TOP 7: Tang Chen

As everyone feared the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, the Sky Screen continued to change.

[TOP8: Bo Saixi's review concluded.]

[Review reward: All Soul Rings increased by thirty thousand years.]

Bo Saixi's reward was within everyone's expectations. Though they were envious and covetous, they were not overly surprised.

After all, with Bibi Dong's and Qian Daoliu's rewards setting the precedent, everyone had already figured out the reward pattern of the Sky Screen's rankings.

Judging by this ranking gradient, the rewards nearly doubled in value with every step upward.

For every rank closer to the top, the Soul Ring age increase rose by another ten thousand years.

Such a clear progression filled everyone with anticipation for the rewards of those who had yet to appear on the list.

Rumble—

A golden pillar of light descended from the Sky Screen, instantly enveloping Bo Saixi.

Bo Saixi felt no discomfort within the pillar of light, only a vast surge of Divine Power pouring into her body.

Black, black, black.

Black, black, black.

Red, red, red.

Nine Soul Rings slowly rose beneath Bo Saixi's feet.

After receiving the reward bestowed by the Sky Screen, Bo Saixi's Soul Rings also changed. What had once been eight black and one red became six black and three red.

When the pillar of light dispersed, Bo Saixi's aura had grown several degrees stronger, yet she still failed to break through to Demigod.

"Was I ultimately still unable to take that step?"

She had originally hoped that the Sky Screen's reward would allow her to break through to Demigod, but it seemed she had simply hoped for too much.

A mere eighth place was not enough to make her a Demigod.

Perhaps only a higher ranking could make it possible.

Although Bo Saixi had become stronger than before, she remained trapped by the shackles of level ninety-nine.

Bo Saixi could clearly sense that the Soul Power within her body had become several times more abundant than before. She was only one step away from becoming a Demigod.

Yet the chasm separating a Peerless Douluo from a Demigod remained as impossible to cross as ever.

Once a Deity's High Priest, forever a Deity's High Priest.

Becoming a god was ultimately a distant, unattainable dream.

Just as Bo Saixi sighed, the distant sea suddenly churned. Towering waves surged skyward as the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King's colossal body rose from the water.

Its sole remaining eye was crimson as blood, and it fixed its killing intent upon Sea God Island. "Hypocritical Poseidon, and the ants of Sea God Island... One day, I will make every last one of you pay the price..."

The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King stared fixedly at the Sky Screen, excitement and anticipation flashing through its eye. Now that the Sky Screen had descended, this might well be its opportunity to become a god.

This was not empty boasting. So long as the Sky Screen produced any ranking related to soul beasts, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King would definitely make the list—and firmly claim the top spot.

Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Seeing Bo Saixi's reward, Shui Wuyou stroked his chin, deep in thought. "Bibi Dong had all her Soul Rings increase by ten thousand years, Qian Daoliu's increased by twenty thousand years, and Bo Saixi's by thirty thousand years."

"For every place higher among the human powerhouses reviewed by the Sky Screen, the reward jumps by ten thousand years. By that pattern, wouldn't the first-place reward soar straight to one hundred thousand years?"

A One Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was an opportunity that even the three great Peerless Douluos would envy. But to truly god-level powerhouses who had entered the Divine Realm, it was merely so-so, offering little improvement.

The reason a Deity was a Deity was that they could control faith and wield Divine Power. There was a chasm-like difference between them and Deity High Priests or Divine Position inheritors such as Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu, and Bo Saixi.

Even though Bo Saixi, Qian Daoliu, and Bibi Dong had reached level ninety-nine as Peerless Douluos, their bodies and souls remained firmly rooted within the Soul Master system.

Soul Rings and Soul Bones were still the core of their strength. Increasing the age of all their Soul Rings could bolster their foundations and loosen the barriers that had trapped them for so long. Every additional ten thousand years was a tangible increase in combat power.

But those who had completely ascended to a Divine Position had long since ceased using the Soul Power system. Deities wielded a higher-level power system: the well-known Divine Power.

As the master of Douluo Star, even receiving a One Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring reward from the Sky Screen would be useless to him. He would rather exchange it for something else. That was why Shui Wuyou felt somewhat disappointed by the Sky Screen's rewards.

At that moment, Snow Empress beside him shook her head. "Husband, there is no need to worry. The rankings have only reached eighth place. The higher the powerhouse's ranking, the better the reward should be."

"Rewards such as increasing Soul Ring age should merely be opportunities granted to level ninety-nine Peerless Douluos. Once the list reveals those who have truly entered the Divine Realm, I believe the Sky Screen will naturally change the type of reward. It will no longer give rewards like Soul Ring age increases, which are of little use to Divine Realm powerhouses."

Shui Wuyou's brows twitched at her words, and he came back to his senses somewhat.

Snow Empress continued explaining patiently. "Take you as an example, Husband. As a Deity, you do not need Soul Rings to provide power at all. If the Sky Screen wishes to grant a reward with sufficient weight, it will surely give something closely related to Deities, such as increasing Divine Power, enhancing Godhood, or even a divine artifact."

Ice Empress beside them also strongly agreed with Snow Empress. "Exactly! If the Sky Screen's reward were merely an increase in Soul Ring age, that would be far too underwhelming for all the commotion it has caused."

The family of three had long stopped using the Soul Power system. If they made the rankings only to receive increased Soul Ring age, what use would such a reward be?

Shui Wuyou shrugged. "Perhaps."

If he could obtain something that enhanced his strength, he naturally could not ask for more. But he could not be sure what tricks the Sky Screen had in store.

At that moment, the Sky Screen changed once more.

[Reviewing Douluo Star's ten greatest human powerhouses.]

[TOP7: Tang Chen.]

Everyone: "Huh???"

"Tang Chen???"

"Another powerhouse no one has heard of!"

When Qian Daoliu had been revealed, the younger generation of Soul Masters across the continent had stared at one another in bewilderment. Not a single one recognized the once invincible Clear Sky Douluo.

Of course, the younger generation of Soul Masters did not know him, but that did not mean the older generation did not recognize Tang Chen.

"Damn it, that old brute."

The older Soul Masters' expressions changed in unison, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

Tang Chen was no good person either!

In their era, if you submitted to Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu would not do anything to you. Not only could you and your family or sect avoid the disaster of annihilation, but you could even receive resources and support rewarded by Qian Daoliu.

But Tang Chen was the exception. That bastard did not care about any of that—he beat you up first and talked later. Only those who could withstand an attack from the Clear Sky Hammer were qualified to become a vassal force of the Clear Sky Sect. Those who could not withstand it could go die.

For the older Soul Masters who had survived, that had simply been a dark era of despair.