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No one knew the extent of Tang San's efforts as he trained tirelessly to overthrow both the Spirit Hall and Shrek Academy.
Of course, the Spirit Hall wasn't idle either. Hu Liena was also working hard in her cultivation. Suddenly, she decided to request permission from Bibi Dong to enter the City of Slaughter for training.
After much contemplation, Bibi Dong agreed. With her presence, Hu Liena would be safe—the King of Slaughter wouldn't dare cross her!
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Five Months After Li Luochen's Seclusion
Li Luochen successfully broke through to Level 90 and condensed his spiritual soul core.
After emerging briefly to rest and relax, Li Luochen noticed that Ye Lingling had just broken through to Level 50. He immediately took her to acquire her fifth soul ring.
Upon returning, Li Luochen resumed his seclusion. Suddenly, a golden pill appeared in his hand, radiating waves of dragon qi.
Li Luochen swallowed it and began refining it. After consuming the Dragon Pill, golden dragon scales began to form on his body, and his eyes turned blood red with a golden hue.
However, a white mist suddenly surged from his forehead, calming him down. This marked the beginning of a long process of refining the Dragon Pill.
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One and a Half Years After Li Luochen's Seclusion
By this time, all members of the Shrek team—except Dai Mubai—had broken through to the Soul King level. Dai Mubai was close, with his soul power reaching Level 49.
In the same year, Tang San's Blue Silver Grass broke through to Level 50, and he hunted a twenty-thousand-year Human-Faced Demon Spider. This strengthened the toxicity of his Blue Silver Grass and enhanced the level of his Eight Spider Spears.
Tang San accidentally discovered that the Eight Spider Spears' ability to devour could rapidly increase his strength. Thus, he began targeting the corpses of soul beasts, devouring their bodies to quickly boost his soul power.
However, this secret didn't stay hidden for long and was soon stopped by Tang Xiao. But the intoxicating rush of rapid growth was something Tang San couldn't resist, so he continued secretly absorbing soul energy.
Meanwhile, Tang San's useless teacher, Yu Xiaogang, after suffering multiple blows, underwent a dark transformation. His martial soul, Luo San Pao, turned into a sinister black dragon. He could now absorb the life force of humans and soul beasts to increase his soul power.
Yu Xiaogang once killed a Level 19 Battle Soul Master in a desperate counterattack. After Luo San Pao devoured the soul master, Yu Xiaogang's soul power smoothly broke through to Level 30.
This sensation drove Yu Xiaogang mad, and he lost all reason. He had discovered his own path to advancement. After obtaining his third soul ring, he began devouring humans one after another.
To grow even stronger, he even tricked his friend, the principal of the Novice Soul Academy in Notting City—a Spirit Tool Soul Master—and devoured him, boosting his soul power by five levels!
Yu Xiaogang firmly believed he could become strong enough to exact revenge. However, after reaching Level 39, no matter how much he devoured, he couldn't advance further.
As expected, trash remained trash—strength couldn't be achieved solely through opportunity.
Due to the mysterious disappearances caused by Yu Xiaogang, the Spirit Hall began investigating. Sensing danger, Yu Xiaogang fled to the Star Luo Empire, where the Spirit Hall's influence was weaker, and the higher concentration of soul masters might help him break through.
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Two Years After Li Luochen's Seclusion
The teachers and senior alumni of Shrek Academy began making significant breakthroughs. First, Zhao Wuji broke through to become a Title Douluo.
Flender led all the Soul Douluos of Shrek Academy to assist Zhao Wuji in acquiring his ninth soul ring. Luck was on their side—Zhao Wuji's ninth soul ring came from a ninety-five-thousand-year Mighty Golden Bear, the most compatible soul beast for his martial soul.
The compatibility of Zhao Wuji's ninth soul ring with his martial soul rivaled that of a hundred-thousand-year soul ring.
Zhao Wuji finally felt vindicated. A Title Douluo in his fifties was considered exceptionally young.
In the same year, the head of security—not a mere guard—of Shrek City, Dai Tianxing, broke through to Level 90. He then requested leave from Flender and set off with his elder brother, Dai Tianyuan, to acquire a soul ring.
It wasn't until two and a half years after Li Luochen's seclusion that Dai Tianxing and Dai Tianyuan returned to Shrek Academy. To everyone's shock, Dai Tianxing's ninth soul ring was a deep crimson red, leaving the group of Soul Conquerors in Shrek City astonished.
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing's soul power broke through to Level 60. She chose to return to Shrek Academy with Jiang Zhu and spend her days there.
With about half a year left before their next reunion, Zhu Zhuqing decided to spend this time at Shrek Academy.
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In the Same Year
Two major events occurred within the Spirit Hall. The first was that Jin E Douluo, the Second Elder, broke through to Level 99, further enriching the Spirit Hall's resources. Originally showing signs of aging, Jin E Douluo regained the vitality of a middle-aged man after this breakthrough.
His aura and demeanor returned to their youthful prime, exuding the vigor of his most vibrant years.
The second event was that the Great Elder of the Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu, sustained severe injuries under mysterious circumstances.
Those below the Title Douluo level only knew that one day, the Great Elder suddenly engaged in battle with an opponent radiating evil energy.
During the fight, the light of the angels was utterly crushed. Eventually, Qian Daoliu was struck down into the center of Wuhun City, his body covered in wounds and corrupted by dark, malevolent energy.
However, the battle ended abruptly. Such a significant injury to the Great Elder should have provoked a response from the Spirit Hall, yet there was none.
Speculation ran rampant. Some guessed that Tang Chen had returned from the dead to seek revenge on Qian Daoliu. Others claimed it was a new Limit Douluo or even a Limit Douluo-level evil soul master.
In reality, the truth was simple: Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu had been discussing an attack on the Hao Tian Sect!
Qian Daoliu refused, citing a promise he had made—that members of the Spirit Hall were not allowed to enter the ancestral lands of the Hao Tian Sect until he personally defeated Tang Chen.
Frustrated by Qian Daoliu's stubbornness, Bibi Dong sneered. This old man had always acted too honorably—some might say he was as stubborn as a mule, refusing to compromise on anything he believed in.
When reasoning failed, Bibi Dong took action. Qian Daoliu's temper flared.
"Bibi Dong, don't think breaking through to a Limit Douluo makes you my equal! Let me show you the true power of the Great Elder!
Unless you can defeat me, every member of the Spirit Hall will follow your commands—even I will submit to you!"
"Oh? And what if I want to annihilate the Hao Tian Sect?" Bibi Dong sneered.
"That… that is unacceptable!" Qian Daoliu hesitated, as he was a man of his word.
"Hmph, enough talk. Today, I'll beat you so badly you won't be able to stand, old fool! The Hao Tian Sect dares to trample on the Spirit Hall!
Your son was killed by me, but you should know who dealt the critical blow—it was I who seized the opportunity. You can direct your hatred toward me!
Two years ago, Tang Xiao rampaged through the Spirit Hall, even attempting to kill Li Luochen—who is your grandson-in-law and the biological father of your great-grandson.
And you did nothing? Fine! If you won't act against the Hao Tian Sect, I will! What does your agreement with Tang Chen have to do with me?
Tang Chen is already dead. Even if he were alive, I'd kill him on the spot!"
Bibi Dong unleashed her full Level 99 aura, wielding the divine artifact of the Rakshasa God—the Scythe of Rakshasa. Her peak quasi-god-level presence overwhelmed Qian Daoliu, an old semi-god.
Even among Limit Douluos, there were tiers: quasi-semi-gods, semi-gods, and quasi-gods.
Quasi-semi-gods were those who had just broken through to the Limit Douluo level but hadn't yet mastered its power. Even so, they could easily defeat three Level 98 Super Douluos.
Semi-gods represented a watershed. Many Limit Douluos reached their limit here. Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi were at this level—a single semi-god could effortlessly defeat two quasi-semi-gods.
The true pinnacle of Limit Douluos was the quasi-god level. Quasi-gods were just one step away from godhood, with their spiritual power having transformed into divine consciousness.
Quasi-gods possessed the potential to break through to Level 100. In the divine realm, if their attributes aligned with a Tier One God, they would undergo divine trials. Even the God King might bestow such trials.
Currently, only Tang Chen had reached the quasi-god level. Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi had barely reached this level by borrowing divine power—but borrowed strength was still borrowed.
Tang Chen achieved quasi-god status through his self-created Great Sumeru Hammer technique, using explosive rings to push his power beyond the limits of a quasi-god and defeat Qian Daoliu.
Now, Bibi Dong was a genuine quasi-god, with her spiritual power reaching the level of divine consciousness. Her soul power was fully accumulated, and her next step was breaking through to Level 100 to ascend to godhood.
She had already completed seven trials of the Rakshasa, truly mastering the divine artifact, the Scythe of Rakshasa. How could Qian Daoliu possibly stand against her?
Within an hour, Qian Daoliu was defeated. This was merely because Bibi Dong intended to defeat him rather than kill him—if she had aimed for his life, it would have been over even faster.
After Qian Daoliu's defeat, Bibi Dong reassigned all the elders from the Hall of Elders, leaving Qian Daoliu alone in the hall.
After all, Bibi Dong's proposal to attack the Hao Tian Sect had gained the support of the elders. Why should they tolerate the Hao Tian Sect's provocations just because of an old agreement?
The elders had long wanted to destroy the Hao Tian Sect, and Bibi Dong's proposal deeply resonated with them.
Qian Daoliu's refusal to annihilate the Hao Tian Sect even angered Qian Renxue. Due to Li Luochen's presence, Qian Renxue no longer cared about the oath of their bet.
Why should the Hao Tian Sect be allowed to come to the Spirit Hall and attempt to kill Li Luochen without retaliation? There was no justice in that. If they didn't honor their agreement to stay secluded, why should we?
Qian Renxue wrote a letter to Qian Daoliu, stating that if he didn't destroy the Hao Tian Sect, she would never see him again—and neither would her great-grandson!
Indeed, in this aspect, Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue were truly mother and daughter—both shared the same decisive and ruthless nature.
The solitary elder, Qian Daoliu, was not only stripped of his authority but also earned the resentment of his granddaughter. Tsk, tsk, tsk—what did he expect, trying to impose his righteousness on others? He deserved it!
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