Douluo: AFK to Become a God

"Second Soul Skill: Lava Phoenix.""Third Soul Skill: Phoenix Wings Sky Soar!"

As the cry of a phoenix echoed, Ma Hongjun's second and third soul rings lit up. A pair of black phoenix wings, burning with orange flames, materialized on his back. With a beat of his wings, he soared into the air.

"Third Soul Skill: Golden Wing Flying Sausage!"

Reciting the soul skill incantation, Oscar's third soul ring flashed, and three golden sausages with "little wings" quickly materialized.

The Golden Wing Flying Sausage grants the ability to fly. For soul masters who can fly, this provides both offensive and defensive advantages—much greater than those who can't fly.

"Tyrone, Jingling, Huang Yuan—catch!"

After creating the flying sausages, Oscar immediately tossed one to each of the three.

Then, Oscar retreated a few steps and stood behind Chu Chengzhou.

For Oscar, a food-type soul master with little combat ability, the safest place in the arena was undoubtedly behind Chu Chengzhou. If even Chu couldn't protect him, then there was no point in running anywhere else.

Zhangzhu, a healing-type soul master, did the same and stood behind Chu Chengzhou.

After catching and consuming Oscar's flying sausages, Tyrone and the others instantly grew a pair of golden wings on their backs and flew together with Ma Hongjun toward the opposing Blazing Fire Team.

At the same time, the Blazing Fire Team didn't just stand around. Although Chu Chengzhou's summoned Azure Tree Spirit looked quite intimidating, they couldn't just give up. After all, they represented Blazing Fire Academy, and surrendering without a fight would be disgraceful.

Besides, maybe that big tree was just for show?

"First Soul Skill: Exploding Fireball!"

As the four airborne enemies approached, Huo Wushuang's Fire Violent Dragon martial soul activated. His body swelled, wrapped in red-hot, dark crimson scales, and a short three-inch horn grew on his head. His first soul ring lit up, and he hurled a blazing fireball more than a foot in diameter toward the incoming group.

A ground-based soul master trying to shoot down flying enemies—naturally, the accuracy was poor. Moreover, Ma Hongjun and the others were agile, and Huo Wushuang's fireball wasn't particularly fast, making it easy to dodge.

However, just as the four were about to dodge, several streaks of green light shot out from behind and merged into their bodies.

A translucent green shield immediately enveloped all four.

It was one of Xiaoqing, the Azure Tree Spirit's innate soul skills: Guardian.

With Xiaoqing's ten-thousand-year spirit strength, the Guardian shield's defense was equivalent to a soul king's ten-thousand-year defensive soul skill.

With the protective green shields in place, Ma Hongjun and the others felt completely safe.

Huo Wushuang's exploding fireball?

That's just a first soul skill from a rank-40 soul ancestor. Could it possibly break the shield granted by Boss Chu's summoned spirit? They simply ignored it.

Without the need to dodge, the four, fully shielded, charged headlong into the Blazing Fire Team's formation.

BOOM—

The fireball exploded mid-air, engulfing a ten-meter spherical area in flames. All but Huang Yuan, who hadn't entered the blast zone yet, were enveloped.

But a moment later, three figures burst out from the fire unscathed, still cloaked in their green shields.

Huo Wushuang's fireball looked impressive, but its actual damage wasn't enough to break Xiaoqing's shield.

Ma Hongjun and the others pressed on. Aside from Huo Wu, who had cut to the backline to target Chu Chengzhou and the others, the rest of the Blazing Fire Team launched a fierce counterattack.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Violent Dragon Flame Kill!""Fourth Soul Skill: Fire Crane Engulfs the Plains!""Third Soul Skill: Flame Tornado!""Third Soul Skill: Exploding Seven Star Fireballs!""Third Soul Skill: Fire Rain!""Third Soul Skill: Fire Rain!"

In an instant, six fire-based thousand-year soul skills rained down on Ma Hongjun and the others.

So what if they had green turtle shells? Just smash through them!

Flames roared and surged. The green shields around the four flickered violently.

Only Ma Hongjun's shield shattered—he had taken the brunt of Huo Wushuang's fourth soul skill and several others. The others' shields held strong.

The attacks from a few rank-30 soul masters and a single rank-40 soul ancestor weren't enough to break Xiaoqing's shield.

Even without the green shield, Ma Hongjun was unharmed and remained battle-ready.

"First Soul Skill: Lava Flame Line!"

The next second, Ma Hongjun puffed up his cheeks in mid-air, his first soul ring glowing. A scorching jet of magma flame shot forth.

"Crap! Dodge it!"

