Douluo: Fiery Chains of the Soul, Sealing the Gods — 7

At that tense, hair-trigger moment, Su Han did not hesitate to unleash his first soul skill—Fiery Lock.

The chains seemed to be ignited by invisible flames, gleaming with an eerie cyan light as they shot toward the uninvited guest trying to take his life, binding him tightly and leaving him unable to move.

At the same time, the other two opponents darkened and immediately launched fierce attacks against Su Han.

Facing this sudden pincer attack, Su Han swiftly recalled his Martial Soul, transforming it into a straight, indestructible iron staff that served as both a defensive weapon and a close-combat tool.

However, the man bound by the chains was burned in several places and seemed to have gone mad. His Lone Wolf Martial Soul revealed two yellow and one purple soul rings. Once his third soul skill, "Berserk," was activated, the increase in his combat power could not be underestimated.

Su Han had no clear idea how great the enhancement was. Only by dragging the battle out and wearing them down could he find a sliver of victory.

The battle grew ever fiercer. After more than a dozen exchanges, the powerful Soul Ancestor opponent kicked Su Han backward, sending him flying more than ten meters. Su Han rolled several times through the air before barely steadying himself.

Immediately afterward, Su Han decisively unleashed his second soul skill—Golden Net Restraint.

Countless crisscrossing nets woven from iron chains appeared out of thin air, filling the space and greatly restricting the freedom of the three opponents.

The three had no choice but to carefully dodge the chains flashing through the air like lightning, lest they be caught by them.

At that moment, Su Han slowly clenched his left hand into a fist. As his gesture changed, the power of Golden Net Restraint also increased, constantly compressing and contracting, gradually forcing the enemies into an extremely small area and making movement increasingly difficult.

The gaunt old man could not help but praise him. "What a shocking soul skill! If not for the more than twenty-level gap in Soul Power between them, these two Soul Elders likely would not be able to break through such powerful control."

In this fierce life-and-death battle, one Soul Elder was unfortunately bound tightly. He cried out anxiously and despairingly, "Help me, Boss!"

At the same time, the other Soul Ancestor had already unleashed his third and fourth soul skills. In an instant, the chain net seemed to bear an unbearable weight and shattered with a crash.

At that moment, Su Han's Martial Soul underwent an astonishing transformation, turning into an incomparably sharp arrow that shot toward the calling Soul Elder with lightning speed.

Faced with this sudden turn of events, the Soul Elder stared in stunned disbelief as the iron chain mercilessly pierced through his chest. Before he could finish speaking, his body collapsed.

Seeing this, the Soul Ancestor was enraged and shouted, "Brat, today this old man swears I will—"

Before he could finish, the Soul Elder with the Lone Wolf Martial Soul, who intended to avenge his brother, swiftly unleashed his second soul skill. Sharp claw winds came straight for Su Han.

Su Han reacted swiftly, instantly condensing his Martial Soul into a sturdy ring that cleverly blocked the attack.

At the same time, he seized the moment to draw a sharp dagger from his robes and throw it with force. Though it did not seriously injure his opponent, it did force the man's assault to slow.

However, this series of actions also affected Su Han himself. He was knocked back several steps by the Soul Elder's attack, and before he could steady himself, he was struck by a fierce claw attack from the Soul Ancestor, worsening his injuries.

Barely remaining upright, Su Han had a streak of blood at the corner of his mouth. His Soul Power was nearly exhausted.

If this dragged on any longer, he would likely not survive. He quickly weighed his options and decided to focus on dealing with the Soul Elder before him.

His first soul skill, Fiery Lock, erupted once more. With a resolute expression, Su Han used it again on the Soul Elder, intending to completely restrain his movements.

The opponent had already lost the aid of his third soul skill. A cold smile curled across Su Han's lips, clearly dismissing the possibility of the man breaking free.

At the same time, the other Soul Ancestor was just about to strike Su Han when, to everyone's surprise, Su Han suddenly rose into the air, soaring upward with an unknown power.

