Love Makes You Young!
Grandmaster and Liu Erlong, reappearing before everyone, looked radiant and full of energy, as if they had become much younger.
Most importantly, the two now seemed much more harmonious, unlike their previous stiffness and awkwardness.
In truth, there was only a thin veil between Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong; once that veil was broken, they would naturally blend together.
Relationships between people are so wondrous. Sometimes, there's a hurdle between two people, something they both understand, but neither takes the initiative to cross.
Once one of them takes that step, the relationship heats up like dry tinder.
Perhaps due to last night's events, Grandmaster achieved another breakthrough, reaching level forty.
Because he had consumed a celestial herb, his cultivation speed was much faster.
Breaking through level forty, he naturally needed to enter the grove. The closest spirit beast settlement to Star Luo City was the Dragon Tiger Mountain Range.
The Dragon Tiger Mountain Range was the largest spirit beast settlement within the Star Luo Empire, even larger than the Sunset Forest of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The name originates from the "tiger" in the Star Luo Empire's royal white tiger martial soul and the "dragon" in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan of the Upper Three Sects.
The Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range is vast, almost spanning the entire Star Luo Empire. The two most numerous and powerful soul beasts in the mountain range are dragons and tigers.
Members of the White Tiger Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan almost exclusively obtain their soul rings within this mountain range.
This is especially true for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, as the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul requires a soul ring from a sub-dragon species.
It can be said that the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range is the foundation of these two powerful families.
"Xiao Gang has broken through to level forty. I'll accompany him to the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Range."
"So fast! Master, that's too fast!" Oscar exclaimed in surprise.
"Truly worthy of being from Shrek Academy, they're all monsters," Dugu Yan sighed softly.
Yu Tianheng nudged Dugu Yan, signaling her to watch her words.
"Uncle, congratulations!"
Yu Tianheng had already experienced the power of the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Martial Soul. Now that Grandmaster had broken through to the Soul Master level, this speed surpassed most geniuses, even faster than his own. Calling him a monster wouldn't be an exaggeration.
Yu Tianheng really wanted Grandmaster to return to the family and restore his identity as a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The Five-Clawed Golden Dragon Martial Soul was an evolutionary marker of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul. If Grandmaster returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he would be the leader of the middle generation.
Grandmaster patted Yu Tianheng on the shoulder and said,
"Tianheng, you should also intensify your cultivation. Maybe Uncle will catch up with you soon."
Yu Tianheng smiled in agreement.
In fact, even with the difference in levels, Grandmaster's actual combat strength was already no less than his.
"Teacher Erlong, let's go together to help Grandmaster obtain his fourth Soul Ring!"
Ning Rongrong said happily. She just loved going on adventures in the forest.
"No need, it's just a thousand-year-level spirit ring, no need to trouble everyone. You all just enjoy yourselves in Star Luo City. Besides, Fairy Robe Pavilion is starting up here and needs manpower.
I'll just go with Xiao Gang."
Liu Erlong completely controlled the conversation, not needing Grandmaster to interrupt, she clearly refused the requests of others to join.
Ning Rongrong hadn't yet grasped the meaning and wanted to speak again.
Ma Hongjun pulled her back, saying,
"Then Teacher Erlong, you and Grandmaster go, be careful, and come back early."
"Understood!"
Liu Erlong gave Ma Hongjun a knowing look, then took Grandmaster's hand and left.
"Brother, I want to go too..."
"Don't disturb their private time."
Needless to say, the two of them, who had only experienced true bliss in middle age, were definitely eager to start their own private world. Being with everyone all day made them a little reserved, and given their relationship, they were very concerned about what others thought.
Let's go to the wilderness, the wilderness is spacious.
Star Luo City and Tian Dou City, as the two most prosperous cities on the Douluo Continent, naturally have many places worth visiting.
This group was mostly visiting the Star Luo Empire for the first time, essentially embarking on a trip to a foreign land, so everyone was in high spirits.
However, cultivation remained crucial, and the Great Soul Arena in the city became an excellent training ground for practical combat.
The Soul Battles in the Star Luo Empire were far more intense than those in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Today, the group arrived at the Great Soul Arena.
