Golden Crocodile King Makes the List

Above the Sky Screen, golden light flowed.

Without giving the continent's Soul Masters much time to process the top three rankings, the vast voice of the Heavenly Dao resounded through heaven and earth once more:

[Martial Soul Ranking, 17th Place: Bone Dragon]

[Holder: Gu Rong (Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect)]

[Rating: Top-tier defensive/Space Type Beast Martial Soul. Bones transform into a dragon, possessing ultimate physical defense and the ability to control space. Current development level: 86%]

[Reward: Soul Power Level Increased by One Level, all Soul Ring Ages Increased by 1500 Years, space power control +10%]

"Old Bones!"

Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sword Douluo Chen Xin cried out in shock and abruptly turned to look at his close friend beside him.

Gu Rong was also dumbfounded, his face filled with disbelief and a trace of wild joy.

His Bone Dragon Martial Soul had actually made the list!

Though it was only 17th Place, this was still the honor of being among the top twenty on the entire continent!

And the rewards were so generous!

Whoosh!

A Golden Light Pillar descended with perfect precision, enveloping Gu Rong's towering body.

Vast energy surged into him. His Level 95 peak Soul Power instantly broke through, carrying him into the ranks of Level 96 Super Douluos!

At the same time, his nine Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—blazed with light as their ages rapidly increased.

They ultimately stabilized into a configuration of four purple and five black rings.

His first two Soul Rings had both crossed the thousand-year threshold!

An even heavier and more powerful aura, carrying ripples of space, spread from Gu Rong's body.

Feeling the surging power within him and his increasingly resilient bones, he could not help throwing back his head and roaring, his voice shaking the surroundings!

"Hahaha! Good! What a Heavenly Dao reward!"

Gu Rong laughed heartily and slapped his chest hard, producing the sound of clashing metal.

Ning Fengzhi also revealed a gratified smile and cupped his hands. "Congratulations, Uncle Bone, on your tremendous increase in strength!"

Chen Xin was happy for his old friend as well, but a trace of solemnity appeared in his eyes.

He understood the Bone Dragon's strength all too well, especially its elusive spatial abilities. They were practically divine skills for survival and battlefield control.

Such a Martial Soul was only ranked 17th?

"Fengzhi, even Old Bones' Bone Dragon is only seventeenth. This ranking list... its standards are far too high."

"My Seven Killing Sword..."

Chen Xin said in a low voice.

Ning Fengzhi nodded, his smile fading as his tone turned serious. "Uncle Jian's Seven Killing Sword is the number one offensive Tool Martial Soul in the world. Its ranking will surely be even higher. But the positions ahead of it will likely be contested more fiercely than we can imagine. We must prepare ourselves."

After the joy passed, Gu Rong calmed down as well.

He smacked his lips. "Seventeenth... Tsk. Looks like there are more old monsters in this world than we know."

"Fengzhi, it seems our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needs to make preparations early too."

The entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was immersed in the joy of Bone Douluo making the list, as well as concern for the future.

Spirit Hall, Pope's Palace.

Bibi Dong sat high upon her throne, her icy gaze sweeping across the words "Bone Dragon, 17th Place" on the Sky Screen. A disdainful curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

"A mere Bone Dragon only has its troublesome spatial abilities to rely on. How could its quality and potential compare to my Spider Emperor?"

"Seventeenth is reasonable enough."

She muttered to herself, and her resentment over her Twin Martial Souls' low ranking eased somewhat.

After all, even the Bone Dragon, famed for its defense and spatial abilities, ranked so low. That made her own ranking seem less unacceptable.

However, the moment the voice of the Heavenly Dao rang out again, Bibi Dong's expression instantly darkened.

[Martial Soul Ranking, 16th Place: Golden Crocodile King]

[Holder: Golden Crocodile Douluo (Spirit Hall)]

[Rating: Top-tier Assault Type Beast Martial Soul. Possesses ultimate strength and defense, with an ancient bloodline and the majesty of a king. Current development level: 89%]

[Reward: Soul Power Level Increased by One Level, All Soul Ring Ages Increased by 2000 Years, ancient Martial Soul bloodline awakening +20%]

"What?! The Golden Crocodile King is only sixteenth?!"

Bibi Dong abruptly rose to her feet, cold light bursting from her Phoenix Eyes.

Her powerful momentum made the newly repaired Pope's Palace tremble slightly once more.

The Golden Crocodile King!

This was the Martial Soul of the Worship Hall's Second Worship, Golden Crocodile, a Level 98 Peak Douluo!

Its quality was exceptional, its bloodline ancient. Among Beast Martial Souls, it was absolutely one of the very finest!

In her view, if she had not relied on the advantages of Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls, even her cultivation speed would not have matched Golden Crocodile Douluo's.

Although she disliked the people in the Worship Hall, the Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul's power was obvious to all.

Yet the truth was that the Golden Crocodile King had only ranked 16th Place!

It was only one place above the Bone Dragon! This was simply absurd!

That meant there were at least fifteen Martial Souls above the Golden Crocodile King!

How was that possible?

Since when had Douluo Continent hidden so many peerless Martial Souls?

A powerful sense of unease and the feeling that everything had completely slipped out of control rose in Bibi Dong's heart once more.

Inside the Worship Hall.

When they heard "Golden Crocodile King, 16th Place," all the worshippers froze.

Then, in unison, they turned their gazes toward Golden Crocodile Douluo, who stood behind Qian Daoliu.

Golden Crocodile Douluo himself wore a stunned expression, his rugged face full of disbelief.

He had absolute confidence in his Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul. It possessed an ancient kingly bloodline capable of rivaling a True Dragon!

In his mind, breaking into the top ten might have been difficult, but reaching the top twelve or thirteen should have been guaranteed.

"Six... sixteenth place?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice was dry. His face felt burning hot, and before the other worshippers, this ranking was truly embarrassing.

Qian Daoliu slowly turned around. His golden eyes were calm and still as he looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo. "Second, the Heavenly Dao Ranking List has its own Judging Criteria. Making the list is already fortunate enough. Besides, the rewards are generous. Go and accept your opportunity."

Golden Crocodile Douluo took a deep breath, suppressing the frustration in his heart. "Yes, Brother."

The moment he finished speaking, the Golden Light Pillar descended.

Boom!

Vast energy poured into Golden Crocodile Douluo's burly body. His Level 98 peak Soul Power instantly boiled, and the solid barrier that had trapped him for decades shattered with a thunderous crash!

Level 99!

Limit Douluo!

A terrifying pressure far more violent than before erupted, filled with primal savagery.

Behind Golden Crocodile Douluo, the phantom of an incomparably massive crocodile appeared. Covered in Dark Golden Scales, it raised its head and let out a silent roar, brimming with raw power!

His original Soul Ring Configuration had been two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red. Tempered by the golden energy, it instantly rose to four purple, four black, and one red.

All Soul Ring Ages Increased by 2000 Years, raising the quality of his Soul Rings as a whole by an entire level!

"Hahaha! Good! Such powerful strength!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo felt the river-like Soul Power rushing through his body and the unprecedented realm he had reached. He could not help laughing loudly.

His previous frustration was swept away.

Strength was what truly mattered!

As long as he could break through to Limit Douluo, what did it matter if he ranked 16th Place?