Three Years of Cultivation

Hearing Ning Quan's question, Aodebiao shook his head. "Sect Master, that casual hammer strike from Tang Chen already matched the power of an ordinary Soul King's Soul Skill. I could do that too, but never with Tang Chen's effortless ease. His strength is hard to judge, but I'd estimate that an ordinary Soul Emperor couldn't defeat him. A Soul Saint is harder to say, given the Martial Soul Avatar."

Ning Quan nodded to show he understood.

Meanwhile, the other sect masters had fallen into a heated debate.

The Star Crown Sect's master, in particular, was nearly mad with envy.

Such a gifted disciple did not belong to his Star Crown Sect. What a bitter shame.

As the sect masters talked, the host below began to announce the result.

"I declare this competition officially over! The champion is Tang Chen, young sect master of the Clear Sky Sect!"

At the announcement, thunderous cheers erupted from the Clear Sky Sect.

The other sects applauded too when they saw that Spirit Hall had not taken first place.

As far as they were concerned, anyone could win as long as it was not Spirit Hall.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's face turned ashen. With a sweep of his sleeve, he said to Tang Yue, "Sect Master Tang, since the competition is over, I'll take Spirit Hall's disciples back now."

With that, Golden Crocodile Douluo turned and left.

The other sect masters were delighted to see him storm off.

After all, it was rare to see Spirit Hall swallow a defeat.

"Serves them right. That felt good," the Elephant Armor Sect's master muttered.

"That's what Spirit Hall gets for being so arrogant," the Ice Dolphin Sect's master grumbled.

With the competition over, disciples from the various sects ran into opponents they had faced earlier. They exchanged a few words, each appreciating the other, before their sect masters led them away.

The competition was over, and the Clear Sky Sect had lost its earlier bustle.

Sect Master Tang Yue stepped forward and addressed the disciples. "All right, the competition is over. What I'm about to say concerns every disciple of the Clear Sky Sect."

At his words, every Clear Sky Sect disciple fell silent.

Pleased, Tang Yue nodded and continued. "From now on, every disciple of the Clear Sky Sect must work hard at cultivation. You must spend four double-hours cultivating every day. This order is mandatory."

Some disciples were reluctant, but cultivation would only benefit them, so they accepted it.

"Second, the Clear Sky Sect will establish several businesses to bring in income. I plan to set up a few Soul Hunting Guild branches. For a fee, we'll help people who need Soul Rings hunt for them, and we can keep the materials from the dead Soul Beasts as well."

The elders nodded at Tang Yue's proposal. He had already discussed it with them.

Several disciples were interested too. Hunting Soul Beasts for others would earn them money and sharpen their combat skills. Why wouldn't they do it?

Both rules were then put into effect.

From then on, everyone in the Clear Sky Sect threw themselves into cultivation.

Three years passed like that.

Three years later, Tang Chen emerged from the secluded chamber.

Seeing the clear sky stretch to the horizon, he gave a contented stretch.

"Mm. I finally broke through. Ever since the Clear Sky Hammer became an Ultimate Martial Soul, my Soul Power cultivation has grown slower and slower."

In three years, Tang Chen had risen only from level forty-four to level fifty-five—eleven levels, two of which had come from his Soul Ring.

That meant he had gained an average of only three levels a year through cultivation.

During those three years, Tang Chen had obtained his fifth Soul Ring from a Behemoth. It had given him an exceptionally powerful fifth Soul Skill.

"Clear Sky Domain!"

The Clear Sky Domain boosted all his attributes by thirty percent and weakened all his opponent's attributes by twenty percent, making it an extremely powerful domain that worked in both directions. It also carried a special ability: Power Breaks Ten Thousand Laws! Once activated, his attacks could ignore special states and defenses. Even abilities like Bibi Dong's Undying Body and Tang San's Invincible Golden Body a hundred years later would have no effect against Tang Chen.

Tang Chen almost wanted to mourn for his future opponents.

He had level fifty-five Soul Power and the attack power of a level ninety-five fighter. Anyone who fought him could neither flee nor fly. Their defenses would be useless, while he could draw on the earth's power to restore his Soul Power and heal his wounds.

Tang Chen was practically a super-warrior, a tank, and a self-healing support all in one.

An idea struck him. He wanted to travel the continent and, if possible, pick up a Divine Slaughter's Domain along the way.

No sooner had he decided than he hurried to Tang Yue and told him his plan.

Tang Yue immediately waved a hand in refusal.

"How old are you? You already want to roam the continent alone? Have you thought about how treacherous people can be? What if someone poisons you or ambushes you? Would you see it coming? And what if you meet someone far stronger than you? Could you handle that?"

Tang Chen was not concerned. If anything, he was eager to try.

Ning Zi, who had been cultivating outside, heard the argument between father and son.

She came into the room and said to Tang Yue, "Uncle, let me go with Brother Chen. I'm confident I can protect him."

As she spoke, Ning Zi showed him the Lovesick Heartbreak Red on her left hand.

It looked familiar to Tang Yue.

After thinking it over, he remembered. It was one of the Immortal Herbs he and his son had found in that treasured place.

Tang Yue turned to Tang Chen, silently asking him to explain.

Tang Chen was about to speak, but Ning Zi beat him to it. "Uncle, this is a god's power. I've been chosen as a successor."

Tang Yue stared at her, dumbfounded.

He could hardly believe what he had heard. Chosen by a god? Did that mean she could become one?

Seeing Tang Yue's astonishment and Tang Chen's calm, Ning Zi told him everything about the Divine Trial.

"It started a few years ago. After I came to the Clear Sky Sect, I bought a piece of ore. Some of my blood accidentally dripped onto it and triggered the Love God's Divine Trial. I've passed three trials now. After six more, I can reach level one hundred and become a god."

Over those three years, Ning Zi had completed the Love God's third trial, obtained the Divine Artifact Love God's Heart, and increased her affinity with the Love God by fifteen percent.

She had also gained the three divine skills contained within the Love God's Heart, three of the Love God's nine divine skills. The Love God had created nine great divine skills in the Divine Realm. Each time Ning Zi completed one of the nine trials, the Love God would grant her one of them.