Chapter 16: Bountiful Rewards
Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Bibi Dong sat high upon the pontiff's throne.
When she saw the names "Six-Winged Angel" and "Qian Renxue," her jade fingers, gripping the scepter, suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white.
Although deep down, her feelings for her daughter Qian Renxue were complex, even tinged with hatred.
Yet, at this moment, an indescribable sense of suffocation and an even deeper apprehension surged within her.
"Even the Seraphim can only rank eleventh."
Bibi Dong's Phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light radiating from them, "What exactly is this ranking list portending?"
This ranking made her even more certain that the mysterious Big Dipper Academy must have a great connection to the top ranks of the list!
"I must investigate the background of Big Dipper Academy as soon as possible!"
This thought became incredibly urgent in her mind...Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong looked at each other, all seeing shock in the other's eyes.
"Six-Winged Angel, eleventh!"
Gu Rong smacked his lips, feeling his throat go dry, "Old Chen, Fengzhi, this... this is too outrageous, isn't it? That's a Divine Rank Martial Soul!"
Chen Xin nodded with a solemn expression: "It is indeed unbelievable. It seems we previously underestimated the true value of this list, and also the hidden depths of this Continent."
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent waves in his heart, and said in a deep voice.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, it seems now that Rongrong's Big Dipper Academy is probably even more terrifying than we imagined. Even the Seraphim can't get into the top ten, so what about the top ten?"
"I even suspect that most of them might be related to that Big Dipper Academy!"
"After all, we have more or less an understanding of the known top powers on the Continent. Only this Big Dipper Academy appeared out of thin air, unfathomable."
This guess sent a chill down the spines of all three.
If that were truly the case, then Big Dipper Academy's power might have reached a level capable of overturning the existing order of the Continent!
...In a forest, Qian Renxue had long since left the Heaven Dou Empire to prevent her identity from being exposed.
A golden pillar of light pierced through the Void Realm, accurately enveloping Qian Renxue.
Her Soul Power, which had already reached the Soul Emperor level, surged again, breaking through five ranks consecutively.
The five Soul Rings encircling her body shone brightly, their colors rapidly transforming.
They ultimately transformed into the astonishing configuration of three purple and two black!
At the same time, two skeletal phantoms, emitting a soft golden light and imbued with a sacred aura, floated before her.
These were the two Divine Bestowed Spirit Bones.
As the light dissipated, Qian Renxue felt the surging power within her, but her exquisite face showed little joy.
Instead, it held a trace of solemnity and understanding.
"Young Lord!"
Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo hurried forward, their faces filled with delight, but even more so with confusion and worry.
"Your strength has greatly increased, which is cause for celebration! But this ranking..."
Qian Renxue raised her hand, gently touching the two Divine Bestowed Spirit Bones.
Feeling the pure, attribute-less, powerful energy contained within them, her heart stirred slightly.
"It truly is miraculous, perfectly matching any Martial Soul and deriving the most suitable Soul Bone skills. Is this the meaning of 'Divine Bestowed'?"
"Unfortunately, the age limit is a bit low, not aligning with my goal of the Angel God Set."
She put away the Soul Bones, looked at her two loyal subordinates, and calmly said: "Elders, there's no need to be surprised. I expected this outcome long ago."
"The Heavenly Dao list's judging criteria are far from as simple as we imagined. Although the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul is strong, perhaps in some aspects, it truly isn't as good as those existences ranked higher."
She paused, her gaze turning to the still brilliant golden list outside the window, a subtle fighting Martial Soul burning in her eyes.
"What I'm more interested in now is, what exactly are the top ten Martial Souls?"
"Besides the known Sea God Martial Soul, what kind of surprises will the rest bring?"
Seeing the Young Lord so calm, Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo's unease slightly subsided.
But at the same time, they developed immense curiosity and a hint of awe towards the unknown top ten...Deep within the vast, Boundless Ocean.
An island shrouded by a massive transparent light barrier resembled a fairyland.
It was Sea God Island.
Before the solemn Sea God Hall, with Bo Saixi at the forefront, the Seven Sacred Pillar Guardians were gathered.
When they saw the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul ranked eleventh, these powerful Titled Douluo first breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, an even deeper shock surged into their hearts.
"High Priest, congratulations! The Six-Winged Angel ranks eleventh, so your Sea God Martial Soul must be among the top ten!"
Sea Horse Douluo said excitedly.
The other guardians also showed expressions of joy.
The relationship between Sea God Island and Spirit Hall was delicate; seeing the opposing Legacy Martial Soul suppressed was naturally a joyous occasion.
However, Bo Saixi's exquisite face showed no sign of relaxation.
Instead, her azure eyes were filled with solemnity.
She gently shook her head, her voice ethereal and tinged with worry: "Everyone, do not rejoice too soon. The Six-Winged Angel is a Divine Rank Martial Soul, with boundless power. For even it to only rank eleventh, what does that signify?"
She looked around at everyone and slowly said: "This means that the Martial Souls ranked higher probably possess potential or characteristics that surpass conventional Divine Rank Martial Souls."
"My inherited Sea God Martial Soul is indeed powerful, but whether it can enter the top five, or even the top three, is an unknown."
"The waters of this Continent are too deep. Perhaps some forbidden existences, unnoticed even by Lord Sea God, have already quietly awakened or descended."
Bo Saixi's words were like a basin of cold water, extinguishing the joy that had just risen in everyone's hearts.
Indeed, even a Divine Rank Martial Soul couldn't make it into the top ten.
How terrifying must the true value of the top ten be?
They had originally thought that the Sea God Martial Soul could at least comfortably secure a top-three position, but now it seemed this idea might have been too optimistic.
An invisible pressure enveloped everyone's hearts...Just as various forces across the Continent were stirred by the announcement of the eleventh place, filled with both anticipation and fear for the top ten.
The golden light on the heavenly curtain once again produced intense fluctuations.
The new ranking was finally about to be revealed!
. Martial Soul Ranking List, Tenth Place: Sea God]
[Holder: Bo Saixi (Sea God Island)]
[Rating: Divine Rank Martial Soul, Dominator of the Ocean, controls the power of the vast ocean, virtually invincible in the great sea.]
[Reward: Spirit power solidified by onefold, one 50,000-year Divine Bestowed Spirit Bone, Divine Skill: Boundless Ocean, Semi-Divine Artifact: Flute of the Ocean.]
"Tenth place! It's the Sea God Martial Soul!"
"Sea God Island High Priest Bo Saixi, which power is Sea God Island?"
"Rewards... Divine Skill! Semi-Divine Artifact!"
The entire Douluo Continent completely erupted!
If the Six-Winged Angel ranking eleventh was shocking, then the Sea God Martial Soul ranking tenth.
Made everyone feel a bone-chilling coldness and a sense of insignificance in the face of the unknown!
Could the preceding nine Martial Souls all be existences transcending gods?