My dear readers,
I'm still not 100% well, so I couldn't edit a second chapter that was missing from yesterday. Thank you for your understanding and the messages of support you sent me yesterday. I'll keep them safe. Enjoy today's chapter.
-x-X-x-
**Chapter 120 - Green Ning Fengzhi**
"I…"
Staring at the flaming Peachwood Sword hovering before his eyes, Hu Yanzhen's pupils contracted.
"I lost…"
Although he was deeply reluctant to admit defeat, Hu Yanzhen knew he had lost the fight after his defensive soul skill was broken by Gu Ziyi.
If he took the initiative to attack, he would be restricted by Gu Ziyi's Domain, rendering his attacks ineffective.
Thus, his only choice was to rely on passive defense and attempt to exhaust Gu Ziyi's Soul Power to secure a victory.
Moreover, he had absolute confidence in his defense. He couldn't imagine a mere Soul King being able to break through it.
Even a Soul Saint would struggle to penetrate his defense easily.
Yet, Gu Ziyi, merely a Soul King, managed to do so.
While Gu Ziyi had an advantage thanks to his powerful weapon, there were no rules against using external tools in personal battles. Hence, his defeat was fair and square.
Beyond his weapon advantage, Gu Ziyi's ability to refine and control his soul skills showcased his unparalleled strength.
The way Gu Ziyi meticulously developed and manipulated his own soul skills was an impressive feat Hu Yanzhen had never witnessed before.
"Lost?"
"Our sect's young master actually lost..."
"He's just a Soul King, isn't he?"
"What an incredible fight..."
"…"
The spectators were left stunned by the outcome of the match.
They recognized Gu Ziyi's advantage of wielding a powerful weapon but also understood that his personal strength was remarkable. Without such strength, even the best weapon wouldn't have been enough to turn the tide.
His Domain alone was awe-inspiring. Their young master, Hu Yanzhen, had no means to counteract it, forcing him into a defensive position.
In the end, even Hu Yanzhen's mighty defense was shattered.
The fifth soul skill of Gu Ziyi, which conjured flames so scorching that they could be felt even at a distance, left the audience in awe.
Although Gu Ziyi's initial attacks hadn't breached Hu Yanzhen's defense, once the flames enveloped his sword, the assault easily shattered his opponent's defenses.
This demonstrated the terrifying potency of Gu Ziyi's crimson flames produced by his fifth soul skill.
"His Highness, the Holy Son, actually won!"
Salas was overjoyed, realizing that Gu Ziyi had successfully gained the allegiance of the Armored Elephant Sect.
"Incredible!"
Yu Long was equally thrilled, not because of doubt in Gu Ziyi's ability to defeat Hu Yanzhen, but because this victory meant the Armored Elephant Sect would join the Martial Soul Hall.
Of course, this alliance wasn't yet official, but since Hu Yanbo had agreed to decide based on the outcome of this match, there was no escaping it.
"The young master admits defeat in this match!"
After Hu Yanzhen conceded, Gu Ziyi retracted the Peachwood Sword that hovered before him and clasped his fists in acknowledgment.
After declaring his victory, Gu Ziyi descended from the arena and approached Hu Yanbo.
"Master Hu Yanbo, I believe I've won, haven't I?"
Gu Ziyi smiled as he spoke.
"Your Highness, the Holy Son, is truly extraordinary!"
"Is the precise control over your soul skills also a result of research from the Martial Soul Hall?"
Hu Yanbo nodded, neither denying nor avoiding the topic. After praising Gu Ziyi, he asked the question with a hint of curiosity.
"Yes, my control over soul skills is indeed a product of their research."
Gu Ziyi nodded in response. The Martial Soul Hall's research institute had indeed been working on such developments.
It was now a highly refined theory. As long as the soul skill stemmed from a self-condensed Soul Ring, the level of control was exceptionally high, allowing for deeper and more precise development.
"As Expected of the Martial Soul Hall!"
Hu Yanbo exclaimed once again.
"Your Highness, the Holy Son, I am willing to admit defeat and cooperate with the Martial Soul Hall. On behalf of the Armored Elephant Sect, I agree to the cooperation!"
Afterward, Hu Yanbo spoke earnestly to Gu Ziyi, fulfilling his promise.
"Master Hu Yanbo has made the right choice. I believe you will not regret this decision in the future!"
Gu Ziyi laughed happily upon hearing his words.
He also felt a deep sense of accomplishment for successfully persuading the Armored Elephant Sect to cooperate with the Martial Soul Hall, setting a precedent for future alliances.
Regardless of whether he continued to persuade other sects to join their cause, this achievement was his idea. Personally verifying the feasibility of this strategy, his contribution to the Martial Soul Hall was undoubtedly significant.
Gu Ziyi had no plans to personally persuade other sects in the future. For now, his cultivation was what mattered most.
