A Huge Thank You and Welcome to our New Patrons: Asariel & Gaming Plan!
--------------------
The edict of Emperor Dai Tianling of the Star Luo Empire was swiftly executed.
The close minister in charge of recruiting Bo Xi approached him again, armed with conditions so generous they were nearly impossible to refuse—an advisory title in the Imperial Ministry of Works, first-level access to the Royal Research Institute, a vast quota of rare materials, and an independent research workshop located in the core district of Star Luo City.
Bo Xi maintained his taciturn demeanor, focused entirely on technology. His burly physique and rugged, authoritative appearance often made people forget his terrifying prowess in sub-professions.
After carefully "listening" to the minister's offer, he "cautiously" raised a few detailed requirements concerning research autonomy and resource guarantees.
Upon receiving satisfactory answers, he "deliberated deeply" before finally nodding his agreement to serve the Star Luo Empire.
"His Majesty is wise indeed; securing such extraordinary talent will surely propel the empire's soul-guided technology to new heights!"
The minister reported back with barely concealed excitement.
Dai Tianling nodded slightly, a gleam flashing in his eyes.
Though talent had been recruited, this allegiance needed a sufficiently weighty "proof of loyalty" to demonstrate its value while also restoring some of the competition's prestige for the Star Luo Empire.
"By imperial decree," Dai Tianling said gravely, "since Master Bo Xi possesses extraordinary strength, the empire shall not be bound by convention in attracting talent. Master Bo Xi is hereby granted the status of a specially invited student at Monster Academy and will immediately enter the individual competition of this year's Youth Soul Master Tournament!"
"If he demonstrates strength worthy of the title 'Heavenly King,' I shall personally issue an edict granting him the position of the Ninth Heavenly King of Monster Academy, bestowing upon him equal honor and resources as the Eight Great Heavenly Kings."
"The Ninth Heavenly King?!" The minister's heart jolted, then he understood.
His Majesty intended to use Bo Xi as a blade to cut through the gloom brought by Shrek Academy, while also conducting the ultimate test of Bo Xi's abilities.
The Eight Great Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy were the pinnacle symbols of the younger generation of the Star Luo Empire. This position carried immense prestige.
When Bo Xi received this conditional "blessing," his face—normally devoid of expression—remained calm.
The title of Heavenly King? A mere vanity.
But the resources the Ninth Heavenly King could mobilize, the deepest secrets and hidden realms of the Star Luo Empire he could access… these were what truly interested him—or rather, Gu La, who stood behind him.
Who knew what kind of divine-level opportunities might be buried on this ancient continent?
"Agreed." Bo Xi's response was concise and to the point.
Efficiency was remarkable. Under the strong operation of the Star Luo Empire's official channels, within just one day, Bo Xi's name appeared prominently on the list of matches for advancing from the top thirty-two to sixteen in the individual competition. As for the unfortunate soul who was replaced, the Star Luo Empire naturally took care of that.
Moreover, his opponent was deliberately arranged to be one of the Eight Great Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy—the ferocious powerhouse known as the "Wolf King"—Hua Lantang.
The moment the news broke, the Star Luo Grand Stadium erupted.
"What?! Someone inserted into the top thirty-two directly facing Wolf King Hua Lantang?"
"Bo Xi? That name sounds unfamiliar… which academy is he from?"
"A specially invited student of Monster Academy? The Ninth Heavenly King? Are you joking! Is it that easy to become a Heavenly King?"
"Lord Wolf King! Tear this arrogant fool to pieces!"
"…"
Doubt, confusion, anger, curiosity—all emotions intertwined. The Eight Great Heavenly Kings were Monster Academy's representatives, set against Shrek's Seven Monsters. Saying Ninth Heavenly King likely meant replacing one of the current Heavenly Kings.
Hua Lantang enjoyed immense popularity in the Star Luo Empire. His presence alone was enough to ignite the entire arena.
Now, an unknown "specially invited student" dared to challenge the position of Heavenly King? This was nothing short of provoking Monster Academy and the Eight Great Heavenly Kings.
Hua Lantang himself laughed bitterly out of rage. Towering and muscular, with wrinkled veins and a fierce, wolf-like gaze, he strode onto the stage. He stared at the youth opposite him, clad in a blue fish-scale shirt, collar open to reveal rock-solid muscles, exuding a tranquil aura like still water. He licked his lips:
"Boy, no matter who pushed you forward, daring to use me, Hua Lantang, as a stepping stone, I'll make you regret ever setting foot in this world. Let me show you what true dragon-wolf power is!"
Bo Xi calmly regarded him, as if looking at a testing instrument.
He fully understood the "strength test" arranged by the Star Luo Empire and didn't care whether his abilities were exposed.
After all, even if he intended to raise his status in the Star Luo Empire through sub-professions, he still needed to display some strength to avoid unnecessary persuasion or coercion.
Gu La's directive to him was clear: showcase value, integrate into the core. So, he would silence doubts and terrify those with ulterior motives in the most shocking way possible.
The referee announced the start of the match.
Hua Lantang roared, his martial soul instantly activating.
