Douluo Continent: From Internal Martial Arts to the Law of Heaven and Earth

The other party's guidance did indeed provide him with a lot of inspiration, giving him a completely new perspective on creating his own soul skills and on willpower.

……

Xue Qinghe tapped the table and looked at Tang Shan as he had the maids remove the dinner plates.

"Tangshan, cancel tomorrow's morning exercise. Come with me to the palace. My father and Sect Leader Ning want to see you. Sect Leader Ning also wants to take me as his student."

Upon hearing this, Tang Shan's heart stirred slightly. Ning Fengzhi wanted to take Xue Qinghe as his disciple. It was hard to say whether to call him sharp-eyed or blind—he had taken a liking to the prince with the greatest potential at a glance. However, this prince with the greatest potential was not a real prince, and in some ways, he could be considered a great enemy of their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

"Yes, Your Highness. What about Grandpa Golden Crocodile..."

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile?"

Xue Qinghe was somewhat bewildered and looked at Tang Shan with a puzzled expression.

"That's what Senior Golden Crocodile told me to call him."

Tang Shan answered very decisively, conveniently ignoring the fact that the Golden Crocodile Douluo had asked him to choose a title.

It seems that Grandpa Golden Crocodile values ​​Tangshan highly, and its future is something to look forward to.

Xue Qinghe seemed to be deep in thought and didn't bother with this small matter anymore: "I will talk to Grandpa Jin'e. You don't need to worry. What you need to do is adjust yourself to the best condition. There may be some challenges later."

"test?"

Tang Shan frowned slightly. He didn't really like the trials in Douluo Continent; he always felt they were a bit childish.

Xue Qinghe noticed that Tang Shan was in a bad mood and explained helplessly, "There's nothing we can do about it. If you want to gain the approval of the Emperor and Sect Master Ning, you can't just make empty promises. But with your current strength, passing the test will be a piece of cake. Don't worry."

"OK then."

For the sake of resources, Tangshan had no choice but to agree.

"Also, you might need to join the Royal Academy in a while..."

"Is it the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies?"

Tang Shan interrupted Xue Qinghe and asked a question in return.

“That’s right. After all, this is a contest for imperial honor, so you might need to step in.”

Xue Qinghe felt a little embarrassed, as if he had asked for too much.

"I'll only participate in one session. Your Highness, you can arrange it as you see fit. Participating in too many sessions would just waste my cultivation time."

"That's natural; your cultivation level is the greatest help to me."

Xue Qinghe closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, then snapped his fingers: "I've got it."

She opened her eyes and looked at Tang Shan: "According to the information sent by the spies, the Spirit Hall seems to have recently discovered a lot of geniuses, called the 'Golden Generation'. Tang Shan, you will participate in the competition in the same year as them. If they participate, defeating them will be a blow to the prestige of the Spirit Hall. If they don't participate, you don't need to participate either, to avoid wasting your cultivation time."

Good heavens, the daughter launched a powerful attack on her mother. Tang Shan knew Xue Qinghe's purpose without even thinking. However, since the angel lady had said so, he naturally had to fulfill her little wish. After all, the heavy soul bone in his left hand and the ingredients that replenished his blood and qi and aided his cultivation every day could not be faked.

He initially thought it was a requirement from the Heaven Dou Empire, which is why he only agreed to participate in one edition. However, if he knew it was Miss Angel who wanted revenge, participating in several editions wouldn't be out of the question. In any case, with the strength of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, making it to the finals shouldn't be a problem. All he needed to do was sweep the competition in the end.

P.S.: Requesting monthly votes, dear readers! Let's aim for 600 monthly votes! Currently, I have 515. This humble author is itching to push myself to write more chapters!

Chapter 122 Entering the Palace, the Gathering of Various Powers

Sunlight streamed onto the smoothly moving carriage, highlighting its magnificence and elegance. Soft rays of light filtered through the windows, bringing a touch of warmth to the body.

