Martial Soul Evolution: Netherworld Lord

"O-okay."

Zhu Zhuqing obediently agreed, then summoned her Martial Soul.

Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Soul was the Hell Spirit Cat, an agility-type Martial Soul passed down through her family. It gave her explosive power and exceptional mobility.

Originally, the Hell Spirit Cat had looked like an ordinary black-and-purple kitten.

But the kitten now beside Zhu Zhuqing had fur that burned like black flames and an intricate black divine pattern on its forehead.

The kitten was beautifully formed. It padded gracefully onto Zhu Zhuqing's lap and gently rubbed against her hand.

"This is my Martial Soul?"

Zhu Zhuqing picked up the kitten and studied it, disbelief written all over her face.

From the divine pattern on its forehead, she sensed a terrifying surge of energy.

"Yes. I poured a vast amount of life energy into your Martial Soul. It has now evolved to God Level."

Zi Tian had wanted to evolve the Hell Spirit Cat all the way to God King Level in one go, but he discovered that God Level was its limit.

For it to evolve again, Zhu Zhuqing would first have to become a god and undergo a transformation of life.

Even so, her Martial Soul now ranked in the upper-middle tier among God Level Martial Souls.

"So powerful..."

Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes and began to sense her evolved Martial Soul's abilities.

Only then did she notice the wonderfully warm life energy flowing through her body.

Nourished by that energy, Zhu Zhuqing's figure grew shapelier and her skin more delicate.

After a while, she opened her eyes, her voice brimming with delight:

"My new Martial Soul gives me an additional hundred-percent boost on top of the Hell Spirit Cat's abilities.

"And its Netherworld Domain can suppress and weaken opponents within its range.

"It also comes with several powerful extra Soul Skills. Compared to before, my combat strength has at least tripled!"

Zi Tian nodded. This was his first time evolving someone else's Martial Soul, and the results looked good:

"Not bad. A God Level Martial Soul enhances you in every respect. As you grow stronger, its benefits will become even more apparent.

"Now that your Martial Soul has evolved, give it a new name."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head and thought for a moment:

"Netherworld Lord! My new Martial Soul evolved from the Hell Spirit Cat, and I'm confident I can take it to the very top and become the lord of the netherworld!"

"Good. That's the spirit."

Zi Tian casually stroked Zhu Zhuqing's head. Her hair felt silky smooth.

"Thank you, Palace Master. Is there anything I can do right now? I want to repay you at once."

A faint blush rose again on Zhu Zhuqing's delicate, cool-featured face.

"Just focus on cultivating. Didn't I tell you? As long as you join Zi Tian Palace, you can have everything you want.

"Keep watching. The Sky Screen is about to announce the next ranking."

Hearing the same words a second time, Zhu Zhuqing felt something entirely different.

She quietly edged her chair closer to the throne, then looked up at the Sky Screen with Zi Tian.

Within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Sky Screen had finished distributing its reward.

The moment Yu Tianheng landed, Yu Yuanzhen and several elders hurried over and surrounded him:

"Tianheng, how do you feel? What can the Golden Sacred Dragon do?"

"I feel great. My strength has risen by a huge margin.

"Compared to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, the Golden Sacred Dragon's light attribute is even stronger than its lightning attribute."

"Did you gain a domain?"

Yu Yuanzhen pressed him.

A domain was a space under a Soul Master's control. Within it, the Soul Master could gain all sorts of special effects.

It was no exaggeration to say that only those who possessed a domain could be called top-tier geniuses.

There were many ways to obtain a domain. The most common was through cultivation after birth.

But some powerful Martial Souls came with domains of their own.

Qian Daoliu's Angel Domain came with his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. It could purify an opponent's attacks while granting him an enormous boost.

Yu Yuanzhen desperately hoped the Golden Sacred Dragon had a domain too. Then Yu Tianheng would truly be able to compete with the continent's most formidable prodigies.

As clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he knew far more than most.

A nineteen-year-old Soul King like Dai Weisi was rare, but he was still some distance from the very best.

"No domain. But the Golden Sacred Dragon gave me several powerful Soul Skills, and its physical enhancement is much greater than before."

Yu Tianheng checked and answered honestly.

"It seems the Golden Sacred Dragon has only just entered the ranks of God Level Martial Souls.

"But that's all right. As your cultivation improves and you refine your Dragon Blood, the Golden Sacred Dragon will grow stronger."

Yu Yuanzhen was a little disappointed to hear there was no domain. He soon rallied, however.

Whatever else might be true, the Golden Sacred Dragon was a God Level Martial Soul.

Even if he had to marshal the entire clan's strength, he would make sure Yu Tianheng joined the ranks of the very best.

With the ninth-place reward distributed, everyone began guessing the remaining rankings.

"The Star Luo Empire came tenth, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan came ninth. Good heavens, what great powers could rank above them?"

"The Douluo Realm has two empires, the Upper Three Sects, and Spirit Hall. Those six powers stand at its summit."

Someone counted through the Douluo Realm's great powers and realized there weren't even ten.

"Could the same great power appear more than once? Spirit Hall is so strong that I wouldn't be surprised if it took all the top spots."

"Not necessarily. What if the Douluo Realm has other great powers hidden away? That's how novels always go: the ones in the shadows are stronger than the ones in the open."

Plenty of people immediately agreed.

"That makes sense. You think Spirit Hall might just be a front for some underground power? Could we all be livestock they're raising?"

"Aren't you tired of conspiracy theories? Why not imagine the whole Douluo Realm is a stage someone built, and we've been performing for them all this time?"

Just as the two sides were about to start arguing, someone between them hurried to intervene:

"All right, enough. Stop arguing. Look, the next ranking is about to be announced."

At that, everyone fell silent and looked up at the Sky Screen.

[Background Ranking ninth-place reward distribution complete. Next announcement: eighth place]

As the writing on the Sky Screen scrolled, Yu Tianheng's figure gradually vanished, and brilliant white characters once again filled the sky.

[Background Ranking, eighth place: Ning Rongrong, daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's sect leader]

The instant Ning Fengzhi saw the ranking, he had only one feeling: a headache.

He knew his daughter's temperament better than anyone. Ning Rongrong was spoiled and headstrong; once she wanted something, she had to have it.

She had only placed eighth on this ranking. Surely she would now make a fuss and demand that he raise her position.

But Ning Fengzhi had already seen what the Sky Screen could do.

He was not alone. Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo also knew how powerful it was.

It was not something the Douluo Realm could possibly produce.

Even if he sold off the entire Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Sky Screen probably would not spare him a glance.

When he caught Ning Rongrong glancing his way, Ning Fengzhi promptly raised his teacup and took a long drink, pretending he had seen nothing.