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"It's been a while, Zhuqing. I didn't expect to see you here," Tang San greeted her first, waving to her.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flickered when she saw Tang San, showing a mix of excitement, joy, and a hint of resentment. However, she remained calm, slowly walking over with a faint smile. "Indeed, it's been some time, my captain."
"Ha ha, no need to be so formal. We've all graduated from Tian Dou Royal Academy; there's no need to call me captain anymore." Tang San waved casually and asked Zhu Zhuqing why she had come to the Star Dou Forest. "So, are you here to hunt for soul rings?"
"Yes. According to your advice before I left, I focused on training in darkness, wind, and thunder. Since my fourth soul ring comes from the Dark Demon Wind Tiger, granting me the soul skill Dark Demon Wind Movement, my fifth soul ring needed to be from the Dark Demon Thunder Tiger, which gave me the soul skill Dark Demon Thunder Rush."
Zhu Zhuqing smiled slightly as she explained her progress.
"These two soul skills strengthen my wind and thunder elements."
"However, over the past few years, I've mainly been figuring out how to harness the energy of the Douluo Continent using my own power. Enhancing these two attributes has indeed helped."
"And this time, I came to the Star Dou Forest to obtain my sixth soul ring, which you mentioned—the Wind Thunder Winged Tiger. This soul beast controls both wind and thunder, further enhancing my abilities and granting me an amplification skill: Dark Demon Wind and Thunder Transformation."
"In this state, all my attributes can be tripled, and my speed can increase nearly sixfold. Additionally, this skill can be stacked with Dark Demon Nether Transformation, enhancing all my attributes sixfold, and my speed ninefold!"
"The only downside is that the amplification of Dark Demon Wind and Thunder Transformation is fixed and doesn't increase with my soul power."
Xiao Wu comforted her, "That's okay, it's already very powerful. Not all amplification skills can increase with cultivation."
Other soul masters, like Yu Tianheng, have fixed amplification skills.
However, Zhu Zhuqing's Dark Demon Wind and Thunder Transformation has great potential for the future because her Dark Demon Nether Transformation also boosts all attributes, and the enhancement scales with soul power levels.
"This amplification is sufficient," Tang San said with a smile. "For you, the offensive capability of your soul skills—First Soul Skill: Nether Thrust and Second Soul Skill: Nether Hundred Strikes—are already enough. The rest is to use your soul rings to supplement your foundation, and then, with your own strength, manipulate the energy of the entire Douluo Continent. That will allow you to roam the world."
Currently, Zhu Zhuqing's physical fitness is constantly improving. The soul ring from the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger has evolved her martial soul and provided her with an external soul bone: the Dark Demon Bone Armor.
As a Soul Emperor, her physical fitness now rivals that of a typical Titled Douluo.
Combined with her speed, Dark Demon Bone Armor, and her two amplification skills, Dark Demon Nether Transformation and Dark Demon Wind and Thunder Transformation, Zhu Zhuqing can now contend with Titled Douluo.
If she can perfectly balance the soul power circulation routes and the maintenance circuits of her martial soul, using minimal force to manipulate the energy of heaven and earth, Zhu Zhuqing could even challenge Super Douluo above level 95.
"The power to roam the world is nothing compared to yours," Zhu Zhuqing blurted out, then realized Xiao Wu and Blue Silver were nearby. She felt it was too straightforward and quickly changed the subject to discuss the Star Luo Empire's matters. "Speaking of which, I am currently advocating against mutual slaughter among the children and young generation of the Zhu and Dai families, but the results have been minimal."
"Understandable," Tang San said, seemingly ignoring her earlier comment, and continued discussing the latter topic. "The most influential factor in a child's character is their elders, followed by others. Change isn't achieved overnight. Unless a child is left to grow up unattended by their parents, it's hard to alter their nature."
Given the brutal struggle within the Star Luo royal family, they won't change unless overwhelmed by greater violence, as the Star Luo Empire's atmosphere is relatively "open" and "combative."
To achieve change, Zhu Zhuqing saw only one path ahead of her: to crush everything with overwhelming power, seize the Dai family's throne, and then begin sweeping reforms.
Being the strongest means no one can resist you.
Otherwise, the only options are to take it slow and—wait.
The Spirit Hall is currently growing stronger, having a significant impact on the entire continent. Whether through war or by subtly changing people's perceptions across the continent, it presents an opportunity for Zhu Zhuqing.
For now, Zhu Zhuqing needs to keep improving herself, not just in terms of strength, but also in politics, culture, management, economics, and more. She must learn a bit of everything, and by "a bit," it means nearly as much as those who have been immersed in these fields for years—rulers, teachers, officials, merchants, and so on.
If a perfect score is 100, she needs at least 80 in these areas.
To be an emperor, one must understand a little of everything.
Strength alone can only command respect from those nearby. The further from the capital, the more "free" and outrageous the minor officials become.
Hearing Tang San's words, Zhu Zhuqing felt the weight of her situation, realizing she was still quite inexperienced. Yet, she also felt a surge of determination to move forward and meet the challenges ahead.
Difficulties make challenges worthwhile!
Moreover, as a Soul Emperor now, she doesn't need to worry too much about her strength. Mastering her soul skills and refining her two energy circuits are her main focuses.
With this in mind, she realized she had plenty of free time and could participate in the management of the Star Luo Empire.
Given her strength and her sisterly relationship with Crown Princess Zhu Zhuyun, getting an official position would be quite easy.
In Zhu Zhuqing's opinion, the Star Luo Empire is more suited for the imperial examination system than the Tian Dou Empire.
After all, the Star Luo Empire doesn't have as many kingdoms and duchies. Aside from the Dai and Zhu families and a few other families from the founding period, there aren't as many hereditary nobles as in the Tian Dou Empire. Implementing the examination system would be much easier here.
"I understand, San Ge." Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, then asked, "Are you out hunting soul beasts too?"
"Yes," Tang San nodded. "Xiao Wu and I are already Soul Saint, and Blue Silver has reached the Soul Emperor level. Guang Ling and Rong Rong are also close to becoming Soul Emperors, and Huo Wu is almost at the Soul Saint level."
"Everyone's progress is so fast. I thought after reaching Soul King, each level would require a lot of soul power, and I could catch up. But you've surpassed me by a whole major realm," Zhu Zhuqing sighed, then squinted her eyes. "But, Captain, how do you know so much about Rong Rong and Huo Wu?"
"And Blue Silver, why is she with you too?"
Weren't we supposed to meet after five years? Then we all split up: Yu Feng, Bai Chenxiang, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Tianheng, and Dugu Yan went their separate ways. Only I returned to the Xing Luo Empire, while the rest stayed in one place, right?
"Well, we're all in Spirit City and live quite close to each other," Tang San shrugged, describing the situation in Spirit City. "You must have received the news too? Communication is very fast now. You should have seen photos and videos of what Spirit City looks like."
"Indeed, I never thought the Spirit Hall could unleash such creativity by having spirit masters and ordinary people build together. In just two or three years, they've established such a large city."
Zhu Zhuqing was indeed distracted, contemplating how to manage spirit masters...