Just as I was about to break through to Dou Di, the Gold Ranking List descended!

Douluo Continent, Sunset Forest.

There was a place of mist that made people turn pale at the mere mention of its name, where legend had it that even Titled Douluo had met their end.

Yet, at the heart of this mist lay an entirely different scene.

Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, which showcased the most magnificent landscape on the continent, a towering bronze pillar pierced straight into the sky!

Above the massive pillar sat a series of gilded palaces suspended in mid-air, connected by rainbow-colored bridges.

It radiated a divine pressure that made one's heart tremble!

This was the [Dou Po Academy], which Zhou Xu had spent eighteen years of painstaking effort to rebuild.

Eighteen years ago, after transmigrating to Douluo, he awakened his exclusive martial soul, [Dou Qi].

He was bound to the Dou Qi Preaching System.

The system granted him two core abilities: first, to summon characters from Battle Through the Heavens for his own use.

Second, to rebuild the Dou Po Academy to its peak state, which would allow him to condense Origin Qi and achieve the rank of Dou Di.

Today, the Dou Po Academy had already taken the form of a divine realm, and the summoned characters were all top-tier powerhouses of the Douluo Continent.

Zhou Xu himself had long since reached the realm of a Nine-star Dou Saint, just one step away from the throne of a Dou Di.

Yet, it was this final step that had kept him stuck for three whole years.

The barrier to becoming a Dou Di was indestructible!

No matter how he circulated his Dou Qi or utilized the foundation of the Dou Po Academy to push through, it was like a stone sinking into the ocean—he made no progress at all.

Without Origin Qi, it was impossible to break through to Dou Di!

To go from Dou Saint to Dou Di is truly this difficult.

A hint of gravity flashed in Zhou Xu's eyes. Eighteen years of planning, from being a nobody to establishing this hidden divine realm.

He had intended to lie low until he reached Dou Di and solidified his position before revealing himself to the world, but this damned bottleneck had left him unable to advance even an inch after reaching the peak of a Nine-star Dou Saint!

It stood before him like a natural chasm! It was a thorn in Zhou Xu's throat!

"Master~"

A voice, charming to the bone, drifted from behind him, accompanied by a refreshing, subtle fragrance.

Zhou Xu turned to see a woman in green snake-patterned palace attire walking slowly toward him, her face exquisite and her demeanor alluring!

Strangely, her pupils were shaped like peculiar three-petaled flowers, with green light swirling within them.

"Qing Lin, why are you here? Is something the matter?" Interrupted in his deep thoughts, Zhou Xu turned his head, looking somewhat bewildered as he asked.

"Master, your disciples have come to seek an audience with you!" Qing Lin replied to Zhou Xu's question with a smile.

As Zhou Xu's personal attendant, Qing Lin could be considered the head steward of his daily life.

Even his direct disciples had to pass through her if they wanted to see Zhou Xu.

"Hmm, then let them in!" Thinking of his disciples, Zhou Xu revealed a faint smile and waved his hand.

Before his words faded, five spirited voices spoke in unison.

"Teacher!"

Five figures approached together, their steps light and nimble, each radiating the youthful vitality of young girls.

Dugu Yan, who led them, wore a purple dress that accentuated her exquisite figure.

Following closely behind was Gu Yue Na in a white dress, her silver hair like a waterfall, her cold eyes fixed steadily on Zhou Xu, as if he were the only thing in her world.

Behind them followed Meng Yi Ran, the Dragon God Reincarnation Ji Hong Yue, and Ye Ling Ling.

"Greetings, Lady Qing Lin!" After the four girls and one beast entered, they first bowed to Qing Lin.

Only then did they turn their gaze toward Zhou Xu.

"Teacher, the Dou Qi we cultivate always feels difficult to fully control when breaking through to Dou Huang. Could you give us some guidance?"

Dugu Yan spoke first, her tone carrying a hint of urgency.

She had been stuck at the peak of Dou Wang for half a month, and the violent energy of the Dou Qi—which did not belong to this world—often backfired, causing her great distress.

Meng Yi Ran also nodded in agreement: "I am never stable enough when condensing Dou Qi, which causes me to fall short every time I attempt to break through to Dou Huang."

Zhou Xu stood up and swept his gaze over his five disciples. Although they were asking questions, his eyes still revealed a sense of gratification.

Over the past few years, he had taught them meticulously, supplemented by Dou Qi Pills from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

The five had heaven-defying talent. Although Dugu Yan's talent was not the strongest, as his first disciple, she, along with Gu Yue Na and Ji Hong Yue, had reached the peak of Dou Wang, just one step away from Dou Huang.

