Douluo Continent: A Thousand Miles of Cultivation

The deserted streets weren't entirely deserted; after all, this was the capital of the Heavenly Dou Empire, and simply strolling around was out of the question.

Qian Shui has recently developed a new skill: releasing mental energy in inconspicuous corners and concentrating it on a single point to add a fixed imprint to the environment. This is another way of using mental energy, and Qian Shui is currently conducting experiments of this kind.

Pre-set mental imprints within a certain range increase his perception range, allowing him to perform well even in complex environments.

After all, the principle of phased arrays is similar, but the requirements for a real phased array are much stricter, and it is very difficult to implement it manually. After all, it is not a supercomputer and cannot pre-calculate every landing point.

Therefore, it can only perform functions similar to triangulation at most. Skills are always welcome, but the only inconvenience is that it requires the attachment of Qian Shui's own soul power, which means it needs to be electrified, so it can only work in a small area.

The purpose of developing this ability was to communicate instantly with Qian Renxue, since without a mobile phone, exchanging information would be extremely inconvenient.

The primordial spirit and martial soul can originally leave the body. What Qian Shui did was to break off a small part of the primordial spirit and act as a transmitter. He himself was the main unit, and giving Qian Renxue a part of the primordial spirit was like giving her a branch unit.

Although it can't even do conversation, simple triggers can achieve a similar effect to message notifications.

Triangulation is one such example of ancillary development capabilities.

Just as Qian Shui was engrossed in developing his skills, the sky gradually darkened. The light could no longer stop him, so he was somewhat caught off guard.

As he walked, he strayed further and further off course. At this moment, Qian Shui was in a muddy part of a small path, and as he was concentrating on his task, a woman appeared in front of him, waving at him.

The woman's attire wasn't gaudy; rather, it was quite capable. However, her dark circles were rather prominent on her face without makeup.

This was the first time Qian Shui had ever experienced something like this. Driven by extreme curiosity, he acted on his impulses. The woman didn't say much and simply pushed him into a small room.

The room was rather cluttered, with dim yellow light reflecting off the floor. A dark curtain hung in the middle of the room, and there was a person queuing in front of them.

Qian Shui, whose blood pressure was rising to his head, realized something was wrong and released his suppressed senses as a faint smell of blood rushed into his nostrils.

'Holy crap, kidneys!'

He had certainly heard of such things before, and his crotch tightened in fright. At that moment, the people in front of him in line followed him into the curtain.

There was no sound, only the slight scraping sound of a knife cutting into flesh. After a while, the woman who had led him into the room nudged him, and he was forced to walk through the curtain.

For some reason, Qian Shui seemed to have lost all her strength and was being passively pushed along, her face full of panic and helplessness.

'I don't want to...I don't want to...'

A complex mix of emotions surged within him in an instant, a mixture of fear and regret. The ugliest aspects of human nature starkly challenged his values, leaving him no time to even feel anger.

Only when cold sweat slid down his forehead and slightly dampened his chapped lips did he grab the blood-stained dagger that was being offered to him.

At this moment, Qian Shui was just an extremely vulnerable ordinary person on Earth. All the familiar feelings returned to him. Relying on his instinctive survival instinct, he overturned everyone present and ran over without looking back.

Forgetting to apply soul power, forgetting to unleash skills, he ran wildly purely on instinct until he saw the few soul-guided lights near the center of the city.

Qian Shui slumped to the ground, leaning against the wall, panting heavily, as if he had seen a ghost and dared not turn around.

"Boy, are you okay?"

"No...it's okay..."

Ghost Douluo appeared in front of Qian Shui. He was very puzzled by the genius boy's actions just now. Normally, a moment would have been enough for Qian Shui to erase that place. What was wrong with him?

"Hahaha..." Qian Shui laughed, but the laughter was very dejected. "Uncanny Valley? I'm fucking afraid of that?"

Looking at his slightly trembling hands, Qian Shui couldn't believe it himself. His level 49 spirit ring with its super-limited age and his combat power that exceeded his level were actually afraid of those scoundrels?

A loud slap rang out, and I slapped myself hard, but I was still unable to calm down.

Just then, Qian Renxue called out, which meant that she was already waiting for him somewhere outside Tiandou City, at the border of the Sun and Moon Forest.

I composed myself, leaned against the wall to stand up, and steadied my weak legs.

Shaking! Are the brain's fear signals really that effective?!

"Back when we were wiping out the wolf bandits, I killed so many of them all by myself without even flinching, and now you're flinching?!"

'Garbage! Trash! Fuck!'

……

"Uncle Ghost... I need a favor. Please erase that spot from before, and... please take me out of the city..."

"Go to Miss's?"

"Just outside the city..."

Qian Shui has always been strong-willed, and this is the first time he has ever asked Ghost Douluo for help because of his own affairs. He is now like a frightened wolf cub, unable to even bare his teeth.

When Qian Renxue saw Qian Shui, she only saw him walking slowly from the woods, without the usual spirited manner he used to display when riding his sword.

Today's news concerns Qian Shui's life or death, and Qian Renxue is particularly sensitive to it. Could it be that those people have launched an attack in advance?

"Xiao Shui, how are you? Are you hurt?" Qian Renxue asked anxiously, as Qian Shui didn't look like she was alright at all.

"Injured? Oh... no, not at all?"

"Who did it?"

"Make a move? I ran away, I didn't even have time..."