Leaning back on the sofa covered with soft fur, Tang Shan watched the scenery pass by outside the window.

"Tangshan, Sect Leader Ning might try to win you over this time. Remember to accept all the benefits when the time comes, don't refuse."

Xue Qinghe wore her signature gentle smile, holding some documents in her hand, flipping through them as she casually remarked.

Tangshan sat up straight, looking somewhat curious.

"Your Highness, aren't you afraid that I'll be won over by Sect Master Ning, and then all your investments over this period of time will be wasted?"

"Don't worry, I believe in your character, my efforts, and Sect Leader Ning's intelligence. I've made such a huge investment in you. If Sect Leader Ning can win you over, it means the price he paid will be even greater than mine. This is a matter of my vision and investment. If Sect Leader Ning trusts someone who can be won over with enough effort, then all his years as the head of a sect would have been for nothing."

"Your Highness sees things very clearly."

"It's not that you're insightful, but rather that your talent is undeniable, and it's only a matter of time before you're recruited by other forces."

Xue Qinghe put down the documents, his tone calm and without any worry in his voice.

Yesterday, Grandpa Golden Crocodile had already told her the true origin of that soul bone. She just couldn't believe that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had the strength to produce an external soul bone, especially one produced by a soul beast comparable to the ancient and exotic Titan. That was unrealistic.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, I haven't finished repaying such a heavy investment yet. If I ever finish repaying it, I might just switch to another company."

Xue Qinghe was about to say, "Then you'd better be prepared to work for me for the rest of your life," when he suddenly remembered that Tangshan might help Golden Crocodile Douluo break through his limits. At this rate of return, there really wouldn't be much left to repay. He couldn't help but fall silent. It seemed he had to increase his investment and not let Tangshan slip through his fingers.

As for the idea of ​​destroying what one cannot have, Xue Qinghe ignored that choice. What a joke! The other man has a master backing him; the master's strength is unfathomable, and the internal martial arts he created might help Golden Crocodile Douluo break through his limits. Who knows how powerful he himself is? Harming his disciple would only be asking for trouble.

This is Xue Qinghe's explanation to herself; as for her true thoughts, even she probably doesn't know.

Tang Shan was unaware that he was just joking, yet Xue Qinghe looked so thoughtful. "No way," he thought, "a top-tier external spirit bone—can a mere two-ring Great Spirit Master like myself repay such a debt?"

Miss Angel doesn't actually think I can pay it all back, does she?

"Your Highness, we have arrived at the palace."

The sound of the Serpent Spear Douluo driving the car interrupted Tang Shan's soaring thoughts and Xue Qinghe's deep contemplation. The two subconsciously looked up and met each other's eyes, while Xue Qinghe instinctively avoided Tang Shan's gaze.

Tang Shan was a little confused, but business was the priority: "Your Highness, let's go downstairs."

Having regained her composure, Xue Qinghe nodded, then opened the car door and stepped out, with Tang Shan following closely behind as they entered the palace.

The imperial palace of the Heavenly Dou Empire was not much different from what Tang Shan had imagined. The glazed tiles reflected a golden luster under the sunlight, the magnificent buildings stretched endlessly, the dragon and phoenix reliefs on the carved beams were lifelike, and the artificial mountains and strange rocks were adorned with all kinds of strange plants. The waterfalls and springs flowed gently, completely showing Tang Shan what luxury and imperial power were.

Densely packed soldiers patrolled the palace, with guards every three steps and sentries every five, clad in heavy armor, exuding a murderous aura.

At first, Tang Shan was a little confused. This was already the Douluo Continent. Was it inappropriate to have ordinary soldiers patrolling and guarding it? But then he thought that even Pope Bibi Dong, who was almost at the top of the continent's power, needed the Templar Knights to guard her. It seemed quite reasonable that Emperor Xue Ye of the Heavenly Dou Dynasty needed soldiers to guard her.

