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*****
Watching the four Qi and Blood Soul Rings floating around Su Yu, Du Busi's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Yes, yes, that's it!"
Back during the Soul Battle Tournament, when Su Yu unleashed his Qi and Blood Soul Rings against Xuan Zi, Du Busi had already sensed that these rings were extraordinary.
They resembled ordinary soul rings but seemed to be entirely condensed from Qi and blood alone.
In Du Busi's words, it was a method of refining Qi and blood, treating one's own body as a martial soul to form soul rings.
For the Body Sect, this discovery was nothing short of earth-shattering.
Ever since witnessing Su Yu's Qi and Blood Soul Rings, Du Busi had been obsessed with them. Unfortunately, aside from Su Yu, there were no other known practitioners of this technique. After the tournament, Su Yu rarely displayed his power and spent most of his time in seclusion, furthering his cultivation. As a result, Du Busi had no way of obtaining the method to cultivate Qi and Blood Soul Rings.
However, what truly caught his attention was Su Yu's Soul Spirit Cultivation System.
After all, a method that could enhance the fusion between a soul master and their martial soul was nothing short of revolutionary.
Was merging a martial soul with its wielder an easy feat?
No, not at all.
Titled Douluos, who had spent decades refining their soul power, stood at the pinnacle of talent in both comprehension and willpower, not to mention their martial soul's quality and their cultivation aptitude.
Yet even they struggled to advance further in their cultivation.
Was it because Titled Douluos reached a bottleneck where their soul power could no longer break through?
No.
Upon reaching the rank of Titled Douluo, cultivation entered an entirely different realm. The difficulty of advancement increased drastically, but so did the qualitative transformation of strength. At this level, most were high-ranking figures in major factions, never lacking in resources.
And yet, their soul power advancement remained excruciatingly slow.
The greatest obstacle was the fusion between the martial soul and the soul master.
Titled Douluos had it slightly easier, but once they reached Rank 95, stepping into the realm of Super Douluos, their primary focus in cultivation shifted to comprehending the essence of their martial soul, achieving a deeper fusion between their soul and body.
Su Yu's Soul Spirit Cultivation System, however, had the remarkable ability to accelerate this process from the very beginning of a soul master's journey.
Moreover, it did so without hindering the original pace of soul power cultivation—in fact, due to the system's unique techniques, the process became even faster.
This was because the soul rings in the Soul Spirit Cultivation System were condensed using the bloodline of soul beasts. While this method did not grant any additional soul power apart from surpassing current limitations, it greatly enhanced the overall efficiency of cultivation.
Not only did this increase cultivation speed, but it also significantly improved the quality of training.
As cultivation progressed and the fusion between the martial soul and the soul master deepened, the practitioner's ability to absorb and refine the energy of heaven and earth improved as well—meaning that their cultivation speed would only continue to accelerate over time.
As Du Busi analyzed the characteristics of the Soul Spirit Cultivation System, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
This system enabled soul masters to achieve complete fusion with their martial souls, yet it required a specific method of condensing soul rings.
Did this mean that, aside from the cultivation technique itself, the greatest contributor to martial soul fusion was the unique method of forming soul rings?
And if so—how exactly did it achieve this?
Du Busi analyzed the situation in reverse and actually managed to find a breakthrough. Essentially, Su Yu's Soul Spirit Cultivation System had fully deciphered the nature of soul rings, uncovering the shared essence between martial souls and soul masters. Using this knowledge, he had developed the Soul Spirit Cultivation System.
Moreover, this system required a specific method for condensing soul rings—one that couldn't be replicated by just any soul ring. Only those formed through this method could achieve the desired effects.
This led Du Busi to a bold hypothesis: the soul rings in the Soul Spirit Cultivation System were not merely martial soul rings—they were also formed from a soul master's Qi and blood. Perhaps even spiritual power was fused into them.
Of course, the exact process of integrating spiritual power remained unclear to Du Busi. He suspected it had something to do with the visualization technique that accompanied the Soul Spirit Cultivation System's techniques.
However, when it came to the fusion of Qi and Blood Soul Rings with traditional soul rings, he had made significant progress in his analysis.
It was this very insight that drove Du Busi to invest heavily in researching the Soul Spirit Cultivation System within his sect.
Unfortunately, even after all his efforts, he had yet to uncover the exact method for condensing Qi and Blood Soul Rings.
To him, the Soul Spirit Cultivation System had already become irrelevant to his own growth. But the Qi and Blood Soul Rings—those were of immeasurable significance.
His martial soul was his very body. If Qi and blood could also be condensed into soul rings, then he would essentially possess the equivalent of twin martial souls.
The power boost this would grant him would be immense.
