I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: Seven Kill Shock the World
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"Nine treasures emerge with Glazed Tile, one for strength, two for speed, three for soul!"
Ning Rongrong's soul rings shone brightly as colorful light surged from her nine-colored pagoda, flowing into Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Dai Mubai.
Considering her limited soul power and the fact that Xiao Wu was a whole level higher than her, applying attributes across levels would be extremely draining. Therefore, Ning Rongrong didn't apply all buffs to her four teammates at once.
She enhanced Xiao Wu with both strength and speed, while Zhu Zhuqing received speed, Ma Hongjun got soul power, and Dai Mubai received strength.
As for the summoned Light Lion "Little White" and Fire Phoenix "Little Red," these two summons didn't need her support.
While Ning Rongrong was boosting her teammates' attributes, the Light Lion summon Little White emitted white light, enhancing itself and the Fire Phoenix Little Red with its innate soul skill: Blessing.
The ten-thousand-year-old Light Lion's innate soul skill had greatly improved in effect—it now boosted all attributes by 50%.
Despite Little White's superior enhancement over Ning Rongrong's, it didn't mean Ning Rongrong's role in the team was negligible.
If Chu Chengzhou had unlimited soul power, Ning Rongrong before reaching the eighth ring would indeed be just a decorative figure.
But alas, energy is conserved. Every action and soul skill usage of the summons required Chu Chengzhou, the summoner, to provide soul power.
Using an innate soul skill by a ten-thousand-year summon consumed no less soul power than a regular five-ring auxiliary soul master using a ten-thousand-year auxiliary soul skill. With Chu Chengzhou currently at Level 37 Soul Elder, summoning three creatures as fighters and having Little White use two auxiliary innate soul skills depleted nearly a third of his soul power.
This wasn't because his soul power lacked endurance or quality—his top-tier martial soul ensured his soul power was stronger and more abundant than most peers.
The apparent lack of sufficient soul power was due to the high age of his summons compared to his own soul power level.
His first soul ring was nearing three thousand years, while the second and third were all ten-thousand-year ones. Though powerful, these summons also brought significant soul power consumption.
The flaw was obvious, but Chu Chengzhou didn't plan to address it—at least not in the early stages.
Soul power level might not represent everything, but it was foundational for unleashing great strength. Between cultivation speed and soul power quality, he chose cultivation speed.
Choosing soul power quality wasn't necessarily wrong, but for Chu Chengzhou, choosing cultivation speed was definitely right.
Not to mention, only by increasing his soul power level would his cheat system upgrade.
"Third soul skill, Phoenix Wings Soaring!"
After teammates enhanced their attributes, Ma Hongjun's third soul ring lit up, and a pair of black phoenix wings engulfed in orange flames suddenly appeared on his back.
With a flap of the wings, he rapidly ascended towards Zhao Wuji.
"Second soul skill, Lava Phoenix."
"First soul skill, Lava Line!"
Puffing out his chubby cheeks, Ma Hongjun's second and first soul rings illuminated as a scorching line of molten lava spewed forth, heading straight for Zhao Wuji's face.
Ma Hongjun's old hen martial soul had transformed into a Lava Fire Phoenix, changing its attributes and thus its soul skills.
For example, the first soul skill, Lava Line, originally a pure fire attack, now became a dual-attribute magma attack combining fire and earth.
Additionally, due to the improvement in martial soul quality, the first soul skill's attack power significantly increased after transformation.
"Hmph, First soul skill, Immovable Bright King Body!"
Facing the incoming lava line, Zhao Wuji snorted, bursting with intense golden light.
The next moment, the lava line struck but didn't affect Zhao Wuji at all. Instead, under the influence of the golden light, the fiery lava line reversed course and shot back towards Ma Hongjun.
"Damn!"
Cursing inwardly, Ma Hongjun hurriedly flapped his wings to dodge.
"Second soul skill, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave!"
Meanwhile, Dai Mubai arrived, spitting out a ball of milky-white light that crashed into Zhao Wuji.
Instantly, the white light exploded but was still resisted by Zhao Wuji's intense golden glow.
At this moment, taking advantage of the visual obstruction caused by the explosion, Zhu Zhuqing swiftly moved behind Zhao Wuji.
Her third soul ring lit up as she clasped her hands above her head, her claw blades merging into a foot-long black light blade. She then slashed it down towards the back of Zhao Wuji's head.
"Second soul skill, Great Golden Palm!"
Detecting Zhu Zhuqing's subtle movements behind him, Zhao Wuji immediately turned around, transforming his hands into bear paws and meeting Zhu Zhuqing's descending third soul skill, the Dark Slash, with a palm strike.
Bang——!
