Douluo: Peerless Beastmaster King

Due to her breakthrough with her soul ring, Ye Guyi not only obtained her seventh soul ring—at the 100,000-year level—but also acquired a head soul bone of equal quality.

The Radiant Dragon Horse was not only a light-attribute soul beast, but also one of the top-tier species among spiritual-type soul beasts. As such, after acquiring a 100,000-year soul ring and soul bone, Ye Guyi experienced an immense boost in both her physical capabilities and spiritual power.

Moreover, the two soul bone skills she obtained were both of the spiritual attribute, making up for her previous shortcomings in that area.

But even this wasn't the full extent of her gains. Thanks to the powerful Martial Soul True Body effect granted by her 100,000-year soul ring, Ye Guyi also awakened a divine domain.

This Divine Domain was a lower-tier version of the Angelic Domain. Though it wasn't a true god-level domain, it was still considered a top-tier domain in its class, with future potential to evolve into a genuine Angelic Domain.

A 100,000-year seventh soul ring and the awakening of her innate domain—Ye Guyi's soul power had now skyrocketed to an astonishing rank 75. Her strength was simply off the charts!

At this point, she could face off against a powerful Soul Douluo with a top-tier martial soul head-on, and might even be able to test herself against a Title Douluo.

If it weren't for Zhou Sicheng, the absolute monster of Shrek, Ye Guyi would undoubtedly be the number one genius of the academy. Her current achievements had already surpassed those of the Inner Court's senior sister, Zhang Lexuan.

And the most important part? She was only sixteen years old!

A sixteen-year-old Soul Saint at rank 75—this was a new record for Shrek Academy.

While Zhou Sicheng's combat prowess was unrivaled, he was still only thirteen years old and had reached rank 54. Compared to Ye Guyi's seventy-five levels, the gap was still quite large.

However, when comparing them at the same age, it was Zhou Sicheng who had set Shrek's new record.

Conservatively speaking, by the time Zhou Sicheng turned sixteen, he would likely surpass even Ye Guyi's current achievements.

That said, these siblings were both absolute monsters, each more freakish than the other.

Ma Xiaotao's seventh soul ring had reached over seventy thousand years, and her soul power had risen to rank 72. Due to her purified martial soul, she had awakened her Martial Soul True Body and a Phoenix Domain.

Her Phoenix Domain had emerged primarily as a result of the purification of her Fire Phoenix martial soul.

Even so, compared to Ye Guyi, her gains now seemed somewhat lackluster.

Ye Guyi had gained a soul ring, a soul bone, and a domain—four powerful skills in total—while Ma Xiaotao only gained her True Body and a domain...

What would have been considered an incredible harvest by others now felt somewhat plain to Ma Xiaotao.

Listening to the two girls recount their gains, Zhou Sicheng couldn't help but feel that the influence of the "Plane Consciousness" was silently at work again.

Otherwise, how could even Ma Xiaotao have gained a domain?

Originally, he had come to Shrek for the Golden Ancient Tree and that Dragon Pill. Yet now, not only had he gained far more than expected, but even those around him were starting to "cheat" their way forward.

Ultimately, all of this could be traced back to one thing—Zhou Sicheng himself, the variable that had changed everything.

At this moment, however, a thought crossed Zhou Sicheng's mind: with Ye Guyi's current talent, if she continued to participate in the tournament, the sheer power of her Holy Angel Martial Soul would certainly draw the attention of the Holy Spirit Cult.

So, Zhou Sicheng hesitated—should his sister continue participating in the tournament?

With her current strength, she could likely sweep through the entire competition single-handedly. Participating would be more of a formality than a real challenge and wouldn't offer much help in terms of cultivation.

Unable to keep his thoughts to himself, Zhou Sicheng asked Elder Mu, "Teacher, with Sister and Xiaotao's current strength, they could completely dominate all the other participating teams. Not only would it offer little help for their cultivation, but it might also attract unwanted attention. If it were you, how would you handle it?"

Elder Mu smiled gently upon hearing this, glancing over at the two girls.

Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao nodded lightly at Zhou Sicheng's words. With their current strength, and given the scale of previous tournaments, the two of them alone could easily secure a championship for Shrek.

