A Year and a Half Later

After reveling in his joy for a while, Du Busi finally composed himself and turned serious.

"Disciple, I'll instruct the sect elders to fully cooperate with you in completing your trial. If you need anything, just tell the Great Elder."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Du Busi continued, "For now, do not reveal another word to anyone about obtaining a divine inheritance. Matters concerning deities are bound to draw attention and invite countless open and hidden attacks. Although I'm about to break through to become a Limit Douluo, I can't stay by your side to protect you every moment!"

"I understand."

Du Busi looked at Lin Ran, growing more satisfied the longer he looked, then added:

"After I leave seclusion this time, I'll announce within the sect that you are the Young Sect Master. Your status will be second only to mine."

Lin Ran did not decline and accepted it without hesitation.

After giving it some thought, he said, "Teacher, you can select trustworthy people within the sect and teach them the Marrow Cleansing Scripture. These are troubled times now. We should strengthen ourselves as much as possible."

Du Busi pondered for a moment, then sighed and patted Lin Ran's shoulder. "Good child. Once I leave seclusion, I'll choose some elders and disciples, and you will personally teach them the Cultivation Method. That way, no one will question your position as Young Sect Master."

"Still, I'm afraid your good intentions may go to waste. The Marrow Cleansing Scripture isn't easy to cultivate. I doubt many people will be able to master it."

Lin Ran took it in stride. "Even one successful cultivator is better than none. As long as they can master the Marrow Cleansing Scripture, breaking through to Titled Douluo won't be a problem."

"Very well. We'll do as you say."

A year and a half later.

Heaven Dou Empire, outside Heaven Dou City.

"Finally, I can relax for a while."

Looking at the familiar city gates, Lin Ran could not help letting out a weary sigh. His tone was like that of someone who had endured a stomachache all the way home and could finally breathe a sigh of utter relief.

At his side stood two women, one older and one younger.

Both were breathtakingly beautiful, with gentle and graceful temperaments that seemed to radiate from within. They looked almost like a pair of sisters.

They were Huo Yun'er and Princess Vina.

Huo Yun'er looked at Lin Ran, who had already grown slightly taller than her, and a trace of heartache flashed through her eyes. "Xiao Ran has truly worked hard these past two years."

She had watched his life over this period. Every day, he rose before the sun and returned only after nightfall. Sometimes, he would even fall asleep without realizing it while eating.

"That old bastard wouldn't let me come out until I broke through to Rank 20."

Lin Ran bluntly complained about Du Busi.

During this time, he had been living through sheer misery. The most relaxing part of his day had actually been reading in the morning.

When even studying counted as relaxing and enjoyable, one could imagine just how miserable the rest of his days had been.

It was also because he had spent the past two years training his body and tempering his vitality and blood that he had devoted little time to cultivating Soul Power. Thus, he had only recently broken through to Rank 20.

Fortunately, his efforts had not been without reward. For his second Soul Ring, he had directly claimed a Soul Ring with an age of 9,500 years in advance.

If his Mental Power had been stronger, he could have absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.

"Let's go. Into the city."

Lin Ran spoke.

Once they entered Heaven Dou City, the streets were bustling with activity, packed shoulder to shoulder with tourists and merchants.

"Why is Heaven Dou City so lively today?" Lin Ran asked curiously.

Princess Vina explained in her gentle voice, "Perhaps because the All-Continent Soul Master Competition is being held right now. Judging by the date, today should be the finals."

"The All-Continent Soul Master Competition? Shall we go take a look?"

Lin Ran's eyes lit up. Now that he was on Douluo Continent, how could he not watch the All-Continent Soul Master Competition?

"Come with me." Princess Vina led Lin Ran and Huo Yun'er to the competition venue. After revealing her identity as a princess, the three entered the Soul Fighting Arena without issue and went straight to the VIP viewing area.

The match had not yet begun. Princess Vina's old father was delivering his pre-match speech.

The contestants' area was not far from the VIP section, and Lin Ran curiously examined the members of both teams.

Most of the students on one side were male, and he did not pay them much attention. On the other side, however, there were mostly female students. Leading them was a tall woman of peerless beauty, with a gentle, ethereal air about her.

This must be Zhang Lexuan, right?

Lin Ran worked out the timeline and made a guess about the woman's identity.

Beside him, Princess Vina was also explaining softly, "The finalists are the Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineer Academy and Shrek Academy. Both sides are very strong. The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has all kinds of Soul Tools emerging one after another, while Shrek Academy even has two Soul Emperors."

"This is a final without any suspense." There was a hint of envy in Princess Vina's voice.

With two Soul Emperors, no matter what Soul Tools the Sun Moon Empire brought out, they could not possibly win.

Sensing Princess Vina's mood, Lin Ran asked curiously, "Since this Soul Master Competition is being held in the Heaven Dou Empire, your Heaven Dou Empire's royal academy should have achieved pretty good results, right?"

Princess Vina fell silent for a moment before speaking faintly, "They were eliminated in the Round of 16."

Lin Ran: "..."

He truly hadn't expected the Heaven Dou Empire to be this pathetic. For the host nation to be sent home in the round of sixteen, they could sit at the same table as Biluochun from his Previous Life.

Vina sighed softly. "There's no helping it. The empire has suffered a severe loss of talent, to the point where the old generation is gone and the new one hasn't risen yet."

If not for the Body Sect supporting them, the Heaven Dou Empire could compete with the Dou Ling Empire over which nation was the most pathetic.

Lin Ran neither agreed nor disagreed. "Since the Heaven Dou Empire lacks talent so badly, why not promote free martial soul awakenings? Most commoners may not possess Innate Soul Power, but with enough people, a few geniuses are bound to emerge."

Vina smiled bitterly. "You don't understand. Like the Dou Ling Empire, the Heaven Dou Empire is a nation jointly established by nobles. The lord of every city in the Heaven Dou Empire is either a local noble or someone from a major sect. Other than recruiting soldiers locally, the empire leaves all internal affairs to them. All it receives is the taxes they submit on time."

"Therefore, whether commoners are helped to awaken their martial souls, and whether it is free or paid, is entirely the city lord's own affair. We cannot interfere, nor are we allowed to interfere."

Lin Ran's eyes were opened. So after all that, the Heaven Dou Empire had not even reached a feudal society; it was still a state based on enfeoffment.

No wonder the Heaven Dou Empire would perish in the future.

After thinking for a moment, Lin Ran said:

"If you want, we can form a team in the future and take part in the Soul Master Competition. With our strength, winning the Soul Master Competition would be no problem. Though I don't think it would be very useful, it could still help the Heaven Dou Empire retain some talent."

"Thank you." Vina gazed at Lin Ran with shining eyes. She knew that he had made this decision entirely for her. Otherwise, as the Young Sect Master of the Body Sect, there was no need for him to participate in some Soul Master Competition to make a name for himself.