Mingdu

Although the Spirit Tool Masters of the Sun Moon Empire were deeply dissatisfied with the prejudice against traditional soul masters, it was also a fact: over the past several thousand years, not a single Limit Douluo had emerged among Spirit Tool Masters. The legendary Rank 10 Spirit Tool Master remained only a theory. Meanwhile, in the Original Douluo Three Kingdoms, Limit Douluos had never ceased to appear. Every Sea God Pavilion Master of Shrek Academy had been a Limit Douluo, and other sects had occasionally produced Limit Douluos over the millennia, each enjoying its own period of glory.

There was a reason traditional soul masters looked down on Spirit Tool Masters and dismissed spirit tools.

Of course, Liu Xing did not look down on Spirit Tool Masters, nor did he underestimate spirit tools. He understood very well just how terrifying a technological creation like a spirit tool could become once it developed, especially when applied to warfare.

But in Liu Xing's view, Douluo Continent was a world where the strong ruled, where people pursued their own strength. Spirit tools were indeed an external force, and in such a world, Spirit Tool Masters did seem as though they had taken the wrong path.

However, Liu Xing was not opposed to using external objects and tools.

After learning about this world's cultivation system, Liu Xing had considered that it would be even better if traditional soul masters and Spirit Tool Masters could be combined. Like cultivating both magic and martial arts in fantasy novels, it would surely be stronger than being solely a Spirit Tool Master or a traditional soul master.

With both combined, one would possess the formidable combat power of a traditional soul master as well as the versatile combat methods of a Spirit Tool Master. Effective at both close and long range, a perfect all-rounder—wasn't that ideal?

But Liu Xing also knew it would be difficult. Cultivating Soul Power, training the body, and tempering spiritual power already took up most of a soul master's time, let alone learning to craft spirit tools. A person's energy was limited; it was impossible to excel at everything unless one had cheats.

Liu Xing had seen on some forums that this Douluo Continent's second-generation protagonist, though said to be the most miserable protagonist of all generations, also had the most outrageous cheats. He had likely cultivated as both a soul master and a Spirit Tool Master, cheating his way through everything before eventually suppressing an entire era.

Not everyone was a protagonist. Without a cheat, one could only honestly choose a path that suited oneself rather than trying to have it all.

From Dragon City to Mingdu, the shortest route was to cross the Heaven Dou Empire, then traverse the Ice Sea before finally entering the Sun Moon Empire's territory.

Luan Yu led Liu Xing and Firefly across the Heaven Dou Empire. When they passed near Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, she deliberately took a detour. Flying directly over the capital of a nation was unrealistic and likely to invite trouble, so it was better to go around.

The three traveled at an unhurried pace, passing through Heaven Dou City, Heaven Spirit City, and Maple Leaf City. After three days, they finally reached the coast. Along the way, Luan Yu had taken Liu Xing and Firefly on detours and occasionally descended from the sky to bring them into cities to rest and experience the customs of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Otherwise, at the speed of a Rank 9 Flying Spirit Tool, it would not have taken three days at all.

The Ice Phoenix Wings spread wide, carrying Liu Xing and Firefly across the heavens until they finally reached the Ice Sea. Luan Yu brought the two down onto the beach. The sea breeze carried a salty tang, rolling up waves upon waves. Silver surf glittered beneath the sunlight, as though countless diamonds were dancing across the water.

Seagulls occasionally skimmed over the horizon, stirring up strings of splashes. Under the sunlight, the seawater displayed varying shades of blue, like an enormous gemstone set within this world.

The three did not linger for long. After a brief rest, they rose into the sky again. From within the blue Soul Guidance Barrier, Liu Xing looked down at the sea below. The water shimmered with rippling light, and Sea Soul Beasts occasionally surfaced before quickly diving back beneath the waves.

This time, Luan Yu flew even higher. No one knew how many Sea Soul Beasts lurked within the Ice Sea. Flying too low would invite attacks from them, and if they were unlucky enough to encounter a Hundred-Thousand-Year Sea Soul Beast, they would be in danger.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were exceedingly rare on land, but they were not so uncommon in the sea. The ocean was boundless, and Sea Soul Beasts far outnumbered land Soul Beasts. The number of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts was likewise far beyond anything found on land.

Humans rarely ventured into the ocean. Even the Sun Moon Empire, which had developed Spirit Tool Warships, only dared to operate in coastal waters and did not dare venture too deeply. The sea was the domain of Sea Soul Beasts and, likewise, a forbidden zone for humanity.

The coastal cities of the Sun Moon Empire always had Spirit Tool Master Legions stationed within them to defend against Sea Soul Beast invasions. Every year, Sea Soul Beasts came ashore to attack human cities, which was why the legions had to remain stationed there year-round. Sea Soul Beasts were also a resource, and no one would ever complain about having too much Spirit Beast Meat. After all, eating Spirit Beast Meat allowed soul masters to cultivate faster.

Sea Soul Beasts differed somewhat from land Soul Beasts. Most of them lived in groups, so once they caused trouble, they became extremely difficult to handle. The Sun Moon Empire could only dispatch Spirit Tool Master Legions to suppress their disturbances.

As time passed, a hazy stretch appeared where sea and sky met. That was the territory of the Sun Moon Empire—far away at the edge of the heavens, yet seemingly close at hand.

Luan Yu controlled the Ice Phoenix Wings and accelerated, flying rapidly toward land through the sea wind.

We're finally almost there! Liu Xing let out a breath. Above the ocean, there was nothing but sea as far as the eye could see. It was far too boring. On land, they could still enjoy the scenery or descend into cities to explore, but over the ocean, they did not dare land, nor was there anywhere to land. They could only pick up speed and cross the sea as quickly as possible.

As they drew closer, Liu Xing and Firefly were already able to look down from the sky upon the entirety of Mingdu.

Mingdu, the capital of the Sun Moon Empire, was a city unlike any other on Douluo Continent. It had no protective city walls, yet it welcomed guests from every direction with an open posture. Skyscrapers rose like a forest of steel, towering majestically amid mist and clouds, appearing and vanishing from sight. Sunlight spilled across the glass curtain walls, reflecting dazzling brilliance and giving Liu Xing a sense of familiarity.

Whether it was Dragon City, the first city he had encountered after coming to this world, or Heaven Dou City, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire that he had visited later on, or even Heaven Spirit City and Maple Leaf City, all of them felt as though they lagged behind the times compared to Mingdu.

If the architectural style of the Heaven Dou Empire resembled the ancient era of his own world, then Mingdu of the Sun Moon Empire was not much different from the modern age of his world. The same dense skyscrapers, the same city of steel.

The difference was that Mingdu's modern style also carried a touch of fantasy. Compared to the modern cities he had already grown accustomed to, it made Liu Xing's eyes light up even more.

"We're here. This is Mingdu, the most prosperous and advanced city on Douluo Continent."

Luan Yu brought the two down from the distant sky, her voice carrying an almost imperceptible pride. Having traveled the continent for many years, Luan Yu had visited nearly every city in the other empires, even Shrek City, which was said to remain permanently neutral.