The Dragon-Tiger Ranking was about to open!

...Zhu Zhuqing was still hard at her studies...

At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong was thinking over a cultivation method with her eyes closed: Master said before leaving that if I failed when he tested my studies after returning, he might really give me a sound beating. But the main thing is, it's not that I don't want to work hard right now, Master.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe sat beside her, holding a cup and sipping tea with a smile. "Miss Rongrong, how much longer will your master be before he returns?"

"Didn't I tell you? Master will definitely return before the Dragon-Tiger Ranking is released, at the latest."

Xue Qinghe smiled faintly. "But the Dragon-Tiger Ranking has already been released."

Ning Rongrong was suddenly startled at his words.

[This week's Dragon-Tiger Ranking theme is level zero.]

[All contestants will fight one another with level-zero soul power. The victor reigns supreme.]

[This week's Dragon-Tiger Ranking rule is no killing.]

[There will be nine winners in total. The nine winners will receive corresponding soul power level increases ranging from 9 to 1.]

[Registration for contestants interested in participating in this week's Dragon-Tiger Ranking closes this Tuesday.]

The Douluo Continent erupted into an uproar once again over the words on the sky screen.

This time, however, it was not because the rewards offered by the Dragon-Tiger Ranking were too tempting, but because they were simply too meager.

At the Heaven Dou Imperial Soul Master Academy, Dugu Yan curled her lips disdainfully. "One level of soul power? What's that good for? An ordinary person who cultivates diligently for a year can gain at least a level or two. You'd have to get at least five levels for it to be worth much."

Dugu Bo, however, looked solemn. "Gaining one level of soul power might seem easy to you now, but once you reach my level, even ten years might not be enough to cultivate another level."

"Impossible, impossible. Grandpa, how could you be competing on the same ranking as us?"

Dugu Bo smiled cheerfully. "Who knows? Look, the Dragon-Tiger Ranking never said there were any level restrictions for participants."

Dugu Yan's little face instantly went deathly pale.

Tell me, with neither side having any soul power, could I beat a Titled Douluo?

Absolutely impossible!

Titled Douluo did not overwhelm others with soul power alone. Every Titled Douluo had considerable physical strength. Even with her soul power intact, she would not dare claim she could defeat a Titled Douluo relying purely on their body.

Dugu Yan instantly despaired. "Then doesn't that mean only Titled Douluo can win this Dragon-Tiger Ranking? We can only watch."

"Not necessarily."

Dugu Bo leisurely hummed a tune. "I've already registered. According to the feedback the Pride of Heaven Ranking gave me, we have to upload our consciousness for the matches. In other words, we can't bring a Titled Douluo's physical strength in with us at all. When the time comes, victory will probably depend solely on our martial skills."

"Then that means I have a chance to beat Grandpa too."

Dugu Bo turned a penetrating gaze on her, and Dugu Yan realized she had spoken her thoughts aloud. "Grandpa, this is all a misunderstanding. I was just saying it casually."

"Oh, so it was a misunderstanding. Grandpa will take you to practice some fighting techniques later and give you a little warm-up."

...Zhu Zhuqing was still hard at her studies...

At the Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City, several Titled Douluo were likewise watching the requirements for entering the Dragon-Tiger Ranking appear on the sky screen.

Level-zero soul power. Bibi Dong had almost forgotten what she had been like when she had level-zero soul power.

But most importantly, Bibi Dong looked at the description on the sky screen. "This week's Dragon-Tiger Ranking. In other words, there will be another Dragon-Tiger Ranking next week."

"That should be the case, though next week might not have these same rules."

At that moment, only Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo were seated at Bibi Dong's table.

Most of the people in the great hall were gathered around another table instead.

Dai Mubai sat beside Hu Liena, followed by Yan, whose eyes were practically shooting sparks, while Xie Yue, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar sat on the other side of the table.

As for Flender and Zhao Wuji, neither could be seen in the great hall.

"The Dragon-Tiger Ranking rewards at most nine levels of soul power. Compared with the previous soul bones and spirit gel, these rewards are rather..."

