"An eighteen-year-old Soul King?"
Dai Mubai's gaze sharpened, and he instinctively shook his head. "I've never seen anyone become a Soul King at eighteen. Even becoming a Soul Ancestor at eighteen makes you a genius rarely seen."
Never mind seeing one-even in the historical records of their Star Luo Empire, the imperial family had never produced an eighteen-year-old Soul King.
"Then take a good look."
A glint of mischief flashed in Ning Rongrong's eyes as she spoke to Dai Mubai.
"Look? At whom?"
Dai Mubai froze, looking at Ning Rongrong in utter confusion.
"B-boss, look at that young man! He-he's a Soul King!"
Beside Dai Mubai, Oscar tugged hard on his clothes and pointed at Qin Xiao in the clearing.
Oscar looked utterly aghast.
"A Soul King? How is that possible!"
Dai Mubai did not believe it for a second.
Still, he instinctively looked over.
He immediately froze.
"H-how is this possible!"
Once he saw everything before him clearly, his mouth hung open in shock.
There, right beneath Qin Xiao's feet, hadn't another Soul Ring appeared?
"Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black..."
"There's no mistake. He really is a Soul King."
"San, he-he really is a Soul King! An eighteen-year-old Soul King!"
Beside Tang San, Xiao Wu held out a finger and repeatedly counted Qin Xiao's Soul Rings, her voice filled with astonishment.
This was simply staggering.
This man's talent actually surpassed San's?!
Until now, she had believed Tang San's talent was unmatched. Even after meeting Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai, she had still thought so.
But now, Xiao Wu no longer thought that way.
Could San reach the Soul King level at eighteen? The thought instinctively surfaced in Xiao Wu's mind.
"Beyond every mountain stands an even higher mountain..." Tang San sighed in admiration, his expression complicated. His heart filled with longing. A Soul King... when would I reach that level?
"An eighteen-year-old Soul King. Such astonishing talent."
"Among all the students Shrek has ever had, not one could stand shoulder to shoulder with him."
"Never mind Shrek-even His Eminence, once hailed as the youngest Titled Douluo on the entire continent, only became a Soul King in his twenties, didn't he?"
Even Li Yusong, who was accustomed to seeing "monsters," was utterly stunned, his heart churning like surging waves.
Such talent made him a genius among geniuses. He had already broken the historical record of the Douluo Continent.
"Young man, you may..."
Li Yusong intended to tell Qin Xiao that he could join Shrek.
But the words that followed stuck in his throat like a fishbone, refusing to come out.
He was completely dumbstruck and helplessly blurted out in a daze, "Six rings..."
As his voice faded, another pitch-black Soul Ring appeared beneath Qin Xiao's feet.
"Heavens! A Six-Ring Soul Emperor!"
"Is he really only eighteen?!"
Ning Rongrong's lips parted slightly, disbelief written all over her face.
Before this, if anyone had told her someone could reach the Soul Emperor level at eighteen, she would have scoffed.
What a joke! Not even her Grandpa Bone and Grandpa Sword had achieved such a feat in their youth.
Yet now, she felt that no one would believe her if she told them what she had witnessed with her own eyes.
"Boss, it looks like we really misjudged him. That young man is actually an expert on the same level as Teacher Li."
Beside him, Oscar shrank back and spoke in a low voice.
Dai Mubai opened his mouth, but no longer knew what to say.
What could he say?
With only three years left, he could work himself to death and still never reach the Soul Emperor level.
Never mind Soul Emperor-even reaching Soul King was uncertain...
Although that young man had said nothing from the start, and had not even spared him a proper glance, Dai Mubai felt as though an invisible hand had slapped him across the face.
Meanwhile, Qin Xiao took in everyone's reactions, a faint smile curling his lips.
He had never intended to conceal his strength.
He had absolutely no interest in playing the pig to eat the tiger.
Hadn't he spent over a decade training bitterly in barren mountains precisely so no one could look down on him?
