But he (the chef) discovered that no matter what method he used, Gu You's body was always enveloped in a peculiar violet aura.
The chef furrowed his brow, stood up, and walked back into the kitchen.
"Let's go. I'll take you to the duel." Zhen Hua stood up after Gu You finished eating. "You really are something, kid. I knew you cultivated quickly, but I didn't expect it to be this outrageous. Level 70 Soul Sage already! That's equivalent to a second-tier city's governor."
"I feel okay," Gu You replied, rubbing his stomach. "But a second-tier city governor? No thanks. I don't have time for that."
"By the way, who exactly is that chef? I sensed something unusual about his aura."
"Him? He's a solitary fellow. I'm basically his only friend. You might run into him again someday, but his relationship with Shrek Academy is… not great. Best not to cross paths."
Though Zhen Hua's explanation was vague, Gu You had already guessed who the man might be. But he didn't dwell on it. His current focus was on the upcoming challenge against a Soul Sage-level soul master.
Zhen Hua led Gu You through a series of halls until they arrived at a certain room.
The Spatial Gate.
It looked very much like the one they used to enter the Spirit Soul Tower at the Spirit Transmission Tower.
"You recognize this, don't you?" Zhen Hua smoothed his beard.
"Yes, a spatial gate. I saw one when we entered the Spirit Soul Tower," Gu You nodded.
Zhen Hua explained, "It's similar, but the function is different. In terms of resources, no one can compare to the Spirit Transmission Tower—except maybe your academy. This 'Void Domain' is something the Blacksmith Association created for storing treasures and holding confidential discussions. You could call it a sealed independent storage space. Only senior officials of the association can enter. When you reach the Saintsmith level, you'll be allowed in too. The key is the Saintsmith emblem."
"Master, is soul forging difficult?" Gu You suddenly asked.
Zhen Hua smiled and shook his head. "It is and it isn't. From your perspective, with your talent, it's just a matter of time."
Gu You rubbed his head. Why am I even asking that?
"I have another question," Gu You continued. "If an ordinary Rank-95 Title Douluo can gain Limit Douluo-level strength just by wearing battle armor, then why do they still need to cultivate? The path to godhood is essentially closed. For thousands of years, countless prodigies and peerless geniuses have emerged—none quite on Tang San's level, perhaps—but their fates are always the same. Either they die of old age, unwilling to fade away, or they meet calamity on their path. Is becoming a god really the only goal?"
Zhen Hua gave him a profound look. "It's not the same. Becoming a god isn't impossible, it's just extremely unlikely. Once you reach that level, you'll understand. Even among Limit Douluos, there are vast differences in real combat power. And only those who rely purely on their own strength to ascend might have the tiniest sliver of hope of touching the divine realm one day."
"So, it all still comes back to godhood in the end…" Gu You shook his head. Most people on the Douluo Continent had no idea they were being deceived. The Divine Realm they longed for had already drifted far away, trapped somewhere deep in the universe.
The two didn't speak further.
The Blacksmith Association's Void Domain was a vast space. It was entirely different from the Spirit Soul Tower. It felt more like a massive warehouse, filled with portals to who-knows-where.
Zhen Hua's hand glowed as he led Gu You inside, entering the domain easily. It was quite strange.
He pushed open a door and stepped inside. A spacious hall was filled with a pure energy aura, energy shields glowing around them. In the center of the room stood a young man in his twenties.
Seeing Zhen Hua enter with Gu You, the young man immediately bowed. "President."
Zhen Hua smiled slightly. "Let's get started. Let me introduce you. This is a member of the Association's guardian family, Xie Yinling. You two should get to know each other through battle."
Xie Yinling looked about twenty-two. He wasn't particularly handsome but gave off a clean and composed vibe. His gaze toward Gu You was filled with curiosity.
For the president to personally bring someone to spar with him... who was this kid? Zhen Hua hadn't explained anything beforehand—just told him to defeat the opponent. But to think it was such a young boy—he looked like he was only fourteen or fifteen!
"Xie Yinling. Pleased to meet you." He didn't say much, just stepped back a few paces and gestured politely with his right hand.
Gu You stepped forward, facing him head-on.
Then—
Two yellow, two purple, four black—eight soul rings rose beneath Xie Yinling's feet.
Eight soul rings? Gu You's expression turned serious. Zhen Hua really had found him a powerful opponent—more than ten levels higher than him.
Xie Yinling was twenty-two years old, an Eighty-Third Rank Soul Douluo, a true monster of talent.
As Gu You advanced, five oddly colored soul rings rose beneath his feet, causing Xie Yinling's pupils to shrink.
"Begin!" Zhen Hua's voice echoed.
Gu You moved immediately. Without activating his Violet-Gold Dragon Emperor Martial Soul, he stomped his left foot hard, launching himself like a cannonball toward Xie Yinling.
He had no time to waste—he wanted to end this quickly.
Xie Yinling stepped back slightly and let out a soft cry. A pair of giant wings unfurled from his back, glowing with a green light as he soared into the air.
A flying martial soul: Divine Eagle.
Gu You launched himself again, this time only about seven or eight meters high—not very impressive. Meanwhile, Xie Yinling, using his wings, easily rose over ten meters into the air.
Seeing this, he relaxed slightly. Those weird soul rings had startled him earlier, but if this kid was jumping into the air while grounded, he was just asking to be shot down.
For non-flying soul masters, leaping into the air against a flying enemy was practically suicide. A flying soul master's speed and maneuverability in the air were far superior.
But the next second, Xie Yinling's smirk vanished.
Dragon God Grasp!
A massive violet dragon claw appeared behind Xie Yinling, enveloping him in an instant.
"What is this?!" Xie Yinling screamed from within.
He tried every possible method to escape, but it was useless. He knew if he couldn't break free soon, he would lose without question.
Xiong—Yi—Ying—Yi—!!
["凶——毅——影——毅——!!" might translate or be interpreted as something like:
"Fierce—Resolve—Shadow—Resolve!"]
A Two-Word Battle Armor Master! He's actually a Two-Word Battle Armor Master!
Do you know what that means?
It means Gu You was going up against a flying-type soul master with the combat power of a Super Douluo.
"I knew it! With the kind of forging talent he has, there's no way someone from the Blacksmith Association would settle for One-Word Armor. That alloy… it could probably support Three-Word Battle Armor…"
(End of Chapter)