Although the summoned Mysterious Water Turtle was several thousand years older than Big Bear, in terms of strength, Big Bear undoubtedly surpassed the Mysterious Water Turtle significantly.
A higher-level summon with great power also meant greater soul power consumption. One Big Bear already strained his soul power—adding another would make him a "three-second man," wouldn't it?
On the other hand, upgrading his martial soul through AFKing would further accelerate his soul power cultivation.
With the current post-advancement AFKing efficiency, upgrading the martial soul would take only 1,250 days—about three years and five months.
Of course, the martial soul upgrade wouldn't actually take that long.
After all, his soul power would continue to advance, and when his cheats upgraded, the AFKing efficiency would increase further.
"Brother, congratulations! What level of strength can your Mysterious Water Turtle summon reach?"
Seeing Chu Chengzhou had advanced to a five-ring Soul King, Xiao Wu approached with a grin.
"Strength level? Your little rabbit self definitely can't handle it."
Clicking his tongue, Chu Chengzhou replied.
Xiao Wu: "…"
By simple rank conversion, an ordinary twenty-thousand-year spirit beast corresponded to a Soul Emperor. Considering the nearly thirty-thousand-year-old Mysterious Water Turtle's top-tier bloodline, it certainly possessed the strength of a Soul Sage.
Especially in terms of defense—with its sturdy shell and one of its two innate soul skills, *Mystic Water Shield*, the Mysterious Water Turtle summon could rival the strongest defensive-type Soul Sages. It might even match poorly configured defensive-type Soul Douluos.
As for offense, with its innate soul skill Mystic Water Mastery, it could at least match a non-True Body offensive Soul Sage.
Subsequently, Chu Chengzhou waved his banner, and the fifth soul ring on his body lit up. Amidst the surge of soul power, the nearly three meterlong Mysterious Water Turtle summon abruptly materialized.
Roar—
The moment it appeared, the Mysterious Water Turtle summon raised its massive head and let out a call.
'Looks pretty majestic~'
After circling the Mysterious Water Turtle summon and examining it closely, Xiao Wu thought to herself.
Its imposing black shell, robust limbs covered in black scales, small but undoubtedly sharp claws, and fearsome head—all in all, this Mysterious Water Turtle summon was not something to be trifled with.
It was just a pity that Chu Chengzhou hadn't obtained a turtle shell external soul bone; otherwise, Xiao Wu would have laughed for a lifetime!
"By the way, Brother, what did you name this big guy?"
Xiao Wu asked curiously.
Sky Azure Tree = Xiao Qing (Little Azure), Light Lion = Xiao Bai (Little White), Fire Phoenix = Xiao Hong (Little Red), Dark Golden Fear Claw Bear = Big Bear—naturally, this Mysterious Water Turtle summon needed a name too.
She wondered whether the mischievous Chu Chengzhou had named it Xiao Shui (Little Water) or Ah Gui (Turtie).
(T/N: The word 'Ah' is often used to call people familiar to you as a nickname or for orphans/those who don't have a surname or choose to forgo their surname. The same is true for 'Xiao' meaning little. For example, Ah Yin and Xiao Wu, because they don't have a family/clan, they use 'Ah' and 'Xiao' as their surnames.)
Upon hearing this, Chu Chengzhou furrowed his brows, his chronic difficulty in naming things flaring up again.
Suddenly, inspiration struck, and he thought of a good name: "How about calling it Gui Er?!" (Turtle Two)
"Gui Er?" (Bastard) [T/N: Same pronunciation, different characters and meaning]
Xiao Wu's eyes widened. What kind of terrible name was that?
"Not Gui Er (Bastard), it's Gui Er (Turtle Two)!"
Chu Chengzhou corrected Xiao Wu's pronunciation and then asked, "What do you think of this name?"
Big Bear, Gui Er—it actually sounded quite smooth.
"... Fine, if you like it."
After giving Chu Chengzhou a deep look, Xiao Wu said no more.
However, at this moment, Xiao Wu made up her mind. In the future, the naming rights for their child must be firmly in her hands; otherwise, the child would surely hate her forever.
With their purpose in the Great Star Dou Forest fulfilled, Chu Chengzhou dismissed Gui Er, summoned Xiao Hong, and then left the forest with Xiao Wu.
