Douluo Continent: Simulating Douluo Dalu III: The Legend of the Dragon King, Setting Traps for Tang San

At that moment, Gong Yu spoke to Gong Xi'er again. "Xi'er, detonate the energy rose outside the poison array and let the fragrance disperse on its own. Never mind whether it can attract any more Soul Beasts for now. Regulate your breathing first, and absorb the Soul Ring once you've recovered."

Gong Xi'er nodded, then detonated the energy rose she had created with her Soul Skill. The fragrance around them immediately grew richer. A breeze then swept past, carrying some of the scent slowly into the distance.

Gong Yu waited a while, but no suitable Soul Beasts appeared. Most were thousand-year Soul Beasts, and as the surrounding fragrance gradually faded, they slowly scattered.

Gong Yu then said to the others, "It looks like we won't attract any more Soul Beasts for the time being. I'll go check on the others first."

With that, Gong Yu turned and went in search of Gong Xiao's presence first. She had been the first to absorb a Soul Ring, and nearly two hours had passed. If things had gone smoothly, she should be close to finishing.

When Gong Yu found Gong Xiao, he saw that she had already finished absorbing it. She was now sitting in meditation, consolidating her cultivation and adapting to her Soul Ring.

He then went in search of Gong Lan. She was absorbing the Soul Ring of a twenty-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor, so she probably wouldn't finish that quickly.

Sure enough, when Gong Yu reached Gong Lan's side, he found her still resisting the soul pressure emanating from the Death Spider Emperor Soul Ring. The Eight Spider Lances on her back had all been released.

Eight spider-leg-like appendages were driven deep into the earth, supporting Gong Lan's body like a frame.

Clearly, Gong Lan was diverting the soul pressure, shifting part of it onto her External Soul Bone.

Seeing no sign of pain on Gong Lan's face, Gong Yu knew that the twenty-thousand-year Soul Ring posed no danger to her, so he left.

He also checked on Gong Yue and Gong Miaomiao. Both were absorbing their Soul Rings in an orderly manner.

Gong Yue appeared to be in better condition not only than Gong Miaomiao, but also than Gong Lan, who was likewise absorbing a twenty-thousand-year Soul Ring.

That was easy to explain, however. Two seals on her third ring had already been undone, so she had already endured the intensity of a twenty-thousand-year Soul Ring. Absorbing another naturally wouldn't put too much pressure on her.

Seeing that Gong Miaomiao's absorption was also going smoothly, Gong Yu returned to the group.

When he got back, however, he found a Flame Dragon Bear that had been poisoned half to death lying not far from the others. While Gong Yu had been checking on the others, the Flame Dragon Bear had been drawn over, but it was the only one. After that, the surrounding fragrance had faded completely.

Flame Dragon Bears were sub-dragon Soul Beasts with a trace of Fire Dragon bloodline. They carried flames on their bodies and were strength-type, fire-attribute Soul Beasts.

When Gong Xue saw Gong Yu return, she scampered over and said, "Big brother, can I absorb that Flame Dragon Bear's Soul Ring?"

Gong Yu stroked his chin in thought, then nodded. "You can. Judging by the red marking between the Flame Dragon Bear's brows, there's only one, and it's light red. It should have only just passed ten thousand years, probably around twelve or thirteen thousand. You should have no problem absorbing it."

But Gong Xue said, "A Flame Dragon Bear's attacks are too limited. I'm worried it won't give me a very good Soul Skill."

Gong Xue was telling the truth. Bears' attacks were indeed rather limited: they either tore or bit. That was why she hesitated. Her Martial Soul was a flying type, after all. She couldn't very well tear and bite like a bear when she went into battle!

Gong Yu, however, smiled. "I think this Flame Dragon Bear suits you very well."

"Why?" Gong Xue asked.

Chapter 86: Shrek's People Come to Heaven Dou

Gong Yu explained to Gong Xue, "First, the Flame Dragon Bear has the fire attribute. Second, it has claws, and so does your Martial Soul. So, in my estimation, if you absorb its Soul Ring, the Soul Skill should manifest in your Martial Soul's claws."

"Claws?" Gong Xue murmured. She raised her hand, curled it into a claw, and tried swiping at the air a few times.

Seeing this, Gong Yu smiled and continued, "And every time a Flame Dragon Bear strikes with its claws, it burns its target with flames. Think about it: if you're flying in midair and your enemy expects you to breathe fire, but you strike them with a claw from a distance instead, what effect would that have?"

Gong Xue tried to imagine the scene. It seemed appealing, and she nodded unconsciously.