Claw met palm, a loud sound erupted. Due to the vast difference in power, Zhao Wuji's hundred-year second soul skill directly broke Zhu Zhuqing's thousand-year attack soul skill. His bear paws shattered the black light blade, continuing unimpeded towards Zhu Zhuqing.
Just as the blow was about to land, when Zhao Wuji intended to hold back, a green light surged from behind and entered Zhu Zhuqing's body. Instantly, a transparent green protective shield formed around her.
It was the rear support Chu Chengzhou controlling the Sky Azure Tree summon Little Qing, timely intervening to enhance Zhu Zhuqing with its innate soul skill: Guardian.
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing protected by the green shield, Zhao Wuji brightened, abandoning any lenience. His bear paws mercilessly slapped forward.
Bang!
The Sky Azure Tree summon Little Qing's age wasn't low; the defensive effect of its innate soul skill: Guardian was considerable, comparable to defensive soul skills of the same age. The bear paws descended, but Zhu Zhuqing's green shield wasn't shattered. However, under the powerful impact, her entire body was sent flying.
It wasn't that Zhao Wuji, a seven-ring strong offensive soul master, couldn't break the green shield, but rather, this was just team training, and Zhao Wuji hadn't shown his true strength.
Even if the opponents in the Spirit Master Competition were strong, there wouldn't be any Soul Sages, nor even Soul Emperors.
Because it was rare to have a Soul Emperor under 25 years old on the continent. Even if there were, how could someone who cultivated to become a Soul Emperor still come to the competition to bully others?
Just as Zhao Wuji sent Zhu Zhuqing flying, he suddenly felt a gust of wind from behind.
Before he could react, he was hit hard in the lower back. Under the immense force, his entire body flew into the air.
It was the Light Lion summon Little White, empowered by the innate soul skill: Blessing, dashing in and fiercely swiping Zhao Wuji's waist.
Taking advantage of Zhao Wuji being airborne without leverage, Xiao Wu quickly stepped forward, leaping up to chase Zhao Wuji. Her first soul ring lit up, activating her waist-bending soul skill, using her waist to drive her legs, bending her knees, and delivering a powerful knee strike to Zhao Wuji's lower back.
Xiao Wu knew her eight-step fall series of self-created soul skills were effective against low-level soul masters. But against high-level ones like Zhao Wuji, although they looked flashy, they were merely tickling. Therefore, she didn't use the eight-step fall combo on Zhao Wuji.
Moreover, in this boss-fighting battle, she wasn't the main force. Playing a supporting role was enough.
One strike made Zhao Wuji's eyes bulge, veins popping, and his body, which was about to fall, soared several meters into the air again.
"Chirp~!"
Seizing the opportunity, the Fire Phoenix summon Little Red flapped its wings and came swooping down, activating its innate soul skill: Bathing in Fire. Its phoenix flames rose intensely, and then it opened its beak, spewing out scorching phoenix fire.
Roar—!
In an instant, Zhao Wuji, suspended mid-air without leverage to change direction, was engulfed in a small sea of fire.
Boom——!
Soon, a large lump of charred human-shaped object fell from the sea of fire in the sky, landing on the playground and raising a cloud of dust.
Ordinary ten-thousand-year soul beasts had strength comparable to optimally balanced Soul Kings.
And a ten-thousand-year phoenix, due to its noble bloodline, had strength rivaling somewhat subpar Soul Emperors.
With the auxiliary summon Little White's Blessing, the current Fire Phoenix summon's strength could definitely match a not-too-high-level, optimally balanced Soul Emperor.
Since Zhao Wuji hadn't used defensive soul skills nor unleashed his true form, relying solely on protective soul power to defend against the burning phoenix flames, he was bound to suffer a significant setback.
"Boss Chu, is Teacher Zhao alright?"
Looking afar at Zhao Wuji lying on the ground, clothes tattered and hair and beard scorched, Ning Rongrong at the back asked Chu Chengzhou with some concern.
"No problem, Teacher Zhao is a Soul Sage. This kind of attack is lightwork for him!"
Waving his hand dismissively, Chu Chengzhou said nonchalantly.
Though Zhao Wuji appeared utterly battered, Chu Chengzhou knew it wasn't serious enough to cause any real damage. If there were any injuries, they were negligible.
After all, Zhao Wuji was a Level 76 Soul Sage, not so easily defeated.
As soon as Chu Chengzhou finished speaking, Zhao Wuji rolled over, cursing and standing up: "Alright, alright, I underestimated you little rascals. Let's go for the second round!"
Glancing at his clothes burnt by phoenix fire, Zhao Wuji was very displeased and puzzled. He had heard from Flender that Chu Chengzhou's third soul ring, though exceeding standards, was only about five thousand years old. How could this red bird be so outrageous?
A mere Soul Elder paired with a five-thousand-year soul ring could unleash the level of a Soul Emperor?