The Soul Ancestor looked startled, then greed flashed through his eyes. He muttered, "Brat, you can fly. You must possess a soul bone. You are simply a treasure bestowed upon me by heaven."

The three old men nearby were also greatly shocked. One white-haired elder pondered aloud, "That is the boy's own fortunate encounter. And for him to face the siege of a Level 48 Soul Ancestor and two Level 36 Soul Elders, then kill one of them in return—such strength was not bestowed by a soul bone."

The other two old men nodded in agreement, finding the astonishing strength Su Han had displayed difficult to believe.

However, while the Soul Ancestor was lost in his greedy fantasies,

Su Han flew directly to the Soul Elder tightly entangled by cyan flames. His movements were decisive and cold as he gripped the man's throat with one hand and ended his life.

The Soul Ancestor sneered repeatedly, his words dripping with contempt. "Brat, even if a soul bone grants you the power of flight, you still cannot cross the enormous gap of twenty-four levels between us."

With that, he unleashed his first soul skill, aiming directly at Su Han in the air.

Though Su Han tried his best to control his Martial Soul to interfere and defend, he had already reached the limit of how many times he could use his soul skills.

At the critical moment, relying on his Martial Soul's instinctive reaction, he curled himself into a ball and barely blocked the otherwise fatal strike.

The moment he was blown away by the immense force, he instinctively released chains and tightly bound the Soul Ancestor.

Just as the Soul Ancestor struggled to break free, Su Han used the last of his strength to throw a sharp dagger, striking precisely into the man's body.

Is this really how it ends for me? I'm so unwilling!

In the end, Su Han crashed heavily onto the ground and fell into a deep coma.

The dagger did not injure the Soul Ancestor. He caught it instead.

He burst into mad laughter. "Hahahahahaha! Brat, you made us chase you for months. My three brothers all died by your hand."

"Now, both your life and your soul bone are mine. Mine." Brimming with confidence, he walked toward Su Han step by step.

"Just as he thought he had succeeded, three figures suddenly appeared before him. He said warily, 'Seniors, this child and I have a deep blood feud. I hope you will allow me to settle this grievance.'"

The gaunt old man stepped forward with a smile. "You are not worthy of taking this boy's life." A cyan-green vine emerged beneath the Soul Ancestor's feet, instantly binding him until he suffocated to death.

Then, using his Martial Soul, he pulled Su Han before him and said, "Boy, you are fortunate to have encountered the three of us."

After a long and indescribable stretch of time, Su Han finally slowly opened his eyes. An unbearable pain surged through every part of his body, making cold sweat nearly break out across his forehead.

Once Su Han gradually adapted to the pain, he saw that his body was wrapped in bandages. He could not help but feel relieved that he was still alive.

Looking around, he found the room lavishly decorated and astonishingly spacious, measuring roughly sixty to seventy square meters.

After carefully trying to get out of bed and staggering to the window, Su Han's view suddenly opened up. Outside, verdant mountains rose in the distance, green waters flowed on, and tall buildings stood in orderly rows, creating a uniquely striking scene.

Just as he was immersed in the peace and beauty of the view, the door opened gently, and three old men walked in. Their faces gave Su Han an inexplicable sense of familiarity, though he could not recall where he had seen them.

One white-haired elder smiled and said gently to Su Han, "Young man, there is no need to panic. This is Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. I am Meng Shenji, the academy's head, and these two are Zhi Lin and Bai Baoshan."

Su Han was stunned. He had never expected to somehow arrive at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

No wonder they looked so familiar. They're the Three Committee Members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

These three are anything but ordinary. They're all Soul Douluo!

Su Han promptly bowed respectfully. "Thank you, three seniors, for saving my life. This junior, Su Han, will surely repay you in the future."

Meng Shenji nodded slightly, approval showing in his gaze. "Su Han, the three of us had already noticed you during the battle in Sunset Forest.