Instead of returning directly to Tian Dou City, Chu Chengzhou had Xiao Hong follow the route from Spirit City back to Tian Dou City, heading toward the main group of the Tian Dou Empire's participating teams.
Meanwhile, in Spirit City, at the Pope's Hall.
At this moment, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan stood anxiously inside the Pope's Hall, occasionally glancing at Bibi Dong, who had her back turned to them.
After a long while, Bibi Dong spoke: "Xie Yue, Yan, I approve your request to undergo training in the Misty Grand Canyon."
"Thank you, Your Holiness!"
Xie Yue and Yan bowed respectfully.
Before the start of the Soul Master Tournament finals, as the most outstanding members of the Spirit Hall's younger generation—the "Golden Generation"—Xie Yue and Yan were undoubtedly proud.
After all, more than half of the continent's soul masters joined the Spirit Hall. Being leaders among the younger generation of the Spirit Hall, how could they not be proud?
But the prouder they were before the competition, the more disheartened they were afterward.
This tournament made them realize the truth of "there are people beyond people, and heavens beyond heavens."
Chu Chengzhou and Xiao Wu from Lanba Academy, and Tang San from Tian Dou Royal Academy—they were all beings they couldn't hope to defeat.
And most importantly, Chu Chengzhou and the others were younger than them, especially Tang San, who was not yet 15.
If only one person surpassed them, it could be explained as a special case—but three at once? They really needed to reflect on themselves.
Faced with such a harsh blow, some chose to give up, while others refused to fall behind and strove to catch up.
As elites of the Spirit Hall, their pride wouldn't allow them to give up. After discussing, the two decided to apply to Bibi Dong for training in the Misty Grand Canyon.
"You two may leave now."
Bibi Dong waved her hand, signaling them to leave.
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
Soon, only Hu Liena and Bibi Dong remained in the hall.
"Nana, over the past millennium, very few strong individuals have emerged from Slaughter City with the title of Killing God. Have you truly made up your mind?"
Bibi Dong turned around, her expression grave as she looked at her disciple.
Having been a Killing God herself, Bibi Dong knew the dangers of Slaughter City better than anyone. After all, she had gone through it herself.
Moreover, when she entered Slaughter City, her strength was much greater than Hu Liena's current level.
Of course, the environment of Slaughter City was unique—except for soul bone skills, no soul skills could be used. Only the inherent power of the martial soul could be employed in battle.
Fortunately, her disciple Hu Liena possessed a head soul bone. Even under the restrictions of Slaughter City, her strength wouldn't be lacking.
Furthermore, Bibi Dong understood that Slaughter City was a trial ground set by a god.
Obtaining the Killing God Domain gave one a chance to become a god's inheritor. Even if she couldn't ultimately become a god's inheritor like Bibi Dong, Hu Liena would undoubtedly progress further on the path of soul masters.
In Bibi Dong's heart, Slaughter City was a place her disciple Hu Liena absolutely had to go.
However, according to her original plan, Hu Liena's time to enter wasn't now—it was supposed to be after reaching the sixth or even seventh ring.
"Teacher, I've already decided!"
Hu Liena declared resolutely.
Xie Yue and Yan had suffered a blow, but so had Hu Liena.
Moreover, unlike them, before the tournament, Teacher Bibi Dong had specially bestowed her with a precious soul bone.
But what was the result? Even with a precious soul bone, she was utterly powerless against Chu Chengzhou.
Had she faced Tang San directly, she would have undoubtedly suffered an even worse defeat.
Failing to win the Soul Master Tournament championship undoubtedly disappointed Teacher Bibi Dong. Even though Chu Chengzhou, who defeated her, was her crush.
Hu Liena felt she had to achieve something to prove herself—to those Elder Hall elders who opposed her teacher—and show that her teacher's judgment wasn't wrong. She wasn't just a pretty face without substance.
And that achievement would be becoming a Killing God in Slaughter City!
Her teacher had returned from Slaughter City in the past—so could she, Hu Liena, not do the same?
"Sigh, three days later, I'll send you there."
Looking at her determined disciple, Bibi Dong sighed and affectionately patted Hu Liena's head.
What if her disciple's strength wasn't sufficient?
No problem—wasn't she still here as her teacher?
