Douluo: The Peerless King of Beast Tamers

Chapter 359 The advancement of Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue, the three brothers
Zhou Sichen looked at the two lively brothers in front of him, and the smile on his face was like the surface of a lake touched by a spring breeze, rippling outwards.

Cao Jinxuan's deliberately suppressed smirk, paired with Long Xiangyue's wide-eyed stare as he was frozen in place by time, made them look like a comedic duo straight out of a comic book, impossible for anyone to resist smiling knowingly.

Seeing the smile on Zhou Sichen's face, Cao Jinxuan couldn't hold back any longer. His shoulders twitched, and a loud laugh rolled out.

He casually bent his fingers, lightly tapping his palm with his knuckles, the crisp snapping sound echoing through the courtyard of the training villa.

With that soft sound, the previously frozen air suddenly began to flow, and Long Xiangyue, who was frozen in place, shook his head violently, as if he had just woken up from a brief dream.

His face still held the stance of throwing a punch, but the Swift Wind Blades he held in his hands remained suspended in mid-air, frozen for a long while before slowly falling down.

"You, Cao Jinxuan! You're doing this again!" Long Xiangyue reacted and kicked at Cao Jinxuan, but the other party easily dodged it.

The two chased and fought back and forth, and the training ground suddenly became lively again.

Zhou Sichen stood aside watching with a smile, but was silently making plans in her heart.

Now that Cao Jinxuan is a high-level Soul King, his combination soul skill that stops time is much more solid than it was three years ago.

I remember the first time I saw them use this move three years ago, it could only immobilize the opponent for a few seconds at most. Now, judging from the length of time Long Xiangyue was stunned just now, it must have lasted at least ten seconds.

In a battle between Soul Masters, a difference of just a few seconds can be enough to change the course of a fight.

What makes Zhou Sichen even more gratified is the speed at which the two are growing.

At this rate, it's almost a certainty that they will break through to the sixth-ring Soul Emperor level, or even become a high-level Soul Emperor, at the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament two years later.

Cao Jinxuan's control over time was already unpredictable. Once he reached the Soul Emperor realm, the duration and range of his time-freezing ability would inevitably increase to a new level.

With Long Xiangyue's Dragon Bone Boomerang Martial Soul already possessing incredibly unpredictable attacks, coupled with his ever-growing soul power, their combination will be absolutely terrifying.

"Sixteen years old..." Zhou Sichen couldn't help but sigh inwardly as he watched the two locked in combat.

At the age of sixteen, reaching level forty, the Soul Master level, would be considered excellent in an ordinary Soul Master academy. However, these two brothers were at level fifty-eight and fifty-seven, respectively, just one step away from becoming Soul Emperors.

Two years later, at the age of eighteen, he will be ready to participate in the Elite Tournament. With this talent, even in Shrek Academy, where geniuses abound, he will definitely be able to stand firmly in the first tier.

Just then, Zhou Sichen suddenly moved, approaching the two combatants like a ghost.

He didn't use his soul power, but relied on his movement technique to weave through the gaps between the two men's fists and feet, sometimes raising his hand to press down on Cao Jinxuan's wrist where he was gathering soul power, and sometimes flicking his finger at Long Xiangyue's knee.

Cao Jinxuan felt a numbness in his wrist, and the time power he had gathered halfway instantly dissipated.

Long Xiangyue's knees went weak from that seemingly light flick of the finger, and his forward momentum immediately stalled.

"Stop!" Zhou Sichen shouted in a low voice, and the two immediately stopped and stood still, with fine beads of sweat on their foreheads and their chests rising and falling slightly.

In those few short moves, Zhou Sichen seemed casual, but he precisely disrupted their soul power circulation rhythm, making them instantly realize the difference between them.

“Level 57, not bad.” Zhou Sichen looked at Long Xiangyue with approval in his tone: “Your soul power is much more stable than when I last saw you. It seems you absorbed the medicinal power of that ‘Ink Jade Divine Bamboo’ quite well.”

Long Xiangyue scratched his head and chuckled, "That's right, I've improved quite a bit in the past few years."

Cao Jinxuan rolled her eyes at him: "You talk too much nonsense."

He turned to Zhou Sichen, his eyes filled with anticipation: "Brother, I'm level 58 now, just one step away from level 59."

Zhou Sichen smiled and said, "It seems that you two have indeed made good progress."

Three years ago, when Zhou Sichen left Shrek Academy, most of the core members, including Bei Bei, were around level 43 or 44.

Three years have passed, and including the improvement from absorbing soul rings, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, and Wang Dong have all increased their soul power by nearly ten levels.

Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue improved even more, each advancing a full twelve levels in three years. This speed was not only due to their talent, but also to their hard work day after day.

Zhou Sichen remembered that when they were still in the Foreign Languages ​​Department, he would pass by the training ground late at night several times and see the two brothers still practicing and refining their skills.