"You possess extraordinary talent, and your Martial Soul is even rarer. Facing powerful enemies, you actually killed two of them in return. Even this old man could not have matched such courage in his youth."

Su Han immediately grew nervous upon hearing that. Doesn't that mean the greatest secret of my soul bone has been exposed?

However, Zhi Lin smiled. "Boy Su Han, there is no need to be nervous. If the three of us truly coveted your soul bone, you would likely no longer be among the living.

"Your Martial Soul is the rare Chain Martial Soul, and you are a Control type soul master. Would you be willing to take this old man as your master?"

A wave of delight rose in Su Han's heart. There's such a good thing? Did I really expect a Titled Douluo to take me as a disciple with my talent? Stop dreaming just because you're pretty.

Without hesitation, Su Han gave Zhi Lin a ninety-degree bow. "This disciple, Su Han, is willing to take you as my master."

Zhi Lin nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "Good. From now on, you are this old man's disciple. You need only study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy with peace of mind."

Meng Shenji also teased him from the side. "Old fellow, congratulations. You have just broken through to the Soul Douluo realm and gained such an excellent disciple as well. It truly makes one envious."

Bai Baoshan chimed in, "Indeed. Su Han, if only your Martial Soul were a defensive type."

Facing the old men's teasing and expectations, Su Han scratched his head awkwardly and said apologetically, "Teacher, in my current condition, I am afraid I cannot serve you tea."

Zhi Lin waved his hand generously. "No matter. There is no need to care too much about such formalities.

"Little Han, can you tell your teacher about your Martial Soul and Innate Soul Power?"

After careful consideration, Su Han decided to be honest with Zhi Lin.

Looking at the three of them, he slowly said, "Teacher, Committee Members, my Martial Soul is called Fiery Chains of the Soul. It mutated during my awakening and possesses three attributes: metal, fire, and space.

"As for my Innate Soul Power, it is Level 8."

Zhi Lin's eyes shone brightly as he praised him. "I truly never expected it. Little Han, your Martial Soul actually contains three attributes, including the exceptionally rare Space attribute. And your Innate Soul Power reached Level 8 from birth. You are truly gifted beyond measure!"

Zhi Lin himself had only been born with Level 7.5 Innate Soul Power. Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan had both possessed Innate Level 8, but without sufficient opportunities in their lives, they were destined never to become Titled Douluo.

Meng Shenji agreed. "Indeed! If we nurture you carefully, then in time, you may become the first Titled Douluo in the history of the Heaven Dou Empire and create unprecedented glory."

Su Han looked puzzled and asked respectfully, "Teacher, does our Heaven Dou Empire not currently have a Titled Douluo of its own?"

Zhi Lin gently shook his head, his tone carrying a trace of melancholy. "Alas, among the consecrated experts of the Heaven Dou royal family, the highest cultivation is only the Soul Douluo realm.

"As for the supreme threshold of Titled Douluo, it has caused countless Level 89 Soul Douluo experts to falter, unable to cross it for their entire lives.

"Most of them have either exhausted their potential or grown old and frail, with no hope of further breakthroughs in this life.

"But Little Han, you are entirely different from them.

"You possess the exceptional talent of Innate Level 8, and with the Heaven Dou Empire's abundant resources fully devoted to you, you will surely break through to Titled Douluo."

Su Han pondered silently, clearly understanding the deeper meaning behind Zhi Lin's words—they wanted to invite him to join the Heaven Dou Empire.

He weighed it in his heart and felt that it was not a bad choice.

After all, if he could receive the Empire's full support, the benefits would surely surpass the uncertain prospects awaiting him in Spirit Hall.

Besides, Innate Level 8 was not something common. In the original story, those with Innate Soul Power at Level 8 or above all came from major powers.

Other than Qin Ming, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar.

What was more, with his Innate Level 8 aptitude, he might not receive sufficient attention or resources in Spirit Hall.

And if he joined another great power, he would likely be unable to escape becoming a dependent son-in-law.