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Chapter 8: The Shocked Sword Douluo
"How is this possible..."
Sword Douluo felt his current soul power level and stared incredulously at Ye Cheng, who held the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower and looked as ethereal as an immortal. He exclaimed, "Even if Ning Fengzhi used his full power, he could at most let my soul power barely touch the threshold of level 97. You... you actually let me leap three levels and reach the peerless realm!"
On the Douluo Continent, when a Soul Master cultivated to the Titled Douluo realm, the gap between each level was like that between heaven and earth, especially after level 95. Even a single level increase in soul power brought immense progress.
Generally, soul power exceeding level 95 was considered a watershed for Titled Douluo. Between levels 91 and 95, while the soul power gap was not small, it could still be fully compensated for by advantages in martial soul quality or through soul bones and soul skills.
However, if one of two battling Titled Douluo surpassed level 95, the situation would change.
This was because a level 96 Titled Douluo would be 20% stronger in soul power than a level 95 Titled Douluo.
This 20% should not be underestimated; when applied in actual combat, it brought immense improvements to a Soul Master in all aspects.
Once soul power was 20% stronger, it could no longer be compensated for by martial soul quality or ordinary soul skills and soul bones.
Unless there was a fundamental difference in their soul skills, or the quality and age of their soul bones were very high, a level 96 Titled Douluo was powerful enough to completely suppress any Titled Douluo below level 95.
After a level 96 Titled Douluo broke through to level 97, their soul power would increase by another 30% on top of its current strength.
From level 97 to level 98, it would increase by another 40%.
As for the final jump from level 98 to level 99, soul power would increase by another 50%.
All told, from level 96 to level 99, Sword Douluo could feel that the soul power within his body was more than double, almost triple, what it was before.
What did that even mean?
The strongest known amplification-type martial soul on the Douluo Continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, theoretically provided a maximum boost that merely doubled one's power.
Even so, in the world of the Douluo Continent, such an amplification was already considered monstrously and incredibly powerful. Ordinary support-type Soul Masters, for example, could only achieve 5% or 10%.
One could imagine how shocked Sword Douluo was when he realized his soul power had been boosted by nearly three times in an instant.
The amplification effect of Ye Cheng's martial soul completely defied common sense. It was simply too world-shattering.
'He's already this surprised by a boost of nearly three times. If I told you my full amplification is tenfold, wouldn't you just pass out from excitement?' Ye Cheng held the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower as the divine light of amplification on it slowly receded. He silently grumbled in his heart.
Although all his Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower's amplification soul skills could reach a maximum of tenfold, he could, of course, selectively choose the amplification multiplier. Just like now, he only boosted Sword Douluo by nearly three times, stopping once his soul power reached the Limit Douluo realm.
As for why he didn't give him the full tenfold amplification, it was, of course, unnecessary. After all, amplifying others also required him to consume his own soul power, and the stronger the amplified person, the more soul power would be consumed.
Boosting a Soul King and a Titled Douluo by tenfold required different amounts of his own soul power.
With his current power as a Limit Douluo, if he really gave a level 96 Sword Douluo a tenfold boost, the drain on his own soul power would also be considerable.
Furthermore, when they started fighting later, what if Sword Douluo became too strong, and he ended up capsizing in the gutter and getting killed instead? That would be a huge joke.
If Ye Cheng's strength had truly been accumulated through painstaking cultivation, he naturally wouldn't have such worries. But the key was that his power came from thin air; he simply lacked the confidence of a true expert that should have come with it.
Naturally, he would choose to be a bit more cautious.
"Please begin."
Ye Cheng retracted his martial soul, standing with his hands behind his back. "Now that our soul power levels are the same, let me see what kind of prowess the renowned Seven Kill Sword possesses."
The shock in Sword Douluo's eyes slowly receded.
Feeling the incomparably powerful soul power within his body, unlike anything he'd felt before, his confidence became unprecedentedly strong.
But looking at Ye Cheng, who was perfectly calm and collected, and still hadn't even summoned his martial soul, he frowned and said, "My level is now the same as yours. Are you still not summoning your martial soul? Do you look down on this old man!?"
In the Soul Master world, it was general practice for a Soul Master to summon their martial soul and declare their soul power level before engaging in a spar or combat. This was both a sign of respect for the opponent and an unwritten rule.
'Can I say I forgot?'
Ye Cheng felt awkward internally, having been too preoccupied with putting on airs and acting profound.
It couldn't be helped; he was just an ordinary person before, after all. He had never fought a Soul Master, so it was only natural for him to forget this unwritten rule in a momentary oversight.
'Damn it, what do I do now?'
'If I summon my martial soul now, it would be far too awkward.'
'No, I'll just have to commit to this mistake.'
