[Martial Soul Rankings, Third Place: Dark Devil Evil God Tiger]
[Holder: Zhu Zhuqing (Heavenly Path Academy)]
[Evaluation: This soul beast is a rare mutated species among soul beasts, possessing unmatched combat power. At ten thousand years, it can withstand the combined siege of several hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. It also possesses the Death Arena, a secret technique capable of reversing time. After transforming into a human martial soul, its quality surpasses the God King tier. It evolved from the Nether Spirit Cat into the Nether White Tiger. After multiple evolutions as the Dark Devil Evil God Leopard, Evil God Tiger, and Dark Devil Evil God Tiger, it ultimately formed its current state. It possesses six ultimate attributes: time, space, evil, lightning, wind, and strength. Its potential is astonishing.]
[Rewards: Removal of all side effects from the Death Arena secret technique (automatically triggers when facing a threat of death), soul power level increased by 10 levels, all soul ring ages increased by forty thousand years, and one selectable soul bone of two hundred thousand years.]
The golden divine script of the third-ranked martial soul exploded across the sky like a thunderclap.
The words "Dark Devil Evil God Tiger" and "Zhu Zhuqing (Heavenly Path Academy)" hung high above the heavens.
Six ultimate attributes and an evaluation surpassing the God King tier instantly pushed the limit of the continent to an entirely new peak.
All major factions reacted violently, and undercurrents surged everywhere.
...
Papal Palace.
Bibi Dong stared at the flowing golden radiance outside the hall, purple-black soul power quietly surging at her fingertips.
When Zhu Zhuqing's name and martial soul information entered her vision, the chill around her body skyrocketed. A spider phantom flashed behind her, and fine cracks spread across the Papal Throne beneath her.
"Zhu Zhuqing, the youngest daughter of the Ghost Duke of the Star Luo Empire. That girl… the Nether Spirit Cat actually evolved into such a mutated form?"
Her voice was icy to the bone, yet disbelief churned violently in her eyes.
"Six ultimate attributes, a secret technique that reverses time. Just how many secrets is Heavenly Path Academy hiding?"
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan stood stiffly below the hall, their faces pale. Hu Liena clenched her skirt tightly, her golden eyes filled with shock.
"Zhu Zhuqing… someone from the Ghost Duke's estate? She actually possesses a martial soul that surpasses the God King tier?"
Xie Yue tightened his grip on his moon blade, his tone strained.
"With this degree of evolution and talent, plus the support of Heavenly Path Academy, her combat power is probably already beyond that of ordinary Titled Douluo."
Bibi Dong raised her hand to stop their whispers, a ruthless decision flashing through her eyes.
"Accelerate the plan."
She looked at Hu Liena, her voice carrying unquestionable authority.
"Set out immediately to locate Heavenly Path Academy. Not only must you investigate its foundation, you must also find a way to approach Zhu Zhuqing."
"If you cannot win her over, you must not destroy her either. At the very least, uncover the key to her martial soul's evolution, at any cost."
"Remember, under no circumstances may you offend Heavenly Path Academy. There is already a god-tier combatant stationed there, someone I cannot currently oppose."
"And one more thing," Bibi Dong added, her gaze growing colder.
"Send word to our hidden agents in Star Luo. Stir conflict between the Ghost Duke's estate and the imperial family. I want to see whether the Star Luo Empire can tolerate a non-imperial noble wielding a martial soul that surpasses the God King tier."
...
Hall of Offerings.
The six great elders, who had only just begun to recover from the shock of Yun Ming's ascension to godhood, were struck once again by the golden rankings.
The hall fell into dead silence, with only chaotic fluctuations of soul power quietly spreading.
Azure Kite Douluo suddenly stood up. His winged phantom flared open before retracting, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
"A martial soul surpassing the God King tier? Six ultimate attributes covering time and space? What kind of monster is this Zhu Zhuqing?"
Lion Douluo smashed his fist into a pillar, sending stone fragments flying.
"The Ghost Duke's estate actually hid such a trump card! I have lived most of my life and never heard of a mutated soul beast turning into such a terrifying martial soul!"
Thousand Jun Douluo frowned deeply, his eyes heavy with concern.
"Yun Ming is already a level-one-hundred powerhouse, and now Zhu Zhuqing has appeared out of nowhere. Judging by these rewards, she is still a junior. Both come from Heavenly Path Academy. That academy's strength likely already surpasses the Martial Soul Hall."
He turned to look at Qian Daoliu, his tone filled with worry.
"Great Elder, Xue'er, she…"
Qian Daoliu stood at the center of the hall, his gaze locked firmly on the golden rankings. His hands clenched unconsciously, his knuckles turning white.
The angelic soul power around him surged violently, revealing his inner turmoil.
"Even within the Angel God inheritance, there is no record of such a defiant martial soul."
He took a deep breath, his voice heavy.
"The opponents Xue'er must face are two individuals capable of overturning the entire continental order."
"Pass down the order," Qian Daoliu said, his authority echoing through the hall.
"All informants are to be fully deployed. Locate Heavenly Path Academy and closely monitor the movements of the Star Luo Empire. Zhu Zhuqing's identity is special. The conflict between the Ghost Duke's estate and the imperial family, due to that twisted engagement, has long reached the point of irreconcilable hostility. It may be the only breakthrough."
He paused briefly, then added.
"Without absolute certainty, no conflict with Heavenly Path Academy is permitted. Those who disobey will not be spared."
...
Star Luo Empire, Imperial Hall.
The Star Luo Emperor's hand froze midair as he held a memorial. His eyes locked onto the golden rankings in the sky, his expression complex, filled with shock, wariness, and a trace of barely concealed suspicion.
"Zhu Zhuqing of the Ghost Duke's estate. Wasn't that girl taken away by a mysterious expert six years ago, right after awakening her martial soul?"
The emperor murmured the name softly, his voice strained.
"The Nether Spirit Cat evolved into the Dark Devil Evil God Tiger, a martial soul surpassing the God King tier. That girl has been hiding far too deeply."
The ministers below erupted in chaos.
"Your Majesty, with Zhu Zhuqing holding such power, the strength of the Ghost Duke's estate likely far exceeds our estimates!"
"A non-imperial noble possessing such defiant power is absolutely detrimental to the imperial family!"
"Why not eliminate her in secret while she is still at Heavenly Path Academy, to cut off future trouble!"
"Silence!"
The Star Luo Emperor roared in anger. These ministers had truly grown senile. The expert who ranked earlier had already reached level one hundred.
With such a figure stationed there, who on the continent could assassinate someone under his watch?
"Eliminate her? Would Heavenly Path Academy stand by and allow it? With her current strength alone, anyone sent would simply be throwing their lives away."
"Issue the decree," the emperor said, resolve flashing in his eyes.
"Grant the title 'Star Luo Guardian War God' to the Nether Duke. Bestow one million gold soul coins and one hundred soul tools. Immediately dispatch an envoy to locate Heavenly Path Academy and secure an alliance at all costs."
He turned to the chancellor and added.
"Closely monitor the movements of the Ghost Duke's estate. Report any abnormalities immediately."
"Your Majesty is wise!"
...
Crown Prince's Residence.
Dai Weisi was discussing matters with Zhu Zhuyun when the divine script and oppressive aura of the golden rankings pierced through the residence. Both raised their heads simultaneously, their expressions changing drastically.
When the words "Zhu Zhuqing" and "martial soul surpassing the God King tier" became unmistakably clear, Dai Weisi clenched his fists violently, jealousy and malice filling his eyes.
"Zhu Zhuqing! How could this be…"
Dai Weisi ground his teeth, his tone full of resentment.
"She was clearly the abandoned fiancée of a secondary heir, nothing more than an ordinary Nether Spirit Cat. Why does she deserve the favor of Heavenly Path Academy and such a defiant martial soul!"
He had always regarded himself as the strongest of Star Luo's younger generation. He had never viewed Dai Mubai as his sole rival, nor had he ever taken Zhu Zhuqing seriously. Now her achievements struck him like a merciless slap to the face.
Zhu Zhuyun stood beside him, her face deathly pale. Her hands twisted tightly into her sleeves, her eyes filled with venom and madness.
She was Zhu Zhuqing's elder sister. Whether in talent or status, she had always believed herself far superior to her younger sibling.
Yet now, Zhu Zhuqing had leaped straight into the ranks of the continent's top-tier powerhouses, wielding a martial soul that surpassed the God King tier.
"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
Zhu Zhuyun shrieked in disbelief. She understood all too well the consequences of Zhu Zhuqing entering the rankings.
She and Dai Weisi would likely be killed by Zhu Zhuqing's own hands in the future.
Dai Weisi took a deep breath, suppressing the jealousy in his heart as a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.
"Zhuyun, now is not the time for resentment."
He looked at her coldly.
"Zhu Zhuqing's current strength is beyond what we can contend with, but her existence undoubtedly threatens my succession to the throne."
"A younger sister with a martial soul surpassing the God King tier. That brat Dai Mubai might gain the support of the Ghost Duke's estate because of her."
"Then what should we do?"
A trace of panic flashed through Zhu Zhuyun's eyes before being replaced by cruelty.
"We cannot let her have it easy. We must destroy her!"
"Have you lost your mind? Heavenly Path Academy has a god-tier powerhouse stationed there. Never mention this again."
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