Breakthrough, Encountering the Snake Woman

Inside the Crown Prince's Mansion in Heaven Dou City, Heaven Dou Empire.

Qian Renxue and Oscar had finished absorbing the Immortal Herb and returned to their seats.

"Xiao Zhen, your Light Dragon Ganoderma pushed my cultivation directly to level eighty. Once I hunt my eighth soul ring, I'll be able to rise a few more levels, saving me years of bitter cultivation. I suppose I can forgive you for this matter."

Qian Renxue spoke with a haughty tilt of her head, though her peripheral vision remained fixed firmly on Su Zhen.

"I appreciate Sister Xue's forgiveness. Before I returned, I already consulted with Senior Di Tian and the others. Your eighth soul ring will be provided by a Titan Giant Ape from the Star Dou Forest offering itself to you. Once Sister Xue has arranged things here, you can head to the Star Dou Forest to find Senior Di Tian."

Su Zhen handed Qian Renxue a Thunder Scale; it was a unique token he had condensed using lightning, which both the fierce beasts of the Star Dou Forest and the members of the Worship Hall recognized.

Ever since Su Zhen began cultivating in the Star Dou Forest, all soul ring hunts for the Worship Hall had been contracted out to Di Tian and his kin. For instance, Qian Renxue's seventh soul ring had come from the sacrifice of an eighty-thousand-year Light Heavenly Dragon Horse. The same applied to the fourth soul ring Oscar had absorbed three years ago and his fifth soul ring from a year ago. Naturally, this treatment was exclusive to members of the Worship Hall; even those from the Pope Hall were not afforded such luxury.

"Little Ao, you've always wanted a Mirror Shadow Beast, haven't you? I have a better option for you here."

Su Zhen took a piece of paper from his Soul Tool and handed it to Oscar.

Oscar took the paper and began to examine it. Depicted on it was a canine-type soul beast with sturdy limbs and a body covered in silver scales; its unique physique exuded an air of mystery.

"Brother Zhen, this... is this a Silver Elite Beast? A Silver Elite Beast that possesses the Spirit Imprint soul skill! According to the records in Martial Soul Hall, this type of soul beast went extinct long ago."

"Brother Zhen, is this the gift you prepared for me? I love it so much! Compared to this, a Mirror Shadow Beast is nothing at all."

Oscar stared intently at the illustration of the soul beast on the blueprint, his excitement making him unable to speak clearly.

"This Silver Elite Beast has been hiding in the deepest reaches of the Star Dou Forest, protected by the fierce beasts, which is why it was never discovered by soul masters. Its age is as high as fifty thousand years; it is perfectly suited to be sacrificed as your sixth soul ring."

Su Zhen explained the origin of the Silver Elite Beast.

"Brother Zhen, I really love you!"

Oscar stepped forward and hugged Su Zhen, shouting in excitement.

"Alright, Little Ao. Once Sister Xue finishes her arrangements in a while, you will accompany her to the Star Dou Forest."

Su Zhen pushed Oscar away and said.

In the following days, Su Zhen and Oscar stayed in the Crown Prince's Mansion to rest and recuperate, while Qian Renxue was busy handling various affairs before her departure.

The busy Qian Renxue saw the two of them sunbathing and eating watermelon in the courtyard, and her anger flared. She walked over and punched each of them, forcing the two to start helping her under her threats and inducements.

Two months later, the group stood at the Crown Prince's Mansion to bid each other farewell.

A disguised Qian Renxue, accompanied by Oscar and the two Titled Douluo, Snake Lance and Ci Xue, drove a carriage out of the city. This time, they were to complete a one-month soul ring acquisition mission.

Watching the carriage grow smaller in the distance, Su Zhen turned and walked back into the Crown Prince's Mansion. At this moment, the two Titled Douluo, Yang Fan and Li Hao, were already standing in the courtyard awaiting instructions.

"Subordinates, pay respects to Master." X2

The moment they saw Su Zhen, Yang Fan and Li Hao both knelt on one knee, expressing their submission.

During the two months Su Zhen and the others had been resting, Yang Fan and Li Hao had both broken through to level ninety. Relying on Su Zhen's relationship with the Star Dou Forest, they had obtained their ninth soul rings—both coming from top-tier soul beasts over eighty thousand years old. This had elevated their loyalty to Su Zhen to an incredibly high level.

"Since you have both become Titled Douluo, introduce yourselves."

Su Zhen took a chair from his Soul Tool, sat down in front of them, and spoke slowly.

"Yang Fan, Martial Soul God-Shattering Spear, level ninety-one power attack system Titled Douluo, title: Spear God."

