-level expert could serve as a coachman speaks volumes about the prestige of the carriage's owner.
Secondly, and most importantly, is the clan emblem engraved on this seemingly ordinary carriage. It is an ice-blue spear, and upon closer inspection, one can see the spearhead reflecting a sharp gleam in the sunlight and the shaft faintly engraved with a five-clawed dragon that seems to be about to take flight.
This is none other than the Ice Duke's family heirloom martial spirit—the Frost Soul Chain Dragon Spear!
This crest, naturally, is the crest of the Duke of Arctic Ice's family. Upon seeing this carriage approaching, the people of Arctic Ice City immediately make way for it and offer their highest respect. This is the people of Arctic Ice City's deepest respect for the Duke of Arctic Ice, and their sincere gratitude for the Duke's contributions to Arctic Ice City over the years.
Although the person sitting in the carriage couldn't see what was happening outside, he had seen it all over the years and wouldn't be surprised even if he had. After all, this was what his family deserved for their years of contributions.
There were two people sitting in the carriage at that moment.
One of them was an old man, sitting on the right side of the carriage, his eyes gently closed, as if he were resting.
His pale white hair and wrinkled face told others of the long years he had lived, but his neatly groomed white hair, elegant white robe, and bronze-colored, upright body all indicated that the old man was a person who knew how to be particular, followed rules, and exercised regularly.
The other person was a child who was beginning to show signs of handsomeness.
The child, who appeared to be only five or six years old, sat upright in the main seat of the carriage. He had perfectly trimmed short black hair and a pair of large, bright eyes. His black eyes held both gentleness and a subtle air of nobility. His long eyelashes fluttered like willow branches as his eyes closed. His fair and flawless face, coupled with his delicate features and his still somewhat chubby little hands and feet, made him incredibly adorable, giving one the urge to tease him a little.
However, the child's magnificent ice-blue robes, trimmed with gold and embroidered with the Frost Soul Chain Dragon Spear emblem on the chest, would deter most people from doing so. After all, a boy dressed like that must be among the noblest of nobles.
The child sitting in the main seat of the carriage in the Duchess of Extreme Ice's mansion is none other than Ling Bingtian, the eldest son of the Ling family, the current city lord of Extreme Ice City, the heir to the throne of the Duchess of Extreme Ice.
The old man sitting next to him was Ling San, the senior steward and protector of the Ling family, a Soul Douluo with a soul power of 82, who was sent by the Ling family to protect him on this trip.
As for the purpose of their trip, it was to allow Ling Bingtian, who had just turned six, to go to the center of Extreme Ice City to participate in the annual grand event of Extreme Ice City - the Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony!
As representatives of the people-oriented noble family, the awakening of the martial spirits of the younger generation of the Ling family is always conducted together with a selection of children from the people of Extreme Ice City. On the one hand, this demonstrates the Ling family's approachable attitude to the people of Extreme Ice City; on the other hand, it showcases the future potential of the Ling family.
Therefore, Ling Bingtian was sitting in this Ling family carriage heading to the center of Extreme Ice City. His purpose in going there was to complete his martial soul awakening and to showcase his talent, regardless of its level, to the people of Extreme Ice City.
If Ling Bingtian has high talent, that would be good. It would not only replenish the Ling family with fresh blood for the future, but also show the people of Jibing City that the Ling family will continue to prosper.
Even if Ling Bingtian's talent is poor, or even very poor, it doesn't matter. First, the Ling family doesn't lack one or two geniuses. Second, the Ling family is not one of those ordinary noble families in the inland. The Ling family, which comes from a military background, would absolutely not allow its members to raise a spoiled brat.
Those Ling family members who lack natural talent should focus on developing their abilities in areas other than cultivation, and then dedicate themselves to all aspects of the construction of Extreme Ice City. They can still contribute to the family and Extreme Ice City, and set an example for the people of Extreme Ice City. Even ordinary members of the Ling family can make outstanding contributions to the construction of Extreme Ice City, thereby inspiring every resident of Extreme Ice City to maintain a positive and upward-looking attitude.
At this moment, Ling Bingtian sat upright in the main seat of the carriage, seemingly without any tension, but through his bright, dark eyes, one could still see the unease deep within his heart.
"Six years old now, it's time to decide my fate." Deep in his heart, Ling Bingtian sighed deeply in a tone that was extremely incongruous with his age.
Six years ago, after a traditional and clichéd story of rescuing someone in front of a truck, I was transported to this world that I had dreamed of visiting in my childhood.
For the first three years of his life, Ling Bingtian was barely conscious; his underdeveloped brain was simply unable to contain the consciousness of an adult from his previous life. It wasn't until his third birthday that Ling Bingtian gradually began to recover his memories of his past life, and now, naturally, he has remembered them all.
This is probably thanks to the existence of soul power in Douluo Continent. Children develop relatively quickly, and with the pressure of his past life's memories, Ling Bingtian finally regained all his past life's memories a few days ago on his sixth birthday.
Unlike the other orphans in her previous life, Ling Bingtian's parents were still alive. She had an older sister and a younger brother, and although they weren't wealthy, they were comfortably well-off and could be considered happy and content.
Having transmigrated, Ling Bingtian couldn't even imagine how his parents would react once they learned of his situation. The only saving grace was that he still had his siblings, so at least he didn't have to worry too much about his parents' future.
After a long period of depression, Ling Bingtian finally emerged from his mental turmoil. Although he was only twenty-two years old in his previous life, he was still an adult who had completed nine years of compulsory education and a full university education, so Ling Bingtian had the mental resilience to adjust. Moreover, Ling Bingtian believed that even his parents in his previous life would not want him to continue down this path of despair if they knew he was in such a state.
Since I have the chance to live a second life, I must live it to the fullest!
He would neither bring shame upon his parents in his past life nor upon his parents in this life. Ling Bingtian finally understood this a couple of days ago and felt a sense of clarity. He knew that it was a sign that the immature soul formed in this life had finally merged with his own soul.
For himself, for his parents, for the continuation of his family! He must become stronger, the most powerful Soul Master on the continent! This was the last tender voice that resonated in Ling Bingtian's heart, and it became the guiding light for his future!
"Let's start with this Martial Soul Awakening Ceremony as the first step." Feeling the carriage beneath him had come to a stop, hearing the slightly noisy whispers of the common people outside, and looking at the sunlight streaming in through the curtain that the middle-aged coachman was gradually pulling back, Ling Bingtian murmured to himself.
Immediately, Ling Bingtian stood up, smoothed out the wrinkles in his elegant robes that had become slightly wrinkled from sitting for so long, glanced at Ling San sitting beside him, and then walked out of the car into the light with a calm but determined look.
"But before that, there are some problems that need to be dealt with." These were the last words echoing in the child's mind...