Thank you to our new Patrons: Foolie, Resid Kuliyev, Bodybags87, Jaden Henderson, spiritwolf86, Kyle Bates, Macabre Threener, Jakob Harris, Koner !!, Elan Jones, NaasH NS, Shon Ducusin, Kai Zambrano, mty and BenDover110! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to Chapter 205: Farewell, Mother-in-law on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! It's called Douluo: Brains Over Bloodline. As always, Patrons will have unrestricted access to all of my stories including futures ones!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Li Luochen traveled through the Star Luo Empire for about a year. During this time, he managed to recruit two of the four single-attribute clans—the "Breaking Clan" and the "Defense Clan"—and brought them to Tian Dou City. As for why they hadn't been approached earlier, well, those who dared to bother them were essentially dogs of the Spirit Hall.
Hmph, upon seeing Li Luochen's Pope's Decree, they immediately fled. Yes, the Pope's Decree was still quite effective. Originally, Li Luochen had also planned to bring along the "Agility Clan," as they made excellent scouts.
However, that troublemaker You Tianshang had already taken care of it. The sect he founded, the Mystic Bird Sect, had recruited all bird-type spirit masters, including the Agility Clan. Anyone who dared to harass the Agility Clan was swiftly beaten back by You Tianshang.
No one dared to provoke You Tianshang, a Soul Douluo with the strength of a titled Douluo—it was terrifying to even think about.
The key point was that You Tianshang's spirit, the Emerald Fiend Phoenix, not only possessed the bloodline of the mythical phoenix but had also mutated to inherit traits of the Emerald Fiend Bird, granting him unparalleled speed. Even Bai He, the leader of the Agility Clan—renowned for their speed—had been defeated by him.
His spirit ring configuration also differed from other powerful individuals. His eighth spirit ring was black-red, indicating a soul ring exceeding ninety thousand years. Li Luochen could clearly see his ambition—he wanted a hundred-thousand-year ninth spirit ring.
But why would the Spirit Hall allow such an arrogant individual to remain unchecked? With this question in mind, Li Luochen wrote a letter to Qian Renxue, who should have known everything about You Tian Shang.
After half a month, Li Luo Chen received a reply. Eighty percent of the letter consisted of Qian Ren Xue scolding him—mocking, teasing, and angrily ranting at him. The gist of her message was: "Only contact me when you need me; don't bother me otherwise. Who is the true master here—you or me? Know your place."
Li Luochen was utterly speechless. This little angel was so petty—was it really worth writing so many words just to insult him?
Nevertheless, Li Luochen eventually learned that You Tianshang was the grand-nephew of Qing Luan Douluo, one of the three high-ranking elders of the Spirit Hall. He hailed from the orthodox Qing Luan family and was the current young master of the Qing Luan clan.
However, it seemed he had quarreled with his family. From Li Luochen's perspective, it was likely because he didn't want to inherit the family's billions of gold soul coins and instead sought to carve out his own path. Damn rich second-generation brat—no, third-generation brat.
Li Luochen decided to ignore You Tianshang's affairs. This guy was all talk and no action, floating around like the wind. He even claimed that every bird-type soul master in the world belonged to his Mystic Bird Sect. Arrogant, yes—but he had the strength to back it up.
At the time, Ling Yuan Douluo—a wandering independent soul master—had yet to join the Spirit Hall. After obtaining her ninth spirit ring, she heard about the Mystic Bird Sect and directly challenged You Tianshang to a duel.
Ling Yuan Douluo was fifty-eight years old with ninety-one levels of soul power. Her spirit was the Blazing Fire Spirit Eagle, an incredibly powerful beast-type spirit. Moreover, she was stunningly beautiful, attracting many suitors, though she rejected them all.
She aspired to become the strongest bird-type titled Douluo. Hearing of You Tianshang's arrogance, she sought to teach him a lesson. A fierce battle ensued, and the result? Ling Yuan Douluo was defeated. This battle became You Tianshang's crowning achievement.
Afterward, rumors spread throughout the soul master community: You Tianshang admired Ling Yuan Douluo's beauty and her bird-type spirit, despite her being twenty years older than him—a minor detail, all things considered.
Ling Yuan Douluo also developed feelings for You Tianshang, but being an extremely proud individual, she set a condition: if You Tianshang could defeat her three more times, she, Ling Yuan Douluo, would belong to him.
About half a year later—around the time Li Luochen's group was helping Dugu Yan obtain her seventh spirit ring—news broke that Ling Yuan Douluo had joined the Mystic Bird Sect, becoming the Honorary Elder and the Sect Master's wife.
Although the continent was abuzz with these developments, You Tianshang wasn't actually the pioneer of his generation. The true trailblazer of their age was Tang Hao, the current Hao Tian Douluo. When Tang Hao crushed the previous Pope Qian Xunji, it led to Qian Xunji's death.
In Tang Hao's generation, geniuses kept emerging, and You Tianshang was merely the most dazzling among them. After all, when Tang Hao was a Soul Douluo, he only managed to break a titled Douluo's leg, whereas You Tianshang had defeated titled Douluos head-on four times.
During his travels, Li Luochen encountered many powerful individuals and befriended numerous prodigies, each one a peerless talent.
For instance, the Grand Elder of You Tianshang's Mystic Bird Sect, Li Yuxuan, was only thirty-seven years old but already possessed seventy-four levels of soul power. He was hailed as someone destined to become a titled Douluo by his fifties.
