Douluo, my clone Groudon

Chapter 322 Bo Xi, Five Great Soul Skills
Emperor Dai Tianling of Xingluo swiftly carried out his decree.

The close advisor in charge of recruiting Bo Xi approached him again with incredibly generous offers—an advisory title to the Imperial Ministry of Works, first-level access to the Royal Academy, a massive quota of rare materials, and an independent research workshop located in the heart of Star Luo City.

Bo Xi remained taciturn and focused on his technology, but his imposing physique and unrestrained, imposing appearance always made people forget his terrifying expertise in his secondary profession.

He carefully "listened" to the conditions proposed by his close advisors and "cautiously" raised several detailed requirements regarding the autonomy of the research and the guarantee of resources.

After receiving a satisfactory reply, he "thought it over carefully" and finally nodded in agreement to serve the Star Luo Empire.

"Your Majesty is wise. With such a genius, the Empire's soul-guided technology will surely leap forward!"

When the close advisor reported back, his face showed undisguised excitement.

Dai Tianling nodded slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Talented individuals have been recruited, but this surrender requires a sufficiently substantial "pledge of allegiance" to prove their value, while also helping the Star Luo Empire regain some of its prestige in the competition.

"By imperial decree," Dai Tianling said in a deep voice, "Since Master Bo Xi possesses extraordinary strength, the Empire shall naturally recruit talent without being bound by convention. Master Bo Xi is hereby granted special permission to participate in the individual competition of this year's Youth Soul Master Tournament as a specially invited student of Monster Academy!"

"If he can demonstrate the strength worthy of the title of 'Heavenly King,' I will personally issue an edict to bestow upon him the title of the Ninth Heavenly King of Monster Academy, granting him the same honor and resources as the Eight Heavenly Kings."

"The Ninth Heavenly King?!" The close advisor was startled, then understood.

His Majesty intends to use Bo Xi as a weapon to cut through the shadow cast by Shrek Academy, and at the same time, to conduct the ultimate test of Bo Xi's strength.

The Eight Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy represent the true pinnacle of the younger generation in the Star Luo Empire. This position is extremely prestigious.

When Bo Xi received this "gift" with conditions attached, his face, which seemed to never show any emotion, remained calm.

The title of Heavenly King? It's just an empty name.

But the resources that the Ninth Heavenly King of Monster Academy could mobilize, and the core secrets and hidden worlds of the Star Luo Empire that he could access... that was what he, or rather, Gula behind him, was truly interested in.

Who knows if this ancient continent holds an opportunity that could lead to godhood or even higher?

“Okay,” Bo Xi replied succinctly.

The efficiency was astonishing. Thanks to the powerful efforts of the Star Luo Empire, Bo Xi's name appeared on the list of opponents for the round of 32 to 16 in the individual competition in just one day. As for the unfortunate ones who were replaced, the Star Luo Empire was naturally responsible for making the arrangements.

Furthermore, his opponent was deliberately arranged to be one of the eight Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy, known as the "Wolf King" Hua Lantang, famous for his fierce and powerful attacks.

The news caused an instant uproar at Xingluo Stadium.

"What?! Someone cut in line to enter the top 32 and will directly face Wolf King Hua Lantang?"

"Bo Xi? That name sounds unfamiliar... Which college is he from?"

"A special guest of Monster Academy? The Ninth Heavenly King? Are you kidding me! Is becoming a Heavenly King so easy?"

"Lord Wolf King! Tear this arrogant fool to shreds!"

"..."

Doubt, confusion, anger, curiosity... a mix of emotions. The Eight Heavenly Kings are the representatives introduced by Monster Academy to rival the Shrek Seven Devils. Although they are called the Ninth Heavenly King, they will probably eventually replace one of the current Heavenly Kings.

Hua Lantang enjoys immense popularity in the Star Luo Empire, and his appearance alone is enough to ignite the entire scene.

