Douluo: Starting by Forging a Gun Chapter 37

"After a long journey of two months and walking twenty thousand li, I'm just waiting for a good meal."

Dugu Bo was stunned for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter, saying with immense boldness: "No problem, no problem."

"This Heaven Dou City is my home turf. Forget about a big meal, even taking you to the palace for a state banquet would be absolutely fine."

Shen Feng waved his hands repeatedly: "Forget it. I'm so outstanding and look so good; if some princess in the palace saw me, it would be trouble."

"Let's just find any place and have a simple bite. If you really want to treat me, let's have a grand, joyful feast once your health is fully restored."

Dugu Bo laughed: "Fine, you're the guest this time, you call the shots."

With that, Dugu Bo took on the role of a host and led Shen Feng into Heaven Dou City.

Heaven Dou City was extremely prosperous, with wide streets paved entirely with bluestone.

The streets were bustling with an endless stream of people and carriages, incredibly lively.

On both sides of the streets were shops of all sizes, with various plaques hanging above their doors. The prosperity and grandeur of the entire city were fully worthy of the name Imperial City.

Following Dugu Bo as they walked deeper into the city, the number of pedestrians on the streets decreased at a visible rate.

After about half an hour, a high wall of about twenty meters appeared in Shen Feng's eyes.

Dugu Bo stood at the city gate and introduced: "Past this gate is the inner city. The inner city is the activity area for the nobility and where the true Heaven Dou Imperial City lies."

"Compared to the outer city where commoners live, the inner city is the true den of gold and a genuine paradise. Without a certain level of wealth and status, one has no ability to step foot in here at all."

Looking at the prosperity inside the city gate, Shen Feng was moved and murmured to himself:

"Beyond the green hills, more hills rise, beyond the towers, more towers stand; when will the singing and dancing at the West Lake ever end?"

"High towers with morning songs and nightly strings, the beauty of the city lies in the dancing sleeves."

"High officials and nobles walk side by side, lost in the intoxication of gold and jade, carefree and merry."

"Soldiers at the border die in a hundred battles, yet who sings a song for them?"

"Hundreds of millions of people in coarse cloth, who keeps their life and death in their hearts?"

Dugu Bo stared at Shen Feng, dumbfounded: "This..."

"Clap, clap, clap."

Suddenly, crisp applause came from behind Shen Feng and Dugu Bo.

"A fine poem, a fine poem. It seems this little brother is also a great talent with the world at heart."

Hearing this, Shen Feng and Dugu Bo turned around to see a young man with a very unique temperament standing not far behind them, accompanied by two middle-aged guards with impressive auras.

The young man looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Although his appearance wasn't particularly striking, his features were upright and dignified. His long black hair was tied with a cyan cloth ribbon, hanging neatly behind his head. Dressed in a clean cyan cloth robe, he gave off a very refreshing feeling.

Although the two guards were middle-aged, their auras were restrained yet potent. The immense power contained within their bodies made even Dugu Bo glance at them sideways; if the two joined forces, they might be able to fight him.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Dugu. Qinghe pays his respects."

Seeing Dugu Bo turn around, the young man who called himself Qinghe immediately bowed, his attitude extremely humble.

Dugu Bo, however, frowned slightly, his tone seemingly displeased: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, why would you appear in this outer city?"

Hearing the young man's self-introduction and Dugu Bo's address, Shen Feng couldn't help but take a look at the youth.

Qinghe? The Crown Prince? Is he the Xue Qinghe disguised by Qian Renxue?

Xue Qinghe smiled slightly: "Spring plowing is imminent, and the Emperor is busy with state affairs and cannot spare himself. Helplessly, Qinghe had to act on his father's behalf to go out and observe the sentiments of the people."

"I didn't expect to run into Your Excellency Dugu upon my return. I accidentally heard this little brother's impromptu poem, which was sharp in its words and inspiring. Out of delight, I came to disturb you."

As he spoke, Xue Qinghe turned his gaze to Shen Feng: "My name is Xue Qinghe, currently the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. May I ask for your name, little brother?"

Shen Feng bowed slightly, cupped his hands toward Xue Qinghe, and said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Commoner Shen Feng, greetings to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

"Shen Feng?" Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment: "A sharp sword is forged from sharpening, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from the bitter cold."

"A hidden dragon in the abyss; the character 'Feng' truly complements your talent perfectly."

"Ahem!" Dugu Bo coughed twice: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is no need for such flattery."

"It is getting late today, and we have important matters to attend to, so we shall take our leave."

