The central plaza of Grand Martial Academy was already filled with people and guests. The entire plaza was paved with white marble, and in front of it stood a temporary yet magnificent high platform. Before the tall dais, two elegant figures stood side by side: they were like two beautiful landscapes, but also exuded an undeniably powerful aura.
On the left was Shui Qingmei, dressed in a light blue gown. Her temperament was as cold as an icy spring, already a high-ranking Soul Sage, and under the sect's abundant resources, she had broken through the bottleneck at level 80 to become a strong Soul Douluo. At this moment, her eyes calmly swept over the crowd below, a hint of observation and indifference flickering in her gaze.
On the right stood Mu Xi, in simple yet sturdy attire that accentuated her robust physique. Her aura was even more condensed and profound than Shui Qingmei's, just a step away from high-level Soul Douluo. Her bright eyes, so similar to Chen Yi's, flashed with sharpness. Unlike her elder sister's coldness, her aura was more capable and forceful.
The two sisters—one at level 82, the other at level 86. The same Soul Douluo-level aura was released without constraint, not deliberately suppressed, causing the invisible fluctuations of soul power to astonish the representatives of the major powers present. For those of the same generation, or who knew them well, this was even more shocking and inexplicable.
Below, the middle-aged Dean of Thunderclap Academy was staring up at Mu Xi on the high platform with eyes full of fear, his heart in turmoil. He was of the same generation as Mu Xi and had even faced her in the Continental Elite Young Soul Master Tournament for advanced soul master academies. Back then, he had even held the advantage thanks to the overwhelming power of his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit.
But now, he himself still struggled at the peak of Soul Sage, unable to take that definitive step, while Mu Xi was about to touch the boundary of high-level Soul Douluo. This massive gap filled him with a sense of powerlessness and disbelief.
"It hasn't even been ten years... How did she grow so fast?!"
The Dean of Thunderclap Academy muttered in a low voice. Huyan Zhen, the leader of the Elephant Armored Clan who knew Mu Xi's past, also wore an expression of shock and disbelief. To advance from Soul Emperor to near-Soul Douluo in ten years was truly terrifying!
At that moment, from the entrance of the plaza, the host's loud voice pierced the noise and announced:
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Vice Sect Master Yu Luomian has arrived! Congratulations on the founding of Grand Martial Academy!"
As his voice faded, a tall, arrogant-looking old man strode in with a dragon-like gait. He wore splendid clothes, his eyes flashed with faint lightning, and his very presence was dignified—a true powerhouse at rank 89, a high-level Soul Douluo!
Seeing Yu Luomian, the Dean of Thunderclap Academy immediately stood up with his subordinates to salute, and the other representatives of various factions also greeted him with solemn respect. This was one of the three great sects—just being an elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect was enough to command reverence from nearly all present.
Yet, as soon as Yu Luomian appeared, his gaze towards Mu Xi on the high platform was noticeably cold, as if covered with frost. At the same time, three indifferent eyes from somewhere else turned their attention towards Yu Luomian.
Yu Luomian's steps faltered slightly, as if he were being targeted by a terrifying existence. An inexplicable chill ran through his chest. He unconsciously frowned and looked around, but saw nothing unusual. With the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect at his back and himself as a level 89 Soul Douluo, he couldn't believe anyone here would dare cross him. He chalked it up to an illusion and continued to his seat without further thought.
The host's voice rang out several more times:
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Sect Master Ning and Sword Douluo have arrived! Congratulations on the founding of Grand Martial Academy!"
"From the Heaven Dou Empire, Prince Xue Qinghe has arrived! Congratulations on the founding of Grand Martial Academy!"
Before the words faded, three figures had already appeared in everyone's view. Leading them was a man with an elegant face and gentle demeanor, none other than Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Beside him was an elderly man with white hair and beard, eyes closed, emanating sword-like flashes—this was the famed Sword Douluo, Chen Xin. On his other side was Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire, calm and smiling.
As soon as these three appeared, most people in the plaza—including Yu Luomian, who had just sat down—stood up again to salute. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was as wealthy as a nation, and Ning Fengzhi was renowned as the world's foremost support-type Soul Master. His reputation and connections far surpassed even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. And Prince Xue Qinghe's presence represented the will of one of the continent's two great empires.
Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe, modest and courteous, smiled warmly as they headed for the VIP seats, nodding and conversing politely with the surrounding dignitaries. However, some insiders couldn't help but show a playful expression as they looked at Ning Fengzhi. As their gazes briefly fell on him, they would then turn to the side of the plaza, feeling a sense of security from the presence of the Nine-Heart Begonia, the symbol of support-type spirits.
The Ye family of the Nine-Heart Begonia had joined the Body Sect, with Ye Cien now serving as head of the support department.
This was quite interesting—back then, the feud between the two families had caused an uproar in the entire soul master world! Ning Fengzhi naturally sensed these meaningful stares, but his own gaze was deep, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze, and he continued to converse quietly with Sword Douluo.
However, everyone's attention soon drifted from Ning Fengzhi. After brief greetings, most eyes once again turned expectantly, solemnly, and even a bit nervously toward the entrance. The true highlight, the power standing at the very pinnacle of the continent, had yet to appear!
Sure enough, in the next instant, the host's voice rose by an octave, now carrying awe and solemnity, booming through the plaza like thunder:
"From Spirit Hall—under the command of Golden Crocodile Douluo, with Glowing Feather Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo! Congratulations to Grand Martial Academy!"
BOOM!
The entire plaza was instantly electrified!
Countless people rose to their feet in shock. Four Douluos! Spirit Hall had actually sent four Titled Douluos to attend the ceremony. This lineup was nothing short of extravagant! Even more shocking, among them was the legendary Golden Crocodile Douluo himself.
"Golden Crocodile Douluo?! He's… he's still alive?!"
"My god, he's a monster from the same generation as the last Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen and Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu, or even older!"
"This time, Spirit Hall has truly given Grand Martial Academy face… no, given the Body Sect enough face!"
"Hah! If you ask me, this is more like… deterrence!"
Low exclamations and discussions surged like a tide. Golden Crocodile Douluo's reputation was thunderous among the older generation of soul masters; he was a terrifying existence at the very pinnacle of the continent.
At the VIP seat, Yu Luomian's face turned extremely sullen at the mention of "Golden Crocodile Douluo." The feud between the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and Golden Crocodile Douluo was no secret among the soul master world's upper echelon, and it had caused quite a stir back then. Now that rivals faced each other again, he was naturally filled with hostility.
Amid countless gazes—full of surprise, awe, and curiosity—the four Douluos strode slowly into the plaza.
At the front was none other than Golden Crocodile Douluo. His face was wrinkled with age, but his physique was unusually robust and upright. Dressed in simple yet exquisite dark-gold armor, every step he took seemed to resonate with the earth and bring a heavy, mountainous pressure.
He simply stood there, unmoving, and an invisible, suffocating force spread out, quieting the bustling plaza a little.
Behind him were the handsome, slightly sardonic Glowing Feather Douluo, the golden-robed androgynous Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, and the black-clad, ghostly Ghost Douluo.
The four Douluos gathered together, their auras instantly drawing the crowd's attention.
Just then, when the atmosphere reached its most solemn, a heroic, dragon-like laugh echoed from deep within Grand Martial Academy, rolling closer and closer, instantly dispelling the heavy pressure brought by Golden Crocodile Douluo.
"Haha! Unexpected indeed—today Golden Crocodile Douluo himself has come! Please forgive my tardiness!"
This laughter carried an unimaginable, awe-inspiring soul power and spiritual pressure. The sound waves overlapped and reverberated in the sky, causing countless soul masters in the plaza with shallow cultivation to instinctively cover their ears and show pained expressions.
Even the Titled Douluos in the VIP seats—Sword Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and others—frowned, feeling their soul power and blood stir violently within.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had ignored all eyes, froze slightly at last, his gaze like a hawk as he stared in the direction of the laughter.
"Strong! A peerless powerhouse!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo instantly judged in his heart: the owner of this voice had reached a truly terrifying level!
Before everyone could recover from the shock of the laughter, six dazzling streaks of light tore through the sky from the depths of Grand Martial Academy, crossing a great distance at a speed almost impossible for the naked eye to follow. When people blinked and tried to look again at the high platform, six figures of unfathomable depth had already appeared in the air!
…
Bonus chapter at 300 PS