Moreover, after witnessing the new type of soul rings within the Soul Spirit Cultivation System, Du Busi also entertained the idea of fusing his future Qi and Blood Soul Rings with his existing soul rings.
To him, this would be no different from a martial soul fusion technique—except its enhancement would be entirely his own.
After all, a Body Martial Soul and the Qi and blood from which a Qi and Blood Soul Ring was condensed were, in essence, the same existence.
If he could truly cultivate his Qi and blood as a martial soul and refine his body into a martial soul itself, then Du Busi would become a twin Body Martial Soul wielder.
In that case, even a self-fusion martial soul technique might not be impossible.
Su Yu had no knowledge of Du Busi's grand ambitions.
However, he could clearly sense Du Busi's intense desire for the Qi and Blood Soul Rings.
It wasn't just from his current reaction—the way his eyes fixated on Su Yu's four soul rings, practically drooling. It was something Su Yu had already sensed during the Soul Battle Tournament, back when he first revealed his Qi and Blood Soul Rings and felt Du Busi's soul power fluctuate in response.
Even then, Du Busi had harbored a deep craving for Qi and Blood Soul Rings.
At the time, it was purely an instinctual longing.
But the more he analyzed them afterward, the deeper he became entangled in his obsession.
"Speak. What will it take for you to reveal the method for condensing Qi and Blood Soul Rings?" Du Busi took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and asked in a steady voice.
Su Yu was slightly surprised.
Du Busi had a clear understanding of the situation.
More surprisingly, he showed no concern about the hostility between them.
"Sect Master Du, my stance remains the same as before—I believe that the Body Sect should be the home of all Body Martial Soul users, not the private enforcers of a single faction."
Hearing the words "private enforcers," Du Busi immediately frowned, clearly displeased by such a characterization.
However, when he reflected on the recent actions of the Body Sect, he couldn't deny that Su Yu's words weren't entirely wrong.
"Hmph, Veena was already my disciple's fiancée. Moreover, our Body Sect and the Tianhun Imperial Family are closely bound together. Protecting our own has always been the foundation of the Body Sect's principles."
Indeed, the Body Sect had always been fiercely protective of its own.
With Veena's status in the sect, it was only natural that they would stand by her side no matter what.
"In that case, I won't argue with you, Sect Master Du. You know the reality of the situation better than anyone," Su Yu replied, refusing to waste words debating the matter.
Instead, he shifted his approach.
"The remnants of the Tianhun Imperial Family are still resisting the Sun-Moon Empire. That is, at its core, the primary reason for the Body Sect's opposition to the empire. But let's be honest—do you really think those people are fighting out of some grand sense of justice? No, they know better than anyone the true reason for the downfall of the Tianhun Empire."
Du Busi remained silent, intrigued by Su Yu's line of reasoning. He listened intently.
"The reason Veena and the other Tianhun survivors are resisting the Sun-Moon Empire is simple—they fear being purged."
Du Busi nodded in acknowledgment.
As Veena's teacher, he had long sensed this underlying truth.
Their struggle wasn't about righteousness—it was about survival.
After all, they were the direct descendants of a fallen royal bloodline. In any regime change, history had shown time and time again that remnants of the previous dynasty were usually eradicated to prevent future instability.
If they didn't resist now, once the Sun-Moon Empire fully unified the continent, they wouldn't even have the chance to rebel anymore. Instead, they'd become fugitives—hunted down like rats, with the entire empire's forces officially branding them as criminals.
When that time came, life would only become more unbearable.
"But that's precisely why they have nothing to worry about," Su Yu continued. "The Sun-Moon Empire isn't some ruthless machine incapable of tolerance."
He paused briefly before dropping a bombshell.
"More importantly, once the Sun-Moon Empire completes its unification, it will no longer be an empire ruled by an absolute monarch. Instead, it will transition into a federal system, governed by a parliamentary council that collectively oversees the nation's affairs. There will be no supreme, unchecked authority—unless, of course, someone possesses absolute, unparalleled power."
—!?
Du Busi's gaze snapped to Su Yu, scrutinizing him as if trying to peer into his very soul.
For the first time, he found himself unable to understand the young man before him.
Su Yu had spoken casually, almost nonchalantly.
Yet the content of his words…
It was earth-shattering.
He wanted to abolish the feudal monarchy!
Where did such an idea even come from?
And more importantly—how dare he?
"I imagine the Star Luo Empire and some surviving members of the Tianhun Imperial Family are already plotting an assassination attempt on Xu Tiannan, aren't they?"
Du Busi's soul power suddenly fluctuated violently. A massive wave of pressure radiated from his body, his dark green soul power surging across the sky like a storm.
