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Li Luochen had everything prepared and was ready to set off immediately.
The members of the Shrek Academy team didn't have much they wanted to bring along—"light traveling" (though they all carried storage-type soul-guiding artifacts). However, an unexpected person appeared.
Ma Hongjun brought a girl to the Shrek Academy team and told Li Luochen that he also wanted to bring his girlfriend along.
The girl appeared to be about the same age as Ma Hongjun and the others. She had a tall and well-proportioned figure, with a graceful and slender body. Though she looked slightly thin, her beauty was only marginally inferior to Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling's.
Her gaze seemed proud at first glance, but it was actually just tsundere behavior. Her beautiful eyes darted around, showing interest in everything around her.
"Ah Jun, aren't you going to introduce her?" Oscar teased, draping an arm over Ma Hongjun's shoulder.
They had grown up together, so their relationship was naturally very close.
"Let me introduce her to everyone. This is my girlfriend, a disciple of the Xuan Niao Sect and also the granddaughter of the clan leader of the Agility Clan—one of the Single Attribute Four Clans. Her name is Bai Chenxiang. Hehehe."
Ma Hongjun spoke shyly, as this was essentially bringing his girlfriend home to meet the family.
Bai Chenxiang was also a bit bashful since Shrek Academy was Ma Hongjun's home, and this visit was akin to meeting his family.
"Hello everyone, my name is Bai Chenxiang. I'm sixteen years old. My martial soul is the Gale Falcon, and my soul power is at level fifty-one."
Bai Chenxiang introduced herself modestly, leaving Li Luochen momentarily stunned.
"Hiss—"
The people present drew in a sharp breath. This girl was clearly hiding her true strength.
"What's going on? Isn't Bai Chenxiang supposed to have the Swift Swallow as her martial soul? What's this Gale Falcon nonsense? And she's already reached Soul King level at sixteen? Are you kidding me?"
Bai Chenxiang's inclusion didn't cause much of a stir. In fact, the girls of the Shrek Academy team welcomed her warmly. The Shrek Girl Squad gained another member!
"Haha, Old Li, isn't my direct disciple from Master You quite impressive?"
A green figure appeared behind Li Luochen, bursting into hearty laughter. It was none other than the leader of the Xuan Niao Sect, an elder of the Spirit Hall, and Feng Shen Douluo, You Tianshang.
"I remember the Agility Clan's martial soul is the Swift Swallow. What's this Gale Falcon about?"
Li Luochen asked directly, as he and You Tianshang were good friends and had no need for pretense.
"Well, do you remember my ninth soul ring, the Sky Dome Eagle? In the Hurricane Canyon area, the Sky Dome Eagle's trump card included a, ummm, yes! A rare medicinal herb.
Later, I borrowed Ju Douluo's Herb Record to take a look. This herb is called the Wind Spirit Falcon Grass, a wind-attribute immortal-grade medicinal herb.
As luck would have it, I had just subjugated the Agility Clan. Their entire clan possesses the Swift Swallow martial soul—a purely agility-based martial soul that only gains offensive capabilities at the Soul Douluo level. Bai He's granddaughter happened to have exceptional talent, with innate soul power at level nine.
I bestowed this herb upon her and took her as my personal disciple, placing her at the same level as Ma Hongjun.
She got lucky. Her martial soul evolved from the Swift Swallow to the Gale Falcon, a top-tier bird-type martial soul with incredibly strong wind attributes, overcoming the flaw of their clan's martial soul lacking offensive capabilities.
Not only did it increase her attack power, but it also enhanced her speed, rivaling even my own abilities at the same level.
She will be the perfect inheritor of my legacy. I've already taught her my Azure Phoenix Nine Techniques and Gale Nine Cuts. Her strength is formidable. Your little White Tiger wouldn't stand a chance against her."
After hearing You Tianshang's explanation, Li Luochen took a closer look at Bai Chenxiang among the Shrek Academy team. Interesting. Dai Mubai had become a benchmark for measuring strength.
"So you're just letting them go off like this?" Li Luochen asked.
"What's there to worry about? How can a bird soaring in the sky be confined by a cage?
Besides, I need to go into seclusion for the next two years to try and break through to level ninety-eight.
Two years later, you'll have to return them to me. Two years from now, the Pope will hold the re-selection of the seven great sects.
At that time, they'll be useful to me. After all, my Xuan Niao Sect aims to become the number one sect under heaven!"
You Tianshang laid out his plans.
"Heh, I didn't expect you to say something so cool. Two years to break through to level ninety-eight? You're aiming for two levels in two years? Wait—don't tell me you're already at level ninety-seven? That fast?"
Li Luochen hadn't checked You Tianshang's strength recently and assumed he was still at level ninety-six. He didn't expect him to have already reached level ninety-seven so quickly.
"Hehe, didn't see that coming, did you? I just broke through a couple of days ago!" You Tianshang boasted proudly.
"Well, what a coincidence! I also just broke through to level ninety-eight a couple of days ago. Hehe!"
Li Luochen smirked smugly, instantly ruining You Tianshang's good mood. Without another word, You Tianshang flew off to begin his seclusion and attempt his breakthrough.
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Half a day later,
Li Luochen led his wife, Dugu Yan, and the members of the Shrek Academy team toward Hanhai City, the coastal city closest to Sea God Island.
They traveled by carriage.
The members heading to Sea God Island were:
Dugu Yan – Level 87 Soul Douluo
Ma Hongjun – Level 76 Soul Sage
Ye Lingling – Level 74 Soul Sage
Zhu Zhuqing – Level 73 Soul Sage
Oscar – Level 72 Soul Sage
Yu Tianxin – Level 69 Soul Emperor
Yang Wu & Niu Dun – Level 68 Soul Emperors
Ning Rongrong – Level 65 Soul Emperor
Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, & Jiang Zhu – Level 62 Soul Emperors
Dai Mubai – Level 58 Soul King
Bai Chenxiang – Level 51 Soul King
Li Luochen was leading them to Sea God Island to help them quickly advance. There was no doubt that these Soul Sages would pass their trials and become Title Douluos.
The high-level Soul Emperors like Yu Tianxin, Yang Wu, and Niu Dun might also reach Title Douluo with some effort, while the rest would likely reach around the Soul Douluo level.
The resources on Sea God Island were abundant, especially the divine-bestowed soul rings, which were the main attraction. Li Luochen simply couldn't find enough suitable hundred-thousand-year soul rings, so he planned to rely on the generosity of the Sea God.
Li Luochen intended to drop them off at Sea God Island for their trials and then use the light of the Sea God to accomplish something else. Afterward, he would head to the Killing God City to defeat Tang Chen and obtain the final trial.
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Several days later, Hanhai City.
Hanhai City, the largest city on the western frontier of the Tian Dou Empire, was also the largest coastal and port city on the Doulu Continent.
This massive city was built by the sea—or rather, on the mountains overlooking the coast. No matter how the tides rose and fell, the city remained unshaken. Its thick walls were clearly of main city caliber. Even before entering, the group could faintly smell the salty tang of the sea.
Entering Hanhai City required inspections of storage-type soul-guiding artifacts, but Li Luochen handed over an imperial token to the guards, who immediately let them pass.
Who were they to stop a group with an imperial token? Rules were rigid, but people were flexible. The guards didn't dare to obstruct them and let them through without question.
Passing through the gates and entering Hanhai City, the salty sea air grew stronger. Upon observation, the members of Shrek Academy noticed that the people of Hanhai City differed slightly from those inland. The locals here were generally shorter and had darker, healthy wheat-colored skin.
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