Douluo Continent: From Internal Martial Arts to the Law of Heaven and Earth

Gu Yue slowly opened her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly. A glint of light flashed in her clear eyes, and a special perception entered her heart—two beings on the distant hillside who could potentially threaten her were Bi Ji and Xiong Jun. Was this the special perceptive ability of the Heart of a Child, capable of foresight? Truly profound.

However, Gu Yue soon realized that something seemed amiss. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she looked confused and bewildered. She tried again for a moment, and after confirming that she had no luck, she looked up and asked Tang Shan, "Why can't I sense your presence in the crisis sensing? Also, why do I seem to have no sense of the source of malice?"

Upon hearing Gu Yue's question, Tang Shan pondered for a moment, then looked at her and said, "Try again." As he spoke, he unleashed his will, which was like that of a master of power.

“We have it now, but we still don’t have the ability to detect the source of the malice.” Gu Yue’s voice was clear and crisp, with a hint of seriousness.

Tang Shan roughly understood what was going on: "Your mental strength is currently not as strong as mine, so it's normal that you can't sense me. As for not being able to sense the source of malice?" Tang Shan's voice was slightly blunt: "Could it be that you haven't provoked an extremely powerful enemy who can threaten your life?"

Gu Yue was taken aback, blinked slightly, tilted her head and thought carefully: "Is that so?" With Tang Shan's prompting, she couldn't help but recall her experiences since leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, and it seemed that the truth was just as Tang Shan said.

Compared to the other party who has provoked countless powerful enemies and opponents, I seem to just be hanging around him eating and drinking, and when I do intervene, it's mostly as a support role.

Without the opportunity to demonstrate her strength, without revealing her talent, and without attracting the attention of major powers, naturally no top experts would want to kill her.

To be honest, Gu Yue felt a little regretful that he had gained the ability but had no way to use it.

"Do you want to try the burst state?" Tang Shan asked curiously, his tone suddenly changing.

To be honest, he had never seen what would happen to a girl after she used her Burst Mode, whether her body would swell up and her muscles would become bulging like his.

Gu Yue puffed out her cheeks and glared angrily at Tang Shan. Having been by Tang Shan's side for so long, she naturally knew what changes would occur to her body after the Core Formation erupted, and it certainly didn't look good.

However, out of some curiosity, Gu Yue hesitated for a moment, but still obediently mobilized the qi and blood in his body, preparing to try the Dan Jin burst. If it didn't look good, he would just not use it in the future.

Boom!

The red and silver-tinged blood and qi suddenly condensed and collapsed, then erupted as if from the beginning of the universe!

Streams of blood and energy surged to his limbs and bones, and Gu Yue's body began to swell uncontrollably.

However, this expansion is different from that of Tangshan, or rather, it is more like a stretching than an expansion.

The martial spirit possessed her body uncontrollably, and four spirit rings, two yellow and two purple, appeared beneath her feet. Dense silver scales began to spread from her hands, quickly covering both arms. Obvious elemental fluctuations emanated from Gu Yue's body and spread outwards.

Her figure became increasingly tall and slender, her face more mature, and a glint of silver light shimmered in her eyes.

"You've reached the Core Formation stage?" Tang Shan asked uncertainly. It wasn't that his internal martial arts skills were lacking and he couldn't see Gu Yue's state; it was mainly because the changes in Gu Yue's body were not similar to his usual Core Formation stage. Instead, they resembled the way Gu Yue would activate her amplified soul skill when her martial soul possessed her.

"Yes, it's formed a pill, and the effect is quite good." Gu Yue's eyes crinkled with joy.

She was not only happy because the process of absorbing the elixir had not brought her any obvious strange changes, but instead had amplified her elements and body in all aspects. She was also happy because, in the state of absorbing the elixir, Gu Yue found that she absorbed the essence of the Silver Dragon King from her previous life at a significantly faster pace.

This means that her recovery time will be shorter, and how could she not be overjoyed by such good news?

Tang Shan fell silent, then understood—the internal martial arts were entirely his own creation, and it was hard to say whether they were completely identical to the descriptions in the novels of his previous life. Not to mention, this wasn't a world purely for cultivating internal martial arts; there was also soul power and martial souls. With two completely different systems intersecting, it wasn't surprising that some changes would occur.

