The Third Place Appears, Xiaogang Vomits Three Pints of Blood and Falls Unconscious! Nothing Left to Bestow! Can a Dou Emperor Rival a First-Level God?!

The golden light above the Sky Screen abruptly shifted into an eerie radiance woven from deep green and purple-gold, more domineering than the Angel Golden Flame that had appeared when Qian Renxue made the ranking, and deeper than Dugu Yan's violet flames.

A massive phantom of a jade-green snake coiled across the sky vault. Three ghostly flowers slowly bloomed within its snake eyes, and the Dou Qi pressure it emitted was like a tangible tidal wave sweeping across the entire Douluo Continent.

Before the Angel God's radiance from Qian Renxue's fourth-place ranking had fully faded, the ranking for third place condensed with the force of mountains burning and seas boiling, pushing the terror of the Dou Qi System to a despair-inducing peak:

[Third Place on the Heavenly Pride Ranking: Qing Lin]

[Martial Soul: Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils (fused with the origin essence of the Purple Phosphorus Green Snake Emperor)]

[Level: Five-Star Dou Emperor → breakthrough to Dou Emperor Peak (maximum Heavenly Ranking reward)]

[Affiliated power: Dou Po Academy · Inner Court Core]

[Comprehensive Evaluation: Possessor of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, capable of controlling myriad snakes, fused with the origin essence of the Purple Phosphorus Green Snake Emperor.

Excels in both close combat and battlefield control within the Dou Qi System. At the Dou Huang Realm, she can crush Limit Douluo across ranks. Potential Rating: SSS+ (Supreme grade of the Dou Qi System)!]

[Heavenly Dao Blessing: Dou Qi cultivation breakthrough to Dou Emperor Peak (the highest reward threshold of the Heavenly Ranking; higher realms cannot be bestowed even by the Heavenly Dao), Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils evolved into "Myriad Flower Green Snake Pupils," snake-controlling ability increased by 100%, obtained the Dou Qi secret art Myriad Snakes Pilgrimage Art!]

"Qing Lin! Dou Emperor Peak! The limit of the Heavenly Ranking's rewards!"

"Nothing left to reward! Even the Heavenly Ranking, which can casually hand out inheritances of godhood, can only reward up to Dou Emperor Peak. Does that mean Dou Emperor Peak is stronger than gods?!"

"Another heavenly pride from the Dou Qi System! Third place was actually a Five-Star Dou Emperor who broke through to the peak. Just how much hidden terror does this system still contain?!"

Earth-shaking cries rang out through every corner of the Douluo Continent. The Heavenly Ranking's annotation of "nothing left to reward" was like the sharpest blade, tearing apart everyone's understanding of power.

Qian Renxue's Level 88 Soul Douluo cultivation and Final Stage of Angel God Trial, which had previously seemed so impressive, now appeared utterly pale before the intimidation of Dou Emperor Peak.

The beings of the Soul Power System fell completely into despair, while the might of the Dou Qi System had reached unprecedented heights.

Outside Suotuo City, at Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang sat on the training grounds, still muttering to himself.

"The Soul Power System is the strongest... Qian Renxue is a Soul Douluo. She will definitely crush the Dou Qi System..."

But when Qing Lin's information appeared on the Sky Screen—especially the words "Dou Emperor Peak," "maximum Heavenly Ranking reward," and "Dou Emperor crushes Limit Douluo"—his mental defenses collapsed completely.

"No... impossible!" Yu Xiaogang abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes bloodshot as he stared fixedly at the Sky Screen.

"How could a Dou Emperor possibly be stronger than a god? The Heavenly Ranking must be wrong! The Soul Power System is the orthodox path. The Dou Qi System is nothing but a crooked side path!"

His voice was hysterical, and the Soul Power around him surged wildly out of control.

Yet no matter how he screamed, the information on the Sky Screen remained an ironclad fact, viciously slapping him across the face.

The sliver of hope Qian Renxue had brought him was utterly crushed by Qing Lin's ranking.

The theories he had upheld his entire life and the knowledge he had taken such pride in seemed laughable before the absolute strength of the Dou Qi System.

"Pfft—" A mouthful of blood sprayed from Yu Xiaogang's lips, splattering onto the ground and staining a patch of grass red.

He staggered back two steps. The redness in his eyes rapidly faded, replaced by endless gloom.

Then came the second and third mouthfuls of blood in quick succession. His body collapsed like a kite with its string cut.

His vision went black, and he completely lost consciousness.

"Xiaogang!" Flender cried out and rushed forward to catch him. Yu Xiaogang's face was as pale as paper, his breath weak. His mind had clearly shattered, injuring his very foundation.

"Teacher!" Tang San hurried forward as well, his eyes filled with worry. He checked Yu Xiaogang's pulse and said gravely.

"Dean, Teacher's mental injury is severe. He needs treatment immediately, or his life may be in danger!"

Flender nodded, picked Yu Xiaogang up, and raced toward the academy infirmary. He muttered, "Obsession... it was all that obsession that ruined you..."

The disciples on the training grounds watched this scene with complicated expressions.

Yu Xiaogang's complete breakdown seemed like a reflection of the Soul Power System's decline, leaving everyone feeling powerless.

Deep within Sunset Forest, Oscar followed a vague instinct and hurried toward Dou Po Academy.

He passed through dense forests and crossed rushing rivers, anticipation and unease tangled within his heart.

He did not know whether Dou Po Academy would accept him, nor did he know whether cultivating Dou Qi could truly prove his ideas.

Just as Oscar was about to reach the Outer Court of Dou Po Academy, dozens of powerful auras converged from every direction.

After a carpet search, spies from forces such as Spirit Hall, the Heaven Dou Empire, and the Star Luo Empire had finally discovered Dou Po Academy's location.

They arrived with elite forces, intending to probe the truth of the Dou Qi System and even dreaming of seizing its cultivation methods.

In the plaza of Dou Po Academy's Outer Court, Dugu Bo stood in a green robe with his hands behind his back. His aura was condensed and pure, with none of the poisonous miasma that had once surrounded him.

At his side stood Dragon Duke Meng Shu and Snake Dowager Chao Tianxiang. Though both were old and gray-haired, the auras they radiated were terrifyingly powerful.

They had both advanced to become Titled Douluo!

On both sides of the plaza, hundreds of Outer Sect Disciples stood in neat formation. Among them, the Core Disciples had all reached the Da Dou Shi realm.

The remaining disciples were all at the Dou Shi or Dou Zhe level, their eyes filled with reverence and confidence in the Dou Qi System.

"Looks like trouble has come knocking." Meng Shu stroked his beard as the pressure of his Dragon Staff Martial Soul quietly spread, a glint of fighting spirit flashing through his eyes.

"These people certainly know how to pick their place."

Chao Tianxiang nodded. Her Serpent Cane Martial Soul curled around her as she spoke with faint anger in her voice. "Those who come mean no good, and those with good intentions do not come.

Since they dared to barge into Dou Po Academy, they had better be prepared to pay the price."

Dugu Bo smiled faintly, his tone brimming with absolute confidence. "Don't worry. However many come, I'll deal with them all. This is a perfect chance to show them the power of the Dou Qi System."

The moment his words fell, three terrifying auras arrived above the plaza. The leader wore golden armor, and behind him spread the massive phantom of a Bright Holy Dragon.

It was Spirit Hall's Sacred Dragon Douluo, a Level 91 Titled Douluo!

Two others followed behind him. One emitted a pungent poisonous aura, with the phantom of a Pufferfish Martial Soul appearing behind him. He was the Level 93 Blood Thorn Douluo.

The other held a pitch-black Snake Lance, with the phantom of his Snake Lance Martial Soul coiling around him. He was the Level 93 Snake Lance Douluo.

The Sacred Dragon Douluo swept his gaze over Dugu Bo and the other two in the plaza, his eyes full of contempt.

"I never expected Dou Po Academy's Outer Court to have only three old fools and a bunch of brats. It seems this so-called Dou Qi System is nothing special after all."

He recognized Dugu Bo and the others, but had not expected them to become Dou Po Academy's "guardians."

He immediately snorted and unleashed his Seventh Spirit Skill. "Seventh Spirit Skill: Bright Holy Dragon True Body!"

The enormous Bright Holy Dragon phantom instantly solidified. Dozens of zhang long, it radiated sacred golden light from its entire body.

Its dragon claws tore through the air and slammed viciously toward Meng Shu and Chao Tianxiang.

The Sacred Dragon Douluo's goal was clear: eliminate the two weakest old fools first, then deal with Dugu Bo.

"Arrogant!" Meng Shu roared, unleashing his Seventh Spirit Skill as well. "Seventh Spirit Skill: Dragon Staff True Body!"

The Dragon Staff enlarged and grew more powerful, transforming into a giant dragon to aid him in battle.

A golden dragon phantom soared into the sky and collided with the Bright Holy Dragon. The two dragon pressures intertwined and clashed, shaking the entire plaza.

Though Meng Shu was already old, after advancing to Titled Douluo, the power of his Dragon Staff Martial Soul had surpassed its former strength. It was not the least bit weaker than the Bright Holy Dragon.