More than twenty days later.
In a quiet grove behind the teaching building of Lan Ba Academy.
With a single step, Chu Chengzhou's body shimmered with an ethereal glow. In an instant, he appeared ten meters away as if he had shrunk the distance.
Immediately afterward, Chu Chengzhou continued to move his steps, leaving behind several afterimages in the grove as he rapidly shifted positions.
Before the afterimages faded, Chu Chengzhou looked up at the sky and took a few more steps. As if there were invisible, transparent stairs in midair, he leaped into the sky, reaching a height of a hundred meters in the blink of an eye.
An intangible, mysterious field of force enveloped him, and despite being only a Soul Ancestor, Chu Chengzhou stood steadily in midair.
"The Red-Tier movement skill is truly profound!"
Taking in the entire view of Lan Ba Academy below, Chu Chengzhou thought to himself.
Just moments ago, the movement skill that had been idling for upgrades finally advanced to red tier. Unable to contain his excitement, Chu Chengzhou rushed to the academy's rear grove to test it out.
It didn't disappoint. A movement skill on par with a hundred-thousand-year soul skill was not only far more intricate than before but also granted the ability to hover in midair.
On the Douluo Continent, aside from flying-type soul masters with wings, only Titled Douluo could truly master flight.
However, unlike the instinctive hovering of Titled Douluo, Chu Chengzhou's ability stemmed entirely from the upgraded movement skill. It automatically taught him how to use his soul power to create a hovering field around his body. Thanks to the unique properties of his external panel, he could immediately master it without delay.
Of course, perhaps due to his relatively low soul power level, his midair speed wasn't very fast—slower than when using the movement skill on the ground—and his soul power consumption was significant.
But these were minor flaws. The fact that the Red-Tier movement skill included midair hovering exceeded Chu Chengzhou's expectations, and he had no reason to complain.
Though his Fire Phoenix summoning beast already possessed flight capabilities, there was a world of difference between the summoner himself being able to fly and relying on a summoned creature.
Moreover, in certain special scenarios, the ability to hover in midair was extremely valuable.
"I'll call it… Ground Piercing Skill—no, Ground Piercing Divine Light!"
Originally, he intended to rename the movement skill after one of the 36 Celestial Techniques, Ground Piercing Golden Light. But seeing the faint blue, attributeless soul power glow surrounding him, Chu Chengzhou made a slight adjustment.
He then opened his attribute panel and replaced the Forging Mastery in the AFK slot with Ground Piercing Divine Light.
For now, a movement skill on par with a hundred-thousand-year soul skill was sufficient for his needs. He could focus on upgrading other skills.
As for his most important martial soul?
Chu Chengzhou wanted a higher-quality True Spirit Flag martial soul, but at the current upgrade rate of the AFK slots, it would take 2,500 days—over six and a half years—for it to evolve again. He'd wait until the AFK efficiency improved.
Besides, this time wasn't too far off. In about a month, his soul power would likely break through to Level 50. After advancing to Soul King, his external cheat system would undoubtedly upgrade again.
Meanwhile…
In the Spirit Hall City, the Elder Hall.
At this moment, nearly twentyTitled Douluo with soul power levels above 90 gathered in the Elder Hall.
"Hmph! Let me repeat myself—I have decided to award the Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull to Hu Liena. Who among you dares to oppose me?!"
With a cold snort, Bibi Dong slammed her gem-encrusted scepter onto the ground. Her nine soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and red—lit up, exuding an overwhelming aura. Her stunning yet authoritative face gazed at the assembled elders of the Spirit Hall.
Staring at Bibi Dong's radiant, blood-red hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring and feeling the immense pressure, many elders whose soul power levels were still within the Level 95 range fell silent.
At this moment, one of Bibi Dong's two trusted aides, Ghost Elder Gui Mei, spoke: "Everyone, Hu Liena is the direct disciple of the Pope and the Spirit Hall's future Holy Maiden. She broke through Level 50 at the age of twenty. It is only right to reward her with a soul bone."
"Old Ghost is correct. Rewarding our future Holy Maiden with a soul bone is no big deal," added Chrysanthemum Elder Yue Guan, flicking a delicate orchid finger and casting a coy glance at the crowd.
Seeing Yue Guan's effeminate demeanor, the assembled elders couldn't help but twitch their lips.
The Chrysanthemum and Ghost Elders had been inseparable for decades, both single. Could it be…
Never mind, let's give them some dignity as the face of the Elder Hall.
Though they weren't ranked among the Worships, both were Level 95 Titled Douluo. Moreover, they possessed a Spirit Fusion Technique, making their combined strength comparable—or even superior—to the weaker Worships.
Their status in the Elder Hall subtly surpassed that of ordinary elders, making them the hall's representatives.
As for their united support of Bibi Dong in granting the sixty-thousand-year Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull to Hu Liena?
Previously, they opposed Bibi Dong's decision to grant three soul bones to the "Golden Generation" because they were instructed by the second Worship, Golden Crocodile Elder, to create trouble for Bibi Dong. Additionally, soul bones were precious and shouldn't be awarded lightly.
But now, since the recipient was only Hu Liena, they had no valid reason to oppose it.
After all, as the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Elders said, Hu Liena was the Pope's direct disciple, the Spirit Hall's future Holy Maiden, and exceptionally talented. Rewarding her with a soul bone was justified. Wasn't it supposed to happen?
Of course, none of the elders present who remained silent would admit that their silence had anything to do with Bibi Dong's hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring or the terrifying aura she emitted.
"Very well, since no one opposes, this matter is settled!"
Seeing no objections, Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction. She then retracted her aura and soul rings, leaving the Elder Hall.
Bibi Dong had always been paving the way for Hu Liena, and this Soul Master Tournament was a crucial milestone.
If Hu Liena could lead the Spirit Hall team to victory, her achievements would greatly reduce opposition when she was appointed as the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden in the future.
Hu Liena was a spirit-type soul master, and head-type soul bones primarily enhanced spiritual power. With a sixty-thousand-year Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull, her strength would undoubtedly soar.
At that point, even that tiny Chu Chengzhou from Lan Ba Academy, skilled as he might be in illusion techniques, would inevitably fall to her, Bibi Dong's beloved disciple!
As for Tang San from Tian Dou Royal Academy, who had a "variant Blue Silver Grass" martial soul and a Soul King cultivation level?
With the surname Tang and a "variant Blue Silver Grass" martial soul, plus achieving the Soul King level, he was most likely the child of Tang Hao and the Blue Silver Emperor. Ordinary Blue Silver Grass soul masters couldn't reach the Soul King level.
Out of gratitude for Tang Hao's earlier crippling of the despicable Qian Xunji, which allowed her to kill him personally, Bibi Dong, as the Pope of the Spirit Hall, had no intention of targeting Tang San—as long as Tang Hao didn't cause trouble for the Spirit Hall.
After all, Tang San was just a junior. Though talented, he wasn't someone she considered a threat. It was enough for her disciple to defeat him.
Bibi Dong's arrogance and underestimation of potential opponents weren't unfounded.
Her progress in the Rakshasa Examination was already halfway complete. How could she, Bibi Dong, possibly lose?
Bibi Dong: The tide is with me? I am the tide!
When she ascended to the Rakshasa position, even the Demigod-level Qian Daoliu wouldn't be worthy of her attention!
The only one on the continent who might match her was perhaps her daughter, Thousand Renxue, who was born with Level 20 innate soul power and destined to inherit the Angel God position.
Not long after, in the Pope's Hall.
Summoned by her teacher, Hu Liena entered the hall and bowed to Bibi Dong: "Teacher, you called for me?"
"Mm, Nana, take this!"
Bibi Dong nodded, channeling her soul power to levitate a jade box from the desk in front of her. It floated through the air and landed in Hu Liena's hands.
"Teacher, what is…"
Sensing the unique soul power fluctuations emanating from the jade box, Hu Liena looked at Bibi Dong with surprise.
If she wasn't mistaken, this was a soul bone, wasn't it? Waaah~ Teacher is so good to me!
"Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull, approximately sixty thousand years old, Nana. Don't disappoint me!"
Bibi Dong said gently.
"Teacher, this soul bone is too precious. Perhaps you should take it back?"
Upon hearing it was a sixty-thousand-year head-type soul bone, Hu Liena trembled, her face filled with apprehension.
The value of a soul bone wasn't solely determined by its attached soul skill or age; the specific body part it belonged to was also critical.
Among the six soul bone types, head and torso soul bones were far more valuable than limb soul bones of the same age.
This wasn't just because head and torso soul bones had lower drop rates but also due to their practical effects.
Head soul bones were the only ones that enhanced spiritual power, while torso soul bones provided greater physical attribute boosts than individual limb soul bones.
This sixty-thousand-year Spirit Condensation Wisdom Skull was worth almost as much as a hundred-thousand-year limb soul bone. Even a ninety-thousand-year limb soul bone couldn't compare.
Such a precious item—how could she, a mere Soul King who hadn't achieved anything significant, possibly deserve it?
"Enough, Nana. No need to say more. Go and refine it!"
Bibi Dong waved her hand dismissively.
"Yes, Teacher. Nana will definitely not disappoint you!"
Tightly clutching the jade box containing the precious soul bone, Hu Liena declared with determination.
At this moment, Hu Liena couldn't help but recall the shameless youth who locked her in a dark room and stole a kiss from her in an illusion before leaving.
"Hmph, Chu Chengzhou, just you wait! This time, I will definitely defeat you!"
Hu Liena thought to herself.
A week later, after a month of rest, the advancement tournament was about to begin.
Unlike the preliminaries, the advancement stage of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament wasn't open to ordinary spectators to protect the privacy and safety of the participants.
The advancement tournament was divided into two imperial zones. A total of thirty teams that passed the preliminaries would compete within their respective empires, while the three teams that had already been pre-selected for the finals wouldn't participate in this stage.
On the Tian Dou Empire side, including the five teams that qualified from the Tian Dou Division preliminaries, fifteen teams had already completed registration and gathered at the designated location.
With fewer participating teams, those who passed the preliminaries were undoubtedly elites among elites. The overall strength of the teams in the advancement tournament was significantly higher than in the preliminaries.
The ten teams from the five kingdoms and duchies arrived earlier to familiarize themselves with the environment.
Additionally, they came with numerous promises from their respective kingdoms or duchies. If they performed well in the finals, the rewards they received would far exceed Emperor Xue Ye's promises.
After all, those kingdoms and duchies were desperate for talent. Who wouldn't want to control more powerful soul masters?
In the wars of the Douluo Continent, soul masters had long become the decisive factor on the battlefield.
The number of high-level soul masters was also a fundamental measure of a faction's strength.
It was precisely for this reason that the Spirit Hall, which controlled over half of the continent's soul masters and boasted numerous Titled Douluo, held such an exalted position. Even the two great empires dared not offend it lightly.
Even though they knew full well that the kingdoms and duchies under their rule were secretly supported by the Spirit Hall and that their interests were being heavily encroached upon, they still didn't dare to openly confront the Spirit Hall.
They even endured the "humiliation" of signing a subsidy policy for low-level soul masters with the Spirit Hall. The Spirit Hall took the credit, while the empire paid the price.
Of course, this policy was highly beneficial for commoner-born soul masters.
At the very least, when they lacked the strength and income sources to sustain their cultivation, they didn't have to worry about how to fill their stomachs.
The Royal Hunting Grounds, located fifty kilometers southwest of Tian Dou City, featured varied terrain and vast expanses. It served as a place for royal hunting and training.
Ordinarily, the Royal Hunting Grounds were strictly off-limits to civilians. A contingent of ten thousand Royal Knights patrolled and guarded the area, rotating every three months to maintain combat readiness.
Aside from the royal guest council, the Royal Knights were the strongest force under the control of the Tian Dou Imperial Family.
To avoid unnecessary trouble and conflicts, and to prevent each academy's strength from being observed by others during the advancement tournament, the fifteen participating teams were assigned to different locations for rest.
The Tian Dou Empire's royal family was clearly well-prepared for the advancement tournament. When the Lan Ba Academy team arrived early, the first thing they encountered was the massive Royal Knight Corps.
The Tian Dou Royal Knights wore shiny silver plate armor, which offered excellent defense. Their mounts were carefully selected Tian Hun horses with traces of soul beast bloodlines.
Though these warhorses had no offensive abilities, they were incredibly fast, carried heavy loads, and possessed remarkable endurance, making them ideal for cavalry.
The warhorses were also armored, yet their speed wasn't hindered at all despite the weight of the knights and their armor.
Once this cavalry charged, their power would undoubtedly be devastating.
The Royal Knights were an elite force meticulously crafted by the Tian Dou Imperial Family, numbering fifty thousand in total. Captains leading squads of over a hundred were all composed of soul masters.
This was an extremely expensive army to maintain, but its deterrent effect was equally immense.
At the very least, the several kingdoms and duchies under the Tian Dou Empire wouldn't dare make reckless moves under its threat.
"Please present your credentials."
A group of Royal Knights stopped the Lan Ba Academy team. The so-called credentials were the advancement qualification certificates.
Liu Erlong handed over the certificate, and the leader of the knights, clad in silver armor and adorned with a red tassel, dismounted and saluted the group.
"Welcome, esteemed soul masters from Lan Ba Academy. I am Brock, captain of the second battalion of the Tian Dou Royal Knights. Please follow me."
Without remounting, Brock led the Lan Ba Academy group, accompanied by fifty fully armed Royal Knights, deeper into the hunting grounds.
After crossing a small hill, the group found themselves in a vast expanse of grassland. The expansive view lifted their spirits and brought a sense of comfort.
On the grassland, a large military camp formed a circular perimeter. Brock pointed to the camp and said, "The advancement stage of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament will be held here, ensuring absolute safety and privacy for all participants."
The Lan Ba Academy group was then escorted to a section of the camp. They were assigned a private courtyard consisting of five barracks for rest.
Though not luxurious, the barracks were impeccably clean, showing that the host, the Tian Dou Empire, had made thorough preparations.
For the duration of the advancement tournament, the thirteen members of Lan Ba Academy would reside here.
Yes, substitutes Jing Zhu, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan had also come. Although they weren't scheduled to participate in the advancement or subsequent finals, substitutes were required to be present in case of emergencies involving the main team.
Of course, far from being dissatisfied, the three substitutes had no complaints.
After all, as substitutes, once they graduated and chose to join the Tian Dou Empire, they would become barons with actual fiefdoms and hereditary titles.
Furthermore, if Chu Chengzhou and the others won the tournament, their titles would be upgraded to viscounts with real power.
In Emperor Xue Ye's promise, there was no distinction between main team members and substitutes—only between team captains, vice-captains, and regular members.
In short, the three substitutes were essentially riding the coattails of the main team.
The advancement tournament also followed a round-robin format, but with fewer teams, the duration was reduced from nearly a month to half a month—precisely fourteen days.
After escorting the Lan Ba Academy group to their assigned quarters, Brock gave Liu Erlong a standard military salute: "Please rest early. Tomorrow, the advancement tournament will officially begin, and someone will guide you to the competition venue.
There will be no opening ceremony for the advancement tournament; matches will begin immediately. Victory and defeat will be judged jointly by officials from the empire and the Spirit Hall to ensure fairness!"
"Thank you!"
Liu Erlong smiled and returned the salute.
After Brock and the Royal Knights left, Liu Erlong surveyed the barracks and quickly assigned rooms to everyone.
She and Jing Zhu shared a room, Flender and Zhao Wuji shared another, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing shared a third, Chu Chengzhou, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun shared a fourth, and Tai Long, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan shared the last.
Aside from Flender, even Chu Chengzhou had some reservations about Liu Erlong's room assignments. He suggested sharing a room with his three girlfriends.
Since they were dating, it was reasonable, wasn't it?
Not enough beds? No problem—they could squeeze together. Worst case, they could sleep on the floor!
Unfortunately, before Liu Erlong could respond, Xiao Wu and the others firmly rejected Chu Chengzhou's shameless proposal.
Someone still wanted to share a bed with three women?
Pfft~ Dream on! You may have no shame, but we do!
Not long after Chu Chengzhou and the others settled in, two visitors arrived at their temporary residence.
These two visitors were none other than Ning Fengzhi and the disguised Xue Qinghe (Qian Renxue).
"Ning Uncle, Brother Qinghe, what brings you here?"
Chu Chengzhou, sitting on a stone chair in the courtyard and feeling a bit bored, immediately greeted them with a smile.
Perhaps due to the safety of the Royal Hunting Grounds, Ning Fengzhi wasn't accompanied by any attendants or Sword-Bone Elders.
Xue Qinghe wore plain noble attire, nothing particularly extravagant, giving the impression of an ordinary noble. Standing beside the elegant Ning Fengzhi, he blended in like a green leaf next to a red flower, drawing little attention.
If not for having seen her true form before, Chu Chengzhou would have found it hard to believe that this seemingly unremarkable Xue Qinghe was the breathtakingly beautiful angelic figure he had encountered in the Soul Hunting Town outside the Star Dou Forest.
Xue Qinghe smiled warmly and said, "Brother, I've come to see you. I'm fortunate to accompany Father Emperor to watch the advancement tournament and decided to visit you.
How are things? Comfortable here? If you're not satisfied, I can arrange for a better place!"
"Brother Qinghe, no need to bother. This place is fine."
Chu Chengzhou shook his head.
"Oh, my mistake! Ning Uncle, Brother Qinghe, please come inside!"
Slapping his forehead, Chu Chengzhou hurriedly invited Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe into the courtyard.
Though this wasn't his home, it was only proper to invite guests inside rather than letting them stand at the door.
"Mm, we actually have something to discuss with you."
Ning Fengzhi nodded and entered the courtyard with Xue Qinghe.
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