Chapter One: The Smelly Man’s Grand Rifle

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Chapter 1: The Luckless Gacha Puller’s Great Spear

“Good fortune is coming, I wish you good luck…”

A self-deceptive song echoed within the cramped space.

“This ten-pull is bound to yield gold. Even with the worst luck, the guarantee will hit at ninety pulls, damn it!” A flash of golden light swept across the screen, illuminating the boy’s delicate face.

“I finally got Raiden Shogun, and it took ninety pulls and the hard guarantee. How unlucky can I be? Should I be happy or disheartened?” He let out a long sigh.

Gazing at the newly acquired Raiden Shogun, he decisively unequipped the Skyward Mint from Zhongli and gave it to Raiden Shogun. “Zhongli, I’ve prepared a new weapon for you: level 90, refinement rank 5 Slime Spear! This is your exclusive weapon.”

“Ugh, Raiden Shogun wielding the Mint just looks terrible with basic attacks. I’ve saved enough primogems for two more ten-pulls. Should I try the weapon banner?”

Without hesitation, the boy acted as soon as the thought occurred. “Let’s do it. Whoever hesitates is a coward.” With that, his mouse clicked swiftly on the ten-pull button.

Blue lights flickered on the screen, interspersed with a single purple. “A character from the weapon banner? Amazing. Am I destined to lack a rich lady in life? I’ve pulled so many Ningguangs, yet in reality, there’s no wealthy big sister to support me.”

Another ten-pull. The action was simple, but his mood was different. “Damn, damn—it’s gold! My luck’s turned around!” As golden light flashed across the screen, excitement lit the boy’s face. He clicked rapidly, flipping to the next page.

“Mistplitter, Mistplitter, Mistplitter! Damn it! Wolf’s Gravestone. I can’t believe it. Twenty pulls for gold, Raiden Shogun’s signature weapon can’t be far. Let’s top up 328, just in time for the double bonus reset. Other people give gifts for birthdays, but it’s completely normal to top up for a game’s anniversary.”

“Damn! 328 wasted. Another 198.”

“198 only got me two more Ningguangs. I refuse to accept this. One more, 98.”

“What? Another Ningguang? Are you kidding me, Mihoyo? No way I can take this lying down. 648, I’m not backing down. Let’s go!”

After scanning to pay, he tossed his phone onto the bed and grabbed the mouse, clicking feverishly. Golden light flashed on the screen. He hit skip, and there it was—the Grass Mistplitter he’d been longing for. As they say, superstition doesn’t change fate, spending money doesn’t change bad luck. Some things can’t be changed, unless…

“So after recharging 648, the very first pull is gold. With so much left over, I’ll have to go for constellations and make this scabbard even sweeter.”

“Huh? Such luck, gold on the first ten-pull? It’s another Diluc, but that’s within expectations.”

…Skipping a round of merciless gacha pulls…

“This is the last ten-pull, let’s get another Raiden Shogun.”

Golden lights flashed again and again on the screen. “What the hell, six Raiden Shoguns in one ten-pull? This is insane! Where’s my phone? I need to record a video or people will say I photoshopped it!”

In his excitement, the boy scrambled off the bed barefoot to grab his phone from the bedside. In his haste, he failed to notice a small puddle left from soaking his feet earlier. He stepped into the puddle, slipped, and his head collided sharply with the corner of the nightstand.

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First came a jolt of searing pain, then darkness, then a warm, sticky liquid trickling down his forehead.

“Ah! Is that blood? Did I break my forehead again? Great, now I’ll get another lecture from the family.” He tried to push himself up, but for some reason, he had no strength at all.

“Why is everything getting darker…” His eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

He no longer had the strength to speak. He couldn’t understand why such a minor injury left him so weak, his consciousness slipping away.

Am I going to die? If I die, what will happen to my family? I haven’t posted my ten-pull of six Raiden Shoguns to shock the world yet. I haven’t returned the Skyward Mint to Zhongli either…

……In another world……

Snow swirled and the wind howled. In such weather, no one could stay outside for long.

Inside a wooden cabin, the fireplace cast a warm glow. On a small bed nearby lay an infant, hair black-brown and slightly tousled, gradually turning cinnabar orange from crown to tips. In his golden eyes, diamond pupils loomed, seeming both abyssal and piercing like a blade. At the corners of his eyes lingered a faint cinnabar shadow, marking him as no ordinary child.

A hint of worry, unbefitting for his age, touched his round cheeks. “Sigh, it’s been days since I transmigrated here. In this icy snow, all I have is a jade token. If this is like the novels, this token is definitely not ordinary—maybe my real parents are from a great clan, hunted by enemies or betrayed by family, and had to abandon me here. If not for Grandpa Jack, I would’ve frozen to death. Speaking of which, why isn’t Grandpa Jack back yet? I’m so hungry. He said this morning a blacksmith was coming to the village.”