Besides making a public appearance and gaining some fame, there didn't seem to be much benefit to participating. On the contrary, it might lead to attention from the wrong people and cause potential danger.

It was common knowledge that a genius who hadn't yet fully matured wasn't truly a genius.

This was also the main reason Zhou Sicheng had chosen to conceal his own strength.

Having lived over two hundred years, Elder Mu naturally understood these truths. Upon observing the girls' reactions, he could already guess what they were thinking.

However, Elder Mu held a different perspective.

He spoke slowly, "Sicheng, what you said isn't wrong—but it's not the whole picture either."

"The reason I asked you to hide your strength is because your martial soul is far too unique. Despite only having five rings, your combat strength already matches that of a Title Douluo. If your power were to be revealed, countless people would fight over you."

Zhou Sicheng nodded slightly.

Elder Mu continued, "But Guyi and Xiaotao are different. While their talents are extraordinary, they're not as heaven-defying as yours. They are among the top talents of their generation, yes—but not to the extent of being utterly monstrous."

Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao nodded in agreement, silently listening to Elder Mu's analysis.

"When I was eighteen, I reached rank 69. Back then, I was one of the most outstanding youths of my era. After making a name for myself in the tournament, I gained great fame—but I also became a target for countless ambushes and hidden threats."

"Even so, while some moments were perilous, none were fatal. Those experiences became stepping stones in my path to greatness. The name of the Twin Saints of Black and White Dragons eventually spread throughout the continent, and only after enduring countless trials did I finally become the Dragon God Douluo I am today."

The three younger ones present had long since memorized Elder Mu's stories, but hearing him recount them in person carried a different kind of weight.

Zhou Sicheng couldn't help but ask, "So what Teacher means is that even if Sister and Xiaotao are nearly guaranteed to win the tournament, the journey itself is still a meaningful experience that they shouldn't miss?"

Elder Mu nodded slightly. "That's right. Thanks to your immortal herbs, Guyi and Xiaotao have already surpassed what I achieved at their age. But as the saying goes—each generation produces its own talents. We cannot yet know if others on the continent can match them. Let them gain more experience—it can only help them grow."

"Though I'm old, I'm not dead yet. With Shrek's name backing them, even those with ill intentions wouldn't dare go too far. And among their peers, what do Guyi and Xiaotao have to fear?"

Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao both nodded in agreement. After all, they did want to participate in the tournament.

Partly for Shrek's honor—and partly to stay by Zhou Sicheng's side.

Fame meant little to them.

Zhou Sicheng understood Elder Mu's message clearly. Back then, even he had believed himself invincible among his peers, yet during the tournament, he encountered opponents like Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui who could match him.

From Elder Mu's perspective, if Ye Guyi and the others had such opportunities, then perhaps other geniuses across the continent did too.

Still, Zhou Sicheng knew better.

There were geniuses on the continent—but Ye Guyi and the rest were basically cheating with hacks. No one else could compare.

That said, Elder Mu wasn't wrong either. Thinking of that insane woman from the Holy Spirit Cult, Zhou Sicheng frowned. "But what if some people don't play by the rules? If not for that, I wouldn't have needed to hide at all."

Elder Mu fully understood Zhou Sicheng's concerns. After all, human nature was unpredictable. Even Elder Mu couldn't guarantee everything.

He gently patted Zhou Sicheng's hand. "The reason I told you to keep your power hidden is because you are too unique. Once you grow strong enough to reach my level, your nine contracted soul beasts will be equivalent to nine Limit Douluos. That would make this era a golden age of the soul master world."

"But even now, the number of people who've reached that level can be counted on one hand—some, like me, already at the end of our lives."

"Each Limit Douluo is powerful enough to change the tide of fate. But even so, an individual's power has limits. We might stand invincible for a time, but eventually we will grow weary."

"But you—you're different. The combined strength of nine Limit Douluos… That's a force no one would dare gamble against. Now imagine: if someone knew you had the potential to reshape the entire continent, wouldn't they do everything in their power to eliminate you while you're still in the cradle?"

"I'm still here, so I can protect you—for now. But if I were gone, I can't guarantee anyone else would extend that same protection on my behalf and let you grow."

Zhou Sicheng fell silent at Elder Mu's words.

