Chrysanthemum Douluo plants chrysanthemums, the Great Luo Heavenly Domain's Nine Kings revealed!

At the sight, Yue Guan's back was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

The power that burly man had unleashed just now was certainly no weaker than that of a Soul Douluo expert on the Douluo Continent.

Yet even that strength had failed to meet the minimum threshold for the Great Luo Heavenly Domain's first trial!

"This is terrifying..."

Even Yue Guan's hand, with its fingers held in an orchid gesture, trembled slightly.

He was beginning to wonder how many streaks of light the Soul Power he took such pride in could actually illuminate on this wretched stone.

"Hey, mister."

Just as Yue Guan was inwardly beating a retreat, a soft, sweet voice came from beside him.

The little girl in the black dress tilted her head up at the sweating Yue Guan, innocent puzzlement appearing on her delicate little face.

"Didn't you say you'd take me inside to feast on fine food and drink?"

"It's almost our turn. You're not scared, are you?"

At the little girl's faintly teasing words, Yue Guan's proud old face instantly flushed scarlet.

Accustomed to throwing his weight around the Douluo Continent, how could he stand being looked at that way by a little child?

"Ridiculous! Me, afraid?"

Yue Guan gritted his teeth and forced himself to give a cold snort.

"Little girl, just stay back here and watch."

"Today, I'll show you what a true genius looks like!"

With that, Yue Guan drew a deep breath, summoned every bit of Soul Power in his body, and strode out of the crowd toward the black Spirit Testing Stone with his head high and chest out.

Behind him, the little girl in the black dress stood quietly in place.

As she watched his retreating figure, which looked as though he were marching bravely to his execution, the curve of her lips grew more pronounced.

Yue Guan drew a deep breath and approached the black stone step by step.

The surrounding gazes fell on his golden armor, most of them eager for a show.

Standing before the enormous stone, Yue Guan stretched out both hands and pressed them against its cold surface.

He clenched his teeth, and his rank-ninety-five Soul Power surged out like a rushing river.

Light up!

Yue Guan roared inwardly.

As he exerted his strength, the phantom of a golden chrysanthemum slowly appeared behind him.

A rich floral fragrance instantly spread across the square.

At the bottom of the black stone, a speck of white light appeared.

Then the white light began climbing upward.

The first luminous marking lit up.

The second luminous marking lit up as well.

As the white light surged toward the third marking, its speed noticeably slowed.

Sweat slid down Yue Guan's forehead and cheeks.

He felt as though this stone was about to drain all the power from his body.

Move! Keep going up...

He screamed desperately inside, straining with every ounce of strength he had.

Finally, a second before the white light went out, the third marking gave a faint hum and barely lit up.

The light was dim, but it had indeed appeared.

The attendant beside him glanced at the Spirit Testing Stone, then at the golden chrysanthemum phantom behind Yue Guan.

"Barely a pass."

The attendant's voice rang across the square, carrying a measure of indifference.

Hearing those words, Yue Guan let out a long, stale breath, his entire body seemingly drained.

Although the process had been rather embarrassing, he had at least passed.

The attendant took out a wooden token and casually scratched a few strokes onto it.

"Your power seems inclined toward plants. Your combat strength is mediocre, but you should be quite good at cultivating plants."

"Our Outer Sect's Spirit Medicine Garden happens to need someone for odd jobs."

"Take this token and report to the garden on the rear mountain."

"From now on, you'll be responsible for growing chrysanthemums there. Do well, and you'll at least earn your meals."

Growing... chrysanthemums?

Hearing this assignment, Yue Guan could not stop the corners of his mouth from twitching twice.

He was a dignified elder of Spirit Hall, a mighty figure who could summon wind and rain on the Douluo Continent. Who out in the world did not respectfully address him as Chrysanthemum Douluo?

Yet here in the Great Luo Heavenly Domain, after exhausting the strength of nine oxen and two tigers to pass the test, he had actually been assigned to grow flowers and do odd jobs?

The gulf was simply too great.

But on second thought, that burly man had been driven away without even reaching the passing mark.

Being allowed to stay meant he had at least latched onto a powerful backer.

So be it, then. Growing flowers was better than losing his life outside.

Yue Guan wiped the sweat from his forehead and accepted the wooden token.

He turned toward the little girl still standing behind the crowd and resumed his earlier manner as an elder.

Walking up to her, he held up the wooden token and waved it.

"See that, little girl?"

"I'm now a member of the Great Luo Heavenly Domain."

A smug smile spread across Yue Guan's face.

"You don't seem to have any Spiritual Energy at all. You'll never pass this test."

"Just go up and touch the stone. When the attendant tries to drive you away, I'll step in and vouch for you."

"I'll take you to the rear mountain to grow flowers with me. At least you'll have somewhere to settle down and make a living. How about it?"

Watching Yue Guan's self-satisfied manner, a flicker of the urge to laugh passed through the little girl's dark-golden eyes.

