Douluo: My Clone Is Groudon

Welcome to our new Patron: Mitsogon!

------------------------------------------------------

The Scope Lens increases critical hit rate by one level. Combined with the high critical chance of Shadow Claw, there's a 50% probability of landing a critical hit. The Sniper ability further boosts the critical damage multiplier from 1.5x to 2.25x.

Once a critical hit lands, combined with soul skills, it can achieve the same instant-kill effect as a sniper attack.

"Ability shards cost 96 points each—thinking about this seems a bit premature. However, most soul masters don't have innate abilities, which actually makes things easier for me. It's like painting on a blank canvas."

Gu La mentally planned out how to train Zhu Zhuqing. Since Tang San hadn't given his approval, he couldn't teach her the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Steps technique, but he could still teach her Agility. Straight line speed doesn't necessarily lose out to flexibility.

The Ultra Ball shook slightly and opened automatically. A red light landed on the ground, steadying itself. Zhu Zhuqing held the ball tightly, her lips pursed. "This soul tool is far too precious."

As the second daughter of the second most powerful family in Star Luo, she knew how costly it was to create a mimicry environment.

The Ultra Ball's ability to adapt its environment based on its owner's attributes was an invaluable treasure for someone like her, who had left her family and lacked resources.

Xiao Wu waved dismissively, answering on Gu La's behalf. "Don't be polite—just keep it. Gu La has more."

Gu La shot her a sidelong glance but didn't bother arguing with her.

Under Gu La's insistence and Xiao Wu's persuasion, Zhu Zhuqing reluctantly accepted the Ultra Ball. Though it was technically the ball that had captured her, keeping it on her person wasn't entirely inappropriate.

The night air was cool as the four of them traveled without stopping. This time, Gu La was extremely cautious, using his Aura to sense other lifeforms' Aura signatures and avoid spirit beasts along the way.

---

Five days later, at the entrance of Nuoding Academy.

"Woo-hoo! Little brothers, your big sis is back!"

Xiao Wu joyfully leaped off the carriage and dashed into the academy. Midway, she remembered her new companion and waved enthusiastically. "Zhuqing, hurry up! I'll show you around the campus."

Zhu Zhuqing gracefully stepped off the carriage, her calm demeanor exuding the poise of a noble lady—a stark contrast to Xiao Wu's energetic and impulsive nature.

She caught up with Xiao Wu, taking in her surroundings—the place she would call home for the next few years.

Tang San bid farewell to Gu La. "Big Brother, I'm going to find Teacher."

"Mm, don't forget to ask him about borrowing books and whether the dragon blood for making energy cubes has arrived."

Gu La knew how to milk every resource fully, squeezing every drop of utility out of Yu Xiaogang.

"I'll remember."

Tang San gave a faint smile and headed toward the teacher's quarters.

Gu La settled the rental fee with the carriage driver before entering the academy. He lightly brushed his necklace and retrieved a communicator.

Pressing a button, the call was immediately answered.

The communicator crackled to life, transmitting Ning Rongrong's soft voice. "You bad guy—are you back from soul hunting?"

"Yes, it's over. Did you miss me?"

Gu La smiled faintly, teasing her. "I see there are quite a few missed calls on my communicator. Someone must really want to talk to me?"

"Who misses you?!"

At the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong stubbornly retorted.

She gritted her teeth internally, frustrated. For nearly a year now, the two had been chatting roughly every three days, yet she still didn't know his real name.

After exchanging a few playful barbs, Ning Rongrong couldn't help herself. "Hey, we've known each other for so long. Can't you tell me your name yet?"

Gu La teased, "What, so you can write a marriage contract with me?"

Ning Rongrong clenched her teeth again, seething. When she found out who he was, she'd make sure to step all over him and show this arrogant brat just how formidable a young mistress could be!

"I'm being serious here. Last time we talked, my father overheard. Lately, he's been asking me about who you are."

Ning Rongrong wasn't making excuses. Though she had her own room, soul masters had exceptionally sharp hearing. Even standing outside her door, her father could easily hear her chatting with someone.

Gu La detected no lie in Ning Rongrong's words and paused thoughtfully. No one else knew about his trip to Shenmu City, so revealing his identity wouldn't cause any harm.

"You can call me by another name—Oak."

He braced himself for Ning Rongrong's disbelief and exclamations.

To his surprise, she scoffed, "You? A little pervert like you pretending to be Master Oak? If my father finds out, he'll spank you good."

Ning Rongrong tilted her chin up, looking utterly disdainful.

She often heard her father, Ning Fengzhi, praise Oak. Over time, she had developed a certain admiration for this genuine theoretical master. Though the training regimen was exhausting, she consoled herself by imagining stomping on Gu La's face someday—it kept her going.

Gu La was momentarily speechless. So even telling the truth wouldn't convince her.

Still, his youth was indeed a significant obstacle.

The Gym Leader of Goldenrod City, Sabrina, could temporarily evolve Pokémon and transform people into dolls using her psychic powers. Perhaps he could develop a similar ability to create a physical adult clone to act as Oak.

Gu La ended the call and mused, "Creating a clone out of thin air would be extremely difficult. Maybe I could acquire a soul skill that creates clones—but it'd need to come from a high-level soul ring, preferably a hundred-thousand-year one. Hmm, that's quite challenging."

Hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts were stronger than ordinary Title Douluo. By the time he grew strong enough to hunt one, his Legendary Martial Soul would already render such disguises unnecessary.

"This path won't work."

Shaking his head, Gu La grabbed a notebook to jot down his thoughts. He began polishing a draft of his martial soul evolution theory paper, which he had prepared long ago.

He hadn't forgotten the murderous intent Tang Hao had shown him in the Great Star Dou Forest. This paper would shake the foundations of the top three sects.

Well, not exactly—the Seven Treasures Glazed Tower had room for evolution, but the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Hao Tian Sect would bear the brunt of the impact.

Of course, the Hao Tian Sect's status as the number one sect was deeply tied to secret techniques like the Great Sumeru Hammer, the Disorderly Wind Splitting Hammer Technique, and the Hao Tian Nine Absolutes. A single paper wouldn't topple their roots.

Similarly, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect relied on their Dragon Transformation Secret Technique, which granted partial access to true body transformations early on. Though their momentum waned after reaching the Soul Sage level, it had solidified their position as the strongest mid-tier soul master family, with deep reserves.

"Pity that Yu Xiaogong doesn't understand the Dragon Transformation Secret Technique. If he did, I'd love to study it and try to derive a universal method applicable to all beast-type soul masters."

As for whether this would affect the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect—well, that was none of Gu La's concern.

Taking notes on his inspirations, Gu La finally organized his thoughts and began writing with great clarity.

"The evolution of martial souls follows discernible patterns, primarily through nurturing the body and spirit, completing deficient attribute bloodlines, and stimulating them with high-quality energy…"

"From the phenomenon of martial soul mutations, we can deduce some logic behind variations or evolutions. For example, offspring may awaken seemingly mundane martial souls like piglets, but their bloodline might be extraordinary, enabling fusion techniques with other soul masters."

"This is often due to stimulation caused by one parent's Light attribute soul ring, but insufficient energy or inadequate Light attribute power results in a failed mutation."

"This is the theory of innate martial soul mutation and evolution. Soul masters who plan to have children should avoid exposure to stimulants that could cause malignant mutations."

"In the following sections, I will focus on postnatal (acquired) martial soul evolution methods. Due to the limited number of experimental subjects, these findings are for reference only."

------------------------------------------------------

40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow

There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)