Subsequently, Chu Chengzhou glanced at his attribute panel, particularly at the second soul ring displaying cultivation years as black (10,002). Without much hesitation, he placed the Crystal Protection left arm bone into the first AFKing slot that had become vacant after the True Spirit Flag martial soul's upgrade.
Since the Crystal Protection left arm bone carried an "Absolute Defense Skill," even though this soul bone's cultivation years weren't very high, Chu Chengzhou still didn't intend to abandon it—he planned to increase its cultivation years.
As for the first, second, third, and fifth soul rings that severely lagged behind his current strength?
Before the True Spirit Flag martial soul's evolution, Chu Chengzhou had indeed planned to AFK and upgrade these four soul rings. But at this moment, he had already abandoned that idea.
Because during his earlier tests of the True Spirit Flag martial soul's characteristics, he had a sudden inspiration and thought of a special application for the Spirit Transformation ability.
The Rainbow-Tier Nine Breaths Qi Absorption could refine all energy for personal use. Besides rapidly restoring soul power, it could also convert devoured energy into soul power accumulation to quickly elevate soul power levels.
However, only he knew Nine Breaths Qi Absorption—his summoned spirits didn't. Except for his Dark Demon Evil God Tiger spirit which could increase cultivation years by devouring spirit beasts, other spirits could only elevate cultivation years by consuming special heavenly treasures or through AFKing upgrades.
As for the spirits cultivating on their own?
It was possible, but their cultivation speed would be just as slow as spirit beasts. Chu Chengzhou didn't think he could wait that long.
But with the True Spirit Flag martial soul possessing the Spirit Transformation characteristic, and his ability to fuse with summoned spirits, everything became different.
Spirit transformation with the spirit as auxiliary and himself as the main body—the fused form would be human-shaped. Then he could release the True Spirit Domain, using the domain skill: Control Heaven and Earth to rapidly absorb elemental energy from the external environment, activate Nine Breaths Qi Absorption to devour and refine it, and supply this energy to the fused spirit for absorption. What would happen?
The second soul ring, which originally had exactly 10,000 years of cultivation and now displayed 10,002 years, proved his sudden inspiration was feasible.
Since Nine Breaths Qi Absorption combined with the Spirit Transformation characteristic could rapidly enhance his summoned spirits' strength—and enhanced spirit strength equaled increased soul ring cultivation years—Chu Chengzhou naturally no longer wanted to rely on AFKing upgrades to improve his soul rings' cultivation years.
Of course, if someday he no longer needed to AFK supreme arts or soul bones, and his nine soul rings still hadn't reached one million years of cultivation, he could use the AFKing cheat to save some effort.
Two days later in the afternoon, under the blazing sun, a silver dragon shadow flew from the western sky and landed beside the official road outside Tian Dou City's south gate.
Although the Sun-Moon Continent was west of the Douluo Continent, Chu Chengzhou's return direction had some slight error. When he arrived at the Douluo Continent's western coast, it wasn't the northern continent's western coast region, but rather the western coast region within the southern Star Luo Empire's territory.
Since Tian Dou City only had east, south, west, and north gates—with no southwest gate—and his home was slightly closer to the south gate and farther from the west gate, naturally he had to take the south gate.
"Old Ma, we've arrived at Tian Dou City!"
After retracting his Space Holy Dragon spirit Xiao Yin, Chu Chengzhou said to Ma Jake who had dismounted from the dragon's back.
"Young Master Chu, I see many knights standing at the city gate ahead. Are they here to welcome you?"
After examining the towering, majestic south gate tower of Tian Dou City ahead, Ma Jake noticed numerous silver-armored knights holding long spears standing outside the gate, and couldn't help but ask Chu Chengzhou.
"You're overthinking it. Even I didn't know when I'd return—how could others possibly come to welcome me in advance? Let's go home!"
Glancing over and recognizing a squad of over a hundred Tian Dou Royal Knights, Chu Chengzhou rolled his eyes, waved his hand, and led Ma Jake toward the city gate.
But just as Chu Chengzhou and Ma Jake reached the city gate, a middle-aged man dressed in splendid golden armor—who was clearly not an ordinary member of the Tian Dou Royal Knights—stepped forward a few paces and bowed to Chu Chengzhou: "Greetings, Young Master Chu!"
Young Master Chu was the empire's hero, the emperor's good brother-in-law. Although he wasn't a Titled Douluo (intelligence was mistaken), he was practically one. Golden-armored middle-aged man considered himself one of the emperor's confidants—both emotionally and logically, he had to take the initiative to bow upon seeing Young Master Chu.
"You are..."
Hearing this, Chu Chengzhou stopped walking and turned to look at this golden-armored middle-aged man who looked unfamiliar.
"I am Bryan. By His Majesty's favor, I humbly serve as the captain of the Tian Dou Royal Knights."
Bryan said respectfully.
"Hmm? If I remember correctly, the Royal Knights captain wasn't you, was it?"
Chu Chengzhou asked with slight surprise.
Although he wasn't familiar with the Royal Knights captain, he had met him a few times before and clearly remembered it wasn't the Bryan before him.
"Young Master Chu, the previous Royal Knights captain indeed wasn't me—it was Captain Norton."
"However, after His Majesty ascended the throne, considering Captain Norton's hard work and great contributions, he specially rewarded him with a soul bone to help him break through the Level 79 peak bottleneck, achieving Soul Douluo status."
"Then, during the empire's campaign against Star Luo, Captain Norton was promoted to become Marshal Ge Long's deputy, following the marshal to campaign against the Star Luo Empire. Only then did I obtain the position of Royal Knights captain."
Bryan explained.
"Oh, so the predecessor got promoted! By the way, who are you waiting for here?"
Chu Chengzhou nodded, then curiously asked.
"The frontline battle situation is very favorable. Under the empire's campaign army, the Star Luo Empire has been retreating continuously. However—"
"However what?"
Chu Chengzhou pressed.
"The Star Luo villains are extremely despicable—they don't follow martial ethics at all, sending experts specifically to ambush. After three army corps commanders and numerous generals, even Marshal Ge Long who commanded the army and Prince Xue Xing who supervised the military unfortunately fell. Even former Captain Norton has... ah~, we are here by His Majesty's order waiting for the heroes who died for the country to return."
Shaking his head with a sigh, Bryan said with some sorrow.
Chu Chengzhou: "."
Our frontline battle situation is overwhelmingly favorable, driving Star Luo into continuous retreat, but our high-ranking military officers keep dying one after another—so much so that even the army's commander has fallen. This war is probably the most bizarre war in the continent's history, right?
Hmm, no—that's not right. Bryan, why are you feeling sorrowful?
The war situation is so strange—it goes without saying that Qian Renxue is using this guaranteed victory to clean house the Tian Dou Empire's military.
Any general loyal to the imperial Xue family, once on the battlefield, would be targeted by experts secretly arranged by the Spirit Hall. After their death freed up positions, Qian Renxue would promote her confidants to take over, thereby gaining control of the Tian Dou Empire's million-strong army.
Since this Bryan could become the new captain of the Royal Knights, it means he's either one of Qian Renxue's trained confidants or a Spirit Hall spy. What the hell are you feeling sorrowful about? Trying to act in front of me?
------------------------------------------------------
40+ Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)