Fruit Martial Souls and Native Martial Souls Are Incompatible

By now, Cai Kun had been standing on the boulder and watching for quite a while. He had noticed that Gangzi seemed to know only how to pole-vault and overpower people with his Soul Power. By rights, he should have shown off his Soul Skills in front of Tang San, displayed his strength, and given him another lecture. Unfortunately, he had not.

Moreover, Luo Sanpao did not seem to have reacted, nor had he evolved because his Soul Power had reached Level 100. If he really had evolved, Gangzi would definitely have brought him out to show him off. Evidently, he had not. It seemed that after getting Lone Bamboo, Gangzi had even forgotten about Luo Sanpao.

All the signs suggested that there might be something wrong with the Martial Soul the system had given him. To confirm his suspicion and find out Gangzi's current true strength, he called the system to get to the bottom of it.

"System, come out and explain. Is there something wrong with the Martial Soul you gave me?"

"System?"

But after a moment, the system still had not responded.

Left with no choice, Cai Kun unleashed his killer move.

"If you still won't answer my question, I'm going to file a complaint against you with the Transmigrator System Association."

Sure enough, it worked.

[Dear, I'm here!]

"I'm asking you, is there something else you didn't tell me about the Lone Bamboo family bucket?"

"For example, consequences, side effects, that sort of thing."

[Dear, that is beyond my authorized scope of duties.]

"Then I'll just have to find a way to report you."

[Dear, this system would never provide its host with any reward that has consequences or side effects.]

"Then what's going on with Gangzi right now? Do you know?"

[The "Ten-Year Solitary Bamboo" family bucket issued by this system was specially produced by the Fruit Group and belongs to the fruit system.]

[Luo Sanpao belongs to the native system of the Douluo Continent. The two systems are incompatible, so they will only operate independently within Soul Master Yu Xiaogang's body, leaving each other undisturbed and maintaining a balance. They do not share Soul Power.]

"Nani? Martial Souls are divided into two systems? I learned something new today."

"Then was my High-Speed Train Electric Multiple Unit also produced by the Fruit Group?"

[No, your High-Speed Train Electric Multiple Unit Martial Soul was specially produced by the Great Xia Group.]

[The Great Xia Group cares for every child far from home.]

"Now that you put it that way, I'm a little touched..."

"We're getting off topic. System, can you tell me about the Soul Skills of Gangzi's ten Soul Rings?"

[I'm very sorry. Our Cosmic Transmigrator System Co., Ltd. has signed a confidentiality agreement with the Fruit Group and cannot disclose the internal details of products that have already been activated. If you wish to know, please speak with the user who fused with the Martial Soul.]

Cai Kun felt a headache coming on. "Why did you even sign a confidentiality agreement for this? I'm the one who gave him the Martial Soul, so why can't you tell me?" He changed tack. "Ah, forget it. Just tell me, were they made on the same production line in the same batch?"

[That is correct. All Fruit Group products are manufactured using standardized, automated processes, ensuring that every batch is identical and every user has a consistent experience.]

"Okay, I understand."

"Gangzi's two Martial Souls are from two different systems now, and all the Lone Bamboo Soul Rings have the same skill. His strength has been cut by at least half. Now I can keep messing with Gangzi without worrying."

With that, Cai Kun jumped down from the boulder and strolled over to Yu Xiaogang. He looked the human-shaped giant bamboo up and down and struck up a conversation with a smile.

"Congratulations, Grandmaster, congratulations! Not only have you brought your talented disciple to heel, you've also transformed yourself into a Level 100 powerhouse standing at the very pinnacle of this world!"

"But Grandmaster, according to the rules of our Douluo Continent, anyone who crosses the threshold of a Level 90 Titled Douluo has to pick a resounding title for themselves."

"You've reached Level 100 now. What title do you plan to choose for yourself, so that Soul Masters throughout the world can sing your praises and look up to you?"

At those words, Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up.

That was right! A title!

In the past, he had not even come close to becoming a Soul Elder. He could only sit among his piles of books, gazing longingly at others' awe-inspiring titles. Now that he had reached Level 100 himself, how could he go without an incomparably domineering title?!

"My title concerns the good name and dignity of my entire life. It certainly cannot be chosen carelessly."