She raised a little hand and straightened her wind-tousled hair.

"Sure."

The little girl nodded obediently.

Then she stepped forward on her bare feet and slowly walked toward the Spirit Testing Stone.

Seeing this little girl walk onto the platform without even wearing shoes, the waiting crowd immediately erupted in laughter.

"Whose little girl got lost?"

"Does the Great Luo Heavenly Domain let just anyone take the test now?"

"Hurry down. Stop wasting time up there."

The little girl acted as though she heard none of the mockery around her.

The attendant beside her also frowned, his face full of impatience.

"Where did this little child come from? Go away. This isn't a place for you to play."

Ignoring him, the little girl walked straight up to the black stone.

Compared to the stone, which stood over a dozen zhang tall, her body was as tiny as an ant.

She tilted her head back and looked up at the cold stone overhead.

Then she slowly reached out a fair little hand and casually pressed it against the stone's surface.

The instant her little hand touched the stone-

There was no need to grit her teeth and exert herself like Yue Guan, nor to release any fluctuations of Spiritual Energy.

Boom!

An enormous, muffled crash suddenly came from inside the solid stone.

Immediately afterward, a dazzling light erupted from its base.

The first luminous marking.

The second luminous marking.

The third luminous marking.

Then, like a wild horse freed from its reins, the light raced upward completely unchecked, at a speed that made people's scalps prickle.

In the blink of an eye, all the dozen or so markings on the stone's surface lit up at once!

And it did not stop there. After reaching the top, the originally white light instantly transformed into a deep, dark gold.

Crack!

The next second, a faint cracking sound rang through the quiet square.

The impatience on the attendant's face instantly froze.

His eyes widened as he stared at the stone as though he had seen a ghost.

On the surface of that Spirit Testing Stone, reputedly capable of withstanding a Supreme Realm expert's full-powered strike-

Cracks spread like a spiderweb from the little girl's palm!

At the sound, the wrist of the attendant recording the results with a brush jerked violently. His ink-laden brush clattered to the ground, splashing drops of black ink.

The crowd, who had been enjoying the spectacle and waiting for this barefoot girl to embarrass herself, now looked as though their throats had all been seized at once.

All the mocking laughter stopped abruptly.

Every gaze rested on the cracks spreading like a spiderweb across the enormous black stone.

This was a Spirit Testing Stone!

A formation cornerstone capable of withstanding even a Supreme Realm expert's full-powered strike.

And now a little girl who looked barely ten and did not even wear shoes had cracked it simply by casually laying her hand on it?

Beyond the Sky Screen, on the Douluo Continent.

Inside the Pope's Hall in Spirit City, the atmosphere suddenly grew rather awkward.

Bibi Dong had been leaning against her chair, a proud smile for her own Titled Douluo still on her face.

But when she saw the cracked Spirit Testing Stone, her smile instantly froze.

The Red-Clothed Cardinals standing below exchanged glances, then lowered their heads, afraid of provoking the pope's displeasure at such a moment.

"Wh-what kind of monster is this little girl?"

Ghost Douluo Gui Mei swallowed, his old face burning beneath his mask.

He had just confidently declared that Yue Guan would pass easily, while the little girl would not even reach the threshold.

And the result?

Yue Guan had unleashed all his rank-ninety-five Soul Power and strained with every ounce of strength he had, only barely lighting three markings to pass.

This little girl had not even taken a heavy breath before smashing the stone.

The comparison had practically hurled Spirit Hall's dignity into outer space.

In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Main Hall, Ning Fengzhi unkindly laughed aloud.

He shook his head, picked up the fresh tea on the table, and took a sip, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"Chrysanthemum Douluo has truly made an enormous fool of himself this time."

"He's so accustomed to swaggering around the Douluo Continent that he actually thinks any child he picks up by the roadside must be someone weak who needs his protection."

Beside him, Bone Douluo stroked his chin, a sharp gleam passing through his eyes.

"Sect Master, doesn't this little girl's manner seem somewhat familiar?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded.

"Indeed."

"Wasn't that little girl Lin Jing in the screen earlier just as innocent-looking?"

"And the person backing her was the matriarch of the Martial Realm!"

"The Great Thousand World's foremost families seem to like letting their youngsters wander out to experience life."

Such talent, such deep foundations.

None but ancient God Clans or super sects with legacies spanning millions upon millions of years could possibly nurture someone like this.

"And that Yue Guan shamelessly declared he wanted to take her as his disciple and protect her."

"What a strutting clown who has no idea how close he is to death."

"If he angers the elders of the family behind this girl, they could crush the entire Spirit Hall to dust with a single finger."

Within the Sky Screen's image.

The silence in the square lasted quite some time.

Once the attendant came to his senses, his attitude toward the little girl instantly took a complete turn.

He did not even dare speak loudly, merely bowing at the waist with a fawning smile covering his face.

"Young... esteemed lady."