If anything happened to her disciple, the Pope of the Spirit Hall, Slaughter City would cease to exist.
She would ensure Slaughter City's King of Slaughter deeply understood this.
Training was one thing, but it shouldn't turn into a death sentence.
As night approached, a temporary camp that could accommodate thousands appeared in the wilderness beside an official road.
Just as smoke rose from the campfires, a fiery-red figure flew down from the distant sky.
Seeing the camp below, Chu Chengzhou immediately directed Xiao Hong to descend.
The main group returning to Tian Dou City wasn't traveling fast, but Xiao Hong's speed was impressive. Starting from the inner region of the Great Star Dou Forest, it took only half a day for Chu Chengzhou and Xiao Wu to catch up with the main group.
In front of the tents allocated to the Lanba Academy team—
"Kid, you've advanced to a Soul King?"
Seeing Chu Chengzhou and Xiao Wu return, Liu Erlong stepped forward curiously.
"Mm, Dean Liu, your academy has produced another graduate at the Soul King level."
Chu Chengzhou smiled and nodded.
The Lanba Team far exceeded the average level of academy students. With the Soul Master Tournament concluded and their performance satisfactory, they naturally qualified for graduation.
"Tsk, we're really getting old! I never expected that in just over two years, you'd advance from a Soul Grandmaster to a Soul King."
Looking at Liu Erlong and then Zhao Wuji, Flender sighed.
"Cough, Dean Flender, please watch your words. You might be old, but Dean Liu is definitely not!"
Ning Rongrong cleared her throat, her pretty face serious as she addressed Flender.
Immediately, Flender's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly glanced at Liu Erlong.
Sure enough, Liu Erlong's expression darkened noticeably.
"Haha, well, Liu, I wasn't referring to you being old. Don't take offense."
Flender chuckled awkwardly.
At this moment, a royal knight approached. "Greetings to everyone from Lanba Academy."
"Master Chu, His Highness requests your presence."
The royal knight addressed Chu Chengzhou respectfully.
The Angel Princess requests my presence?
Hmm, this invitation couldn't be refused.
Inside a central tent of the camp, seeing Chu Chengzhou arrive, Qian Renxue greeted him warmly.
"Brother, I see you've just returned and probably haven't had dinner yet. Join me for a meal?"
Qian Renxue gestured to the hotpot already prepared on the table.
As the empire's crown prince, even while traveling, the dining standards couldn't be lacking.
"Since Prince Qinghe invites me to dine, I naturally cannot refuse."
Chu Chengzhou nodded with a smile.
With that, Chu Chengzhou unceremoniously sat down.
While enjoying the hotpot and chatting casually, Qian Renxue brought up the main topic: "Brother, I heard from Principal Liu that you've graduated from Lanba Academy. What are your plans for the future?"
"Plans? Cultivate diligently, and… fulfill my father's last wish."
Chu Chengzhou replied nonchalantly.
"Oh? Your father's last wish?"
Qian Renxue was momentarily surprised, curiosity evident on her face.
Chu Chengzhou nodded and said, "Prince Qinghe, I come from a small place. Perhaps you don't know, but my late father had a grand aspiration—to develop our family into a prestigious soul master lineage within his lifetime. As his child, I naturally have to inherit his will."
Qian Renxue: "…"
Is this your excuse for having multiple girlfriends?
The world is vast, and strange things abound, but to justify his womanizing behavior so eloquently—only Chu Chengzhou could pull that off.
Chu Chengzhou: Womanizer? No, no, no—I'm just full of love, wanting to give these girls a home.
"Cough, Brother, what lofty ambitions!
By the way, haven't you purchased property in Tian Dou City yet? I have a house in the city that I'll gift to you as a place to settle."
Clearing her throat, Qian Renxue revealed the main purpose of inviting Chu Chengzhou.
Indeed, this dinner invitation's primary goal was to gift Chu Chengzhou a house.
Qian Renxue understood that as the prospective son-in-law of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Chu Chengzhou might be close to her as the crown prince of Tian Dou, but he would never become her subordinate.
Now that Chu Chengzhou had graduated from Lanba Academy and hadn't yet bought property, gifting him a house would deepen their relationship.
Genius of today, powerhouse of tomorrow—even if he couldn't be her subordinate, he could still be useful to her.
As long as her identity as a Spirit Hall spy wasn't exposed, she would remain Chu Chengzhou's good brother. When she, as his elder brother, needed help, wouldn't he, as the younger brother, lend a hand?
With this bond, in dealing with forces outside the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect or succeeding to the throne of Tian Dou, Chu Chengzhou would stand on her side.
Upon hearing this, Chu Chengzhou raised an eyebrow.
A house? That could work.
But if she gifted a house this time, would she have to gift a girl next time?
"Prince Qinghe, given our relationship, I won't stand on ceremony!"
Without hesitation, Chu Chengzhou accepted outright.
Seeing this, Qian Renxue nodded satisfactorily.
With her wealth and influence, a mansion was nothing more than pocket change.
If Chu Chengzhou weren't so fickle, she might have even considered giving him a chance.
Two months later
Tian Dou City, Chu Residence.
When Qian Renxue initially said she would gift Chu Chengzhou a house as a place to settle, this residence was far from modest.
This house, more accurately a mansion, was among the top-tier luxury residences in all of Tian Dou City, with an excellent location just two or three li away from Dugu Bo's mansion. Safety-wise, it was undoubtedly top-notch.
If any troublemakers dared to act, as long as Dugu Bo was home, he could arrive in minutes.
Moreover, Qian Renxue was considerate. When Chu Chengzhou moved in, the mansion had been freshly renovated, spotless.
Since then, Chu Chengzhou officially settled in Tian Dou City, becoming a resident of the imperial capital.
Hm, in his previous life, he didn't become a resident of the imperial capital, but this life, it was effortless.
At this moment, basking in the bright morning sun, Chu Chengzhou lay on a recliner in the courtyard, pulling the consciousness of the two girls beside him into an illusion to provide one-on-two close guidance.
Being fair to his girls, Chu Chengzhou ensured equality—what Xiao Wu had, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing naturally received as well.
Other ultimate techniques could be skipped or selectively practiced, but the fundamental methods of Unbreakable Golden Body, Nine Breaths Qi Absorption Technique, and Eternal Thought—which cultivated essence, energy, and spirit—were mandatory.
After the Soul Master Tournament, Ning Fengzhi, his father-in-law, initially didn't agree to let his precious daughter live with Chu Chengzhou. After all, they were only dating and hadn't formally wed, which could harm their reputation.
Moreover, without a formal engagement, how could Chu Chengzhou take away his precious daughter? Ning Fengzhi absolutely wouldn't allow it!
Unfortunately, his precious little cotton coat had long been torn, turned into black-hearted cotton, and even her soul had taken the shape of someone else—she naturally refused to return home with her father.
Ultimately, Chu Chengzhou offered an engagement gift and took Ning Fengzhi's precious daughter home.
This engagement gift wasn't anything extraordinary—it was the portion of the forging ultimate technique related to metal refinement up to the thousand-refinement level.
To be honest, in an era where soul-guided technology hadn't yet flourished, metal forging techniques limited to the thousand-refinement level weren't particularly valuable.
After all, without guidance, relying solely on a blacksmith's natural talent, by the time Chu Chengzhou reached Level 100 and became a god, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's blacksmiths might still struggle to forge metals at the pinnacle of the thousand-refinement level.
Previously, Chu Chengzhou hadn't agreed to the trade not because he wanted to keep the ultimate technique secret but mostly because he found it troublesome.
Forging was highly reliant on insight. If he gave the secret method and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's blacksmiths failed to learn it, Ning Fengzhi might ask him to personally guide them. That would be a headache.
An engagement gift was different from a trade. A trade required full responsibility, ensuring the other party learned it—otherwise, how would they know if he wasn't scamming them? With an engagement gift, once given and received, failure to learn wasn't his problem.
Suddenly, Chu Chengzhou, who had been teaching hand-in-hand within the illusion, paused, countless insights flooding his mind.
Simultaneously, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, diligent students within the illusion, felt their vision shift as their consciousness returned, exiting the illusion.
Overwhelmed by the sheer volume and profundity of the insights, Chu Chengzhou inadvertently closed his eyes to immerse himself in them, forgetting to maintain the illusion.