"I possess the Twin Martial Souls of Luo Sanpao and Lone Bamboo. Tell me... should I call myself 'Bamboo Douluo,' or would 'Cannon Douluo' sound more domineering?"

Cai Kun's eyes twitched wildly as he listened, and he nearly burst out laughing.

Bamboo Douluo? Cannon Douluo?

So you're either a bamboo-pole seller or the owner of a firecracker shop?

"Grandmaster, those two names are far too blunt and tacky. They don't suit the refined bearing of a grandmaster of theory like you!"

Cai Kun shook his head and held up two fingers, looking profoundly inscrutable.

"In my opinion, your title must evoke a poetic image. It would be best to use two characters, so it sounds cultured and reflects your legendary experience of a withered tree meeting spring and defying heaven to change your fate!"

Yu Xiaogang grew interested and hurriedly asked, "Oh? Go on, what should I call myself?"

Cai Kun cleared his throat and pronounced the four characters one by one.

"Spring Bamboo Douluo!"

"Spring Bamboo?" Yu Xiaogang paused.

"Exactly!"

Cai Kun thumped his chest and spouted nonsense with a perfectly serious expression.

"Think about it. The first character is the 'spring' in springtime. It signifies that you've broken through the shackles of Level 29, just as spring returns to the earth and fills it with life!"

"The second character is the 'bamboo' in your God-Bestowed Martial Soul, Lone Bamboo. It represents rising higher with every joint and remaining unyielding!"

"Put the two together and you have Spring Bamboo Douluo! It's elegant and magnificent, and it also reflects the true essence of your Martial Soul. It's simply a wonderful title made in heaven!"

Yu Xiaogang nodded repeatedly as he listened, feeling that the explanation spoke straight to his heart.

A withered tree meeting spring, rising higher with every joint! What an auspicious meaning!

"Good! What a fine title, Spring Bamboo Douluo! Cai Kun, you truly have a gift with words!"

Overjoyed, Yu Xiaogang began happily muttering it to himself.

"Spring Bamboo... Chun Zhu... stupid pig... Chun Zhu..."

After repeating it three or four times, Yu Xiaogang's voice suddenly caught.

He frowned deeply and tilted his head. Why did those two characters sound so wrong when he said them together quickly?

"Cai Kun, why does it sound stranger the more I say it? Doesn't 'Chun Zhu' sound... like you're calling me a 'stupid pig'?" Yu Xiaogang looked at Cai Kun suspiciously.

Cai Kun's expression did not change. He put on the air of someone dealing with an ignorant fuss and sighed.

"Grandmaster, you're overthinking it!"

"Since ancient times, which of those top powerhouses' titles didn't sound awkward when they were first chosen? Poison Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo-don't they all sound like insults at first?"

"A title just needs time to roll off the tongue! Once your name has spread across the continent, everyone will tremble at the mention of those two characters. Who would dare think of them the wrong way? You get used to it!"

Yu Xiaogang thought it over carefully and felt that Cai Kun made excellent sense.

Strength decided everything. He was a Level 100 mighty figure now. If anyone dared laugh at his title, he could simply knock them over with a thrust of his bamboo pole!

"Well said! I was too hung up on appearances!"

Yu Xiaogang completely put his misgivings aside. His chest swelled with heroic pride, and he was utterly beside himself.

He spun around to face the empty, shadowy forest, raised the fresh green bamboo pole in his left hand high, and roared at the night sky with all his might, his voice deafening.

"From this day forth, I, Yu Xiaogang, am the Spring Bamboo Douluo of this age!!"

"Under all the heavens, let's see who still dares look down on me, Spring Bamboo!!"

Bolstered by his Level 100 Soul Power, the rolling sound waves spread across half the Soul Hunting Forest, startling countless birds and beasts into cursing.

"Boom-!!"

The very second Yu Xiaogang's voice fell, a heaven-shaking clap of thunder suddenly erupted from the pitch-black night sky!

A vast, unmatched force tore a huge opening in the heavy clouds.

A dazzling seven-colored radiance descended from the highest heavens like the Milky Way pouring down from above, enveloping Yu Xiaogang, the Spring Bamboo Douluo!

Bathed in that radiance, Yu Xiaogang felt his whole body grow light. His feet lifted off the ground against his will, and he slowly floated into the air!

"Wh-what's happening?!"