In the second round, Zhao Wuji was clearly more cautious. While continuously countering Xiao Wu and others' attacks and subtly bullying them, he focused much of his attention on the Fire Phoenix summon in the air.
There was no other reason. On the field, only this Fire Phoenix summon posed a significant threat.
Heightened vigilance and discarding his earlier underestimation made Zhao Wuji untouchable. Despite their numbers and assistance from a lion and a phoenix, Xiao Wu and others were thoroughly outmatched.
Out of the corner of his eye, Zhao Wuji spotted the Fire Phoenix summon in the air, creating an opening to lure the red bird down. Otherwise, constantly hovering and spitting fire from above, his short reach and inability to fly left him helpless against the bird.
Chirp~!
Seeing Zhao Wuji's opening, the Fire Phoenix summon Little Red flapped its wings and dove down, spewing intense phoenix flames.
"First soul skill, Immovable Bright King Body!"
Golden light flashed, and Zhao Wuji's figure was again covered by phoenix flames.
But this time, with a defensive soul skill active, Zhao Wuji wasn't as disheveled as before.
Immediately, Zhao Wuji, engulfed in blazing phoenix flames, activated his third and fourth soul skills.
Suddenly, the diving and spitting phoenix summon Little Red felt itself becoming heavier, as if stuck in mud, its flying speed plummeting. Had it not been for its substantial strength, it might have fallen directly.
At this moment, from the still-burning sea of fire below, a purple light circle shot up rapidly, encircling the heavily restricted, speed-depleted Fire Phoenix summon Little Red.
The next second, a robust figure leaped high, like a super-sized flea, achieving a jump impossible for ordinary soul masters, directly bounding to Little Red, who was ascending.
Third soul skill, Gravity Enhancement, making the opponent's body suddenly heavy, as if sinking into mud, restricting movement.
Fourth soul skill, Position Tracking, allowing the fourth soul ring to fly out and lock onto the opponent, instantly closing the distance via jumping power.
"Red bird, get down here!"
Zhao Wuji's second soul ring lit up as he transformed his hands into bear paws, grinning ferociously, and delivered a hard slap to Little Red's not-so-large bird head.
Zhao Wuji was reluctant to harm his students, fearing excessive force might injure them. But the Fire Phoenix summon was merely Chu Chengzhou's summon creature, so he held nothing back.
Bang!
Receiving Zhao Wuji's merciless slap full-on, Little Red immediately saw stars, falling directly from the sky.
"It's over, Little Red has been taken down by Teacher Zhao, we can't win!"
Seeing their main force, the Fire Phoenix summon, KO'd by Zhao Wuji, Ning Rongrong under the protection of the Sky Azure Tree summon couldn't help but look dejected.
"What, Rongrong, do you think we can beat Teacher Zhao?"
Chu Chengzhou found it amusing to say.
On Douluo Continent, fighting isn't about numbers but quality.
The opponent was a Soul Sage, while their side had only one Soul Ancestor and six Soul Elders. How could they possibly win? Unless they cheated!
But coincidentally, despite their numbers, their qualitative inferiority meant someone on their side did indeed cheat.
Feeling that only a fraction of his soul power remained, Chu Chengzhou narrowed his eyes, controlling Little White to cast an innate soul skill: Blessing on himself, boosting all attributes, including spiritual power, by 50%.
Then, spiritual power surged, and Chu Chengzhou stealthily launched his illusion technique on Zhao Wuji, who was avenging his previous humiliation, wearing a joyful smile.
In terms of soul power level, he naturally fell far short of Zhao Wuji's seven rings.
But in terms of spiritual power, the situation was quite different.
Zhao Wuji was a strong offensive soul master with the Vigorous Vajra Bear martial soul—a muscular powerhouse whose spiritual power wasn't his forte, relying on passive increases from rising soul power levels.
On the other hand, Chu Chengzhou had practiced spiritual cultivation techniques since childhood and consumed the immortal herb specifically enhancing spiritual power: Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew. In terms of spiritual power alone, he was undoubtedly no weaker than an average Level 70 Soul Sage.
If that were all, Chu Chengzhou wouldn't dare guarantee his spiritual power surpassing Zhao Wuji's.
But with Little White's innate soul skill: Blessing amplifying spiritual attributes by 50%, his spiritual power intensity firmly surpassed Zhao Wuji's at Level 76.
Intangible spiritual power descended. In the contest of spiritual power intensity, Zhao Wuji, a Level 76 Soul Sage, slightly lost. Instantly, Zhao Wuji felt dizzy and disoriented, his vision shifting.
When he regained clarity, what greeted his eyes was no longer the playground and Xiao Wu, but a magnificent hall.
