This novel has been finished on Patreon! If you'd like to read it in its entirety, I have the collection for single purchase, or, if you'd like to get advanced chapters for all of my works, please subscribe :) I sincerely thank everyone for being part of this journey, as a fan and avid reader, it's a privilege to be able to see the wonderful worlds that others have created. See you in other novels!
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: Martial Soul Seven Kill Sword, The Sword Opens Heaven's Gates. As always, Patrons will have unrestricted access to all of my stories including futures ones!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
The departure of Yu Luomian and the addition of Yu Tianxin to Shrek Academy seemed to cause little stir, but it held extraordinary significance for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Decades later, the clan would produce its first level 99 clan head—Yu Tianxin—who would also become one of the top powerhouses in the Douluo Federation. Of course, these were stories for another time.
With Yu Tianxin's arrival, the Shrek team once again became lively. The frontline was practically turning into a zoo—dragons, tigers, phoenixes, rhinos.
However, Yu Tianxin's addition pleased Li Luochen greatly. If his plan worked, the backline wouldn't have to fear being targeted anymore.
---
Meanwhile, at the Tian Dou Imperial Academy
With Yu Xiaogang's arrival, he immediately became the leader of the Tian Dou team. Yu Tianheng's squad was still missing a control-type soul master, so Tang San joined them perfectly.
Following Li Luochen's training equipment designs, Yu Xiaogang requested the Tian Dou Imperial Academy to begin construction. He believed there was merit in these methods.
To surpass Shrek Academy, he decided to double the training intensity for the Royal Battle team. Only by pushing their limits could the potential of talented soul masters be fully unleashed. After all, the members of the Royal Battle team already had high innate talent.
Yu Xiaogang was confident that his team would achieve an outstanding ranking in this Soul Master Tournament. His disciple would rise to fame during this competition.
This tournament was the first step toward establishing his own reputation!
No one knew what Yu Xiaogang was up to. Following Li Luochen's training methods, he doubled the intensity of the Royal Battle team's training, leaving them utterly exhausted.
Moreover, Yu Xiaogang somehow learned that boiling whale jelly could enhance a soul master's physical condition. He began experimenting, and sure enough, both Yu Tianheng and Tang San saw significant improvements in their physical strength.
Yu Tianheng soon broke through to level 40. However, Yu Xiaogang advised him not to rush into obtaining a soul ring. According to his theory, even without a soul ring, soul power would continue to accumulate—it just wouldn't be visible.
Yu Xiaogang planned to have Tang San break through to level 40 as well before hunting for soul rings together. Tang San was still two levels away from level 40.
As for Li Luochen—the fallen soul master—he would surely be eliminated by the Spirit Hall, Yu Xiaogang thought. By then, nothing would stand in Tang San's way. Fallen soul masters deserved to be eradicated by all!
---
At the Platinum Holy Hall of the Spirit Hall
Platinum Bishop Sarali received a letter claiming that Li Luochen was a fallen soul master. It nearly made him laugh to death. A fallen soul master? The probability of a weapon-type soul master becoming a fallen soul master was about as likely as Yu Xiaogang breaking through to Soul Elder.
Saras already knew who had sent the letter—a useless nobody. Li Luochen was a true elder of the Spirit Hall, someone even the Young Master would personally meet. Did the Angel Family's ability to identify fallen soul masters really fall short of some useless fool?
Saras couldn't fathom what Yu Xiaogang was thinking. He promptly reported both the letter and its sender to the Spirit Hall.
---
Days Later, at the Pope's Palace
After receiving the letter, Bibi Dong burst into laughter. Even calling her a fallen soul master was more plausible than labeling Li Luochen as one.
How had she never noticed before how petty and brainless Yu Xiaogang was? Bibi Dong found it utterly disgusting! What a waste of her youth.
However, she currently had no interest in such trivial matters. From what she knew, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was falling into chaos. Old Dragon had been severely injured by Long Zhentian and didn't have many years left. She wondered how much longer Yu Xiaogang could remain arrogant.
During this time, Bibi Dong had been giving her disciple Hu Liena special attention. After absorbing the torso and left leg bones of the Thousand-Pound Ant Emperor, Hu Liena's soul power and physical condition had improved significantly.
For her fifth soul ring, Bibi Dong personally took her to hunt a twenty-five-thousand-year Phantom Fox. It dropped a fox tail external soul bone (the same external soul bone that would later appear as Hu Liena's sixth soul ring).