The three brothers, Yu Tianheng and Ning Huahua, along with their female companions, registered to prepare for two-on-two Soul Battles.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, and Bai Chenxiang and Ye Lingling also formed pairs.
Ma Hongjun, due to his high rank, could only queue solo.
In fact, same-rank battles weren't very effective for Ma Hongjun now, because with his three soul bones and ten-thousand-year soul ring, his strength far surpassed that of ordinary soul masters of the same ring level.
However, since he hadn't had any practical combat in a long time, he still wanted to practice.
Ma Hongjun was still a Silver Soul Battler; he hadn't participated in Soul Battles since Soto City, so his title hadn't changed.
"Hello, what's the highest-ranking Soul King level Soul Fighter right now?"
Upon arriving at the front desk, Ma Hongjun directly asked the waiter. Generally, the organizers wouldn't arrange very strong opponents for first-time Soul Kings in the Grand Soul Arena.
Each person could only fight once a day, and Ma Hongjun didn't want to waste time on meaningless matches against weaker opponents.
Therefore, he wanted to directly challenge the highest-ranking Soul King in the Grand Soul Arena.
"I'm sorry, sir, we can't disclose information about Soul Fighters,"
the waiter said politely. Ma Hongjun looked quite young, and in his judgment, he couldn't possibly be a Soul King. Ma Hongjun's question about Soul King level Soul Fighters seemed unrelated to the actual Soul King
level. "No, you misunderstood me. I want to challenge the strongest Soul King!"
Hearing Ma Hongjun's words, those around him looked over in surprise. Seeing Ma Hongjun's youthful appearance, some were astonished, some curious, and some even gave a mocking smile.
"What, a Soul King!"
"This guy must have misspoke and called himself a Soul King. So young, it's already impressive he has the strength of a Soul Venerable."
"Truly a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, challenging the strongest Soul King."
...
Ma Hongjun ignored these passersby. Passersby are just passersby; they only watch the spectacle and have little to do with his life.
Whether they questioned or supported him, it would only affect his mood.
The waitress was still very polite, responding to Ma Hongjun respectfully without subjectively confirming he was joking.
"Sir, could you please confirm again, are you challenging the strongest Soul King?"
"Yes, this is my Soul Battle Badge."
Ma Hongjun showed his Soul Battle Badge.
The waitress took it and saw it was a Silver Soul Battle Badge, but the markings only indicated a level 43 Soul Master.
"You are a four-ring Soul Master, we cannot arrange a challenge..."
"This was the old one; I am now a five-ring Soul King."
Ma Hongjun hadn't expected to encounter such trouble after not being at the Grand Soul Arena for so long.
However, the Grand Soul Arena's procedures were still very quick.
The waitress led Ma Hongjun backstage for a Soul Power test.
"Unbreakable Golden Spear, Martial Soul, Silver Spear, Level 57, Silver Battle Soul."
Ma Hongjun wanted to change this nickname again.
It confirmed his strength, especially after he displayed a super-powerful array of yellow, purple, and black soul rings during the strength test.
This immediately drew the attention of the organizers.
"Mr. Unbreakable Golden Spear, the strongest Soul King level fighter in our Grand Soul Arena is currently a Soul King, and the only one with a Sapphire Battle Soul Badge.
Are you sure you want to challenge him?"
"Sapphire, that's high."
Ma Hongjun was somewhat surprised, because Battle Souls are divided into eight levels:
Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Purple Gold, Sapphire, Ruby, and Diamond.
Sapphire already reached sixth place.
"Yes, this fighter has never lost since joining the Battle Soul Arena, maintaining a winning streak. Do
you still want to challenge him?"
"Of course, the more it's like this, the more interested I am!"
Ma Hongjun's interest was ignited.
"Do you have any information on this Sapphire Fighting Spirit?"
The waiter looked at Ma Hongjun with a strange expression, because the Fighting Spirit's name was somewhat similar to his own.
"Invincible Divine Spear, Martial Spirit, Soul-Breaking Spear, Level 59, Sapphire Fighting Spirit Badge!"
(End of Chapter)