Chapter 68: Gold Crocodile Douluo's Path to the Limit, Mysterious Spirit Beast in the Death Canyon
"Second Consecrated Elder, is there a possibility that the Beast Soul True Body is incomplete?"
Qian Daoliu hesitated for a moment before presenting the theory he had learned in the form of a conjecture.
Gold Crocodile Douluo's cheeks, which looked like old tree bark, twitched slightly before returning to a state of calm.
"How so?"
Qian Daoliu did not immediately take out the letter Qian Renxue had sent. Instead, he shared his own understanding: "Since the essential effect of the Seventh Soul Skill is to transform into a Spirit Beast, it should also come with the combat instincts and experience of that Spirit Beast. After all, if one can turn into a Spirit Beast, why wouldn't it include their long-accumulated instincts and experience?"
Gold Crocodile Douluo fell into a brief contemplation, then raised his head again, his sharp gaze fixed on Qian Daoliu.
"High Priest, this reason is still a bit far-fetched. Do you have some other suspicion, or perhaps you've obtained some special theory?"
He was, after all, a Spirit Master who had lived for many years; his reactions were incredibly sharp. Qian Daoliu's few short sentences had already sparked doubt in Gold Crocodile Douluo's mind.
"Little Xue sent me a letter today. She discovered a Disciple of the Great Master, and it records some theories related to the Beast Soul True Body."
Qian Daoliu took out the letter and handed it to Gold Crocodile Douluo as he spoke.
As for his previous doubts about Tang Shan and Su Yuntao's identities as the Grandmaster's Disciples, they had long been cast to the back of his mind. Who else on the entire continent besides the Grandmaster could research a Spirit Master theory that was so revolutionary yet seemingly true?
"A letter from that girl, Little Xue."
Upon hearing it was a letter from Qian Renxue, a hint of softness and doting appeared in Gold Crocodile Douluo's eyes. He opened the letter and read its contents carefully. As he read, the Aura on his body underwent a drastic change, fluctuating wildly between strong and weak. Clearly, his inner peace was severely disturbed.
A soft golden light radiated from Qian Daoliu, and his majestic mental force enveloped the surrounding area, causing people to subconsciously ignore the changes occurring within it.
After a long while, Gold Crocodile Douluo returned to a state of calm. His eyes were deep, like an abyss or the sea; no one could tell what he was thinking.
"Second Consecrated Elder, this theory—"
Qian Daoliu asked tentatively.
"This theory is not fake. Combining it with my own experiences, I even see a chance to take that final step."
Gold Crocodile Douluo's answer filled Qian Daoliu with wild joy. If the other party truly took that final step, the power of Spirit Hall would surely skyrocket once again.
"Second Consecrated Elder, I wonder how much certainty you have? The resources of Spirit Hall can be mobilized at your disposal to assist you."
"I have no certainty."
Gold Crocodile Douluo's answer was beyond Qian Daoliu's expectations. Before Qian Daoliu could ask, he provided an explanation: "We all know that cultivation at the Titled Douluo stage involves comprehending the Spirit and then injecting one's insights into the Spirit to improve its quality, allowing the higher-quality Spirit to refine more pure spirit power. Before this, I could never take that step. It wasn't because I lacked insights into my Spirit, but because those insights could no longer improve its quality, as if the Spirit had truly reached its upper limit."
Gold Crocodile Douluo sighed and shook his head, his expression indescribably complex.
"Now that I've seen this theory, I understand. The Spirit has indeed reached its limit, but the reason it reached that limit lies with us."
He pointed to the letter in his hand: "After truly becoming a Titled Douluo, one can inject their own insights. If one can develop to the so-called Martial Soul Fusion state mentioned here, combining the insights of combat experience and instinct with one's own experience and merging them into the Spirit, it lays a relatively perfect foundation. It contains both a part of the Spirit's own insights and a part of one's own. It is an excellent lubrication stage. With such a foundation laid, the rest depends on Comprehension Ability. If I had seen this theory when I was young, I would surely be a Limit Douluo by now."
After listening to Gold Crocodile Douluo's explanation, Qian Daoliu finally understood the secret of this theory.
The Titled Douluo stage is a cultivation phase where one opens up the Spirit's upper limit through insights and improves Spirit quality to refine spirit power. According to Gold Crocodile Douluo, what insight could be more suitable than the combat experience and instincts originating from the Spirit itself?
Merging these insights into it lays a great foundation for the Spirit. To continue breaking through later, one only needs enough understanding of the Spirit; they wouldn't be stuck at Rank 98 like he is now.
"I have seen the correct path, which is why I said I see the hope of reaching the Limit and becoming a Peerless Douluo. But it is merely seeing it; it remains out of reach after all. Moreover—"
Gold Crocodile Douluo's eyes suddenly became sharp, and an Aura of looking down upon the world radiated from him. His vigorous blood vitality was like a great river; though it appeared calm on the surface, it could not hide its surging majesty.
"My path might not necessarily be wrong. There is definitely more than one path to reach the Limit. If blood vitality can push the Spirit's quality to rise again, I may not be unable to ascend to the pinnacle of the human world."
Looking at this old man covered in wrinkles, Qian Daoliu seemed to see the Gold Crocodile Douluo from many years ago who dominated an entire era. That unique, overbearing pride was something he would never possess.
The man's personality was just like his words: domineering and stubborn. He believed there was more than one way to reach the Limit, and his path wasn't necessarily wrong.