Qian Shui wiped the sweat from her palms on the hem of her clothes, then took Qian Renxue's hand from hers and said, "Xiaoxue, I swear, I'll never go to a brothel again..."

Chapter 78 Battle of Tianshui

"You went to the brothel again!?"

Qian Renxue's focus wasn't on anything else, but on whether Qian Shui had gone or not. Normally, Qian Shui would be witty and humorous, but now he seemed rather silent.

"No," Qian Shui shook her head in denial.

"But people are much scarier than ghosts."

It was the end of the year, and the outer entrance to the Sunset Forest was exceptionally cold at night, but Qian Shui no longer felt like he was in a demon's lair. The distant Tian Dou City looked like an abyss, inspiring fear, and at least for this night, he had no desire to return.

Even though he had been in Douluo Continent for more than ten years and had some understanding of this era, he still didn't have a deep enough understanding of the mutual killing between people, as he had never experienced it.

If there aren't even any outsourced police officers here who could shoot you at any time, how chaotic would society become?

To what extent will people kill and oppress each other?

He was aware of the uncanny valley effect. Just as he faced soul beasts and wolf bandits without hesitation or fear, he was still utterly terrified when faced with real humans.

Before, when I sat at my desk looking at the words on paper or the screen, I only felt that the protagonist leveling up and fighting monsters was extremely exciting. But when I actually saw this world, all that was left was fear and trepidation.

There are some things he can't tell anyone, some thoughts he can't share with anyone. This is everything about Blue Star, and he can only bear this anxiety that spans two worlds alone.

……

The two leaned against a large tree, and Qian Renxue recounted what had happened that day in the VIP room of the Great Soul Arena.

"Their idea is good. If it weren't for you, I probably would have been doomed..." Qian Shui listened quietly to Qian Renxue's retelling and silently looked into the distance.

Qian Renxue was very annoyed. She had never imagined that those forces could unite and go to such lengths to kill Qian Shui: "Xiao Shui, maybe I was wrong. I really shouldn't have let them grow so powerful!"

Just as Qian Shui was about to say something, a very young voice came from the treetop.

"Miss, you're not wrong!" The man swung his legs, sitting on a tree branch, his face obscured by the distant moonlight. "With me here, you can rest assured."

"Uncle Guangling!"

Qian Shui also curled up the corners of his mouth. The original killing trap could be broken in the blink of an eye. The only difference was to what extent it could be broken!

"Xiao Shui, it's time for you to get serious!"

……

The next day, Qian Shui walked into the arena, as if only there could he find some peace of mind.

"You're here, Brother Shui?" Yin Jin approached Qian Shui as soon as he saw him, winking and saying, "How come today's match against Tian Shui is all girls?"

Qian Shui forced a smile; he had absolutely no interest in women right now.

"Let's welcome the stars of today's finals! Tianshui Team! Wuhun Team!"

How will the Tianshui team, an all-female team, perform against the formidable defending champions today?

Will the Martial Soul Team show any mercy to the ladies?

Let's wait and see!

As the emcee warmed up the crowd and introduced the team members, both sides entered the venue.

"Tianshui! Tianshui!" "Tianshui will prevail!" "Down with the Spirit Hall!"

At Tiandou's home stadium, almost everyone in the audience was cheering for Tianshui Academy.

"Let's go, Brother Shui, this is a rare opportunity!"

Qian Shui did not explicitly refuse, but Yin Jin pulled him up instead. Distracted, Qian Shui was indeed pulled onto the stage.

"Oh? The Spirit Hall team has sent out a new member today, who is also the captain of the Spirit Hall team. I wonder what kind of strength this student has!"

Both sides prepare! Activate your Martial Souls!

Tianshui Academy was very nervous. The strength of the Martial Soul Team was undeniable. The fact that they had two Soul Kings and a full Soul Master the day before was already remarkable, not to mention that their captain was also on the field today.

Seeing that both his teammates and opponents had activated their Martial Soul Summoning Soul Rings, Qian Shui could only shake his head. Since he was already here, he could only say, "I'm already here."

"If you're so eager to mess with me, then let's see." Qian Shui glanced at Ning Fengzhi and Xue Ye on the stands, then his primordial spirit left his body, and four super-limited spirit rings—yellow, purple, purple, and black—slowly appeared behind him.

The entire arena fell silent instantly. Strength is the best endorsement, regardless of the era or world.

The pupils of the people standing at the front of the Tianshui Academy were shocked, while the big shots sitting in the stands had uncertain expressions.

"As expected of the captain of Martial Soul Academy, your strength is truly remarkable. Now, let the match begin!"

In an instant, both sides moved without hesitation. The entire Soul Sect team of Tianshui Academy went berserk and launched an attack as if their lives depended on it.

The Spirit Hall team, which was slightly slower, was controlled first, while only Feng Jingyi and Ruoyou, who were the fastest, rushed into the formation.

Qian Shui himself played support in the back row, showing his first skill to avoid revealing his unconventional support nature.

"Brother Zhou, what are you doing!"

"It's all because they're girls that they can't bring themselves to do it!"

Ruoyou and Feng Jingyi were each restrained by the two, so Ling Yunzhi couldn't deal much damage, while Yu Zhou, as the team's only strong attacker, was somewhat hesitant, and the situation became deadlocked for a while.

"Second Soul Skill, Water Charm~ Little brother, don't be afraid, come and play~"

"Okay~"

At this moment, Yin Jin was also caught off guard by the opponent, who used a charm skill to hit him directly, knocking him off the fighting platform.