Because Chrysanthemum Douluo's Martial Soul was the same as the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum he had consumed, the Immortal Herb strengthened his body far more than it had the other two. His Ninth Spirit Ring surpassed a hundred thousand years, reaching the two-hundred-thousand-year Ferocious Beast Level. Two golden patterns appeared on the ring.
Yue Guan's Soul Ring ultimately settled at 230,000 years. The Soul Power it generated pushed him straight to Level 93.
After absorbing their Soul Rings, the three said respectfully, "Thank you for your gift, Young Master."
Qian Renxue nodded slightly. "What Soul Skills did each of you gain? Xiong Ju, you go first."
"Yes, Young Master." Xiong Ju demonstrated his Soul Skills first.
Demon Bear Douluo's first Soul Skill was World-Ending Frenzied Strike, a Power Attack System skill. It used his bear claws to strike enemies at extreme speed, stunning those within range while granting Lifesteal. His second skill, Demon Bear Roar, was a Support Type skill. It granted him and nearby allies a Berserk Boost, increasing their attack power by fifty percent and making them impervious to pain.
"Not a bad pair of Soul Skills. Used together, they'd weaken the enemy while strengthening our side."
That was Qian Daoliu's assessment.
"And you, Gui Mei? Show us your Soul Skills." Qian Renxue turned to him.
"Yes, Young Master." A flash crossed Gui Mei's Ninth Spirit Ring, and his body dissolved like ink.
"That's strange. Where did Gui Mei go?" Xiong Ju looked around.
Light Feather Douluo pointed behind Xiong Ju. "Right behind you."
Xiong Ju spun around and saw a figure emerge from his shadow. Gui Mei said, "This is the first Soul Skill my Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring gave me: Shadow Stealth Assault. Wherever there are shadows, I can move between them, catching enemies off guard and repositioning quickly."
Gui Mei's second Soul Skill was Infinite Ghost Shadow Bombardment, a straightforward attack skill that worked well with Shadow Stealth Assault.
"Your turn, Yue Guan."
Yue Guan smiled. "One of my two Soul Skills is Heaven-Piercing Chrysanthemum Shines Upon the Firmament."
With that, he demonstrated it. His Heaven-Piercing Chrysanthemum Martial Soul erupted in blinding light. Its petals spread and spun at astonishing speed, forming the phantom of a colossal chrysanthemum beneath the dome above the assembled Elders. Countless points of light, brilliant as stars, gathered among its petals, then condensed into thick beams that slammed precisely into the target area like divine punishment from the heavens. Each beam held enough destructive energy to shatter even the toughest defenses. Qian Daoliu raised a barrier and blocked the attack.
"I can spread this Soul Skill out to strike a wide area, or focus it on a single point for a decisive kill," Yue Guan explained, clearly pleased with its power.
Like his Ninth Soul Skill in the original timeline, it was a Power Attack System skill. But this one made his old move, Chrysanthemums Scattered, Flowers Fallen, Hearts Broken, look pitiful by comparison.
Qian Daoliu dismissed his Soul Power barrier. "Impressive. When focused, that attack of yours at Level 93 had the killing power of a Level 95 Titled Douluo. As expected of a Soul Skill from a two-hundred-thousand-year Ferocious Beast Soul Ring. What about the second skill?"
An orange domain spread outward from Yue Guan.
"A domain!" Gui Mei was instantly envious.
"That brat really is blessed," Golden Crocodile Enshrined muttered.
The domain soon expanded to cover everyone, surrounding each person within it with a transparent orange Soul Power barrier.
"My second Soul Skill is the Miraculous Heaven-Piercing Chrysanthemum Domain," Yue Guan said. "It increases my Soul Power recovery rate by fifty percent and grants allies within the domain an Adamantine Barrier. Until my Soul Power runs out, the barrier is unbreakable and impervious to all attacks."
"Oh? Interesting. Let me see whether this Adamantine Barrier is really as unbreakable and impervious as you say." Demon Subduing Douluo stepped out from the back of the Enshrined ranks. He reached out, and the Coiling Dragon Staff landed in his hand.
He swung the staff and charged Yue Guan.
Clang! The Coiling Dragon Staff struck the Adamantine Barrier like a blow against a golden bell. The barrier did not budge.
"Oh, that is interesting." Demon Subduing Douluo grinned and poured in more Soul Power.
Yue Guan felt his Soul Power draining faster. At Level 93, he was still no match for the Level 96 Demon Subduing Douluo. As time passed, his Adamantine Barrier gradually faded, and his Soul Power drained away at an alarming rate.
After holding out for more than half an hour, Yue Guan's Soul Power finally gave way. Just as the Adamantine Barrier was about to collapse, Demon Subduing Douluo withdrew his staff and returned to the Enshrined ranks.
Yue Guan's face was pale. The effort had clearly cost him a great deal of Soul Power.
"All right." Qian Renxue looked over the others who would become Spirit Hall's Elders. "Once you reach Level 90, you may come to the Angel God Palace for a God-Bestowed Spirit Ring. But only if you're confident you can obtain a Soul Ring of at least a hundred thousand years for your ninth."
"Tuoba Xi, Hu Yan Zhen, step forward," Qian Renxue called.
The two hurried forward. "What would you have us do, Young Master?"
"After consuming the Immortal Herbs, both of you should become Titled Douluo within ten years," Qian Renxue said. "I also want your two factions to merge into a single sect: the Dragon Elephant Sect."
Sky Crocodile asked, "Why do you want that, Young Master?"
"I want to create another of the Upper Three Sects."
Tuoba Xi and Hu Yan Zhen exchanged a glance. Tuoba Xi said:
"As you command. Please give the White Armored Earth Dragon Family and the Elephant Armor Sect some time, Young Master. We promise to persuade everyone to merge the two into one."
After distributing the Immortal Herbs and arranging the merger, Qian Renxue dismissed them. Quiet returned to the Worship Hall, leaving only her and the Seven Great Enshrined.
"Grandfathers, there's one more thing I hope you'll agree to," Qian Renxue said.
"Please tell us, Young Master," Sky Crocodile said. "If it's within our power, we'll do it."
"I want you to marry and have children. Pass your excellent bloodlines and Martial Souls on to the next generation."
In her Previous Life, discord between the Worship Hall and the Pope's Palace had led Spirit Hall to send a bunch of clowns to the Spirit Master Tournament, where they lost to Shrek Academy. Qian Renxue would not allow that to happen this time.
Shrek's members were talented thanks to their Immortal Herbs, but that did not mean Spirit Hall lacked talent. For one thing, the Six-winged Angel,
the Golden Crocodile King, the Beast King Lion, the Azure Luan Bird, the Light Feather Divine Bow, and the Coiling Dragon Staff—top-tier Martial Souls like these had never even appeared in the tournament.
Before you continue