The door opened and Old Jack stepped in, shaking off the snow, hanging his coat by the door. He went to the fireplace and began preparing milk powder, speaking as he did, “A blacksmith came to the village today, and he has a child about your age. You’ll have a playmate soon. I searched the city for days but couldn’t find anyone looking for a lost child. Looks like your parents can’t be found. When I found you, you only had a jade token on you, with the name ‘Zhong Yan’ inscribed. That will be your name from now on.” He didn’t care if Zhong Yan could understand, talking to himself as he worked.

Zhong Yan looked at Old Jack, but being so young, he couldn’t speak—so he grabbed a handful of Old Jack’s beard and grinned.

“Seems you like your new name. You’ll stay with me from now on. Careful, it’s hot—”

“Hahaha…”

……Six years after transmigration……

“Wake up, Yan!” came a knock at the door.

“What time is it?” Zhong Yan mumbled, half-opening his eyes.

“Seven o’clock. Grandpa Jack said the Spirit Hall’s soul master will be here soon, and told me to wake you.” Outside was a simply dressed boy in linen, with tanned skin and a head of blue hair.

“Alright, I got it.”

Over six years had passed, and Zhong Yan now knew he’d transmigrated to Douluo Continent. Grandpa Jack was the village chief, and naturally, Tang Hao the blacksmith and Tang San were here too. He got along well with Tang San—after all, Zhong Yan was a twenty-year-old student in his previous life, and hardly fit in with the other kids. Only with Tang San could he converse properly. He got up, dressed, and donned a simple long robe. As a transmigrator, even at a young age, he could use the knowledge in his head to earn a bit of money.

He washed up quickly and opened the door to find Tang San waiting.

“Let’s go.”

The place wasn’t far. He wondered to himself what his spirit would be. From the experience of other transmigrators, it was either a spirit awakening with a system bind, or a heaven-defying martial spirit. Honestly, he didn’t ask for much—a good spirit would do. He didn’t need crazy cheats; with a strong martial spirit, he could become a god alongside Tang San. He had some different ideas, but those required strength. As for the so-called Grandmaster, he’d listen, but not believe—trusting him was for fools. Maybe his martial spirit would be related to Zhongli, since his hair and eyes were so similar. Ah, Zhongli, I don’t ask for much—a Vision would be enough, heh.

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He and Tang San arrived at the village Spirit Hall. Of course, this so-called Spirit Hall was just a larger wooden house. At the door, Old Jack waited with several children.

…Let’s skip Su Yuntao’s part and jump to the protagonist’s spirit awakening…

Finally, it was Zhong Yan’s turn. Before Su Yuntao could speak, he stepped into the center of the six black stones.

Warmth—that was Zhong Yan’s first sensation. It was as if he was enveloped in a gentle world, an indescribable comfort. No wonder the other children calmed down when surrounded by this golden light. The gentle energy seeped into his body. Guided by this warmth, a weighty feeling surfaced in his heart, and a surge of energy rushed to his palm.

Su Yuntao’s eyes lit up, for within the golden barrier, the golden light particles surrounding Zhong Yan were even more numerous than those around Tang San earlier. He sensed that a powerful martial spirit was about to emerge. His excitement was plain to see.

A golden spear, seemingly able to pierce all things, appeared in Zhong Yan’s hand.

“Rainpiercer Spear?!” he wondered. Why this weapon? Was it because he gave Zhongli the Skyward Mint, and Zhongli was protesting?

Su Yuntao grabbed his hand, urging, “Hurry and test your soul power!”

As per transmigrator tradition, he was, naturally, Innately Full of Soul Power.

“Would you like to join Spirit Hall?” Su Yuntao couldn’t contain his excitement, for this concerned his own promotion.

“Can I consider it?” Zhong Yan had a good impression of Spirit Hall, but he genuinely needed to think it over.

“If you join Spirit Hall, I guarantee an audience with the Pope—maybe even admission to the Golden Generation,” Su Yuntao pressed.

“Let me think about it.”

Seeing Zhong Yan refuse twice, Su Yuntao had to let it go for now. He sighed and said, “Alright, think it over. If you decide to join Spirit Hall, come find me at the city branch. My offer stands.”

A note from the author:

1. If you think the protagonist is nothing like Zhongli, just keep reading. Zhongli’s composure comes from centuries of guardianship, not something inheritance alone can grant the main character.
2. This is a story you can read with your brain engaged and without fear of “poison.” It’s impossible to write something everyone finds flawless.
3. There’s no group journey—don’t misunderstand. After graduating from the Junior Soul Master Academy, the main character will join Spirit Hall…

Except for that last ten-pull of six Raiden Shoguns, all the previous pulls were drawn from the author’s own bitter experience, 5555.

(End of this chapter)