System's Evaluation of the Douluo World

Xiao Chen nodded in strong agreement upon hearing the system's explanation.

Under the rules of Douluo Continent, Soul Beasts had always been placed in an extremely unfair position.

Humans could cultivate to become gods, but Soul Beasts could not.

"System, are you by any chance the incarnation of some Soul Beast, which is why you want to change the rules of this world?" Xiao Chen asked.

The System Spirit shook its head. "If this system were a Soul Beast, it would have already destroyed the Divine Realm of this world. This system simply finds the rules of this world distasteful."

The System Spirit paused for a moment before continuing. "This system has visited many cultivation worlds. In cultivation and immortal cultivation worlds, the strong prey on the weak—it's normal for cultivators to hunt monsters and demons to exchange for resources and improve their cultivation."

"But in other cultivation worlds, hunting other races is not a necessary path to increase strength. Even without hunting, cultivators can still raise their cultivation."

"This world is different. Here, if a Soul Master doesn't hunt Soul Beasts to attach Spirit Rings to their Martial Soul, they cannot continue to increase their Spirit Power. That's why the Soul Masters of this world can hunt Soul Beasts with a clear conscience."

"This essentially provides a high-sounding excuse for the humans of this world to hunt Soul Beasts!"

"With this cultivation rule in place, humans and Soul Beasts are eternal, irreconcilable enemies. And since the gods of this world do nothing, the extinction of Soul Beasts is only a matter of time!"

The system spoke in succession, laying out the flaws in the rules of the Douluo world.

Xiao Chen agreed with the system's insight. He knew very well that although the 'Spirit Pagoda' and 'Soul Spirits' would later appear, they could only slow the rate of Soul Beast extinction, not change the outcome.

Once Soul Beasts were completely extinct, Soul Masters would face the predicament of being unable to advance. With no new Soul Masters emerging and old ones dying off, Soul Masters would inevitably vanish from the river of history.

Xiao Chen didn't believe the gods of the Divine Realm couldn't see this.

Just as the system said, those gods knew the rules were flawed but did nothing.

One moment they said Soul Beasts couldn't become gods because the Dragon God had brought great disaster to the Divine Realm, so the Divine Realm restricted Soul Beasts from becoming gods.

The next moment they said Soul Beasts couldn't become gods because the Dragon God had decreed it—a perfect non-stick pan.

In Xiao Chen's view, measuring a Soul Beast's strength by years was itself a joke.

In human eyes, Soul Beasts were nothing more than goods on a store shelf with clearly marked prices.

A hundred-year beast had a low price tag; a thousand-year beast had a high one. Their cultivation and age existed solely to classify Spirit Ring levels for humans.

Humans could become gods within decades, and the key to becoming a god relied entirely on Soul Beasts' Spirit Rings.

But a Soul Beast had to endure a Heavenly Tribulation every hundred thousand years, hiding and surviving for a million years, only for a god of the Divine Realm to declare that Soul Beasts couldn't become gods—rendering a million years of effort meaningless.

Those gods could grant Spirit Rings to Soul Masters, which proved that even without relying on Soul Beasts, humans had a chance to condense their own Spirit Rings.

If the gods of the Divine Realm had put even a little effort into studying this matter, the flaw in the Douluo world's cultivation system would have been resolved long ago.

"System, if I don't hunt Soul Beasts, can I condense my own Spirit Rings?" Xiao Chen immediately asked.

"Of course you can! But doing so will directly conflict with the rules of this world. Once you do, your existence will definitely be exposed to the Divine Realm. The consequences don't need me to spell them out, do they?" the system said.

"Understood!" Xiao Chen naturally knew the gravity of the problem.

The System Spirit continued, "Host, don't lose heart. As your strength gradually grows, this system's functions will become more comprehensive. At that time, it can naturally help you conceal the heavenly secrets!"

Xiao Chen nodded. He also knew this matter couldn't be rushed.

"System, you said a Soul Beast's strength can only increase slowly by years? Can't they directly cultivate to become gods like humans?" Xiao Chen asked further.

"Sigh." The System Spirit sighed. "The Soul Beasts of this world have had their thinking rigidified by the rules. Let's not even mention those that haven't gained intelligence. Those that have lived for hundreds of thousands of years—they clearly understand their situation, yet they don't make any changes!"

"The Divine Realm divides their strength by years, and they divide it the same way themselves. It can only be said that their minds are far too simple."

"The humans of this world are lucky. If even one of those hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts had figured things out, Douluo Continent would have long been a land of blood and ruin!"

"Host, think about it. If you knew your race was destined for extinction, and the culprit driving you to extinction was right in front of you, what would you do?" the system asked.

"That goes without saying. Even if I die, I wouldn't let them off easy!" Xiao Chen answered without a second thought.

The System Spirit nodded. "Exactly!"

"The rules of this world have turned humans and Soul Beasts into mortal enemies. Soul Beasts know humans covet their Spirit Rings and Soul Bones, yet they only hide. If even one Soul Beast had figured it out, it would have long led the Soul Beasts into the human world to wreak havoc."

"If the Divine Realm doesn't interfere, humans are no match for Soul Beasts. With even a little planning, Soul Beasts could cause immense disaster for the human world, even if they couldn't wipe out all of humanity on Douluo Continent!"

"Even if the gods stepped in, Soul Beasts could fight them to the bitter end. Since Soul Beasts are doomed to extinction anyway, why not just end the game for everyone? Cut off the path for Soul Masters to advance, and let those gods play among themselves!"

The system's analysis was very thorough. Soul Beasts were indeed an extremely unstable bomb. The fact that Soul Masters had continued in peace for so long only meant those Soul Beasts were either too kind or too foolish.

If Soul Beasts had caused trouble even once, win or lose, Soul Masters would have vanished from history. After all, Soul Beasts' growth took far too long. A gap of just one or two thousand years would be enough to break the chain of Soul Masters.

"Actually, this system can understand the Divine Realm's rule that Soul Beasts cannot become gods. But they absolutely should not have pushed Soul Beasts toward extinction."

"Gods should embrace all things. Yet they sit high above, never truly showing mercy to any living being."

"Soul Beasts are born as mere containers for Spirit Rings. Soul Masters are trapped their whole lives in the shackles of cultivation. So-called divine grace is nothing but a play to select their successors. How ironic!" the system said flatly.

Xiao Chen nodded. "Yes, the root of everything is that the rules of this world are flawed. Yet the ones who made the rules never thought to change them!"

"Correct!" the system nodded. "But these matters are not for you to worry about right now. For the moment, let's first help this system retrieve the soul of that Black Mane Wolf!"

"There's a reward, you know!" the System Spirit said with a smile.

"What do I need to do?" Xiao Chen asked.

"Walk over and touch the Black Mane Wolf's corpse," the System Spirit said.

Xiao Chen nodded and began to observe his surroundings.

Chu Ruolan and the others were all on alert around the perimeter, while Ma Yan had already absorbed the Spirit Ring and was now proceeding with the fusion.

Seeing that they weren't paying attention to him, Xiao Chen walked over to the corpse of the Black Mane Wolf.

He reached out and pressed his hand against the Black Mane Wolf's head. A faint glimmer flashed across Xiao Chen's palm as the system absorbed the wolf's soul into the System Space.

"Alright, this is your reward. You can claim it anytime!" A pattern appeared on the system panel.

"This is..." Xiao Chen was startled. "A Head Soul Bone?"