After testing their strength, Zhou Sichen patted the two on the shoulder: "Let's go eat."

The three walked side by side toward the cafeteria, sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of Shrek Academy trees and casting dappled patterns on the ground.

Along the way, Cao Jinxuan excitedly recounted the amusing incidents they had in the inner courtyard, mentioning how Long Xiangyue almost shattered the martial spirit of a junior who had just entered the outer courtyard during their sparring session.

Long Xiangyue then chimed in, criticizing Cao Jinxuan for using time-stopping tricks on the teacher and being caught and punished by copying school rules.

Zhou Sichen listened, occasionally interjecting with a word, and sometimes taking things out of his soul tool and handing them over.

"Here you go." Zhou Sichen handed Cao Jinxuan a palm-sized metal disc with intricate patterns engraved on it and seven soul crystals of different colors inlaid around the edge.

"This is an eighth-level Soul-Stabilizing Disc, which should be able to amplify the range of your time-stopping ability to a certain extent, giving you more reaction time when facing strong opponents."

Cao Jinxuan's eyes lit up, and he quickly took it. His fingertips brushed against the cool metal surface, and he could feel the immense soul power contained within: "Brother, this is too precious, isn't it?"

"Take it." Zhou Sichen smiled and handed Long Xiangyue a dark red short blade with a flowing luster.

Zhou Sichen laughed and said, "It was made based on your 'Dragon Bone Boomerang' martial soul. When you use it, you can directly combine it with your martial soul. When you inject soul power, you can attract the power of thunder. It can not only increase speed and cut through iron like mud, but also has a paralyzing effect."

Long Xiangyue snatched the short blade, weighed it in his hand for a few moments, and grinned, "You really understand me, bro! Last time I fought someone, I was just missing a handy weapon!"

Such scenes are already commonplace.

During his three years at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, Zhou Sichen spent a lot of time figuring out how to make soul tools, and he was especially good at tailoring them to the characteristics of different martial souls.

Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue had long since piled up a small mountain of soul tools in the house, ranging from the most basic defensive shields to rare offensive soul cannons, a dazzling array.

Students from the outer academy were scrambling to buy a level six soul tool, but these two brothers could casually toss a level seven soul tool around like a toy.

In Long Xiangyue's words, "The soul tools my brother makes are more plentiful than the steamed buns in the cafeteria."

The three brothers walked and stopped along the way, and soon arrived at the canteen.

The dining hall in Shrek Academy's inner courtyard truly lives up to its reputation.

As soon as I reached the door, a rich aroma wafted into my nostrils: the mellow richness of braised soul beast meat, the sweetness of steamed spirit fish, and the refreshing taste of stir-fried immortal moss, all blending together to create an irresistible flavor.

With his lifetime access to red-level delicacies, Zhou Sichen ordered a table full of hearty dishes: the ribs of the thousand-year-old purple-scaled beast stewed until tender and falling off the bone, slices of ten-thousand-year-old ice crystal fish cooked in boiling mushroom soup, and seasonal vegetables stir-fried with "soul-condensing flowers," each bite carrying a gentle energy that nourishes the soul.

Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue were starving, so they ate heartily.

Long Xiangyue was gnawing on a rib with one hand, his mouth dripping with oil, while using the other hand to put food into Zhou Sichen's bowl. Cao Jinxuan ate more politely, but not much slower, occasionally commenting, "This fish is cooked better than last time."

Watching them wolf down their food, Zhou Sichen's appetite was whetted as well. The food in the inner courtyard was indeed something special; even after eating it for three years, he never got tired of it.

And it's been three years since I last ate it, so I do miss it a bit.

The meal took almost an hour, and the three of them, patting their round bellies, slowly strolled towards the Sea God Lake.

The afternoon sun shone warmly on my body, the lake surface shimmered, and occasionally a playful fish would poke its head out of the water, blow out a string of bubbles, and then dive back down.

The willows by the lake droop with green tendrils. A gentle breeze blows, and the branches lightly sweep across the water, creating ripples.

"Big brother, how many powerful soul tools did you create during those three years at Sun Moon?" Long Xiangyue asked curiously, kicking a small pebble at his feet.

Looking at the lake, Zhou Sichen casually said, "Not many, just a few that are usable."

He spoke casually, but made no mention of the last month before he left, during which he created a level nine soul tool and is now a level nine soul master.

The three brothers spoke their minds freely, and soon the conversation turned to Zhou Sichen's abilities.

Cao Jinxuan keenly caught the key information: "Brother, you're... level 76 now?"

Zhou Sichen nodded: "Yes, I broke through before I left."

Upon hearing this, both brothers fell silent.

Long Xiangyue opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just scratched his head.

Cao Jinxuan stared at Zhou Sichen's retreating figure with a complex expression.

