Douluo: The Gate to Heaven

Chapter 72 Showdown with Falling Shadow

Free access to the inner courtyard library, a separate laboratory, and a stipend of 5,000 gold coins —

It must be said that Qian Duoduo offered very generous compensation.

The Inner Academy Library not only houses Shrek Academy's collection of blueprints for various high-end soul tools, but also some secrets of the continent, rare soul beast manuals, top-notch meditation methods, and rare secret techniques from various sects. It is a place that every soul master dreams of visiting.

An independent laboratory is also extremely important to Tuoba Wukong. In the past, if Tuoba Wukong wanted to refine soul tools, he had to apply to the academy in advance to use the laboratory. Now that he has his own exclusive laboratory, it will be much more convenient for Tuoba Wukong to refine soul tools.

The monthly subsidy of 5,000 gold coins was a lifesaver for Tuoba Wukong, who needed a lot of gold coins to buy Soul Upgrade Pills. In the future, as Tuoba Wukong upgrades his Soul Guidance Device, he will also need a lot of gold coins.

Five thousand a month is more than his previous income from selling "Guardian Heart".

Originally, Tuoba Wukong had little interest in the upgrade assessment, but suddenly he was filled with fighting spirit.

However, it is not an easy thing to withstand Hua Luoying's attack for ten minutes.

In the Star Dou Great Forest, Hua Luoying's archery skills were divine, suppressing ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts as if it were child's play. To last that long against her was far more difficult than a martial soul expert facing five thousand-year-old soul beasts alone.

Moreover, Tuoba Wukong hesitated somewhat.

In the Star Dou Great Forest, he exposed too much by using the identity of Zhou Kong.

After the "Unbreakable Shield" was damaged, he repaired and upgraded it again, and it has evolved into a level four soul tool. Although the change in style is not significant, the same heavy shield soul tool is rare, but it is not a soul tool exclusive to Tuoba Wukong, so it doesn't matter if it is exposed.

His abilities, such as "Death Sniper," Tongtianmen Martial Soul, and Golden Bell Protection, are all too distinctive and easily remind people of him, making them unusable in this match.

Without these methods, Tuoba Wukong wasn't very confident that he could last ten minutes against Hua Luoying.

"Hua Luoying, a disciple of the Inner Academy of the Martial Soul Department, a level 52 ranged attack-type Battle Soul King, Martial Soul: Flower Goddess Bow, please give me your guidance." In the battle area, Hua Luoying was the first to step onto the field. Her stunning figure stood alone in the world, and she smiled slightly at Tuoba Wukong, her red clothes fluttering.

"Tuoba Wukong, a second-year student of the Soul Guidance Department and a fourth-level Soul Guidance Master, please give me your guidance." Thinking further was pointless, Tuoba Wukong also headed to the battle area.

Upon hearing Tuoba Wukong's introduction, Hua Luoying, a second-year level four Soul Master, couldn't help but be slightly surprised. No wonder the Soul Guidance Department had asked her to cooperate with the assessment. With such talent, as long as her actual combat skills weren't too bad, she was indeed qualified to enter the inner academy of the Soul Guidance Department.

The two sides were separated by a hundred meters, gazing at each other from afar.

This distance doesn't seem very friendly to Soul Masters. Most Soul Masters excel in attack range, using long-range firepower to suppress their opponents, but their close-combat ability is not outstanding. Once they are approached by a Soul Master of the same level, they will most likely suffer a crushing defeat.

But Tuoba Wukong understood that the 100-meter distance was actually for his protection.

Hua Luoying is a master archer, and her reputation as a ranged attacker is well-deserved. In the Star Dou Great Forest, she can shoot down a mad eagle with a single bow, and her attack range is far more than 500 meters.

100 meters is already very close.

"The assessment begins." As soon as Fan Yu finished speaking, the two people on the stage moved.

A heavy, black shield appeared in Tuoba Wukong's hand. The shield was entirely black, 2.5 meters high, 1.2 meters wide, and 20 centimeters thick. It stood in front of Tuoba Wukong like a door panel, almost completely blocking his body.

With one hand braced against the heavy shield, Tuoba Wukong charged swiftly toward Hua Luoying. The heavy shield weighed over 500 jin, and he pushed it horizontally with astonishing speed and momentum, like a chariot launching a charge.

Facing Tuoba Wukong's imposing charge, Hua Luoying lightly touched the ground with her toes. As her body flew backward, countless peony petals danced in the air, condensing into a longbow made of peony branches in her hand. Five soul rings rose up, and as Hua Luoying flew backward, she looked like a fairy dancing among flowers, possessing an indescribable beauty.

Flower Goddess Bow

Hua Luoying drew back the bowstring, and an arrow materialized.

The fourth spirit ring shone brightly.

The arrow pierced the air, splitting into twelve afterimages that descended from the sky. Countless peony petals swirled and danced, transforming into a magnificent peony array.

Arrow formation.

Tuoba Wukong had already witnessed Hua Luoying's skill before; even the Evergreen Sky Eagle couldn't break it. This was the first time he had truly faced this skill head-on. The heavy shield in front of him crashed into the rapidly swirling array of petals, feeling as if he had hit an impenetrable wall. The swirling force of the countless swirling peony petals caused his body to be involuntarily pulled off course, revealing a slight opening.

call out.

