Douluo: One man returns, Fan Tianyin smashes Tang San to death

As night deepened, the lights of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School flickered in the wind. Lu Yu stood in the courtyard, the words of Chen Xin echoing in his mind.

On an autumn afternoon, in the courtyard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, sunlight filtered through the glazed tiles, casting dappled shadows that fell on the bluestone slabs, seemingly adding a touch of warmth to this tranquil sect.

Lu Yu and Ning Rongrong walked side by side on the courtyard path. A gentle breeze blew by, lifting a strand of Ning Rongrong's hair. She smiled and turned her head to look at Lu Yu, her eyes full of tenderness.

Lu Yu, dressed in a blue robe, walked with a steady gait, but there was a thoughtful look between his brows, as if something was weighing on his mind.

The two walked through the courtyard and came to an exquisite pavilion.

Outside the pavilion, Jian Chen—the Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School—stood with his hands behind his back.

His figure was slender yet upright, with a sharp aura between his sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. However, when he saw Lu Yu and Ning Rongrong, that sharpness quietly subsided and turned into a gentle smile.

"Lu Yu, Rongrong, you're here."

Jian Chen's voice was deep and kind, carrying the concern of an elder for a younger generation.

Lu Yu bowed respectfully, his tone both courteous and friendly: "Senior Sword Douluo, I've come to visit you today because there's something I'd like to ask you."

Ning Rongrong gently tugged at Lu Yu's sleeve, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes. Clearly, she didn't know what Lu Yu's purpose was in coming here.

Jian Chen nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on Lu Yu for a moment with a hint of appreciation.

Lu Yu was only in his early twenties, yet he had already broken through to the Soul Douluo realm. This talent was among the best of all the young Soul Masters in the entire Douluo Continent.

Even with Jian Chen's discerning eye, he had to admit that Lu Yu's talent was comparable to, or even surpassed, his own back then.

Moreover, Lu Yu and Ning Rongrong's relationship is no secret, and it's only a matter of time before they get married. In the future, he will inevitably become a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

Out of consideration for the future of the sect, Jian Chen naturally became more affectionate towards Lu Yu.

"Let's talk inside."

Jian Chen waved his hand, signaling the two to follow him inside.

The attic was simply and elegantly furnished, with a set of celadon tea set on a wooden table, the aroma of tea wafting through the air, soothing the mind.

Lu Yu and Ning Rongrong took their seats as host and guest, and Jian Chen personally poured tea for them, his movements composed and exuding an air of grandeur.

Lu Yu picked up his teacup, took a sip to moisten his throat, and then slowly said, "Senior, I encountered a strange thing a few days ago in the territory of the Martial Soul Empire."

His voice was low and heavy, “I found an unusual corpse in a remote valley.”

The corpse was well-preserved, as if it had just died, but its aura was extremely strange, and even my soul power could not get close to it.

What's even stranger is that there was an old man beside the corpse who said some inexplicable things, mentioning things like 'the limitations of the world' and 'nutrients,' which I couldn't understand at all.

As soon as he finished speaking, Jian Chen's hand paused slightly, and a trace of reminiscence flashed in his originally calm eyes, as if Lu Yu's words had touched a long-forgotten memory.

He put down his teacup, looked at Lu Yu with a deep gaze, and slowly said, "The corpse you mentioned... might be related to a secret from hundreds of years ago."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Ning Rongrong, and said solemnly, "Even your father didn't know all the details of this matter. Since you two have asked about it today, I will tell you the truth of what happened back then."

But remember, this matter must not be shared, to avoid causing unnecessary panic.

Ning Rongrong was taken aback upon hearing this, her pretty face filled with surprise.

She grew up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and thought she knew the history of the school like the back of her hand, but Jian Chen's words made her realize that she knew nothing about that distant past.

She instinctively grasped Lu Yu's hand, her eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.

Jian Chen got up, walked to the window, pushed open the carved wooden window, and gazed at the distant horizon, as if recalling a period of time that had long been buried by time.

His voice was deep and resonant as he slowly said, "The Douluo Continent hundreds of years ago was completely different from what it is today."

That was an era that produced many powerful figures, and the power of the major sects was immense, far surpassing that of the Spirit Hall today.

At that time, the Spirit Hall was nothing more than an insignificant force in the eyes of those sects.

Lu Yu and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

The Spirit Hall is now one of the most powerful forces on the continent, but how could it have been so weak hundreds of years ago? Lu Yu couldn't help but ask, "Senior, just how powerful were the sects back then?"

