The night was deep, and the temporary camp at the outskirts of Star Dou Great Forest was enveloped in silence. The embers of the campfire flickered with a faint red glow, illuminating the steady figure of Yang Wudi, who was keeping watch. Exhausted from the day's thrilling events, everyone had fallen into a deep sleep inside their tents, except for Marco, who sat cross-legged, silently contemplating his newly acquired Domain and surging Source of Life.
Just as all sounds faded into silence—
"Hum!"
An indescribably vast aura, like a slumbering dragon awakening, suddenly erupted from Li Zhaoyan's tent! The aura was as heavy as a mountain range, yet carried the solemn, desolate chill of autumn, instantly sweeping through the entire camp! Invisible ripples seemed to undulate through the air, and the fine gravel on the ground trembled slightly!
"Hmm?!" Yang Wudi's eyes snapped open, sharp light bursting from them as he instantly rose to his feet. His gaze burned intently toward Li Zhaoyan's tent, his expression shifting from astonishment to irrepressible ecstasy and excitement!
Inside the tents, Ye Lingling, Osler, and Qiu Yao, who had been asleep, were jolted awake by this sudden, powerful aura. They emerged from their tents one by one, rubbing their drowsy eyes, their faces filled with confusion and a trace of alarm.
"Uncle Yang, what happened? What was that noise just now?" Ye Lingling asked, rubbing her eyes.
Yang Wudi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the excitement in his heart. He signaled for everyone to be quiet, his gaze still fixed intently on that tent. In a hushed voice filled with utmost solemnity, he said, "Quiet! It's your father (Uncle Li)... He has broken through! He is currently breaking through the bottleneck to become a Titled Douluo!"
"Titled Douluo?!" The three children instantly shed their sleepiness, their eyes widening in disbelief, their faces filled with shock and joy! Titled Douluo—that was the pinnacle existence in the Soul Master Realm, a dream countless Soul Masters pursued their entire lives yet found unattainable! Osler was so excited he trembled slightly; coming from a great family, he understood even more clearly what a newly advanced Titled Douluo signified!
Marco had also risen early. Sensing the continuously rising, increasingly refined and vast aura from his father's tent, his heart swelled with relief and pride. His father, burdened by a deep obsession and inner demon toward the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger due to his grandfather's death, had made rapid progress in cultivation over the years but always hit bottlenecks. Now, with vengeance achieved, his inner demons dispelled, and his thoughts clear, the accumulated foundation burst forth, finally allowing him to take this crucial step naturally!
Not daring to disturb him, everyone held their breath and focused their minds, gathering around the campfire, their eyes occasionally darting toward the tent, filled with anticipation and tension. The camp fell into another kind of peculiar silence, broken only by the occasional crackle of the campfire and the faint sounds of Soul Power fluctuations emanating from the tent.
Time passed bit by bit, and the aura inside the tent grew stronger and more solid. The killing intent, reminiscent of autumn maples, spread out, yet carried a heavy and grand weight after settling. Finally, in the darkest moment before dawn, the aura seemed to break through an invisible barrier, reaching an entirely new height.
Like rivers converging into the sea, it became vast and boundless, profound and unfathomable! Immediately after, the aura gradually withdrew inward, finally settling into tranquility.
After roughly the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the tent flap was lifted, and Li Zhaoyan stepped out slowly.
At this moment, Li Zhaoyan's appearance hadn't changed much, but his entire demeanor had undergone an Overturning Heaven and Earth transformation! His gaze was deeper, as if containing endless vicissitudes and wisdom. The aura around him was harmonious and restrained, yet it gave off an unshakable, mountain-like solidity. Just by standing there, he naturally became the center of the entire world.
"Father!"
"Uncle Li!"
The children rushed over excitedly.
A gentle smile graced Li Zhaoyan's face as his eyes swept over everyone, finally settling on Yang Wudi. The two exchanged a knowing smile, words unnecessary. He patted Qiu Yao's head lightly and nodded to Osler and Marco.
"Congratulations, Brother Li (Father)! On achieving Titled Douluo!" Yang Wudi and Marco spoke in unison, offering solemn congratulations. The others quickly followed suit, their small faces flushed with excitement.
"It was merely a fortunate breakthrough," Li Zhaoyan waved his hand dismissively, his tone calm, though the gleam in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil. After a moment of contemplation, his expression turned serious as he addressed the group, especially Osler. "My breakthrough is of great significance. Until we return to Heaven Dou City and the situation becomes clear, remember not to reveal even a hint of it to outsiders. Particularly you, Osler—keep this in mind, and do not mention it even within your family for now. Understood?"
Osler's heart tightened as he immediately grasped the stakes. The emergence of a new Titled Douluo could shift the balance of power among many factions. He nodded gravely. "Yes, Uncle Li, I understand!"
"Alright, dawn is approaching. Let's pack up and prepare to return. We've been out for quite some time; it's time to head back," Li Zhaoyan said.
Everyone followed his instructions, packing their belongings and extinguishing the campfire. The rising sun cast a golden veil over the forest. As the group set off on their return journey, the atmosphere was noticeably lighter due to Li Zhaoyan's breakthrough and Marco's safe return, their steps even seeming more buoyant.
During a rest break along the way, Li Zhaoyan called Marco aside to a tree a short distance away. Gazing at his son, his eyes filled with concern and lingering fear, he asked, "Ke'er, with no outsiders around now, tell me, what exactly happened in that... Arena of Life and Death? How did you manage to defeat the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger?" This matter had been weighing on his mind; without clarity, he couldn't find peace.
Knowing his father's worry, Marco recounted his experience in the Arena of Life and Death in detail: "Father, that space was very peculiar, with absolute rules. Both the Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger and I were stripped of most of our power, reverting to our infancy, roughly around six years old."
Hearing this, Li Zhaoyan's heart clenched—a six-year-old child facing a top-tier Soul Beast cub of the same stage?
Marco continued, "At first, I was panicked too, having lost my Soul Power and Martial Soul. But I soon realized that while the Arena of Life and Death stripped away Soul Power, it didn't restrict another kind of power—the Haki I've been rigorously training all these years!"
"Haki?" Surprise flickered in Li Zhaoyan's eyes.
"Yes, Armament Haki and Observation Haki." Marco nodded. "Haki originates from the physical body and willpower, and has long become part of my Source of Life. Although my body has shrunk, the total amount and intensity of my Haki have correspondingly weakened, but its 'quality' and application techniques remain. As for the juvenile Dark Demonic Evil God Tiger, while its ferocity hasn't diminished, it lost its powerful Spirit Abilities and the strength of an adult form, relying more on instinctual pouncing and biting."
"So, relying on combat skills and Haki far superior to its own, I ultimately defeated it." Marco said it lightly, but Li Zhaoyan could imagine the peril involved—a child facing a tiger cub required immense courage and precise judgment!
"After defeating it, I absorbed a very pure, attribute-less Source of Life." When mentioning the gains, Marco's eyes also lit up. "This essence greatly nourished my body, not only completely restoring my previously consumed Soul Power but directly pushing my Soul Power breakthrough to level 59!"
More importantly, it made my life foundation more solid, my vitality unprecedentedly vigorous, and I felt my potential had increased significantly.
He paused and revealed the greatest gain: "Moreover, stimulated by this vast Source of Life, my Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit underwent a deep evolution, successfully awakening my own Domain—I call it the 'Phoenix Domain'!"
"Domain?!" This time Li Zhaoyan was genuinely shocked! Awakening a Domain at the Soul King level? This was simply unheard of! He deeply understood the rarity and power of a Domain; this meant his son's future would be limitless!
"Good! Good! Good!" Li Zhaoyan said "good" three times in a row, firmly patting his son's shoulder, his eyes filled with relief, pride, and a trace of release. Not only had his son returned safely, but he had also turned misfortune into blessing, gaining such a tremendous opportunity! This finally alleviated much of the guilt and fear in his heart.
"This matter must also be kept secret. The power of the Domain is your important trump card," Li Zhaoyan advised.
"I understand, Father." Marco nodded.
Father and son smiled at each other, the sunlight filtering through the leaves, warm and bright. The journey back seemed to become exceptionally smooth.