Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

……

The ministers of the Heavenly Dou Empire looked at each other in bewilderment. Although the young girls' words were sharp, they pointed directly to the long-standing problems of the Heavenly Dou Empire.

Xu Hong quietly observed the debate, and his mind was now clear. He finally understood why Ning Rongrong and the others did not think highly of Yu Xiaogang—the traditional views that this theoretical master adhered to did indeed appear outdated and backward in the face of the reforms promoted by the Martial Soul Empire.

What concerned Xu Hong even more was that Tang San remained silent throughout the entire debate. This young man, whom he held in high regard, now had a clear look of struggle and contemplation in his eyes.

That evening, Xu Hong declined the palace's invitation to a banquet and chose to stay at the embassy. To his surprise, Tang San came to visit him alone late at night.

"Senior Xu," Tang San bowed and went straight to the point, "I've been pondering the theory of combining soul tools and martial souls that you mentioned during the day, and I have a few questions I'd like to ask..."

A look of satisfaction flashed in Xu Hong's eyes. He could tell that although this young man respected his teacher, he wasn't blindly following him. After seeing a wider world, Tang San was rethinking his path.

And all of this is precisely the "variable" that Xuanming wanted to see.

While Xu Hong and Tang San were deeply discussing the principles of soul tools, Ning Rongrong and others had already stirred up another storm in Heaven Dou City.

The news of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School's return spread like wildfire, and countless former affiliated Soul Masters of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School came to pay their respects.

When they saw the real Nine Treasures Glazed Pagoda on Ning Rongrong's body and felt her powerful Soul Douluo aura, they were all extremely shocked.

What's even more shocking is the news Ning Rongrong brought: In the Spirit Empire, all Soul Masters, regardless of their background, can obtain equal cultivation resources and Soul Tool technology support as long as they pass the assessment.

"Sect Master," a veteran Soul Master asked excitedly, "Is what you said true? In the Spirit Empire, can commoner Soul Masters really stand on equal footing with noble Soul Masters?"

Ning Rongrong smiled and nodded: "Not only that. In the Spirit Empire, the only standard for judging the value of a Soul Master is strength and contribution."

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, creating a huge wave in the world of Heavenly Soul Masters.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, introduced by Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu, visited some of the former teachers and elders of the Five Elements Academy. The formidable strength they displayed, and their description of the new order of the Spirit Empire, began to shake the resolve of many Spirit Masters who had initially held a wait-and-see attitude.

In just a few days, subtle cracks have appeared in the seemingly stable Soul Master hierarchy of the Heaven Dou Empire. Although these cracks are not yet obvious, they are quietly widening under the intentional or unintentional influence of Ning Rongrong and others.

Deep within the palace, Emperor Xueye listened to the spy's report, his face growing increasingly pale. He looked at Yu Xiaogang, who stood beside him, and asked weakly, "Grand Preceptor, in your opinion, how should we respond?"

Yu Xiaogang frowned. He could sense that Tang San had been getting very close to Xu Hong these past few days. Even his most prized disciple seemed to be starting to question some of his theories under the influence of that overseas soul master.

“Your Majesty,” Yu Xiaogang said in a deep voice, “the Spirit Empire is conducting a soft infiltration. We must strengthen control and prohibit Spirit Masters from contacting anyone from the Spirit Empire.”

However, even he himself understood that this suggestion seemed so pale and powerless in the face of reality.

When Ning Rongrong and others stand here alive, demonstrating the new possibilities brought by the Martial Soul Empire, no prohibition can stop people's yearning.

……

Shrek Academy, on the western outskirts of Tiandou City.

Unlike the undercurrents swirling within the imperial palace, this place appears relatively calm, but beneath the calm lies a complex undercurrent.

Thanks to the status of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, Shrek Academy is no longer what it used to be.

It was incorporated into the official system of the Heaven Dou Empire, given the name "Heaven Dou Royal Shrek Academy," and received financial support from the empire, specifically responsible for recruiting and training commoner soul masters.

The original Heaven Dou Royal Academy still maintains its old rule of only recruiting noble soul masters.

The imperial leadership had a very shrewd plan: through this differentiation, they could both recruit talented people from among the commoners for their own use and ensure that the privileges of the aristocracy were not diluted, thus maintaining a superficial balance.

However, this artificial division has actually sown the seeds of huge hidden dangers.

When outstanding Soul Masters from commoner backgrounds see noble children, whose talents are far inferior to their own, enjoying better resources and higher status simply because of their birth, jealousy and resentment will arise.

Similarly, when noble soul masters see that "lowly" commoners can obtain learning opportunities similar to their own, and even potentially threaten their own status, their resentment and hostility will grow day by day.

