A Powerful Physique

Su Mu nodded at Golden Crocodile Douluo's question. "Yes, but it's different."

"Remember what you promised me."

Golden Crocodile Douluo wanted to say more.

But after Su Mu finished speaking, he lay down and fell asleep.

Forcing himself to use Tenth Stop had put too much strain on his body.

If he hadn't separated one edge of the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Blade to strengthen his body,

he wouldn't have been able to use Tenth Stop at all.

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Su Mu, who had lain down on the ground and fallen asleep.

Then he went out.

He found a healing-type Soul Master.

The Soul Master treated Su Mu's injured arms.

That afternoon,

Su Mu slowly woke up.

"You're awake?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo, who was sitting beside him, looked at Su Mu.

"Mm."

Su Mu slowly sat up.

He found that, aside from some lingering swelling, there was nothing seriously wrong with his arms.

"Tell me about the prize I promised you."

"What do you want me to do?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo asked.

What should I ask for?

"Anything?"

Su Mu quickly scooted over to Golden Crocodile Douluo.

He looked at Golden Crocodile with shining eyes.

"Mm! I could even get you another Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!"

Somewhat awkwardly, Golden Crocodile Douluo shifted away from Su Mu, putting what he considered a safe distance between them again.

"Master, how about you leave Spirit Hall?"

"We can set up our own stronghold!"

"Oww~"

Before Su Mu could finish, Golden Crocodile slapped him on the head.

Keep pretending. I didn't even use any strength.

This brat.

What a clown!

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Su Mu with disdain.

"If you can't, forget it. I don't have anything in mind for now."

"If I think of something, I'll tell you then!"

Su Mu said after sitting up straight and crossing his legs.

"Mm!"

"Have you decided on the Soul Ring I asked you to think about?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo asked again.

"I have."

Su Mu nodded.

"Tell me what you're looking for," Golden Crocodile Douluo said.

"First, it should increase penetration."

"Second, it should increase defense."

"Third, it'd be best if it could also increase attack power."

"Fourth—"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo cut Su Mu off, speaking irritably.

"What? It's one Soul Ring. What else do you want?"

"An all-attribute boost to go with it?"

Looking at the disdain on Golden Crocodile Douluo's face,

Su Mu gave it serious thought and said, "That wouldn't be bad either!"

"I might as well find you a couple of support-type Soul Masters."

As he spoke, Golden Crocodile Douluo raised his hand to hit Su Mu again.

Su Mu laughed and dodged.

"Then penetration and defense."

"That shouldn't be too hard, right?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo narrowed his eyes in thought.

Those two attributes really did suit Su Mu's fighting style.

But it was rare for both penetration and defense to appear in the same Soul Beast.

Suddenly, Golden Crocodile Douluo thought of something.

"All right, I can find one like that."

"But it wouldn't be suitable for your First Soul Ring. That Soul Beast is a bit old."

"It's a Soul Beast that's nearly seven thousand years old. It could serve as your fourth Soul Ring."

Hearing Golden Crocodile's words,

Su Mu curled his lip.

Seven thousand years for my fourth Soul Ring??

Who are you looking down on?

Other people's systems give them a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring right off the bat, and I've gone through all that trouble, risking my life to eat Whale Rubber and absorb a Soul Bone.

And my fourth ring can only be seven thousand years old? Not even ten thousand?

"I want to absorb that one as my first ring," Su Mu said.

"You're asking for a beating!"

"A first ring generally isn't over 450 years old."

"And you want to absorb a seven-thousand-year one."

"Are you in such a hurry to have me see you to your grave??"

With that, Golden Crocodile Douluo raised his hand to strike.

To Golden Crocodile Douluo's surprise, Su Mu didn't dodge.

"Master, is your disciple an ordinary person?"

Seeing Su Mu's serious expression, Golden Crocodile Douluo was taken aback.

That's right.

This brat has already absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

And his Martial Soul is downright strange.