Feeling the heat, Huo Wushuang's expression changed and he yelled at his teammates.

Though the team dodged in time, their formation was thrown into disarray.

Taking the opportunity, Tyrone and the others dove in and engaged the Blazing Fire Team directly.

Protected by the sturdy green shields, the trio focused purely on offense, targeting the enemy's rank-30 soul masters.

Rather than chipping away at all fingers, they aimed to sever one—take out the weaker soul masters first to tip the scales.

Meanwhile, Huo Wu had already reached the trio of supports behind enemy lines.

Seeing the "three supports" before her, Huo Wu smirked with confidence.

Support types? They're all weaklings. From Huo Wu's perspective, the Blue Tyrant Academy had made a serious tactical blunder.

Not only did they pick the wrong team members, they also failed to assign anyone to protect their backline.

She even wondered if Chu Chengzhou, the team captain, had been kicked in the head by a donkey.

Still, a win was a win. After the match, she could even graciously offer some "guidance" to Blue Tyrant Academy.

More trouble for rival teams was always good fun.

Huo Wu didn't even plan to use soul skills. Her opponents were too weak—an assist, a food-type, and a healer. If she used skills and accidentally injured them, the referee might accuse her of excessive force.

With a light step, she launched herself forward, aiming a flying kick at Chu Chengzhou.

"Hmm? Red?"

Catching a glimpse under her skirt, Oscar let out a soft surprised hum.

Chu Chengzhou: "..."

Zhangzhu: "..."

Soul masters had keen senses, so Huo Wu clearly heard Oscar's comment. Her expression turned instantly furious and embarrassed.

Huo Wu (inner monologue): "Red, your ass! I'm wearing safety shorts!"

But before she could scold Oscar or land her kick, several thin green shadows shot out.

In the blink of an eye, her mid-air body was bound tightly by vines.

Then, the vines hoisted her up and hung her from a tree.

Given that Huo Wu was a girl—and wearing a skirt—Chu Chengzhou didn't do anything perverted. She was suspended head-up, feet-down.

Even so, the way Xiaoqing's vines wrapped her up still accentuated her figure.

Yes, this art of binding was something Chu Chengzhou had learned in his previous life from certain talented instructors in Japan.

Dangling from the tree, Huo Wu was first stunned, then furious. Her third soul ring lit up as she released her third soul skill—Fire Ring Repel.

A dazzling ring of flame exploded outward.

Unfortunately, Huo Wu was only a rank-43 soul ancestor, and Xiaoqing, as a ten-thousand-year summon, was soul king level or higher.

Xiaoqing's vines were extremely tough, and Fire Ring Repel, being a control skill, didn't have much raw power. Huo Wu couldn't break free.

"Damn it!"

Realizing that even her repel skill was useless, Huo Wu cursed inwardly.

She had stronger skills, like her fourth: Blazing Sun Dance, but it required a brief casting motion.

With her body restrained, she couldn't move, and the vines nearby could easily interrupt her.

If her soul skill was disrupted mid-cast, the backlash could be devastating.

"Let me go!"

Angry and humiliated, Huo Wu shouted at Chu Chengzhou.

"Let you go? No can do~"

Chu Chengzhou raised a brow and wagged a finger.

Sure, he could let her go—by flinging her off the stage.But they were here to make a point. If they didn't tie up all seven members of the Blazing Fire Team, they couldn't start with her.

"Damn you! Just you wait!"

Huo Wu snapped, cheeks burning.

Chu Chengzhou ignored her and looked toward Ma Hongjun and the others.

If this were a certain little fox girl, he might have done something bolder. But with Huo Wu? Better not.

Not that she wasn't attractive—just that Chu Chengzhou believed in knowing your limits.

Having girls is great—but too many? Not necessarily a blessing.

Seven days a week, five on, two off sounds about right.

The bunny girl, the rich lady, the big cat, the little fox, the big angel…Wait, wasn't the Pope kinda hot too?

Hmm, Tang San's mom, the Blue Silver Empress, and his aunt Tang Yuehua also seemed… available. Especially Tang Yuehua—unmarried. And once the Empress reformed her body, she might technically be new again…

Tang San: "You seek death!"

Back on the arena, Ma Hongjun and the others had already taken the upper hand after charging the Blazing Fire Team's formation.

Excluding Huo Wu, Blazing Fire still had two soul ancestors and four soul masters.

Relying on the green shield's powerful defense, Tyrone and the others tanked the enemy's soul skills and took down Huo Lie, Huo Chui, and Huo Jun.

As for Huo Yu and the other soul ancestor Huo Yun?

