Chapter 45: The Academy's Great Leap Forward

Thank you to our new Patrons: nicholas berenguer, Noah Thomas, Brian Ramsey, Duoc, Chimera, Josh Wells, Orion Chung, Braydon Delgado, Gary Manus, [GLD]Guto, John Goral, Pierre-Louis and aidan demkowich! You are what makes this possible! We are up to Chapter 125: Ba Tian Douluo vs. Lei Ting Douluo - Conclusion on Patreon!

There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)

---------------------------------------------------------------------

(A/N: In Chapter 14, the teachers' levels were listed—Zhao Wuji at level 73, Shao Xin at level 68, Lu Qibin at level 66, Li Yusong at level 64, Oscar at level 18, and Ma Hongjun at peak level 11.)

The immortal herbs had all been distributed, and now it was just a matter of waiting for everyone to make their breakthroughs.

Li Yusong and Lu Qibin were the first to finish absorbing their herbs. The pills made with Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia as the main ingredient were absorbed much faster than raw immortal herbs.

Both men advanced by two levels. Li Yusong reached level 66, while Lu Qibin reached level 68. Not only did their spirit power increase, but the wrinkles on their faces also diminished significantly.

Li Yusong's gray hair turned black, and Lu Qibin's white hair became gray. Both men appeared ten years younger and felt as though they had returned to their youth.

The pill, crafted using Nine Treasure Purple Zoysia as the main ingredient and other rare herbs as supplements, was one of the highest-grade Consolidation and Foundation-Strengthening Pills from the Breaking Clan's formulas. If consumed by soul masters who had surpassed the prime age for cultivation, it would allow them to cultivate at a speed comparable to their youth for the next five years, making it easier to break through bottlenecks.

Li Luochen speculated that Elder Lu Qibin might break through to Spirit Sage within two years. As for his own grandfather, Li Yusong, he still had a bit of catching up to do. Li Luochen had a seventh grade Dragon Ganoderma in his possession, which he planned to reserve as an extra boost for his grandfather. After all, his grandfather deserved the best.

Li Luochen reflected that Li Yusong was his only blood relative in this world. Even when Li Luochen had been mentally impaired as a child, his grandfather had never abandoned him. If Li Luochen were to ascend to godhood, he would certainly bring his grandfather along.

Currently, Li Yusong's soul ring configuration was subpar: white, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black—a very common arrangement. Moreover, with only five innate spirit power levels, such a configuration would likely cap out at a high-level Spirit Sage.

However, Li Luochen intended to help his grandfather become a Title Douluo. With his resources, he could ensure better soul rings for his grandfather's seventh, eighth, and ninth slots.

"What if I give Grandpa a hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring? That configuration—white, yellow, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, red—would be unique, wouldn't it? Hehe, I can prepare for that."

Li Yusong had no idea that his beloved grandson was already planning even greater things for him.

Next, Zhao Wuji and Shao Xin completed their absorption of the immortal herbs. Zhao Wuji's spirit power increased by two levels, reaching level 76. His body became even more robust, and the immortal herb helped heal long-standing internal injuries. His strength and defense improved further.

Shao Xin's spirit power rose by one level, reaching the bottleneck of level 70. Much of the medicinal energy remained stored in his body, ready to explode upon obtaining his seventh soul ring.

The ninth grade Ginseng King had gentle properties and significantly boosted spirit power. After acquiring his seventh soul ring, Shao Xin should see another one or two levels of improvement.

Next were Oscar and Ma Hongjun. At eight and a half and six and a half years old, respectively, with spirit power levels of 19 and 14, they were at the perfect age and cultivation stage to absorb immortal-grade herbs.

While their spirit power might not increase dramatically, the effects of the immortal herbs would seep into their bodies, transforming their physical constitution, strengthening their meridians, and fortifying their bones.

Even later in life, when they became Spirit Elders with spirit power over level 30, these herbs could still boost their spirit power by at least five levels. Now, as they hadn't yet reached the Soul Grandmaster stage, there was no telling how much they might improve.

Oscar finished absorbing first, reaching the bottleneck of level 20. The Eight Petal Immortal Orchid was the most suitable herb for him, with gentle properties that were easy to absorb. This allowed him to complete the process quickly, with much of the medicinal energy still stored in his body.