Jian Chen turned around, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "That was an era where 'Title Douluo were everywhere'."

The major sects not only possess a large number of Title Douluos, but also have Limit Douluos.

At that time, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had fourteen titled Douluo, each of whom was an exceptionally talented individual.

At that time, the world of Soul Masters was a vibrant and diverse place, teeming with powerful individuals.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yu's pupils contracted slightly.

Fourteen Title Douluo? In the Douluo Continent today, while Title Douluo are not scarce, they are still extremely rare and precious. A sect with two or three Title Douluo is already considered a top-tier power. How could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, hundreds of years ago, possess such a terrifying foundation? Ning Rongrong's mouth dropped open, and she couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, what happened after that? Why did those sects decline?"

Jian Chen's eyes dimmed slightly, as if he had been reminded of memories he didn't want to recall.

He said slowly, "It all started with a sudden and unexpected change."

That year, when the powerful figures of various sects were breaking through to the next level, a huge vortex suddenly appeared in the sky, emanating a chilling aura.

Powerful figures from various forces, including the fourteen Title Douluos from our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, all went to investigate.

But just three days later, another strange change occurred—the sky was covered by countless corpses, densely packed and blotting out the sun.

The scene was extremely bizarre and lasted for a whole month.

A month later, the strange phenomenon disappeared, but none of the powerful individuals who went to investigate returned alive.

Lu Yu's breath hitched as the terrifying image flashed through his mind: countless corpses suspended in the sky, as if controlled by some invisible force, obscuring the light of the sun and moon.

Ning Rongrong's face turned pale, and she gripped Lu Yu's hand tightly, whispering, "This...this is too terrifying."

Jian Chen sighed and continued, "It was this disaster that caused many powerful sects to gradually decline and even disappear completely into the long river of history."

Meanwhile, the three upper sects—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Clear Sky Sect—seized the opportunity to rise and gradually establish their current status.

Lu Yu frowned, a vague unease creeping into his heart.

He recalled the strange corpse and the old man's mention of "the limitations of the world."

and "nutrients",
I have a vague feeling that all of this is somehow connected to the strange events of that year.

He tentatively asked, "Senior, what is the truth behind that strange event?"

Jian Chen remained silent for a moment, a trace of sorrow flashing in his eyes: "A hundred years ago, I discovered a hidden passage under a cliff and unexpectedly uncovered part of the truth behind the events of that year."

Those missing powerful individuals, seemingly bound by some kind of world restriction, ultimately became some kind of 'nourishment' and disappeared beneath a tree of unknown origin.

That tree… I still can't ascertain its origins; all I know is that it exudes a chilling power, as if it didn't belong to this world.

Lu Yu's heart skipped a beat, and the image of the corpse flashed through his mind. He vaguely felt that the strange things he had encountered in the Spirit Empire might be a continuation of the anomaly from back then.

He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Senior, are you saying that this matter might be related to the current strange phenomenon? Could that corpse be some kind of warning?"

Jian Chen nodded, his gaze deep: "I had the same guess."

This past event had been buried in the past, but now that related matters have resurfaced, it may be a warning, or even something that could trigger global unrest.

He paused, his tone softening slightly, "However, you don't need to worry too much."

"Know this is enough, but do not spread it, lest it cause panic among other Soul Masters."

Ning Rongrong nodded obediently, but she was still shocked.

She never imagined that such a terrifying secret was hidden behind the Douluo Continent.

Lu Yu fell into deep thought. He vaguely felt that the truth of this matter was far more complicated than Jian Chen had said, and perhaps it was related to the peak path of Soul Master cultivation.

Seeing the two men's different expressions, Jian Chen smiled and took the initiative to change the subject: "Let's not talk about these old stories."

Lu Yu, Rong Rong, your talents are already top-notch among the younger generation, especially Lu Yu, you are one of the most promising Soul Masters I have ever seen.

If one continues to work hard, there may be a chance to reach the pinnacle of cultivation, or even... become a god.

"Becoming a god?"

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, is it really possible to become a god? How do you do it?"

Jian Chen picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and slowly said, "There are two ways to become a god."

One is to create a unique divine position through one's own understanding, break the limitations of the world, and completely solidify the divine position.

This method is extremely difficult, and throughout history, very few people have been able to do it.

The second option is to accept the existing divine position assessment, obtain the divine position inheritance, and become the 'descendant' of the previous god.

However, this approach is also fraught with difficulties, and can only be accomplished by those who possess both talent and exceptional opportunity.

He knew that becoming a god was the ultimate dream of every soul master, but the path was incredibly difficult.

He couldn't help but ask, "Senior, in the Douluo Continent today, who still has a chance to become a god?"

Jian Chen's gaze swept over Lu Yu and Ning Rongrong, with a hint of admiration: "With your talents, if you can seize the opportunity, you may have a chance to become gods."

but……"

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious, "If we're talking about the person most likely to become a god right now, I think it's Yu Chen from the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan."

"Yu Chen?"

Ning Rongrong exclaimed in surprise, her pretty face filled with disbelief, "Grandpa, you mean that Yu Chen? A few years ago he was only at the Soul King realm, how could he...?"

Jian Chen nodded, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "According to intelligence, Yu Chen has now broken through to level 89 Soul Douluo, just one step away from becoming a Title Douluo."

His talent was already extremely high, and with the massive resources poured into him by the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan, as well as some unknown fortuitous encounter, his strength advanced by leaps and bounds. Becoming a god was by no means an unattainable goal for him.

Lu Yu frowned slightly, deeply shocked.

An 89th-level Soul Douluo? Such a terrifying breakthrough speed is simply unheard of.

He couldn't help but think of Dai Mubai—the prince of the Star Luo Empire, who had recently broken through to level 80 Soul Douluo thanks to the inheritance of the Netherworld Sacred Tiger. Even so, Dai Mubai's speed was still far inferior to Yu Chen's.

He said in a deep voice, "Senior, could Yu Chen's breakthrough also be related to some kind of powerful inheritance?"

Jian Chen shook his head: "I don't know the specific reason either."

It can only be said that Yu Chen's encounters were extraordinary, and perhaps they really were related to some kind of inheritance.

However, his strength was already enough to intimidate his peers, and even made many older generation soul masters admit their inferiority.

Ning Rongrong pouted, a hint of resentment in her voice: "Hmph, no matter how strong Yu Chen is, he's still just a Soul Douluo. Isn't Lu Yu also a Soul Douluo? Who will become a god in the future is still uncertain!"

Jian Chen laughed heartily, his eyes full of doting affection: "Rongrong is right."

Lu Yu's talent is by no means inferior to Yu Chen's.

What the future holds depends on your own destiny.

He paused, then turned his gaze to Lu Yu, and said earnestly, "Lu Yu, the path of cultivation is long and arduous, but as long as you hold onto your beliefs, one day you will find your own path."

Lu Yu nodded, but his mind was still filled with many thoughts.

Yu Chen's breakthrough speed, the secrets Jian Chen spoke of, and that strange corpse... The morning sunlight shone through the thin mist onto the bluestone path outside the apothecary, and the air was filled with a faint fragrance of herbs.

Lu Yu stood in the courtyard, holding a scroll of potion formulas, but his gaze kept drifting into the distance, as if he was waiting for something.

A gentle breeze blew by, lifting the hem of his black robe and revealing a thoughtful expression.

The daily operations of the apothecary were already running smoothly, but the atmosphere today was somewhat unusual—Ning Rongrong was about to leave.

Yesterday's conversation is still fresh in my mind.

Ning Rongrong sat in the reception room of the pharmacy, the shadows of the sycamore trees outside the window swaying and reflected on her beautiful face.

She gripped the teacup tightly with both hands, her tone unusually serious: "Lu Yu, I've made up my mind. I'm going out to train on my own."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable firmness.

Lu Yu was only slightly taken aback at the time, then put down the ledger he was flipping through and looked at her, trying to read more emotions from her eyes.

"As you know, my current cultivation level is only level 78 Soul Saint."

Ning Rongrong continued, a hint of self-mockery in her voice, "And you... and Yu Chen, you both left too quickly."

Especially Yu Chen, he only took a little over two years to advance to level 89 Soul Douluo! This speed is simply unbelievable.

She shook her head, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes—a mixture of shock and disappointment.

Lu Yu listened quietly, without rushing to interrupt.

He knew that Ning Rongrong's words were not just a simple expression of emotion, but rather an outpouring of some deep-seated feeling.

Sure enough, Ning Rongrong paused, turned her gaze to the window, and lowered her voice: "I always thought you were the fastest Soul Master to break through."

But now I understand that in the Douluo Continent, there are countless geniuses, and there is always someone better than the last.

I...I don't want to just stand behind you, watching you all drift further and further away. (End of Chapter)