"There's no need for such an extreme reaction, Sect Master Du." Su Yu remained composed, tapping his temple with a knowing smile. "This isn't some betrayal—I'm merely making an educated guess. And let's be honest, it's not a difficult one to make."
Even so, Du Busi didn't fully let down his guard.
"Enough of this roundabout nonsense. What exactly do you want?" His patience had worn thin, and he no longer had any interest in Su Yu's rhetoric.
"You will proceed with your plans," Su Yu stated plainly. "At the right moment, I will lend a hand. Xu Tiannan must die. Only with his death will the era of feudal monarchy truly come to an end."
Su Yu smiled.
Yet that smile sent a chill down Du Busi's spine.
This…
This kid was utterly fearless.
"Your teacher is from the Sun-Moon Imperial Family!" Du Busi accused, his voice heavy with suspicion.
"I will handle matters with my teacher personally," Su Yu replied smoothly. "And trust me—he will understand. That's not something you need to concern yourself with, Sect Master Du."
A long silence stretched between them.
Du Busi carefully reevaluated the feasibility of Su Yu's plan.
And to his shock…
It actually made sense.
Su Yu wanted to overthrow the feudal monarchy.
And for Su Yu to dismantle this system, Xu Tiannan could not die—at least, not yet.
If Xu Tiannan were to perish, Su Yu would be able to seize the momentum of the Sun-Moon Empire's continental unification and lay the foundations for an entirely new political system.
So that was it.
The Sun-Moon Empire's conquest of the continent wasn't merely about expansion—it was a plan Su Yu had been orchestrating from behind the scenes, waiting, manipulating, and guiding events toward his goal.
No wonder.
No wonder Su Yu, who was not even a native of the Sun-Moon Empire, had invested so much of his effort into ensuring its unification.
From his participation in two Soul Battle Tournaments to his public dissemination of the Soul Spirit Cultivation System and Soul Armor System, everything he did was accelerating the Sun-Moon Empire's dominance.
No.
Du Busi realized he was still thinking too small.
Su Yu's actions weren't just about strengthening one faction over another—he was elevating the entire soul master world.
And the results spoke for themselves.
Even though war raged across the continent, with countless soul masters perishing on the battlefield, the overall strength of the soul master world was not declining. If anything, it was growing at an unprecedented rate.
"Once Xu Tiannan is gone and a federal parliamentary system is established, I doubt the Tianhun royal survivors will have anything to fear from a purge, don't you think?"
Du Busi instinctively nodded.
Of course, there was always a chance…
But based on Su Yu's description, a parliamentary system would be governed by elected representatives rather than a single ruler.
And in the immediate aftermath of the war, the only ones capable of assuming those positions and stabilizing the post-war chaos would be the very powers that had ruled before the conflict.
If they stopped resisting, then the chaos would end.
Veena herself might even become a council member.
"...Why are you doing this?"
Why?
"No reason. I just believe it should be done," Su Yu replied indifferently. "Besides, your vision is too narrow. You think Douluo Continent is the center of everything, but in reality, it's nothing more than a tiny, insignificant planet in an endless universe. Beyond Douluo, there exist countless other realms. Unifying and advancing the soul master world is merely a stepping stone toward something greater."
"Other realms?"
Su Yu had deliberately saved this revelation for last, and as expected, Du Busi's focus snapped to it immediately.
"Of course. The world we live in is part of an infinitely vast cosmos, filled with countless celestial bodies. Among them, only a rare few are capable of sustaining life. But even if the percentage is small, the sheer scale of the universe means there are still innumerable planets teeming with civilizations—countless worlds of cultivation.
Some of these civilizations are incredibly powerful, home to beings who have reached the realm of gods. Some may even rival or surpass Douluo's God Realm."
"Hsssss—!"
Du Busi took a sharp breath, his entire body tensing.
His mind was in turmoil.
Was Su Yu… making this up?
No.
Something in his instincts told him Su Yu wasn't lying.
But that led to an even greater question—how did Su Yu know all this?
Gods.
Su Yu must have a connection to the gods.
He must have communicated with the God Realm.
He must have inherited some divine legacy.
It all made sense now.
For ten thousand years, the Douluo Continent had never witnessed a true divine miracle.
Yet now, Su Yu had found it.
"...And yet, while other realms continue to grow stronger, Douluo Continent remains stagnant."
Su Yu's tone shifted slightly.
"Ten thousand years ago, Douluo Continent had already reached its peak. The soul master cultivation system had reached its zenith—multiple Limit Douluos coexisted in the same era. That was the point when true progress should have begun.
But instead…
The soul master world remained divided, torn apart by factions and petty conflicts. As a result, rather than advancing, it has been locked in endless internal strife.
And because of that…
The progress of the soul master world has slowed to a crawl."
(End of Chapter)