Douluo: AFK to Become a God

After leaving the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena and on the way back to Blue Tyrant Academy, Chu Chengzhou fell into deep thought.

Earlier, Oslo had mentioned that his spot on the Royal Fighting Team had been taken by someone named Tang Yin.

At first, Chu Chengzhou didn't react and was puzzled over who this Tang Yin person could be.

But when Oslo described Tang Yin as having blue hair and a rather unusual spirit—the Blue Silver Grass—Chu Chengzhou immediately realized what was going on.

Tang Yin? Isn't that the alias Tang San used in the original novel when he went to train in the City of Slaughter?!Chu Chengzhou: "Tang Yin? Still claiming you're not Tang San?"

So Tang San has already appeared? Not only has he awakened the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline, turning his hair blue, joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and become a member of the Royal Fighting Team, but he's also a five-ring Soul King with a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring?

Tang San's blue hair is easy to understand. After all, his Blue Silver Grass spirit is actually an incomplete awakening of the Blue Silver Emperor. Awakening the bloodline two years earlier than in the original isn't too far-fetched.

But a ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring and a five-ring Soul King already? That's pushing it.

Oh right—without using the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to temper his body, if Tang San instead refined the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone left behind by his mother's sacrifice, his physical strength would have significantly increased. And if his fourth spirit ring is a life-bound spirit ring like in the original (capable of evolving with his body's tolerance), then it's not impossible that it evolved into a ten-thousand-year one.

Maybe when he first obtained his fourth ring, it was still a purple thousand-year ring. But after reaching the five-ring Soul King level, his body could withstand ten-thousand-year rings, causing the fourth ring to evolve and upgrade to black.

But here's the real problem—why is Tang San already a five-ring Soul King at this point?

If Chu Chengzhou remembered correctly, in the original novel, refining the hundred-thousand-year leg bone didn't boost Tang San's spirit power level.

Even with Tang Hao's training from a young age, such a drastic improvement seems unrealistic.

After all, in the original story, Tang San only reached level 41 Soul Ancestor during the Spirit Master Tournament, and that was largely thanks to the power of the two celestial herbs: the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot.

So now, without the talent boost from those herbs, he actually has higher spirit power?

"Could it be... this guy has already added spirit rings to his second spirit?"Chu Chengzhou silently speculated.

But he quickly dismissed that idea.

Even if Tang Hao didn't know the best method for cultivating twin spirits, he definitely would've warned Tang San against adding rings to his second spirit too early.

In fact, the correct way to cultivate twin spirits is fairly easy to deduce.

Why do twin spirit users die from spirit ring backlash?

By comparing with normal Spirit Masters who die during spirit ring addition, it's clear: their body simply isn't strong enough to handle the double spirit ring load of twin spirits.

The solution? Refine spirit bones—especially high-quality ones—to strengthen the body and solve this issue.

The reason Bibi Dong was the first to fully master twin spirits was probably because most twin spirit users in history didn't come from powerful backgrounds.

Those without strong backers rarely have access to top-tier spirit bones. Their physical strength wasn't much greater than other Spirit Masters of the same rank, so adding rings to the second spirit usually resulted in death.

As for waiting and not adding rings to the second spirit?That's easier said than done. When you're stuck at a bottleneck, let's see if you resist the temptation to risk it.

Anyway, Tang San showing up isn't a big deal. Awakening the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline and reaching five rings is whatever.

A five-ring Tang San can at most burst out with six-ring Soul Emperor-level power—not strong enough to pose a threat to Xiong Da.

Since advancing to four rings, Xiong Da's fourth ring had been passively leveling up.

Now, after about eight months, the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear's age had increased from around 11,000 years to over 20,000.

A 20,000-year-old Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear—if nothing else—is an elite among those below level 80, even capable of challenging some weaker eight-ring Soul Douluo.

Even if his own spirit power isn't high enough to sustain Xiong Da in prolonged combat, dealing with a five-ring Tang San would be more than enough.

Besides, Chu Chengzhou had always been a peaceful guy—he had no enmity with Tang Hao or Tang San. They hadn't even met face-to-face yet, and it wasn't necessary to clash with Tang San in the future.

Uh… but if he beats Tang San during the Spirit Master Tournament, would that suddenly put him on the so-called "path to death"?

Yeah, that risk can't be ignored. He'd better stick close to his future father-in-law then.

After all, while Tang San wasn't too threatening, his father Tang Hao was a monster—definitely a big boss-level figure to the current Chu Chengzhou.

Luckily, his future father-in-law always had either the Sword or Bone Douluo as a bodyguard. With that kind of protection, plus the fact that Spirit Hall would draw most of Tang Hao's hatred anyway, even if Chu Chengzhou ended up on his "death list," Tang Hao probably wouldn't waste his time on a minor character like him.

The next morning, Chu Chengzhou and his group headed for the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena.

As soon as they entered, two staff members welcomed them and led them to the waiting area for teams.

From today on, the Heaven Dou Division would host fourteen matches per day.

The arrival of Blue Tyrant Academy immediately drew the attention of many participants.

However, since they hadn't shown their strength yet, most participants—including everyone except their opponents from Blazing Academy—soon lost interest and looked away.

"Brother, can you tell how strong they are?"

Looking at the Blue Tyrant group, Huo Wu of Blazing Academy whispered to her older brother Huo Wushuang.

"I don't have that kind of power. But last night, Dad told me the current Blue Tyrant Academy team is no joke.

Out of their eleven members, three are four-ring Soul Ancestors, five are three-ring Soul Experts, and there are three others even Dad can't sense—one is their captain, the other two are that bunny-eared girl and the long-haired flaxen girl."

Gazing at Chu Chengzhou, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong, Huo Wushuang said this with a serious expression.

With their mastery of stealth techniques, Chu Chengzhou and Xiao Wu could conceal their aura so well even a Titled Douluo couldn't see through them. So of course, Huo Wushuang's academy dean father couldn't detect anything either.

As for Ning Rongrong, although she hadn't learned any stealth techniques, her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit was special.

Unless she activated her spirit or used spirit power, only a Level 100 god-tier expert could detect her actual level.

"Three Soul Ancestors, and three others even Dad can't read?"Huo Wu widened her eyes in shock.

After all, her father was the dean of Blazing Academy and an eight-ring Soul Douluo, yet even he couldn't see through three juniors?

Of course, not being able to read someone's power doesn't necessarily mean they're strong—it might be due to a concealment item or a secret cultivation method.

Still, Huo Wu felt serious pressure.

After all, their Blazing Academy team only had three Soul Ancestors, including herself. The rest were under level 40.

And typically, a team captain may not be the strongest member, but they're never weak either. Otherwise, they couldn't command respect.

Which meant that Blue Tyrant Academy likely had at least four Soul Ancestors, possibly more if those two girls were as strong.

"Little sis, Dad always says geniuses are everywhere on the continent. He wasn't wrong.

But we don't have to beat everyone. Getting obsessed with winning is a losing mindset. We just need to do our best.

Anyway, five teams qualify from the preliminaries. With our strength, we'll definitely make it."

Huo Wushuang patted Huo Wu's shoulder in comfort.

It wasn't that he lacked ambition—on paper, their odds of winning this match really weren't good.

Plus, Blazing Academy mostly recruited fire-type Spirit Masters, which created a synergy problem within the team and made them easy to counter.

Huo Wu: "..."

She shot a glare at her defeatist brother and turned away.

The match hasn't even started yet, and you've already admitted defeat as the captain?

Meanwhile, Chu Chengzhou's group had found seats in the resting area and were observing the Blazing Academy team.

"Boss Chu, what's Blazing Academy's strength like?"Ma Hongjun asked in a hushed voice.

"Three Soul Ancestors, the rest are Soul Experts."Chu Chengzhou glanced casually across the 20 meters separating the teams.

"Three Soul Ancestors? Doesn't sound that great. But Boss Chu, you'll have to carry us if things go wrong."

Ma Hongjun smirked.

Their Blue Tyrant Academy team had five Soul Ancestors, one five-ring Soul King, and a ridiculously powerful Chu Chengzhou. Even though Ma Hongjun wasn't one of the six strongest, he still looked down on a supposed top-five academy like Blazing.

That said, the match would involve Tai Long and the other four substitutes. Plus, Oscar was a support-type food Soul Ancestor without much combat ability.

So, excluding Chu Chengzhou, their lineup was actually weaker than Blazing's.

"Boss Chu, any battle strategy?"Oscar asked.

At the same time, Tai Long and the other three who were about to compete turned toward Chu Chengzhou as well.