At 21 years old, his Soul Power level had reached Rank 53. While this wasn't considered slow, Gu Ziyi wasn't satisfied.
Tang San and his group in the original story became gods at the age of 24.
His cultivation speed was far slower compared to the Seven Shrek Monsters in the original work.
'I definitely won't be able to match their cultivation speed.'
It was inevitable—currently, there was no divine trial for him to undergo.
Gu Ziyi didn't consider inheriting the Angel God's legacy.
He also didn't know where his elder sister obtained the Rakshasa God's inheritance.
In the original story, the Rakshasa God seemed to personally choose Bibi Dong as his heir. With her exceptional talent, it was normal for the Rakshasa God to notice and select her.
However, Gu Ziyi knew that both the Rakshasa God and the Shura God paid close attention to the Slaughter City. Thus, obtaining the Rakshasa God's inheritance wasn't overly difficult—he only needed to enter the Slaughter City, perform exceptionally, and catch the attention of the Rakshasa God.
But what does it mean to perform exceptionally in the eyes of a god?
One would need to excel to such a degree that the Rakshasa God would personally come to offer their inheritance.
Performing well in the Slaughter City would not only offer a chance at the Rakshasa God's inheritance but also potentially the Shura God's inheritance.
Even so, Gu Ziyi wasn't confident about pursuing either of these inheritances.
It wasn't that he didn't want a god's legacy, but the trials in the Slaughter City were simply too dangerous for him at present.
Without the ability to use Soul Rings and Soul Skills, Gu Ziyi's combat effectiveness was greatly reduced.
He would be far inferior to Tang Hao.
Although he didn't want to admit his shortcomings, he had no choice but to face them.
If the Hell Slaughter Arena didn't require a hundred consecutive victories, Gu Ziyi might have dared to go there.
With his Tai Chi Domain, he could easily hold his own against nine opponents simultaneously.
However, the Hell Slaughter Arena demanded a hundred consecutive victories. Over so many matches, the effects of his Domain would inevitably be observed.
In such a situation, his opponents only needed to band together. If someone in the Hell Slaughter Arena had a long winning streak, other participants would certainly unite against them.
By choosing not to take the initiative, just like Hu Yanzhen, and waiting for Gu Ziyi to exhaust his Soul Power, they would inevitably wear him down.
Thus, he dared not venture into the Slaughter City for now.
With his current abilities, it was simply too dangerous!
In Gu Ziyi's opinion, the safest known godly inheritance was that of the Sea God.
If you wish to initiate the inheritance of Poseidon, you must first obtain the Vast Sea Universe Cover collected by the Tiandou royal family, known as the Heart of Poseidon.
Only after acquiring the Heart of Poseidon and gaining the artifact's approval can you begin the Nine Divine Trials of Poseidon on Poseidon Island.
Without it, you cannot take the trials, nor can you use the challenges of Poseidon Island for training. If the Nine Divine Trials are not activated, leaving Poseidon Island becomes impossible, and you would be trapped there indefinitely.
Until Poseidon's inheritance on the island is claimed, the inhabitants of Poseidon Island are bound to protect it.
Thus, if Gu Ziyi wishes to inherit Poseidon's legacy, he must find a way to obtain the Heart of Poseidon from the Tiandou royal family. After acquiring it, he must ensure the Heart of Poseidon acknowledges him as its master before venturing to Poseidon Island; otherwise, there's no point in going.
Without this artifact, it is futile to travel there. Passing the ninth trial of Poseidon's inheritance requires the Heart of Poseidon's recognition.
This is Gu Ziyi's plan for the future.
Among the divine inheritances mentioned in the original work, only Poseidon's legacy seems accessible to Gu Ziyi. For the Shura God and Rakshasa God, he would need to endure trials in the Slaughter City.
As for other deities, the original work provides no clear paths to their inheritances, leaving him in the dark about where to pursue them.
His primary goal is to become a Titled Douluo before the age of 40 and hope that some deity from the Divine Realm takes notice and personally offers him their inheritance.
Thus, Gu Ziyi's future course is to train diligently and strive to achieve the Titled Douluo rank as early as possible. The sooner, the better!
Next, he must find a way to acquire the Heart of Poseidon from the Tiandou royal family and gain its recognition. With this, he can proceed to Poseidon Island, activate the Nine Divine Trials, and work towards completing Poseidon's inheritance, advancing directly to Rank 100 and becoming a god in one step.
After winning over the Elephant Armored Sect and returning to the Tiandou Temple, Gu Ziyi resumed his rigorous training.
That was until Ning Shuangjiang reappeared to see him.
"You really don't want to take responsibility for me, do you?"
Gu Ziyi looked at Ning Shuangjiang before him. Compared to two years ago, her figure had matured significantly. It was evident she wouldn't let her future child go hungry; even the child's father might benefit from her care.
"Indeed, if you're a man, stop hiding all the time and take responsibility for your actions!"
"If you don't like me, I'll leave right away!"
Faced with Gu Ziyi's straightforwardness, Ning Shuangjiang showed no embarrassment, boldly asserting herself.
Her personality was a complete contrast to the attributes of her Martial Soul!
Who would have thought that Ning Shuangjiang, possessing an ice-type Martial Soul, would have such an impetuous, direct, and daring character?
"'I believe no man can refuse a woman as beautiful as you!"
Gu Ziyi admired Ning Shuangjiang's forthright nature and responded just as directly.
As he had stated before, he saw no reason to turn away any beautiful woman who approached him willingly.
Besides, with Ning Shuangjiang likely being Ning Rongrong's mother in the future, Gu Ziyi was even more reluctant to pass up this opportunity.
"Really? You like me too, don't you?"
Ning Shuangjiang's expression brightened at his words, her face flushing slightly.
As her previously tense nerves relaxed, a touch of shyness emerged.
Though bold, she remained an innocent young woman, prone to moments of bashfulness.
"Of course, but there's something I want to make clear first."
Gu Ziyi nodded affirmatively.
"Then say it!"
Ning Shuangjiang grew a bit nervous again after hearing he wanted to speak.
"You will not be the only woman for me. If you accept that, you will be my girlfriend starting today!"
Gu Ziyi looked directly into her beautiful eyes and told her the truth.
"…"
Ning Shuangjiang's expression visibly changed after hearing his words. A trace of sadness flashed in her eyes before she seemed to find relief.
"...I don't have a problem with that!"
She bit her lower lip lightly, looked at him, and said she was okay with it.
It was impossible for her not to feel hurt by his words.
But with the precedent of her cousin Ning Fengzhi before her, Ning Shuangjiang knew very well that a strong and capable man could not be devoted to just one woman. Men were all inherently lustful, and it was very hard for them to remain faithful.
It was precisely because she was used to seeing her cousin Ning Fengzhi behave this way that she could accept her man having more than one woman.
After all, the Gu Ziyi before her was not inferior to her cousin in terms of status, strength, or talent.
"Alright, very good. I like you even more now, Ning Shuangjiang!"
He couldn't help but laugh at her response.
Then Gu Ziyi took her small hand, pulled her directly into his arms, and held Ning Shuangjiang tightly.
In this way, he accepted her as his partner, someone who willingly came to him.
However, even after confirming their relationship, he was not in a hurry to consume the beautiful girl in his arms.
As he got to know Ning Shuangjiang better, Gu Ziyi silently observed her.
He wasn't sure if she had truly fallen in love with him because of the kiss two years ago or if she approached him with ulterior motives.
In the end, Gu Ziyi found nothing suspicious about her.
So, after a few days of getting along, he completely won her over on a beautiful moonlit night, officially putting a "green hat" on Ning Fengzhi.
While Gu Ziyi enjoyed this wonderful night, he didn't forget to continue testing Ning Shuangjiang.
It turned out that no matter what he requested or the position he desired, she only displayed shyness and showed no signs of resistance.
Thus, Gu Ziyi could be certain that Ning Shuangjiang had genuinely been captivated by his charm and had fallen for him.
This gave him a sense of accomplishment, and he treated her much more gently in the latter half of the night.
Gu Ziyi's tenderness also made Ning Shuangjiang feel she had made no mistake, leaving her even more satisfied with him in her heart.
"Brother Yi, my Soul Power level increased by two levels!"
"Moreover, my Martial Soul seems to have grown a bit stronger. What's happening?"
When Ning Shuangjiang woke up in his arms the next morning, she was pleasantly surprised to find her Soul Power level had suddenly jumped from Level 51 to Level 53.
And her Martial Soul seemed to have undergone some changes, especially in how her ice-attribute power had grown stronger.
"What's happening? That's because of your man!"
When Gu Ziyi heard Ning Shuangjiang's words, he immediately smiled and said it was because of him.
However, there was a hint of bitterness in his tone.
Cultivating with Li Chanfei had also produced similar results. She advanced by one level, and her Martial Soul evolved.
The same applied to Ning Shuangjiang now. She gained two levels, and her Martial Soul also evolved.
He, on the other hand, had become the cauldron for these two. While his own cultivation saw some improvement, the effect was minimal and far inferior to what the two girls gained.
One of them had a fire-attribute Martial Soul, and the other had an ice-attribute Martial Soul, aligning perfectly with the supreme ice and fire power within him.
Only Soul Masters with ice or fire attributes could cultivate with Gu Ziyi and achieve significant improvements. Bibi Dong, for instance, did not gain such benefits from him.
…
(End of Chapter)
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