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I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! Douluo: AFKing to Become a God
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The eight grotesque spider legs of the Human-Faced Demon Spider twitched under the sunlight, and a purplish-black poisonous mist steamed from its shattered mandibles.
With a final piercing shriek, the massive body collapsed in a heap, transforming into countless firefly-like specks of spiritual energy that adhered to Gu La's surface.
Zhang Yangzi lay sprawled on his back, his bangs soaked with sweat, his chest heaving violently as though it might produce a whistling sound. "Thank goodness you came; otherwise, we'd have been doomed."
He turned his head to look at Gu La, his voice still trembling with the aftershocks of near-death.
Wang Jinxi's pale face twisted into a bitter smile as his right arm, which had undergone skeletal mutation, twisted unnaturally. "Three seconds later, and we would've been forcibly ejected like Xie Xie."
The overuse of their fusion technique left him at his limit, and he couldn't help but send Gu La a grateful glance.
He certainly didn't want to be stuck in special training during the holidays.
Gu Yue silently retreated to the edge of the group, the silver threads of light around her fingertips not yet fully dissipated.
Xu Xiaoyan hopped through the drifting specks of spiritual stardust, her pale yellow skirt brushing against the Blue Silver Grass. She tilted her head, blinking her amber eyes, her eyelashes casting butterfly-like shadows on her porcelain cheeks.
"Hello everyone, I'm Xu Xiaoyan. Nice to meet you all."
"Nice to meet you."
Xu Xiaoyan's cute and delicate appearance gave off an obedient vibe, and amidst the chorus of responses, Tang Wulin wiped his arms covered in golden scales.
Suppressing the surging blood within him, his gaze swept across the corpses of soul beasts scattered across the ground. "The Human-Faced Demon Spider poisoned many soul beasts. We can't waste this spiritual energy. Let's divide it up and continue exploring, so we don't waste this rare qualification for the chaotic phase."
"I'll pass. You guys be careful."
Gu La declined to join them. Since entering the Spirit Ascension Platform, the Golden Ancient Tree spirit soul had already reached a cultivation level of forty thousand years. Continuing here would be inefficient due to the low-quality spiritual energy of the beginner-level platform—better to advance to the intermediate or even advanced levels instead.
"All right, see you later then."
Tang Wulin nodded, leading his teammates away.
After they left and the last traces of spiritual energy merged into his spirit soul, Gu La pressed the exit button, and the simulation pod opened.
Xie Xie was curled up at the bottom of the pod, dry-heaving. His knuckles were white from gripping too tightly, and when he looked up, his bloodshot eyes managed a strained smile for Gu La. "Thanks for avenging me."
Being killed by the Human-Faced Demon Spider had given him a splitting headache and left a shadow in his mind. Seeing Gu La obliterate it made him feel much better.
"No problem, it's what I should do. Just treat me to a meal when you have time."
Gu La leapt out of the virtual pod, stretching lazily. He exchanged a quick greeting with Wu Zhangkong before heading to the top floor to inform Leng Yaozhu that he had taken the external soul bone of the Dark Golden Terror Claw.
Leng Yaozhu wasn't surprised. "Given your strength, it's perfectly normal. Don't worry about it."
She handed him a storage-type soul-guided device.
"The materials traded by various factions have arrived—rare herbs cultivated by the Tang Sect, rare metals from the Federation. Since you're one of us, the pagoda has rewarded you with resource quotas. As per your request, you now have a lab dedicated to hybridizing spirit souls."
"Using the Earth Demon Bear as a base, fused with the bloodlines of the Mighty Golden Bear and the Flame Lord, the lab believes there's a good chance of success within thirty attempts."
"Thank you, Teacher."
Gu La expressed his gratitude sincerely. He knew that without Leng Yaozhu backing him, the Spirit Pagoda wouldn't have given him resources of equal value for his spirit soul experiments.
Even though these were just hundred- or thousand-year spirit souls, the quality of their bloodlines was enough to shape a large number of high-level soul masters. Gu La guessed that Leng Yaozhu must have spoken on his behalf quite a bit behind the scenes.
As Gu La traced the intricate soul-guided patterns on the storage ring, he silently noted Leng Yaozhu's assistance, vowing to repay her in the future—at the very least, ensuring she wouldn't perish in the Abyss War.
Seeing Gu La's serious expression, Leng Yaozhu's elegant face softened into a gentle smile. "Next, wait for your eyesight to recover. The Tianhai Alliance Grand Tournament will also begin soon. The Divine Craftsman Zhen Hua will present the championship prize. You should prepare."
She knew Gu La had already stabilized his ability in spirit-level forging. A ten-year-old fifth-grade master craftsman would surely move even the Divine Craftsman.
"If Zhen Hua wants to take you as a disciple, tell him to speak with me."
"Yes, Teacher."
Gu La obediently agreed.
Leng Yaozhu resumed her languid demeanor, casually waving her hand. The entire floor-to-ceiling window darkened. "During the holidays, I'll take you to the advanced-level Spirit Ascension Platform to push your soul ring years to the limit. Your physical conditioning is strong, and with four rings plus ferocious beast sacrifices, we can strive to reach ninety thousand years for your spirit soul."
As for breaking through to ten thousand years, that would depend on the spirit soul's own efforts and innate talent. Leng Yaozhu believed that with the Golden Ancient Tree's bloodline, achieving this step wouldn't be difficult.
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Meanwhile, in a secluded small world within the Tang Sect.
Cao Dezhi, the Master of Douluo Hall, brushed his fingertip along the blade of the Heartless Sword, frost spreading across the slate floor in a web-like pattern.
He stared intently at the trembling, glassy blade in Amorous Douluo's hand. "You insisted on coming here… What kind of secret could possibly make you so cautious?"
Zang Xin shook his head. He couldn't say. Changing the subject, he said, "It's just some insights. Use the martial soul fusion technique, and experience it yourself."
Gu La had said Zang Xin couldn't tell others about the ten-thousand-year plan, but he forgot that besides being demi-gods, Zang Xin and Cao Dezhi also possessed a martial soul fusion technique.
Under the state of the martial soul fusion technique, their minds were connected. Even Tang Hao, as the Plane Lord, couldn't spy on them.
At Zang Xin's insistence, Cao Dezhi agreed.
The two joined hands, their swords—the Heartless Sword and the Amorous Sword—overlapping and merging into a brilliant streak of silver light that shot into the sky. Layers upon layers of silver descended from above, thick waves of emotional fluctuations covering several kilometers, forming a massive silver cocoon that created a vacuum seal.
Time and space seemed like a lake disturbed by a thrown stone. Silvery-blue sword energy poured down like moonlight, countless fragments of memory swirling within the sword intent—altered sacrificial contracts, the slumbering plane consciousness deep within the Golden Tree, and the hidden pieces left behind by Sea God Tang San on Douluo Planet…
Each revelation stirred even the emotionless Cao Dezhi.
"Absurd!" Cao Dezhi's sword energy surged, shattering rocks three feet away. The Heartless Sword Domain concentrated its energy into sharp sword qi. "To use all living beings as pawns—what kind of divine plan is this?"
For the first time, ripples appeared in his star-like pupils beneath his stern brows. Even his century-long cultivation of the Heartless Dao couldn't maintain his calm.
Zang Xin had vented all the anger he needed to. Taking advantage of the lingering effects of the martial soul fusion technique, he and Cao Dezhi communicated telepathically, exchanging thoughts multiple times in an instant and making numerous arrangements.
"We can't withdraw our forces. Setting aside the threat of the Abyss, if Tang Hao notices anything, he'll definitely guide Ha Luosa to target Tang Sect disciples, forcing us to deplete the Abyss' power."
"What a favored child of the plane—a mighty Underworld Emperor reduced to nothing more than a black glove for the Plane Lord."
"Gods aren't trustworthy, but we have no choice. We can only gamble on the Plane Lord reviving our fallen comrades—but this isn't over!"
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