Now, how dare an unknown "specially invited student" directly challenge the position of Heavenly King? This is simply a provocation against Monster Academy and the Eight Heavenly Kings.

Hua Lantang himself was so angry that he laughed. He was tall and burly, with bulging muscles, and his eyes were as fierce and arrogant as those of a true wolf king.

He stepped onto the ring, staring at the young man opposite him who wore a blue fish-scale shirt with the collar open, revealing rock-solid muscles and a calm, composed demeanor. He licked his lips.

"Boy, no matter who pushed you out from behind, daring to use my Hua Lantang as a stepping stone, I'll make you regret ever being born. I'll show you what true dragon and wolf power is!"

Bo Xi looked at him calmly, as if he were looking at a test instrument.

He was fully aware of the "strength test" arranged by the Star Luo Empire and didn't care whether his strength was exposed.

After all, even if he intends to use a secondary profession to improve his status in the Star Luo Empire, he needs to demonstrate a certain level of strength to avoid unnecessary attempts to win him over or to coerce or entice him.

Gula's instructions to him were: demonstrate value and integrate into the core. So, in the most impactful way, silence the doubters and terrify the covetous.

The referee announced the start of the game.

Hua Lantang roared, and his martial spirit instantly possessed him.

His body swelled rapidly, his skin was covered with hard, bluish-black scales, his hands transformed into sharp claws that gleamed with cold light, a pair of curved dragon horns sprouted from his forehead, and a thick dragon tail covered with bone spurs lashed out from behind him.

A violent aura, a mixture of the majesty of a dragon and the ferocity of a wolf, surged into the sky.

Beneath his feet, five spirit rings—four purple and one black—shone brightly.

The Dragon Wolf Martial Soul is a perfect combination of a true dragon and a howling moon wolf, possessing strength, speed, defense, and ferocity. It is a level 58 offensive type battle soul king.

"Ouch——!"

With a deafening howl of wolves and roar of dragons, Hua Lantang, like a cannonball fired from a gun, hurtled straight towards Bo Xi with a piercing shriek that tore through the air.

He was going to crush this arrogant fool with the most ferocious force!

Faced with this ferocious attack, Bo Xi finally made a move.

He slowly raised his right hand. No spirit rings appeared, but an indescribable, vast pressure, as if originating from the depths of the ocean, suddenly descended!
Immediately afterwards, five deep, pure, and seemingly all-consuming "black soul rings" rose silently from beneath his feet, like five pitch-black suns!

"Black! Black! Black! Black! Black!"

Five ten-thousand-year soul rings!

The entire Xingluo Stadium seemed to have been silenced. All the noise, shouts, and doubts ceased abruptly. Countless faces were filled with utter shock, bewilderment, and disbelief.

Ten-thousand-year spirit rings?! Five of them?! How is this possible?! A spirit master who looks so young?!

Hua Lantang's fierce pounce faltered, his pupils contracted sharply, and a tremendous sense of crisis, originating from his martial soul instincts, instantly gripped him. But the arrow was already on the bowstring, and he had no choice but to release it.

"Domain Expansion: Steam Domain!"

Bo Xi's deep voice rang out.

In an instant, the temperature in the arena space with a radius of 100 meters centered on him soared at an alarming rate!

The moisture in the air evaporated rapidly, and thick, scalding, suffocating white steam instantly filled the entire arena.

Vision blurred, and the scorching heat made the skin of the spectators near the ring sting!

But this is just the beginning.

"First Soul Skill: Deep Sea High Pressure Domain".

Om-!
An invisible, terrifyingly heavy force crashed down, as if instantly dragging the entire arena into the depths of the ocean!
The air was no longer a light gas, but had turned into a viscous, heavy substance of lead and mercury. The terrifying pressure acted on every corner of the arena, and also on every inch of Hua Lantang's bones, muscles, and internal organs.

