Douluo, my clone Groudon

Chapter 294 Intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform

After speaking, before Yun Ming could say anything more, Leng Yulai was enveloped in a thin layer of dark purple light that concealed all abnormalities. Her figure disappeared instantly, like smoke blending into the night, leaving only a faint smell of blood and an indescribable complex emotion in the air.

Yun Ming stood there, looking in the direction where Leng Yulai had disappeared, his brows furrowed, and a glint of light flashing in his deep eyes.

He could sense the deep fear and helplessness in Leng Yulai's words, which was by no means solely due to the Holy Spirit Church.

She seems to be hiding something even more terrifying? The Holy Spirit Cult has been lying dormant for decades, and its current state is unknown. What is its connection to Leng Yulai's sudden change?

Countless questions swirled in Yun Ming's mind, finally culminating in a long sigh. At least... she knew the truth, and perhaps this was the first step for her to escape the quagmire of darkness.

He could only hope that she would ultimately make the right choice.

The Spirit Pagoda Headquarters, Intermediate Spirit Transfer Zone.

In stark contrast to the desolate and lifeless outskirts of Shrek City, the Spirit Tower headquarters was brightly lit, exuding a cold, futuristic technological atmosphere.

Beneath a massive soul-guided metal lamp, a special room emitted a soft and mysterious light, and two people stood in front of the virtual pod.

Gula changed into the white uniform of a researcher inside the Spirit Tower, his face showing his usual calm.

Beside him stood Qing Liuli, dressed in the same uniform but with a more composed and focused demeanor. She held a specially made crystal box engraved with complex soul-guiding runes, which seemed to contain some peculiar instruments and samples. Her eyes were filled with the focus and anticipation of a researcher.

Ahead of them stood Leng Yaozhu, dressed in a fiery red long dress, her posture upright, like a burning phoenix. Her exquisite face carried a hint of seriousness and concern, her gaze mainly fixed on Gula.

"Gula, Azure Glass".

Leng Yaozhu's voice carried a hint of caution, "The environment inside the intermediate spirit tower is complex, the energy is extremely active, and you may even encounter groups of soul beasts that are over ten thousand years old."

"Although with your strength and wisdom, you should have no problem passing the trials, remember not to be greedy for quick success or act rashly. Safety must be the top priority. If you encounter a soul beast that you cannot understand or fight, retreat immediately, understand?"

"Yes, teacher," Gula and Qing Liuli replied at the same time.

“Qing Liuli, your main task is to observe and record, and try to verify your theory. There’s no need to force it.” Leng Yaozhu then looked at the box in Qing Liuli’s arms. “Safety first.”

"Understood, teacher. I will be careful." Qing Liuli nodded earnestly.

“Go ahead, I’ll stay outside.” Leng Yaozhu stepped aside, gesturing for them to lie down in the metal cabin.

Gula and Qing Liuli exchanged a glance, then stepped forward simultaneously, lay down in the metal cabin, and closed their eyes.

The light shifted, and the space transformed. When their vision cleared again, they found themselves in a bizarre and fantastical world.

The intermediate-level Spirit Ascension Platform is a mixture of elements from the original Star Dou Great Forest, inhabited by soul beasts that are thousands to tens of thousands of years old. Only those below the Soul Saint level can enter without wearing battle armor.

What lies before us is not a real forest, but a primeval forest simulated by energy, teeming with life yet harboring hidden dangers.

The ancient trees were lush and verdant, with vines entwined around them, and the air was filled with a rich aroma of plants and the unique fishy smell of soul beasts.

In the distance, the faint roars of beasts and cries of birds could be heard, and energy fluctuations rose and fell.

As soon as Gula and Qing Liuli entered, their powerful spiritual energy dispersed.

"Qing Liuli, you can do your research on your own, but be careful," Gula said to his avatar.

At the Spirit Tower, Gura treated his avatar as a real person to avoid being discovered. "Understood."

Qing Liuli nodded, her eyes immediately locking onto a nearby "Rock Armored Earth Lizard" whose body was covered in rocky scales and was munching on Blue Silver Grass.

This is a thousand-year-old soul beast with extremely strong defensive capabilities, making it an excellent sample for her to study the stability of the energy structure of thousand-year-old soul spirits.

She did not rush to attack, but quietly released her martial spirit.

Pure and clear blue lotus lamp for purifying the mind!

A martial spirit, entirely emerald green and shaped like a lotus lamp, appeared before her, radiating a soft, tranquil glow that seemed to cleanse the soul.

Four black and one purple spirit rings rose from beneath his feet. The fifth spirit ring, in particular, was wrapped in wisps of black and exuded an ominous aura.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Mental Image Leap!"

With a thought, Qing Liuli sent out a tiny, extremely faint emerald-green flame, like a firefly, which instantly disappeared into the head of the rock-armored lizard.

The lizard stiffened slightly, a look of confusion flashing in its eyes, before continuing to eat as if nothing had happened.

But a mysterious connection had already been established between the blue glass and that flickering light.

She can use this "mental coordinate" at any time to instantly jump to the target's side or onto the spiritual level, regardless of spatial distance! This is her life-saving skill for exploring dangerous environments and observing soul beasts up close.

Furthermore, if someone kills the Rock Armored Earth Lizard, the light will penetrate the killer's mind through the mental loophole.

After doing all this, a wisp of black mist appeared on her shoulder, its shape constantly twisting and changing, emitting eerie spiritual fluctuations—the Calamity Beast.

This is a rare soul spirit that Leng Yaozhu painstakingly found for her, specifically to enhance her mind control abilities.

It is a malevolent spirit beast that deliberately instigates conflicts between creatures and absorbs the emotions and spiritual power generated by their battles. It was a notorious evil spirit beast in ancient times and was tacitly exterminated by various races.

Now resurrected as a spirit by the Spirit Pagoda, only Qing Liuli can ignore its continuous "malicious" fluctuations and truly master its power.

"Fifth Soul Skill: Harboring Malice!"
The evil beast's soul merged into the Azure Lotus Purifying Lamp, adding an indescribable allure and chaotic aura to the lamp's light.

Qing Liuli manipulated the tiny flame implanted deep within the lizard's mind, carefully exerting the influence of "malicious intent" while meticulously observing the changes in the soul beast.

She did not intend to directly manipulate or corrupt it, but rather to try to fine-tune its emotional state and observe the subtle fluctuations in its soul energy under specific emotions, such as aggression and fear, in order to study the key points of stability in the combination of the soul energy, emotions, and will of the thousand-year-old soul beast.

While Qing Liuli was fully focused on her research, Gula began his "enhancement plan."

He did not rush to find a specific soul beast, but instead slowly walked to a relatively open area in the center of the forest.

He slowly closed his eyes, and a vast and boundless surge of soul power, brimming with endless vitality, erupted from his body like a sleeping forest god awakening!

"Domain Expansion - Boundless Forest and Sea!"

hum-

Centered on Gula, a deep emerald green halo instantly spread out, enveloping the forest within a radius of several thousand meters. Within this domain, all the plants seemed to be infused with a violent life force!

(End of this chapter)