Li Luochen considered whether Oscar could attempt a Thousand-year second soul ring. Oscar had been regularly consuming whale jelly. Flender had once acquired a nine-thousand-year whale jelly and had Oscar consume it after becoming a soul master, using his spirit power to guide the absorption.

Perhaps Oscar could try a thousand-year second soul ring. Originally, Oscar's second soul skill was Detoxification Sausage, which Li Luochen felt wasn't particularly useful. With Dugu Yan around, who needed to worry about poison? Li Luochen's expertise in poisons had grown significantly, allowing him to directly refine antidotes.

Instead, Oscar could gain a flight-type soul skill. The Sharp-Tailed Swift would suit him well—it was faster than the Phoenix Crest Snake. Even in a one-minute flight, the swift's speed far surpassed that of the snake.

As for Ma Hongjun, once he finished absorbing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and resolved his martial soul's defects, he could begin consuming whale jelly. Previously, they had avoided giving it to him for fear of exacerbating his excessive energy, which could have been fatal.

Now, after absorbing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, he should be able to handle the whale jelly. As a battle-type soul master, a thousand-year second soul ring would greatly benefit him, especially with flame-enhancing soul skills being ideal.

For future soul beasts, they should seek out powerful fire-attribute ones, such as the Three-Legged Golden Crow, Crimson Flame Phoenix, or Fire Spirit Beast.

Screech—

A phoenix cry erupted as flames surged around Ma Hongjun. The corrupted fire of his previous martial soul transformed into a true Fire Phoenix.

Ma Hongjun's Fire Phoenix martial soul had barely entered the ranks of super martial souls. If he could achieve extreme fire, he would become even more formidable.

The formerly chubby little boy slimmed down due to the effects of the immortal herb. Though shorter than Oscar, he was more muscular. His newly defined face hinted that he would grow into a handsome young man.

"Haha, the corruption in my martial soul is finally gone! Big Brother Chen, I love you so much!" Ma Hongjun, feeling the changes in his body, ran over and hugged Li Luochen's leg like an adoring fan.

"Alright, alright. Don't love me too much—it won't end well for you. Anyway, your martial soul's issue is resolved, which is good for you. No more life-threatening dangers, but don't slack off in your cultivation," Li Luochen said, looking at Ma Hongjun. He knew that Ma Hongjun's laziness in cultivation during his youth would later lead to his separation from Bai Chenxiang, followed by her death. (T/N: Due to mortal lifespan running out)

In the end, the phoenix ascended to godhood, but lost the swallow and his soul. (T/N: referencing their martial souls: Ma Hongjun being the phoenix and Bai Chenxiang being the swallow) This was why Li Luochen had always been strict with Ma Hongjun about not slacking off in his cultivation. When it was time to cultivate, he should focus; when it was time to play, he should enjoy himself fully. These were Li Luochen's expectations for Ma Hongjun.

So far, Ma Hongjun had been doing well, and Li Luochen was quite satisfied.

Ma Hongjun's spirit power had increased by six levels, reaching the Soul Grandmaster bottleneck. Like Oscar, he was now ready to obtain his second soul ring. However, Ma Hongjun had not yet consumed whale jelly. At this moment, Flender handed him an eight-thousand-year whale jelly.

Flender instructed Ma Hongjun to consume and absorb the whale jelly immediately. Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan were witnessing this for the first time. In Dugu Bo's mind, whale jelly was primarily used as an aphrodisiac—how could it aid in cultivation?

Dugu Bo watched skeptically as Ma Hongjun prepared the whale jelly. First, he softened it with flames, reducing its volume by two-thirds. Then, he swallowed it and sat down to refine it.

Initially, Ma Hongjun's face turned bright red, but it gradually returned to normal. The energy contained in the whale jelly directly enhanced his physical constitution. Since he had already undergone medicinal baths to strengthen his foundation, consuming this top-tier thousand-year whale jelly would undoubtedly result in a significant increase in his physical capabilities.

Absorbing a soul ring from a newly Thousand-year-old soul beast should pose no problem now.

------------------------------------------------------

Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow