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*****
"You're back, Xiaoyu?"
Jing Hongchen gazed at Su Yu, sensing how seamlessly he blended into the surrounding environment, and couldn't help but marvel.
It had been two and a half years since the Soul Dueling Tournament. Now, Jing Hongchen had reached Rank 97, officially a Super Douluo. Thanks to his cultivation techniques and battle armor, his breakthrough to Rank 98 was already within sight.
The benefits of battle armor far exceeded expectations.
The emergence of integrated soul tool technology had allowed soul masters to achieve true harmony between their martial soul, spiritual power, and soul power when operating soul tools. In essence, this technology also enhanced the synergy between a soul master and their martial soul.
With this principle as one of its foundations, battle armor—especially at the Super Battle Armor level—further refined this connection. Even when merely nurturing it within one's martial soul, the armor constantly tempered and harmonized the user's spiritual power, soul power, and martial soul.
Jing Hongchen's rapid advancement to Rank 97, and his imminent breakthrough to Rank 98, was undoubtedly aided by the Golden Dragon Sweet Potato, which had reinforced his foundation and enhanced his martial soul. However, the influence of battle armor could not be overlooked.
Despite having already achieved a deep level of fusion with his martial soul, the moment he laid eyes on Su Yu, Jing Hongchen felt he was still far from the pinnacle.
Su Yu gave off an overwhelming presence—he felt as if he were an extension of the very heavens and earth.
It was as though he was the surrounding world itself, fully integrated into it. The mere thought of hostility toward him would invoke an indescribable sense of oppression.
Even though Su Yu had not cultivated the Soul Spirit Refinement System in his early years—meaning he hadn't initially enhanced his fusion through his previous soul rings—it did not hinder his progress on this path.
After all, he was the creator of the Soul Spirit Refinement System. No one understood the fusion between a martial soul and a soul master better than he did.
During his year of cultivation within the Ancient Golden Tree, Su Yu had remained fully conscious. He had even taken time to explore his martial soul's full potential.
In fact, exploration wasn't even necessary.
Su Yu's knowledge and comprehension of martial souls had already reached an unparalleled level.
All he did was retrace his path using the Soul Spirit Refinement System.
Through this process, he realized that the creation of self-made soul skills inherently deepened one's fusion with their martial soul.
After all, devising one's own soul skills was an advanced application of one's martial soul—a deeper form of self-discovery and mastery.
Jing Hongchen's admiration didn't particularly affect Su Yu.
His rapid progress in cultivation had long been acknowledged by others; he was used to these reactions.
"Rank 89 soul power... I've been stuck here for too long. It's time to find a way to break through."
Su Yu had already made his decision regarding his next soul ring. Now, he just needed to take that crucial step forward.
Conveniently, the simulated soul core technology had reached a preliminary stage of completion.
"Hall Master, did Xu Tiannan summon us back to deal with the Holy Spirit Cult?"
Although he had his own suspicions, Su Yu felt it was best to confirm them with Jing Hongchen.
Jing Hongchen had spent years in Sun-Moon and had a keen sense of political undercurrents.
"If I had to guess, that's likely the case."
However, Jing Hongchen's expression was somewhat unusual, as if something was troubling him.
"I can't shake the feeling that something is off. This operation… something might go wrong."
Something might go wrong?
Su Yu was momentarily stunned. He couldn't think of any major variables that could disrupt their plan.
Could it be that the Demon Emperor has recently turned his attention to the Holy Spirit Cult?
That could be an unforeseen complication.
But was it really something to be concerned about?
Jing Hongchen, at his level, had honed an intuitive sense of danger that was usually highly accurate.
But why don't I feel the same?
Su Yu attempted to use his power over fate to predict any disturbances, but he found no clear results.
"Could it be that I'm simply too strong, making whatever unexpected event Hall Master senses irrelevant to me?"
That was the only logical explanation he could think of.
Was he being arrogant?
Su Yu didn't think so.
No one understood his own strength better than he did.
After a year of enlightenment within the Ancient Golden Tree, he was fully aware of the extent of his progress.
He was now only a step away from becoming a Limit Douluo—only needing to accumulate enough soul power and condense his soul core.
Whether it was the fusion between his martial soul and himself or any other necessary criteria, Su Yu had long since met all the requirements.
In fact, he had already begun shifting his focus to new avenues—further developing his power.
For example, domains.
For lower-level soul masters, domains were trump cards, as they were typically exclusive to Titled Douluos and Super Douluos. Even among Super Douluos, a domain was a formidable ability.
For Limit Douluos, domains were even more crucial.
Many top-tier soul masters would create their own unique domains, integrating them with their ultimate techniques to unleash devastating power.