Under the terrifying pressure of the deep sea, the properties of steam undergo a qualitative change!
The scalding steam was no longer drifting mist, but had transformed into an ultra-high temperature and high pressure fluid capable of melting steel and possessing terrifying penetrating power.

They were everywhere, relentlessly eroding Hua Lantang's scale defenses, scorching his skin, and suffocating him.

"Ugh!"

Hua Lantang let out a painful groan, feeling as if he had been thrown into a boiling furnace or squeezed by a massive hydraulic press.

His prized Dragon-Wolf Defense was as flimsy as paper in the face of this terrifying environment with its two overlapping domains. His speed plummeted, his movements became incredibly difficult, and every breath was excruciatingly painful. "Second Soul Skill - Boundless Ocean!"

Bo Xi's soul power was like an inexhaustible spring, which flowed faster and more continuously in the steam and high-pressure environment.

The enormous consumption that supported his two major domain soul skills was like a trickle to him. Moreover, his soul ring contained soul power equivalent to 100% of Bo Xi's. Just like the name of his soul skills, his soul power was as vast and boundless as the ocean.

"Fourth Soul Skill: Endless Water Tornado!"

Bo Xi pressed his hands lightly against the ground.

On the arena, the ubiquitous water vapor, which had been evaporated and then re-condensed under high pressure, frantically converged towards him.

A massive, spinning waterspout filled with terrifying pressure and scalding steam was forming around him at an astonishing speed.

This waterspout was like a living thing, emitting a deep, thunderous roar, moving according to Bo Xi's will. Wherever it passed, even the solid arena floor was torn into deep trenches by the ultra-high-speed rotating water and high pressure. It was growing and expanding rapidly.

This is the embodiment of a wisp of authority from the Waves Water Martial Soul, possessing immense power and consuming less energy than imagined.

If released in the sea and charged to a certain level, the massive waterspout could even drag a Title Douluo to the deep sea, suffocating and tearing him apart!

Hua Lantang's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He exerted all his strength, pushing his Dragon Wolf Martial Soul to its limit, and his third and fourth Soul Rings shone brightly at the same time.

"Third Soul Skill: Dragon Wolf Sky-Tearing Claw!"

"Fourth Soul Skill - Howling Moon Soul-Shattering Wave!"

A gigantic phantom of a wolf's claw tore through the steam, and a violent sonic shockwave attempted to shatter the waterspout.

However, under the terrifying suppression of the dual domains, the power of his attacks was weakened by more than half.

The phantom of the dragon claw crashed into the waterspout, only creating a larger splash before being shredded. The sonic impact was further weakened by the heavy pressure and viscous water vapor, becoming barely audible by the time it reached Bo Xi.

"Reverse Scale!"

A golden light flashed in Bo Xi's eyes, and his fourth spirit ring shone brightly with black light. He intended to unleash all his spirit skills, making people think he had revealed all his trump cards, but when they thought that, they would fall into his trap.

A violent dragon's might mixed with icy killing intent suddenly erupted, and his strength, speed, and soul power fluctuations surged instantly, doubling all his attributes. His originally calm temperament became like a tsunami rising in a storm.

"Fifth Soul Skill: Shocking Wave Kill!"

With the blessing of the Reverse Scale, Bo Xi's speed was so fast that he left a blur in the water tornado. Dozens of deep blue water blades, spinning at high speed, with edges as sharp as divine weapons and containing terrifying cutting power and mental shock power, instantly condensed around his body!
These water blades, like loyal guards, surrounded him, and like the scythe of death, sliced ​​through everything in their path as he charged forward!
"Chichichichi——!"

Bo Xi's figure instantly pierced through Hua Lantang's battle armor defense.

The surrounding water jets, like a meat grinder, frantically slashed at Hua Lantang's dragon wolf scales, the ear-piercing scraping sounds, the cracking of scales, and Hua Lantang's painful roars all mixed together.

Physical cutting, water-based erosion, and mental shock.

Triple damage stacking burst!