The insights flooding his mind were none other than the newly upgraded forging ultimate technique, following the advancements of the illusion technique, Nine Breaths Qi Absorption Technique, and the Control technique.
White-Tier Forging corresponded to the hundred-refinement level, Yellow and Purple-Tier to the thousand-refinement level, Black-Tier to the spirit-refinement level. Now, the Forging technique has been upgraded to Red-Tier, corresponding to the soul-refinement level above spirit-refinement.
Not only did it include soul-refinement methods for metals, but the insights also contained Fusion-Forging techniques.
Though it lacked specific fusion alloy formulas, with the techniques mastered and his current ability to soul-refine metals, Chu Chengzhou, now a Saint Craftsman, could experiment to deduce various fusion formulas for metals.
Like a craftsman who hadn't forgotten his skills but merely misplaced the fusion formulas.
Uh, if he remembered correctly, in the era of armored warriors, Saint Craftsmen capable of soul-refining metals were beings that ordinary Titled Douluos would grovel before?
After a long while, Chu Chengzhou finished digesting the insights.
After the forging ultimate technique's quality ascended, among his existing cultivation methods, only the defense technique remained at the black level. But it wouldn't be long—within a month, the defense technique would also upgrade.
[AFK Slots: 1. Unbreakable Golden Body (Red), 2. Forging (Red), 3. Nine Breaths Method (Gold), 4. Defense (Black), 5. Fourth Soul Ring (Black), 6. Martial Soul: True Spirit Banner (Top Tier)]
Glancing at the AFK slots, Chu Chengzhou removed the upgraded forging technique and replaced it with the mental power cultivation method: Eternal Thought.
As the fundamental methods cultivating essence, energy, and spirit, the Nine Breaths Qi Absorption Technique, responsible for cultivating energy (soul power), had already reached gold quality. The Unbreakable Golden Body, responsible for cultivating essence (physical body), and Eternal Thought, responsible for cultivating spirit (spiritual power), naturally couldn't lag too far behind.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
After adjusting the AFK order, seeing his three girls gathered around him with concern, Chu Chengzhou was somewhat surprised.
"And you ask us?! You didn't respond when we called you."
Xiao Wu scolded.
"Are you sick or something?"
Zhu Zhuqing asked with concern.
"Or were you fantasizing about us three sisters serving you?"
Ning Rongrong eyed him suspiciously.
"It's good news! Just now, your brilliant husband had a stroke of genius and comprehended an ultimate technique to a higher level."
Chu Chengzhou laughed it off. He could pass on ultimate techniques to his girls, but there was no need to mention his cheats.
"Is that so?"
Xiao Wu raised an eyebrow but didn't delve deeper.
She was used to it.
In Xiao Wu's eyes, Chu Chengzhou was an unparalleled genius, especially in creating ultimate techniques.
Not only could he create them, but he also constantly innovated, enhancing them into even more powerful versions.
"Playboy, which technique of yours got stronger?"
Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"Rongrong, have the Seven Treasures Merchant Guild send over some rare metals."
Giving the mischievous girl's perky butt a squeeze, Chu Chengzhou smiled.
With forging breaking through to the soul-refinement level, the spirit-refined Deep Blue Cloud Pattern Armor, Flowing Gold Soul Severing Bow, and Titanium Armor-Piercing Arrows were due for an upgrade to the soul-refinement level.
"Rare metals? Playboy, you've broken through in forging?"
Ignoring Chu Chengzhou's antics, Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.
From Chu Chengzhou's tone, did this mean he could forge metals at a level higher than spirit-refinement?
"Precisely! By the way, Rongrong, rare metals are expensive, and your fiancé can't afford them. Ask Dad for a super VIP card—one that lets you buy on credit."
Chu Chengzhou nodded shamelessly.
Her father-in-law was the continent's largest mine owner. As his son-in-law, buying mines on credit wasn't excessive, was it?
"My dad isn't your dad yet~."
Hearing "our dad," Ning Rongrong blushed slightly and murmured softly.
"I've already given the engagement gift. If not 'our dad,' then what?
Rongrong, remember, you're part of the Chu family now. If you get anything good, bring it home."
Chu Chengzhou lectured earnestly.
Her father-in-law was so rich—shouldn't he help spend some?
Ning Fengzhi: This son-in-law is truly filial!
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