Douluo: Divine Dragon Pattern Staff

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Li Luochen summoned his Dragon Pattern Staff and delivered a powerful strike to the crystal-like protrusion on the Wind Azure Dragon's forehead.

The Wind Azure Dragon immediately perished, and a bright yellow soul ring emerged from its corpse.

Using the soul ring guidance technique his grandfather had taught him, Li Luochen drew the soul ring toward himself. He then sat cross-legged on the ground and began absorbing the soul ring.

He felt an unprecedented level of immense pressure, so intense that his bones emitted faint cracking sounds under the strain.

Li Luochen felt as though he had been submerged in molten lava. A torrent of scorching energy surged into his body, flooding through his veins in an instant. His internal organs burned as if engulfed in flames, and his body trembled violently.

Li Luochen began circulating 'The Limitless Universe Technique'. The fiery energy spread to every part of his body, making him feel as though he could exhale fire. 

What overwhelming power.

The surging force of the soul ring instantly baptized Li Luochen's body. He was relieved he hadn't blindly attempted to absorb a higher-level soul ring. The energy of dragon-type soul beasts was already immense; trying to absorb one beyond his level would have surely caused him to explode.

He couldn't fathom how other transmigrants managed to absorb Thousand-year soul rings for their first ring—truly, he just couldn't do it. Even though his body didn't swell up too badly, the process was still excruciating.

His Dragon Pattern Staff began to change. A streak of green lines appeared within the dragon patterns engraved on the staff, seamlessly integrating with the existing design.

The circulation speed of the Limitless Universe Technique increased, and spirit power gradually flowed into his Dantian. The bottleneck at level ten broke open, and his spirit power surged upward. Li Luochen felt an overwhelming sense of euphoria.

The blissful sensation brought on by absorbing a soul ring was indescribable—it was as if he were floating weightlessly among the clouds or had ascended to the pinnacle of ecstasy.

Every single one of his 36,000 pores opened wide, greedily breathing in the beautiful air. A qualitative transformation was taking place within Li Luochen's body, bringing about extraordinary changes.

Li Luochen grew a few centimeters taller, his physique became more robust, causing his clothes to feel slightly tight. His skin took on a healthier glow, and a strand of green appeared in his hair.

When Li Luochen opened his eyes, night had already fallen. Zhao Wuji was tending to a fire, while Lu Qibin and Li Yusong stood guard, watching over him protectively.

"Hey, Xiao Chen's awake! Old Zhao, hurry over—Xiao Chen's awake! How do you feel, Xiao Chen?"

Li Yusong suddenly shouted, startling Zhao Wuji, who quickly rushed over.

"I've worried you all, Grandpa. Is this what it feels like to absorb a soul ring? I feel great—my condition is excellent."

Lu Qibin retrieved a crystal ball from his storage-type soul-guidance tool and handed it to Li Luochen.

"Xiao Chen, test your spirit power. This crystal has a limit of level thirty."

Li Luochen wanted to know his current level. Only after reaching the Great Soul Master rank could he clearly gauge his progress.

Placing his hand on the crystal ball, it emitted a dazzling glow.

"Peak level twelve, almost level thirteen! Haha, Xiao Chen, tell us about your soul skill!"

Li Yusong looked at the glowing crystal with excitement. After all, his first soul ring had only been from a ten-year-old soul beast.

"My first soul skill is called 'Godspeed.' It instantly doubles my speed and increases my strength by fifty percent. For each level I gain, the amplification effect increases by one percent. Additionally, the next attack made while using 'Godspeed' will be enhanced."

"First soul skill: Godspeed."

{T/N: Sounds broken ngl}

Li Luochen activated his first soul skill and delivered a swift strike to the ground, causing the earth to crack.

"Wow, that single strike must have carried the force of a thousand jin! This first soul skill is truly formidable."

Lu Qibin stroked his goat beard and sighed in admiration. This was exactly the kind of prodigy they should be cultivating.

