These four people were all teachers of the academy.
At the front stood a man and a woman who looked like a married couple.
The man had an imposing presence, his brows filled with heroic vigor.
The woman possessed a gentle temperament. Although her looks were not the most outstanding, the natural and warm aura surrounding her made others instinctively feel goodwill toward her.
They were Yun Ming and Ya Li, the Atlas Douluo and the Holy Spirit Douluo, responsible for the academy's battle armor instruction and alchemy instruction respectively.
Behind them were also a man and a woman, but compared to Yun Ming and Ya Li, they appeared much younger. Their facial features were strikingly similar, making it obvious that they were biological siblings.
Xiao Hongchen of the Three-Legged Golden Toad Martial Soul, and Meng Hongchen of the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Martial Soul, responsible for the academy's soul tool instruction.
The four of them walked together to Li Tianyi's side and cupped their hands in congratulations.
"Congratulations, Headmaster, on your greatly increased strength."
"Mm, you are here."
Li Tianyi nodded.
"Teacher Meng, did you return from hunting soul beasts?"
"Yes. My brother took action and helped me hunt a soul beast that matched my Martial Soul."
Meng Hongchen's arm was linked with Dugu Yan's. Dugu Yan's Poison Dragon Martial Soul and Meng Hongchen's Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad both possessed poison attributes, and the two had always shared a good relationship.
Xiao Hongchen cupped his hands and said, "Headmaster, according to the map you provided, we indeed found a hundred-thousand-year Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad in the Extreme North. I helped Mengmeng obtain her ninth soul ring."
"We used the Soul Spirit Contract Technique you passed down, coexisting with the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad."
"The ninth soul ring… a hundred-thousand-year soul ring!"
The students all sucked in a sharp breath, not only because Meng Hongchen's ninth soul ring was of the hundred-thousand-year level, but also due to their astonishment at Xiao Hongchen's strength.
This teacher, who had always been immersed in soul tool crafting, actually possessed the terrifying power to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast on his own.
However, this was Heavenly Path Academy, so everything somehow felt reasonable.
"It is good that you are back. There is nothing pressing these days. Watching the Heavenly List is not bad either."
"Yes."
Yun Ming and Ya Li had always kept a low profile. Aside from Li Tianyi, no one had ever seen them release their Martial Souls.
"Teacher Ya Li, Teacher Yun Ming, what are your Martial Souls? Are you also Title Douluo? Can you show us?"
"Yes, Teacher, just one look."
Ya Li smiled faintly but did not agree to the children's request.
"Children, there will be opportunities in the future."
"Ming and I are not very convenient right now."
"Mm… alright."
…
A day passed in the blink of an eye, and in an instant, the second day arrived.
Today was the day the Martial Soul Golden Ranking would be revealed. Countless Soul Masters lifted their heads to the sky, hoping their Martial Souls would appear on the list.
Dong…
With a resounding, soul-shaking chime, the Martial Soul Ranking began to change. Golden light blossomed upon it, as if words were being engraved.
Soto City.
Tang Hao looked at the golden ranking radiating aura and could not help but feel hope for his future.
"With my strength, making the list will not be difficult!"
"Little San has twin Martial Souls. He can do it as well!"
"Martial Soul Hall, just wait. The day I, Tang Hao, take my revenge is not far away!"
...
Inside Heavenly Path Academy, a lavish meal had long been prepared. Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others seemed to feel no pressure at all.
They were certain they would make the list, so opening a bottle of celebratory wine first was only natural.
In the sky, the golden light slowly faded.
The golden characters gradually became visible.
Countless people held their breath, staring at the ranking with excitement surging in their hearts.
[Martial Soul Ranking, Twentieth Place: Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad]
[Holder: Meng Hongchen (Heavenly Path Academy).]
[Evaluation: Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Emperor Martial Soul. A highly toxic Martial Soul. Its entire body is of ice attribute, yet its eyes are of fire attribute. Cold and heat intertwine to form a terrifying poison, already approaching extreme dual attributes. This Martial Soul evolved from the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad.]
[Reward: Soul power level increases by one. All soul ring year limits increase by five hundred years.]
When all the text on the golden ranking was fully revealed, the entire continent was shaken.
Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Emperor? What kind of Martial Soul was this? There seemed to be no powerful figures on the continent with such a Martial Soul.
Moreover, the rewards of the Heavenly List were unbelievably generous.
Leaving aside the increase of one soul power level, the increase of five hundred years to all soul ring year limits was absolutely something every Soul Master dreamed of.
Once a soul ring was absorbed, its year limit was fixed. Now it could be increased through postnatal means. How could this not shock the Soul Masters of the Douluo Continent?
This completely overturned common sense.
Martial Soul Hall.
Bibi Dong stood up directly from the throne, staring at the five characters "Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Emperor."
What kind of Martial Soul was this? Why had she never heard of it?
Heavenly Path Academy? Was there such an academy in the Martial Soul world? To be able to cultivate a genius who made the list, this academy was definitely not an obscure existence.
"Salas, in the regions you are responsible for, is there such an academy?"
Salas, one being the Platinum Bishop of Heaven Dou City who controlled all its affairs is present.
This period happened to be when the branch hall masters of Martial Soul Hall were entering Martial Soul City for accountability, and they had coincidentally encountered this upheaval.
Despite their soul power being as high as Level Eighty-Nine, only one step away from the Title Douluo realm, he didn't dare show the slightest disrespect. He answered respectfully.
"Reporting to Your Holiness, there are no records of such an academy. It should be an academy established by a reclusive family."
Salas gave a fair answer.
"Very well. Someone, investigate Heavenly Path Academy and find this Soul Master named Meng Hongchen."
Bibi Dong remained relatively calm. After all, twentieth place alone was not enough to make her lose composure. The best course of action was to find Meng Hongchen and bring her into Martial Soul Hall.
At the side, the three young members of Martial Soul Hall stood beside Bibi Dong, but the gloom on their faces could not be dispelled.
The Demon Fox Martial Soul and Moon Blade Martial Soul were, in terms of Martial Soul quality, indeed inferior to the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Emperor.
Among those present, only Yan's Flame Lord Martial Soul had a chance of making the list.
"Teacher, I… may have disappointed you."
Hu Liena's face was filled with guilt. She glanced at Bibi Dong before quickly lowering her head.
"Nana, it is fine. This does not count for anything. With your talent, you will certainly make the list."
Bibi Dong's gaze toward Hu Liena carried tenderness as she offered rare, gentle comfort.
"Yes, Teacher."
...
Shrek Academy.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang stared wide-eyed at the Vermilion-Eyed Ice Toad Emperor Martial Soul on the ranking.
What kind of Martial Soul was this? Why had he never heard of it?
And the reward could actually increase soul ring year limits. His Martial Soul contained the bloodline of the Golden Holy Dragon. If he could make the list, perhaps he could break through his bottleneck?
The Grandmaster indulged in such unrealistic thoughts.
Tang San stood beside the Grandmaster and could not help asking,
"Teacher, can I make the list?"
The Grandmaster looked at Tang San and replied with certainty,
"Little San, although your Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul cannot compare to top-tier Martial Souls, the Clear Sky Hammer is the number one tool-type Martial Soul under heaven."
"And this golden ranking evaluates potential and talent, not just a Soul Master's current strength. You are the third twin Martial Soul with innate full soul power in a hundred years. You will definitely enter the top ten of the list…"
"No, the top five!"
The Grandmaster declared firmly, convinced that his disciple would certainly make the list.
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