"Chicken ribs."

Chrysanthemum Douluo supplied the final words. "But for us Titled Douluo, they clearly hold extraordinary significance. After all, every level of soul power takes us at least ten years of arduous cultivation. Those without enough talent might not gain even one level in their entire lives."

Ghost Douluo nodded. "Then doesn't that mean this week's Dragon-Tiger Ranking was set up specifically for us Titled Douluo?"

"Not necessarily."

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo turned to look, only to discover that the speaker was actually Dai Mubai at the neighboring table.

This junior dared interrupt a conversation between Titled Douluo?

Ghost Douluo let out a sinister cackle. Oscar's face went white with fright, and he quietly warned from the side, "Boss Dai, those are Titled Douluo."

Beside him, however, Hu Liena's eyes shone. As expected of the man I chose.

Chrysanthemum Yue Guan spoke. "Young fellow, what insights do you have about the Dragon-Tiger Ranking?"

A Titled Douluo's pressure poured down. Dai Mubai swayed and nearly fell, but he forced himself to keep speaking. "I've already registered for this week's Dragon-Tiger Ranking. According to the ranking's feedback, participants will enter as consciousness entities to fight. Without soul power or physical advantages, even Titled Douluo probably won't be able to defeat that many people."

Hearing this, Chrysanthemum Yue Guan immediately withdrew his pressure. "Then we'll be entering the Dragon-Tiger Ranking as completely ordinary people. Your Holiness, why don't we simply have all the ordinary soldiers under Spirit Hall register and help us fight to the death? They won't actually die even if they lose, anyway."

Dai Mubai shook his head again. "That probably won't be possible either. Although there are no restrictions on the levels of soul masters who register, they must at least be soul masters with innate soul power. Ordinary soldiers can't register at all."

At this, Chrysanthemum Yue Guan's brows knitted tightly. "In other words, we can only rely on ourselves. Now even Titled Douluo can't claim to be certain of victory, can they? We might even be mobbed to death by obscure little ordinary soul masters."

"In that case, it would be inappropriate for me to enter. I am already a level-99 Limit Douluo, with no further room to advance. If I lost, it would only damage Spirit Hall's reputation."

"Rest assured, Master. I'll enter in your place and definitely become the final victor."

"Good, that's the spirit you need. All right, everyone else, prepare for battle. Ma Hongjun, come here in a moment."

...Zhu Zhuqing was being scolded for her poor comprehension...

At the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao and the few remaining elders were gathered together.

"Second Elder, has the handover of the Blacksmith Association been completed?"

"It has, but the people are still ours. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect definitely won't be able to swallow it up anytime soon."

"Very good. Remember, don't oppose them openly, but secretly offer outward obedience while defying them within. Make sure at least seventy percent of the money flows to our Clear Sky Sect."

"Understood."

"All right, let's get down to business. What does everyone think of the Dragon-Tiger Ranking?"

With the Dragon-Tiger Ranking updated on the sky screen, they too had noticed something unusual.

"A ranking everyone on the continent can enter. You won't die if you lose, and winning increases your soul power. Only a fool wouldn't participate."

"Tell the disciples below us that every member of our Clear Sky Sect is to participate!"

"Yes!" ×4

At the edge of the Star Dou Great Forest, Wang Qiye missed his eldest disciple, Ning Rongrong, immensely.

Wasn't this very simple? Why couldn't they learn it? Rongrong had mastered it after casually practicing a few times.

Both Zhu Zhuqings' eyes were filled with grievance. "Master, is it possible that Eldest Senior Sister's comprehension is just too strong?"

"But is her comprehension really that strong? I didn't feel it."

The Zhu Zhuqings nodded. "The Pride of Heaven Ranking said she has nine hearts and nine apertures, with comprehension unmatched under heaven."

Wang Qiye lowered his head in silence.

But the cultivation methods he had handed out had already been simplified.

The Martial Dao Transcendence Plan was a heavy burden with a long road ahead...