The remaining two, Meng Yi Ran and Ye Ling Ling, had slightly lesser talent but were already Dou Ling powerhouses.

He raised his hand, and a wisp of pale golden Dou Qi drifted toward Dugu Yan: "It must be that your circulation route is flawed, or perhaps the Dou Qi within you is not sufficiently full.

Follow the route I have indicated, and you will be able to absorb the Dou Qi continuously produced by the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without obstruction!"

Dugu Yan followed his instructions, and as her purple Dou Qi wrapped around her, it circulated through her meridians.

The originally violent energy became much more docile, and a look of pleasant surprise immediately appeared on her face.

Zhou Xu turned to Meng Yi Ran and the others, briefly addressing their issues with explanations so simple yet profound that they were suddenly enlightened.

"Alright, if you have any further questions, you can go consult your teachers, Xiao Xun Er, Cai Lin, or Little Medical Fairy! From now on, don't bother me unless it's something important. I'm currently preparing to go into seclusion to break through!"

After finishing his instruction, Zhou Xu issued a clear dismissal. These little girls would climb all over the roof if he didn't keep them in check. If he didn't drive them away immediately, he would likely be pestered by them all day.

The four girls and one beast looked at each other, stuck out their tongues, and began to act spoiled, insisting on staying, which gave Zhou Xu a headache.

Qing Lin watched from the side with a faint smile, remaining silent.

At the edge of the Training Ground, three figures stood side by side: Dugu Bo, Dragon Duke Meng Shu, and Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang.

Dugu Bo, dressed in a green robe, watched Dugu Yan earnestly asking for guidance in the arena. A rare, kind smile appeared on his usually grim face: "It is Yan'er's good fortune to meet a renowned teacher like Dean Zhou. This Dou Qi System is truly profound; it possesses far more Explosive Power than Soul Power cultivation."

Dragon Duke Meng Shu stroked his beard, his eyes filled with gratification. "Indeed, Dean Zhou is a fine teacher! That child, Yi Ran, used to be stubborn and made slow progress in her Soul Power cultivation. I never expected her to advance so rapidly after switching to Dou Qi. Dean Zhou's legacy is truly heaven-defying. Even though I am old now, I will certainly learn alongside Dean Zhou!"

Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang nodded as well, her gaze fixed on Meng Yi Ran with a gentle smile playing on her lips.

The Dragon Duke and Snake Matriarch were originally top-tier powerhouses on the Douluo Continent. They had stumbled upon a mysterious treasure ground deep within the Sunset Forest and came to investigate out of curiosity. They accidentally ran into Dugu Bo and were subsequently captured by Zhou Xu and brought to Dou Po Academy. In the end, they were completely won over by the academy's Dou Qi System and Zhou Xu's strength.

Now, although they had "voluntarily" joined the academy, they did not reside there permanently, but they visited often. Watching their granddaughter grow within the academy filled their hearts with comfort.

Just as Zhou Xu was demonstrating the circulation method of Dou Qi for the Dou Huang Realm to his disciples—

BOOM!

A thunderous roar shook the heavens, as if the entire Sunset Forest were trembling. The sky, previously shrouded in miasma, was instantly blanketed by a layer of brilliant, extreme Golden Light. The Golden Light pierced through the miasma, bathing the entire Sunset Forest in an aura of supreme pressure.

Even Zhou Xu, a Nine-star Dou Saint, felt a tremor originating from his very soul, and the Dou Qi within his body involuntarily receded.

"What is this aura?" Dugu Yan's expression shifted slightly. She instinctively took a step back, condensing Heavenly Flames in her palm as she prepared for battle.

Meng Yi Ran frowned deeply. "It is a hundred times more tyrannical than Teacher's Dou Qi pressure. Could a God Level powerhouse have descended?"

The Golden Light converged into an endless Sky Screen, upon which lines of ancient, vigorous characters slowly emerged. It was as if the Heavenly Dao itself had inscribed them, branding them directly into the minds of every living creature:

[Heavenly Dao Will Manifestation Golden Ranking, presenting the first list: Heavenly Pride Ranking!]

[An assessment of the current young generation on the continent (under 20 years old), ranking the top twenty human prodigies based on comprehensive talent, cultivation, potential, and fortune!]

[Those who make the list will receive a Heavenly Dao Blessing and numerous rewards! The higher the rank, the more generous the reward!]

[May all living beings strive for progress and compete to be the leader!]