"Where do we go next?" Gu Yue asked impatiently. She was eager to see how far she could go with her elemental amplification ability after activating the Core Formation state.

Tang Shan was awakened from his reverie by Gu Yue. Sensing the eagerness in her voice, a clear smile appeared on his lips.

"Where to? To the upper class on the only road to Xingluo City. It's time to settle some karmic ties."

Each word was forceful and menacing, revealing a murderous intent. A fierce and boundless will emanated from Tang Shan's body, spreading unchecked outwards. In a daze, an ancient deity, seemingly the embodiment of the law of power, stood amidst the chaos. His body was towering and boundless, his aura vast and ancient as the beginning of creation, wielding a giant axe, ready to cleave the heavens and the earth.

Qi and blood flow vigorously within the body like great rivers, surging and roaring, each pulse carrying immense power.

The liquid soul power flowing within the twelve meridians also accelerated along with Tang Shan's surging will, like ten thousand rivers flowing into the sea;

In the sea of ​​the spirit, the golden waters surged with towering waves, seemingly about to overturn all constraints and barriers.

Having already supported Tang Shan's achievement of the title, the terrifying will that had been rushing straight to level 97 suddenly subsided in the next moment, instantly returning to the body and condensing into a giant axe that cleaved the heavens, suddenly slashing down at the invisible void within the body.

There was no collision, no breakage, no sense of obstruction or suffocation; there was only pure emptiness, as if an axe had cleaved through illusion, reaching the very depths of the origin.

In a fleeting moment, my will seemed to traverse the void within my body and enter some mysterious world.

The scene in his consciousness was very familiar—the five internal organs that receive essence and nourish the whole body, and the six bowels that transmit digestion and transform all things, are like a fine and dense network of blood vessels that runs through the whole body, with clear veins and threads. Tangshan has witnessed this countless times under the inner vision of his spiritual power.

The scene in my consciousness was unfamiliar, something I had only glimpsed briefly before—a sky full of light spots covering my entire body, like stars suspended within me, corresponding to countless acupoints around my body. Within each light spot, it seemed as if an ancient deity sat, its aura distant and silent, with boundless potential brewing within and endless mysteries stored within it.

The surging will barely managed to communicate, trying to awaken the gods of the heavens, but its power was insufficient. In the end, it could only watch as the thousands of gods slowly disappeared, the light dimmed, and the will returned to nothingness.

Tang Shan suddenly opened his eyes, a gray light flashing in them—the outward manifestation of his condensed will in his physical body: He was not far from seeing the divine!

Chapter 338 Waiting

The mountains are vast and deep, with layers of branches and leaves that completely block out the sunlight. The thick, impenetrable fog flows slowly through the forest like a viscous veil, locking your vision within a few meters. The fog surrounds you from all sides, making it impossible to discern the direction you should go.

Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, dressed in tattered clothes, were resting under a towering ancient tree. Although they had no wounds, they were covered in dust from their daily running and fleeing.

"Sister, it seems we've escaped back again." Zhu Zhuqing carefully looked around at the somewhat familiar surroundings, her voice tinged with weariness and helplessness.

Zhu Zhuyun sighed softly, her eyes dimming slightly: "They are determined not to let us leave this mountain range. The area around Xingluo City, including here, is the territory under their strongest control. Once we break out of this area, it will be like fish returning to the sea or birds returning to the forest. At that time, it will be much more difficult to track us down."

Unfortunately, they didn't give us any chance to escape. A large number of Soul Masters had already penetrated deep into the mountains and were conducting a thorough search of us, inch by inch.

"Then, sister, what should we do next?" Zhu Zhuqing frowned deeply.

Zhu Zhuyun's gaze swept over the lingering mist around her, and a resolute glint flashed in her eyes: "Since they are certain that we are determined to escape, then we will do the opposite—return to Xingluo City."

"Back to Star Luo City!" Zhu Zhuqing was quite surprised, after all, Zhu Zhuyun's plan seemed a bit too crazy. What kind of place was Star Luo City? It was the place where the Dai and Zhu families had been running for generations, the true core of the Star Luo Empire. Returning voluntarily was tantamount to walking into a trap.

"This is the only option. Continuing to waste time with them in the mountains will only gradually shrink our living area, which is tantamount to slow suicide. We must break through before the encirclement shrinks, sneak into Xingluo City, and then leave through other city gates."

