After the Martial Soul True Body, the Silver-level Second Awakening, and the strengthened strike from a hundred-thousand-year soul skill, the attack only caused a slight ripple on the shield.
At this moment, Du Siji felt no disappointment. Instead, he thought it was only natural!
As expected of the Sect Master, the Martial God!
If the shield had been broken, Du Siji would have questioned his life. Was Zhongli really going easy on him?
"As expected of the Sect Master, my strike could severely injure a Title Douluo of level 91 or 92, yet it couldn't harm you in the slightest. Your strength is truly awe-inspiring!" Du Siji exclaimed, but he continued his attack.
His goal wasn't to defeat Zhongli, that was impossible. He only needed to last for the time it took an incense stick to burn while Zhongli held back.
He might as well take this opportunity to showcase his abilities, letting the Sect Master see his potential and strength.
"Not bad. That strike has reached the threshold of a level 96 Title Douluo. Unfortunately, this power is only temporary. You can't fully control it, and the power isn't concentrated enough. If you focused it, it could match a full-powered strike from a level 96 Title Douluo," Zhongli calmly pointed out.
These attributes were all stacked through various means by Du Siji and didn't represent his true level.
Any seasoned level 96 Title Douluo could easily defeat him.
The stacked power was ultimately difficult for Du Siji to control. Against opponents of similar strength, it was fine, he could suppress them with sheer force. But against true powerhouses, such enhancements were full of flaws.
In the end, Du Siji could handle weaker Title Douluo, but against true powerhouses, he was no match.
"Thank you for the guidance, Sect Master!" Du Siji stopped his attack, pondering Zhongli's words. He seemed to have gained some insight.
But mastering such a powerful enhancement wasn't easy.
This was why some soul masters would go berserk or suffer physical cracks when subjected to strong enhancements, their bodies couldn't handle the side effects.
Currently, Du Siji was only level 84. The gap between him and a Super Douluo was vast.
Although his aura and attributes had reached the threshold of level 96, fully utilizing this power was nearly impossible. Being able to withstand it was already his limit.
Focusing all his energy into his right fist, fire-attribute soul power also gathered there. If he couldn't mobilize all his strength, he'd start with a portion.
In moments, Du Siji's right fist shone like a blazing sun, its temperature reaching around 2,000 degrees!
Don't underestimate 2,000 degrees. Some fire-related deities, after becoming gods, could only wield flames of around 5,000 degrees, the temperature of the sun's surface.
With a punch, he sent a fireball hurtling toward Zhongli. The air it touched instantly ignited, amplifying the fireball's power.
As it exploded in the air, the water molecules burned away, making the air scalding.
Of course, none of this affected Zhongli.
"Interesting," Zhongli remarked, though that was all.
The fireball collided with the shield, causing only a slight ripple before disappearing.
Moments later, a fire-attribute crystal appeared beside Zhongli, surprising him slightly.
When fire and rock elements collide, there's a "chance" to produce fire-attribute crystals. The same goes for ice or water-attribute crystals.
"Picking up" these crystals could form an elemental crystal shield, blocking some damage.
"I didn't expect his attack to produce a fire-attribute crystal. He's got some luck," Zhongli thought.
Yes, it was luck, not a testament to Du Siji's strength.
Strength didn't guarantee the creation of elemental crystals, but with good luck, one might appear after a few attacks.
Zhongli waved his hand, and the fire-attribute crystal appeared in his palm.
After infusing a trace of rock elemental power into it, Zhongli tossed it to Du Siji.
"Keep this fire-attribute crystal with you. In times of danger, it could save your life," Zhongli said succinctly.
Du Siji was stunned.
He had seen the crystal earlier but hadn't paid it much attention. Now, Zhongli claimed it could save his life, which was hard to believe.
Ordinary fire-attribute crystals didn't have such power, but this one contained a trace of Zhongli's strength, which was more than enough in the Douluo Continent.
"Thank you, Sect Master, for the treasure!" Du Siji said, unsure of what the crystal was but recognizing its value as a lifesaving item.
Yet, this lifesaving item was something Zhongli had casually created…
If this didn't prove the Sect Master's overwhelming strength, what would?
Du Bafang had guessed Zhongli's "identity," but following Zhongli's instructions, he hadn't told anyone, not even his own grandson, Du Siji, that Zhongli had become a god.
But Du Siji wasn't a fool, though he might not be the sharpest tool in the shed.
He understood that even the Fire God feared the Sect Master, who must be an incredibly terrifying existence.
The Sect Master had succeeded!
As time passed, the incense stick was nearly burned out.
At that moment, Zhongli's right arm transformed into a golden, rune-covered limb, and he made a slight grasping motion toward Du Siji.
In an instant, Du Siji exited his Silver-level Second Awakening and Martial Soul True Body forms.
In that moment, Du Siji's eyes were filled with confusion, shock, and bewilderment.
But he knew the Sect Master must have his reasons.
The incense stick burned out at the same moment, and the third trial was successfully completed.
He hadn't died, so he had passed.
"Siji, the soul master system is ultimately a bit weak. After you complete the nine trials, spend some time learning from Xiao," Zhongli said, shaking his head as he looked at Du Siji.
"???"
The soul master system is weak?
After becoming a god, learn from the guy over there for a while?
"Lord Zhongli, he's still human. If he stays with me for too long, he might…" Xiao began.
Whether it was the Yaksha or the Adepti, they weren't ordinary "beings." They emitted a kind of "miasma."
If they stayed with humans for too long, they'd be fine, but the humans likely wouldn't be able to handle it.
"The karma on you has already dissipated. The soul master system, though weak, isn't that of an ordinary human. It's fine," Zhongli reassured.
Only then did Xiao remember that the karma on him had vanished when he arrived in the Douluo Continent.
He was no longer the karma-laden Xiao of the past.
"Still just a human???" Du Siji thought.
"???"