Faced with the luxurious palace, Tang Shan was only slightly surprised, which pleased Xue Qinghe, who was secretly observing him: As expected of the genius I have chosen, he remained calm and composed in the face of the palace's magnificence. He is indeed determined and will not be disturbed by external things.

The layout of the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace was extremely complex, with many twists and turns, and many of the buildings were the same, which became boring after a while. Tang Shan, who was initially curious, eventually simply buried his head and followed behind Xue Qinghe, walking without stopping.

I really don't know why they built such a big palace. If it's for defense against enemies, what if assassins are already at the emperor's doorstep and the imperial guards are still lost in this palace?

"arrive."

Xue Qinghe stopped in his tracks. Before him was a huge garden, surrounded by orderly guards. The entrance was heavily guarded, and some of the guards even faintly emitted a fluctuation of soul power.

"Please inform the Emperor that Qinghe has brought Tangshan to request an audience."

The captain of the guards at the door nodded, turned around, and went inside to report.

Another captain lowered his voice and reminded, "Your Highness, Poison Douluo is also inside with his granddaughter."

Xue Qinghe's expression remained unchanged: "Thank you for informing me."

It seems Xue Qinghe is quite popular; knowing these details beforehand will be a significant advantage in his performance later. It's just unexpected that Poison Douluo Dugu Bo is also inside today.

Tang Shan's mind raced, and he couldn't help but feel a little excited about what was about to happen.

Regarding the dangers inside, Tang Shan stated that the Title Douluos of the Spirit Hall are far weaker than the Gluttonous Douluo, making long-distance rescue impossible; they can only protect him from the shadows. Based on the possibility of a Title Douluo accompanying Ning Fengzhi this time, and considering the existing forces around Xue Qinghe, it's highly likely that he's being protected by the Golden Crocodile Douluo—a truly reassuring prospect.

……

Golden Crocodile Douluo leisurely leaped and darted across the rooftops of the palace without making a sound. His immense spiritual power enveloped him, so even if someone saw him, they would subconsciously ignore him.

"It's really lively today. The Dugu family, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and that one should be the Soul Douluo from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon School, how come they're all gathered together?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo became interested and quickened his pace. He had originally planned to simply protect the area around the garden; with his strength, reaching the two little ones would only take a moment. But now that various forces were gathered, he was intrigued and wanted to see what they were plotting.

……

"Your Highness, please come in."

The captain of the imperial guards who had gone to report quickly returned, bowed, opened the gate, and invited Tang Shan and Xue Qinghe inside.

Xue Qinghe nodded in acknowledgment and then walked into the garden. A maid, clearly there specifically to greet the two of them, bowed slightly and led the way.

Upon entering the garden, the refreshing fragrance of flowers mingled with the freshness of plants greets you, including unique flowers from the Douluo Continent such as Dewdrop Flower and Purple Rhyme Grass, which invigorates the spirit.

Flowers of all colors spread out under the sunlight, red as flames, pink as clouds, and white as frost. Dewdrops on the petals refracted a rainbow of light, vying for beauty and dazzling the eye.

After walking for about two or three minutes, a spacious pavilion came into view, made entirely of white jade, which emitted a warm glow in the sunlight. A large white jade table was placed in the center of the pavilion, and maids served tea and water around it. Several figures took their seats in turn.

The majestic Emperor Xueye was the first to notice Xue Qinghe and Tang Shan. He beckoned to them, "Qinghe, come here."

The maid bowed and withdrew. Xue Qinghe led Tang Shan to the last two empty seats, then bowed slightly, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. In a humble yet measured tone, she greeted them in turn: "Greetings, Father Emperor; Greetings, Sect Leader Ning; Greetings, His Majesty Chenxin; Greetings, His Majesty Dugu. This must be Sister Dugu Yan? It's been a while since I last saw her; she has grown even more beautiful and lively. This senior possesses a dignified bearing; Qinghe has been impolite."