I can't judge him by ordinary standards at all.

"All right, I'll test your physical strength."

"Remember, if you can't take it, you must tell me."

Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke after thinking it over.

Seeing that he'd gotten what he wanted, Su Mu grinned and nodded furiously.

Then he sat down cross-legged.

"Brat! Pay attention! Here it comes!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo wasted no time.

He released his Soul Power and wrapped it around Su Mu's body.

He had felt the force of Su Mu's attack and his innate level 20 Soul Power.

Although his attack power had been built up through a technique,

his body still had to be strong enough to withstand it.

Golden Crocodile Douluo skipped the pressure for levels 10 and 20.

He started by applying pressure equivalent to what a level 25 Grand Battle Soul Master's physique could withstand.

Golden Crocodile glanced at Su Mu.

The brat was looking at him with a puzzled expression.

He can't feel the pressure for a level 25 Grand Battle Soul Master?

Golden Crocodile frowned.

He increased the pressure to what a level 30 Soul Elder's physique could withstand.

Still can't feel it?

Seeing how unfazed Su Mu looked,

Golden Crocodile Douluo's curiosity was piqued.

He increased the pressure directly to what a level 35 defense-type Soul Elder could withstand.

This time, Su Mu felt the pressure coming from all around him, but he could still bear it.

Has his physical strength already reached this level?

Golden Crocodile Douluo saw only a slight change in Su Mu's expression.

He went ahead and raised the pressure to the level of a level 40 Soul Ancestor.

It's already at level 40 Soul Ancestor, and his Martial Soul still hasn't come out?

Let me see where your limit is!

This time, Golden Crocodile Douluo didn't dare increase it five levels at a time.

Instead, he raised it one level at a time.

Level 41.

Level 42.

Level 45.

Level 45 Battle Soul Ancestor!!

This brat's physical strength has actually reached this level!!??

If he adds Soul Rings, won't it increase even further??

Who would believe it if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes?

Is this brat really not a Soul Beast? I checked, and he was definitely human.

Golden Crocodile Douluo was so shocked that he had begun to doubt himself.

Just then,

a Three-Headed Black Dragon rose behind Su Mu.

Seeing that Su Mu had been forced to release his Martial Soul, Golden Crocodile Douluo was about to end the test.

"Don't stop!"

"Keep going!"

Su Mu's voice came through.

Seeing the determination in Su Mu's eyes, Golden Crocodile Douluo was shaken.

Good lad. When he goes mad, he's just like I was in my youth.

Let me see where your limit lies.

Level 46.

Level 47.

Level 49.

When the pressure reached what a level 49 Battle Soul Ancestor's physique could withstand,

Su Mu's upright body slumped forward.

Both hands came down on the floor.

"That's enough, lad!"

"We'll stop here!"

"Even a real level 50 Soul King might not be able to withstand that pressure without absorbing a Soul Ring."

"What a freak."

Golden Crocodile Douluo withdrew his Soul Power and spoke, looking at Su Mu as though he were a monster.

As the pressure disappeared,

Su Mu felt as though his body was about to float away.

The hundred-thousand-year Whale Rubber strengthened my body, along with my Martial Soul.

Then there's the strengthening from a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

And my body has only reached the level of a 'Soul King without a ring'?

Looks like I can't have a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring as my first ring unless a Soul Beast sacrifices itself.

Forget it. This way, I should still be able to absorb a Soul Ring that's around ten thousand years old.

Later, I'll exchange for a Soul Ring Age Enhancement Scroll from the [Interception Shop] to increase its age.

"In that case, we'll rest for today."

"Tomorrow, I'll take you to the Star Dou Great Forest."

"That Soul Beast is in the Star Dou Great Forest."

"I hope it's still alive."

Thank you all very much. I've also seen many of your questions. I've made changes where I saw fit, without affecting the overall story.

[Please keep reading, please keep reading. My deepest thanks, my deepest thanks again, and my deepest thanks a third time.]