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Li Luochen marveled at Dugu Yan's tremendous growth. What was supposed to be a simple enhancement had somehow turned into an exponential leap forward.
Placing a hand on Dugu Yan's shoulder, Li Luochen used his soul power to examine her condition. To his astonishment, her body had already reached the level of a Soul Douluo—only slightly weaker than his own.
Her mental strength had also surged dramatically, now comparable to his and even slightly surpassing it. It felt as deep and boundless as an abyss.
Li Luochen speculated that Dugu Yan's fifth soul ring could match his—a sixty-thousand-year one. Her sixth soul ring could reach eighty thousand years, and her seventh might even reach a hundred thousand years.
Currently, Dugu Yan possessed four soul bones: a pair of thirty-thousand-year Dark Golden Terror Claws, a hundred-thousand-year Spirit-Crushing Demon-Breaking Head Bone, and a sixty-thousand-year Ink Jade Black Mamba Left Arm Bone.
Thanks to the effects of the Yearning Heartbroken Red, all of her soul bones had been elevated by a tier and further fused with her body. This meant that even if Dugu Yan were to die, she wouldn't drop any soul bones.
In two words: utterly absurd.
Moreover, her Golden Radiance Azure Dragon spirit had been transformed by the Yearning Heartbroken Red, elevating it to the rank of a god-level spirit—far surpassing Li Luochen's Coiling Dragon Staff, which was currently only a super spirit.
The divine-grade herb carried divinity within it, and this divinity had infused her spirit, evolving it into a god-level spirit.
Dugu Yan's innate soul power was originally at level seven. After consuming the Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia pill, Earth Dragon Melon, and Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone, her innate soul power had been boosted to full capacity—faster than even those born with full innate soul power.
Now, after consuming the Yearning Heartbroken Red, her talent skyrocketed again. She was now on par with Qian Renxue, who had full innate soul power equivalent to level twenty. When Dugu Yan absorbed her fifth soul ring, it was highly likely she would leap several levels.
Additionally, the herb's potency had advanced her cultivation technique to the seventh stage of Indestructible Body—already at its peak. Once she reached the Soul Sage level, she would advance to the eighth stage, allowing her to condense the Three Flowers atop her head.
In the time leading up to his departure for the City of Slaughter, Li Luochen prepared thoroughly. Though it was a place for bloodshed and self-refinement, he ensured he was fully equipped. He brought along various items like Dugu Bo's poisons, antidotes, calming pills, and toxic powders.
Li Luochen also cleaned out his storage soul tool. There were some things he didn't need to bring to the City of Slaughter—gold soul coins, gemstones, rare metals—he left them behind, placing them in a soul tool and handing it over to Dugu Yan.
It could be said that Dugu Yan inherited all the wealth Li Luochen had accumulated over the years, totaling millions of gold soul coins. Why so much?
Li Luochen had a peculiar habit—he adored gold and jewels. Sometimes, he liked to swim in piles of gold soul coins (which, in the world of Douluo, were made of pure gold). He also had a collector's obsession with gemstones, pearls, and other shiny objects. He bought them not because he needed them but because they looked nice and brought him comfort.
"I may not use them, but I can't live without them," Li Luochen chuckled mischievously.
On the other side, in the Tian Dou Imperial City, the Crown Prince's residence…
Qian Renxue had learned that Li Luochen intended to train in the City of Slaughter. Surviving it would grant him the God of Slaughter Domain—she herself possessed a domain.
Qian Renxue could see that the young man harbored great ambition, seeking to hone himself through the trials of the City of Slaughter. She admired this and couldn't wait to meet him.
Her identity as the "Young Master" hadn't allowed her to properly converse with her subordinates yet. Regardless of the cost, she was determined to keep Li Luochen, this prodigy, by her side. Whether it was money, status, soul bones, or even herself… *cough*—well, almost anything. (Indeed, what a generous angel.)
However, the mention of Li Luochen's cultivation level in the letter gave Qian Renxue pause. The letter stated that Li Luochen was already a fifty-seven-level Battle Soul King—and he hadn't relied on any forbidden techniques. His strength came purely from heavenly treasures.
Qian Renxue herself was only at level fifty-eight. As Xue Ye Emperor gradually handed over authority to her, she had been occupied with state affairs, causing her cultivation to lag. Yet she hadn't expected the once Soul Elder prodigy to catch up to her so quickly.
Proud as she was, Qian Renxue refused to accept it. How could heavenly treasures be so powerful? The letter mentioned that Dugu Bo had discovered something in a lake within the Great Star Forest and fought a Titan Ape for it.
Not only Li Luochen but also Dugu Yan had made significant progress. Dugu Yan was already an advanced Soul Sage, with a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring. Qian Renxue knew Dugu Yan was only two years younger than her. How had she become so strong through heavenly treasures?
This revelation ignited Qian Renxue's competitive spirit. She hadn't expected anyone besides the Pope to possess talents rivaling hers—and now there were two such individuals. She couldn't accept it. Qian Renxue resolved to intensify her cultivation and break through to Soul Emperor within a year.
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One year later, Tian Dou Imperial City, Dugu Bo's residence
More than half a year ago, Qianjun Douluo sent word that they should gather in the Tian Dou Imperial City—it was closer to the City of Slaughter.
Li Luochen had been in the Tian Dou Imperial City for half a year now, living with Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo. Of course, another familiar face had also arrived in the city—Flender, who eagerly tagged along upon hearing about the trip.
Shrek Academy's affairs had been entrusted to Zhao Wuji. Poor Zhao Wuji worked hard while everyone else enjoyed themselves. Just half a month ago, when Li Luochen visited the Blue Tyrant Dragon Academy to check on Flender, he noticed Liu Erlong's slightly protruding belly.
Li Luochen: Respect. Looks like you, Principal, got someone pregnant. Well, there's no point crying over spilled rice—you've already cooked the meal and made the baby.
Later, during their conversation, Flender revealed that Liu Erlong's father, Yu Luomian, the second-in-command of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had approved of their relationship.
Though Flender wasn't particularly handsome, with some grooming, he wasn't bad to look at. More importantly, he was an eighty-four-level Soul Douluo, while Yu Luomian was only at eighty-seven.
Moreover, Flender treated Liu Erlong exceptionally well. With his strength and devotion, how could Yu Luomian possibly object? Compared to that certain "failure", Flender was far superior.
Liu Erlong, now possessing two soul bones and having consumed a divine herb, was only in her thirties but had already reached level seventy-five.
Among Shrek Academy's teachers, both Zhao Wuji and Lu Qibin had broken through. Zhao Wuji was now an eighty-one-level Soul Douluo, and Lu Qibin had reached seventy-one-level Soul Sage.
Additionally, there was Shao Xin, a seventy-five-level food-based Soul Sage.
As for Old Li, Li Yusong's soul power had reached level seventy-six. Initially, Li Luochen had secretly given him the Golden Python's skull bone, allowing him to break through by more than one level.
In just half a year, Li Yusong had advanced another level. Now a Soul Sage, his exact cultivation level was undetectable to Soul Douluos.
Old Li had truly experienced a second spring. In about four years, he might even advance to Soul Douluo. By then, Li Luochen would have to carefully select a seventy or eighty-thousand-year spirit beast for him.
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