When Li Luochen returned to the Tian Dou Empire, he visited a large city on the empire's outskirts called Di Hua City. The city's lord, Sun Zhengfu, was a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse.
Sun Zhengfu, aged sixty-two, wielded the variant spirit "Vast Pen," with eighty-three levels of soul power. He was a dual master of control and support, making him an exceptionally formidable Soul Douluo.
Moreover, Sun Zhengfu had three extremely powerful friends, all Soul Douluo-level experts. The four of them had met during their youth and were collectively known as the "Four Pillars of Di Hua City."
Feng Kesi: Spirit—Gui Che, a weapon-type spirit resembling a Japanese katana, with eighty-one levels of soul power.
Ren Xiaoyao: Spirit—Phoenix Wing Golden Halberd, eighty-eight levels, capable of manifesting two spirit true bodies, akin to Snake Spear Douluo.
Ma Junmo: Spirit—Rift Abyss Halberd, eighty-five levels, wielding a pitch-black halberd imbued with dark attributes.
The four Soul Douluos worked together with impeccable coordination. Even the combined efforts of Dai Tianxing and Dai Tianyuan resulted in injuries. If it weren't for Dugu Bo backing them up, their group would have suffered a crushing defeat.
Li Luochen couldn't help but complain internally: 'This Douluo Continent is unreliable! The content of the books is unreliable! Were the people of Tang Hao's generation really this strong? Each one seems like a monster—it's terrifying.'
He had thought Dai Tianxing was "invincible under heaven," but now there were others even stronger than him. Just whose subordinates were these people?
What was even more alarming was that these Soul Douluos weren't old. The eldest among them was Sun Zhengfu, sixty-two years old, but he was projected to break through to titled Douluo status within fifteen years—a truly frightening prospect.
Li Luochen had truly come to appreciate the vastness of the continent. Despite his extraordinary talent, he was still insignificant before rising to prominence.
Next, after completing his travels, Li Luochen visited Notting City in the Fasinuo Province to check on the so-called "child of destiny." The moment Li Luochen stepped into Notting City, he felt himself being watched.
However, aside from Li Luochen, everyone in his group was a Soul Sage or higher. That gaze only lingered briefly before vanishing. Li Luochen naturally knew who it belonged to—Hao Tian Douluo, Tang Hao. Li Luochen casually spent a few days touring Notting City before leaving.
Along the way, Dugu Bo sensed the presence of a soul beast in Notting City. He had initially wanted to act, but they were constantly being observed. There were also others watching nearby, and the observer's strength wasn't weak. If a fight broke out, they might not be able to protect their granddaughter.
Li Luochen simply smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa. There's no reason to leave behind something we've set our sights on—it's just not the right time to take it yet. Let's spend a few more days sightseeing before heading back."
After touring for a while, Li Luochen's group returned to Shrek Academy. That gaze followed them until they reached the academy before finally disappearing.
Did that reckless fool really think no one noticed him following them the entire time? Dugu Bo, Li Luochen, and Dugu Yan had all detected his presence. Dai Tianxing had only felt a faint trace of being followed, but he wasn't certain.
Li Luochen prepared to consolidate the fruits of his year-and-a-half-long journey. After traveling for that period, his soul power had reached level sixty-seven.
Cultivating alongside Dugu Yan, advancing two levels per year at his current stage was already impressive. Without an ultimate attribute, he would have advanced at least four levels per year.
As for Dugu Yan, she had long since become a seventy-seven-level Soul Sage. Her seventh spirit ring was obtained on the coast of the Star Luo Empire—from none other than a familiar sea dragon soul beast. It was a hundred-thousand-year sea dragon, albeit injured.
Its body bore numerous bite marks, and its abdomen had a deep gash from a slashing attack. Their group had essentially lucked out in encountering it.
Dugu Yan's physical and mental strength were extraordinary, allowing her to absorb a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring without issue. After absorbing the ring, her soul power skyrocketed to seventy-four levels, and she then absorbed the sea dragon's spirit bone.
The sea dragon dropped a right leg bone with two skills:
1. Sea Dragon Shadow Step: Summon seawater to conceal oneself, entering an invisible state that makes it difficult for enemies to detect. The invisibility effect was exceptional, greatly enhancing evasion and ambush capabilities.
2. Tsunami Surge: Generate a tsunami-like shockwave that engulfs enemies, dealing devastating damage. Its characteristics included immense power, wide range, and the ability to instantly drown enemies in massive waves.
Additionally, Dugu Yan's head spirit bone was also from a sea dragon. Originally a ninety-thousand-year head spirit bone, it had been upgraded to the hundred-thousand-year tier thanks to the divine blessing of the Yearning Heartbroken Red. However, it still retained only one spirit bone skill.
This time, due to absorbing spirit bones from the same type of soul beast, the spirit bone's power increased further, unlocking a second skill:
Spirit-Focused Demonic Skull Bone Second Skill
Roaring Sea Dragon Cry: Emit the roar of a sea dragon, with sound waves impacting enemies like a physical force, causing shock and damage.
Characteristics: The dragon's roar was deep and terrifying, capable of stunning enemies within range and reducing their combat effectiveness.
With the boost from her hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and two hundred-thousand-year spirit bones, Dugu Yan decisively defeated Zhao Wuji in a direct confrontation. Even Dai Tianxing couldn't match her.
------------------------------------------------------
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow