Time flew by swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, two years had quietly passed since Marco and Lu Zhou's thrilling spar.
During these two years, the younger generation of the Soul Master Realm in Heaven Dou City and even the entire Douluo Continent experienced turbulent changes, and the Li Mansion undoubtedly shone as a dazzling star amid these waves.
Deep within the mansion, in Marco's private cultivation chamber.
"Hum—"
A vast and majestic aura gradually receded as Marco, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes. A flicker of azure flame passed through his pupils, and deep within his double pupils, it seemed as though a river of stars was swirling. He exhaled softly, his breath rounded and profound—he had clearly reached the 62nd rank of the Soul Emperor realm! In just two years, advancing from a newly promoted Soul King to a high-level Soul Emperor, such cultivation speed was truly astonishing. This was not only due to the immense potential of his Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit and the assistance of his Phoenix Domain but also the result of his relentless day-and-night dedication and rigorous training. Now, his demeanor had grown increasingly steady and reserved, yet a natural air of extraordinary confidence and authority emanated from his brow.
In the neighboring courtyard, the sharp clashing of blades and the collision of Soul Power could often be heard. Lu Zhou's progress was equally remarkable. Spurred by their spar two years prior, he trained even more diligently, his obsession with the Way of the Blade reaching near-fanaticism. Now, his Soul Power had climbed to the 56th rank, his Blade Intent more condensed and pure than ever, and his mastery of "Night" had reached a sublime level. Though he remained aloof and taciturn, the frost in his expression seemed to thaw slightly when interacting with Marco, Osler, and the others. The two frequently sparred and discussed their insights, both rivals and friends, advancing together.
Ye Lingling, relying on her top-tier Nine Heart Begonia Spirit and unremitting efforts, successfully broke through to the 43rd rank. Her healing abilities grew increasingly powerful, and with Li Zhaoyan's covert support, she began to handle some of the family's affairs, her demeanor becoming ever more composed and capable. Under Marco's careful guidance and his own diligence, Osler's Soul Power reached the 41st rank. His Nether Panther Spirit became more agile and swift, and he laid a solid foundation in the Six Styles. His combat prowess was now incomparable to the past, and he had unquestionably become the leading figure among the younger generation of the Osler family, which now poured resources into him to an unprecedented degree.
The most delightful surprise, however, was little Qiu Yao. In the carefree environment of the Li Family and with ample resource support, her innate talent with the Brain Soul Spirit gradually emerged. Her Mental Power grew rapidly, and her Soul Power cultivation progressed at an astonishing speed—she was now a 21st-rank Great Spirit Master. Her first Spirit Ability, "Mind Control," became increasingly adept. Within the range of her Mental Power, she could move or manipulate objects with her will. Although the weight and precision she could manage were still limited, she displayed remarkable potential in reconnaissance, assistance, and even delicate operations, becoming an indispensable "little helper" during everyone's training and outings. Her personality had also brightened considerably.
One day, everyone gathered in the living room, chatting about recent interesting news. Osler mentioned that a small, newly established academy had appeared in the southern part of Heaven Dou City, though its conditions seemed quite harsh, sparking a discussion among the group. Marco held his teacup, his gaze drifting toward the window.
Amidst the bustling exterior of Heaven Dou City, his thoughts churned restlessly.
"Shrek Academy... Based on the timeline, they should all be making their appearances soon," Marco silently mused. This name was no stranger to him. Hazy memories from his previous life told him this was the starting point where the Child of Destiny—Tang San—would officially step onto the continent's stage. It meant that Tang San, Xiao Wu, Dai Mubai, Oscar... all those illustrious names from the "story" would soon gather here. The winds of change were truly beginning to stir across the continent.
"In those fanfiction novels, that Tang San seemed to follow the principle of 'those who submit will prosper, those who resist will perish'—viewing anyone who slightly displeased him as deserving death?" Marco pondered to himself, his brow slightly furrowed. He didn't entirely believe those vague "plot points," but subconsciously, he maintained an indescribable wariness and distance from this future Sea God and Asura God. This world was real; every person had their own will and choices, far from being mere puppets in a script. Where should he, and everything he sought to protect, stand in the future? Should he follow the so-called "plot" or carve out his own path? He hadn't reached a conclusion yet, but one thing was clear: strength was the foundation that determined everything.
Over these past two years, Marco hadn't been training behind closed doors. The Heavenly Fight Grand Arena had become his best venue for honing practical combat skills and testing his learnings. With the absolute advantage of his Phoenix Domain and the bizarre yet powerful martial art that fused Haki with the Six Styles, he was virtually unbeatable in Soul Emperor-level soul battles! One clean victory after another, repeated successes in challenging opponents above his level—all these had rapidly built his reputation! The name "Azure Flame Marco" resounded throughout Heaven Dou City and, through word-of-mouth among traveling Soul Masters, gradually spread to the younger generation across the entire continent. The title of "The Continent's Top Genius" spread like wildfire, even earning public praise from a high-ranking figure in the Spirit Hall—though whether this praise stemmed from goodwill or ulterior motives remained unclear.
However, along with fame came increasingly complex situations and frequent visits. The most notable among them was from the current Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire—Xue Qinghe.
This Prince, renowned for his benevolence and wisdom, had significantly increased his visits to the Li Mansion over the past two years. Each time, he arrived with utmost humility, sincere in speech and meticulous in etiquette—discussing governance and philosophy with Li Zhaoyan, exchanging insights on the Soul Master path with Marco, and showing thoughtful care toward Ye Lingling, Osler, and others, fully demonstrating his demeanor of respecting and valuing talent. His purpose was self-evident: he hoped to bring the rapidly rising powerful force of the Li Family under his wing.
Marco observed coldly, but his mind was crystal clear. He knew the true identity of this "Xue Qinghe"—she was the daughter of Spirit Hall's Pope Bibidong, Qian Renxue! Her goal was far from simply recruiting a talented Soul Master. The potential displayed by the Li Family now, especially with his father Li Zhaoyan as a newly advanced Titled Douluo and himself as the "Continent's Top Genius," was enough to influence the future power dynamics of the Heaven Dou Empire, and even the balance of power across the continent. How could Qian Renxue let such an opportunity slip?
"Perhaps it's also related to that 'Sacred Light Paradise Herb' father gifted back then?" Marco speculated privately. The effects of that Immortal Herb were heaven-defying, likely having already drawn the attention of the Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue might believe that there existed some connection between the Li Family and the Spirit Hall.
Was it some kind of potential "good karma"? Or did she want to use this opportunity to investigate further?
Thinking of the Sacred Light Paradise Herb, Marco was reminded of Qian Renxue's astonishing talent. "Innate Full Spirit Power of twenty levels, Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul... this was originally peerless aptitude. Unfortunately, to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire, she had to conceal her strength and pretend to be the mediocre Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, probably wasting too much precious cultivation time. Otherwise, with her talent and the resources of Spirit Hall, her current achievements would likely be far greater than this." Marco thought to himself, feeling a complex emotion toward this "Crown Prince" at the center of the vortex, burdened with a heavy mission. That Immortal Herb might slightly compensate for the cultivation foundation she had lost due to her infiltration.
The improvement in strength and the broadening of his perspective had also caused subtle changes in Marco's mindset. His former anticipation and enthusiasm for the "Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament" had gradually faded. When he initially invited Lu Zhou to form a team and participate, it was more out of yearning for the peak stage and valuing friendship. But now, with his strength as a sixty-second level Soul Emperor, combined with the Phoenix Domain and various hidden cards, participating in that tournament for Soul Masters under twenty-five years old, even while hiding most of his strength, felt somewhat like "bullying others," making it difficult to muster much interest. The so-called honors and rewards held far less appeal for him at his current level.
"Perhaps letting Lingling, Osler, and the others take Qiu Yao and Brother Lu to participate, focusing on gaining experience, would be a good choice," Marco calculated in his heart. "As for me... a bigger stage might lie outside the competition arena."
He stood up and walked to the window, looking down at the bustling, prosperous Heaven Dou City below. This city, and even this continent, appeared peaceful on the surface, but undercurrents were surging. The ambitions of Spirit Hall, the games between the two great empires, the relationships between the Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects, and those "original" characters about to appear... all of it would soon collide into brilliant yet cruel sparks.
"The storm is coming..." Marco murmured softly, but his eyes grew increasingly firm and sharp. "No matter what the future holds, no matter what kind of person Tang San truly is, only strength is the eternal truth. Protecting what I want to protect, pursuing what I want to pursue, walking my own path—that is enough."
Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting a golden glow upon his upright figure. Two years of sedimentation and growth had given him the initial qualifications and confidence to stir up storms in this magnificent era about to unfold. As for how to proceed on the path ahead, he already had a vague outline in his heart.
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