There was something Li Luochen didn't mention: his Dragon Pattern Staff now weighed fifty kilograms—double its original weight. As his spirit power and soul ring bonuses increased, the staff would continue to grow heavier.

"Now that Xiao Chen has obtained his soul ring, let's head back to the academy."

The group left the hunting forest and returned to Shrek Academy, having been away for several days.

"Nothing beats the comfort of home."

Li Luochen flopped onto his bed, planning to rest and regain his strength before continuing his cultivation. Cultivation required balance—pushing oneself too hard could easily lead to going astray. As a transmigrant, Li Luochen prided himself on maintaining a good mindset.

He slept until he naturally woke up, feeling refreshed! Upon returning, Li Yusong had already taken Li Luochen to register at the main hall of the Suotuo City Spirit Hall. Soul masters received a stipend: one gold spirit coin per month for regular soul masters, ten for Great Soul Masters, and one hundred for Spirit Elders.

Honestly, the Spirit Hall's benefits were quite generous, especially for civilian soul masters. This was why it was known as a sacred site for soul masters.

However, it would later be destroyed by a certain "madwoman." Li Luochen wondered if there would ever be another organization willing to unconditionally awaken martial souls for civilians once the Spirit Hall fell. In his opinion, it was completely impossible!

Li Luochen played with the shiny gold spirit coin in his hand. It was so pretty!

Having rested enough, Li Luochen's hunger kicked in, and he decided to head to the cafeteria for a meal. "Man cannot live without food—skipping even one meal leaves you starving!"

"Charge forward! Devourer of meals, devourer of souls—those who eat rise above others!"

As Li Luochen sang and walked toward the cafeteria, he noticed that all the teachers of Shrek Academy were gathered together, their expressions grave. Something serious must have happened.

"Grandpa, Principal, and everyone else—what are you looking at? Why do you all look so troubled?"

Li Luochen approached the group of Shrek teachers, noticing their somber expressions. Flender handed him what appeared to be a newspaper.

Li Luochen's eyes narrowed as he read the contents.

"A few months ago, Tang Hao, one of the Twin Stars of Hao Tian, broke through to become a Title Douluo, earning the title 'Hao Tian.' He engaged in a fierce battle against three Title Douluos led by the Pope of the Spirit Hall.

In the end, one Title Douluo died, another was injured, and the Pope sustained severe injuries.

This month, the Pope, Qian Xunji, succumbed to his injuries and passed away. The Spirit Hall has issued a bounty for Tang Hao's capture and has suppressed the Hao Tian Sect. The Hao Tian Sect has announced its retreat from the world of soul masters and abandoned its four single-attribute affiliated families."

Sss—Li Luochen sucked in a sharp breath. So the plot had already begun to unfold. That meant he was six years older than Tang San. It would still be twelve years before Tang San arrived at Shrek Academy.

Without extraordinary opportunities, diligent cultivation would likely allow him to reach the high-level Spirit Ancestor or low-level Soul King ranks by the age of eighteen.

But Tang San, after leading Shrek Academy to victory, would soar ahead. By the age of twenty-five, he would ascend to godhood, thanks in part to the constant support of the Asura God and the Sea God.

Still, Tang San possessed undeniable talent. With two top-tier martial souls—the Blue Silver Emperor and the Hao Tian Hammer—and the legacy of the Xuantian Treasure Record from his past life, his configuration far surpassed Li Luochen's.

This competition might prove challenging. Although Li Luochen was confident he could become a Title Douluo, it would likely take until he was forty or fifty. After all, soul master cultivation slowed significantly as one advanced.

The plot had already begun, but Li Luochen wasn't too worried. He bore no grudges against Tang San, though he disapproved of Tang San's extreme personality and unsightly behavior.

In any case, the continent was bound to descend into chaos. During the war with the Spirit Empire, he could simply retreat to a safe distance. Once everything settled, he could achieve the rank of Title Douluo, marry, and live out his centuries-long lifespan in peace.

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