Ye Cheng made up his mind. He believed that even without using his martial soul, relying on the immense power granted by his persona, he could still defeat Sword Douluo.
Therefore, he remained silent outwardly, merely smiling faintly, his face full of profound mystery.
However, in Sword Douluo's eyes, this demeanor conveyed a clear message: 'I don't even need my martial soul to deal with you.'
"Arrogant!"
Sword Douluo was finally enraged.
In his opinion, Ye Cheng was simply too disdainful.
And incredibly arrogant!
One must know that in this world, the majority of a Soul Master's strength was tied to their martial soul. Without using their martial soul, a Soul Master couldn't even use their most important soul skills.
And if a Soul Master didn't use their soul skills, even if they possessed abundant soul power and a strong physical constitution, how much of their overall strength could they truly exert?
Sword Douluo admitted that Ye Cheng was strong, but to think he could be defeated without using his martial soul—especially when he himself was now enhanced—was truly too arrogant and ignorant.
Was his, Sword Douluo's, Seven Kill Sword to be looked down upon so easily?
Thinking of this, Sword Douluo could no longer hold back.
Sword Qi erupted!
His entire being transformed into a sharp force, instantly cutting through the air. The Seven Kill Sword in his hand tilted, and his first soul ring, which had transformed into a star, lit up. His sword qi instantly surged, slashing down toward Ye Cheng.
Kill!
Terrifying sword qi shot out into the void, tearing through space and revealing a pitch-black expanse. Ye Cheng was right there, within the rift in the void.
Feeling the power within it, Ye Cheng knew the ability to slice open the void didn't come from the sword strike alone. It had to be the effect of his martial soul combined with a soul skill.
If Sword Douluo's Seven Kill Sword could cleave through space purely on its own, or by relying solely on sword qi, then not even a god could block a single move from him. That would mean his Sword Dao realm had already become extraordinary, reaching the absolute pinnacle.
This was clearly impossible.
However, despite that, facing the sharpness of this sword, Ye Cheng naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to receive this move with his physical body. With a whoosh, his entire being instantly vanished from his original spot.
!
Sword Douluo's heart jolted. He suddenly remembered the soul bones Ye Cheng had obtained from slaying numerous hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts, which he had seen in the video earlier.
Evidently, this sudden disappearance technique of his was likely a skill from a soul bone.
It seemed that even without using his martial soul, relying solely on his soul bone skills, this Ye Cheng would certainly not be easy to deal with.
(end of chapter)
"How is this possible..."
Sword Douluo felt his current soul power level and stared incredulously at Ye Cheng, who held the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower and looked as ethereal as an immortal. He exclaimed, "Even if Ning Fengzhi used his full power, he could at most let my soul power barely touch the threshold of level 97. You... you actually let me leap three levels and reach the peerless realm!"
On the Douluo Continent, when a Soul Master cultivated to the Titled Douluo realm, the gap between each level was like that between heaven and earth, especially after level 95. Even a single level increase in soul power brought immense progress.
Generally, soul power exceeding level 95 was considered a watershed for Titled Douluo. Between levels 91 and 95, while the soul power gap was not small, it could still be fully compensated for by advantages in martial soul quality or through soul bones and soul skills.
However, if one of two battling Titled Douluo surpassed level 95, the situation would change.
This was because a level 96 Titled Douluo would be 20% stronger in soul power than a level 95 Titled Douluo.
This 20% should not be underestimated; when applied in actual combat, it brought immense improvements to a Soul Master in all aspects.
Once soul power was 20% stronger, it could no longer be compensated for by martial soul quality or ordinary soul skills and soul bones.
Unless there was a fundamental difference in their soul skills, or the quality and age of their soul bones were very high, a level 96 Titled Douluo was powerful enough to completely suppress any Titled Douluo below level 95.
After a level 96 Titled Douluo broke through to level 97, their soul power would increase by another 30% on top of its current strength.
From level 97 to level 98, it would increase by another 40%.
As for the final jump from level 98 to level 99, soul power would increase by another 50%.
All told, from level 96 to level 99, Sword Douluo could feel that the soul power within his body was more than double, almost triple, what it was before.
What did that even mean?
The strongest known amplification-type martial soul on the Douluo Continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, theoretically provided a maximum boost that merely doubled one's power.
Even so, in the world of the Douluo Continent, such an amplification was already considered monstrously and incredibly powerful. Ordinary support-type Soul Masters, for example, could only achieve 5% or 10%.
One could imagine how shocked Sword Douluo was when he realized his soul power had been boosted by nearly three times in an instant.
The amplification effect of Ye Cheng's martial soul completely defied common sense. It was simply too world-shattering.
'He's already this surprised by a boost of nearly three times. If I told you my full amplification is tenfold, wouldn't you just pass out from excitement?' Ye Cheng held the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower as the divine light of amplification on it slowly receded. He silently grumbled in his heart.
