1: Chapter 1: No, buddy, I'm the World-Destroying Black Lotus, and you're calling me an evil soul master?

In a remote village outside Shrek City, six-year-old Lu Jing looked at the long line ahead, his young face filled with worry and anticipation.

Having transmigrated to the Douluo Continent for six years, the moment that would decide his fate had finally arrived.

As long as he could awaken a decent Spirit and innate Soul Power, he would have enough confidence to carve out his own destiny in this chaotic era on the brink of war. After all, if Huo Yuhao, who only had level one innate Soul Power, could grow into the God of Emotions who stood above the nine heavens, there was no reason he couldn't do the same, knowing what he knew.

Of course, the prerequisite was that he had to seize all those opportunities for himself; otherwise, he would still be finished.

As time passed and evening approached, it was finally his turn to awaken his Spirit.

It was a youth dressed in magnificent clothing, accompanied by a sweet-looking and noble young girl, both appearing to have extraordinary backgrounds.

"My name is Bei Bei, and I am a disciple of Shrek Academy. If you awaken a good Spirit and innate Soul Power, would you be willing to join Shrek Academy?"

Looking at the youth before him, Bei Bei showed no impatience, but instead spoke with a smile and a gentle tone.

"I'd love to, I'd absolutely love to!"

For him, as long as someone could help him awaken his Spirit, let alone joining Shrek Academy, even joining the Holy Spirit Cult wouldn't be a big problem. After all, this wasn't ten thousand years ago when Spirit Hall still existed and provided free Spirit awakenings.

To put it bluntly, it was because he had no money and no background; otherwise, why would he have to be so humble?

"That's good!"

Bei Bei nodded in satisfaction, and then, under the gaze of Tang Ya and the surrounding villagers, he began the Spirit awakening process.

Accompanied by the injection of Bei Bei's Soul Power, a brilliant golden light shone from his body.

Soon, before long, the golden light vanished, and in its place was a light as black as ink.

It was a black lotus, formed entirely from the purest World-Destroying Chaos Qi. It was deeply black, as if it could swallow all light. Its petals were layered, each one looking as if it were crafted from black crystal, with dark golden Dao patterns flowing along the edges, yet it exuded a bone-chilling aura of deathly silence and destruction.

The lotus pedestal was engraved with ancient and mysterious World-destroying runes. These runes were not drawn later but were born with the Black Lotus, representing the manifestation of the Chaos Destruction Laws.

The runes sometimes faded, making the Black Lotus appear simple and unadorned, and sometimes shone brightly, emitting destructive fluctuations that caused ripples in the surrounding space, as if it would collapse at any moment.

At the heart of the lotus was a mass of eternally burning World-Destroying Black Flame. The black flame was silent, yet possessed the terrifying power to incinerate everything, including time and space. Deep within the flame, one could faintly see countless Worlds circling in birth and destruction; that was the manifestation of the chaotic destructive essence contained within the World-Destroying Black Lotus.

The moment the golden light faded, that pitch-black lotus hovered in Lu Jing's palm, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.

The smile on Bei Bei's face froze, and his outstretched hand stopped in mid-air. A trace of shock and doubt flashed in his eyes—he had never seen such a bizarre Spirit. The aura of destruction permeating from that pure darkness caused his own Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit to stir restlessly.

Tang Ya covered her mouth, her sweet face full of astonishment, and even her breathing slowed. The villagers were completely silent; the expectant gazes they had held just moments ago were now replaced by shock, and they looked at the black lotus as if it were some terrifying monster.

The silence lasted for three breaths before someone in the back of the crowd shrieked: "Evil Spirit Master! This is the Spirit of an evil Spirit Master!"

Like a thunderclap on a clear day, the villagers instantly erupted into chaos.

The words "evil Spirit Master" were like poisoned needles, piercing deep into everyone's hearts—who hadn't heard the rumors of evil Spirit Masters harming living beings? Those demons who nurtured their Spirits through slaughter were always synonymous with disaster.

"Kill him! We can't let an evil Spirit Master harm our village!" An old man with a wrinkled face roared, leaning on his cane, his cloudy eyes flashing with a fierce light.

"Great Master Bei Bei, Great Master Tang Ya, hurry up and do something!"

Someone shouted at Bei Bei and Tang Ya: "This kid doesn't look like anything good; keeping him alive is just inviting disaster!"

"Right! Get rid of him! We can't take that risk!"

The roars, intertwined with anger and fear, rose one after another. The villagers, clutching hoes and sickles, approached step by step, looking at Lu Jing as if they were looking at a corpse.

They didn't care if the child was truly an evil Spirit Master; they only knew that if he were, this remote village would be the first to suffer.

Lu Jing trembled all over, the color draining from his young face. He subconsciously clenched his fists, and the Black Lotus trembled slightly with his movements. He retorted: "I am not an evil Spirit Master! This is the World-Destroying Black Lotus, it is..."

"Still claiming to destroy the World?"

A burly man interrupted him, spraying spit as he scolded: "You're talking about destroying the World, and you still dare to say you aren't an evil Spirit Master? I think you're a spy sent by the evil Spirit Masters!"

"Exactly! He must be here to harm us!"

Lu Jing was trembling with anger, his chest heaving violently, his furious gaze sweeping over each distorted face.

He knew better than anyone that in this era, being labeled an "evil Spirit Master" meant either being hunted to death or having to truly defect to the Holy Spirit Cult—both paths led to death!

Just then, Bei Bei moved.

His eyes narrowed, blue light flared around his body, and his Soul Power erupted without reservation. A punch, accompanied by the sound of a dragon's roar, slammed toward Lu Jing's face. He couldn't take the risk; Shrek's duty was to protect. Even if the opponent was just a child, as long as there was the slightest threat, he had to act.

Lu Jing's pupils shrank. At this life-or-death moment, his body's instincts overcame his fear. He violently swung his right hand, and the World-Destroying Black Lotus met the punch.

"Bang!"

The moment the fist and the lotus collided, a terrifying impact exploded. Bei Bei felt as if his fist had struck a piece of black iron infused with the power of destruction, numbing his arm, while Lu Jing was sent flying backward as if struck by a giant boulder, crashing heavily onto the ground.

Although he didn't suffer any major injuries, he didn't dare to hesitate or linger. He scrambled to his feet, the World-Destroying Black Lotus spinning behind him, the black mist it emitted forcing back the villagers who were advancing.

He glanced at the encroaching Bei Bei and the villagers filled with murderous intent, gritted his teeth, and turned to run wildly toward the pitch-black forest outside the village—the Star Dou Great Forest was the only refuge he could think of right now.

"Don't let him escape!"

"Chase him!"

Roars rang out behind him. Lu Jing dared not look back, his small figure stumbling as he ran through the twilight. The World-Destroying Black Lotus in his palm emitted a faint, dark light, reflecting on his face, which was a mix of tears and determination.

He knew that from this moment on, his path was destined to be paved with blood and fire, amidst doubt and pursuit.