They knew they were talented; at sixteen, the students in grades 58 and 57 would be considered prodigies in any academy. But compared to Zhou Sichen, their achievements seemed like a joke.

Three years ago, Zhou Sichen was only a Soul King when he left. Three years later, he has soared to level 76 Soul Saint.

He increased his soul power by nearly twenty levels in three years! How the hell can you compare that?
What's even more terrifying is that Zhou Sichen also has a second spirit, which means he can add more spirit rings in the future, and his spirit power limit is far beyond that of ordinary spirit masters.

Especially after condensing his soul core, Zhou Sichen could lie in the sun every day and his soul core would automatically absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to nourish his soul power. This kind of "easy win" cultivation speed made those of them who were cultivating desperately want to cry.

"Brother, you know what you're like," Long Xiangyue finally blurted out after a long pause, "cultivating is like drinking water, how are we supposed to live?"

Zhou Sichen was amused by him and reached out to ruffle his hair: "It's not that easy. I'm on the other side of the Sun and Moon, spending my days in the lab and my nights cultivating diligently."

"Every day I'm either researching soul tools or poring over theoretical books, and occasionally I have to fight with that guy over there. It's not easy, is it?"

This is true.

Zhou Sichen's achievements today are certainly due to his talent and the support of his second martial soul, but more importantly, they are due to the extraordinary efforts he has made.

During his three years at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, he hardly slept a single night, replacing it all with cultivation.

He spent his days in the laboratory studying soul guidance theory and conducting repeated experiments, and every night he cultivated with Zhang Lexuan and Xu Jiujiu. It was truly a bittersweet experience.

Behind those seemingly easy level advancements lies countless hours of sweat and effort.

Cao Jinxuan sighed: "Compared to you, our efforts are really nothing."

"Don't say that." Zhou Sichen stopped and looked at them seriously. "Everyone's path is different."

"You two have worked steadily and solidly at Shrek Academy, and your future achievements may not be any worse than mine. Besides, we'll need the two of you to carry the team in the Elite Tournament two years from now."

The brothers' eyes lit up instantly when the Elite Competition was mentioned.

That's the most prestigious Soul Master gathering on the entire continent; to stand out there is the dream of every young Soul Master.

It's pointless for the eldest brother to go up there and bully the weak; it will naturally be their home turf then.

"Don't worry, bro!" Long Xiangyue clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. "I'll definitely beat those guys from the other academies to a pulp, and I'll keep a close eye on those two, Hongchen and his sister!"

Cao Jinxuan nodded and said, "We will work hard and strive to break through to the high-level Soul Emperor. We will definitely not let you down, big brother."

Looking at their spirited appearance, Zhou Sichen smiled with satisfaction.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the three of them, casting long shadows that overlapped as if they had never been separated.

The evening breeze at Poseidon Lake carries the coolness of water vapor, dispelling the afternoon heat and bringing with it a hopeful future for the young people.

They walked slowly, chatting about interesting things that happened during training, talking about their future plans, and occasionally complaining about the academy's strict rules.

They even asked Zhou Sichen about some of Tang San's little secrets... after all, they were definitely on their big brother's side.

Zhou Sichen listened patiently, offering suggestions from time to time, such as reminding Cao Jinxuan to be mindful of the drain on his soul power caused by the time freeze, and instructing Long Xiangyue to control his spatial power to avoid injuring himself.

They will also be told about Tang Shenwang's grand plan for ten thousand years, and he will help them cultivate diligently so that they can escape the schemes of others in the future...

These small acts of care warmed the brothers' hearts, just like the setting sun shining on them at that moment.

Before we knew it, the moon had quietly climbed to the treetops, casting a silvery glow on the lake.

The whistle signaling the end of evening training could be heard in the distance. Occasionally, two or three students from the inner academy would walk by, and they would greet Zhou Sichen respectfully when they saw him.

Zhou Sichen's reputation in the inner academy is beyond question. He is not only a teacher in the training hall, but also a senior student with exceptional talent in the field of soul tools. He has long been an idol of many Shrek Academy students.

"It's about time to head back." Zhou Sichen glanced at the sky. "I have to see my teachers tomorrow, so I should get some rest."

"Okay." Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue responded and followed Zhou Sichen back to the dormitory.

The streetlights stretched their shadows long again. Their steps on the bluestone pavement made a crisp sound, as if playing a lighthearted melody for this night of reunion.

For Zhou Sichen, these three years of wandering have finally found a home.

For Cao Jinxuan and Long Xiangyue, the days with their elder brother by their side were the most reassuring and comforting.

The road ahead is long and there will inevitably be many challenges, but as long as the three brothers walk side by side, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome.

Just like the water of Poseidon Lake, no matter how much wind and rain it experiences, it will always flow steadily towards the distance.

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(End of this chapter)