However, Su Yu was taking this concept a step further.
A domain.
His was unlike any other.
For most soul masters, their domains weren't so much constructed as they were awakened—a natural manifestation of their martial soul's characteristics.
But Su Yu's domain was different.
He had meticulously built it from the ground up, step by step.
From its initial framework to its later maturation, his domain had been carefully refined, culminating in a moment of transformation that allowed him to unify everything into a complete whole.
Later, thanks to his Blue Silver Emperor soul spirit, his domain had evolved into an innate-type domain. Yet even after this upgrade, Su Yu continued to explore and refine it, gaining unparalleled insight into its nature.
Now, even without relying on his martial soul's instincts, he could summon his domain purely through his soul power and spiritual power.
That was mastery.
Su Yu had completely deciphered the essence of domains.
Because of this, domains held a meaning for him that was entirely different from how other soul masters perceived them.
For him, a domain was more than just a technique—it was a vessel for his enlightenment.
A long time ago, Elder Yi had told him:
"Comprehension is important, but just as crucial is finding a way to record it—a medium to preserve and manifest your insights."
This act of recording was invaluable.
Just as Su Yu had once inscribed his understanding in the form of runes, his rune constructions contained countless personal insights.
He could use these insights directly in battle, channeling them through soul power to cast soul skills.
But by expending additional effort to engrave these insights into runes, he created a secondary effect—when he activated his soul skills through comprehension, the runes could activate simultaneously, drawing in the ambient energy of the world to amplify his attacks.
The same understanding, yet with an extra layer of enhancement.
Why?
Because he had taken the time to inscribe and solidify his insights.
If one had to put it in simple terms, it was as if Su Yu had crafted his own equipment—a tool that granted him an additional boost.
Runes were his weapons. His armor.
And beyond runes, his domain functioned in the same way.
In fact, his domain was the culmination of all his insights—the ultimate manifestation of everything he had understood.
After fully analyzing every aspect of his domain, Su Yu had begun the next stage—perfecting it.
During this process, a new idea took root in his mind.
Could a domain be his "Path"?
Thinking of his domain as the foundation of his own Dao... the concept made perfect sense.
With this realization, Su Yu became even more invested in refining his domain, pushing it toward unprecedented levels of completion.
---
Demonic Forest.
Holy Spirit Cult.
"Mother, I did it!"
Zhongli Wu stepped out of a blood-drenched chamber, his entire body exuding an intense scent of iron.
Yet his face was alight with exhilaration.
He had broken through!
After being stuck at Rank 98 for so long, he had finally achieved a breakthrough.
The price had been steep, but now that he had reached Rank 99, it was all worth it.
Ye Xishui frowned as she took in the sight of her blood-soaked son.
"Hmph, after expending such an enormous price just to break through, you dare to act so smug?"
A cold female voice echoed from the darkness
Zhongli Wu turned his head toward the depths of the darkness. His initial excitement had faded, and as he circulated his soul power, the blood clinging to his body evaporated. He then took a step closer to Ye Xishui.
"Let's not waste time on pointless talk," Ye Xishui said bluntly. "Magus Emperor, you said our Holy Spirit Cult is about to face a crisis. What exactly do you mean?"
"Hmph, I warned you long ago—do not cooperate with outsiders. If you must survive, then stay hidden in the filth like sewer rats and grow in the shadows. But you just had to flaunt your power, spreading your followers far and wide."
"Oh?" Ye Xishui's gaze sharpened. "So, according to you, our troubles stem from this?"
"Hmph. You lot—nothing more than a group of evil soul masters—have no divine backing, yet you dream of overturning the Douluo Continent under the very noses of the gods?" The Magus Emperor's voice dripped with mockery.
If you're an evil soul master, then you should stay hidden.
What's the point of flaunting your power so recklessly?
In this world, you can't rise without backing.
And yet, without a single god supporting you, you dare to expand so brazenly? Have you no regard for the gods of the Divine Realm?
"Magus Emperor," Ye Xishui's tone remained calm. "Are you saying that gods truly exist in this world?"
She did not take offense at the words. Instead, she sought confirmation.
She had never fully understood the Magus Emperor's origins—only that she had lived for an exceptionally long time and remained shrouded in mystery.
For generations, the Holy Spirit Cult had always maintained some level of contact with her.
It was thanks to the Magus Emperor that the cult had managed to survive to this day. Even during times of near extinction, when the cult was forced to scatter and hide deep in the ocean, it was her guidance that had ensured their survival.
Because of this, the Magus Emperor held a special status within the cult.
"Gods?"
