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I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: Seven Kill Shock the World
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Luck was on their side. Barely ten minutes after riding the summoned phoenix spirit Xiao Hong, Chu Chengzhou spotted a small town appearing in the distance.
Without delay, Chu Chengzhou instructed Xiao Hong to descend, and he entered the town with Hu Liena.
Not long after, he had a rough idea of their location—they were within the territory of the Balak Kingdom, located in the central part of the continent.
In the Balak Kingdom?
About fifteen minutes later, after purchasing a map of the Balak Kingdom from a shop, Chu Chengzhou, with Hu Liena, climbed back onto Xiao Hong's back and flew southeast.
Since they were in the Balak Kingdom, one couldn't help but mention Suotuo City, located in the southeastern part of the kingdom, which housed the famous Rose Hotel.
And the Rose Hotel in Suotuo City was Chu Chengzhou's destination.
Chu Chengzhou: Hehehe—!
As night fell, two figures—one male and one female—entered Suotuo City.
Upon entering the city gates, Chu Chengzhou and Hu Liena immediately drew the attention of passersby.
However, their somewhat pale complexions, icy auras, and faint traces of chilling murderous intent caused those around them to instinctively keep what they perceived as a "safe" distance.
It was as if an invisible barrier prevented anyone from approaching.
One could say that wherever they went, the once bustling streets became eerily silent, as people feared accidentally provoking these two obviously formidable soul masters.
Perhaps it was due to the numerous curious gazes from afar, but Chu Chengzhou failed to notice that the moment he entered Suotuo City with Hu Liena, a vendor near the gates suddenly narrowed his pupils. After pretending to remain nonchalant, the vendor quickly packed up his stall and left Suotuo City once the two had moved away.
Clearly, this vendor recognized Chu Chengzhou and Hu Liena—or at least one of them.
Ignoring the stares, Chu Chengzhou led Hu Liena toward the Rose Hotel.
When he first entered Shrek Academy, he hadn't visited Suotuo City infrequently, so he naturally knew the hotel's location.
Not long after, they arrived at a three-story building shaped like a massive red rose.
"The Rose Hotel?"
Looking at the distinctive hotel before her, Hu Liena paused, then blushed slightly.
Though she might be somewhat naive, she wasn't completely clueless. The hotel's unique design made it clear that this wasn't exactly a respectable establishment.
"Let's go, Nana. I've heard the environment here is quite good."
After offering a brief explanation, Chu Chengzhou pulled Hu Liena inside.
The Rose Hotel was just as it had been in the past. Upon entering, a wave of intense rose fragrance greeted them. The soothing aroma calmed both body and mind, and Hu Liena felt some of the icy killing intent in her heart dissipate.
At the reception desk in the lobby, a server was engrossed in reading a novel titled The Amorous Adventures of the White Horse Douluo.
The plot of the novel must have been vivid, as the server appeared deeply absorbed, failing to notice the two customers who had just entered.
But before the couple could speak, the server, immersed in the novel, suddenly sensed an icy aura. His hairs stood on end as he shivered involuntarily.
Looking up, the server saw a man and woman with pale faces and terrifying cold auras walking toward him.
Though the man was handsome and the woman beautiful, at that moment, the server was filled with fear.
The approaching couple bore an uncanny resemblance to the evil soul masters slain by the protagonist of The Amorous Adventures of the White Horse Douluo while rescuing one of his many heroines!
"Wh-what can I do for you, esteemed guests?"
Forcing himself to suppress his fear, the server stammered.
The usually eloquent server found himself struggling to speak under the unintentionally exuded killing intent of the two.
"Book a room~"
Chu Chengzhou noticed the server's fear but paid it no mind, speaking directly.
"May I ask how many rooms you would like to book?"
Relieved that they were merely booking a room, the server regained his composure and spoke more fluently.
Though there was a possibility that these two were evil soul masters, as long as they could communicate normally and weren't completely consumed by bloodlust, he—a mere hotel clerk—was unlikely to face mortal danger.
After all, even if evil soul masters wanted to cause trouble, they wouldn't choose a large city like Suotuo City, teeming with powerful soul masters.
"Hmm? Think carefully about how many rooms your hotel has left. Money isn't an issue for me!"
Annoyed by the server's lack of tact in asking how many rooms they wanted, Chu Chengzhou slapped the counter and spoke with an unfriendly expression.
"Ah, my apologies, esteemed guest! Please forgive me—we only have one room left."
Instantly alarmed, the server bowed deeply in apology.
He was a new employee at the Rose Hotel and had momentarily forgotten the rules his manager had drilled into him under the weight of his earlier fear.
What were the Rose Hotel's rules?
Whenever a male customer arrived with one or more female companions and asked about room availability, the response was always that only one room remained.
This rule had earned the Rose Hotel countless positive reviews from male patrons and garnered a loyal customer base.
"Hmm, excellent. I'll take it."
Chu Chengzhou nodded in satisfaction.
Hu Liena: "..."
"Esteemed guest, our 'Red Ocean' suite on the third floor is available. It costs ten gold spirit coins per night. How many nights would you like to book?"
"Ten nights, for now!"
Chu Chengzhou didn't hesitate and handed over a hundred gold spirit coins.
"Esteemed guest, here is the key to the Red Ocean suite. Wishing you a pleasant evening."
After verifying the gold spirit coins, the server respectfully handed over the key.
Taking the key, Chu Chengzhou turned and led Hu Liena upstairs.
On the third floor of the Rose Hotel, in the Red Ocean suite.
Surrounded by the rich scent of roses and gazing at the heart-shaped red bed that occupied nearly half the bedroom, Hu Liena felt her heartbeat quicken significantly.
Turning her head to look at Chu Chengzhou, who was smiling mischievously at her, Hu Liena blushed and said, "I'm going to take a bath~"
"Nana, let me help you! Don't worry—I won't do anything inappropriate."
Chu Chengzhou shamelessly offered.
Hu Liena didn't respond but cast a flirtatious glance at Chu Chengzhou before heading toward the bathroom.
"Hehe~"
Grinning mischievously, Chu Chengzhou followed her.
More than half an hour later, the lights in the bedroom went out. Accompanied by a cry that was both painful and pleasurable, not only did the continent gain another true woman, but a young man also officially came of age.
Meanwhile, ten miles outside of Suotuo City, in a small village of modest size.
At the edge of the village, beneath a civilian house, nearly the entire underground had been hollowed out. An unknown faction had established a secret underground base here.
Inside the base, in a dimly lit basement, a middle-aged man was furiously writing.
Soon, the man sealed the completed letter into an envelope and called out, "Someone come!"
"Boss~"
A young man entered.
"Send this letter to the Balak branch immediately. Hurry!"
The middle-aged man handed the envelope to the young man, his expression serious.
"Yes!"
The young man accepted the order and immediately arranged for someone to deliver the letter.
'Hehe, the Empire's top target has arrived in Suotuo City. Looks like it's time for me, Old Wang, to get promoted and make some money!'
After the young man left, the middle-aged man thought to himself with satisfaction.
Empire? There were only two empires on the continent—the Tian Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire.
Clearly, this underground base belonged to the intelligence operatives of the Star Luo Empire stationed within the Balak Kingdom.
That night, the letter was urgently sent to the Balak City branch. Subsequently, the intelligence chief of the Balak branch arranged for a flying-type soul master to deliver the message to the newly reestablished Tian Dou intelligence division.
The next morning.
Still in a dreamlike state, Chu Chengzhou felt something unusual tickling his nose and woke up.
Opening his eyes, he saw Hu Liena lying beside him, propping her head up with one hand while playfully brushing a strand of hair against his nose.
"Awake?"
Recalling the previous night's frenzy and the lingering soreness in her body, Hu Liena blushed and softly asked.
"Nana, I'm hungry~" Chu Chengzhou answered evasively.
"Hungry? Then let's go eat something?"
Hu Liena paused and suggested.
"Not me being hungry—it's Little Chu who hasn't had enough."
Chu Chengzhou grinned mischievously.
Reality was reality, and fantasy was fantasy. No matter how close illusions approached reality, falsehoods were still falsehoods. That exquisite sense of real pleasure could never be replicated by illusions.
Hu Liena: "..."
Soon, another fierce battle erupted in the room.
By midday, after tidying up and having lunch, Chu Chengzhou got down to business.
Indulging endlessly in passion wasn't sustainable, and Hu Liena couldn't endure prolonged battles. Thus, Chu Chengzhou began teaching her various techniques.
Now that her soul and body belonged to him, she couldn't be treated any differently.
He possessed many techniques, and it was impossible for Hu Liena to learn them all.
However, the three essentials—"essence," "energy," and "spirit"—corresponding to Unbreakable Golden Body, Nine Breaths Qi Absorption Technique, and Eternal Thought, were mandatory.
Additionally, as a mental control-type soul master, Hu Liena excelled in spiritual power. The illusion technique Void Realm Illusion was also a must-learn. Other techniques were optional.
After all, mastering ultimate techniques required considerable effort. Since Hu Liena wasn't using any cheats, it was better to specialize in one area rather than attempt to learn everything.
Over the next few days, aside from meals, the two never stepped foot outside the Rose Hotel.
One imparted knowledge, answering questions and guiding; the other studied diligently under Teacher Chu's careful instruction. Occasionally, they would delve into discussions on the profound principles of yin and yang. Life was blissful.
Three days after Chu Chengzhou and Hu Liena left Slaughter City, the bloody and chaotic Slaughter City welcomed a stunningly beautiful woman.
At the entrance of Slaughter City, under the reverent and fearful gazes of numerous enforcers, Bibi Dong, clad in a golden gown, holding a gemstone scepter, wearing a nine-curved purple-gold crown, and enveloped in a white domain, entered Slaughter City.
Her precious disciple had been in Slaughter City for nearly half a year. Though she had already arranged for local forces to look after her, Bibi Dong remained uneasy. With fewer pressing matters recently, she decided to visit Slaughter City to check on her disciple.
However, upon entering the inner city of Slaughter City, her expression suddenly darkened.
The scale of the inner city wasn't particularly large, and with Bibi Dong's immense strength, the entire inner city was within her sensory range.
At this moment, she was shocked to discover that she couldn't sense her precious disciple's presence.
What did this mean? It meant that Hu Liena was no longer in Slaughter City!
If her disciple wasn't in Slaughter City, it either meant she had successfully achieved a hundred consecutive victories in the Hell Slaughter Arena and left—or...
"No, it can't be! I must have sensed wrong!"
Bibi Dong tightened her grip on the scepter, panic flickering across her otherwise flawless face.
Forcing herself not to dwell on the worst-case scenario, Bibi Dong extended her spiritual power once again, carefully probing the surroundings.
After a long while, her heart sank. Aside from a few structures resistant to spiritual detection, she had thoroughly searched the inner city but still couldn't find any trace of Hu Liena.
The next moment, she slammed her scepter onto the ground, unleashing a terrifying killing intent as she shouted, "Slaughter King, show yourself!"
Having already received reports from his subordinates about the arrival of the "Rakshasa Killing God," the Slaughter King, upon sensing the sudden surge of powerful killing intent within the city, immediately flew over.
"Bibi Dong, are you so audacious? Is your Spirit Hall declaring war on my Slaughter City?"
The Slaughter King, cloaked in a crimson mantle, spoke with an unfriendly tone.
"Where is my disciple? If you don't produce her today, don't blame me, Bibi Dong, for slaughtering your entire Slaughter City!"
The phantom of the Soul Devouring Spider King materialized behind her, and six soul rings—five black and one red—radiated brilliantly as Bibi Dong bellowed.
Every mother harbors maternal love, though for certain reasons, she hadn't directed that love toward her biological daughter. Instead, she poured it entirely into her disciple, Hu Liena.
For Bibi Dong, whose heart had long embraced darkness, her first love Yu Xiaogang and her cherished disciple Hu Liena were the only two sources of light in her life—not even her biological daughter Qian Renxue compared. Now that Hu Liena was missing, how could she remain calm?
If her worst fears were realized, the wrath and grief consuming Bibi Dong might very well drive her to slaughter the entire Slaughter City.
"Hmph, Bibi Dong, you dare question me? Your disciple and the 'Soul-Control Demon' wreaked havoc in my Slaughter City, and now you have the audacity to interrogate me? Do you truly think I, the Slaughter King, fear your Spirit Hall?"
Well, he actually did.
Though Slaughter City had a special environment that restricted soul masters from using soul skills, Killing Gods possessing the Killing God Domain were exempt from such restrictions.
Moreover, even soul masters without the Killing God Domain could use soul skills within its range.
While he might be able to handle Bibi Dong alone, if she brought several strong members of the Spirit Hall, Slaughter City wouldn't stand a chance.
"Enough talk! Hand over my disciple!"
Upon hearing the Slaughter King's retort, Bibi Dong slightly reined in her killing intent.
Judging from the King's reaction, her disciple Hu Liena likely hadn't perished. Moreover, it seemed she had caused quite a stir in Slaughter City.
Thinking about it, how could someone like the Slaughter King, nothing more than a rat lurking in the shadows, dare harm her disciple? Did he have a death wish?
"Three days ago, your disciple already left Slaughter City."
The Slaughter King spoke with a dark expression.
Bibi Dong's blatant disregard for him infuriated him, but unfortunately, in this world, strength was king. Lacking sufficient power, he dared not confront this madwoman head-on.
"Hmm? She left three days ago?"
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong frowned.
As a teacher, how could she not know her disciple's abilities?
When she had entered Slaughter City as a Soul Sage, it took her nearly a year to leave. Yet her disciple, Hu Liena, managed to leave in less than half a year? Was he joking?
"I have no interest in deceiving you. Many fallen soul masters still remain in the inner city. Ask someone about your disciple, the 'Hell Witch.' Don't cause trouble in my Slaughter City, or don't blame me for being merciless!"
With nothing more to say, the Slaughter King delivered a harsh warning before turning and leaving without a backward glance.
This madwoman was ruthless, and her demeanor made it seem as if everyone were her subordinate. Afraid he might lose control and attack her if he stayed any longer, he fled.
Watching the departing figure of the Slaughter King, Bibi Dong didn't pursue him.
The Slaughter King feared Bibi Dong, but Bibi Dong also feared the King.
Bibi Dong understood Slaughter City's uniqueness. In her eyes, it was a place of divine inheritance, and the Slaughter King was akin to Qian Daoliu of the Worship Hall or Bo Saixi of the Sea God Island—powerful and possessing numerous hidden trump cards. Unless absolutely necessary, it was best not to antagonize him.
Subsequently, Bibi Dong sought out a fallen soul master in the inner city and inquired about the deeds of the "Hell Witch."
The fallen soul masters of Slaughter City were unruly, they only respected four things—first came the heavens, then the earth, followed by the Slaughter King, and finally themselves—but under Bibi Dong's terrifying killing intent, this particular fallen soul master, who had initially considered playing the role of a "Secret Chamber Douluo," immediately spilled everything like beans.
After questioning him, a flash of terrifying killing intent passed, and this five-ring nobody was instantly obliterated by the overwhelming murderous aura.
This proved that not every soul master was qualified to become a "Secret Chamber Douluo."
Afterward, Bibi Dong fell into deep thought.
The question arose: Who was this "Soul-Control Demon"? How could he turn Slaughter City into a ghost town?
Moreover, this "Soul-Control Demon" wasn't old, and shortly after arriving in Slaughter City, he aligned himself with her disciple. They likely knew each other prior to entering.
Young, skilled in spiritual power, and acquainted with her disciple...
Suddenly, the image of a handsome youth appeared in Bibi Dong's mind.
"Hmph, rejected this Pope and now gone off with my disciple, huh?"
A cold smile spread across Bibi Dong's lips.
A week later, in the morning.
"Bad boy, I need to return."
After an intense morning session, her body drenched in sweat and weakened, Hu Liena spoke to Chu Chengzhou.
Slaughter City was fraught with danger, and Hu Liena was certain that her teacher, who regarded her as her own child, had been worrying about her.
Though she hadn't specified a return date when she went to train in Slaughter City, now that she had safely left and spent an additional ten days outside, continuing to make her teacher worry would be unacceptable.
Additionally, Hu Liena feared that she and Chu Chengzhou were neglecting their cultivation. After all, their current age was prime for rapid advancement.
While exploring the principles of yin and yang was enjoyable, excessive indulgence could harm the body. Even with a strong physique, such neglect wasn't advisable.
"Are you returning already? Nana, I'll escort you back to Spirit Hall City! Hmm, let's first visit a sacred site to get you something good."
Though somewhat reluctant, Chu Chengzhou understood the principle that indulgence in pleasures could lead to ruin and didn't insist on keeping her longer.
However, before taking Hu Liena back to Spirit Hall City, he planned to bring her to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well in Sunset Forest.
Back then, he hadn't harvested all the immortal-grade medicinal herbs growing there—he had left several behind.
Everything depended on perspective. Compared to ordinary soul masters, Hu Liena's cultivation talent was quite good. Though she wasn't born with full soul power, she wasn't far off.
But compared to true geniuses like Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing—who had undergone transformations after consuming immortal herbs—or Qian Renxue, who was born with Level 20 soul power, Hu Liena's cultivation talent fell short.
She was his girl—if conditions allowed, he naturally had to arrange for her.
Of course, considering she had already mastered Nine Breaths Qi Absorption Technique, Hu Liena's current soul power cultivation speed certainly surpassed Qian Renxue's sporadic efforts.
Heaven had bestowed this angelic young lady with the strongest cultivation talent in history, but alas, she hadn't fully appreciated it.
"What good thing? What are you talking about?"
Blinking, Hu Liena asked, puzzled.
"You'll see when we get there!"
Chu Chengzhou didn't elaborate. It had been a while since he last visited the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and he couldn't guarantee that the remaining immortal herbs were still intact.
After tidying up, the two left the Rose Hotel.
After exiting the city gates, Chu Chengzhou summoned the fire phoenix spirit Xiao Hong and, with Hu Liena, flew northward.
However, barely ten minutes after leaving Suotuo City, Chu Chengzhou's expression suddenly changed. He looked gravely toward the distant sky ahead.
With his sharp eyesight, Chu Chengzhou spotted two flying-type Soul Douluos with eight glowing soul rings approaching them.
It seemed trouble was brewing!
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