Twelve Years Old

Chen Xilin had continually deepened his cultivation of the Second Heavenly Cycle of the Muscle Tendon Classic these past days.

The Second Heavenly Cycle produced a detoxification effect. His qi and blood flowed freely, his energy became full and vigorous, and his Divine Soul grew strong and complete. The comfort was beyond words.

This was the most comfortable stage of the Muscle Tendon Classic. The essence, qi, and spirit Chen Xilin had tempered for years finally came in handy.

Before long, Chen Xilin perfected the Second Heavenly Cycle of the Muscle Tendon Classic and could break through to the Third Heavenly Cycle, the Red Tier Futu, at any time.

However, he had encountered another bottleneck. Sure enough, every major Heavenly Cycle of the Muscle Tendon Classic was restricted by the rules of Douluo Continent. He needed to obtain the next Soul Ring before he could continue breaking through.

Chen Xilin considered it carefully. He could still cultivate the later Yellow and Blue Tiers through experience. Following the sequence, once he obtained his Fifth Soul Ring, he would be able to cultivate the White Tier Futu.

But Chen Xilin knew just how powerful the White Tier Futu was. At present, a Soul Saint at Long Fei's level would not last a hundred moves against him in his previous life.

In Chen Xilin's estimation, mastering the White Tier Futu was equivalent to becoming a Spirit Douluo. The Black Tier Futu should correspond to the level of a Titled Douluo.

However, the Black Tier Futu had four stages: Third Room Battle Mark, Second Room Battle Mark, First Room Battle Mark, and the legendary Endless War Mark.

Those who had reached the Endless War Mark were likely only the vanished Fire Cloud Cthulhu and Bodhidharma, the creator of the Muscle Tendon Classic.

Could the Endless realm perhaps allow one to become a god in this world?

Chen Xilin had experienced the power of the Second Room Battle Mark. Soul Saints were nothing but ants in his eyes; he could kill a dozen of them with a single palm strike.

Long Fei was gone for two months, while Chen Xilin obediently cultivated his Soul Power at home.

With the help of the Muscle Tendon Classic, Chen Xilin cultivated at an extraordinary pace. He had now broken through to Level 17 and was advancing toward Level 18.

Chen Xilin guessed that he could probably reach Level 20 and become a Soul Grandmaster at around seven years old.

As for Chen Xilin's current First Soul Skill, well, it was useful now, but what about later? It would be completely useless.

How could an enhancement Soul Skill compare to the effects of mastering the Muscle Tendon Classic? The Muscle Tendon Classic specialized in being tough, durable, and powerful. Its only weakness was that, unless one reached the Black Tier Futu, it lacked wide-area attacks.

Chen Xilin thought that perhaps he could develop in the direction of group attacks in the future. After all, Soul Skills were something he could carefully choose through the Spirit Beasts he selected.

"Xiao Lin, I'm back." After two months, Long Fei finally returned.

Unlike before he left, Long Fei did not look very good now. His hair was a mess, his face was covered in stubble, and only his clothes looked somewhat neat.

"This is Dragon Paste, refined from the marrow of several Sub-Dragon Spirit Beasts. Apply it to your body tomorrow; it will help improve your physique." Long Fei took out a box.

"This is Earth Dragon Tendon. I'll cook it for you tonight. You need to take in enough nutrition now."

"This is a Medicinal Bath that only disciples of great clans can use. Soak in it once tomorrow night before meditating."

"Xiao Lin, your talent is unparalleled. With a top-tier Beast Spirit like the Dark Holy Dragon, I truly cannot think of any Martial Spirit that can compare to yours. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon is said to be the strongest Beast Spirit.

"Yet its Dragon Clan bloodline is actually inferior to that of your Dark Holy Dragon. As far as I know, Yu Yuanzhen, the next clan head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, only had Soul Power at Level Nine and a Half back then.

"And you—as long as you cultivate diligently, becoming a Titled Douluo will not be a problem. I will protect your path, but you are not without rivals. I hear that Spirit Hall is full of geniuses.

"As far as I know, every level among Titled Douluos is worlds apart. Your talent may allow you to become a Titled Douluo, but above Titled Douluos are Peak Douluos and Peerless Douluos.

