Douluo: I am the True Master

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Though Xuan Zi couldn't match Mu En, his martial soul's unique properties allowed him to trade blows evenly with Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen. 

However, in the end, Xuan Zi was still forced to concede defeat. 

Ye Wen had released the technology related to battle armor. Though it hadn't directly increased the Sun Moon Empire's extreme combat power, they had derived a technology akin to "soul bottles" from it. 

Though this technology was still somewhat rudimentary, under the efforts of dozens of Level 9 soul engineers from the Sun Moon Empire, they had successfully created ten Level 9 soul bottles—enough to compensate for the soul power depletion during battles. 

Seeing Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen casually recharging their soul power mid-battle, Xuan Zi's eyes burned with frustration. He could only roar in impotent rage toward the heavens before retreating in disarray. 

However, Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen didn't dare pursue him. After all, pushing a Limit Douluo to their limits at close range was no laughing matter. 

Xuan Zi fled to the Star Luo Empire's camp. Though he looked disheveled, the terrifying fluctuations of his soul power prompted Xu Tianxing and others to rush forward and greet him. 

Though his defeat weighed heavily on him, as the newly appointed master of the Sea God Pavilion, Xuan Zi was no longer as reckless as he once was. 

After Mu En had proposed strengthening Shrek Academy's soul-guided department, Xuan Zi had taken the time to study the various types of soul-guided devices. 

There was no doubt that "soul bottles" were a novel concept. 

Even with his limited perspective, Xuan Zi could see the potential impact of this invention on the future of the Douluo Continent. 

Having just emerged from seclusion and rushed to support Mu En, Xuan Zi wasn't fully aware of the current situation. However, the person before him was someone who truly understood the cutting-edge information of the Douluo Continent. 

Without any pretense of dignity after his defeat, Xuan Zi asked Xu Tianxing about the soul bottles. 

To this question, Xu Tianxing's expression turned blank. 

"Does the Sun Moon Empire have such soul-guided devices? But when we stalled them earlier, we didn't see them use anything like that!" 

However, as he spoke, a flash of insight lit up in Xu Tianxing's mind. 

"So that's how it is!" 

Initially resigned to returning and using Shrek's intelligence network to investigate, Xuan Zi immediately sensed a breakthrough upon seeing Xu Tianxing's reaction and hurriedly asked, 

"What do you mean, 'so that's how it is'? Do you know something?" 

Although the Star Luo Empire had previously had some friction with Shrek Academy, Xu Tianxing—knowing they now relied on the academy's strength—revealed everything without hesitation. He explained how Ye Wen had disseminated the technology for soul-guided armor and speculated that the Sun Moon Empire might have derived the soul bottles from it. 

Upon hearing this, Xuan Zi—who had always harbored resentment toward Tian Xing Academy—flew into a rage, stomping his foot furiously. 

"Damn Tian Xing Douluo! What foolishness! This is aiding the enemy! Isn't he a traitor to the Douluo Continent?!" 

The Title Douluos present dared not agree. Though Xuan Zi had broken through to Level 99 and become an unparalleled Douluo, the Tian Xing Douluo was clearly stronger. It was best not to meddle in the affairs of these two academies. 

Feeling slightly embarrassed by his outburst, Xuan Zi coughed awkwardly and began pondering a solution. 

"Lord Tianxing, do you think your Star Luo Empire could manufacture this type of soul-guided device?" 

This question lacked technical depth, and Xu Tianxing immediately shook his head. 

"Lord Taotie, you're well aware of our Star Luo Empire's soul-guidance technology—it can't even compare to yours at Shrek. Crafting a standard Level 8 soul-guided device is already a challenge, let alone producing a Level 9 soul-guided device capable of replenishing soul power." 

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Xuan Zi's eyes. In his haste to ask, he had forgotten that Shrek Academy was the leading academic institution on the Douluo Continent. 

But Xuan Zi knew that his combat strength was roughly equal to theirs. While a stalemate was manageable, the presence of those soul-restoring devices gave the enemy a significant advantage over him. 

"In that case, I'll have to return to the academy for now. I'll let our teachers at Shrek see if they can replicate the enemy's soul-guided device. Otherwise, with their superior endurance, there's no way I can defeat them in prolonged battles. 

Everyone, farewell for now." 

With that, Xuan Zi clasped his hands together and prepared to leave. 

Faced with such a top-tier fighter, Xu Tianxing couldn't possibly let him go. Hurriedly grabbing Xuan Zi's arm, he pleaded, 

"Don't go, Lord Taotie! If you leave, we won't be able to withstand the enemy's assault. We need you here on this battlefield!" Xu Tianxing begged earnestly. 

Xuan Zi wore a look of helplessness. He tried to shake off Xu Tianxing's grip several times but realized the other man was using all his strength—he genuinely didn't want Xuan Zi to leave. 

But thinking of Mu En's death and Ye Wen's actions, Xuan Zi's anger flared again. 

"I've already told you—I can't win against them even if I stay! And the reason I can't win is because of that bastard Ye Wen spreading his so-called soul-guided armor technology! 

If he caused this mess, then you should go and make him clean it up!" 

The gathered Title Douluos held a certain respect for Ye Wen. 

At the very least, he was quiet and unassuming, never stirring up trouble. 

Moreover, if Ye Wen had only shared this technology with the three nations of the original Douluo Continent, it would eventually have been discovered by the Sun Moon Empire anyway. The real issue was that the Douluo side was too backward—despite having the technology right in front of them, they merely copied it without innovation. 

At this moment, Xu Tianxing also explained Tian Xing Academy's neutral stance and praised Ye Wen for his wisdom in deploying his sect's forces—a truly admirable act. 

Hearing this, Xuan Zi grew even angrier. 

So Shrek Academy had worked tirelessly, even to the point of losing its Pavilion Master, yet these people showed little reaction, while holding the seemingly aloof Tian Xing Academy in high regard. 

But Shrek Academy had always been like this. Xuan Zi couldn't criticize his own academy, so he could only flush red with embarrassment and stutter out an agreement to stay. 

This outing had truly been self-inflicted trouble for Xuan Zi. 

However, he took the matter of the soul bottles very seriously. He quickly instructed the Star Luo Empire to send a message to Shrek Academy, urging them to begin research immediately—otherwise, they might not be able to hold the line later. 

Additionally, though Xuan Zi had forcibly pulled Mu En out of the path of the most powerful Silver Moon Divine Light Wave, he didn't underestimate the attack. 

Thus, Xuan Zi estimated that if he were to endure the full brunt of the attack, his fate would likely be even worse than Mu En's—his body would probably be completely obliterated in an instant. 

From Mu En's final words, Xuan Zi had also learned the limitations of this technique.

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