Chu Chengzhou waved it off. "No tactics. Just go out there and do your thing. Oscar, you and Jiangzhu just stand beside me when the match starts."

"What's power for? Besides reasoning with it, it's for charging in headfirst!"

"No need for tactics—or rather, tactics are charging in. Just bulldoze through everything, beat anyone who resists into submission. That's it."

Suddenly, Chu Chengzhou turned to Oscar and reminded him:"Oh right, Oscar. There are girls on the Blazing Fire Academy team. Don't use that Lustful, Body-Burning Sausage of yours."

Although that sausage had great effects, it was basically like taking a certain pill. If it were someone else, Chu Chengzhou might feel a bit more at ease, but when it came to Ma Hongjun... If their opponents included female soul masters, then he absolutely could not be allowed to use it.

Otherwise, regardless of winning or losing, with so many spectators, if something embarrassing happened—or worse, if he outright jumped on someone—the Blue Tyrant Academy would lose all face.

"It's called Fierce Flame Body-Burning Sausage, not Lustful, Body-Burning Sausage!"Oscar's face turned dark as he corrected.

Chu Chengzhou blinked:"Isn't it the same thing?"

"It's not!"Oscar protested loudly.

Chu Chengzhou waved his hand:"Oscar, I'm the captain. What I say goes!"

Oscar: "…"

When will I, a food-type soul master, finally be able to speak out loudly and confidently?!

The preliminary round of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament had officially begun.

Excluding the two teams who already competed yesterday—the Royal Dou auxiliary team and the Tianshui Academy team—ten out of the remaining twenty-six teams entered the arena for the first round of the preliminaries.

At this time, the massive competition venue had undergone major changes compared to the day before.Aside from the central main stage used during the opening ceremony, four additional stages of the same size had been constructed around it.

Despite their large size, the five arenas still didn't make the stadium feel crowded—after all, this place, the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, could seat 80,000 spectators.

The 26 teams were divided into three groups. Groups 1 and 2 each had ten teams, while Group 3 had six. Blue Tyrant Academy belonged to the first group and was one of the teams to go onstage.

Perhaps because their opponents were the famous Blazing Fire Academy, one of the Five Elemental Academies, the match between Blue Tyrant and Blazing Fire was arranged on the central main stage.

As a grand event held every five years, and since the young soul masters participating were top recruitment targets for major powers, the VIP stands today were just as packed as during the opening ceremony.All the elite figures of the Heaven Dou Empire were present, and Emperor Xue Ye remained seated in the center of the front row.

However, the number of VIP seats in the front row had increased from three to four today.

Seated to the right of Ning Fengzhi was a square-faced, tall and somewhat lean middle-aged man, due to his large frame—none other than Bone Douluo Gu Rong, who alongside Sword Douluo Chen Xin, was known as one of the Twin Pillars of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

As the soul-guide lights beamed down, the ten teams of the first round began their entrance.

'Huh? Fengzhi, why isn't Rongrong going onstage?'

Seeing that his precious granddaughter Ning Rongrong wasn't among the seven entering for Blue Tyrant Academy, Gu Rong frowned and sent a voice transmission to Ning Fengzhi.

He had come specifically today to watch his beloved granddaughter compete—he even argued with his old buddy Chen Xin over it! And now she's not competing?

Noticing Gu Rong's displeasure, Ning Fengzhi smiled and replied:'No rush, Uncle Bone. It might be a tactical decision. If you miss Rongrong, just go find her after the match!'

'That little girl doesn't understand her poor old grandpa. She hasn't come back in so long.'Gu Rong grumbled again.

To him, his precious granddaughter was his everything. Having not seen her in over half a year, he missed her terribly.

Also, Gu Rong wanted to take a look at Chu Chengzhou.

According to Chen Xin, his granddaughter might have developed feelings for the young man. As her elder, Gu Rong felt it was necessary to evaluate this guy and see whether he was worthy of his precious Rongrong.

On the battlefield.

Chu Chengzhou led the Blue Tyrant Academy team onto the stage, while Huowushuang led the Blazing Fire Academy team.

"Captain of the Blazing Fire Academy team, Huo Wushuang, Rank 42 Power Attack System Soul Sect."Dressed in a fiery open-chested outfit, Huo Wushuang stepped forward and greeted Chu Chengzhou with a cupped-fist salute.