They were out of luck. Their martial souls were fire-type birds—Fire Cranes.

Ma Hongjun's martial soul was a dual fire-earth top-tier bird-type: Lava Fire Phoenix.

Though not exactly a Fire Phoenix, it was still a bird king, and it exerted strong suppression over other bird-type martial souls.

Faced with this suppression, Huo Yun and Huo Yu lost their edge entirely.

With three defeated and two demoralized—including team core Huo Yun—the Blazing Fire Team was left with only their captain, Huo Wushuang.

As the saying goes: Two fists can't beat four hands.

Facing the joint assault of Ma Hongjun, Tai Long, and the others, even though Huo Wushuang was a four-ring Soul Sect and Tai Long's group no longer had their powerful green defensive light shield, Huo Wushuang was still being completely overwhelmed by the four.

After all, Jing Ling and Huang Yuan were both at level 35 Soul Elders, while Tai Long and Ma Hongjun were at level 38 and 39, respectively. Although Huo Wushuang was a level 42 Soul Sect, the gap wasn't that wide. The numbers on Chu Chengzhou's side made up for and even surpassed the disparity in individual strength.

Seeing that Ma Hongjun's group had taken control and would soon knock out Huo Wushuang, Chu Chengzhou nodded in satisfaction.

With a wave of his right hand, ten tough, emerald-green tree vines descended from Xiao Qing, his summoned spirit. They tied up the five incapacitated and weakened members of the Blazing Fire Team in pairs and hung them neatly next to Fire Dance.

Looking at the neatly bound and suspended six members of the Blazing Fire Team hanging from Xiao Qing, Chu Chengzhou nodded to himself in satisfaction.

Chu Chengzhou: "A family should always stay together—neatly!"

"Jiangzhu, why don't you heal them?"

Thinking it over, Chu Chengzhou pointed at Huo Lie and the others with bruised and swollen heads, then turned to Jiangzhu.

With only Huo Wushuang left on the field and clearly losing, and Jiangzhu not having done anything since the match started, Chu Chengzhou, as team captain, felt it was necessary to let every teammate feel involved.

Otherwise, just standing around without even casting a single soul skill felt a bit inappropriate.

Jiangzhu: "..."

You want me, a healing-type soul master, to cast healing skills on the enemy in the middle of a tournament match?

But upholding the (fake) spirit of "friendship first, competition second," Jiangzhu didn't refuse. Her soul rings lit up, and she began casting healing soul skills on the Blazing Fire Team's Huo Lie and his companions.

Two minutes later, Huo Wushuang, unable to withstand the combined efforts of Ma Hongjun and the others, was knocked off the stage. Just as he was about to hit the ground outside the ring—

Several tree vines shot through the air, securely wrapping around Huo Wushuang, pulling him back up and hanging him next to the other six Blazing Fire Team members.

Huo Wushuang: "..."

What the hell is this? I've already lost—are you guys seriously still trying to humiliate me?

Ignoring the fury blazing in Huo Wushuang's eyes, Chu Chengzhou turned to look at the referee outside the ring.

Soon, the referee stepped up and announced the result:"Preliminary Round, Match One: Lanba Academy vs. Blazing Fire Academy — Lanba Academy wins!"

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the stands.

The Blazing Fire Team was originally considered one of the stronger teams, and with no other elemental academy teams in this first batch of matches, most of the audience had been watching the central stage.

When Chu Chengzhou summoned his Sky Azure Tree spirit, Xiao Qing's massive form made it impossible to ignore. Over 95% of the audience attention was fixed on the central arena.

"This young man is quite interesting—not bad at all!"

In the VIP seats, the emperor, Xue Ye, commented as he watched Chu Chengzhou disband his spirit and release the bound members of the Blazing Fire Team, despite their angry glares.

Although Emperor Xue Ye wasn't a powerful soul master himself, his eye for talent wasn't lacking. He could clearly tell that Lanba Academy's crushing victory over Blazing Fire Academy was largely due to this seemingly casual support-type soul master, Chu Chengzhou.

Before the match began, based purely on surface-level strength, Lanba Academy was at a serious disadvantage. After all, they had two support-type Soul Sects and five three-ring Soul Elders—how could they possibly take on a team of three Soul Sects and four Soul Elders?

Yet Chu Chengzhou had single-handedly reversed what looked like an unfavorable situation and turned it into a crushing win.

And this was with just one soul skill.

The emperor couldn't even imagine what kind of spectacle would unfold if Chu Chengzhou unleashed his other three soul skills.

"Your Majesty seems to have taken a liking to this boy?"

