Gu Yuena nodded lightly.
"Judging by its origin alone, it was already no weaker than an ordinary god-level martial soul."
"The Heavenly Dao also repaired the flaws in his divine body."
"After the Nine-Headed Bat King parasitized him for so many years, Tang Chen's divine body was already close to a lamp running out of oil."
"Even if he regained control of his body, he might not have lived much longer."
"Now things are different."
"The Million-Year Soul Ring replenished his life origin."
"The Ancestor Tai Tan Right Arm Bone strengthened his divine body."
"Martial soul evolution also completely fused the Clear Sky Hammer with his divine body."
"He didn't just regain his sanity."
"He returned to his peak condition as well."
A flicker of shock crossed Di Tian's eyes.
A reward from the Heavenly Dao could restore a dying Peerless Douluo to his peak.
Such power was already beyond what an ordinary deity could possess.
Xiong Jun looked toward the Sky Screen.
"My lord, if you make the ranking, will the Heavenly Dao heal your injuries?"
The Myriad Demon King and Bi Ji both looked at Gu Yuena.
After the Dragon God fell, Gu Yuena inherited a portion of his power.
She had fled to the Douluo Continent with grievous injuries, and even after sleeping for many years, she had yet to recover completely.
If the Heavenly Dao's rewards could reshape origins, Gu Yuena would have a chance to recover her former power.
Gu Yuena raised her slender hand.
A wisp of silver divine power flowed around her fingertips.
"Tang Chen's injuries were far less severe than mine."
"However, since the Heavenly Dao can reshape a martial soul origin, it may also be able to repair a god-level origin."
Her purple eyes settled on the ranking again.
With Gu Yuena's current strength, making the Powerhouse Ranking would not be difficult.
The real question was where she would rank.
The higher the rank, the more precious the reward.
If she received a sufficiently powerful Heavenly Dao reward, she could not only recover from her injuries but also complete the origin the Dragon God had left behind.
Gu Yuena slowly curled her fingers.
The silver divine power disappeared into her palm.
"Perhaps we can reclaim what the dragon race lost."
Di Tian and the many ferocious beasts lowered their heads.
They had waited far too long for this day.
Gu Yuena looked toward the golden Sky Screen.
"Keep waiting."
"Our turn will come soon."
Heaven Dou City.
Inside the hotel where the Shrek group was temporarily staying.
Ma Hongjun leaned over the windowsill, his eyes fixed on the Million-Year Soul Ring behind Tang Chen.
"Another Million-Year Soul Ring."
"And martial soul evolution, too."
"If the Heavenly Dao were willing to evolve my Evil Fire Phoenix just once, I could definitely turn into a true Fire Phoenix!"
Oscar leaned against the edge of the table.
"Make the ranking first, then talk."
Ma Hongjun turned around.
"I'm still young. It's perfectly normal that I don't qualify for the Powerhouse Ranking."
"Give me a few more decades. Who would dare say I can't become a Titled Douluo?"
Dai Mubai folded his arms across his chest.
He did not mock Ma Hongjun.
The Shrek Seven Devils all possessed talent far beyond that of ordinary soul masters.
All they lacked was time to grow.
If the ranking appeared a few decades later, they might well qualify.
Tang San watched the Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Chen's hand.
Black light slowly gathered in his left palm.
A small Clear Sky Hammer appeared.
As someone who also possessed the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul, Tang San could clearly sense just how powerful the evolved Clear Sky Hammer was.
If my Clear Sky Hammer could evolve too...
Tang San withdrew his martial soul and did not pursue the thought.
The Powerhouse Ranking only considered the present.
He was still far from becoming a Titled Douluo.
Flender pushed up his glasses.
"The Heavenly Dao's reward for Bibi Dong was different from Tang Chen's."
"One received a divine artifact, while the other received martial soul evolution."
"It seems the rewards aren't fixed."
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back.
"Exactly."
"The Heavenly Dao distributes the rewards best suited to those on the ranking based on their martial souls, bodies, and cultivation paths."
"Bibi Dong is undergoing the Rakshasa God's inheritance, so she received the Rakshasa Demon Halberd."
"Tang Chen reached the Peerless Douluo realm with his Clear Sky Hammer, so his martial soul is his most powerful weapon."
"Rather than bestowing a divine artifact on him, it was better to evolve the Clear Sky Hammer itself."
Yu Xiaogang looked toward the Sky Screen, his gaze growing increasingly fervent.
If I could make the ranking too, what would the Heavenly Dao bestow on me?
His martial soul was Luo Sanpao.
His innate soul power was only half a level.
Being unable to break through level thirty in his lifetime was the deepest regret in his heart.
The Heavenly Dao could help Tang Chen evolve his Clear Sky Hammer.
Naturally, it might also help Luo Sanpao evolve.
Yu Xiaogang's breathing quickened a little.
"If I could receive a martial soul evolution reward..."
"Luo Sanpao might transform into the Golden Sacred Dragon."
"The problem of my insufficient innate soul power could be resolved at the same time."
Ma Hongjun immediately asked:
"Grandmaster, do you have a chance of making the ranking too?"
The room fell silent.
The Powerhouse Ranking listed the continent's ten strongest individuals.
Yu Xiaogang was only level twenty-nine.
The gulf between the two was simply too vast.
Flender gave a dry cough.
"Xiaogang was just giving an example."
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened slightly.
He did not mention making the ranking again.
Even if his theories stood unrivaled across the continent, the Heavenly Dao would not count theory as strength.
Yet the first ranking to open had to be the Powerhouse Ranking.
Oscar spread his hands.
"All we can do now is watch other people receive rewards."
"That's the hardest part."
Dai Mubai snorted coldly.
"When the Soul Master Tournament begins, we'll be able to prove ourselves too."
"Titled Douluos aren't born that way."
"As long as we have enough resources, our cultivation won't be slower than anyone else's."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang looked at the group again.
"Resources are precisely what I wanted to discuss next."
"We were already planning to go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy tomorrow."
"There's a special cultivation site there."
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up.
"A special cultivation site?"
Tang San also looked at Yu Xiaogang.
"Teacher, what sort of place is it?"
Yu Xiaogang walked to the window.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy lay in the direction of the distant mountains.
"The Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda."
Ning Rongrong sat on the edge of the bed.
Upon hearing those words, she immediately pressed her slender hand against the front of her clothes.
The Ancient Bronze Small Tower she kept close to her body was radiating a gentle warmth.
Oscar hurriedly asked:
"What is that?"
Yu Xiaogang spoke slowly.
"A legend has long circulated across the Douluo Continent."
"Several hundred years ago, a deity left an Ancient Tower outside Heaven Dou City."
"The Ancient Tower is entirely black and yellow, with a self-contained space inside."
"Soul masters who enter it to cultivate can accelerate the circulation of their soul power and temper their soul power foundations."
"Later, the Heaven Dou Empire built an academy around the Ancient Tower."
"That is today's Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
Ma Hongjun immediately straightened.
"So that means we can enter that tower tomorrow?"
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"As long as we can stay at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, you'll have a chance to qualify to enter the Heaven-Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda."
"The energy of heaven and earth gathered there far exceeds that of the outside world."
"One day of cultivation in the tower might equal several days outside."
Anticipation appeared on the faces of the Shrek group.
Tang San's gaze changed as well.
An Ancient Tower left behind by a deity.
If he could cultivate inside it, his soul power would surely increase faster.
Before you continue