Seeing his level 10 Innate Full Soul Power, Cao Yu nodded in relative satisfaction. These stats were nothing special, but they would do.
A Limit Douluo Experience Card?
"System, is this an experience card for the strongest, level 99 Limit Douluo?"
The system gave no response.
It looked like that was probably the case.
Thirty cards meant thirty chances to use them.
If he played it a little safe, he could make it through his growth period smoothly.
Honestly, Cao Yu had never expected that his name would still be Cao Yu after transmigrating.
It seemed he really did have a fated connection with the Cao family.
Perhaps his ancestor was watching over him from heaven.
Wait!
An idea suddenly came to Cao Yu. Could the Cao family on this Douluo Continent also be related by blood to his ancestor in his original world?
Given his ancestor's proclivities, that was very possible!
Before long, Cao Yu's little belly began to rumble. Perhaps he was hungry.
The woman gently cradled him in her arms, and his infant instincts made him nuzzle closer.
Late that night.
The man stayed outside the room, tending to his wife. She had only recently given birth and was still weak, so there were times when she could not manage everything alone.
He could have left all these things to the servants, but he could never quite rest easy.
The cries of crows rang out in the dead of night. The man raised his head and sensed a disturbance coming from Star Luo City.
It was a thick scent of blood!
"Such powerful Soul Power fluctuations!" the man exclaimed.
"Go see what's happening."
"Yes, family head."
A figure flashed past nearby, vanishing into the boundless night.
The man gazed toward Star Luo City with a grave expression. He could not shake the unease in his heart.
Star Luo City, city center.
Black mist shrouded the sky above the city. An intensely chaotic, evil presence filled its center, jolting many sleeping residents awake.
"Keh, keh, keh!"
"Scorpion Tiger Douluo, what brings you here to join the fun?"
"Elder Blood Crow, I, Zhang Peng, am not a member of your Holy Spirit Cult. You have no authority over me."
"Zhang Peng! Aren't you just throwing your weight around because you have a little ability?"
"Blood Crow, I've long found you an eyesore. Whether I have any ability is something you'll only know after trying me."
Two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings rapidly rose from beneath Zhang Peng's feet. As the nine Soul Rings pulsed, the terrifying presence of a Titled Douluo erupted again and again.
The spire beneath his feet shook ever more violently. With a deafening crack, the tower crumbled from top to bottom, finally becoming a heap of rubble.
Yet he remained suspended in the air.
"You've already reached level 95?"
"What do you think?"
Sensing Zhang Peng's Soul Power fluctuations, Blood Crow Douluo inwardly lamented his plight. According to the information he had obtained, Zhang Peng was already close to joining the ranks of level 96 Super Douluos.
The information really was true!
How was he supposed to fight this?
Blood Crow Douluo had only just become a level 92 Titled Douluo. Their strength was not even on the same plane.
"We're both Evil Soul Masters. Why fight and kill each other? I, Blood Crow, won't say anything more. As long as we can find the treasure that appeared this time, I'll present it to you with both hands. What do you think, Lord Zhang?"
"Where did that purple Qi and golden light disappear?"
Before Blood Crow Douluo could answer, a Holy Spirit Cult follower beside him stepped forward.
"Right here in Star Luo City. Some family most likely absorbed it."
"Then go find it!"
"Yes, Elder!"
The followers beside Blood Crow Douluo vanished in the blink of an eye. Among them were thirty Soul Saint-level Evil Soul Masters, eleven Soul Douluos, and two newly advanced Titled Douluos.
Zhang Peng gave them a disdainful glance. Even all of them together would not be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth!
Did they really think the level difference was there for show?
This Blood Crow really was a coward, backing down every time he could not win. If the Holy Emperor had not been backing him, Zhang Peng would have slapped him dead long ago.
"Let's wait. With such a big commotion, those old fellows should be here soon."
Shortly after Zhang Peng spoke, four or five Soul Masters with powerful presences appeared in the distance.
In the sky, one man declared in a ringing voice, "I am Cheng Gang, Guardian Douluo of the Star Luo Empire. Blood Crow Douluo, Scorpion Tiger Douluo, if you know what's good for you, I advise you to leave at once!"