"Xiao Lin, you still have a long road ahead. Still, Teacher only hopes that you can become a Titled Douluo respected by all. That will be enough.

"To be honest, the rules of Douluo Continent are that the strong are honored. The weak have no opportunities at all. Xiao Lin, you must work hard."

Long Fei said after taking a sip of wine.

"Understood." Chen Xilin nodded.

Six years later, Star Dou Great Forest

A young man clad in fitted black clothes stood facing off against a Striped Fierce Tiger.

The young man stood a full six feet tall, with broad shoulders. His handsome features carried a hint of wickedness, and his jet-black hair fell loosely over his shoulders. His black eyes were like an abyss, impossible to fathom at a glance.

If not for the lingering youthful immaturity on his face, he might have been mistaken for an adult.

His opponent was a massive striped tiger. Its blood-red eyes brimmed with killing intent, and its body stretched over four meters long. Muscles bulged across its entire body, and it likely weighed over a thousand jin. The king character on its forehead exuded the majesty of a true ruler.

Anyone knowledgeable about Spirit Beasts would recognize this Striped Fierce Tiger as having a cultivation of over twenty thousand years. It was the ideal Sixth Soul Ring for an assault-type Spirit Master.

However, what drew even more attention in this forest was the young man's condition. Dark Aura radiated from his entire body.

Soul Rings floated around him—yellow, purple, purple, black. Four Soul Rings that surpassed the understanding of the Spirit Master world had appeared. Was he really still a Soul Ancestor?

The young man's hands resembled Dragon Claws as he faced the Striped Fierce Tiger. The tiger's sharp claws and fangs were unexpectedly unable to do anything to his Dragon Claws.

This Soul Ancestor confronting the Striped Fierce Tiger was Chen Xilin. He was now twelve years old, and his Soul Power had reached Level 49, only one step away from Level 50.

"Second Soul Skill, Dark Dragon Demonic Flame!"

Chen Xilin's second purple Soul Ring flashed. Pitch-black flames appeared out of thin air around his Dragon Claws. The black flames were so eerie that they made one's hair stand on end.

Chen Xilin slashed at the Striped Fierce Tiger with a Dragon Claw wreathed in Black Flame. The tiger seemed to sense something and kept dodging, unwilling to be touched by those strange flames.

"Heh, do you think dodging the Dragon Claw is enough?" Chen Xilin sneered. He condensed the flames on one Dragon Claw into a mass and hurled it directly at the tiger.

The instant the flames touched the tiger's body, they flared up as if they had been ignited. In an instant, black flames engulfed the tiger's entire body.

Chen Xilin's flames were Yin Fire. Once contaminated by them, they clung like maggots to bone and were difficult to remove unless one's cultivation was strong enough. This fire not only burned, but also possessed the corrosive and invasive properties of darkness.

Once burned by the Black Flame, all of the opponent's attributes would decline, along with their senses. At that moment, openings would appear.

"Fourth Spirit Skill, Myriad Dragon Devouring Abyss!"

Chen Xilin pressed his hands downward in the air. Countless Dark Energy Masses formed around the Striped Fierce Tiger, surging wildly before transforming into ferocious black Dragon Heads in the blink of an eye.

The next moment, countless ferocious dragons opened their massive jaws and tore into the Striped Fierce Tiger. Terrifying dark power eroded the tiger's body, and within only a few breaths, it stopped breathing.

A nearly black Soul Ring emerged, showing that the Striped Fierce Tiger had completely died.

"Not bad." Long Fei suddenly appeared and patted Chen Xilin on the shoulder, forcing out an unpleasant-looking smile.

Chen Xilin already understood his teacher well. His teacher was dull, loved cultivating, and easily offended people when he spoke, but Chen Xilin could feel his teacher's approval.

"I think you're ready to graduate. In these five and a half years, you've done even better than I imagined. Who could have thought that you would reach Level 49 at only twelve years old!

"Even the Haotian Twin Stars of the Clear Sky Sect, spoken of in legend, were probably not as monstrous as you. In thirty years—no, twenty years—you may become a towering figure in your own right."

Long Fei patted Chen Xilin's shoulder hard, expressing his satisfaction.