Outside Extreme North City.
Two bodies, shrouded in wind and snow, stood frozen in place. By the time Scott of Extreme North City discovered them, they had already turned into ice sculptures.
The moment Scott, who had been eagerly awaiting his reward, laid eyes on them, he felt as if he had plunged into an abyss of ice. He rushed back to Extreme North City and immediately reported the news to the Pope's Hall.
Two Titled Douluo had fallen. Scott could hardly imagine the consequences he would have to face.
All he could do was wait anxiously.
And all of this had nothing to do with Chen Xiaoming, who had already left.
...
Three days later, in Moxue City.
Located in the northern region of the Heaven Dou Empire, Moxue City was the first city Chen Xiaoming found after several days of travel.
Upon entering the city, he immediately found an inn and checked in.
After taking a hot bath, he lay comfortably on the bed, idly toying with the soul bone he had obtained from the Death God Douluo.
Despite acquiring the soul bone, he had not yet absorbed it. Having been on the road nonstop, now that he finally had a chance to rest, he could take a closer look.
"I wonder how many years this soul bone has?"
He closed his eyes slightly, sensing the faint fluctuations emanating from the bone. Within moments, he reopened them, a trace of disappointment flashing across his gaze, his brow furrowing slightly.
Judging by its soul power fluctuations, it only carried the power of a little over twenty thousand years—far too weak. Holding the soul bone in his hand, Chen Xiaoming hesitated.
"Only twenty thousand years? That's too weak. It doesn't match my strength at all."
As he pondered, an idea suddenly came to him. His eyes gleamed as he abruptly sat up.
"System!"
He called out in his mind, and a streak of light flashed. The long-forgotten system interface reappeared before him.
...
Host: Chen Xiaoming
Age: 26
Martial Soul: Azurewood Tree
Soul Power: Level 99 (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000,000,000
First Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Second Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Third Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Fourth Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Fifth Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Sixth Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Seventh Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Eighth Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Ninth Soul Ring: 100,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Innate Bloodline: Hollowheart Willow (Primary) (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000,000,000
Item: Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone: 27,000 years (+) 157,635,250,000/10,000
Experience Points: 157,635,250,000
...
Having not checked in months, he noticed that his experience points had increased significantly, jumping from seventy billion to over one hundred fifty billion. Glancing at the upgrade requirement for his soul power, a smile appeared on Chen Xiaoming's lips.
"With this much experience, I can probably ascend to godhood now."
Reaching Level 100 and becoming a god required only a hundred billion experience points—something he had now saved up.
However, Chen Xiaoming was in no rush to become a god. He had only enough experience for one level-up, and who knew what would happen after ascension?
Cautious by nature, he would never act recklessly.
Besides, one level-up wouldn't make him the strongest. Rather than rush things, it was better to lay low and accumulate more power until the perfect moment.
He, Chen Xiaoming, would not just be an ordinary Soul Master—he would become the strongest Limit Douluo!
If he were to become a god, he would do so in one fell swoop—as the strongest God King!
Cough, cough.
After indulging in his fantasy for a moment, Chen Xiaoming composed himself. Becoming a god was still a distant goal.
Glancing down at the system panel, his gaze landed on the 'Items' section, and his eyes lit up.
"As expected, soul bones can be upgraded too!"
Since the system allowed soul rings to be upgraded, it stood to reason that soul bones should be the same. Seeing the (+) sign next to his soul bone confirmed his theory, and he let out a sigh of relief.
Checking the experience cost for upgrading, he found it was the same as for soul rings. Chen Xiaoming gulped.
In that moment, he realized he had been thinking too small. Instead of worrying about becoming a god, he should focus on maximizing his power first.
Previously, his goal had been to obtain nine hundred-thousand-year soul rings as a Titled Douluo. Now, he saw a better path.
Nine hundred-thousand-year soul rings, plus a full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones—such power might allow him to challenge gods without even ascending!
"Calm down, calm down."
He envisioned himself standing atop the divine realm, clad in golden, shimmering million-year soul rings, wielding his Azurewood Dragon Spear, overlooking all existence. His gaze grew unfocused for a moment.
After a while, he returned to his senses. That vision was too intoxicating.
Chen Xiaoming had made up his mind: he would lay low, amass a trillion experience points, and then unleash everything at once.
He would be the first in the Douluo Plane to challenge the gods as a mortal!
With a surge of determination, his fingers moved rapidly, investing experience points into the soul bone.
Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Bone: 27,000... 47,000... 67,000... 87,000... 100,000!
A powerful surge of soul energy infused the soul bone. A faint glow flickered across it, and its soul power fluctuations grew stronger. In just a moment, a red light flashed—the soul bone had undergone a fundamental transformation.
Previously, it had been crystalline yet lifeless, but now, it pulsed with vitality.
Holding it in his hand, he felt a gentle warmth flowing through it—a comfortable sensation.
"A hundred-thousand-year soul bone is truly extraordinary."
Feeling its immense power, Chen Xiaoming squinted his eyes in satisfaction. Now, this soul bone was worthy of his strength.
"Wait a minute... I was originally a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in human form. Why have I never sensed any soul bones in my own body?"
As realization struck, he began patting himself down in search of a soul bone. But after a thorough search—nothing.
His expression darkened.
"Aren't soul beasts supposed to drop soul bones after reaching a hundred thousand years? How is this fair?!"
Humans could obtain soul bones from killing soul beasts, but soul beasts themselves didn't have them?
Thinking of the system's 'recovery' function, a dangerous thought crossed his mind—would that function include resurrection?
If so, his eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
If push came to shove, he was willing to kill... even himself!
But after a moment of hesitation, he sighed.
"Forget it. Not worth the risk."
Still, he regretted not looting the Titan Snow Demon King's soul bone when he had the chance.
"Well, damn. I wonder which soul beast took it?"
Muttering curses, he suddenly remembered something, and a grin spread across his face.
"Heh, heh... How could I forget about the Spirit Hall?"
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