Currently, Hu Liena's soul power had reached level 57. Bibi Dong had allowed her to experiment with the theoretical knowledge she had gained from Li Luochen.
For example, after consuming high-quality whale jelly, Hu Liena had started absorbing higher-level soul rings from her fourth ring onward. Her fourth soul ring was a full nine thousand years.
Bibi Dong had high hopes for Hu Liena. To better nurture her, she planned to reward her with a head soul bone after she won the Soul Master Tournament.
After all, these soul bones were the property of the Spirit Hall, and Bibi Dong couldn't use them freely without facing opposition from the elders. However, the soul bones of the Thousand-Pound Ant Emperor were her personal property, and no elder dared to object.
What Bibi Dong didn't know was that, in six months, she would experience the worst day of her life!
---
Six Months Later, at Shrek Academy
Over the past six months, Oscar had successfully broken through to level 50. During this time, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had also consecutively broken through to Soul Ancestors.
In a few months, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu would also attempt to reach Soul Ancestor levels. By then, whether they were main or substitute members, everyone on the team would be at least a Soul Ancestor.
For Oscar's breakthrough to Soul King, Li Luochen personally took him to the Frozen Forest. Over the past six months, the Shrek team had undergone intense training, so Li Luochen granted them a month-long vacation to rest and recuperate.
They would take another break in the two weeks leading up to the tournament. Li Luochen always advocated for a balance between work and rest. Though their training was grueling, he ensured they had proper breaks—one to two days off per week, totaling six days off per month, alternating between single and double rest days.
This time, it was an extended holiday, allowing them to fully relax. Meanwhile, Li Luochen helped Oscar obtain his fifth soul ring and accompanied Qian Renxue to the Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue was now six months pregnant, her belly visibly swollen.
Li Luochen and Dugu Yan had fed her plenty of rare herbs, causing Qian Renxue to gain weight. The child's nutrition was more than sufficient. Li Luochen envisioned that his child's first soul ring should at least be a thousand-year one.
Perhaps three purple, three black, and three red soul rings would do nicely, he thought. However, this trip to the Spirit Hall would undoubtedly involve some conflict. Though he was a half-divine Soul Douluo, he would face attacks from both Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong.
There was no escaping Qian Daoliu's wrath, and Bibi Dong would likely beat him too. After all, she had probably guessed that he was behind the letter cursing her. Now, he had also gotten her daughter pregnant. *Heh*, though she might act tough, Bibi Dong had been keeping a close eye on Qian Renxue's intelligence.
Bibi Dong was a classic tsundere. Her blows might even be heavier than Qian Daoliu's. Li Luochen figured he'd need to prepare some healing medicine before heading to the Spirit Hall. His handsome face would need some soothing ointment.
Li Luochen took Oscar to the Frozen Forest, where there was a twenty-thousand-year-old Mirror Shadow Beast. As a weapon-type soul master, Li Luochen could fight it without using any soul skills—it was the perfect match.
Li Luochen believed this Mirror Shadow Beast was originally destined to be Oscar's sixth soul ring in the original timeline. However, it would now serve as his fifth soul ring instead.
Initially, Li Luochen had intended to give Oscar a Silver Eagle Beast for his fifth soul ring and a high-year Mirror Shadow Beast for his sixth. However, since he hadn't found one, he settled for the twenty-thousand-year-old beast in the Frozen Forest.
Oscar's strength had increased significantly. While the external soul bone White Jade Arm Sword had grown more powerful, its attack style remained too singular as Oscar's soul power rose. Thus, Li Luochen decided to strengthen Oscar further in advance.
This was also why Li Luochen strictly required Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling to train in combat techniques and familiarize themselves with their teammates' soul skills and spirit characteristics. This was part of Li Luochen's plan to surprise everyone at the Soul Master Tournament.
Imagine this: a Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda Soul Ancestor suddenly switches to a White Tiger spirit or a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit when confronted by an agility-type Soul Ancestor. With a single slap, they could crush their opponent.
It was terrifying to think about. Moreover, it would provide Ning Rongrong and Ye Lingling with additional means of self-preservation. The Soul Master Tournament was an excellent training ground because lethal attacks were forbidden, allowing them to hone their combat skills more effectively.
Soul masters on the continent wouldn't hesitate to ambush or resort to underhanded tactics. Since they were all Li Luochen's students, he felt responsible for their safety.
Improving their self-defense abilities and honing their combat instincts could truly save their lives one day.
------------------------------------------------------
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow