Heaven Dou Grand Spirit Arena

"Cough, cough. All right, all right, that's enough joking around. Dugu... can I just call you Bo'er? Calling you Senior Dugu like this feels a little strange. Anyway, tell us what improvements your martial soul has undergone first," Ming Lunyu cut in. He was afraid that if Dugu Bo kept talking, some strange character setting might emerge.

"Hehe~" Dugu Bo chuckled softly. It seemed that the changes to her body had affected her personality to some extent.

Was this a case of matter determining consciousness?

"My martial soul has evolved from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor into one called the Emerald Profound Evil Python. I've never heard of this martial soul before. I may be the first person to possess it."

"My Soul Power has already broken through to level ninety-three, and I could break through to level ninety-four at any time."

"Most importantly, the poison that was once like a double-edged sword has now completely become part of my strength. It will no longer harm my body. And it seems I've also gained poison immunity."

After saying that, Dugu Bo smiled in satisfaction before anyone else could react.

The next day, four figures silently descended from the sky and entered one of Dugu Bo's private residences in Heaven Dou City.

Ming Lunyu's group had originally planned to visit Heaven Dou City after obtaining their Soul Rings, but they had taken a detour and entered Dugu Bo's territory instead. Still, that detour had brought them an unexpected gain.

After Dugu Bo joined the group, they discussed it and decided to visit Heaven Dou City first.

The Ice Fire Treasure Land was indeed an excellent place for cultivation, but it was far too secluded. Humans were social creatures, and staying away from society for too long was not necessarily a good thing.

Especially for the two poor kids, Ming Lunyu and Ma Hongjun. They had grown up without ever seeing a proper city.

Pearl City had been too small when they were young, the City of Slaughter had been too surreal, and after leaving it, they had only caught a fleeting glimpse of Sunset City.

Now, Heaven Dou City was the first true major city either of them had properly seen.

Ming Lunyu was still dressed in snow-white robes, with black hair, crimson lips, and a face as flawless as jade. He gently waved a Folding Fan in his hand. Anyone who saw him would have to praise him: "A jade-like face upon the road, a peerless young lord in all the world."

The three women following behind him each possessed their own charm. Ma Hongjun was lively and fiery, Tang Fu'er was cute and elegant, while Dugu Bo was cunning and sinister.

The moment the group lined up along the street, they immediately drew the attention of passersby.

Men and women alike secretly appraised them, yet no one dared approach casually. The aura of the four was far from ordinary, and they looked like aristocratic heirs raised in luxury.

And nobles had never enjoyed a good reputation among the common folk.

Ming Lunyu and Ma Hongjun appeared calm on the surface, but their eyes were taking in the flourishing sights of Heaven Dou City from every direction.

It truly deserved to be the capital of the Heavenly Dou Empire. Whatever the other cities were like, Heaven Dou City itself was undeniably prosperous.

The streets were broad enough for eight carriages to travel side by side. Buildings stood in dense rows, shops on both sides of the road thrived with business, and people bustled everywhere. It was exceptionally lively.

"What's that place?" Ming Lunyu asked Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo glanced over. "That's the Heaven Dou Grand Spirit Arena. It's where Soul Masters fight."

"Soul Master battles?" Ming Lunyu rested his chin on his hand, intrigued.

He knew his current combat strength should be formidable, since two Titled Douluo had acknowledged it. But he still had no clear idea just how strong he truly was.

"Xiao Jun, I want to take a look. What about you?"

"Of course! I've wanted to fight for ages! It's been so long since I've gotten into a fight that my hands are itching!"

Ma Hongjun cracked his knuckles eagerly.

"Young Master, young ladies, a reminder: battles in the Great Soul Arena are meant to avoid fatalities," Dugu Bo kindly warned them.

Otherwise, if those two killing gods applied the rules of the City of Slaughter the moment they stepped in, things would become entertaining in a very bad way. Dugu Bo did not care much about the lives of irrelevant people either, but she was not someone who casually called for bloodshed.

"I understand." Ming Lunyu nodded.

The four of them then headed straight into the Great Soul Arena.

The receptionist was instantly dazzled when she saw the group of four handsome men and beautiful women walking toward her.

Especially that handsome man in white—he was practically a succubus specifically designed to attack women!

While she was still swooning, Ming Lunyu grew impatient and rapped his knuckles against the desk.

"Oi, miss. My sister and I want to participate in spirit battles. Help us with the registration."

"Ah, yes, of course~" The receptionist smiled coyly as she deliberately pressed her chest together, though sadly, one could not create something from nothing.

Damn Kun! The same curse appeared in three different minds at once.

The receptionist suddenly felt as though three knife-like gazes had pierced her.

Faced with a threat that felt like death itself, she no longer dared look at Ming Lunyu. She swiftly completed the procedures for Ming Lunyu and Ma Hongjun and told them where to wait for their matches.

Neither of them registered under their real names. Instead, they used aliases.

Ming Lunyu registered as the Confucian Yama King, while Ma Hongjun registered as the Rakshasa Ghost Phoenix.

They directly used the titles they had held in the City of Slaughter. It was both a form of remembrance and an excuse not to think up new names.

