The day of the finals, in a land of chaos and obscurity.
A blazing red light flickered through the haze, disturbing the master of this domain.
"?!"
"Brother Hao, what's wrong?" A gentle female voice sounded. Through the mist, one could faintly glimpse an endless green plain, lush blue-green grass stretching as far as the eye could see, and a colossal tree that pierced the heavens, reaching for the sun and moon.
"I faintly sensed an aura that troubles me," a deep yet slightly weak male voice replied.
"An aura that troubles you?" The female voice carried a hint of confusion.
"Yes. I feel it shares the same origin as me," the male voice explained.
"Could it be our grandson?" the female voice asked excitedly.
"Wu Lin? Very likely." The male voice nodded in agreement. "Back then, when Little San sent Wu Lin back, we didn't even get a chance to see him. Now, he must have already grown up."
"That's right!" The female voice was filled with emotion. "Brother Hao, let's go find Wu Lin."
"Now?" The male voice hesitated slightly. "It's not yet the right time."
"But I want to see my grandson!" the female voice pleaded.
"Alright," the male voice relented helplessly. "Here's the deal—you focus on refining the planet's core completely, and I'll fully assimilate the will of this plane. After that, we'll go find Wu Lin. But we can only observe him from the shadows for now. We can't reveal ourselves yet."
"Mm, okay!" The female voice was thrilled, though she then asked with concern, "Brother Hao, how's your injury? It shouldn't be serious anymore, right?"
"It's nothing," the male voice replied. "That wretched beast just caught me off guard with a sneak attack. At most, it'll take another five years for me to fully recover."
"What about it?" the female voice pressed.
"It's been reduced to mere instinct. It stirred just now, but I suppressed it immediately," the male voice answered proudly.
"That's good. We can't afford any more mishaps," the female voice said, clearly relieved. "We mustn't delay Little San's grand plans. We're already behind schedule."
"Hahaha, I know. Don't worry!" The male voice laughed heartily.
Back to the post-match debriefing session.
After the meeting ended, Jing Shaoyu was intercepted midway by Leng Yaoju. The six girls could only watch helplessly, unable to do anything about it.
The Star Luo City Spirit Pagoda was the branch headquarters of the Douluo Continent's Spirit Pagoda on the Star Luo Continent. Leng Yaoju brought Jing Shaoyu to an office on the top floor of this pagoda's skyscraper—her temporary office on the Star Luo Continent, specially prepared for her by the local Spirit Pagoda's director.
"Teacher, where did you go again?" Jing Shaoyu asked.
On the day of the finals, after Leng Yaoju escorted him back to the hotel, she had vanished without a trace. Three whole days had passed, and Jing Shaoyu had begun to think he wouldn't see her again for another month or two.
"Here~" Leng Yaoju didn't answer but instead handed him a pouch-shaped storage soul tool. Seeing this white storage soul tool embroidered with a dragon's head, Jing Shaoyu froze, a somewhat absurd guess rising in his heart.
"Teacher… this wouldn't happen to contain two Soul Bones, would it?" He didn't take it, instead looking up at Leng Yaoju and asking.
"Wishful thinking! There aren't that many Soul Bones lying around for you!" Leng Yaoju said with an exasperated expression. "There's only one!"
"Ah?!" Jing Shaoyu's eyes widened in shock. Even though Leng Yaoju had said there was only one, he was still utterly stunned. What was going on today? He had already obtained three Soul Bones. Weren't they supposed to be rare resources?
"What's with the 'ah'?" Leng Yaoju rolled her eyes. "Hurry up and take a look to see if you want it. If not, you'll have to wait until we return to Douluo to exchange it."
"Teacher, may I ask where this Soul Bone came from?" Jing Shaoyu was curious.
"Compensation from an old geezer, of course," Leng Yaoju replied dismissively.
"An old geezer? Compensation?" Jing Shaoyu was visibly taken aback, then wore a wry smile as he looked at the Soul Bone pouch in his hand, silently mourning for En Ci.
Clearly, this Soul Bone was compensation offered by En Ci. Whether it was given willingly or grudgingly was another matter. To be honest, the old man really had it rough—his disciple was severely beaten, yet he still had to pay to settle the matter. Truly pitiable.
However, Jing Shaoyu didn't feel the slightest bit sorry for him. Who asked the old man to break the rules and try to bully the weak? Now he'd been overpowered by someone stronger—served him right.
"Exactly," Leng Yaoju nodded earnestly. "The old geezer was overjoyed when he handed it to me. Guess my 'guidance' did him some good."
"Uh, Teacher… did you fight with the Holy Dragon Douluo?" Jing Shaoyu asked.
"Fight? How could you call it fighting? I was merely offering guidance to a junior," Leng Yaoju declared righteously. "But that old man isn't half bad. He'll probably make a breakthrough soon, and when he does, he'll have to thank me!"
"Hahaha, that's… great," Jing Shaoyu stifled a laugh and turned his attention to the Soul Bone pouch. He opened it, and a small, pitch-black bone tumbled out.
A dense dark aura immediately spread, casting a gloomy mood over the master and disciple. The intensity of this dark energy suggested the soul beast that produced this bone must have been exceptionally powerful in life.
"It's a left arm bone. Judging by the aura, it must have come from a soul beast with at least fifty thousand years of cultivation," Jing Shaoyu remarked as he examined it closely.
"Indeed. Let me see its origin," Leng Yaoju nodded and flicked a beam of soul light into the bone. A massive beast's phantom surged out, unfolding its full form in the air above.
It was the phantom of a dragon, resembling a Tyrannosaurus in build but with more proportionate limbs. Its body was covered in dark purple, circular dragon scales, its forelimbs long and sharp, its hind legs robust and powerful. A pair of spiral horns crowned its head, and most notably, it had a pair of dragon wings on its back. While it lacked overwhelming ferocity, it exuded an air of majestic grace.
"To think it's actually a True Dragon Soul Bone! Seems the old man was sincere in his apology. Not bad, not bad!" Leng Yaoju said approvingly. "Only a pity its cultivation is a bit lacking—just under ninety thousand years. If it had been a hundred thousand, the value of this bone would've doubled."
"Teacher, this should be the Soul Bone of a Dark Demon Dragon King, right?" Jing Shaoyu hadn't expected En Ci to part with a True Dragon Soul Bone, but upon reflection, he understood the old man's reasoning.
En Ci's Martial Soul is the Radiant Holy Dragon, so this Dark Demon King Dragon's Soul Bone inherently conflicts with his attributes. Even though it's a rare true dragon Soul Bone, he wouldn't risk absorbing it and leaving hidden dangers for himself. As for why not give it to Long Yue—Long Yue is already struggling to control his Mountain Dragon King Martial Soul and bloodline. Having him absorb a dark-attribute true dragon Soul Bone now—wouldn't that be practically wishing for him to fall into demonic corruption?
"It's a Dark Demon King Dragon's Soul Bone," Leng Yaoju nodded and said.
The Dark Demon King Dragon, a dark-attribute true dragon, was a species quite similar to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. However, unlike the awkward status of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon among dragonkind, the Dark Demon King Dragon was a genuine orthodox dragon, a true member of the Black Dragon clan.
The Dark Demon King Dragon was a lower-tier true dragon within the Black Dragon clan, beneath the two higher-tier true dragons—the Hell Demon Dragon and the Dark Holy Dragon. Above them were the rarest yet most powerful noble true dragons, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragons, who were qualified to inherit the Dragon King's throne. Di Tian was the current leader of the Black Dragon clan, the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King.
Indeed, the dragon race was one with a strict hierarchy.
The Dark Demon King Dragon Soul Bone before them was an 80,000-year-old Soul Bone, carrying an offensive Soul Skill called Dark Dragon Claw—a standard skill for true dragon soul beasts or Martial Souls.
"So? Any thoughts?" Leng Yaoju asked Jing Shaoyu.
"None!" Jing Shaoyu answered decisively. "I'd rather exchange it for a Soul Bone that suits me after returning to Douluo Continent."
"Mm, fair enough." Leng Yaoju nodded, waving her jade-like hand to make the true dragon phantom and Soul Bone vanish. She then said, "Take it to Yun Ming. Although the number of Soul Bones in their Poseidon Pavilion's collection can't compare to our Spirit Pagoda's, their quality is superior. This true dragon Soul Bone should at least be exchangeable for a 100,000-year-old Soul Bone."
"Mm-hmm!" Jing Shaoyu nodded, quite agreeing with Leng Yaoju's words.
Despite the Spirit Pagoda controlling the soul spirit industry across three continents, when it came to top-tier Soul Bones, they truly couldn't match the Poseidon Pavilion. After all, the Poseidon Pavilion had accumulated a collection spanning 20,000 years. Not to mention anything else, the legacies left behind by successive Pavilion Masters alone were absolute treasures—something the Spirit Pagoda and Tang Sect couldn't hope to rival.
Since its founding, the Poseidon Pavilion had always been guarded by top-tier powerers at the Title Douluo level—this was indisputable.
After storing the Dark Demon King Dragon's Soul Bone, Jing Shaoyu was promptly sent back to his hotel by Leng Yaoju. Before he could even catch his breath, Na'er, who had been waiting eagerly at his door, dragged him into the room.
In the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
"Teacher, are you alright?" Dai Tianling asked with concern as he looked at En Ci, whose face was bruised yet brimming with excitement.
"Of course I'm fine!" En Ci said excitedly. "Your Majesty, I may need to go into seclusion for some time."
"What?" Dai Tianling was stunned at first, then overjoyed. "Could it be that you…?"
"Indeed! This old man has grasped a sliver of opportunity. This seclusion will surely allow me to take that final step!" En Ci's eyes gleamed with fervor, his tone brimming with anticipation.
"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!" Dai Tianling was brimming with excitement and fervor. He grasped En Ci's hands and said, "Then what are you waiting for, Master? Go into seclusion immediately! As for A Yue, I will personally ensure he receives the best possible care."
It was no surprise that Dai Tianling was so beside himself—this matter was of paramount importance to the Star Luo Empire. Having a Limit Douluo would significantly enhance the empire's national power, allowing them to face the formidable Douluo Federation with much greater ease!
Dai Tianling had fantasized countless times about the empire possessing a Limit Douluo. If they did, the Douluo Federation would never dare act so arrogantly, forcing him—a sovereign emperor—to grovel before a mere vice speaker. The humiliation was unbearable!
Now, his master was on the verge of becoming a Limit Douluo. Was his long-cherished wish finally coming true?
"Your Majesty, I did not come here for A Yue's sake," En Ci replied with a smile, shaking his head. "I came regarding the Douluo Federation. I know Your Majesty has always harbored grand ambitions, aspiring to become a legendary ruler. But when it comes to dealing with the Douluo Federation, Your Majesty must endure for the sake of the nation!"
"This..." Dai Tianling was taken aback, staring at his master in confusion.
Wait, was this really something his master would say? If you're a Limit Douluo, why should I still have to bow and scrape? Wouldn't your breakthrough be meaningless then?
Seeing Dai Tianling's bewildered and frustrated expression, En Ci gave a bitter smile. "Your Majesty, I do not mean to dampen our spirits, but the Douluo Federation's strength far surpasses ours. The realm of Limit Douluo, which I have longed for, is something they possess in no fewer than five individuals!"
"How is that possible?!" Dai Tianling exclaimed, staring at En Ci in disbelief.
"Your Majesty, do you recall the Heavenly Phoenix Douluo?" En Ci explained with a wry smile. "As a Limit Douluo, she is merely the deputy tower master of the Spirit Pagoda. Do you think the tower master himself would be weaker than her?"
"This..." Dai Tianling was visibly stunned, as he had never considered this before.
"And then there's the master of the Shrek Academy's Poseidon Pavilion—he must also be a Limit Douluo. That already makes three," En Ci continued, counting them off. "What about the master of the Tang Sect? Surely he must be a Limit Douluo as well. And the leader of the Douluo Federation's highest military authority, the War God Temple—do you think his strength would be inferior to the leaders of other factions?"
"This... this... this!" Dai Tianling was utterly dumbfounded. Due to his lack of understanding of the Douluo Federation, he had never imagined their power could reach such heights. In his mind, their superiority lay only in more advanced soul technology, and the gap in individual strength couldn't possibly be that vast.
But after hearing En Ci's breakdown, Dai Tianling realized just how naive he had been.
"Then, Master, what should I do?" Dai Tianling slumped onto his throne like a deflated balloon, looking at En Ci in despair.
En Ci had anticipated Dai Tianling's reaction. He said in a low voice, "We must seek peace, exercise patience, and continue to quietly build our strength! Therefore, it is crucial that we strengthen our ties with Tang Bingyao. Only if Tang Bingyao, as a dove, gains the upper hand within the Douluo Federation will we have enough time to grow stronger. Only then can we avoid living in constant fear of war breaking out!"
"Exactly! Exactly! That is precisely what I think as well!" Dai Tianling nodded fervently in agreement.
"Also, there's that child named Jing Shaoyu," En Ci said, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "If Your Majesty can establish a good relationship with him, it would be for the best. Behind him stand at least two Title Douluos, and he himself shows the potential to become one. We must not make an enemy of him!"
"Teacher, are you suggesting..." Dai Tianling mused thoughtfully upon hearing this.
"Your Majesty, I have said all I needed to say. As for how to proceed, Your Majesty's innate wisdom surely has already reached a conclusion," En Ci said. "This old man must now enter seclusion. I take my leave."
"Take care, Teacher!" Watching En Ci depart, Dai Tianling did not rise to see him off. Instead, he remained seated, his face filled with complex emotions.
He looked up at the white tiger emblem on the ceiling and murmured absentmindedly, "Yun'er..."