From beginning to end, the Emperor first inquired about the Emperor's health, and then the greetings were arranged according to power, status, and closeness of kinship. Xue Qinghe's greetings were impeccable and thorough, showing that he had not neglected anyone.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, and greetings, esteemed seniors. I am Tang Shan."

Tang Shan's situation was not as complicated as Xue Qinghe's. After all, it was the Tiandou Empire, where the emperor would greet him separately, address everyone older than him as "senior," and ignore those who looked to be around his age. He ended with a simple self-introduction.

Emperor Xueye smiled kindly and said, "Please sit down."

Everyone present subconsciously turned their gaze to the two of them, but most of their attention was focused on Tang Shan. Clearly, a prince was not as captivating as a genius soul master.

They were sizing up Tangshan, but Tangshan was also sizing them up.

Tang Shan had met Ning Fengzhi by chance before, but he ignored him and focused his attention on the old man sitting next to him.

He wore a white robe, had white hair, and stood tall and straight like a drawn sword. His skin was as delicate as a baby's, and his eyes seemed to gleam with a sword-like light as they opened and closed.

This must be Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

Tang Shan recalled his relationship with his elder brother, and thought that it shouldn't be a problem for Su Yuntao to call him "Grandmaster Uncle".

Looking around, he saw Xue Qinghe on his left and a girl who appeared to be only about nine years old on his right. Considering the special physique of Douluo people and the growth-promoting effect of their spirit rings, her age should be around the same as his.

The girl's long, deep purple hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, the ends adorned with a faint emerald halo. Her eyes were a deep purple, slightly upturned at the corners, with a glint of snake-like light occasionally flashing deep within them, giving her an aura of cold, alluring beauty. Her skin was almost translucent white, like sculpted jade, and her waist was slender and supple. Her skirt was embroidered with dark snake scale patterns. Even though she was still young, the allure and aloofness unique to her Azure Phosphorous Serpent Martial Soul were already beginning to emerge, hinting at her future stunning beauty.

Is it Dugu Yan? I wonder what her cultivation level is now. In the original novel, she was twenty-one years old and level thirty-eight when she appeared, so her innate soul power should be between level seven and nine.

As Tang Shan pondered, his gaze fell upon the old man sitting next to the girl.

The old man wore a simple gray robe, the hem of which carried a faint scent of herbs and toxins. His long, dark green hair was withered and disheveled, draped over his shoulders. He was tall and thin like a javelin, with sunken cheeks and prominent cheekbones. His deep blue eyes were narrow and serpentine, the pupils revealing a chilling ruthlessness when they contracted. His fingertips gleamed with a faint green hue, and an almost imperceptible wisp of poisonous mist surrounded him. He was like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, exuding a dangerous aura that warned others to stay away.

Meeting the old man's unfriendly gaze, Tang Shan's lips twitched: "Seriously? I was just looking at your granddaughter, and my gaze wasn't particularly presumptuous. There's no need to be so protective of her."

P.S.: The original novel clearly states that Dugu Yan is seven years older than Tang Shan, so it's reasonable that Tang Shan is currently about the same age as Dugu Yan. As for Yu Tianheng, his age is tentatively set to be one year older than Tang Shan. The original novel doesn't specify his exact age, so this book will be the definitive source. The original novel says Yu Tianheng is exceptionally talented, but as the granddaughter of the titled Dou Lou, her talent should be comparable. Therefore, Dugu Yan's innate soul power is tentatively set at level seven, and Yu Tianheng's at level nine.

Chapter 123 Emperor Xueye and Prince Xuexin, Yu Tianheng's shocking remarks

"You must be Tang Shan. At only seven years old, you have become a Great Soul Master with two thousand-year soul rings. You are truly gifted and will be a pillar of our Heaven Dou Empire in the future."

Emperor Xueye was the first to break the silence, praising the scene.

For a moment, the people present reacted with a range of emotions: some doubted, some surprised, and some calm.