Xu Zhao Lied: Actually, We Crushed the Sun Moon Continent and Had No Choice but to Come to Douluo Continent...

The City Lord's Mansion Council Hall.

The seat of honor.

Xu Yu sat on the left, legs planted wide, his python robe stirring despite the still air.

Kong Yan sat on the right, her bearing gentle and refined.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, Qian Renxue, and Zhao Lai entered the hall.

There was no show of force, nor any deliberate attempt to make things difficult for them.

Golden Crocodile Douluo drew a deep breath and stepped forward.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood second only to the Pope in Spirit Hall, with authority over countless others. Even the Pope had to show him respect.

Yet now, his expression solemn, he clasped his hands in a respectful salute toward Xu Yu and Kong Yan at the head of the hall.

"Golden Crocodile of Spirit Hall pays his respects to the two esteemed guests."

This salute had nothing to do with allegiance. It was all about strength.

In the Soul Master World, the accomplished were teachers, and the strong were respected.

Earlier, outside the city, Xu Yu had immobilized him with nothing but his pressure. He had even felt the same helplessness he experienced when facing Grand Pontiff Qian Daoliu.

Though the absolute gap in strength made Golden Crocodile Douluo wary, it also stirred a pure sense of reverence in him.

Golden Crocodile Douluo was a martial arts fanatic who had cultivated to Level 98.

He admired the strong and yearned to find a path to greater strength.

"Sit."

Xu Yu raised a hand slightly and pointed to the guest seats below, sparing no words.

Once the three had taken their seats, maids served them hot tea.

Golden Crocodile Douluo did not touch his cup. His gaze remained fixed on Xu Yu.

After a moment of silence, Golden Crocodile Douluo finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation and curiosity.

"Your strength is beyond measure. This old man admires you.

"But... there is something I cannot keep to myself."

Xu Yu lifted his teacup and took a small sip, his expression placid.

"Speak."

"This old man has lived for over a hundred years. I daresay I've seen countless extraordinary talents across the continent and crossed hands with many powerful people of the same rank."

Golden Crocodile Douluo knitted his brows, as if searching for the right words—or recalling the battle.

"But before today, I had never seen Soul Masters like those of your party."

"Whether it was the esteemed guest who used poison, the one who transformed into a Black Bird, or... you, sir."

As he spoke, Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice rose despite himself, his eyes full of disbelief.

"Your Soul Power Levels are clearly about the same as ours. In fact, the Black Bird's Soul Power was even slightly weaker than mine."

"But why...

"Once we fought, you overwhelmed us in every way—whether in the refinement of your Soul Power, your explosive force, or your mastery of your Martial Souls?"

This was what Golden Crocodile Douluo understood least, and what frightened him most.

If they were simply higher-level, that would be one thing.

But this ability to dominate opponents of the same level—and even defeat stronger ones as easily as drinking water—completely defied common sense in the Soul Master World of Douluo Continent!

Demon Subduing Douluo, a Level 96 Peak Douluo, had been slaughtered by Wei Kurong, who was of the same level, like a helpless punching bag. He had not been able to fight back at all.

Where, exactly, did that gap come from?

Xu Zhao had yet to say anything, but Golden Crocodile's question piqued her curiosity too.

In the original story, several thousand years later, the Sun Moon Continent and Douluo Continent had collided.

With their Soul Tools, the people of the Sun Moon Continent had gained a huge advantage.

But when it came to cultivating Martial Souls, they had fallen behind the people of Douluo Continent.

In the end, they had been defeated.

But in this era...

Had the Sun Moon Continent's cultivation system actually surpassed Douluo Continent's when it came to cultivating Martial Souls?

Either the Sun Moon Continent underwent a drastic change over the next few thousand years, Xu Zhao speculated.

Or Buddha Tang, after becoming a god, was behind it.

At the question, Qian Renxue, beside them, perked up her ears. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched slightly.

That was the answer she wanted most, too.

At this, Xu Yu set down his teacup.

Looking at the longing in Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes, he let the corners of his mouth curl up.

Instead of answering directly, Xu Yu countered with a question.

"Golden Crocodile, what do you think determines a Soul Master's strength?"

"Soul Power Level?

"Soul Ring age?

"Or the number of Spirit Bones?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo froze, then answered instinctively.

"Isn't it?"

"Wrong. Completely wrong."

Xu Yu shook his head, his tone openly disdainful, as if he were judging children still playing in the dirt.

"You rely too much on external objects. You care too much about superficial figures."

"In our eyes, your so-called Soul Power is as insubstantial as cotton.

"Your development of Martial Souls is as crude as primitive men swinging wooden clubs."

"At the same Level 98, a wisp of my Soul Power is more than ten times as dense as yours.

"My understanding of the rules is on a level you can't even reach."

"When the gap in quality grows large enough, piling up quantity is meaningless."

Xu Yu's words were arrogant, but they struck Golden Crocodile Douluo's heart like a heavy hammer.

Soul Power density...

Understanding of the rules...

Golden Crocodile Douluo's pupils contracted sharply. It seemed he had grasped something, yet at the same time, nothing at all.

But one thing was clear to him.

The other party possessed a cultivation civilization far beyond the system currently used on Douluo Continent!

Xu Yu was communicating with Xu Zhao through telepathy.

Zhao'er, can we really get away with saying this?

Xu Yu felt a little strange about it.

Just keep bluffing!

Xu Zhao replied without a care.

As long as they managed to intimidate the people from Spirit Hall and the Two Great Empires, that was a success.

After that, Xu Zhao planned to take her parents to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

According to the current timeline, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had probably already been picked clean.

But it could still be useful to Xu Zhao.

Before leaving Douluo Continent,

Xu Zhao had gathered several Immortal Herbs.

They were the Ink Jade Divine Bamboo, Earth Dragon Golden Melon, and a Blazing Ginseng King.

All three Immortal Herbs were of a suitable grade, but they were not old enough.

After growing them at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well for a while, she would be able to take and refine them.

Xu Zhao regretted not getting any Immortal Herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

But there was nothing she could do. The system had arrived too late.

Besides that, she had many other top-grade medicinal plants.

She could take all of them to grow at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

But first, she had to deal with Dugu Bo.

Dugu Bo had already become sworn brothers with Tang San. It would be best to recruit him, if possible.

Otherwise, she would have no choice but to get rid of him.

According to the system, I only need to find Su Yuntao to awaken my Third Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass.

Xu Zhao thought to herself.

Then I can evolve Blue Silver Grass into the Blue Silver King.

After that, I'll go and devour the Blue Silver Emperor that grew from the seed left behind after Ah Yin's sacrifice. Tang Hao hid it in a cave behind the waterfall on the mountain behind Holy Soul Village.

I can put that hundred-thousand-year-old Right Leg Bone to use as well.

Xu Zhao only lacked a Right Leg Bone and Torso Bone to complete her set of six Spirit Bones.

I'll go find the Blue Silver King next. It'd be even better if I can successfully evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor.

Knowing how that damn system works, after I awaken my Martial Soul, it'll probably have me join an academy and then graduate.

It'll throw in a few missions along the way, too. I wonder how many rewards I'll get?

Although the Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul was no use to Xu Zhao,

it was still better than nothing.