Douluo Dalu 2/ Soul Land 2: Wonderland

The moment Huànshēng grasped the truth about his martial spirit, an eerie yet majestic glow radiated from the Book of Wonders in his hands. The pages, previously worn and lifeless, now shimmered with golden veins, pulsating as if the book itself were alive. His heart pounded in sync with the flickering light.

He hesitated for a moment before finally flipping the page. As soon as he did, unfamiliar text arranged itself into precise, almost mechanical sentences:

Book of Wonders: Level 0

Abilities Unlocked:

Appraisal - Grants detailed information about individuals, including Name, Age, Martial Spirit, Soul Power Level, and Next Optimal Soul Ring, along with the Monster's Location

.Summoning & Possession - [Locked] - Unlocks at Level 1.

Growth Requirement: Spreading the Name of the Shepherd.

Huànshēng blinked at the floating text, his mind racing. "Appraisal? Like, I can just... look at someone and instantly know how strong they are?"

The book answered in its own way, a faint glow enveloping his vision. The air shimmered, forming translucent text before him. He turned his gaze to the wooden door of his hut and muttered, "Let's test this."

He focused on himself, and the system responded immediately:

[Name: Huànshēng]

[Age: 6]

[Martial Spirit: Book of Wonders]

[Soul Power: Rank 9]

His breath hitched. "Wait, my soul power's at nine? Wasn't I stuck at three?" He nearly tripped over himself in excitement, his past despair momentarily forgotten. The Book of Wonders pulsed gently in his hands, as if pleased with his reaction.

That's when he noticed something new—an additional section beneath his status:

Titles:

Loser (60% Fame)Troublemaker (40% Fame)

Huànshēng froze. "What the—who decided these titles?!" He flipped through the book, hoping for an explanation, but none came. He sighed. "Alright, at least I'm famous for something… even if it's for being a failure."

Still, something stood out to him: Fame. The system had specifically categorized his notoriety. Did this mean he could change his reputation and use it to grow stronger? His fingers traced the glowing letters of Growth Requirement: Spreading the Name of the Shepherd.

"The Shepherd…" he whispered, rolling the words on his tongue. If he could turn his infamy into a real title, something grander, then maybe this Book of Wonders wasn't just a mockery of his existence.

His grip tightened. "Fine. If my fate is to be tied to this book, then I'll make sure everyone remembers the name Huànshēng."

As if responding to his newfound resolve, the book released a soft hum, its glow fading into the air. The moment of awe passed, leaving him standing alone in his dimly lit hut, holding what could very well be the key to his future.

Huànshēng sat on his bed, the glow of the Book of Wonders slowly fading into the darkness of his room. His mind was still buzzing with everything he had just learned. The system, the levels, the strange fame mechanic—it was almost too much to take in. But he couldn't deny the truth: he had power now, real power. Not just a martial spirit that made people laugh, but something unique, something mysterious.

Before he could revel too much in his newfound discovery, a soft knock at his window broke his thoughts. He turned, only to see Pao peering in, his face barely visible in the dim light of the night sky.

"Huànshēng, let me in."

"The door exists for a reason, you know?" Huànshēng grumbled but got up to unlatch the window anyway. Pao, ever the restless one, slipped inside with practiced ease, as if sneaking into people's homes was something he did every night.

Pao settled onto the small wooden stool near the table, his expression more serious than usual. "I wanted to talk before I leave tomorrow."

"Leaving? Where?" Huànshēng asked, still adjusting to this sudden news.

"To Sar Dou Forest." Pao folded his arms. "I want to get my first soul ring as soon as possible."

Huànshēng blinked, trying to process this. "Are you out of your mind? You don't even have a teacher! Who goes into a forest full of soul beasts without a master?"

Pao sighed and reached into his sleeve, pulling out a slightly worn scroll. "That's exactly why I came here. I wanted to show you this."

Huànshēng took the scroll and unrolled it, expecting to see some kind of secret cultivation technique or a fancy recommendation letter. What he saw instead made his blood run cold.

The scroll detailed the true nature of their village. On the surface, it was a peaceful settlement, a simple place where people trained their martial spirits and supported one another. But beneath that facade, an ugly truth was hidden. The village was, in reality, a breeding ground for Evil Spirit Masters. Children were raised here under the watchful eyes of hidden figures, ensuring that their future would be steeped in darkness.

"This… this is a joke, right?" Huànshēng's hands trembled as he read further. "Our village? Raising Evil Spirit Masters? That's nonsense! If that were true, then my mother—"

His voice caught in his throat. A heavy weight settled in his chest, twisting painfully as an impossible thought formed in his mind.

Pao's expression softened. "That's why I'm leaving, Huànshēng. I can't stay here, knowing this."

Huànshēng shook his head violently. "No. I refuse to believe this without proof." His fingers tightened around the Book of Wonders as he instinctively called upon its power. "Show me the truth."

The book glowed softly, its ethereal pages flipping on their own. New text appeared before his eyes, confirming the harsh reality he didn't want to accept.

[Name: Mǒ Yù (Mother)]

[Age: 32]

[Martial Spirit: Divine Gourmet Spoon]

[Soul Power: Rank ???]

[Spirit Type: Food]

[Alignment: Evil Spirit Master] [Soul ring: black boa 10,000 years (Star Duo Forest)]

Huànshēng stared at the glowing words, his breath hitching. "No..." His hands trembled as he re-read the lines, hoping, praying that he had somehow misread them.

But the text did not change.

His mother, the person he loved more than anyone in the world, was an Evil Spirit Master.

The reality crushed him. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor, gripping his head as if trying to physically hold his thoughts together. He wanted to scream, to deny it, to tear that page out of existence—but the book never lied. The Book of Wonders had shown him the truth, and the truth hurt more than any insult or beating he had ever received.

"Huànshēng..." Pao hesitated, unsure how to comfort his friend.

"Why...?" Huànshēng whispered. His voice cracked, raw with emotion. "Why would she...?"

Pao sighed and crouched beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I don't know. But you're not alone in this."

Huànshēng squeezed his eyes shut. A lump formed in his throat, but no more words came out. The knowledge weighed on him like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.

For the first time, Huànshēng felt completely and utterly lost.

But even in that darkness, he wasn't alone.

Pao sat beside him, not saying anything more, simply offering his presence as silent support. The two boys stayed like that for a long time, the air heavy with unspoken words and shattered illusions.

Finally, Huànshēng took a shaky breath, wiping his eyes. "I'm going with you."

Pao blinked. "What?"

"I can't stay here, not after this." Huànshēng gritted his teeth, the pain still fresh but now mixed with determination. "If this village really is what you say it is, then I don't want any part of it."

Pao studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Alright. Then we leave at dusk."

Huànshēng exhaled, steadying himself. His heart still ached, but a new fire had been lit within him. He didn't know what lay ahead, but he knew one thing for certain—he couldn't stay in this village any longer.

Tomorrow, his journey would begin.