Whooo...
Powerful Soul Power erupted across the clearing, whipping up fierce winds.
One Soul Ring after another appeared in succession.
Seven-Ring Soul Sage!
Eight-Ring Soul Douluo!
Nine-Ring Titled Douluo!
The instant Qin Xiao's ninth Soul Ring appeared, time itself seemed to stop.
Everyone's heart nearly stopped beating.
That deep, pitch-black radiance filled their vision.
Then an incomparably immense pressure of Soul Power suddenly descended. Everyone felt their bodies grow heavy. Unable to resist that overwhelming force, they were pressed to the ground.
"Boss, am I seeing things? He-he-he has nine Soul Rings..."
After another moment, Oscar could not help crying out.
But Dai Mubai heard none of it. He merely kept muttering:
"A Titled Douluo... how could he be a Titled Douluo!"
He muttered as though possessed, like someone talking in his sleep.
"I thought being a Soul Emperor was already shocking enough. Now... now..."
Ning Rongrong's eyes held a tangled mix of emotions. She had absolutely no idea what to say.
"Xiao Wu, how are you?"
Tang San barely managed to remain kneeling on one knee, while Xiao Wu curled up behind him, panic written across her face.
"N-nothing..."
"San, he's so strong. I'm scared."
Xiao Wu spoke in a trembling voice.
Her thoughts had already become a tangled mess.
He's actually a Titled Douluo! Why would a Titled Douluo come to such a remote place? What is he after? Could he be here for me?
But unless Qin Xiao spoke, she would not dare ask even if her life depended on it.
"May I ask whether I can pass your test now?"
With nine Soul Rings circling him and a faint smile on his face, Qin Xiao looked at Li Yusong.
"Your Eminence, surely you're joking."
"If Shrek has offended you in any way, I offer you my apologies here and now."
Li Yusong had not fallen. Gritting his teeth, he resisted Qin Xiao's pressure with all his strength to avoid making a spectacle of himself.
He truly had no idea how a little place like Shrek had attracted a Titled Douluo-level expert.
"You've misunderstood. I really am here to enroll, and I really am eighteen."
Qin Xiao shook his head slightly and withdrew his Martial Soul and Soul Rings.
Everyone in the clearing immediately felt the pressure lift.
He really is here to enroll? Li Yusong dared not hesitate any longer and immediately answered, "Congratulations... you have successfully passed my test..."
Never mind an entrance test-even if Qin Xiao said he wanted to become the dean, Li Yusong would immediately go speak to Flender.
"Thank you." Qin Xiao nodded in satisfaction.
At the same time, a mechanical voice sounded in his mind:
[Ding.] [Rookie Soul Master, congratulations on barely passing Li Yusong's test. Your mission reward has been issued.]
I passed?
With a stir of his thoughts, Qin Xiao sensed a mysterious force entering his body.
Although he had not summoned his Soul Rings, he could feel that they had undergone a considerable change.
At the same time, a faint stream of Soul Power merged with his own, raising his cultivation slightly.
Qin Xiao knew this was the Soul Power feedback brought about by the increase in his Soul Rings' ages.
Just then, however, the system's voice sounded in Qin Xiao's mind again.
[Ding. A new mission has been issued.] [Beginner guidance (II): Rookie Soul Master, congratulations on barely passing Li Yusong's test. But please do not grow arrogant. Next, give your all alongside your companions to face the test of Zhao Wuji, the demon king of chaos. Mission requirement: Work together with your companions and hold out against Zhao Wuji for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. Mission reward: Second Soul Ring age +1,000 years. Note: Zhao Wuji possesses Soul Saint-level strength. He is immensely powerful and extremely vicious. Carelessness could put your life at risk.]
After reading the new mission, Qin Xiao rubbed his chin and sank into thought.
Zhao Wuji?
Vicious?
P.S. I'd like to recommend a friend's book, "Douluo: Ten-thousandfold reversal, the darkened Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
Before you continue