After the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect learned that Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan had entered the rankings and broken through to Rank 96, they all felt an immense pressure.
On the martial practice field, the disciples who had been cultivating stopped one after another, and discussions erupted everywhere.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo actually broke through to Rank 96. That strength is far too terrifying."
"Spirit City is getting stronger and stronger. From now on, our Clear Sky Sect will probably have to be even more cautious."
"What is there to be afraid of? Our Clear Sky Sect has the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul, we have Sect Master Tang Xiao and all the elders, and we also have Aunt Yuehua, the newly advanced mental-type soul master. As long as we cultivate properly, we can definitely deal with the threat from Spirit City."
The disciples' eyes were filled with resolve. The pressure they felt turned into motivation to cultivate, and the atmosphere on the martial practice field grew even more intense.
...
Within the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Emperor Xue Ye was discussing with several ministers how to establish closer ties with Tang Yuehua.
When they suddenly sensed a fluctuation of soul power coming from the heavenly curtain, they all looked up toward the sky. After clearly seeing the information on the rankings, their faces were filled with shock and disbelief.
"The Goddess List actually included a man, and it is Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan from Spirit Hall. This is simply unheard of."
Emperor Xue Ye widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.
A minister bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the criteria of this ranking are extremely special. Chrysanthemum Douluo's Martial Soul, the Celestial Chrysanthemum, is the only immortal-grade medicinal herb Martial Soul on the continent. Its potential is boundless and its combat power is top-tier. Based on this uniqueness alone, he qualifies to be on the list."
"Moreover, he has already broken through to Rank 96. Spirit City's overall strength has increased again, which is definitely not good news for our Heaven Dou Empire."
Another minister nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Your Majesty. Spirit City is now extremely powerful and ambitious. If they expand their influence by relying on sheer strength, our Heaven Dou Empire will likely be the first to bear the brunt."
"Now that Chrysanthemum Douluo has broken through, Spirit City's combat power has risen to an even higher level. We must strengthen our national defenses as soon as possible and unite with other forces to jointly resist the threat from Spirit City."
Emperor Xue Ye frowned slightly, his eyes filled with gravity. "What you say is absolutely correct. The threat from Spirit City is growing by the day. We must act quickly."
"Convey my decree. Strengthen border defenses, raise the soul power cultivation of the army, and at the same time send envoys to the Clear Sky Sect and Heavenly Path Academy to discuss an alliance, so that we may face Spirit City's expansion together."
The ministers all bowed in response and turned to leave. The atmosphere of the Heaven Dou Empire instantly became tense. The relaxation and joy brought by Tang Yuehua's entry onto the list had long been replaced by the pressure brought by Spirit City.
...
Within the Evil Demon Forest, the Evil Emperor's gigantic eye stared intently at the heavenly curtain. A trace of jealousy and greed flashed through its purple-black pupil.
Sensing the soul power fluctuation after Yue Guan's breakthrough, the black mist around its body surged violently. Its tentacles slammed fiercely into the ground, and its voice carried a hint of madness.
"Damn it. Such a heaven-defying reward was actually given to someone from Spirit Hall. An immortal-grade medicinal herb, a one-rank increase in soul power, a Rank 96 Titled Douluo. If I could obtain this reward, I would definitely break through the hundred-thousand-year threshold and dominate the continent."
It had always longed to increase its strength, to break free from the suppression of the Star Dou Great Forest and the Extreme North Ice Plains, and become the supreme ruler of the continent's soul beasts.
Now that it saw Yue Guan receive such generous rewards and greatly increase his strength, the jealousy and greed in its heart erupted instantly.
"Send people to investigate. Find out the origin of this ranking and clarify the rules for distributing the rewards," the Evil Emperor said coldly.
"If I can find the power behind the ranking, or discover a way to obtain the rewards, I will definitely claim this power for myself. When that time comes, Gu Yuena of Star Dou, the Ice Empress and Snow Empress of the Extreme North, and those fellows from Spirit City will all be trampled beneath my feet."
Outside the hall, the sinister soul beasts roared one after another, their eyes filled with greed and madness.
To them, strength was everything. As long as they could increase their power, no matter the cost, they would not hesitate.
The rewards Yue Guan received showed them hope for growth. The greed in their hearts had already overwhelmed their fear of the Dragon God's pressure.
The reactions of the various forces across the continent were all different. Some were shocked, some delighted, some jealous, and some worried. But everyone understood clearly that Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's entry onto the Goddess List and breakthrough to Rank 96 had completely altered the continent's balance of combat power.
Spirit City's strength had risen sharply, posing an even greater threat to other forces. The Goddess List itself, because of this sudden variable, became even more mysterious and eagerly anticipated.
Above the heavenly curtain, Yue Guan's ranking information gradually dissipated, but the discussions across the continent did not stop.
The title "Chrysanthemum Goddess" began circulating throughout the soul master world, becoming a popular topic of conversation after meals.
As for Yue Guan himself, although he was still somewhat resentful about being placed on the Goddess List, he had to admit that the strength boost brought by the reward solidified his position in Spirit City even further and increased his authority on the continent in the future.
Above the heavenly curtain, the gilded script of "Goddess List, Nineteenth Place, Yue Guan" had not yet completely faded when an even more dazzling golden light tore through the clouds and hovered over the continent's sky like a divine decree.
At the moment the new ranking information appeared, discussions across the continent came to an abrupt halt, followed immediately by an uproar even more earth-shaking than before.
This time, what was overturned was not only common understanding, but the combat power structure of the continent's top forces.
[Goddess List, Eighteenth Place: Zhu Zhuyun]
[Affiliation: Star Luo Empire]
[Cultivation: Rank 45]
[Evaluation: Daughter of the Star Luo Empire's Nether Duke, Crown Princess of the Star Luo Empire. Martial Soul: Nether Spirit Cat. Exceptionally talented, alluring figure, decisive in action.]
[Reward: Martial Soul evolves into the Nether White Tiger. Soul power level increases by five ranks.]
"Nether White Tiger?"
These four words rolled across the land like thunder. Whether in taverns and tea houses where soul masters gathered, or in the deliberation halls of major sects, everyone who heard or saw the ranking revealed an expression of disbelief.
Who did not know that the Nether White Tiger was the supreme inherited Martial Soul of the Star Luo imperial family, one of the foundations upon which the empire stood on the continent.
Since ancient times, only direct imperial bloodline holders of the White Tiger Martial Soul, when paired with a top-tier expert possessing the Nether Spirit Cat Martial Soul, could temporarily summon a Nether White Tiger projection through a Martial Soul Fusion Skill after both parties reached the Soul Douluo realm or even the Titled Douluo realm.
This fusion skill not only required pure bloodlines, but also perfect mutual understanding and soul power compatibility between the two. It was regarded as the Star Luo Empire's most powerful trump card.
Yet now, the ranking had directly evolved Zhu Zhuyun's Nether Spirit Cat Martial Soul into the Nether White Tiger.
A top-tier beast-type Martial Soul that belonged entirely to her alone and could be activated at any time.
Such a heaven-defying reversal of fate was even more shocking than Yue Guan's soul power increase, because it completely shattered the Martial Soul rules that the Star Luo Empire had upheld for thousands of years.
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