"Captain of the Blue Tyrant Academy team, Chu Chengzhou, Rank 48 Support System Soul Sect."Since the other party was being respectful, Chu Chengzhou also responded with a cupped-fist salute.

'Level 48?!'Huo Wushuang's eyes widened in shock.

Chu Chengzhou looked much younger than him, yet had reached Level 48 soul power?Just like that big simp from Shenfeng Academy? Another innate full soul power monster?

Wait—he said Support System Soul Sect?

A grin slowly formed on Huo Wushuang's face.Support-types, huh? Excellent! My favorite kind to crush!This one's in the bag!

In his mind, the leader of the Blue Tyrant team must've been kicked in the head by a ten-thousand-year donkey. Aside from Chu Chengzhou the Support-type Soul Sect, the rest were five three-ring Soul Elders and one unknown-type four-ring Soul Sect.

If they were Battle Soul Masters, the level gap between 41 and 48 was significant. But for Support-types? Not really. Support abilities didn't scale too much with levels—just a bit more endurance, maybe.

So that left only one potential real threat: the peachy-eyed guy with four rings.

Meanwhile, Blazing Fire's team had three four-ring Battle Soul Sects.This was looking great for them.

Of course, Huo Wushuang was still young and unaware of the world's cruelty. Some soul masters might seem like Support-types, but when it came to fighting, they were more vicious than actual attackers.

At this point, the referee stepped onto the stage and shouted:"Contestants, bow!"

Led by Chu Chengzhou and Huo Wushuang, all fourteen bowed to one another.

"Preliminaries Round 1: Blue Tyrant Academy versus Blazing Fire Academy! Contestants, release your spirits. The match begins in one minute!"

At once, soul rings flashed as the fourteen contestants released their martial spirits—bright yellows and purples lighting up the stage.

As expected from elite teams, most had optimal soul ring configurations. Rarely did anyone show up with white first rings or century-old third rings.

"!!!"

Huo Wushuang's eyes widened as he stared in disbelief at Oscar, who had yellow-yellow-purple-purple rings.

Wait, what the hell? That peachy-eyed Soul Sect's martial spirit was… sausage? A Food-type?!

So Blue Tyrant Academy's lineup was: a Support-type Soul Sect, a Food-type Soul Sect, and five three-ring Soul Elders?Something wasn't right—very not right.

There was no way a whole team of idiots made it to the tournament.

Aside from Chu Chengzhou and the sausage guy, there had to be at least two other hidden four-ring Soul Sects. And if they weren't Support-types…

That left only two possibilities: either Blue Tyrant was throwing the match, or they were absolutely confident this team could win.

And Huo Wushuang was more inclined to believe the latter.

After all, this was the first round of the prelims. Surrendering outright would be incredibly demoralizing—not to mention disgraceful.

"Huowu, when the match starts, you go for Chu Chengzhou."

Huo Wushuang narrowed his eyes and whispered to his sister behind him.

She was actually the strongest in the Blazing Fire team—not him.

Given that, he guessed Chu Chengzhou, with his flag martial spirit, might be hiding some serious power. And captains, while not always the strongest, were never pushovers either.

It was the same with him—he was only captain because his strength commanded respect. Having a dean for a father wouldn't have helped otherwise.

Huowu hesitated, but nodded.Once her brother was team captain, the whole team—including her—had to follow his orders during matches.

Very soon, the one-minute prep ended. The match officially began.

"First Soul Skill—Spirit Summon: Sky-Blue Tree!"

The moment the match started, Chu Chengzhou raised his flag, and his first soul ring lit up.

With a surge of soul power, a massive tree trunk—over four feet thick, more than ten meters tall, and with a crown spanning over 150 square meters—appeared beside him.

This time, Chu Chengzhou didn't suppress its size.

If they were fighting in a forest, the tree's size would be average. But in the competition arena—only 30 meters in diameter—it looked absolutely massive.

Its roots spilled past Blue Tyrant's side and even crept toward the Blazing Fire team's formation.

Seeing the thick roots crawling toward their feet, the Blazing Fire team fell into silence.

If their guess was right, that tree could move, couldn't it?

"Minions, charge!"Chu Chengzhou pointed his flag toward the Blazing Fire team and shouted his command.

T/N: For up to 20 chapters ahead on all my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle