Thanks to the map, finding the fifth soul rings for Li Li and Zhu Zhuqing didn't take much time. It took only a week to resolve the soul ring needs for both girls.
Li Li's fifth soul ring came from a twenty-thousand-year Crypt Demon Spider. After absorbing it, her soul power directly reached Rank 52, and she gained a powerful area-control skill.
Zhu Zhuqing's physical fitness was slightly lower than Li Li's, but her fifth soul ring still reached eighteen thousand years. Her soul power hit the peak of Rank 51, just a step away from Rank 52. Her fifth soul skill was the same as in the original story, but its power had significantly increased.
Both hunted their soul beasts themselves. Gu Xuan and Dugu Yan did not intervene, though Ning Rongrong provided some assistance using the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
Through these repeated actual battles, Ning Rongrong became familiar with the usage of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and the combination of its several skills. With the shroud, Ning Rongrong possessed a certain degree of offensive and defensive capability. Combined with her equipped hidden weapons, the current Ning Rongrong could hold her own even against a Power Attack Type Soul Master of the same rank.
Finally, only Xue Ke's fourth soul ring remained. Since her physique had not undergone special tempering, she was not yet able to absorb soul rings beyond her level. However, watching Dugu Yan and the others absorb rings above their level filled Xue Ke's heart with envy alongside the shock. She knew Gu Xuan's fiancées were outstanding, but she never imagined they would be this exceptional. She desperately wanted to keep up with them and progress together.
Xue Ke's Martial Soul was the Light Wings, so her fourth soul ring choice was a light-attribute soul beast of around four thousand five hundred years. Once her target was confirmed, the group moved quickly toward the destination. There were no accidents during this period, and they found a suitable soul ring for her in just one week.
After absorbing the ring, Xue Ke broke through to Rank 41. She had barely managed to keep pace with the squad by Gu Xuan's side and gained the preliminary qualifications for the trials at Sea God Island.
This excursion took a month. Dugu Yan and the other three obtained satisfactory soul rings, and Ning Rongrong familiarized herself with the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. It was a smooth and successful trip.
It took another half a month to return to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. By this time, Shui Bing'er had been brought here. She agreed to travel to Sea God Island for training with Zuo Yan, Ning Rongrong, and the others.
The Dean of Skywater Academy, Xue Qingluan, also agreed to let Shui Bing'er follow Zuo Yan. After all, only by experiencing true life-and-death crises could they grow rapidly. Because of Zuo Yan, Xue Qingluan also confessed some of the secrets of Skywater Academy to him.
Skywater Academy was founded with the support of a hidden sect called the Mystic Water Sect. According to Xue Qingluan's description, there was a Titled Douluo within that sect. The reason the Mystic Water Sect founded Skywater Academy was to absorb talented women into the sect's direct line to stimulate their talent. This ensured the successful evolution of the direct members' Martial Souls and the birth of descendants with outstanding potential.
Xue Qingluan's sister was the woman of the current Sect Master of the Mystic Water Sect, Xu Kun. However, because her sister helped Xu Kun successfully complete his Martial Soul evolution, she became a crippled person unable to cultivate. Xu Kun was not heartless, though; since her sister became a cripple for him and gave him a highly talented son, he only had Xue Qingluan's sister as his woman and treated her very well.
However, not everyone in the Mystic Water Sect was like Xu Kun. Back then, Xue Qingluan herself almost became a 'furnace' for Xu Kun's brother, Xu Xiao. Fortunately, her sister's deep relationship with Xu Kun prevented it. Now, Shui Bing'er was actually the designated 'furnace' for Xu Xiao's grandson. That grandson was a scoundrel just like Xu Xiao; though only twenty, he had ruined more than ten women, all of whom were quite talented.
This was why Xue Qingluan told Zuo Yan about this, wanting to give him a sense of crisis. Although the Mystic Water Sect wouldn't dare move against Shui Bing'er, given the power of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, what if they did? Moreover, because the Mystic Water Sect had produced many scoundrels lately, Xue Qingluan actually wanted to disband Skywater Academy or have it break away from the sect.
All of this would depend on the future efforts of Shui Bing'er and the others. Having been controlled by a sect for so long, breaking away wouldn't be easy. Of course, if Xue Qingluan sought help from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, it might work, but that would be like drinking poison to quench thirst. If Skywater Academy became a vassal of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, wouldn't that just be another form of dependence?
When Zuo Yan told Gu Xuan about this, Gu Xuan only smiled slightly. With the current strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, wiping out the Mystic Water Sect would be no problem, but there was no need for that yet. After all, the clan was still in a hidden state, with only the Sword and Bone Douluos known on the surface.
No, Xue Qinghe knew the clan had gained another Titled Douluo, but that was all. It didn't matter. Since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan intended to unify the continent in the future, these hidden forces would be found and cleared out one by one. Those willing to submit would be given a path to live; those unwilling would all be slaughtered.
Still, this was a good thing as it would further motivate Zuo Yan and Shui Bing'er to cultivate. The Mystic Water Sect served a purpose in that regard.
After Gu Xuan's return, he wasted no more time. After a brief meeting with everyone, he sent Ning Rongrong and the others off on their journey to Sea God Island. Gu Xuan, meanwhile, took Dugu Yan and headed for the Slaughter City.
Indeed, the place Gu Xuan wanted to go was the Slaughter City. Not only could he obtain a powerful skill like the Death God Domain there, but he could also come into contact with the inheritance of the Asura God-King. If luck was on his side, Gu Xuan could use that inheritance to progress rapidly, which wouldn't interfere with him creating his own divine position in the future.
Gu Xuan had already had the entrance to the Slaughter City investigated thoroughly. He and Dugu Yan soon arrived at a small town. The town didn't look large, but as soon as they stepped inside, they could sense a strange atmosphere. Everyone around them carried a peculiar chill.
Dugu Yan leaned against Gu Xuan's arm, her brow furrowing as she looked at the town. "This is the entrance to the Slaughter City?"
Gu Xuan nodded. "Yes. This is where our new life begins."
Then, Gu Xuan led Dugu Yan into a tavern in the town. The air inside was thick and stagnant. All the decorations were black. Although it was daytime outside, stepping in here brought a cold, dark sensation.
There weren't many people in the tavern, but everyone exuded an even denser chilly aura. When they saw Gu Xuan and Dugu Yan—two brightly dressed individuals—walk in, they cast playful and mocking glances. Especially those loathsome men; they stared unblinkingly at Dugu Yan's jade-white, straight, long legs.
Dugu Yan hated this atmosphere and could barely restrain herself from striking. She was a gentle and sensible woman by Gu Xuan's side, but that wasn't her true nature.
Before Gu Xuan and Dugu Yan could find a seat, a waiter dressed in black with an indifferent face walked over. "What would the two of you like?"
(End of Chapter)
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