Inside the hall stood over a dozen young women clad in gauzy attire, slightly ragged, with musicians playing instruments on both sides. Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji sat in a luxurious golden chair at the main seat inside the hall.
The next second, beautiful music filled the air as the dozen gauze-clad young women began to dance gracefully.
Zhao Wuji: "???"
What's happening? Did I get hit by a mental soul skill?
Being an experienced soul master, Zhao Wuji's first reaction was realizing he had unknowingly been caught.
Upon being hit by a mental control soul skill, the primary task was finding a way to escape the illusion's constraints.
However, upon careful inspection, Zhao Wuji discovered that this mental illusion's level was very high. With his abilities, brute force wasn't an option, and mental power wasn't his forte, leaving him powerless to break free. Moreover...
Hiss~! These dancing young women were quite interesting!
Damn it! Alcohol is poison, and lust is a bone-scraping knife. Old Zhao has strong self-control; how could I be tempted by these seductive illusions?
Hmm? That young woman's... deep... big... uh, white... well, anyway, very eye-catching!
Although he knew this scene was an illusion, Zhao Wuji couldn't help but be captivated.
No wonder, which fifty-year-single bachelor brother could withstand such a test?
While Chu Chengzhou gave Zhao Wuji a wave of benefits, externally, the Light Lion summon Little White flicked its tail, knocking Zhao Wuji to the ground and placing a lion paw on his neck.
Looking at the unresponsive Zhao Wuji, Liu Erlong and Flender watching from the sidelines exchanged glances.
What's going on? Why did Old Zhao falter?
Not only Liu Erlong and Flender were confused, Xiao Wu and others were also bewildered.
After KO'ing the Fire Phoenix summon, shouldn't Teacher Zhao continue to press on, further trampling... no, guiding them? Why did he turn into a dead fish?
"Principal Liu, Teacher Zhao has already sunk into the illusion. Does this count as the end of the team training?"
At this moment, Chu Chengzhou spoke.
"You used a mental illusion technique to control Old Zhao?"
Upon hearing this, Flender was dumbfounded, asking incredulously.
"Incompetent as I am, I know a bit about this."
Chu Chengzhou smiled and nodded.
"Whew~!"
Flender and Liu Erlong both gasped in shock.
As advanced soul masters, they understood that controlling a Soul Sage with a mental illusion required specific prerequisites.
Mental-type abilities were undoubtedly powerful and mysterious, but the prerequisite was that the user's spiritual power must exceed the opponent's; otherwise, instead of controlling the opponent, they would suffer backlash.
Chu Chengzhou, a mere Soul Elder, could control Zhao Wuji, a Soul Sage? How strong must his spiritual power level be?
"Cough, alright, this team training ends. Release Teacher Zhao!"
After the initial shock, Liu Erlong cleared her throat and told Chu Chengzhou.
She thought she had overestimated Chu Chengzhou's strength, but never expected to severely underestimate him.
Chu Chengzhou could control Zhao Wuji, a Soul Sage, with a mental illusion. With this skill alone, in next year's Spirit Master Competition, who among the participants could stand against him? Wouldn't he crush them all?
Hmm, teammates handle the crushing, and he handles the slaughter.
At this moment, Liu Erlong could already envision her Lan Ba Academy team winning the championship in next year's Spirit Master Competition!
Slightly nodding, Chu Chengzhou canceled the benefits given to Zhao Wuji.
"Big White... uh, I'm back?"
Zhao Wuji was about to ask where Big White's legs went when he realized his consciousness returned to reality.
The next second, a life-infused green light descended, entering Zhao Wuji's body.
In an instant, the injuries caused by Little Red's phoenix flames disappeared without a trace.
Subsequently, several more green lights descended onto Xiao Wu and others.
During sparring, even in training, injuries were inevitable. Generally, if conditions allowed, a healing-type soul master would be arranged.
Liu Erlong hadn't assigned one because she knew Chu Chengzhou had a summon capable of using healing soul skills.
However, in her expectations, those needing healing would be Chu Chengzhou and others. Unexpectedly, the one needing healing was Zhao Wuji, a soul master.
"Flender, who hit me with a mental soul skill just now?"
Looking around, Zhao Wuji didn't find any unknown high-level mental-type soul masters present, and asked Flender suspiciously.
"There, isn't he over there?"
Flender pointed at Chu Chengzhou.
"Was it you, kid?"
Zhao Wuji widened his eyes, looking at Chu Chengzhou in disbelief.
"Teacher Zhao, are you satisfied with the benefits I arranged for you?"
Chu Chengzhou nodded and smiled.
Instantly, Zhao Wuji blushed deeply.
To put it bluntly, the scantily clad, gracefully dancing young women in the illusion were truly impressive!
Zhao Wuji: No, I must criticize mysel—no, Old Zhao again !
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