Ning Fengzhi asked with a smile after hearing the emperor's praise.

"Indeed. This young man doesn't look very old, yet he's already reached level 48 Soul Sect—his talent is extraordinary. Not only is his cultivation impressive, but his actual combat strength is outstanding too. I daresay, he'll definitely be a source of pride for our Heaven Dou Empire in the future!"

Emperor Xue Ye didn't hold back his admiration.

At that moment, a thought stirred in his mind—he was considering taking Chu Chengzhou as a potential royal son-in-law.

From what he knew, there were no known soul master clans on the continent with a battle flag martial soul and this level of strength, so the boy likely didn't have any powerful backing.

Furthermore, Chu Chengzhou appeared to be around the same age as the royal princess, Xue Ke. If his character turned out to be decent, making him a prince consort wouldn't be a bad idea.

After all, such a talented youth was a rare find—and not to mention, he was quite handsome.

As for his background?

On this continent where power is truth, the cultivation talent and strength of a prince consort meant far more than noble lineage.

Once this youth matured, he would become the background.

"Shall I introduce him to Qinghe later, Your Majesty?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled as he glanced at Chu Chengzhou stepping down from the stage.

"Oh? You know this boy, Sect Master Ning?"

Emperor Xue Ye was surprised.

"Indeed. My daughter, Rongrong, is a member of Lanba Academy, although she didn't participate in this match."

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile.

Hearing this, the emperor raised an eyebrow, feeling a bit frustrated.

The Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were allies, and as emperor, he had dealt with Ning Fengzhi many times—he knew the man was a shrewd old fox.

If Ning Rongrong was studying at Lanba Academy, Ning Fengzhi had definitely already done a full background check on Chu Chengzhou.

The sect's core disciples were all support-type soul masters, and the sect's strength depended on marrying or recruiting strong talents from outside.

With a youth as gifted as Chu Chengzhou, there was no way the sect hadn't already claimed him—he might even be Ning Fengzhi's future son-in-law.

Which meant the emperor likely didn't have a chance to recruit him after all.

Still, since the two sides were allies, and as long as Spirit Hall remained the dominant power in the soul master world, the alliance between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would remain unshakable.

Having a prodigy like Chu Chengzhou in the sect was ultimately a good thing for the empire as well.

At the very least, in resisting the pressure from Spirit Hall, the sect's experts could be considered de facto allies of the empire.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Sect Master Ning. It's good for young people to get acquainted."

The emperor didn't turn down Ning Fengzhi's suggestion.

"You're too kind, Your Majesty. Qinghe is, after all, my disciple."

Ning Fengzhi smiled. He had already planned to introduce Chu Chengzhou to Xue Qinghe.

After all, one was the future powerhouse he favored as a son-in-law, and the other was his disciple—the crown prince and future emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire.

Watching Ning Fengzhi and Emperor Xue Ye exchange pleasantries like old friends, Salas—seated nearby—looked as though he had just swallowed a dead fly.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect gaining such a powerful genius soul master was not good news for Spirit Hall.

"Should I... sabotage him?"

Salas secretly pondered.

But soon, he shook his head.

The Soul Master Tournament was merely a stage for young soul masters to show off, offering little practical benefit—mostly just prestige.

Even if he tried to undermine the boy during the tournament, it likely wouldn't have much impact—unless they could outright eliminate him.

Unfortunately, this boy's strength didn't seem weak. There probably wouldn't be any team strong enough to "accidentally" kill him during the prelims. Maybe only Spirit Hall's elite team in the finals had that kind of power.

Off the battlefield, through more underhanded means?Now that's a possibility.

Talented individuals from rival factions should be eliminated early.

After all, right now the boy was just a four-ring Soul Sect. Spirit Hall had plenty of experts who could take him out.

But once he matured, trying to eliminate him would become extremely costly—maybe even impossible. He could grow into a serious threat.

As for consequences?

A dead genius is no longer a genius. As long as the act was clean and not caught in the moment, even if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect knew it was Spirit Hall, Ning Fengzhi wouldn't risk an all-out war over one dead prodigy.

These kinds of dirty games had happened before.

Otherwise, why would such a vast Heaven Dou Empire only have three titled Douluo—Dugu Bo, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong—on the surface?

With that in mind, Salas began contemplating which of Spirit Hall's elite underlings were best suited for such dirty work.

T/N: Hello! So a bit ago, I checked the final chapter available to see if it's completed and it is, however in MC's harem is Tang Yuehua, which personally, I don't particularly like, so I'm thinking of rewriting some of the parts to exclude her. Thoughts?

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