"Xiao Feng, let's go."

Shen Feng cupped his hands toward Xue Qinghe: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please excuse us. Commoner Shen Feng takes his leave."

As Shen Feng and Dugu Bo turned to enter the inner city, the corners of Xue Qinghe's mouth curled up slightly: "Away for ten months, returning with a young boy, and so eager to avoid talking to me."

"Dugu Bo, you are clearly telling me that this child has secrets."

"Go, investigate. I want detailed information on this child."

The guard bowed: "Yes, Young Master."

Xue Qinghe turned to the other guard: "You go as well. Investigate my restless Imperial Uncle and my dissolute fourth brother, Xue Beng, to see if this youth is related to them."

"Yes, Young Master."

As the two guards left, Xue Qinghe's expression changed slightly, and he whispered to himself.

"Beyond the green hills, more hills rise, beyond the towers, more towers stand; when will the singing and dancing at the West Lake ever end?"

"High towers with morning songs and evening strings, dancing sleeves that topple cities and states."

"High officials and nobles walk nearby, lost in paper-drunk, gold-obsessed, carefree joy."

"Soldiers at the border die in a hundred battles, yet who sings a song for them?"

"Hundreds of millions of commoners in coarse hemp clothes, how many lives do the powerful keep in their hearts?"

"Shen Feng? Such a brilliant and talented youth must not fall into their hands."

"I hope this doesn't invite any extra trouble."

An 'accidental' encounter with Xue Qinghe at the inner city gate left Dugu Bo in a foul mood.

Even after stepping into his residence within the inner city, his expression remained dark and unsettled.

"Old man, still bothered by the matter of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe?"

Dugu Bo let out a cold snort: "No matter what, I am a Title Douluo consultant officially recognized by the Heaven Dou Empire. He is merely a small crown prince, yet he dares to monitor my movements so blatantly."

"What 'going out to inspect the people's livelihood on behalf of his father'? That was clearly aimed at me."

Shen Feng smiled: "Old man, you said it yourself: you are the Empire's Title Douluo consultant, not Xue Qinghe's."

"Given your relationship with Prince Xue Xing, it is only natural for him to be wary of you."

"Although Xue Qinghe is now the crown prince and his position seems secure."

"His imperial uncle, Prince Xue Xing, intends to support the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng. For the sake of that supreme, singular position, he naturally must keep all risks under his own control to feel secure."

"And you, old man, are the only uncertain factor in Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's heart."

"If he cannot even track your movements in and out of the imperial city, he probably cannot sleep soundly at night."

"You see, you have been dragged into their court struggles."

Dugu Bo frowned, looking thoroughly annoyed: "Forget it. Rest tonight, and tomorrow morning I will go pick up Yanyan, then we will head to my secluded retreat to go into closed-door cultivation."

"This damn imperial city and its insane royal infighting are simply disgusting. I truly cannot stay here for even a moment longer."

Seeing Dugu Bo's depressed state, Shen Feng shook his head slightly and said nothing more.

As night fell, Shen Feng finished his dinner and went to the bedroom Dugu Bo had arranged for him.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed and sensing the soul power about to overflow within his body, the corners of Shen Feng's mouth curled upward.

"After four months, I am finally about to break through again. I'll put in the effort tonight and strive for that breakthrough."

After absorbing the Ox Dragon soul ring, Shen Feng's soul power had already neared level 33. Not many days after walking out of the Star Dou Forest, he had successfully broken through to level 33.

Compared to before level 30, when Shen Feng could gain 4 levels a year—one level every three months—the soul power required for each level after thirty had increased significantly, slowing his progress to one level every four months.

Having spent half a year in the laboratory with Dugu Bo and two months on the road, totaling eight months, Shen Feng was confident he would reach level 35 tonight.

Shen Feng's current cultivation speed might seem fast, but in reality, this was the true cultivation speed of an Innate Full Soul Power talent.

Comparing this to Tang Hao reaching level 90 at age 45: Shen Feng awakened his martial soul at six with Innate Full Soul Power of level 10, reached level 20 at 8, level 30 at 10, and now at 11, he is level 35. With a rate of three levels per year, he could break through to level 40 before age 13.

Extrapolating from this speed, Shen Feng could reach level 50 at 17, level 60 at 22, level 70 at 28, level 80 at 35, and level 90 at 43—slightly faster than Tang Hao by three years.

However, considering that Shen Feng absorbs soul rings above his level every time he breaks through, and gains two levels after each absorption, his cultivation talent is roughly on par with Tang Hao's—a fully realized Innate Full Soul Power aptitude.