"Li Hao, Martial Soul Shadow Tiger, level ninety-one power attack system Titled Douluo, title: Shadow Tiger."

The two activated their Martial Soul Possession one after another and announced their martial souls and titles.

"Hmm? The surname Yang, and the God-Shattering Spear... what is your relationship with the Breaking Clan?"

Su Zhen looked at Yang Fan; he had never inquired about their backgrounds before.

"Master, I am the cousin of the current Breaking Clan head, Yang Wudi. In my youth, due to a martial soul mutation, I did not inherit the core martial soul of the Breaking Clan, the Soul-Breaking Spear, and could not compete for the position of clan head. Coupled with the strange looks from my clansmen, I left the Breaking Clan in a fit of anger. It was the Fifth Elder who took me in."

Yang Fan retracted his martial soul and recounted his past experiences to Su Zhen.

"What was your Innate Soul Power level?"

"Level six."

"To reach level eighty-nine Soul Douluo at your age with level six Innate Soul Power, the Worship Hall must have put a lot of effort into you."

"Whatever I have achieved today is entirely due to the careful cultivation of the Worship Hall and you, Master. I will never forget the kindness shown to me by you and the Worship Hall."

Yang Fan said, kneeling on the ground again and bowing his head to show his loyalty.

Su Zhen did not speak, turning his gaze to Li Hao beside him.

"Master, I am a member of the Star Luo Empire's royal family. The current Star Luo Emperor is my older brother. In my youth, due to the royal succession system, he sent people to hunt me down. It was the Fourth Elder who saved me while passing by. My awakened mutated martial soul is the Shadow Tiger, and my Innate Soul Power was level seven. Because I did not inherit the royal White Tiger martial soul, the Star Luo Empire never sent anyone to look for me, and the Fourth Elder took me under his command."

Li Hao knelt on the ground and recounted his past.

"None of you have simple backgrounds, do you? If I hadn't asked, you were planning to keep it to yourselves forever, weren't you?"

Yang Fan and Li Hao looked at each other, claiming they wouldn't dare.

"Enough, stop kneeling. Get up. From now on, call me Young Master. Pack your things; it's time for us to leave as well."

"Yes, Young Master."

The two replied in unison.

Before long, the three were ready to depart, dressed in various styles of tight-fitting gear as they walked out of Heaven Dou City.

Outside a tavern, a young girl with short, deep purple hair leaned against the tavern sign, tilting her head back to pour wine into her mouth.

As Su Zhen and his two companions passed by the tavern, the girl, who had been drinking, opened her green eyes and fixed a sharp gaze on Su Zhen's figure—or rather, on the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch at his waist.

The girl tossed aside the wine flask, wiped the stains from the corner of her mouth, and quietly began to tail the trio.

"Young Master, the fish has taken the bait."

Yang Fan transmitted his voice into a line, speaking to Su Zhen.

"Very good. The plan can proceed smoothly."

The moment Su Zhen saw the girl, he recognized her: Dugu Yan, the granddaughter of the Poison Douluo. He believed that this deputy captain of the Imperial Fighting Team from the original story would play a pivotal role in his upcoming plans.

The group traveled until they reached a small forest five kilometers outside Heaven Dou City.

"Dugu Yan, since you've followed us this far, there's no need to skulk about anymore."

Su Zhen stopped in his tracks, turned around, and spoke toward a large tree not far away.

Seeing her identity revealed in a single sentence, Dugu Yan realized instantly that she had been discovered the moment she started following them. Deciding there was no point in hiding, she stepped out from behind the tree.

"Who are you? Where did you get that Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch at your waist?"

Dugu Yan's emerald eyes were locked firmly onto the Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch at Su Zhen's waist.

Her grandfather, Dugu Bo, had completely vanished five years ago after heading out. Although Dugu Bo often went into seclusion for long periods, he had always left her a note informing her of his expected return. Yet, for these past five years, it was as if he had evaporated from the face of the earth.

When her grandfather's old enemies tried to cause trouble for her, it was Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who stepped in to protect her. Sect Master Ning had told her that Dugu Bo had joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and was currently in deep seclusion within the sect.

Dugu Yan had not easily believed Ning Fengzhi's words; until she saw a token belonging to Dugu Bo, she would not trust anyone.

"My name is Su Zhen. As for this Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch, an old man gave it to me before he passed away."

"What did you say?"

Dugu Yan was shocked by Su Zhen's words. She instantly activated Martial Soul Possession, and a terrifying, poisonous mist began to spread wildly in all directions.