Before Tuoba Wukong could react, petals fluttered, and a beautiful arrow pierced the air, the timing perfect.

"Roar!" Tuoba Wukong roared, his two bodies becoming one, his skin shining with golden light, completely turning golden. His arms burst forth with powerful strength, and he swung his heavy shield in time to block in front of him.

boom!

The arrow pierced through the flower array, struck the heavy shield, and dissipated into a sky full of flower shadows. Tuoba Wukong felt a jolt in his arms, and even with his body as one, he could feel the terrifying impact of the arrow. But Tuoba Wukong's crisis was not over yet.

The scattered petals enveloped Tuoba Wukong. After a moment of pause in mid-air, each delicate peony petal seemed to transform into a sharp blade and shoot towards Tuoba Wukong.

Peony Powder!

"Unbreakable Light!" Tuoba Wukong slapped the heavy shield in front of him, and a circle of black light immediately bloomed on the unbreakable shield. After a series of tinkling sounds, all the petals were knocked off.

"Such strong defense! It actually blocked Hua Luoying's first soul skill, Flower God Scattering. In terms of defense alone, this defensive soul tool is no less than a level 5 soul tool. Fan Yu, Shrek Academy shouldn't have any blueprints for a similar heavy shield soul tool, right?" Xian Lin'er asked with a look of surprise.

Hua Luoying's martial soul, the Flower Goddess Bow, is renowned for its destructive power even within the Inner Academy. Many defensive students in the Inner Academy cannot withstand it, and very few soul guide students can stop it either.

Tuoba Wukong's move alone already showed some of the style of an inner court disciple.

More importantly, as one of Shrek Academy's top level eight and a half soul masters, Xianlin'er was very familiar with the soul tool blueprints collected by Shrek Academy. In her memory, Shrek Academy had never collected such a soul tool blueprint.

Fan Yu nodded and said, "Indeed, no. This soul tool should have been custom-made for him. He sacrificed portability to enhance the defensive effect. Apart from his innate superhuman strength, there should be few fourth-level soul masters who can use it as freely as he does."

Xian Lin'er nodded gently.

"Yuhao, remember this: only a Soul Master truly understands himself. The power of a Soul Tool is not solely determined by its level; the best one is the one that suits you best."

After answering Xian Lin'er's question, Fan Yu did not forget to give Huo Yuhao guidance.

Huo Yuhao nodded emphatically, his eyes flashing with purple light as he activated his mental detection, focusing intently on the duel in the battle zone.

He never imagined that Tuoba Wukong's defense would increase to such a terrifying level after using the soul tool.

The arrows shot by that senior from the inner court were so powerful that each one could easily kill a thousand-year-old soul beast. They were beautiful yet full of killing intent; she truly lived up to her title as a senior from the inner court.

Tuoba Wukong's ability to withstand the inner court senior's attack with his soul tool was incredibly powerful. At this moment, Huo Yuhao also strengthened his determination to continue learning about soul tools.

Seeing this, Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er were also gratified. They brought Huo Yuhao to observe Tuoba Wukong's upgrade assessment, just to let Huo Yuhao see the power of the Soul Guidance System.

In the battle zone, Hua Luoying tirelessly drew her bow and nocked her arrows. Amidst the beautiful scene of fairies dancing with petals, a murderous intent permeated the air.

Tuoba Wukong was like a tortoise shell, with soul-guiding magic arrays flashing on his heavy shield, blocking arrow after arrow attack, bringing the concept of an unbreakable shield to its extreme.

Even the Five Rings Ranged Attack Soul King couldn't do anything to him.

This is the ultimate defense that Tuoba Wukong achieved by combining his defensive soul guide device.

Time passed little by little.

The ten minutes will be over soon.

Hua Luoying's eyes became serious, and she stopped firing rapidly. She drew the bowstring again, but this time, she seemed to be struggling with every inch she drew the bowstring. The only black spirit ring on her body also lit up.

The final attack is coming.

Can he withstand Hua Luoying's strongest attack?

Xianlin'er and Qian Duoduo became serious, ready to save people at any moment.

Tuoba Wukong also had a solemn expression. He felt a deadly danger locking onto him, and his whole body felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. His back was cold, and even the heavy level-four soul tool "Unbreakable Shield" could not give him any sense of security.

Huo Yuhao and He Caitou also subconsciously held their breath.

call out!

Peony petals fluttered in the air, and a peony arrow pierced through the sky. The arrow, formed from condensed petals, was also burning, and its speed was unbelievable.

Fifth Soul Skill, Peony Calamity!

A great calamity is imminent.

The peony arrows pierced the air, causing layers of magical arrays to bloom and vanish on the impenetrable shield—then quickly disappearing.

The level-four defensive arrays had no effect whatsoever. The peony arrows collided directly with the heavy shield itself. The heavy shield, forged from black iron and a large amount of rare metals, was like mud, pierced through by the peony arrows.

A flash of silver light appeared, and a silver portal suddenly appeared in front of Tuoba Wukong. On the portal, a purple soul ring shone brightly.

The Gate to Heaven.

The peony arrows landed on the silver gate, finally dissipating all their power and turning into countless petals that scattered across the sky. Tuoba Wukong seemed to smell the faint fragrance emanating from the peony petals, and with a thud, he collapsed to the ground.

The soul power of both bodies was simultaneously drained by the Heavenly Gate Soul Skill.