He knew exactly who Elder Mu was referring to. Besides the three known Limit Douluos, there were even those two lackeys from the Clear Sky Sect...

His abilities absolutely couldn't be exposed—not unless others had the same character and vision as Elder Mu.

Elder Mu continued, "But Bone Yi and Xiao Tao are different from you. While their talent is exceptional, they're not quite as monstrously gifted as you are. They are among the most elite geniuses of this era, but not to the same terrifying extent."

Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao nodded slightly upon hearing this, quietly listening to Elder Mu's analysis.

"In my youth, I reached Rank 69 at the age of eighteen, which made me one of the top talents of that generation. After making a name for myself in the tournament, I enjoyed great fame and prestige—but I also became the target of countless hidden attacks."

"Still, though there were times of grave danger, those experiences were never enough to kill me. Instead, they became stepping stones along my path to strength. The name 'Black and White Twin Holy Dragons' gradually spread across the continent, and only after enduring countless trials did I finally become the Dragon God Douluo I am today."

The three juniors present were already quite familiar with Elder Mu's accomplishments. But hearing them directly from him in this somber tone gave the story a different weight.

Zhou Sicheng couldn't help but ask, "So, Teacher, you believe that even though my sister and Xiao Tao are almost guaranteed to win the championship, they should still participate in the tournament because the journey itself is a vital life experience?"

Elder Mu nodded slightly. "Exactly. With your Immortal-grade aid, Bone Yi and Xiao Tao have already surpassed where I was at their age. But every generation has its own talents. It's hard to say whether there might be others on the continent who can rival them. Letting them gain more experience won't hurt."

"I may be old, but I'm not dead yet. With Shrek Academy backing them, even if there are those with ill intentions, they wouldn't dare act too recklessly. And within their own generation, what do Bone Yi and Xiao Tao have to fear?"

Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao both agreed with this sentiment. After all, they did want to participate in the tournament.

Partly for Shrek, and partly because they wanted to accompany Zhou Sicheng.

Fame didn't mean much to them.

Zhou Sicheng also understood Elder Mu's deeper meaning. Back in the day, even though Elder Mu thought himself invincible among his peers, he still encountered worthy opponents like Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui in the tournament.

So from Elder Mu's perspective, if Bone Yi and Xiao Tao have such immense potential, it's likely that other prodigies might exist as well.

But Zhou Sicheng knew the truth: while there were geniuses on the continent, Bone Yi and the others had "cheat-like" advantages—no one could truly compare.

Still, Elder Mu's reasoning wasn't wrong either. Thinking of that insane woman from the Holy Spirit Cult, Zhou Sicheng furrowed his brow. "But what if some people don't play by the rules? If not, why would I have needed to stay hidden until now?"

Elder Mu clearly understood Zhou Sicheng's concerns. After all, the human heart is unpredictable, and even he couldn't foresee everything.

He gently patted Zhou Sicheng's hand. "I've told you to keep your power hidden because you are too unique. Once you grow and reach my level, your nine contracted soul beasts will essentially be nine Limit Douluo. That alone could usher in a golden age for the soul master world. But even among Limit Douluo, only a handful exist, and many—like me—are nearing the end of their lives."

"Every Limit Douluo can change the course of history, but one person's strength is still limited. Even if we can stand at the peak with our own power, we too have limits."

"But you're different. The power of nine Limit Douluo is something no one would dare underestimate. Think about it—if others knew what you could achieve in the future, wouldn't they do everything possible to eliminate you now, before you could become a threat to the entire continent?"

"I'm still alive, so I can protect you for now. But if one day I'm gone, I can't guarantee others will do the same out of respect for me."

Zhou Sicheng fell silent.

He knew very well who Elder Mu was referring to. Aside from the three known Limit Douluo, there were also two lackeys from the Clear Sky Sect...

That's why his abilities had to remain secret. Unless others had the same character and vision as Elder Mu, it simply wasn't safe.

Elder Mu continued, "Bone Yi and Xiao Tao, however, are different. At most, they're a bit more gifted than I was in my youth. Their greatest potential is to become the next Dragon God Douluo. No matter how jealous others might be, they wouldn't go so far as to break the unspoken rules."

"After all, even a dying sun can still shine brilliantly. Shrek can protect them just fine."

Zhou Sicheng gave a soft nod and didn't argue further.

He spoke quietly, "Teacher, I understand. In that case, the Shrek team will still determine the lineup, and Sister and Xiao Tao will both participate in the tournament."

Ye Guyi nodded in agreement. "With your words, Teacher, I have no more worries. If anyone's jealous, we'll just show them what real strength looks like."

Ma Xiaotao's fiery temper flared as her eyes gleamed with flames. "Those Evil Soul Masters are nothing! When I become a Title Douluo, I'll make them taste the might of the Fire Phoenix!"

Elder Mu chuckled. "You've got plenty of time ahead of you. No need to rush."

"You just returned today. Spend some time catching up. Training can wait until tomorrow."

The three didn't insist. After spending a bit more time with Elder Mu, they left the Sea God Pavilion together.

As he watched the three youths walk away, Elder Mu's gaze lingered on Zhou Sicheng's back.

After a long while, he sighed softly, "Sicheng… your abilities are too unique. I only hope you can remain true to yourself. Otherwise, when the day comes that you fully mature…"

"I hope that sub-body can extend this old man's life, even if it can't completely purge the rage left behind by that Dragon Core. At the very least, I want to live to see you stand at the pinnacle of the continent."

Just then, Xuan Zi silently appeared behind him, gently pushing his wheelchair back toward the Sea God Pavilion. He said quietly, "Elder Mu, after all this time spent with Sicheng, you understand his character well. We should trust him. Why worry ourselves with 'what-ifs'?"

Elder Mu gave a bitter smile. "Of course I trust him. Ever since I saw his 'Dominating the World' ability, I knew he wouldn't remain bound to Shrek forever. That's why I chose to give him everything—because I hoped that when he finally pursued his deepest ambitions, he would still remember Shrek."

"When he matures, not only will the Sun Moon Empire cease to be a threat—he might change the very power structure of the continent. The hearts of men are unpredictable, especially those of emperors. I trust him now—but that future version of him who stands invincible across the world…"

Xuan Zi laughed. "Elder Mu, you really are worrying yourself too much. We're already half-buried in the ground—what's the point in stressing over the future?"

"As long as we trust Sicheng now, that's enough. If he truly becomes invincible one day, what difference would our worries make? Would it change anything?"

Elder Mu stayed silent for a moment before smiling. "Haha, you're right. I really am overthinking things. You, the so-called idiot, actually have more clarity than I do. I must've become too attached to that sub-body and almost lost sight of myself."

He sighed again. "Sometimes, when hope appears, it really can change a person little by little…"

Xuan Zi chuckled. "Elder Mu, you could say I just taught you a life lesson today. How's that for progress?"

Elder Mu laughed. "You haven't changed a bit, have you?"

…

Along the forest path of Sea God Island, Ye Guyi turned to Zhou Sicheng. "Sicheng, your Mirror Image Beast ability is incredibly powerful. Out in the open, you're basically the next Dragon God Douluo."

Ma Xiaotao remembered what Elder Mu had said earlier and grew visibly excited. "In the future, when you copy my martial soul, the two of us Fire Phoenixes working together might even be able to create a Martial Soul Fusion Technique!"

As soon as she spoke, Zhou Sicheng raised an eyebrow, his eyes flashing with insight.

That's right. His duplication of another's martial soul, especially when using the donor's blood, meant it was virtually identical—true same-origin compatibility. In theory, that should mean 100% synchronization. Could this be the key to developing a Martial Soul Fusion Technique?

Ye Guyi was equally excited. "I think Xiao Tao has a point. If you copy my Holy Angel martial soul, then we'll be exactly the same—completely identical. That level of compatibility would surpass most martial soul pairs. Maybe the two of us combined could elevate the Holy Angel into a Six-Winged Angel?"

Ma Xiaotao rolled her eyes. "Hey! I said it first!"

Then she remembered Ye Guyi's current form had two pairs of angel wings, and she smirked. "But Little Martial Aunt, your math is off. A Six-Winged Angel has three pairs of wings—six total. If you fuse with Sicheng, you'd have eight wings—you'd be stronger than a divine-level martial soul!"

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