Gold Crocodile Douluo put his hands behind his back, and a special Spirit and energy naturally radiated from his body.
He turned to look at Qian Daoliu and bowed slightly: "Little Xue's letter said that the Grandmaster's Disciple, Tang Shan, also cultivates blood vitality. I want to see what is so mysterious about the blood vitality cultivation method the Grandmaster researched. I may no longer be able to guard this place; I ask for the High Priest's permission."
Qian Daoliu shifted aside again to avoid the bow, his expression solemn: "Second Consecrated Elder has already performed great service. If you wish to leave this place and the Hall of Worship, it is naturally no problem. Besides, that beast hasn't made any moves in years; it has likely perished within this Death Canyon. You may leave with peace of mind, Second Consecrated Elder."
Gold Crocodile Douluo stood up and looked at the vast forest, his eyes showing a peculiar glint: "That may not be so. There aren't many Spirit Beasts near the ten-thousand-year level that can take a palm strike from me and not die, let alone one that exchanged several rounds with me. Someone still needs to be sent to guard it. We can't let such a peculiar Spirit Beast escape; it is a treasure of our Spirit Hall."
Qian Daoliu also recalled that fierce Spirit Beast that seemed ready to fight heaven and earth, and his expression turned slightly more serious: "Then I will have the two Douluos, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, come here to guard it and prevent its escape."
Gold Crocodile Douluo nodded: "Have them come over once you return. When they arrive, I will go to Heaven Dou City to see Little Xue, Tang Shan, and that Su Yuntao."
"It just so happens my old bones are getting a bit rusty lately. I'll go into the Death Canyon first to meet him and see how that fellow is doing, and if he can give me some exercise."
Qian Daoliu nodded. In the blink of an eye, Gold Crocodile Douluo reached the edge of the mist. His stature expanded rapidly, his body underwent a drastic transformation, and his spirit rings flashed one after another. A pressure as fierce as a prehistoric behemoth erupted with him at the center. The mist that hung over the Death Canyon year-round seemed to be forced down several inches by this terrifying Aura, and the air became thick with suffocating pressure.
Some people preparing to enter the Death Canyon subconsciously avoided the area where the pressure originated, looking in that direction with faces full of curiosity. When the dust kicked up by the Aura gradually settled, Gold Crocodile Douluo's figure was gone, replaced by a giant crocodile hundreds of meters long.
Its body was covered in thick golden scales, the edges of which glinted with a cold light, each one as solid as a shield. Its eyes were crimson like blood, its fangs were sharp and exposed, and its entire body was surrounded by violent spirit power fluctuations. It was like a malevolent god descended to the world, brimming with deterrent force.
It swung its thick, powerful body, bringing with it the sound of whistling wind, and dove into the canyon in an instant. Wherever it passed, Spirit Beasts fled in terror, and the Ancient Tombs along the way shook violently as rocks tumbled down. Its momentum was incredibly grand.
At this time, the personnel stationed at Spirit Hall brought news to the geniuses preparing to enter the Death Canyon, informing them that the Second Consecrated Elder of the Hall of Worship would be cultivating in the canyon for a period. They were told to avoid entering during this time to prevent the agitated Spirit Beasts from posing a threat.
Feeling the fierce Aura rampaging through the canyon, Qian Daoliu gazed deeply for a moment before hesitating no longer. He spread the brilliant wings on his back and rose straight into the sky, vanishing into the vast horizon like a streak of light.
Tang Shan, Su Yuntao, and the two Titled Douluos sat around a round table. Sumptuous dishes were brought out one by one, but they were in no hurry to start eating because the host of the house had not yet arrived.
About ten minutes later, Xue Qinghe returned to the hall and took the seat of honor.
The usual gentle smile had vanished from her face, replaced only by calmness and an unhideable coldness.
Tang Shan was somewhat curious about who had come to the door to make this "First Prince of Heaven Dou," who usually treated others with warmth and humility, so angry. That person was certainly bold; if they truly provoked her, it might end with two Titled Douluos paying them a visit to "chat," and then this little grudge would likely turn into a horror story.
However, he had only just joined Xue Qinghe's faction and was not yet particularly well-acquainted or trusted, so it wasn't appropriate to ask rashly.
To his surprise, even though Tang Shan didn't want to ask, Xue Qinghe brought it up herself. She looked at Tang Shan and Su Yuntao and asked with a calm face: "Do you know who just came to the door?"
Without waiting for them to guess, she provided the answer herself: "That person should be considered a subordinate of a subordinate of a subordinate of General General. And do you know why they came?"
A hint of mockery appeared on Xue Qinghe's face: "They said that if any damage is accidentally caused to this residence, I have to pay for the repair costs myself."
Su Yuntao looked a bit embarrassed: "Your Highness, it's true that Shan Zi didn't control his power well. We have no problem paying the maintenance fees."
Sitting to the side, Tang Shan couldn't help but facepalm. His big brother was simply too naive; he really wondered if he would get swindled while traveling the continent.
Tang Shan interrupted Su Yuntao before he could continue and spoke first: "Your Highness, in other words, as the First Prince of the Empire, you are being made things difficult for by a complete nobody?"
Xue Qinghe hadn't expected the seven-year-old Tang Shan to be even sharper in this regard than the adult Su Yuntao. This was truly beyond her expectations.
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