The Magus Emperor's voice carried the weight of untold stories, as if she had personally witnessed their existence.
As she continued, her tone trembled—just slightly—but within it, Ye Xishui could hear something else.
Fear.
And an unquenchable hatred.
"They became gods," the Magus Emperor said, her voice like a whisper from the abyss. "And yet, they still meddle. They still interfere, obstructing the path of those who seek to ascend!"
Ye Xishui frowned. Something about these words unsettled her.
Was this really how the gods behaved?
Then again… it did make a certain kind of sense.
The only confirmed deity in Douluo Continent's recorded history was the Sea God from ten thousand years ago. And after his ascension, not a single new god had been born.
The more Ye Xishui thought about it, the more the Magus Emperor's words seemed plausible.
"Our Holy Spirit Cult has faced crises before," she said at last. "Yet you've never stepped forward like this. If you're appearing now, it's not just to watch us get wiped out again, is it?"
Ye Xishui was no fool. She had long suspected that the Magus Emperor had her own hidden agenda.
The recent breakthrough of Zhongli Wu—his ascension to Limit Douluo—was not a coincidence.
With this, their side now had four Limit Douluos.
Four Limit Douluos… that was enough to do something big.
"Of course not."
The Magus Emperor's voice was calm. But the next words she spoke sent a shockwave through the room.
"I intend to create a god."
Create a god.
Ye Xishui's pupils contracted. Her gaze locked onto a specific point in the darkness, as if trying to see through the shadows.
"You truly have a way to ascend!" she said, enunciating each word with care.
For someone like Ye Xishui, who had pursued godhood for so long, this was an earth-shattering revelation.
She had been a Limit Douluo for years, yet had never found even the faintest hope of taking the next step.
She had sought out the Magus Emperor before, but every time, she had received nothing but vague, evasive responses.
But this time…
The Magus Emperor had come to her directly.
And her goal was nothing short of godhood itself.
"Of course," the Magus Emperor's voice slithered through the darkness, chilling to the bone. "That is, if we are strong enough."
Long Xiaoyao, who had been silent all this time, furrowed his brows so tightly they could have twisted into a knot.
From the moment Zhongli Wu had stepped out of seclusion, drenched in blood, Long Xiaoyao had already felt a deep sense of unease.
But now, hearing the Magus Emperor's eerie laughter, his ominous premonition only intensified.
There was no doubt about it—her method would be beyond cruel.
---
Sun-Moon, Imperial Palace.
"How is it?"
Xu Tiannan didn't even look up as he continued working through a stack of documents.
The soul engineer standing before him bowed slightly and replied, "Your Majesty, the Grand Preceptor has yet to respond. Scorpion Tiger Douluo claims he is still in seclusion. As for the Supreme Pontiff and the High Priests of the Holy Spirit Cult, there has been no information whatsoever."
"Hmm?"
Xu Tiannan finally lifted his head.
His emotionless gaze was suffocating, a weight that pressed down with overwhelming authority.
"Not a single clue?"
Setting aside his work, he sat upright, a flicker of fury rising in his eyes.
The soul engineer hesitated before continuing, "Your Majesty, that is what Scorpion Tiger Douluo insists. Even our informants within the Holy Spirit Cult have failed to uncover any movements among the high-ranking members. In fact, throughout the entire Douluo Continent, the cult has remained unusually inactive this past year."
Xu Tiannan's fingers tapped against the desk as he processed the information.
For the past year, the Holy Spirit Cult had indeed been quiet.
At first, he had assumed they were lying low, avoiding the pressure from Sun-Moon Hall.
But now…
This was not retreat.
They were preparing for something big.
And one thing was now certain—
The Holy Spirit Cult no longer trusted him, the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire.
Their alliance was finished.
How unexpected. How abrupt.
Two Limit Douluos.
Xu Tiannan massaged his temples. The mere thought of their constant threat was enough to give him a headache.
Two Limit Douluos, moving unchecked…
Even he couldn't remain at ease.
Fortunately, he was not a man who put all his eggs in one basket.
He had long prepared for the worst.
If the Demon-Sealing Array could not be relied upon, then there was only one option left—
Gather the strongest forces of the Sun-Moon Empire and wipe the Holy Spirit Cult off the map.
As for Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao…
As long as they remained within Sun-Moon, he had nothing to fear.
Deep within the imperial palace, a true powerhouse resided—someone far beyond an ordinary Limit Douluo.
Even if a Limit Douluo launched an assassination attempt, it would end in failure.
Of course, if both Limit Douluos attacked together in a coordinated effort, things would be much more dangerous.
That was why—
At least one of them must die.
Xu Tiannan's eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
(End of Chapter)