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Li Luochen stood guard while Ma Hongjun absorbed his spirit ring. After this soul hunting trip, he could finally focus on breaking through to level seventy.
By evening, Ma Hongjun had finished absorbing the spirit ring. His fourth spirit skill remained the same—Phoenix Sky Cry—but the power of his left leg bone, Magma Ground Surge, had greatly increased. Although the fourth spirit ring and the left leg bone weren't from the same soul beast, they were from the same species, creating a certain synergy.
Li Luochen found this discovery quite interesting. Even spirit rings and spirit bones from the same species could resonate with each other, though the best compatibility still came from those originating from the same soul beast.
With the soul hunting complete, Li Luochen decided to take them back to Shrek Academy in Soto City. However, Gang Zi would soon arrive, and to prevent him from swaying his group, Li Luochen decided to later bring them to Shrek City for training.
Although Shrek City wasn't fully constructed yet, Shrek Academy itself was complete. Its simulated training environment was comparable to that of the Tian Dou Imperial Academy, making it suitable for these youngsters' cultivation.
As for Tang San and the others? Li Luochen didn't care about them anymore. They could do whatever they wanted, as long as they didn't get in his way.
Li Luochen and the four-person group returned directly, with Dugu Bo secretly accompanying them for protection. This soul hunting expedition in the Star Dou Great Forest had been successfully completed.
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Three Days Later
Upon returning to Shrek Academy, Li Luochen went to find Flender.
"Principal, I plan to take Oscar and the others to the main branch of Shrek Academy for training in a few days. Staying here no longer benefits their cultivation—it might even slow them down."
Flender naturally agreed with Li Luochen's words. He had long wanted to move there, but a letter from Yu Xiaogang mentioned that he and his disciple were arriving soon, so Flender had stayed behind.
Flender gazed out the window, thinking of Liu Erlong and Liu Lanyue. He missed being with them.
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Three Days Later
An unexpected visitor arrived at Shrek Academy. The man appeared to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in green robes, with handsome features and jet-black hair. His steps were light, and a gentle breeze surrounded him.
"? Old You, what brings you here?"
Li Luochen looked at the visitor before him—it was You Tianshang, a prodigy he had met during his travels. A Soul Douluo-level powerhouse, You Tianshang's combat strength was enough to defeat ordinary Title Douluos. Even Ling Yuan Douluo had been impressed by his abilities.
Upon hearing Li Luochen's voice, You Tianshang's face immediately darkened.
"Hey, Little Li, do I look old to you? I'm only thirty-nine, in the prime of my life! Anyway, let's get to the point. My spirit power has reached level eighty-nine, and I'll likely break through to become a Title Douluo in about half a year.
I've found a hundred-thousand-year soul beast in Hurricane Canyon called the Sky Sovereign. It's incredibly powerful, so I'm recruiting teammates to help me hunt it."
"Recruiting teammates to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast? Old You, you're clearly aiming for a ten-thousand-year ninth spirit ring, aren't you? In a year, your age when becoming a Title Douluo will surpass even Tang Hao's.
But why are you asking me? I'm just a Soul Emperor—I can't intervene in battles at this level. And isn't your great-uncle Qing Luan Douluo? Isn't he incredibly strong? Why not ask him?"
Li Luocheng countered. He thought You Tianshang's background was already formidable—Qing Luan Douluo was level ninety-seven, and with several elders, shouldn't they easily handle a hundred-thousand-year soul beast?
"Tang Hao? What's Tang Hao compared to me? Don't you know my talent? Besides Little Xue, you, your little lover, and the Pope, I have the best talent. Even the former Grand Elder didn't achieve as much as I have at my age.
And I'm not asking you—I'm looking for Senior Dugu Bo. His Time Solidification spirit skill is extremely powerful. That Sky Sovereign is incredibly fast; I suspect it possesses an extreme attribute, possibly extreme wind.
I myself am close to possessing extreme wind, but it's faster than me. I almost got caught by it once. My great-uncle could easily defeat it, but if it runs, even he couldn't catch it. What if it self-destructs while fleeing?
