Douluo: In an extraordinary world, with unparallel understanding!

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After six months of seclusion, Su Yu had naturally become an 8th-level Soul Engineer. 

However, his retreat wasn't just about breaking through to that one level; it had been far more productive. 

Over the course of six months, Su Yu crafted three 8th-level soul tools and five 7th-level components that, when combined, formed 8th-level soul tools. 

This meant Su Yu's skills in creating 8th-level soul tools had reached a certain level of mastery. 

Of course, the price of this progress was that his stock of rare metals had been completely used up. 

From now on, whenever Su Yu wanted to create a soul tool, he would need to buy rare metals at his own expense. 

Su Yu's time in seclusion wasn't a complete isolation from the world; he was just in a focused state, fully dedicated to his craft. 

"So, the research on the Super Battle Armor has reached a bottleneck?" 

As expected, the Super Battle Armor was a complete set of 9th-level soul tools designed for Titled Douluos. 

A newly promoted Titled Douluo, if equipped with the Super Battle Armor, would have a combat power equivalent to a 95th-level Super Douluo. 

In fact, if the armor were well-crafted and suited to the user's abilities, it could even push their power to 96th or 97th level. 

At this level, Su Yu had added a special feature to the armor—*domains*. 

The challenge of embedding a domain within the armor was one of the greatest tests for any Soul Engineer. 

Though Kong Deming's theoretical knowledge was impressive, he had also encountered a bottleneck in this area. 

His own martial soul's domain had been more of a stroke of luck than anything he could analyze fully, and trying to add the concept of a domain to the armor's design was an almost impossible task. 

Still, the theoretical foundation for a domain existed, and Kong Deming saw great potential in this ability. 

By using the spiritual energy in spirit metals as a guide, a domain could be fixed within the armor. Once the domain was activated, it would be like a spiritual field that amplified the soul power or mental energy of the user. 

This would be the most terrifying aspect. 

What was holding Kong Deming back was not only the technical barriers but also the challenge of increasing the spiritual energy within the rare metals. 

Even though Kong Deming's immense soul power allowed him to nourish the spirit metal needed for high-level armor, he was still far from reaching the necessary level to craft the Super Battle Armor that could house a domain. 

Constructing a domain required immense spiritual power. 

"Master, I'm planning to go on a journey for a while." 

Kong Deming was surprised by Su Yu's decision, but didn't react too strongly. 

"Well, you've been in Sun-Moon for almost all your cultivation time. It's a good idea to go out and see more of the world." 

He didn't try to stop Su Yu and actually felt that the decision was wise. 

"Where do you plan to travel to?" 

Su Yu had already made up his mind. He was going to tour the Three Kingdoms of Douluo Continent. 

The main purpose of this trip was to seek the immortal herbs inside the Ice fire Yin-Yang Eyes, so it was clear that he couldn't just stay in the Sun and Moon Empire. 

"I'm thinking of the Star Luo, Heaven Dou, and Spirit Hall territories. There are more soul beast forests there, and you'll find a higher concentration of 100,000-year-old soul beasts. It'll also be easier for me to collect information about them." 

Su Yu obviously didn't want to admit that his goal was to find the immortal herbs. 

His reasoning, however, was sound. 

The last time Kong Deming had searched for a 7th soul ring, he encountered a major issue: there were no suitable 100,000-year-old soul beasts. 

That was a big regret. 

It also highlighted a very practical problem. 

Su Yu's future soul spirits would have to be at least 200,000 years old. Otherwise, he might as well allow the Blue Silver Emperor spirit to add a new soul ring. 

Although the Sun and Moon Empire had many 100,000-year-old soul beasts, they were still inferior compared to the quality and variety found in the Three Kingdoms of Douluo. 

Kong Deming was moved in his heart. 

Since the failed search for the 7th soul ring nearly a year ago, he hadn't found enough information. Now, Su Yu was offering to help gather data on the 100,000-year-old soul beasts by traveling through the Three Kingdoms, and Kong Deming was deeply touched. 

"This is the Silver Moon Shield of Light, take it with you. It'll protect you in case of danger." 

Su Yu took the Silver Moon Shield of Light from Kong Deming. 

"Master, this is your personal soul tool." 

"Ha ha, it's fine. I've made some improvements. This version is simplified and perfected for you to use." 

"Plus, with my Sun Martial Soul's soul ring at six, the Silver Moon Shield of Light isn't the most suited for me anymore." 

"I'm also working on the Sun-Moon Shield of Light. It's taking shape now." 

What Kong Deming didn't say was that the Sun-Moon Shield of Light was his hope for reaching the 10th-level Soul Engineer rank. He planned to use this soul tool to create the first-ever 10th-level soul tool in Douluo's history. 

However, he kept this to himself, and Su Yu had already guessed as much. 