Although all his Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Tower's amplification soul skills could reach a maximum of tenfold, he could, of course, selectively choose the amplification multiplier. Just like now, he only boosted Sword Douluo by nearly three times, stopping once his soul power reached the Limit Douluo realm.
As for why he didn't give him the full tenfold amplification, it was, of course, unnecessary. After all, amplifying others also required him to consume his own soul power, and the stronger the amplified person, the more soul power would be consumed.
Boosting a Soul King and a Titled Douluo by tenfold required different amounts of his own soul power.
With his current power as a Limit Douluo, if he really gave a level 96 Sword Douluo a tenfold boost, the drain on his own soul power would also be considerable.
Furthermore, when they started fighting later, what if Sword Douluo became too strong, and he ended up capsizing in the gutter and getting killed instead? That would be a huge joke.
If Ye Cheng's strength had truly been accumulated through painstaking cultivation, he naturally wouldn't have such worries. But the key was that his power came from thin air; he simply lacked the confidence of a true expert that should have come with it.
Naturally, he would choose to be a bit more cautious.
"Please begin."
Ye Cheng retracted his martial soul, standing with his hands behind his back. "Now that our soul power levels are the same, let me see what kind of prowess the renowned Seven Kill Sword possesses."
The shock in Sword Douluo's eyes slowly receded.
Feeling the incomparably powerful soul power within his body, unlike anything he'd felt before, his confidence became unprecedentedly strong.
But looking at Ye Cheng, who was perfectly calm and collected, and still hadn't even summoned his martial soul, he frowned and said, "My level is now the same as yours. Are you still not summoning your martial soul? Do you look down on this old man!?"
In the Soul Master world, it was general practice for a Soul Master to summon their martial soul and declare their soul power level before engaging in a spar or combat. This was both a sign of respect for the opponent and an unwritten rule.
'Can I say I forgot?'
Ye Cheng felt awkward internally, having been too preoccupied with putting on airs and acting profound.
It couldn't be helped; he was just an ordinary person before, after all. He had never fought a Soul Master, so it was only natural for him to forget this unwritten rule in a momentary oversight.
'Damn it, what do I do now?'
'If I summon my martial soul now, it would be far too awkward.'
'No, I'll just have to commit to this mistake.'
Ye Cheng made up his mind. He believed that even without using his martial soul, relying on the immense power granted by his persona, he could still defeat Sword Douluo.
Therefore, he remained silent outwardly, merely smiling faintly, his face full of profound mystery.
However, in Sword Douluo's eyes, this demeanor conveyed a clear message: 'I don't even need my martial soul to deal with you.'
"Arrogant!"
Sword Douluo was finally enraged.
In his opinion, Ye Cheng was simply too disdainful.
And incredibly arrogant!
One must know that in this world, the majority of a Soul Master's strength was tied to their martial soul. Without using their martial soul, a Soul Master couldn't even use their most important soul skills.
And if a Soul Master didn't use their soul skills, even if they possessed abundant soul power and a strong physical constitution, how much of their overall strength could they truly exert?
Sword Douluo admitted that Ye Cheng was strong, but to think he could be defeated without using his martial soul—especially when he himself was now enhanced—was truly too arrogant and ignorant.
Was his, Sword Douluo's, Seven Kill Sword to be looked down upon so easily?
Thinking of this, Sword Douluo could no longer hold back.
Sword Qi erupted!
His entire being transformed into a sharp force, instantly cutting through the air. The Seven Kill Sword in his hand tilted, and his first soul ring, which had transformed into a star, lit up. His sword qi instantly surged, slashing down toward Ye Cheng.
Kill!
Terrifying sword qi shot out into the void, tearing through space and revealing a pitch-black expanse. Ye Cheng was right there, within the rift in the void.
Feeling the power within it, Ye Cheng knew the ability to slice open the void didn't come from the sword strike alone. It had to be the effect of his martial soul combined with a soul skill.
If Sword Douluo's Seven Kill Sword could cleave through space purely on its own, or by relying solely on sword qi, then not even a god could block a single move from him. That would mean his Sword Dao realm had already become extraordinary, reaching the absolute pinnacle.
This was clearly impossible.
However, despite that, facing the sharpness of this sword, Ye Cheng naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to receive this move with his physical body. With a whoosh, his entire being instantly vanished from his original spot.
!
Sword Douluo's heart jolted. He suddenly remembered the soul bones Ye Cheng had obtained from slaying numerous hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts, which he had seen in the video earlier.
Evidently, this sudden disappearance technique of his was likely a skill from a soul bone.
It seemed that even without using his martial soul, relying solely on his soul bone skills, this Ye Cheng would certainly not be easy to deal with.
(end of chapter)
