Douluo: Martial Soul Iron-Eating Beast, Never Be a Slave

"Hello, my grandsons and granddaughters. My name is Zhao Mu. Please take care of me!"

After meeting Yu Tianheng and the other six, Dugu Yan and Zhao Mu did not linger. Instead, they continued touring Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Their main destination was still the Mimicry Cultivation Environment.

During that time, Zhao Mu also tried cultivating in the Mimicry Cultivation Environment. The volcanic lava environment suited for fire-attribute Soul Masters and the waterfall lake environment suited for water-attribute Soul Masters were both far less effective for him than the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

That was not surprising. If the Mimicry Cultivation Environment were even more effective than the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well could hardly be called a treasure basin.

However, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well only provided water and fire environments.

For attributes beyond water and fire, such as the earth and lightning attributes Zhao Mu possessed, he needed the mountain terrain environment and thunderstorm cultivation environment of the Mimicry Cultivation Environment.

While trying to cultivate, Zhao Mu could sense his strength improving.

This improvement did not take the form of increased Soul Power, but rather an enhancement in the nature of his elemental attributes.

The most obvious manifestation was the increase in his skill power.

For example, while cultivating at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Zhao Mu could sense that Heibai's and his own affinity with water and fire was gradually improving. This improvement made the power of Heibai's fire-attribute and water-attribute skills grow stronger and stronger.

What should this be called?

Attribute affinity?

Could it be like what Zhao Mu had learned before—where certain moves and skills in wuxia stories and anime received bonuses in specific environments? Was it related to this?

The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had the best effect on improving Zhao Mu's ice and fire attributes. Perhaps that was also related to Zhao Mu and Heibai having absorbed the two Immortal Herbs, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot.

His next step could be to focus on water and fire attributes while also trying attribute fusion. Perhaps he could really create Boil Form—Boil Release.

Once he achieved results in cultivating the nature of water and fire attributes, he could return to the Mimicry Cultivation Environment to cultivate the nature of lightning and earth attributes.

Zhao Mu began making plans in his heart.

Accompanied by Dugu Yan, Zhao Mu made a full circuit around Heaven Dou Royal Academy and gained a preliminary understanding of it.

Over the following several days, however, Zhao Mu returned to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to cultivate, beginning his attempts at cultivating the nature of his elemental attributes.

"Second Brother, didn't we arrange your enrollment at Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Why aren't you attending classes? Why are you staying here every day?" Dugu Bo asked Zhao Mu, who was tinkering around by himself.

If he had not often seen Zhao Mu cultivating as well, Dugu Bo would have tied him up and dragged him to the academy.

Zhao Mu replied without a care, "On my first day of school, the theory teacher was lecturing about some bullshit Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul. I thought it was boring. Sleeping through his class would have been disrespectful, so I simply skipped it."

"Skipping class is respectful?"

"So afterward, I had Yan Yan answer roll call for me."

"..."

Dugu Bo was momentarily speechless.

Evening.

Dugu Yan rushed from Heaven Dou Royal Academy to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Before she arrived, her voice came first.

"Grandpa, do you know about the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul?"

Dugu Bo's face wrinkled at the words. "That bullshit Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul Second Brother mentioned?"

Dugu Yan nodded. "So you really do know about it, Grandpa?"

Dugu Bo immediately shook his head. "Never heard of that messy nonsense."

"Huh? Then that's strange. Why is that Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul the same as the things you taught me when I was young, Grandpa?" Dugu Yan asked in confusion.

"How would I know? When would this old man have time to care about such idle matters?" Dugu Bo waved his hand.

Dugu Yan then curiously asked Zhao Mu, "Second Grandfather, do you know?"

"Maybe the author of that book didn't create knowledge. He was merely a transporter of knowledge."

"."

After ending that boring topic, Dugu Yan then told Zhao Mu, "Oh, right, Second Grandfather. Tomorrow is the academy team selection. I signed you up, so don't be late!"

"The academy team selection for the Heaven Dou Royal Team?"

Today was destined to be the liveliest day of the year at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, because the academy team Selection Tournament that had gathered the attention of all students would begin today.

The students who successfully entered the Heaven Dou Royal Team would earn the right to represent the academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament one year later.

Not only would they have the chance to become famous across the continent, but it was said that the final championship team would also receive generous rewards from Spirit Hall.

For that very reason, the number of people gathered at Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Soul Fighting Arena had reached its peak today. Nearly every student in the academy had come to watch.

When Zhao Mu and Dugu Yan arrived outside the Soul Fighting Arena, they looked at the sea of people nearly blocking the plaza entrance completely and were left somewhat speechless. In the end, they only managed to squeeze inside under the guidance of a teacher.

Zhao Mu recognized that teacher as well. He was the one who had lectured about the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul on the first day.

Although this teacher was not particularly sharp and had learned from the wrong book, he was still a good person.

After Zhao Mu and Dugu Yan entered, they saw eldest grandson Yu Tianheng and his group. Both sides nodded, which counted as exchanging greetings.

About half an hour later, a bell rang, and the noisy plaza finally quieted somewhat.

Countless gazes then followed the sound of the bell toward the rostrum at the front of the Soul Fighting Arena.

Three elderly men had already been standing on the rostrum.

Though the three old men merely stood there simply, they gave off a sense of calm stability.

The three appeared to be at least eighty years old, all dressed in black robes embroidered with strange golden patterns. Only Soul Douluo powerhouses above rank eighty were qualified to receive such specially made ceremonial robes from Spirit Hall, second only to the red ceremonial robes of Title Douluo.

Through Dugu Yan's introduction, Zhao Mu learned that the thin man in the center was Meng Shenji, chief of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Education Committee. His Martial Soul was Black Demon, and he was an eighty-sixth-rank Control System Soul Douluo.

To Meng Shenji's left stood the shorter, rounder old man, Bai Baoshan, vice chief of the Education Committee. His Martial Soul was the Heavenly Star Furnace, and he was an eighty-fifth-rank Defense System Soul Douluo.

To his right stood the ordinary-looking old man, Zhilin, third seat of the Education Committee. His Martial Soul was Azure Vine, and he was an eighty-third-rank Control System Soul Douluo.

At the center of the stands, where all eyes were gathered, Meng Shenji slowly stepped forward and swept his gaze around. His deep, powerful voice boomed through the entire Soul Fighting Arena like muffled thunder, clearly reaching every person's ears.

"Everyone, today is the day of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's team selection. Students who pass the Selection Tournament will have the qualifications to enter the Heaven Dou Royal Team. Over the next year or so, they will receive preferential access to academy resources and gain the right to represent the academy in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, bringing glory to the academy and fame to themselves!"

After speaking, Meng Shenji glanced at the excited students and smiled. "In previous Selection Tournaments, we used round-based matches. This year, after discussion by the academy's Education Committee, we have decided to slightly change this Selection Tournament's format."

Hearing Meng Shenji's words, the entire audience froze. The students who had signed up for the Selection Tournament, in particular, turned puzzled gazes toward him.

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"Now, all students registered for the Selection Tournament, please enter the Soul Fighting Arena!" Meng Shenji called out with a bright smile, his gaze constantly observing the entire venue.

There were roughly two hundred students participating in this Selection Tournament. They now crowded into the Soul Fighting Arena, and fortunately, Heaven Dou Royal Academy's arena was spacious enough. Otherwise, it likely would not have been able to accommodate so many people.

Many people did not understand why so many people had to stand in the Soul Fighting Arena. They looked at one another, their nervousness carrying a few traces of awkwardness.

However, as the Selection Tournament participants entered the arena, many of the watching students began cheering them on, instantly raising the atmosphere in the Soul Fighting Arena.

As prominent figures in the academy, Yu Tianheng and the others naturally had a group of supporters. Cheers and shouts rose one after another.

Once all the Selection Tournament participants had entered, Meng Shenji looked around before solemnly announcing:

"This year, we will no longer conduct one round-based match after another. Instead, there will be a large-scale free-for-all involving every Selection Tournament participant. The longer you can endure in this melee, the more qualified you will be to join the Heaven Dou Royal Team and bring glory to both the academy and yourselves."

"In the Soul Fighting Arena, you may form teams or fight alone. No matter what methods you use, as long as you can preserve yourselves through the melee, you will be qualified to join the Heaven Dou Royal Team."

The moment Meng Shenji finished speaking, whispers arose throughout the plaza. Clearly, the sudden rule change had caught many participants off guard.

This altered rule would affect most participants, but it would have very little effect on Yu Tianheng and the others. After all, Yu Tianheng's group often trained together, so such rules would instead make it easier for them to band together.

"Do you all understand the rules?" As the discussion in the arena gradually died down, Meng Shenji swept his gaze across the Soul Fighting Arena and loudly asked.

"We understand!"

In response to Meng Shenji's question, a unified shout immediately rang out from the arena. Everyone began rubbing their fists and preparing for action.

"Good. Since you all understand the rules, then I announce..." Meng Shenji slowly raised his hand. Under countless gazes, it slammed down. "Heaven Dou Royal Academy's team Selection Tournament officially begins now!"

"Boom!"

As Meng Shenji's hand fell, the Soul Fighting Arena, which had been gradually quieting, erupted. All the participants began summoning their Martial Souls and entering Martial Soul Possession.

At the same time, many people hurried toward the edge of the plaza, afraid of standing in the center and becoming surrounded by enemies on all sides.

Meng Shenji had already returned to his seat in the stands, where he watched the changes in the Soul Fighting Arena together with Bai Baoshan and Zhilin.

"Your idea is quite good. Although this sort of free-for-all is not absolutely fair, this format more easily cultivates students' practical combat experience and teamwork ability. After all, team battles are crucial in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament," Bai Baoshan, round in build, said to Meng Shenji beside him.

"Exactly. I also think this format tests the students' on-the-spot performance and adaptability more. It will be immensely beneficial to them," Meng Shenji said with a smile.

Zhilin the Soul Douluo glanced at the two of them in turn before saying, "Is that really what you two think? It's not because you want to finish this Selection Tournament sooner and get off work early?"

In previous years, selecting team members through round-based matches could sometimes take one or two full days. With the current format, a single round of competition was obviously enough.

At Zhilin's words, Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan merely glanced around, showing absolutely no intention of responding.