Suotuo Grand Arena.
This landmark building stood in the heart of Suotuo City. On ordinary days, Soul Masters' thrilling duels drew countless spectators.
But today, the entire Soul Fighting Arena was decked out with lanterns and decorations. Red silk fluttered everywhere, and the air was filled with celebration.
The guests packed the seats below. Every one of them was an influential figure from Suotuo City or one of the neighboring cities.
The one getting married today was the only son of the Jin Family, one of the seven great Soul Master families and the true power behind the arena.
The Jin Family's eldest young master, Jin Kunkun.
This young master Jin's "fine reputation" was known to everyone in Suotuo City's upper circles.
He was fat-headed and big-eared, with a belly full of fat. Relying on his father's wealth and influence, he had ruined countless innocent women.
At that moment, he wore a bright red wedding robe. His face jiggled with laughter, and his eyes were fixed on the graceful figure in the distance. He could hardly wait to pounce on her.
"The auspicious hour has arrived! Let us welcome the bride!"
Under everyone's gaze, a peerlessly beautiful figure slowly approached the dais.
It was today's bride: Doudou.
She was the chief host of Suotuo Grand Arena, famous throughout Suotuo City for her stunning looks, fiery figure, and signature short purple hair.
Yet now, she showed not the slightest joy. She was not even wearing a wedding dress, but remained in her usual white gown.
Just as the guests began to wonder why the bride wasn't wearing a wedding dress—
"Boom!!!"
A dazzling golden pillar of light descended without warning, completely enveloping Doudou.
Above them, the mysterious ranking list that had hung in the sky for three days shimmered with golden light. Its first entry slowly appeared.
[Genius Ranking, No. 15: Doudou.]
[Identity: Host of Suotuo Grand Arena.]
[Strength: Rank 89 Soul Douluo.]
[Technique: Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique.]
[Reward: All Soul Ring ages increased by one thousand years.]
Silence.
Deathly silence fell over the entire wedding in an instant.
The smiles froze on the guests' faces. The smug look on the Jin Family head's face stiffened.
Doudou?
Rank 89... Soul Douluo?
That woman in white who stood on the Soul Fighting platform every day, smiling sweetly as she announced the results... was a Rank 89 Soul Douluo?
In Suotuo City, where even a Soul Saint could throw their weight around, what did a Rank 89 Soul Douluo mean?
It meant that she alone could slaughter every so-called expert present!
It meant that even if the Jin Family threw all its strength at her, they would be nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs!
More terrifying still, she was so young, yet had already reached Rank 89!
She was a genius among geniuses!
And in the midst of this sudden shock, the woman in white bathed in golden light—Doudou—was the first to recover.
She felt the pure energy pouring into her body. She felt her Soul Rings rapidly transform, their ages surging by a thousand years.
But she paid it no mind.
Doudou had never intended to marry into the Jin Family. Brother Cao had told her earlier to conceal her strength and keep a low profile.
Now that the Sky Screen had exposed her to everyone, there was no point hiding anymore.
She slowly turned to look at the groom a few steps away, still dazed, the fat on his face frozen in place—Jin Kunkun.
In her original fate, this was how she had married into the Jin Family.
On their wedding night, that beast had violated her. Afterward, he treated her like a plaything, sending her to those equally filthy nobles.
She had spent her life in endless humiliation and pain, ultimately tortured to death with hatred in her heart.
Fortunately, before any of that happened, Young Master Cao had brought her into the Dream Space. There, she had seen the Jin Family's ugly faces and understood the source of her tragic fate.
In the Dream Space, with Young Master Cao generously guiding her, she had trained hard for years, laboring day and night and sweating through countless poses.
Her strength had soared, and she had ultimately reached the realm of a Rank 89 Soul Douluo!
It was a power she had once never dared even to dream of!
"You... you..." Jin Kunkun stammered, cold sweat soaking through his back in an instant.
A Rank 89 Soul Douluo? He had forced a Soul Douluo to marry him?
Doudou gave him no chance to say another word.
She merely raised a hand and flicked it lightly.
"Pfft!"
An invisible surge of Soul Power became the sharpest blade, slicing through Jin Kunkun's fat neck in an instant!
His fine head flew high, its face twisted with incredulous terror. Blood gushed from his neck like a fountain, staining the large red "double happiness" character behind him—and the guests' ashen faces.
"Thud!"
His headless body crashed to the ground.
The entire wedding fell silent.
Then came screams and chaos, terror beyond measure!
"Murder! Young Master Jin's been killed!"
"Run! She's a Soul Douluo! A Rank 89 Soul Douluo!"
"Help!"
The nobles screamed and fled in every direction, stumbling as they rushed for the doors.
The so-called expert guards were all weak-kneed, barely able to stand, let alone fight.
Against a Rank 89 Soul Douluo, fighting back was suicide!
The Jin Family head, an old man who had thrown his weight around Suotuo City for decades, trembled all over. His face was white as paper as he pointed at Doudou, lips quivering, unable to utter a word.
Doudou didn't even look at him. She waved her hand again, sending him to join his son.
Then she took the white silk handkerchief she had prepared from her sleeve and gently wiped a drop of blood from the back of her hand. She casually tossed it onto the headless corpse.
When she had finished, she turned and strode calmly toward the wedding hall's exit, while chaos and terrified eyes followed her.
No one dared stop her.
No one dared utter a sound.
"Brother Cao... where are you?"
"Doudou... is coming to find you."
Doudou's carefree departure in white was like a thunderclap that split the sky. The commotion it caused far exceeded anything she had expected.
The golden light of the Sky Screen, which shrouded Suotuo City and broadcast the wedding's shocking turn of events, projected everything without reservation to every corner of the Douluo Continent!
The whole continent erupted.
"Doudou? A host at a Soul Fighting Arena?"
"She's so beautiful, so cool! I love her!"
"And she's only ranked fifteenth, yet she's already a Rank 89 Soul Douluo?"
"This is absurd! Terrifying!"
Heaven Dou Empire, imperial palace.
"Clatter!"
The vermilion brush in Emperor Xue Ye's hand fell straight to the ground.
His cloudy eyes bulged like copper bells, nearly popping out of their sockets!
"Eighty... eighty-nine? A Soul Douluo? The host of Suotuo Grand Arena? A young woman?"
This wasn't fear, but incredulous delight and astonishment!
The Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire had contended for supremacy for centuries, and the strength of their Soul Masters had always been the key to victory.
And now, the Sky Screen was telling him that hidden in the arena in Suotuo City—a place he had never given so much as a second glance—was an unparalleled genius at Rank 89?
And she was so young that becoming a Titled Douluo was practically assured!
If he could bring her into his service, how could the empire fail to prosper? Why should he fear the Star Luo Empire's watchful gaze?
"Excellent! Wonderful! Hahahaha!" He couldn't help bursting into laughter. "Who would have thought our Heaven Dou Empire had such an unparalleled genius! Heaven favors our empire! Heaven favors our Heaven Dou!"
"Pass on my imperial decree!"
"Now! At once! Send the commander of the Imperial Guards to Suotuo City with my handwritten order and the highest-grade betrothal gifts!"
"Find the young woman named 'Doudou' at all costs!"
"If she is willing to come to the imperial capital, I will personally host a banquet to welcome her! I will appoint her an 'Imperial Retainer' and grant her a duke's stipend! Whatever she asks, as long as the empire can provide it, she shall have it!"
Caught up in his excitement, Emperor Xue Ye paused, then added, "Let her use any cultivation resources, techniques, or secret arts in the imperial treasury! The empire is willing to devote all its strength to helping her break through to Titled Douluo as soon as possible!"