As he spoke, they advanced a few steps, their imposing presence suddenly surging. Nine terrifying Soul Rings appeared around each of them. Their powerful Soul Power gathered together, making even the air begin to warp.
"You think you're enough? Cheng Gang, you were still playing in the mud when I received my title. And now you talk so big?"
"Keh, keh, keh! Mysterious Water, Hollow Bamboo, Heavenly Water Douluo, long time no see."
"Enough nonsense. If you want to fight, then fight!"
"Martial Soul Avatar!"
Zhang Peng brought his hands together before his chest, and his nine Soul Rings shone with dazzling light in turn.
In an instant, the entire space seemed to collapse.
Zhang Peng's body abruptly swelled, transforming in the blink of an eye into a giant black tiger over fifteen meters long.
"Roar!!"
A fierce tiger's roar spread in every direction.
Boom!
The giant black tiger's hind legs suddenly propelled it forward. The surrounding black Qi continually transformed into Soul Beasts of various shapes, which swiftly lunged toward Cheng Gang and the others.
"Keh, keh, keh!"
Ancestor Blood Crow did not lag behind either. With a strange cry from him, a flock of crows appeared in the sky, carrying a thick, dark presence.
His Martial Soul Avatar was a Tomb Nether Blood Crow, which specifically fed on corpses to increase his Soul Power.
"Ant Emperor Avatar!"
Cheng Gang roared, and his enormous mandibles abruptly slashed down.
Bang!
The next instant, the giant ant and black tiger collided.
Amid the violent collision, Cheng Gang's Ant Emperor Avatar retreated several steps, then a savage force suddenly surged toward him.
The giant ant was forcibly driven back, leaving Cheng Gang astonished.
"Hahaha! Cheng Gang, although your Martial Soul excels at strength and is invincible at the same level, you're still far too green!"
"You've already reached level 96?"
"Take a guess."
Cheng Gang's eyes widened in fury, his face filled with disbelief.
Seeing the battle taking a bad turn, Mysterious Water and Hollow Bamboo Douluo immediately came to his aid.
Meanwhile, Blood Crow Douluo exchanged blows with Heavenly Water Douluo. That strange black Qi kept entangling the latter, preventing Heavenly Water Douluo from breaking free.
Zhang Peng looked at the three men in midair and declared:
"Then let me see just how much the three of you really weigh!"
His enormous tiger tail lashed out, a sharp scorpion stinger at its tip.
Boom!
Zhang Peng charged straight at them.
"Protect the Land with the Cauldron!"
"One Leaf Blocks the Eye! Martial Soul Avatar!"
A bronze cauldron three or four zhang tall and one zhang wide blocked Zhang Peng's path.
Immediately afterward, golden bamboo rain fell from the sky. Bamboo leaves carrying fierce sword intent formed a trapping and killing formation, surrounding Zhang Peng.
The corner of Zhang Peng's eye twitched.
He moved, pinned down Cheng Gang as he attempted a sneak attack, and opened his gaping maw, biting down on the back of his neck.
Bang!
The giant ant slammed into the bronze cauldron, the immense force driving Mysterious Water Douluo back.
Pfft!
Their blood churned, and blood trickled from the corners of both Cheng Gang's and Mysterious Water Douluo's mouths.
Across their two exchanges, Cheng Gang and the others had clearly been getting the worst of it.
By contrast, Scorpion Tiger Douluo Zhang Peng had suffered only superficial injuries and was otherwise fine.
Still, the combined efforts of three Titled Douluos had finally managed to barely hold Zhang Peng in check.
However, as a highly esteemed guardian master of the Star Luo Empire, Heavenly Water Douluo's strength was clearly beyond question.
Blood Crow Douluo had shifted from his initial offensive to a defensive stance. He was struggling to cope, his opponent's strength clearly exceeding his expectations.
Signs of defeat began to show.
As long as Heavenly Water Douluo could break free, the scales of victory in this battle would tip toward the Star Luo Empire.
(End of chapter)