His body swelled dramatically, his skin covered in hard, dark green scales. His hands transformed into glinting claws, curved dragon horns sprouted from his forehead, and a thick, spiky dragon tail whipped out behind him.
A surge of overwhelming majesty mixed with wolfish ferocity erupted skyward.
At his feet, four purple and one black soul ring blazed brightly.
The Dragon-Wolf martial soul, a perfect fusion of a true dragon and a howling celestial wolf, combined strength, speed, defense, and ferocity. A Level 58 Strong Attack Soul King.
"Howl—!"
A deafening roar of dragon and wolf resounded as Hua Lantang shot forward like a cannonball, tearing through the air with a piercing shriek, charging straight at Bo Xi.
He intended to crush this presumptuous challenger with his most brutal assault!
Facing this ferocious charge, Bo Xi finally moved.
He slowly raised his right hand. No soul rings appeared, but an indescribable, vast pressure, as if originating from the depths of the ocean, suddenly descended!
Immediately after, five deep, pure, light-devouring "black soul rings" rose silently from beneath his feet like five pitch-black suns!
"Black! Black! Black! Black! Black!"
Five ten-thousand-year soul rings!
The entire Star Luo Grand Stadium fell silent as if muted. All noise, cheers, and doubts ceased in that instant. Countless faces displayed extreme shock, confusion, and disbelief.
Ten-thousand-year soul rings?! And five of them?! How was this possible?! For a soul master who looked so young?!
Hua Lantang's ferocious charge faltered, his pupils contracting sharply. A primal sense of crisis from his martial soul gripped him. But the arrow was already loosed; he had no choice but to proceed.
"Domain Activation—Steam Domain!"
Bo Xi's low voice rang out.
In an instant, within a hundred-meter radius centered on him, the temperature skyrocketed at a terrifying rate!
Moisture in the air was rapidly vaporized, and dense, scorching white steam filled the arena, suffocating and obscuring vision.
The audience near the arena felt their skin prickle from the heat!
But this was only the beginning.
"First Soul Skill—Deep Sea High-Pressure Domain."
Boom—!
An invisible, heart-stopping force crashed down. It was as if the entire arena had been dragged into the depths of the ocean!
The air was no longer light gas but became leaden and viscous. The terrifying pressure acted on every corner of the arena, pressing down on every inch of Hua Lantang's bones, muscles, and organs.
The nature of the Steam Domain underwent a qualitative change under the crushing pressure of the Deep Sea High-Pressure Domain!
The scorching steam was no longer dispersing mist but became superheated, high-pressure fluid capable of melting steel with terrifying penetrative force.
It infiltrated everywhere, eroding Hua Lantang's scale defense, burning his skin, and suffocating his breath.
"Ugh!"
Hua Lantang let out a pained groan, feeling as if he'd been thrown into a boiling furnace or crushed by a ten-thousand-ton press.
His proud Dragon-Wolf defense crumbled like paper before this dual-domain terror. His speed plummeted, movements became unbearably difficult, and each breath burned painfully.
"Second Soul Skill—Boundless Vast Ocean!"
Bo Xi's soul power flowed like an inexhaustible spring, accelerating even more in the steam and high-pressure environment.
Supporting the massive consumption of two domain soul skills seemed like a mere trickle to him. Moreover, within his soul rings lay reserves equivalent to ten times his full soul power. Just as the skill's name suggested, his soul power was like the ocean—vast and boundless.
"Fourth Soul Skill—Endless Water Tornado!"
Bo Xi placed his hands lightly on the ground.
On the arena, the omnipresent vapor, condensed under high pressure, converged madly toward him.
A massive, spinning tornado of terrifying high-pressure and scorching steam formed rapidly around him.
This water tornado behaved like a living entity, emitting a thunderous roar, moving with Bo Xi's will. Wherever it passed, even the sturdy arena floor was torn apart by the super-high-speed rotating water and pressure. It grew and expanded rapidly.
This was the manifestation of a sliver of authority from his Ripple Water martial soul—immensely powerful and surprisingly low in consumption.
If released in the ocean, after sufficient buildup, the massive water tornado could drag even a Title Douluo into the deep sea, drowning and shredding them!
Hua Lantang's eyes bulged with fury. He exerted every ounce of strength, pushing his Dragon-Wolf martial soul to the limit. His third and fourth soul rings shone simultaneously.
"Third Soul Skill—Dragon-Wolf Sky-Rending Claw!"
"Fourth Soul Skill—Howling Moon Soul-Shattering Wave!"
A giant wolf claw shadow tore through the steam, while a violent sonic blast attempted to disperse the water tornado.
However, under the dual-domain's oppressive suppression, his attacks were weakened significantly.
The wolf claw shadow crashed into the water tornado, stirring larger waves before being shredded. The sonic blast was layered and diminished by the heavy pressure and viscous steam, reaching Bo Xi as nothing more than a faint whisper.
"Reverse Scales!"
A golden flash lit up in Bo Xi's eyes as his fourth soul ring emitted intense black light. He aimed to display all his soul skills, making others believe he had revealed all his cards—but when they thought so, they would fall into his trap.