Hua Lantang's prized defense shattered like fragile glass. Blood instantly stained his broken scales.

His massive body was slammed away like a tattered sack by the terrifying force of the water blade, crashing through the soul-guided protective shield at the edge of the arena and landing heavily on the ground outside the arena. He was covered in blood, with multiple deep wounds that exposed bone, and he completely lost consciousness.

The illusory dragon and wolf figures surrounding him had long since dissipated.

The battle is over!
From start to finish, it only took a minute!

Hua Lantang, one of the eight Heavenly Kings of Monster Academy, known as the Wolf King and infamous for his ferocity, was like a helpless child in front of Bo Xi.

He was completely overwhelmed, suffocated by the dual domains, forced into a sorry state by the water tornado, and finally, instantly killed by the surging divine killing blow amplified by the reverse scale.

silence!

A deathly silence enveloped the massive Xingluo Stadium.

All the Star Luo spectators stared blankly at the young man on the arena who slowly withdrew his soul rings, dissipated his domain and water tornado, and became calm and composed again.

Looking at Hua Lantang lying in a pool of blood outside the stadium, being urgently rescued by medical staff.

Five jet-black, millennia-old soul rings…

The superimposed realm of terror…

A violent waterspout...

That astonishing water blade that instantly killed the Heavenly King...

All of this struck the hearts of every Star Luo person like a heavy hammer! It brought not fear, but an extreme shock that overturned their understanding.

After a brief silence, an excited voice, almost shattering, resounded throughout the arena through the amplified soul-guided device:
"The victor—Monster Academy, Bo Xi!"

"Furthermore, by His Majesty's decree, in view of the unparalleled strength displayed by student Bo Xi, effective immediately, Master Bo Xi is hereby conferred the title of Ninth Heavenly King of Monster Academy! He shall enjoy the highest level of training resources in the Empire!"

Whoosh—!!!

Like a powder keg that had been ignited, the arena exploded instantly!

"The Ninth Heavenly King! King Bo Xi!"

"My God, that's incredible! He annihilated the Wolf King in an instant!"

"Five ten-thousand-year spirit rings! Am I dreaming?!"

"Monster Academy, Monster Academy, Ninth Heavenly King!"

"Bo-xi! Bo-xi! Bo-xi!"

The deafening cheers, screams, and shouts nearly lifted the entire stadium off its feet.

All doubts and misunderstandings vanished in the face of absolute strength.

Instead, there was fervent worship and a sense of pride. This was their Ninth Heavenly King of the Star Luo Empire, the new pillar of their Monster Academy. Did it matter where he came from? No, what mattered was that he was now the Heavenly King of the Star Luo Empire!

Bo Xi stood in the center of the ring, bathed in deafening cheers. He calmly surveyed the boiling crowd around him, his face remaining expressionless, merely offering a slight nod. He had achieved his goal.

In the most awe-inspiring way, he ascended to the core stage of the Star Luo Empire. The identity of the Ninth Heavenly King would bring him unimaginable convenience and resources. Gula's plan had taken another solid step forward.

In a corner of the audience, the Shrek Academy students wore solemn expressions.

Tang Wulin looked at the figure on the arena and felt the terrifying aura that had not yet completely dissipated, especially the five dazzling black spirit rings. His fists clenched involuntarily.

Another powerful opponent, and it seems to be on the side of the Star Luo Empire.

Inside the private room, Emperor Dai Tianling of Xingluo looked at the bustling scene below and finally revealed a satisfied smile.

Although we lost Hua Lantang, we gained a more powerful and terrifyingly potent Bo.

The Ninth Heavenly King, the Sea King—this title alone is enough to intimidate all directions and restore the momentum previously suppressed by the geniuses of Douluo Continent.

He glanced in the direction of the federal delegation, a hint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.

The competition has only just begun. The outcome remains to be seen. The gates of Monster Academy are always open to true geniuses; with such a grand plan, how can we not achieve great things?

(End of this chapter)