"Brother, that's everything about our trip to the Star Dou Great Forest."
Qianjun Douluo stood respectfully before Qian Daoliu, recounting the entire journey word for word.
Even Qian Daoliu, with his centuries of experience, couldn't help but sigh after hearing the story. Ye Tianxing's luck was truly abnormal.
Not only had he upgraded a hundred-year soul ring into a thousand-year soul ring while tempering himself with heavenly lightning, but he'd also completed his thunder-body refinement, rendering his physique as hard as steel—ordinary blades couldn't even scratch him now.
And then, the external soul bone... that alone shattered Qian Daoliu's original expectations for this trip.
Initially, he had just wanted Ye Tianxing to broaden his horizons. But the kid had turned around and actually tricked the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape into fighting each other, helping him achieve his goals without direct confrontation.
Qian Daoliu was reminded of the time he and Lao Wu had outplayed Bibi Dong using the secret of Ye Tianxing's second martial spirit. That move had caught her completely off guard.
Now, Ye Tianxing had managed to do the same with the two top-ranked soul beasts.
This kid… There was definitely something strange about him. Qian Daoliu just couldn't quite put his finger on it.
But one thing was clear: Ye Tianxing was walking further and further down the path of trickery and deception.
"…Unbelievable."
Qian Daoliu was at a loss for words. How could a six-year-old be this cunning?
"Remember this well—Azure Bull Python, Titan Giant Ape. The day Tianxing becomes a Titled Douluo will be the day of your fall."
With those words, Qian Daoliu waved Qianjun Douluo away.
Behind the Elder Hall, on a vast mountain platform said to have been flattened by a single strike from Qian Daoliu, Ye Tianxing stood with his Dead Wood Bow drawn.
His second soul ring gleamed beneath him—he had yet to fully test the skill that came with it.
"Second Soul Skill: Strengthen."
Soul Ring Skill (Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear): Strengthen.
It enhances the arrow's power, giving it enough force to pierce metal and shatter stone—nothing in its path would remain intact.
In front of him stood a huge chunk of Deep-Sea Silver Mother, the core material used to craft the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle.
He fired. The arrow split into two mid-flight and tore cleanly through the metal block.
Ye Tianxing stepped forward and touched the deep-sea silver. The surface remained smooth and intact, with only two small, perfectly round holes where the arrow had passed. The force was entirely concentrated—no excess energy wasted.
Next, Ye Tianxing summoned the external soul bone on his right palm—the one fused from the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear.
As he drew the bow again, he could clearly feel the power surging, at least a whole level stronger than before.
Swoosh!
The arrow shot out like a shooting star.
When the dust settled, there was no Deep-Sea Silver Mother left. Only a pile of ash remained.
A voice echoed from the base of the mountain:"Who the hell is littering?! What if that thing hit someone?!"
Ye Tianxing quickly put away the Dead Wood Bow, whistled nonchalantly, and vanished like he'd never been there.
In the Pope's Palace—
"The twin martial spirits. The first has already evolved, and the second still has plenty of room for growth. He also acquired a priceless external soul bone from a top-tier beast like the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear. And he even managed to outwit the Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape… His talent is terrifying."
Bibi Dong was no longer able to sit still.
Ye Tianxing had only been in the Spirit Hall for less than half a year, yet he had accomplished more than most did in a lifetime.
Once upon a time, Bibi Dong believed herself to be heaven's chosen—peerless in a thousand years.
And truly, she was. Had Tang San not appeared, she would have become a god and united the continent under one rule.
But now, Ye Tianxing had entered the game.
After witnessing his performance in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had to admit—he was the same kind as her.
A monster destined to stand at the peak.
And to make matters worse, Guangling Douluo had seized the opportunity to bring Ye Tianxing under his wing before she could.
She clenched her fists, frustrated.
"If the hard way won't work," she muttered to herself, "then we'll try the soft approach."
At that moment, Hu Liena entered the Pope's Palace.
"Nana," Bibi Dong called sweetly, "go ask Ye Tianxing… what he likes."
"…Huh?" Hu Liena blinked, confused.
Some time later, she returned, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Well? Did you find out?" Bibi Dong asked expectantly. Spirit Hall had no shortage of rare treasures—surely they had whatever the boy wanted.
Hu Liena hesitated, cheeks redder than ever."I asked him. He said he likes…" She paused, mumbling, "intimate…"
"Yes?" Bibi Dong urged.
"…Cute…"
"Okay…"
"…Charming…"
"…?"
"…Little sisters."
Bibi Dong's expression froze.
What?! He was a six-year-old child! What kind of weird hobby was that?!
"Intimate, charming, and cute…" She turned her eyes slowly toward Hu Liena.
The fox-like girl smiled awkwardly. She knew exactly what her teacher was thinking. The moment Ye Tianxing showed promise, Bibi Dong was ready to throw her beloved disciple at him like a weaponised charm bomb.
A while later, Hu Liena returned again, this time with a sheepish grin.
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up. "It worked?"
"Teacher, I failed." Hu Liena said, still smiling.
"… You're still smiling after failing?"
Elsewhere, Ye Tianxing scratched his head and muttered, "Bibi Dong's gone insane. Asking me what I like? What do I like? I can't exactly tell her that I like your daughter."
In Spirit Hall, only a handful knew Qian Renxue's true identity. The plan to usurp the Heaven Dou Empire was one of the Hall's most closely guarded secrets.
Unless Qian Daoliu or Bibi Dong revealed it themselves, Ye Tianxing wasn't going to be the one to expose it.
As he headed back toward the Elder Hall, a tall, red-haired youth in flame-themed tights crossed his path.
Ye Tianxing narrowed his eyes."…Yan?"
He didn't know Yan well. Just that he had been Hu Liena's loyal admirer. A devoted simp, essentially.
Unfortunately for him, Tang San eventually claimed the prize. Poor guy.
"Why?" Yan asked, face tight.
"…Why, what?" Ye Tianxing frowned.
"Why did you reject Nana?"
Ye Tianxing's face twisted.
Bro. Are you serious right now?