A ferocious dragon majesty mixed with icy killing intent erupted. His strength, speed, and soul fluctuations surged instantly, doubling all attributes. His previously tranquil demeanor turned into a tsunami amid a storm.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Ripple Shockwave Kill!"
Under the enhancement of Reverse Scales, Bo Xi's speed blurred, leaving a trail within the water tornado. Around his body, dozens of high-speed spinning, razor-sharp, deep-blue water blades instantly materialized! Their edges sharp as divine weapons, each contained terrifying cutting power and spirit-shaking force.
These water blades surrounded him like loyal guards, or Death's scythes, slicing through everything in his path as he advanced!
"Swish swish swish—!"
Bo Xi's figure instantly pierced through Hua Lantang's battle armor defense.
The surrounding spray of water blades acted like a meat grinder, furiously cutting into Hua Lantang's Dragon-Wolf scales. The ear-piercing friction, shattering scales, and Hua Lantang's anguished roars mingled together.
Physical cutting, water attribute erosion, spiritual vibration.
Triple damage overlapped explosively!
Hua Lantang's vaunted defense shattered like fragile glass. Blood instantly dyed his broken scales red.
His massive body flew like a broken sack, brutally slammed by the terrifying water blade impact, crashing through the soul-guided protective barrier at the edge of the arena, landing heavily outside, bathed in blood with multiple deep wounds exposing bone, completely unconscious.
The Dragon-Wolf phantom surrounding him had long dispersed.
The battle ended!
From start to finish, it lasted less than a minute!
Hua Lantang, known as the Wolf King and one of the fearsome Eight Great Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy, was like a helpless child before Bo Xi.
Completely crushed, suffocated by the dual domains, driven to desperation by the water tornado, and finally instantly killed under the Reverse Scale-enhanced Ripple Shockwave Kill.
Silence!
A deathly silence enveloped the vast Star Luo Grand Stadium.
All spectators of Star Luo stared blankly at the youth on the arena who slowly retracted his soul rings, dissipated his domains and water tornado, returning to his tranquil state.
They gazed at Hua Lantang lying in a pool of blood outside the arena, being urgently treated by medics.
Five pitch-black ten-thousand-year soul rings…
Overlapping terrifying domains…
The raging water tornado…
The world-shattering water blades that instantly killed a Heavenly King…
All of this struck like a hammer, smashing into the hearts of every Star Luo citizen! Not fear, but the ultimate shock of having their perceptions overturned.
After a brief silence, a voice, trembling with excitement, echoed throughout the arena via amplification soul devices:
"The winner—Monster Academy, Bo Xi!"
"And by imperial decree. In recognition of Bo Xi's unparalleled strength, he is hereby granted the title of the Ninth Heavenly King of Monster Academy, entitled to the empire's highest cultivation resources!"
Bang—!!!
Like a powder keg ignited, the arena exploded!
"The Ninth Heavenly King! Heavenly King Bo Xi!"
"My god, too strong! Instantly killed the Wolf King!"
"Ten-thousand-year soul rings, five of them! Am I dreaming?!"
"Monster Academy, Monster Academy, the Ninth Heavenly King!"
"Bo Xi! Bo Xi! Bo Xi!"
The mountainous cheers, screams, and shouts nearly lifted the roof of the grand stadium.
All doubts and confusion vanished in the face of absolute strength.
What replaced them was fervent worship and pride in association. This was their Ninth Heavenly King of the Star Luo Empire, the new pillar of Monster Academy. Where he came from didn't matter. What mattered was that he was now a Heavenly King of the Star Luo Empire!
Bo Xi stood in the center of the arena, bathed in the deafening cheers. He calmly surveyed the frenzied crowd, his face still devoid of expression, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment. His goal was achieved.
In the most shocking manner, he had ascended to the core stage of the Star Luo Empire. The identity of the Ninth Heavenly King would bring unimaginable convenience and resources. Gu La's plan had taken another solid step forward.
In a corner of the stands, the members of Shrek Academy wore grave expressions.
Tang Wulin gazed at the figure on the arena, sensing the lingering terrifying aura, especially the five glaring black soul rings. His fists unconsciously clenched.
Another formidable opponent—and seemingly aligned with the Star Luo Empire.
In a private box, Emperor Dai Tianling of Star Luo watched the scene below, a satisfied smile finally appearing on his face.
Though he lost a Hua Lantang, he gained someone stronger, with even more terrifying potential—Bo Xi.
The Ninth Heavenly King, the Sea King—this title was enough to awe all directions, restoring the prestige lost to the geniuses of the Douluo Continent.
He glanced toward where the Federation delegation sat, a barely perceptible sharpness in his eyes.
The tournament had just entered its climax. Who would prevail remained uncertain. The gates of Monster Academy were always open to true geniuses. With such talents, how could great achievements be far behind?
------------------------------------------------------
Join my Patreon to read an exclusive novel – 'Douluo: Rebuilding Hao Tian Sect'
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)