As for Feng Xiaotian from the original story, who also had Innate Full Soul Power but only reached level 48 at twenty-four... tsk, one really has to wonder if he wasted his potential.

Except for the Golden Generation in the original story, whose cultivation and age ratios were somewhat reasonable, almost every other soul master with Innate Soul Power above level 7 had levels that were severely inconsistent with their ages.

Regarding this, Shen Feng strongly suspected that the cosmic will of the original story had deliberately suppressed the true cultivation talents of others, or even altered their perceptions, just to highlight Tang San as the protagonist.

Yet, after transmigrating to the Douluo Continent, Shen Feng discovered that the real world was not nearly as unreasonable. At the very least, among the soul masters he had seen with his own eyes, there were no cases of severe age-level discrepancy.

Taking Shen Feng's parents, Shen Rui and Ling Na, as examples: both had Innate level 8 soul power, both broke through to level 30 at 14, level 40 at 18, and were level 45 Soul Ancestors when they participated in the Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament at 21.

Later, when Shen Feng was 2, they reached level 50 at age 24. Seven years later, when Shen Feng was 9, they reached level 61 as Soul Emperors at age 31.

When Shen Feng came to Heaven Dou City with Dugu Bo, they had both broken through to the level 63 Soul Emperor realm at under 33 years old. This was the perfectly normal cultivation speed for an Innate level 8 aptitude.

Not only that, but Shen Feng also learned from Dugu Bo that Yanyan had already reached level 38 ten months ago, far exceeding her progress in the original story.

And this was while Dugu Bo was afraid to let her cultivate at full throttle, worried that the accumulation of toxins in her body might lead to an accident.

Now that ten months had passed, Yanyan was likely not far from level 40; she might even break through within these next few days.

This was one of the reasons Dugu Bo had come to Heaven Dou City first—he wanted to take this opportunity to take Yanyan to the Sunset Forest and select a suitable fourth soul ring for her.

After a night of cultivation, Shen Feng successfully broke through. Opening his eyes, he was surprised to find Dugu Bo standing not far from his room, watching him with a smile.

"Another breakthrough?"

Shen Feng was slightly stunned: "Uh, yes, a lucky breakthrough."

Dugu Bo was filled with envy: "Tsk, level 35 at 11 years old. Truly worthy of Innate Full Soul Power aptitude. Breaking through is as easy as drinking water; it really is terrifying."

"Eleven years ago, Tang Hao achieved the Title Douluo rank at 45, and the soul master world called him the youngest Title Douluo, his fame unmatched at the time."

"Now, you brat are level 35 at 11. Your aptitude is no weaker than that Tang Hao. Strive to surpass him, so this old man can bask in your glory as well."

Shen Feng chuckled, scratched his head, and smiled foolishly: "I'll try, I'll try."

Surpass Tang Hao? He's nothing. If you take me to your herb garden, I'll show you a god under the age of 25.

"Grandpa, is this the peerless talent you were talking about?"

"Setting aside his decent cultivation talent, why does he seem a bit foolish to me?"

Suddenly, a girl's voice drifted over, and Shen Feng realized that a beautiful young woman was leaning against the doorframe.

The girl looked to be seventeen or eighteen, with a pair of green eyes just like Dugu Bo's, which were quite exotic, and short, deep purple hair that gave her a heroic air.

Her appearance wasn't exactly stunning, but she possessed an enchanting charm that gave one the feeling she was very good at 'entangling' others.

Dugu Bo gave an awkward laugh: "Xiao Feng, let me introduce you. This is my granddaughter, Dugu Yan."

"What do you think? She's very pretty, isn't she? Should I betroth her to you?"

Shen Feng was dumbfounded. Before he could even speak, Dugu Yan was the first to object.

"Grandpa, you're joking around again. I'm already 18 this year, and he's only 11. It's simply impossible between us."

"I'm level 45 at my age, and I have a bright future as a Title Douluo as well; I'm not much different from this little brother with Innate Full Soul Power."

"Besides, he treats me really well, and I don't want to be separated from him."

Shen Feng's eyes lit up: "I support you, big sister."

"As the saying goes, it is better to tear down ten temples than to destroy a single marriage."

"Old man, doing something that ruins a person's romance is highly immoral; you really shouldn't do that."

Dugu Yan's eyes also brightened, and the way she looked at Shen Feng became much more favorable.

"Exactly, exactly. Grandpa, stop trying to play matchmaker. I'm 18 this year and already an adult; I have the right to choose my own happiness."