A Contest Among the Younger Generation!

An hour later, a massive competition platform had been erected in the square before the Papal Hall.

The arena spanned a full hundred meters in diameter and was built entirely from granite. To ensure safety, it had even been reinforced with a large number of soul tools to prevent damage.

The guest stands were positioned on both sides, with the competition grounds in the middle, directly facing the Papal Hall.

Once the arena was complete, Qian Xunji stood before the Papal Hall and called out to the guests below:

"This contest is meant to foster friendship through combat. Anyone may step forward to participate. Whoever claims the championship, Spirit Hall will award them a Soul Bone as their prize!"

Upon hearing this, everyone seated in the guest stands became restless, their eyes burning with excitement.

"They're actually offering a Soul Bone as the reward. What an extravagant gesture!"

Dugu Chen remained calm, though a ripple flashed through his eyes as he murmured softly.

Dugu Xin wore a mysterious smile. Turning to face Dugu Chen, he slowly said:

"Little brother, what you don't know is that today's guests include not only the continent's top sects and powers, but also quite a few famous independent soul masters."

"Spirit Hall is holding this contest in conjunction with today's Saintess ceremony in order to recruit those independent soul masters. Offering a Soul Bone as a reward is meant to demonstrate Spirit Hall's resources and confidence to them."

"So that's how it is!"

Dugu Chen suddenly understood. When independent soul masters were mentioned, Yue Guang and Gui Mei were the first people who came to mind.

In their youth, the two had roamed the continent and risen to become Title Douluo without relying on anyone's help or support.

In the end, Gui Mei had been tempted by Spirit Hall's recruitment and insisted on bringing Yue Guang along. Only then had the two successfully joined Spirit Hall.

"But isn't Spirit Hall worried that the finalists will all be from sects and major powers? Wouldn't all their calculations come to nothing then?"

Dugu Chen's eyes flickered as he looked at Dugu Xin and asked in return.

Dugu Xin smiled. "Anyone who can grow strong through sheer effort without relying on the resources of any faction is absolutely no weakling!"

"The disciples and inheritors of sects and major powers have mostly never experienced true slaughter amid blood and fire. They do not understand why those independent soul masters are willing to risk their lives for even the tiniest bit of resources."

"Likewise, those powerful independent soul masters do not understand why the disciples of great sects and factions need do nothing more than show up at their sects each month to receive cultivation resources that others must fight desperately to obtain."

"Even in rotten soil, brilliant flowers can bloom—more dangerous, but also more captivating."

Understanding instantly dawned in Dugu Chen's eyes, and he smiled faintly.

"Only those who can truly grow and survive to the end can be called strong."

"Exactly!"

Dugu Xin nodded slightly and smiled.

"I understand. Then, Big Brother, will you be competing as well?" Dugu Chen asked with a nod.

There was an unmistakable eagerness in his voice.

"It has been a long time since I last had a proper match. This is the perfect chance to measure myself against the independent soul masters and sect prodigies of my generation across the continent!"

The corners of Dugu Xin's lips rose slightly, and burning fighting intent flashed through his eyes.

"Still, Big Brother's cultivation talent is inferior to yours. I have only reached the Soul Saint realm so far."

"The burden of winning the championship and bringing glory to our Dugu Household will fall on you."

Dugu Xin reached out and patted his shoulder, his eyes filled with gratification.

"I think the family ancestral hall happens to be lacking a Soul Bone to guard it."

Dugu Chen's voice was calm, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, but his words were filled with absolute confidence.

Dugu Xin froze for a moment upon hearing that, then quickly understood and suddenly chuckled.

"Chen'er, Xin'er, do not be careless!"

As the two spoke, Dugu Bo's stern voice rang out. He turned his head and said in an exceptionally serious tone:

"Everyone who came today belongs to the continent's top powers or is an independent soul master. When you take the stage later, you must be cautious."

"A lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit!"

Dugu Chen and Dugu Xin exchanged a glance, then nodded solemnly at the same time. "Yes, Father!"

As time passed, someone soon found it impossible to hold back any longer and leaped onto the competition platform.

"I'll go first!"

A low shout came from the crowd, followed by a violent tremor from the platform that sent clouds of dust rolling into the air.

As the dust gradually dispersed, the figure on the stage came into view.

The first contestant was a burly man over two meters tall. His face and chest were covered in scars, while murderous intent and ferocity permeated his aura.

Clearly, the first burly man to take the stage was a powerful independent soul master who had emerged from countless bloody battles.

As he stepped forward, a terrifying force instantly shattered the stone floor beneath his foot.

Two yellow and four purple soul rings slowly rose from beneath his feet, circling around his body as they pulsed rhythmically. He was unmistakably a Soul Emperor.

Although his soul ring configuration was not ideal, his horrifying aura alone made quite a few disciples of sects and factions tremble inwardly.

That savage aura and icy gaze could only have been forged through countless trials of life and death—and by surviving them.

"It's him—the Mighty God, Chen Dongqing!" When Dugu Xin saw the man, his expression became much more solemn.

"Big Brother, you know him?"

Dugu Chen's gaze was fixed on the burly man. His instincts told him that Chen Dongqing's current strength far surpassed that of ordinary Soul Emperors at the same level; fighting above his rank would not be difficult for him.

Dugu Xin nodded, drew a deep breath, and slowly said:

"Before coming here, I collected information on several powerful independent soul masters. I wanted to see whether we could recruit a few independent experts with great potential as guest retainers for the family during this event."

"This man is named Chen Dongqing, and his nickname is Mighty God. At first, his martial soul was merely a very weak martial soul known as the Short-legged Elephant."

"But for some unknown reason, his martial soul suddenly mutated."

"It mutated into the rare and powerful Giant Strength Mammoth martial soul. His strength underwent a qualitative leap, and he has few rivals within the same realm. He has even escaped from the hands of high-level Soul Saints before."

With a solemn expression, Dugu Xin recounted all the information he knew about Chen Dongqing.

"A mutation?"

Dugu Chen shrugged. As the saying went, the poor relied on mutations, while nobles relied on bloodline inheritance.

For ordinary people, the only way to rise was to gamble on that sliver of uncertain mutation. If they won, a beneficial martial soul mutation could send them soaring to the heavens.

If they lost, their circumstances were already at their worst. A harmful mutation could hardly make things much worse, and it might even unlock some other abilities.

Once the first person had taken the stage, the other sects and factions could no longer sit still. They were unwilling to let an independent soul master steal all the attention.

They immediately sent someone onto the competition platform. Judging from his attire and strength, he appeared to be from a minor faction.

He was also a Soul Emperor, but his soul ring configuration was far inferior: one white, two yellow, and three purple.