The attendant wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his tone as gentle as could be.

"With your talent, even in our Great Luo Heavenly Domain's Inner Sect, you'd be a genius seen only once in ten thousand years."

"Might you be interested in accompanying me directly to meet the Inner Sect elders? Just say the word, and becoming an Inner Sect disciple, or even a personal disciple, would be no trouble at all!"

Hearing this, everyone around looked at the little girl with envy.

Entering the Inner Sect directly! Even becoming a personal disciple!

This was ascending to heaven in a single step, something countless people would not dare imagine even in their dreams.

Yet the little girl in the black dress had no interest whatsoever in the grand promises the attendant painted for her.

She simply withdrew her soft, fair little hand and brushed the dust from her skirt.

Then she turned her head, stretched out a slender finger, and pointed straight at Yue Guan, who was still standing dazed among the crowd.

"I'm not going to any Inner Sect."

The little girl's voice was soft and sweet.

"That uncle promised he'd take me to the back mountain to grow flowers."

"I'm going with him."

Boom!

The instant she said that, everyone's eyes converged on Yue Guan in unison like searchlights.

Yue Guan's scalp prickled, and his legs went weak. He nearly dropped onto his backside.

He felt like crying now.

He had thought he had picked up a pitiful stray cat and planned to keep her for company in a foreign land.

Who could have imagined that this was no stray cat at all, but clearly a Tyrant Dragon wearing a cat's skin!

Facing the deacon's complicated gaze, filled with bewilderment and awe, Yue Guan could only brace himself, force a smile uglier than crying, and nod stiffly.

A few days later.

The Spirit Medicine Garden on the back mountain of the Great Luo Heavenly Domain's Outer Sect.

The surroundings here were quite pleasant, with all manner of spiritual plants giving off exotic floral fragrances covering the mountains and fields.

Dressed in coarse hemp clothing, Yue Guan crouched beside a row of flowers, a small hoe in hand, carefully loosening the soil around a golden spiritual chrysanthemum.

As it turned out, he really did have a knack for this farmwork.

After all, his Martial Soul was a chrysanthemum, and he knew the habits of these flowers and plants like the back of his hand.

Meanwhile, beneath a large tree not far away.

The little girl in the black dress sat on the thick trunk, swinging her smooth bare legs and crunching away at a Spiritual Fruit she had swiped from someone else's medicinal herb field.

After working for a while, Yue Guan straightened his back and wiped away his sweat.

Over these past few days together, he had discovered that although the little girl's talent was frighteningly high, she ordinarily did little besides eat and drink, and she did not seem to have any of a spoiled young lady's bad temper.

That let Yue Guan's anxious heart settle a little.

Just then, a hunched old man in gray clothes walked over carrying a bucket.

The old man's surname was Ma. He was the steward of this Spirit Medicine Garden and was generally fairly amiable toward others.

Seeing him, Yue Guan quickly put down his hoe and went to meet him.

"Brother Ma, let me carry that for you."

Yue Guan took the bucket, then slipped a small paper packet out of his robe and pressed it into Steward Ma's hand.

It contained some rustic tea he had improvised and roasted himself, using a little spice he had brought from the Douluo Continent along with the spiritual herbs here.

Steward Ma squeezed the paper packet and caught its refreshing fragrance. A satisfied smile appeared on his wrinkled old face.

"You new old rascal, you certainly know how to handle yourself."

Steward Ma sat down on a nearby stone stool, unfastened a tobacco pipe from his waist, and took a couple of puffs.

Yue Guan took the opportunity to draw closer and sit on a small folding stool beside him, lowering his voice.

"Brother Ma, I've only just arrived, and I still don't really understand the rules of our Great Luo Heavenly Domain."

"You've worked here for so many years, you must have seen and heard a great deal."

"Could you give me the inside word on exactly which important figures in our Great Luo Heavenly Domain I mustn't offend?"

"That way, when I go out to work, I can steer clear of them and avoid offending anyone important."

Yue Guan had phrased his questions very cleverly.

He understood well the principle that knowing yourself and your enemy meant victory in a hundred battles.

To live safely within this colossal entity, he had to get a clear picture of the sect's power structure.

Steward Ma exhaled a wisp of blue smoke and glanced sideways at Yue Guan.

"You've asked the right person."

"Here in the Great Luo Heavenly Domain, Outer Sect disciples are as plentiful as hairs on an ox, and Inner Sect disciples number in the thousands upon thousands too."

"But the ones who truly hold power, who can make the Tianluo Continent tremble three times with a single stamp of their foot, are those great figures invested as kings and generals."

At this point, Steward Ma tapped his pipe bowl against the sole of his shoe, his voice carrying profound reverence.

"Listen carefully."

"Our Great Luo Heavenly Domain governs tens of thousands of large cities."

"And above those cities, ruling over their respective territories, are the renowned Nine Kings!"

"The Asura King, the Blood Eagle King, the Mountain Splitting King..."