Zhu Zhuyun had a clear idea: they absolutely could not stop. Once they stopped, the distance between them and their pursuers would only shrink rapidly. Their only way to survive was to escape without stopping.

“Okay, sister, I’ll do whatever you say.” Zhu Zhuqing agreed without hesitation, her little face very serious.

"Don't worry, Zhuqing, I will definitely get you out of here." Zhu Zhuyun's eyes lit up with a bright smile, and she gently stroked her younger sister's hair with her fair hand, her eyes full of tenderness: Even if I can't escape, I will definitely get you out of here.

……

Xingluo City, though the capital of the Xingluo Empire, is not particularly prosperous. From afar, it resembles a silent fortress, cold and desolate. The thick walls, built of massive gray stones, bear the marks of time and war. Very few people enter or leave the city, giving it a desolate feel. Compared to the bustling Gengxin City, this city appears exceptionally quiet.

On the city walls built of gray boulders, the city's defenders, clad in heavy armor, stood tall and straight, like silent sculptures, their bodies motionless except for their sharp eyes scanning their surroundings, exuding the cold hardness of someone who had been through countless battles.

Not far from Xingluo City, there is a low hill. On the hilltop, a man and a woman gaze at each other from afar.

"Is this Xingluo City?" Gu Yue gazed at the silent, majestic city nestled at the edge of her vision, somewhat puzzled. Xingluo City truly didn't fit her image of what a capital city should be like.

Looking at Xingluo City, Tang Shan sighed, "Perhaps this is why the overall national strength of the Xingluo Empire can overwhelm Tiandou. As long as the upper echelons of the empire are not particularly extravagant, it is enough to drive the prosperity and glory of the lower classes and even the entire country."

Gu Yue seemed lost in thought as she released her spiritual power to observe the passing people from afar. She noticed that although these people did not have carefree smiles on their faces, they were generally healthy and full of energy. Few of them were malnourished or weak, indicating that although their lives were not wealthy, they were basically living a normal life.

"Should we go in and take a look?" Gu Yue was curious about what the interior of Xingluo City was like, and what kind of emperor had governed the country to such an extent.

"No rush, there will be plenty of opportunities later. Let's adjust our mindset and prepare for the upcoming battle. This time, it won't be easy," Tang Shan said softly.

"Hmm." Gu Yue didn't object and gave a soft reply. She vaguely sensed that this battle was of extraordinary significance to Tang Shan, and that the opponent might undergo an extremely astonishing transformation during this battle.

Tang Shan took Gu Yue's small hand and led her down the mountain path. Facing the girl's questioning gaze, a rare hint of arrogance flashed across Tang Shan's face: "We'll just wait for them to come back by the roadside!"

Gu Yue was taken aback for a moment, then a playful and cunning smile appeared on her lips. She clearly understood Tang Shan's meaning—the other party wasn't waiting for the Star Luo experts to return; they clearly intended to ambush and kill them in the middle of the road. Just imagine, they were not far from Star Luo City, almost home, and to be ambushed and killed on their doorstep would be a huge blow to the Star Luo Empire's prestige. Moreover, given the distance between the battlefield and Star Luo City, even ordinary people standing on the city walls would likely be able to see the battle unfold. This was clearly not just killing them, but also destroying their morale, a direct attempt to trample the Star Luo Empire's dignity into the ground.

Following the rugged mountain path to the foot of the mountain, the two continued their journey without stopping, soon arriving at a large tree, as thick as two people could hug, near the main road. Tang Shan sat down cross-legged, his qi and blood silently condensing into a pill, his soul power circulating rapidly, and his spiritual power restrained, without causing any ripples. All his aura and extraordinary presence quietly subsided, as if he had turned into a stubborn rock, no longer possessing his usual dazzling brilliance.

This is a process of accumulation and refinement, waiting for the right opponent to meet it, so that it can erupt and unleash unparalleled energy.

Gu Yue sat beside Tang Shan, her small hand supporting her chin, gazing at the young man's profile, somewhat lost in thought.

Time slipped by quietly, the sun rose and the moon set, the morning mist in the forest repeatedly condensed and dissipated, and the light and shadow on the branches alternated. Before we knew it, five days had passed.

On the morning of the sixth day, Tang Shan slowly emerged from his meditative state, his eyes calm and devoid of any murderous intent. However, Gu Yue sensed something and asked softly, "Have they arrived?"

Tang Shan nodded slightly, took a step, slowly stepped onto the official road, turned around, and looked at the end of his field of vision.

Gu Yue moved lightly to Tang Shan's side, waiting for their opponent to appear. At the same time, she released her spiritual power and gave Bi Ji and Xiong Jun their final instructions before the battle: "Protect the battlefield. I don't want any overpowered opponents to appear in this battle. If any do appear, don't stay behind, kill them directly."

"Yes, my lord!" Biji and Xiong Jun replied in unison.

……

"Reporting to the Fourth Elder, the message has been sent out, and all Soul Saints are returning to Star Luo City in pairs. However, due to the limitations of transmission, it may take some time before they receive the message."

Xu Mou, who was rushing on his way, quickened his pace and reported to Dai Jie.

"I understand. Now that the news has been spread, any further casualties are their fate. They were just unlucky and died on their way back. Who can they blame for that?"

A gust of wind swept past him, and the surrounding scenery rushed by. Dai Jie's voice was calm and steady, without the slightest ripple, and went straight into the ears of the three Soul Saints following him.

Without saying much, the three continued on their way, crossing the slightly undulating hillsides before them, and the distant Xingluo City came into view.

After walking several hundred meters more, Dai Jie's pace gradually slowed down, and finally he stopped completely: "Stop!"

He raised his hand and said in a deep voice, his voice containing joy, doubt, and an indescribable solemnity.

……

hum!

Two slender figures, like two black lightning bolts, suddenly swept through the dense forest. The burly man, who had been scanning his surroundings, narrowed his eyes and shouted, "Here..."

Pfft!

Before he could finish speaking, a large amount of blood spurted from his throat. Zhu Zhuyun approached like a ghost, her sharp claws gleaming with a cold light. The dense, ghostly claw shadows sealed off all of her opponent's escape routes. She struck and retreated swiftly and decisively.

After using her second soul skill, Netherworld Hundred Claws, to deal with the powerful soul master in front of her, Zhu Zhuyun did not hesitate to unleash her first soul skill, Netherworld Thrust, leaving behind a series of afterimages as she swiftly chased after the direction her sister had left in.

Soon, the two sisters reunited. With the amazing speed boost from their martial souls and the amplification from their first soul skill, they seemed to transform into two nimble cats walking in the shadows, leaving only a faint afterimage in the eyes of the searchers, followed by a blooming flower of blood.

Whoosh whoosh!

Traversing the forest, dancing on the edge of a knife, the sisters Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing forged a path to death with their own strength. At the end of the path, it seemed, lay the symbol of so-called freedom. However, some hurdles could not be overcome without sufficient strength.

In the same mountain range, Zhu Qing stood proudly, his face indifferent, the anger in his eyes long gone, replaced by a fierce glint.

"Where are they now?" He shook the old servant he was carrying with one hand, his face ashen and his voice icy.

The old servant took a deep breath and barely regained some strength. There was no other way; being carried by one hand was just too painful.

His martial spirit was always activated, and he sniffed around sharply. Suddenly, his expression changed, and his voice hesitated: "Patriarch, I think I smell blood."

"The smell of blood?" Zhu Qinggao frowned. Where was the smell of blood coming from? But the next moment, his expression changed.

"Oh no, those two girls are trying to break through. Tell me quickly!" Zhu Qinggao suddenly stopped speaking because he realized a serious problem: he didn't know whether he should follow the scent of the two sisters or the scent of blood.

"Is there any overlap between the smell and the smell of blood?" Taking a deep breath, Zhu Qinggao managed to regain some clarity of mind amidst his anxiety and asked in a deep voice.

The old servant didn't hesitate either; he sniffed the air keenly and pointed in a certain direction.

The next moment, Zhu Qinggao's figure shot into the sky like an arrow released from a bow, his feet touching the branches, and in a few flashes he completely disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, leaving only a gust of wind whistling behind.

Chapter 339 War Begins

Who are you? Why are you blocking the road?

Dai Jie raised his arm, signaling the three people behind him to stop, and asked in a low voice.