**Chapter 69 The Competition Begins**
"Level 42!"
Captain Lai Kun's expression was extremely shocked. Even he was currently only at Level 44.
With Bibi Dong's talent, as soon as she surpasses him, she will be the team's most formidable attacker!
"That's right, I am at Level 42 now!"
"And I am confident that I can surpass Level 50 and become a Soul King by the time the Soul Masters Competition starts."
"Although my younger brother is not as good as I am, his Martial Soul has evolved into a superior Martial Soul. There will certainly be no problem for him to break through to Soul Ancestor before the Soul Masters Competition begins. Any objections now about our joining the team?"
"And my younger brother's auxiliary soul abilities are even praised by our teacher!"
Seeing how everyone was shocked by her, Bibi Dong suddenly looked proud as she confronted Lai Kun and his companions.
She simply couldn't stand to see them underestimate Gu Ziyi.
"What?"
"His Martial Soul evolved…"
After hearing Bibi Dong's defense of Gu Ziyi, Lai Kun and the others were shocked again.
They had some doubts about his ability to reach Level 40, but the news of his Martial Soul's evolution surprised them yet again.
They had only ever heard legends about the possibility of Martial Soul evolution, but they never expected to actually witness it.
Later, after personally experiencing the effects of Gu Ziyi's soul abilities, they finally understood why His Majesty the Pope praised his soul abilities.
Even though his first two soul abilities did not directly enhance their offense or defense, they actually improved their combat capabilities greatly.
Not to mention, Gu Ziyi's third soul ability was very impressive!
After witnessing his abilities firsthand, no one on the team doubted that Gu Ziyi was qualified to join the competition.
If he truly managed to surpass Level 40 before the start of the Soul Masters Competition, it would be even more incredible.
And with Bibi Dong on their team as well, surely surpassing the Soul King level, the strength of the Golden Generation would be significantly boosted!
'No wonder, no wonder His Majesty the Pope allowed his two disciples to join the Martial Soul Hall Team!'
"Your Highness, I was blind before. It is an honor for Your Highness to join the team!"
After regaining his composure, Lai Kun quickly apologized to them both and welcomed them onto the team.
This way, Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong successfully joined the Martial Soul Hall Team and began their cooperation with the rest of the team.
One year later, Gu Ziyi was finally promoted to Level 34.
Bibi Dong was promoted to Level 46.
Two years later, he was promoted to Level 38.
Bibi Dong reached Level 49. She only improved by three levels that year.
Two and a half years later, Gu Ziyi's Soul Power level reached Level 39, close to surpassing Level 40. He felt he was almost there.
Though the Soul Masters Competition had finally started, his team's entry was still two months away!
The Soul Masters Competition takes several months from the preliminaries to the finals.
The previous qualifiers and rounds will take more than two months to complete.
So, Gu Ziyi still had time to reach Level 40 before the Martial Soul Hall Team entered the championship.
Bibi Dong had been stuck at Level 50 for over a month, but she finally surpassed Level 50 and became a Soul King.
Having absorbed a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring, she was now a Level 51 Soul King.
Being a 15-year-old Soul King broke the record for the youngest Soul King on the Douluo Continent.
In fact, when Bibi Dong absorbed her fourth Soul Ring, Gu Ziyi suggested to Qian Xunji that after her body was strengthened by the Narcissus Jade Flesh Bone, she might try absorbing a Soul Ring with even greater years, possibly one of ten thousand years.
But Qian Xunji refused.
Although he thought Gu Ziyi's analysis was reasonable and trusted his judgment, he was unwilling to take such a risk with Bibi Dong, so the fourth Soul Ring she absorbed was only five thousand years old.
As for her fifth Soul Ring, it was a twelve-thousand-year-old one.
In Qian Xunji's view, Bibi Dong only needed to cultivate steadily. Her future was absolutely limitless, and there was no need to take risks.
When Bibi Dong cultivated her second Martial Soul, she could choose any Soul Ring she desired.
Gu Ziyi did not argue with this. It was good for Bibi Dong to progress steadily. She had the advantage of twin Martial Souls and didn't need to take risks.
As for Gu Ziyi's Soul Rings, their quality had improved significantly over the past two and a half years of cultivation.
Especially his first Soul Ring, which had been upgraded to over 900 years.
The same went for his second Soul Ring.
And after reaching over 900 years, Gu Ziyi stopped cultivating them and did not continue to upgrade his Soul Rings to the millennium purple quality.
Because it would be hard to explain, his first Soul Ring had already changed from white to its current yellow. This could be explained by the evolution of his Martial Soul, which improved the quality of his Soul Ring.
This was also a request from Qian Xunji to keep the matter temporarily hidden.
Moreover, Qian Daoliu summoned Gu Ziyi once during this time, specifically telling him not to rush in improving the cultivation of his Soul Rings.
As his self-condensing Soul Ring could be improved at any time, he should use it strategically at critical moments.
It was not advisable to impatiently elevate all his Soul Rings to their maximum potential.
Thus, even though Soul Power cultivation could be accelerated, it would be detrimental to his future cultivation.
Qian Daoliu suggested that Gu Ziyi wait until he broke through to Title Douluo, then cultivate with all his Soul Rings on his body so he could achieve similar effects to those with twin Martial Souls, then use his Soul Rings to increase his Soul Power level.
Because after breaking through to Title Douluo, all cultivation levels become extremely difficult to increase, surpassing all previous cultivation levels.
Twin Martial Souls could use their second Martial Soul to "cheat," so their Soul Rings could naturally have the same effect.
"Don't worry, Grand Priest, I am very aware of this!"
In truth, even if Qian Daoliu hadn't said anything, Gu Ziyi had already planned accordingly.
He knew that a hundred-thousand-year-old Soul Ring was not the absolute maximum quality; it could continue to improve. However, it was extremely difficult for even a Title Douluo to continue enhancing a Soul Ring once it reached a hundred-thousand-year quality.
Just like Gu Ziyi now, if he wanted to upgrade his Soul Ring to a millennium ring, it was doable, but if he wanted to upgrade his millennium Soul Ring to ten-thousand-year quality, he couldn't imagine how long it would take—perhaps a few years at least.
"Haha, that's right. With your intelligence, you must have already considered this long ago. I'm just overthinking!"
After seeing the clear eyes of Gu Ziyi, Qian Daoliu knew that he truly had a plan and immediately laughed. (N/E: Clear eyes here mean honesty and sincerity.)
The look he gave Gu Ziyi grew more appreciative.
After all, knowing is one thing, but being able to resist the temptation to elevate one's Soul Ring cultivation is another.
Just like the situation he faced years ago.
After beginning the Angel God inheritance assessment and receiving the Eight Trials of the Angel, he knew that if he chose to complete the Eight Angel Trials, he would quickly become stronger with the help of this inheritance, but he would forever lose the chance to become a god in this life.
In the end, he couldn't resist the temptation to become a Title Douluo and chose to complete the Eight Angel Trials.
Perhaps he also lacked some self-confidence at that time!
…
"Younger brother! Younger brother!"
"The Soul Masters Competition is about to begin. Let's go to the Heaven Dou Empire to see our opponents' strength!"
Gu Ziyi was practicing behind closed doors, preparing to advance to Level 40 when Bibi Dong's voice called out to him from outside his door.
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(End of chapter)
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