They also formed a team called the Phoenix Feather Fan Combination.

The two each signed up for a one-on-one match, then entered a two-on-two match together.

The receptionist went on and on about Iron Spirit Battles, Golden Spirit Battles, and a bunch of other nonsense, but Ming Lunyu did not have the patience to listen to it all.

They were just here to play a few matches. Why should I care about all that?

Before long, it was Ming Lunyu's turn to enter the arena.

The moment he stepped inside, thunderous cheers surged around him. The spectator stands were packed to capacity. Soul Master battles were simply that popular. Not only in Heaven Dou City, but Great Soul Arenas everywhere were almost always packed twenty-four hours a day.

"The next contestant to enter is a newcomer to the spirit arena—the Confucian Yama King!"

Ming Lunyu strode steadily onto the stage.

Though he was a newcomer stepping onto the stage for the first time, and wore a bronze mask that concealed the upper half of his face, neither the host, the audience, nor his opponent dared underestimate him.

His transcendent aura alone made him seem like a true master just standing there.

"His opponent is a contestant who has already achieved five consecutive victories—the Lightning Leopard Head!"

Across from Ming Lunyu, the thin man known as Lightning Leopard Head raised both hands in response to the crowd's cheers.

"Lightning Leopard Head?" Ming Lunyu guessed that this guy was an Agility Attack System Soul Master. His martial soul might even be a Lightning Leopard.

"Begin!"

Both sides summoned their martial souls.

To Ming Lunyu's surprise, Lightning Leopard Head's martial soul was actually the Fire Fist Tiger!

Then why the hell are you called "Lightning" "Leopard Head"?!

Ming Lunyu grumbled inwardly, but his hands did not slow in the slightest. The Jade Bone Golden Fan appeared in his grasp, and four pitch-black Soul Rings rose one after another.

No Soul Skill was needed. The instant those rings appeared, the entire Great Soul Arena fell deathly silent.

Lightning Leopard Head was also dumbfounded. His charging stance instantly froze, and he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Yet no one had the spare attention to laugh at him.

One second, two seconds, three seconds... ten seconds.

BOOM!!!

The entire spirit arena instantly erupted!

"Four ten-thousand-year Soul Rings! Am I seeing this right?!"

"Is that real? It has to be fake! How is that possible?!"

"No way, bro!"

"666, this guy is OP!"

"A genius! A true genius!"

"..."

"..."

It took more than five minutes for the stunned uproar to gradually settle down. Everyone stared fixedly at Ming Lunyu, unable to wait to see just how monstrous a Soul Ancestor with all ten-thousand-year Soul Rings could be.

Ming Lunyu also stood quietly in place for five minutes.

Because his opponent had not recovered yet.

"Feeling better? Brother Leopard Head? Can we begin now?"

Ming Lunyu's gentle, relaxed tone eased the pressure in Lightning Leopard Head's heart.

Lightning Leopard Head took a deep breath. A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he shouted.

"Fine! Let me experience the skills of a genius like you!"

With that shout, his first and second Soul Rings lit up together. He roared, flames burst from his entire body, and he charged forward like a war chariot.

Ming Lunyu's gaze sharpened. His first Soul Ring lit up, blue light flashed across his fan, and a water blade shot out instantly.

Leopard Head slid forward, dodging the water blade, only for sudden vines to wrap around his feet.

"Roar!" Leopard Head's tiger eyes turned blood-red, and he broke free from the restraints in an instant.

His third Soul Skill activated! Tiger Descends the Mountain!

"Roar!"

His tiger body leaped high into the air and pounced down fiercely.

Ming Lunyu remained unruffled as his third and fourth Soul Rings lit up in succession.

A water tornado abruptly appeared beneath Ming Lunyu's feet as he took a step backward.

Leopard Head arrived at that exact moment and crashed headfirst into the tornado.

His entire body was immediately swept spinning into the air, where he remained suspended for a full second!

What could one second do?

It was naturally enough time for Ming Lunyu to unleash his third Soul Skill twice!

Six, followed by another six—twelve fiery red, crystalline Folding Fans slammed into Leopard Head one after another.

At the critical moment, Leopard Head's fourth Soul Ring lit up...

Amid flames and explosions, a charred figure traced an arc through the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

"Urgh..." Leopard Head exhaled white smoke.

If he had not activated his fourth Soul Skill at the last instant, he would have died beneath Ming Lunyu's barrage.

Of course, if he had not used a Soul Skill, Ming Lunyu would have canceled the attack himself.

"The Confucian Yama King wins!"

Ten seconds later, the host's hoarse cry rang out.

"Confucian Yama King!"

"Confucian Yama King!"

"Confucian Yama King!"

The entire venue boiled over, and cheers shook the heavens.

Every audience member stared fervently at the lone white figure still standing in the arena.

It was as if they had witnessed the birth of an unparalleled prodigy.

Perhaps it would not be long before the name Confucian Yama King resounded throughout the Heaven Dou Grand Spirit Arena, known by everyone far and wide!

But the audience would likely be disappointed, because after participating in two matches, this mysterious and powerful Confucian Yama King never appeared again. He left behind only a thought-provoking legend in the spirit arena.

But that was all for later.