With a plan for what to do next and the joy of a breakthrough in soul power, Salas got up from his futon.
But when he thought about his breakthrough speed, his mood sank.
"For more than one and a half years, the original Salas didn't break through and remained at level 82...
I really didn't expect it would take nearly two years to advance a single level at the Soul Douluo stage..."
"Hmm... Considering this body's innate soul power level of 7, breaking through to the Soul Douluo level was already the limit..." Salas mused.
The original Salas reached the Soul Douluo level at the age of 77. Now, this body's age was 82, and his current soul power level was 83.
If nothing had changed, with his declining vitality, it was doubtful whether Salas would have ever broken past level 85 in his lifetime.
"It's a good thing I came... I'll help the original Salas realize his goal of reaching the Titled Douluo level. Haha," Salas smiled.
Now that he had occupied this body, even if he didn't improve its talent by consuming immortal grass, simply adding soul rings to his new martial soul would allow him to reach the Titled Douluo level with ease.
For this, Salas was pleased. If he had inherited the original Salas's martial soul and soul rings, he wouldn't have been able to achieve the same results.
At that time, the only way forward would have been to take immortal grass to improve his innate talent. But even then, it would have taken him nearly 20–30 years to reach level 99.
After all, only twin martial soul owners could advance quickly at the Titled Douluo level. They could simply improve their rank by adding soul rings to their second martial soul.
"Heh, now... Even though I don't have twin martial souls, I can achieve a similar effect," Salas muttered, his wrinkled mouth curling into a pleased smile.
"But still, it's necessary to obtain immortal grass. After all, adding nine soul rings alone won't get me to level 99. Cultivating on my own is also necessary..." Salas thought as he recalled how much Tang San had improved by adding soul rings to his second martial soul.
Tang San had been at level 96 when he fought and killed the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King. Only by absorbing his ninth, million-year soul ring did he go from level 96 to 99.
"By that calculation, Tang San only advanced five levels by adding seven black soul rings of 50,000+ years..."
"So if I want to surpass him, I have to make sure most of my soul rings are 100,000 years or older... After all, I'm only at level 83."
"Haa... No need to overthink it. I just need to push my level to around 95 by adding eight soul rings... Then, I can hunt the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King as my ninth ring. That way, I can go straight from level 95 to 99." Salas contemplated the best way to maximize his advantage.
But he also knew it wouldn't be easy. Advancing from level 83 to 95... It would require at least five to seven of his soul rings to be 100,000 years old. Black soul rings alone wouldn't be enough.
And more importantly... Hunting a million-year-old soul beast was nothing more than a pipe dream. He needed to plan carefully.
"The more I think about it, the more I can't afford to miss out on the Eight Spider Lances external soul bone..."
"If I can obtain it and evolve it to the god level... that would solve my soul power concerns easily."
Thinking about the external soul bone, Salas's slit-like eyes burned with greed.
When Tang San became a God King, he even evolved it into an ultra-divine weapon. Such a treasure... There was no way Salas would let it slip through his fingers.
"I should head to the Spirit Hall temple... There's much to arrange." With that thought, Salas tried to straighten his slightly hunched back.
His old body felt truly uncomfortable.
---
Sitting in his grand chair in his office, Salas called for someone.
"Did anyone come to see me in the past three days?" Salas inquired.
"No, Lord. No one came. But Prince Xue Xing's people delivered a letter. I received it on your behalf," the man said as he took a letter from his sleeve and placed it carefully on Salas's desk.
"You may leave. Tell Shi San to come," Salas said lazily, motioning for the man to leave quickly.
The man bowed and left without a sound.
Sitting alone, Salas let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried that someone might visit him over the past three days. What concerned him most was the possibility of someone from Spirit City coming…
After all, what he had done was a bit of a risky move. He had transferred all top combat power out of the Spirit Hall temple.
For the past three days, the strongest soul masters stationed here were only Soul Kings.
If he was unlucky and someone like Yue Guan or Ghost Douluo decided to visit on a whim, it would be difficult to come up with a suitable excuse.
If they grew suspicious and started questioning his subordinates, things could become even more troublesome.
"Although the position of Platinum Bishop is prestigious... I'm not fated to enjoy it."
"I have to leave this place… The sooner, the better."
Salas sighed, lamenting his situation.
Now that his martial soul had changed, staying in Spirit Hall was no longer safe.
Although no one in the Heaven Dou Empire would dare demand he summon his martial soul or fight someone, if the Spirit Hall elders came, they would inevitably show off their strength by exerting soul power pressure on him…
Salas could never understand why these people loved pressing their soul power on an old man like him.
More importantly, there was that troublesome Snake Lance Douluo who frequently came to see him. From the original Salas's memories, he understood the reason.
As someone under Bibi Dong, the original Salas never gave much face to the Worshiper faction.
But with Qian Renxue here in Heaven Dou City, her subordinates constantly harassed him, demanding he do this or that…
If he refused, they would summon their martial souls as intimidation.
Salas had suffered greatly because of Snake Lance Douluo… Salas always had to be ready to summon his martial soul in case Shi Long decided to attack him with a sneak attack.
"Just a few more months… When this Platinum Bishop identity becomes useless to me, that will be the day I leave this place," Salas thought to himself. It wasn't yet time to leave—he could still make use of the power and resources his position granted him.
"Lord, I am here."
Just then, Shi San, the Soul Saint who had accompanied Salas during the recent kidnapping, arrived.