The antagonism between the two groups, deliberately differentiated by the empire, will only intensify.

Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Shui Bing'er, and Huo Wu stood outside the familiar yet unfamiliar gates of Shrek Academy. The academy had expanded considerably, with many new buildings constructed, but traces of its former glory could still be faintly seen.

Their purpose in coming here was to visit Dean Flander and Professor Liu Erlong. Guided by the academy staff, they met Flander and Liu Erlong in a quiet meeting room.

Flander looked a bit older, but his eyes were still sharp; only his brows showed signs of weariness and helplessness as an academy administrator.

Liu Erlong's change was even more dramatic. She sat there, still upright, but the fiery passion and shrewishness in her eyes had vanished, replaced by a deep weariness and a lingering gloom, as if something had been completely extinguished in her heart.

"Dean Flander, Teacher Erlong." Ning Rongrong stepped forward as a representative and bowed, her tone carrying a complex sense of respect.

Regardless, these two people in front of them were their former teachers.

“Rongrong, Xiaowu, Zhuqing, and Bing’er, Huowu, you… you’ve all grown up.” Flander pushed up his glasses, a complex smile appearing on his face. His gaze swept over them, and he felt the powerful fluctuations of their soul power, deeply shocked.

It's only been a few years? These children have already reached such a level!
Liu Erlong also raised his head, his gaze slowly sweeping over everyone, lingering briefly on Xiao Wu. A barely perceptible flicker of emotion flashed in his eyes, but it quickly subsided, and he simply nodded lightly: "You've come."

The atmosphere was a bit stagnant.

Ning Rongrong tried hard to find a topic to talk about: "Dean, Teacher Erlong, the academy has changed so much."

Flander sighed, "Yes, thanks to the mistress and the master, the academy no longer has to worry about funding. But..."

He hesitated, then shook his head and said nothing more.

Managing an academy that is under the high attention of the empire and whose internal conflicts are becoming increasingly acute is far more stressful and difficult than managing the small, dilapidated academy of yesteryear.

Shui Bing'er spoke up at the right moment, steer the conversation toward some of her observations about the Martial Soul Empire and the development of soul tools, in an attempt to ease the tension.

However, when the conversation inadvertently touched upon Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Clan and his past, the air in the meeting room seemed to freeze instantly.

Liu Erlong's face turned noticeably paler, and her hands, resting on her knees, clenched slightly.

Flander quickly smoothed things over: "Let bygones be bygones, there's no point in bringing it up now."

However, Ning Rongrong and the others roughly guessed something from Flander's helpless eyes and Liu Erlong's reaction.

Ever since the Wuhun City incident and the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Liu Erlong's mentality has completely collapsed.

They later learned that they had been effectively placed under house arrest in Wuhun City until news of the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the exposure of Xue Qinghe's true identity spread, at which point they were released.

After returning to Tiandou City, the relationship between Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang deteriorated rapidly, becoming filled with an insurmountable rift.

Yu Xiaogang blamed everything on Xuanming, believing that Xuanming was responsible for the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and that Xuanming had even used "evil magic" to kill his father, Yu Yuanzhen, in Wuhun City, without returning his remains and soul bones.

He swore an oath to never share the same sky with Xuanming.

But Liu Erlong felt deeply exhausted.

She didn't have much affection for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and even felt only resentment towards her nominal father, Yu Luomian.

Ironically, when the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was in trouble, Yu Luomian, who had his cultivation crippled by Xuanming in his early years and was recuperating in Tiandou City, and Yu Tianxin and her family who stayed behind to take care of him, all escaped the calamity—in other words, those who were actually related to her by blood were all unharmed.

Moreover, back in Wuhun City, in full view of everyone, it was Yu Xiaogang who first lost his mind and stirred things up, becoming a pawn in the internal power struggle of the Wuhun Hall, and then Yu Yuanzhen also took the initiative to kill Xuanming.

If we had to put it bluntly, Xuanming's actions were more like self-defense.

In Liu Erlong's view, the tragedy of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan may have stemmed from Yu Xiaogang's insistence on getting involved in the Spirit Hall's conflicts.

Yu Xiaogang naturally could not accept this "accusation," believing that Liu Erlong was making excuses for her "enemy," and the two had a fierce argument.

Since then, their relationship has plummeted to a freezing point; although they live in the same city, Tiandou, they are practically strangers.

Seeing Teacher Liu Erlong's disheartened appearance, Ning Rongrong and the others also felt bad.

The former Liu Erlong, though hot-tempered, was full of energy and dared to love and hate.

Now it seems as if its soul has been ripped out, leaving only an empty shell. (End of Chapter)