From what he recalled, Kong Deming had attained the rank of 10th-level Soul Engineer with the Silver Moon Shield of Light, and though it wasn't the Sun-Moon Shield of Light, since Kong Deming had already started upgrading his personal soul tool and was focusing on a version more suited to his abilities, the likelihood of success would be much higher. 

Hearing that Kong Deming had begun research on the Sun-Moon Shield of Light, Su Yu felt reassured and accepted the Silver Moon Shield of Light. 

"The Silver Moon Shield of Light's main function is spatial power, but it requires coordination with my Silver Moon Martial Soul." 

"But beyond its spatial abilities, the Silver Moon Shield of Light has other powers that will help you in most situations." 

Su Yu nodded and said his farewells to his teacher. 

Leaving Sun-Moon, Su Yu set his sights on the direction of the Heaven Dou Empire. 

"I'm coming for the Ice fire Yin-Yang Eyes!" 

The search for the immortal herb had become urgent. 

Su Yu was already at the 67th level, and the longer he waited, the less effective the herb would be. 

Of course, the most important factor in using the immortal herb wasn't soul power—it was age.

Su Yu, at the age of fifteen, was at the perfect stage to use the immortal herbs. 

As for Kong Deming, improving his physical condition with the herbs was secondary; the most pressing need was for the transformation of his martial soul. The demand for the herbs was urgent. 

The Ice fire Yin-Yang Eyes also had significant importance for Su Yu's upcoming cultivation. 

"Plant-type soul beasts are always the easiest to deceive, not to mention the immortal herbs growing in the Ice fire Yin-Yang Eyes, which have never seen the outside world." 

This time, Su Yu did indeed have the intention of helping Kong Deming find a suitable soul ring. 

Wasn't the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower the perfect immortal herb for Kong Deming? Turning it into a soul spirit would ensure that, even if they couldn't find a suitable soul beast later on, there would be no need to worry about the 8th and 9th rings. 

Moreover, the physical requirements would be significantly lowered. 

When a soul spirit is given multiple soul rings, the physical demands are not significantly reduced, except for the first one, but the danger is greatly minimized. 

Unlike the tense atmosphere at the Sun-Moon Mountain range between the Star Luo Empire and the Sun Moon Empire, the border between the Sun Moon Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire was much calmer. 

Before the split, the Heaven Dou Empire was already weakened beyond recognition, let alone the fragmented Heaven Soul Empire now. 

They didn't have the vast territory or the strength of the Star Luo Empire. Instead, they set up defensive lines on the borders but didn't dare to engage in direct conflict with the Sun Moon Empire's military. 

Su Yu noticed something important as he traveled through this region. 

There was no natural barrier like the Sun-Moon Mountain range. 

The vast plains, divided between two countries, had been abandoned due to the border dispute. 

Su Yu couldn't help but feel that it was a pity. 

"You're out here so young?" 

Su Yu had entered the Heaven Soul Empire with a merchant caravan, which was the most convenient way to travel between the great empires. 

Crossing the border on one's own could be very risky—one could easily be discovered by stationed troops, or even worse, get caught in a soul cannon bombardment. 

The troops stationed on the borders were often made up of commanders feeling frustrated and bored from being stuck in such a place. 

Merchant caravans, which had fixed routes and paid the necessary fees, were often the safest option. 

The person who spoke to Su Yu was a burly, middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and large eyes. 

The man's soul power was quite strong, and Su Yu judged that he was at least at the Soul King level. 

A Soul King-level expert was a person whom the caravan had paid a significant sum to hire for protection. 

Zou Yunren, true to his name, had also started out young, traveling with a caravan to transport goods. 

The first time he joined a caravan, just like Su Yu, he had paid his way to join and learn the ropes of the trade. 

"Sigh, I was once a handsome young man like you, traveling the world, but now I've been weathered by time." 

Zou Yunren's skin was rough, and his beard was unkempt, showing no trace of his former handsome appearance. 

Su Yu chose to stay silent. 

This guy probably had some issues. 

Zou Yunren found Su Yu quite likable. 

Su Yu's life energy gave him a sense of familiarity. 

His natural talkative nature was quickly brought out. 

"Kid, let me tell you, if you're traveling with a caravan, go with the ones that travel to the Heaven Soul Empire and the Spirit Hall Empire, but stay away from the Star Luo Empire." 

"There's constant tension between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire." 

"Even if your caravan pays, you still have to rely on luck. You might one day be targeted by someone, and the whole caravan could end up losing both people and goods." 

Su Yu nodded in thanks. While this old guy was a bit noisy, his intentions weren't bad, and he had shared some useful advice. 

"Kid, I like you. How about joining my escort team?" 

Zou Yunren was extremely proud of the escort team he had formed.

This was the greatest achievement of his life after years of hard work.

The escort team consisted of two Soul Kings, five Soul Lords, and more than ten Soul Masters!

"Oh?"

Although Su Yu was already a Soul Emperor, Soul Kings and Soul Lords were still considerable combat forces on the Douluo Continent. Even in the Sun Moon Empire's soul master legions, a Soul King could serve as a squad leader for a hundred-member team.

The main purpose of this trip was to search for the Icefire Yin-Yang Eyes, but the idea of traveling also wasn't a mere excuse. 

The old brother's escort team traveled all over, perhaps it was a good fit for him. But first, Su Yu wanted to ask what exactly the escort team did and where they had been in recent years.

"Hehe, see that? This time, we're escorting a large merchant group with the backing of the Tianjia Sect, a major sect with a Soul Emperor stationed as protection."

Su Yu listened to Zou Yunren's description and learned more about the Tianjia Sect.

It was a sect that specialized in combination techniques. 

The disciples within the sect mostly had shield-type martial souls, and the sect itself followed a defensive soul master path.

The Sect Leader of Tianjia Sect and the two Elders had spent many years honing a three-in-one combination technique. With one Soul Emperor and two Soul Kings working together, they could even hold their own against a Soul Saint.

No wonder Zou Yunren felt so proud to have a connection with such a large sect. 

"Old Brother Zou, does your escort team mainly operate between Tianjia Sect and the Sun Moon Empire?" 

Tianjia Sect was located in the western part of the Heaven Soul Empire, near the border. 

It was said that the first leader of the Tianjia Sect was a Soul Douluo-level expert who developed the Tianjia Shield and established the sect at the Heaven Soul Empire's border. 

He also made an ambitious declaration that the Tianjia Sect would be a sect for defensive soul masters, with its disciples serving as the shield of the Heaven Soul Empire.

Tianjia Sect's disciples had often joined the Heaven Soul Empire's army during wartime to handle defense.

Though the sect had declined, it still held an important position in the Heaven Soul Empire, supported by the royal family.

If Zou Yunren's escort team was only operating between Tianjia Sect and the Sun Moon Empire, Su Yu definitely wouldn't join. He was here to travel through the Three Kingdoms of Douluo, not just go to the western border and then return to the Sun Moon Empire's capital. 

"Hehe, kid, you're underestimating my Kuangyun Escort Team."

Zou Yunren laughed proudly, clearly even more pleased with himself.

"This is the first time our escort team is cooperating with Tianjia Sect, and I'm personally escorting them. After this, three Soul King will be enough to protect the merchant team. Our team doesn't only cooperate with Tianjia Sect—we have agreements with plenty of merchant groups, and we've got all the work we can handle!" 

Zou Yunren slapped his chest, assuring Su Yu that once he joined, there would be no shortage of opportunities to travel with the merchant groups.

"By the way, we also have a partnership with the Ironblood Sect."

Zou Yunren really liked Su Yu and felt a sense of closeness to him, especially since Su Yu was only fifteen and already out on an adventure. He was impressed and eager to recruit him.

Zou Yunren's team was built by him personally recruiting the core members. Every time, he had put in a lot of effort, and all of this was his accomplishment. But even with all that, he wasn't sure if it would be enough to attract a fifteen-year-old.

"The Ironblood Sect?"

Su Yu didn't remember much about Tianjia Sect, but he had a vague impression of the Ironblood Sect. The name seemed familiar.

"Hehe, that's right, the Ironblood Sect." Zou Yunren was in a good mood, boasting about the legendary stories of the Ironblood Sect.

"Do you know the Tang Sect?" 

Su Yu nodded but didn't understand what the connection was between the Ironblood Sect and the Tang Sect.

"Ah, the Tang Sect, the once glorious sect from a thousand years ago, was destroyed by the Ironblood Sect!" 

Su Yu's expression twitched.

He couldn't help but glance at Zou Yunren. 

"Are you sure you're lucky?" 

Wow. 

Tianjia Sect sounded like a sect involved in battlefield activities and had quite a bit of conflict with the Sun Moon Empire, yet Zou Yunren was cooperating with them. That was understandable, considering they had paid for the protection, and trade relations were often accepted between both sides. 

But the Ironblood Sect... 

"Old Brother Zou, what other powers does your escort team cooperate with?" 

Su Yu couldn't help but ask. 

"Hehe, if we're talking about sects with Soul Emperor-level experts, then it's only Tianjia Sect and the Ironblood Sect." 

"But my Kuangyun Escort Team doesn't just work with them. We also control a trade route for Blood Essence—Blood Essence is a rare commodity. There's one sect that has privately bought all of it."

"We've been trading Blood Essence for a year, and that sect has been buying it for the same amount of time."

"Although I haven't heard much about their reputation, I suspect they're quite powerful."

As Zou Yunren spoke, Su Yu's expression became increasingly strange. 

(End of chapter)