Star Dou Great Forest.
Lake of Life.
Qian Renxue stood beside the Sky Azure Bull Python's corpse.
Eight soul rings slowly revolved around her.
Two yellow, two purple, two black, and two red.
Azure-blue lightning flowed along the edges of her six wings.
Qian Renxue raised her right hand.
Her eighth soul ring lit up.
Six columns of water rose above the Lake of Life.
Thunder coursed through every column.
"Eighth soul skill."
"Azure Sky Thunder Domain."
The columns of water converged toward the center at once.
The energy of heaven and earth within several hundred zhang was drawn in.
An azure-blue domain appeared above the lake.
Qian Renxue stood at its center.
She could clearly sense every fluctuation of soul power within it.
Once an enemy entered the Azure Sky Thunder Domain, their movements would be restricted by both water currents and lightning.
Qian Daoliu watched her.
"Put it away."
Qian Renxue closed her fingers.
The six columns of water fell back into the lake.
The azure-blue lightning gradually dispersed.
The three pairs of wings on her back also withdrew into her body.
"Grandfather."
"This soul skill suits me very well."
Qian Renxue walked over to her grandfather.
She had just absorbed a hundred thousand year soul ring.
A few drops of lake water still clung to her gold-and-white battle skirt.
Her soul power had blown loose a few strands of the golden hair tied behind her head.
Qian Daoliu raised a hand to tidy them for her.
"The Azure Sky Thunder Domain is suited to control."
"Your Angel Holy Sword can also use Thunder to increase its speed."
Qian Renxue nodded lightly.
"Once we return to the Worship Hall, I'll begin cultivating."
Liu Erlong approached from the side.
She glanced at the Sky Azure Bull Python's corpse.
"Senior, there should still be a soul bone inside its body."
Qian Daoliu raised his right hand.
Golden divine power fell upon the Sky Azure Bull Python's head.
Divine light lifted the enormous corpse.
An azure-blue skull flew out of it.
Fine lightning patterns covered its surface.
The aura of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast spread through the surroundings.
Qian Renxue looked at the soul bone.
"A hundred-thousand-year head soul bone."
Qian Daoliu sent the soul bone before her.
"Absorb it."
Qian Renxue did not reach for it.
"You've already given me the Thunder Dragon Pearl, Grandfather."
"This soul bone can be saved for someone else."
"You killed the Sky Azure Bull Python."
Qian Daoliu placed the soul bone in her hands.
"Its soul skills can work in tandem with your eighth soul ring."
Qian Renxue cradled the soul bone.
Azure-blue radiance shone on her face.
"Then I'll accept it."
She stored the soul bone in her soul tool.
Then she took her grandfather's arm again.
"Grandfather, let's go home."
Qian Daoliu raised his palm.
A Golden Spatial Passage opened beside the lake.
The three of them walked into it.
The Lake of Life grew peaceful once more.
The Sky Azure Bull Python's enormous corpse was carried away by divine power as well.
Worship Hall.
The rear courtyard.
After bathing, Qian Renxue changed into a soft white dress.
Her damp golden hair hung loose down her back.
Droplets ran from its tips onto her dress.
She walked barefoot out of the bedchamber.
Her fair feet stepped across the soft carpet.
Qian Daoliu sat beside the window.
The Thunder Dragon Pearl and the Sky Azure Bull Python Head Soul Bone lay on the table.
Qian Renxue came up to her grandfather.
"Grandfather."
"Help me dry my hair."
Qian Daoliu picked up a clean towel.
Qian Renxue turned around and sat down in front of him.
Her golden hair spread across the back of the chair.
Qian Daoliu lifted the ends and slowly wiped away the moisture.
She lowered her head slightly.
The collar of her white dress rested against the delicate skin at the side of her neck.
A few damp strands hung in front of her collarbones.
"After I absorb the soul bone, my soul power should rise further."
"Absorb the Thunder Dragon Pearl first."
Qian Daoliu said, "Wait until your meridians adapt to the true dragon origin before fusing with the soul bone."
Qian Renxue lifted the Thunder Dragon Pearl in her hands.
Blue-violet lightning flashed between her fingers.
"How long will it take?"
"Half a month."
"Then what about the Soul Master Tournament?"
Qian Daoliu's hands paused for a moment.
"You intend to enter the Soul Master Tournament?"
Qian Renxue turned her face toward him.
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy has already qualified."
"I'm also a citizen of the Heaven Dou Empire."
"Why can't I enter?"
Qian Daoliu put down the towel.
Qian Renxue's golden hair was dry now.
He picked up the Jade Comb and combed downward from the roots.
"You are the Heaven Dou Emperor."
"If the emperor personally enters the Soul Master Tournament, everyone's attention will fall on you."
Qian Renxue's eyes shifted slightly.
"Then I'll conceal my identity."
Qian Daoliu looked at her in the mirror.
"Who do you want to fight?"
"Shrek Academy."
Qian Renxue did not hide it.
"Zhao Wuji, Flender, and Ma Hongjun are already dead."
"Ning Rongrong has also lost the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Yu Xiaogang is cleaning the Thunder Pool at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"But Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu are still alive."
She reached out to touch the soul tool at her waist.
"Grandfather, you once said that Tang San possesses a special kind of power."
"As long as someone helps him, he can gain a new opportunity in a desperate situation."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly.
That power was not soul power.
Nor was it divine power.
The path Tang San had traveled since coming to the Douluo Continent had been far too smooth.
Twin martial souls.
Innate full soul power.
An external soul bone.
Immortal-grade medicinal herbs.
A hundred-thousand-year soul beast willingly sacrificing herself.
The son of Clear Sky Douluo.
With all these opportunities concentrated in one person, talent alone could no longer explain it.
Tang San bore a portion of this world's fortune.
As long as he remained alive, he might receive new help.
Ever since returning to Spirit City, Qian Daoliu had been considering his next step.
Spirit Hall was back under his control.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been destroyed.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had submitted.
The Heaven Dou Empire had fallen into Qian Renxue's hands.
Those who remained of Shrek were all that still needed to be dealt with now.
With every person standing beside Tang San eliminated, the fortune he could draw upon would diminish.
Qian Daoliu combed the final strand of golden hair into place.
"You may enter."
Qian Renxue turned around.
A smile appeared on her fair face.
"You agree, Grandfather?"
"I'll have Heaven Dou Royal Academy resubmit its roster."
"You'll compete as a member of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team."
Qian Daoliu said, "You must not reveal your identity as emperor during the tournament."
Qian Renxue nodded earnestly.
"I'll suppress my soul rings."
"I'll also change the appearance of my Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul."
"To outsiders, I'll call it a Light Swan."
Qian Daoliu raised a hand and touched the point between her brows.
The golden divine runes changed with it.
The aura of the Six-Winged Angel gradually receded.
A pair of pure white wings appeared behind Qian Renxue.
Her sacred aura was also suppressed to the Soul Saint level.
She looked into the bronze mirror.
"Now no one will be able to tell."
The door opened from outside.
Liu Erlong entered the bedchamber carrying a jade platter.
She had already bathed.
A burgundy gown clung to her mature figure.
Her loose black hair was still damp.
A pair of fair, bare feet showed beneath her hem.
Liu Erlong set the jade platter on the table.
"Young Master, are you planning to enter the Soul Master Tournament?"
"That's right."
Qian Renxue picked up a piece of fruit.
She did not eat it herself.
Instead, she brought it to her grandfather's lips.
"I'll deal with Shrek Academy in the arena."
Qian Daoliu ate the fruit.
"The Soul Master Tournament permits casualties."
"However, the matches in Heaven Dou City must not affect ordinary people."
"I'll control my power."
Qian Renxue picked up another piece of fruit and offered it to him.
"Leave Tang San to me."
Liu Erlong sat down on the other side.
Her burgundy skirt spread along the sides of her legs.
"Shrek Academy has no teacher leading its team now."
"They might not even be able to compete."
"Tang San won't give up."
Qian Daoliu said, "The Soul Master Tournament is his chance to prove himself."
"He'll definitely appear."
Liu Erlong nodded lightly.
She picked up the teapot and poured Qian Daoliu a cup of hot tea.
"Then I'll keep watch over the arena."
"To prevent Tang Hao from intervening."
Qian Daoliu lifted his teacup.
"If Tang Hao appears, I'll handle him myself."
Qian Renxue put down the Silver Pick.
She leaned sideways against her grandfather's shoulder.
"Grandpa, will you come watch my matches too?"
"Yes."
After receiving his answer, she hugged Qian Daoliu's arm tightly.
"Then I won't disappoint you, Grandpa."
Half a month later.
Heaven Dou City.
The Soul Master Tournament's Preliminary Competition Arena.
An enormous Soul Fighting Arena stood in the center of the square.
The surrounding seats were packed with spectators from all over.
The Heaven Dou Empire's advanced Soul Master Academies had all entered.
In the VIP seats.
Xue Qinghe sat upright beside the imperial throne.
That was a duplicate formed from Angel Divine Power.
The duplicate could handle simple affairs.
It could also fool the spiritual perception of ordinary Soul Masters.
The real Qian Renxue was already standing among the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team.
She wore a gold-and-white team uniform.
Her long golden hair was tied in a high ponytail.
A faint layer of divine light veiled her face.
Her originally striking features had changed slightly.
The Angel God Rune between her brows had also vanished.
No one connected her with Xue Qinghe in the VIP seats.
The other six members of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team stood behind her.
They had already received their orders.
They would not need to act in today's match.
The announcer came to the center of the Soul Fighting Arena.
"The first round of the preliminaries."
"Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team versus Shrek Academy."
A wave of discussion immediately rose from the stands.
Shrek Academy's uniforms were unremarkable.
The space for the logo Flender had left back then remained on their chests.
Tang San walked at the front.
He wore a fitted blue outfit.
Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges was wrapped around his waist.
The aura of his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had already reached above rank forty.
Dai Mubai stood to his left.
Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu followed behind.
Besides the five original Shrek members, the other two teammates were Soul Elders recruited at short notice.
They had no teacher leading them.
Nor did any senior academy officials accompany them.
Tang San stepped onto the Soul Fighting Arena.
His gaze fell on Qian Renxue.
"When did the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team add you?"
Qian Renxue stood at the other end of the Soul Fighting Arena.
"That's none of your concern."
Tang San looked at the six teammates behind her.
They had not released their Martial Souls.
Every one of them had already retreated to the edge of the Soul Fighting Arena.
"You intend to take on all seven of us alone?"
"To deal with you lot."
"I alone am enough."
Dai Mubai stepped forward.
His Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul had already begun possessing him.
"Big words."
"Once the match starts, I'll make you regret standing here."
Qian Renxue did not look at him.
Her gaze remained on Tang San.
The Soul Power within Tang San was not weak.
His Blue Silver Grass had been strengthened by immortal-grade medicinal herbs.
The Clear Sky Hammer was also hidden within his left hand.
The External Soul Bone, Eight Spider Lances, lay against his back.
All these fortuitous gains were enough to let him defeat ordinary Soul Ancestors.
But before a rank eighty-one Soul Douluo, they meant nothing.
The announcer raised his right hand.
"Both sides, get ready."
Tang San raised his hand and released his Blue Silver Grass.
Two yellow, one purple, and one black.
Four Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet.
The moment the black fourth Soul Ring appeared, a commotion immediately broke out in the stands.
"A ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring!"
"Tang San of Shrek Academy actually absorbed a ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Ring!"
Tang San ignored his surroundings.
He stared intently at Qian Renxue.
"Move."
Dai Mubai unleashed White Tiger Vajra Transformation.
Zhu Zhuqing entered Martial Soul Possession.