But she seemed to remember something and said, "What if the Soul Skill doesn't manifest in my claws?"

"What does it matter?" Gong Yu said. "If the Soul Skill doesn't manifest in your claws, then it doesn't. At worst, you'll be short one claw-type Soul Skill. The main reason for absorbing the Flame Dragon Bear is to enhance your flames, not for some claw Soul Skill."

"I understand. Flames are my foundation. All those other Soul Skills are just auxiliary means!" Gong Xue was lazy, but she was quite clever, so she understood as soon as he pointed it out. She added, "Besides, that bear is very strong. It should enhance my strength too."

The little girl Gong Xue had always longed to fight at close range. If her strength increased and she also gained a claw skill, she might really get her wish.

Gong Yu nodded with satisfaction at Gong Xue's words. "Go on, then. Absorb that Flame Dragon Bear's Soul Ring."

"Mm-hmm, I'm going." A smile appeared on Gong Xue's face, and she turned and walked toward the Flame Dragon Bear.

Gong Yu smiled as he watched Gong Xue finish off the Flame Dragon Bear and begin absorbing its Soul Ring. Then he sat down cross-legged where he was to wait for everyone to finish.

Now only Gong Yu, Gong Qianqian, and Gong Niuniu had yet to obtain their Soul Rings. Suitable Soul Rings were difficult to find for Gong Qianqian and Gong Niuniu. Their Martial Souls were special, after all, so finding something compatible was extremely difficult.

Gong Yu's own Soul Ring, however, was easy to find. In fact, there was a Blue Silver King right here in the Sunset Forest. If he wanted, he could go straight to it and obtain an Innate Soul Ring.

Gong Yu believed that, with the suppression of his Golden Dragon King Bloodline, seizing the throne of the Blue Silver Grass Clan would surely be easy.

But if he obtained an Innate Soul Ring, Gong Lan's Martial Soul would lose the chance to evolve into the Blue Silver Emperor. After all, there could only be one Blue Silver Emperor.

Forget it. My Golden Dragon King Bloodline is countless times stronger than the Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline. I'll leave being the Blue Silver Emperor to Lan'er. Gong Yu sighed. The only reason he wanted that Innate Soul Ring was to awaken the Blue Silver Domain!

But he already possessed domains of both the ice and fire Ultimate Attributes, and both were inherently god-level domains. They would slowly grow stronger as Gong Yu's level rose.

If Gong Yu reached the god level, both domains would evolve to the god level as well. It was even possible that they would reach it when he became a Quasi-God.

Time continued to tick by. With nothing to do, Gong Yu and the others could only wait in boredom.

An hour earlier, however, after bringing the Flame Dragon Bear in for Gong Xue, Dugu Bo had said he had something to do and left.

Meanwhile, a group of people arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Had Gong Yu been there, he would surely have recognized them at a glance: they were the teachers and students of Shitrek.

Travel-stained after several days on the road, they had finally reached Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Notably, although Tang San had not obtained the Eight Spider Lances, he had used every means at his disposal in the battle against the Heaven Dou Team and ultimately led the other six Shitrek Devils to victory.

Thus, through Yu Xiaogang's efforts, the scene of the Shitrek teachers and students seeking to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy still played out.

This time, however, they were also given trouble by Xue Beng.

Xue Beng was beaten up all the same, and afterward the Shitrek teachers and students were welcomed into Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Inside the academy, the same scene played out. Tang San was once again chosen for the assessment, and a blessing came out of his misfortune: he opened one of his Ren and Du meridians.

But the same tragedy ultimately unfolded. Prince Xue Xing arrived with Dugu Bo.

After Prince Xue Xing made things difficult for them, the Shitrek teachers and students ultimately left in indignation.

They first went to Heaven Dou City, and in the end still arrived at Blue Tyrant... no, it was the Academy of the Gods now. Flender brought the teachers and students to the Academy of the Gods.

Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang finally met again.

Liu Erlong insisted again and again, while Flender pretended to refuse again and again, until Liu Erlong nearly lost her temper. Only then did Flender finally agree to stay with the teachers and students. This time, however, Liu Erlong wasn't in a position to hand the academy over.

"Um... Sister Erlong!" Seeing that the time was about ripe, Flender spoke up. "It's naturally no problem for you to let us stay, but I have one more condition. You must agree to it no matter what, or we can only leave."

After so many years apart, Liu Erlong remained forthright. Naturally, she wouldn't refuse before hearing Flender's condition, so she said, "Boss Fu, what is there that you and I can't talk about? Tell me your condition. As long as it's within my power, I'll agree!"

"All right, Sister Erlong, I'll say it!" Flender smiled slyly. "We can join the Academy of the Gods, but my Shitrek students must be chosen to compete in this year's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. I happen to have a seven-person team of geniuses right here."

Liu Erlong looked troubled. She had promised Gong Yu that she wouldn't interfere in this year's Soul Master Elite Tournament, so she really couldn't make the decision about who would compete.

Seeing her expression, Flender immediately added, "Sister Erlong, it's not that I insist on forcing my Shitrek students into the lineup. My students really are all geniuses. Look for yourself if you don't believe me."

Flender then turned to the Shitrek Seven Devils. "Quick, summon your Martial Souls and tell her your levels."

One after another, they revealed their Martial Souls: Evil Eye White Tiger, sausage, Blue Silver Grass, Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, Evil Fire Grass Chicken, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and Hell Spirit Cat. Every one of them was trash; not one had an Ultimate Attribute.

The seven then stated their levels.

Dai Mubai: level 38.

Oscar: level 31.

Tang San: level 32.

Xiao Wu: level 32.

The remaining three had all reached level 29.

Liu Erlong nodded inwardly as she watched. Seeing her reaction, Flender thought the matter was sure to succeed, but to his surprise, Liu Erlong didn't agree outright.

She said, "Boss Fu, it's not that I don't want to agree to let your students compete. I know they're all geniuses, but I really can't make that decision. I'm only a vice dean now. The current dean is a Titled Douluo, and I have no say at all.

"But I think the dean is a reasonable person. If you really want places in the tournament, you can only show your true abilities and compete against the people he chose. If you can defeat the team he selected, I don't think you'd be without a chance."

Flender stroked his chin and thought for a moment, then glanced at Yu Xiaogang. Yu Xiaogang nodded back at him confidently.

Flender agreed. "Very well, we'll stay for now and compete against the Titled Douluo dean's people when the time comes. If we win, we'll have earned our places fair and square, and I don't suppose anyone will have anything to say about it."

Chapter 87: Niuniu's Domain

Gong Yu had no idea that Shitrek's people had enrolled at the Academy of the Gods. As he waited for the women to finish absorbing their Soul Rings, he was racking his brains over what kind of Soul Beast to hunt for his fifth Soul Ring.

He also had to think about the Soul Rings Gong Qianqian and Gong Niuniu needed.

As he pondered, Gong Yu thought to himself, My first four Soul Rings came from Soul Beasts of the lightning, ice, fire, and darkness elements. I might as well keep collecting elements. I'm not short of ways to attack, anyway.

With a plan in mind, finding a Soul Beast became much easier. If he continued collecting elements, Gong Yu would first choose a light- or wind-attribute Soul Beast, since those two were the easiest to find at present.

As for Gong Qianqian and Gong Niuniu, if nothing else worked, they would have to search for Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. If they still couldn't find the Soul Beast Gong Qianqian needed, they would have to go to the Frozen Forest in the Far North.

With that in mind, Gong Yu turned to Gong Qianqian. "Qianqian, does your Nebula Martial Soul really only have the cold attribute? Does it have any others?"

Gong Qianqian's face reddened slightly. "Only the cold attribute, and it's ultimate cold. Even Ultimate Ice can't compare to it. Ice is only water, after all; water only freezes when it meets cold."

She naturally knew Gong Yu was asking because he was troubled over which Soul Beast to choose for her, but there was nothing she could do. That was simply how her Martial Soul was.

Gong Qianqian suddenly thought of something and added, "Young master, if it's really hard to find a Soul Beast, you could look for one with the wind or Mental Attribute. I can absorb the Soul Rings of either kind without a problem."

"Wind or Mental Attribute?" Gong Yu stroked his chin and murmured, "Combining cold with wind could form a cold Qi storm, or even a cold Qi current. That's a good choice. As for the Mental Attribute, controlling a cold attribute stronger than Ultimate Ice does indeed require powerful mental strength."

At that point, Gong Niuniu spoke up from the side. "Young master, I can also choose a wind- or Mental Attribute Soul Beast for my Martial Soul. I have the light attribute too."

Gong Yu nodded. "Mm-hmm, the Soul Beast you need is easy enough to find, Niuniu. There are plenty of fire-type Soul Beasts. But now that you mention wind, that also seems like a good combination. Wind feeds fire, after all. Still, I'd rather have you take a single element to a higher level."

"But the elements we control have already reached the ultimate level. What higher level can they reach?" Gong Qianqian asked, puzzled. Gong Niuniu didn't understand what Gong Yu meant either.

Seeing their confused expressions, Gong Yu explained, "Once an element reaches its ultimate level, the next step is a domain. And as a domain continues to advance, once it reaches its own ultimate level, the next step is a law."

Gong Niuniu suddenly understood. "So that's why I obtained a Flame Domain after absorbing the Blazing Gum you gave me, young master. It seems my flames advanced beyond the ultimate level and evolved into a domain."

Gong Yu and Gong Qianqian both looked at Gong Niuniu in surprise.

"Your flames really evolved into a domain?" Gong Yu asked.

"Yes. I was going to surprise everyone the next time I used it, but I accidentally let it slip just now!" Gong Niuniu said, looking a little embarrassed.

She stood up, and with a thought, a fiery red domain full of the fire attribute immediately spread out over an area roughly five meters around her.

Gong Yu nodded with satisfaction. "Not bad. Although it's a little weaker than my Domain of Fire, it'll grow stronger in the future. Now that your flames have produced a domain, if your light attribute can also break through the ultimate level, it might evolve into a domain too."

Gong Niuniu asked, "Then should I keep absorbing the Soul Rings of fire-attribute Soul Beasts, or absorb those of light-attribute Soul Beasts?"

"Either is fine," Gong Yu said. "You already possess two Ultimate Attributes. But if I had to choose between them, I'd naturally suggest you follow the path of flame. You've already taken a step forward with that attribute. But if we encounter a light-attribute Soul Beast that's highly compatible with you, we can choose it too."

"I understand, young master," Gong Niuniu said. "I'll keep following the path of flame and strive to take my Flame Domain a step further."

Gong Yu nodded in agreement, then turned to Gong Qianqian. "Qianqian, since Niuniu advanced another step after absorbing the Blazing Gum, why don't you try taking the cold crystals from the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and see if your domain can advance another step?"

With that, Gong Yu took two cold crystals from his Soul Tool and handed them to Gong Qianqian.

"All right, young master." Gong Qianqian nodded and accepted the crystals Gong Yu handed her. She sat down cross-legged to one side, stuffed both crystals into her mouth, and swallowed them in one gulp. Then she began circulating her cultivation technique.

Before long, Gong Qianqian entered a meditative trance, a sign that she had entered Deep Meditation.

"It looks like she gained something. Otherwise, she wouldn't have entered Deep Meditation." A faint smile appeared on Gong Yu's face. He turned and saw Gong Xiao walking toward them. Judging by her smile, she had surely gained quite a lot.

Gong Xiao reached Gong Yu's side and was about to tell him what she had gained when he placed a finger on her lips and stopped her. "Don't say it yet. Wait for your sisters, or you'll have to tell them all over again later."

"Oh!" Gong Xiao puffed out her cheeks. She had only wanted to share what she had gained with Gong Yu alone first. She didn't mind telling her sisters again later, but unfortunately, Gong Yu didn't understand the beauty's heart.

Three hours passed in a flash. Dugu Bo returned and mentioned to Gong Yu that the Shitrek teachers and students had come to Heaven Dou City. Gong Yu was a little surprised, but it had been bound to happen sooner or later, so he wasn't too surprised.

A little while later, Gong Lan returned after finishing her absorption.

Gong Yue and Gong Miaomiao also finished absorbing their Soul Rings and returned to the group one after another. Only Gong Xi'er and Gong Xue remained.

About another hour passed, and the sky gradually darkened until night finally fell. Gong Lan roasted the White Tiger's carcass. The Ghost Tiger had been tainted by Dugu Bo's poison and couldn't be eaten, and the same was true of the Flame Dragon Bear.

Considering Gong Yu's large appetite, Gong Lan also troubled Dugu Bo to hunt a bear, which she put over the fire to roast as well.

An hour later, both Soul Beasts were cooked. Just as everyone was about to dig in, Gong Xi'er finished absorbing her Soul Ring too.

Everyone was eating when, about half an hour later, Gong Xue finally finished absorbing her Soul Ring and joined them for food and drink.

Only Gong Qianqian remained seated cross-legged nearby, but she had entered Deep Meditation, so nothing could be done about that.

As they ate, Gong Yu said, "Since everyone's eating now, let's talk about what each of you gained while we eat!"

Chapter 88: Soul Skill Replica

"Me first, me first!" Gong Xue was as lively as ever. She had only just sat down and picked up a piece of tiger leg to gnaw on, yet even with her mouth stuffed full, she could still speak clearly. Even Gong Yu found it remarkable.

The women were all used to Gong Xue and couldn't be bothered to compete with her. If she wanted to go first, then she could go first. They would let her show off a little.