Such a good soul beast—I can't afford to lose it. Besides the Pope's two generals who possess control-type domain skills, only Dugu Bo has spatial control abilities. Since you're familiar with him, please help me pass along the message."
You Tianshang awkwardly explained. This time, he had come to ask for help. The last time he saw Dugu Bo, he arrogantly thought he could toy with him but ended up getting beaten instead. Now, he was seeking assistance.
"Alright, I'll talk to Grandpa. But how many people are you bringing to hunt this hundred-thousand-year soul beast?"
Li Luocheng figured that as a second-generation heir, You Tianshang should be able to gather plenty of helpers.
"Hmm, my great-uncle, Grandpa Guang Ling, Uncle Ba Tian Douluo, and Senior Dugu Bo, whom I plan to recruit—this is the optimal team I've envisioned."
You Tianshang stroked his chin as he spoke. In truth, Qing Luan Douluo and Guang Ling Douluo working together could already hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Adding Ba Tian Douluo… wait, who's Ba Tian Douluo again? I vaguely remember him. I'll ask Grandpa Dugu later.
Two Super Douluos, one Title Douluo, and Dugu Bo—a ninety-seven-level Super Douluo—would be more than enough to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Dugu Bo's eighth spirit skill had undergone an epic enhancement, increasing his control capabilities and adding poison erosion. He was a master of control.
"Old You, what about the reward?"
Li Luocheng was not one to act without benefit. Convincing a key Super Douluo to join wouldn't come cheap.
"Of course, there's a reward—a sixty-thousand-year snake right arm bone. How's that? Is the price sufficient?"
You Tianshang confidently replied.
"Uh... Old You, my grandpa already has a right arm bone—a seventy-thousand-year one. And to be honest, the only thing he lacks now is a torso bone."
Li Luocheng couldn't bear to crush You Tianshang's confidence, but he did so anyway.
You TianShang's expression instantly changed like a Sichuan opera mask. From sunny skies to cloudy, then overcast, and finally pouring rain.
"No!"
Snowflakes fluttered, and the north wind howled...
"How about this, Old You? Once you become a Title Douluo, come help me hunt souls. Yanzi will soon reach Soul Douluo level—it'll take about a year. After you become a Title Douluo, gather some people and head to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt the Azure Heaven Python.
That Azure Heaven Python is a top-tier sub-dragon species, and it also has a younger brother—the Titan Giant Ape. I'll likely break through to Soul Sage in about a year as well, and I'll need the Titan Giant Ape's spirit ring and spirit bone.
At that time, you, Elder Qing Luan, Elder Guang Ling, Master Qian Jun, Master Jiang Mo, and Grandpa Dugu can all go together to hunt these two forest kings. Shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Li Luochen's words turned You Tianshang's mood from gloomy to sunny. Exchanging favors wasn't a big deal since Li Luochen was also part of the Spirit Hall—they were all on the same side.
As for the idea of a ten-thousand-year seventh spirit ring, You Tianshang didn't see any issue. Li Luochen was terrifying and monstrous—a Soul Emperor-level cultivator who could rival even Soul Douluos, even defeating them. Why couldn't he absorb a ten-thousand-year spirit ring?
Besides, there were precedents. Young Master Qian Renxue had already achieved a hundred-thousand-year seventh spirit ring, and later Dugu Yan accomplished the same feat, which shocked him.
Years ago, the Grand Elder personally ventured into the Star Dou Great Forest to find a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, eventually locating a hundred-thousand-year Holy Light Pegasus, which Qian Renxue absorbed. A hundred-thousand-year seventh spirit ring was terrifying indeed.
He felt old now. Back in his youth, he had been as monstrous as these youngsters, but comparing himself to them now, he realized he couldn't measure up. His ninth spirit ring would be a hundred thousand years, but theirs? Their seventh spirit rings were already a hundred thousand years.
Each of them was terrifying and monstrous.
"Alright, I'll stay here for a few days. I've traveled for so long—I need to rest."
You Tianshang settled down at Shrek Academy.
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