Oscar distributed the sausages he had prepared in advance.
Xiao Wu lowered her body.
Her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul had finished possessing her.
The two temporary teammates also released their Soul Rings.
The seven formed a complete formation.
Qian Renxue still stood where she was.
She did not draw the Angel Holy Sword.
The announcer's hand dropped sharply.
"Begin!"
The fourth Soul Ring beneath Tang San's feet immediately lit up.
"Fourth Soul Skill."
"Blue Silver Cage!"
A mass of Blue Silver Grass burst up from beneath the Soul Fighting Arena.
Tough vines rapidly closed around Qian Renxue.
Dai Mubai charged forward right behind them.
White Tiger Fierce Light Wave was already gathering in his mouth.
Zhu Zhuqing's figure skimmed close to the ground.
She approached Qian Renxue from the other side.
Xiao Wu circled around behind her.
The four coordinated without pause.
Qian Renxue raised her eyes.
A ray of golden light spread from beneath her feet.
The Blue Silver Cage turned to ash on the spot.
Before Dai Mubai could release the White Tiger Fierce Light Wave in his mouth, golden divine light had already struck his chest.
Bang!
Dai Mubai flew backward.
His White Tiger Protection Barrier shattered completely.
The bones in his chest caved inward.
His body slammed into a stone pillar at the edge of the Soul Fighting Arena, and blood poured from his mouth.
Dai Mubai tried to stand again, but his limbs had already lost their strength.
Qian Renxue raised one finger.
A second ray of golden light pierced the space between his brows.
His Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul vanished with it.
Dai Mubai's body collapsed beside the stone pillar.
"Boss Dai!"
Oscar ran a step forward.
Tang San immediately raised his arm.
"Don't go over there!"
Qian Renxue was already in front of Oscar.
No one had seen how she moved.
Oscar still held a Recovery Sausage in his hand, and his three Soul Rings kept revolving.
"I surrender!"
Oscar turned to look at the host.
"Shrek Academy surrenders!"
A golden palm landed on the top of his head.
His Soul Power and mind were erased simultaneously by sacred power.
Oscar's knees hit the ground first.
Then his entire body collapsed onto the Soul Fighting Arena.
The host stood in the distance.
His face had already gone pale.
When Zhu Zhuqing saw Dai Mubai fall, her steps paused for an instant.
The next moment.
She continued charging toward Qian Renxue.
Her Nether Civet Martial Soul pushed her speed to its limit.
Dozens of claw shadows descended beside Qian Renxue.
"Netherworld Hundred Claws!"
Qian Renxue raised her left hand.
All the claw shadows stopped in front of her.
Zhu Zhuqing's hands were sealed by golden divine power.
She wanted to retreat.
Qian Renxue had already seized her wrist.
"Since you chose to keep attacking."
"Then stay."
Golden divine power traveled along Zhu Zhuqing's wrist into her body.
Her Nether Civet Martial Soul let out a mournful cry.
Four Soul Rings shattered one after another.
Qian Renxue released her grip.
The black-clad figure fell beside Dai Mubai.
Tang San watched the three who had fallen in succession.
His breathing began to quicken.
This was no Soul Master Tournament at all.
Their opponent had come specifically for Shrek Academy.
"Xiao Wu!"
"Get off the Soul Fighting Arena!"
Xiao Wu did not retreat.
She came to Tang San's side.
"Brother, I won't leave."
Tang San raised his hand to block her.
"Her cultivation has reached at least Soul Saint."
"We're no match for her."
Qian Renxue walked slowly forward.
The first Soul Ring beneath her feet finally appeared.
Pitch-black.
It was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Immediately afterward.
The second Soul Ring rose.
It was black as well.
The third.
The fourth.
The fifth.
The sixth.
Six Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings lined up around her.
Her true seventh and Eighth Soul Rings remained hidden.
Yet the pressure from those six black Soul Rings had already enveloped the entire Soul Fighting Arena.
Before you continue