Chapter 58

Although both are soul rings bestowed by the Huang Jinshu, the soul skills of Zhao Xuanzhen and Tang Wulin are vastly different.

Due to Zhao Xuanzhen's own unique nature, he could not be granted the title of "Son of Nature" by the life core; the Huang Jinshu Spirit instead used life energy to stimulate the origin of his True Self Martial Soul, forming his fourth soul skill: Taiji Domain!

Setting aside rare cases like the Demon-Breaking Domain or the Noble Ring, if we speak only of conventional combat-type domains, it is a soul skill that every Douluo soul master yearns to possess.

As everyone knows, the master of a domain is the controller of everything within its range, gaining immense bonuses while suppressing the abilities of all opponents.

With the strength of one growing and the other waning, the domain master creates a massive gap between themselves and their enemy; for soul masters of the same rank, the one possessing a domain holds an absolute advantage.

The domain effects on the Douluo Continent are diverse, and their strengths vary; Zhao Xuanzhen's Taiji Domain undoubtedly stands at the peak of the domain world. The inherent power of his True Self is one aspect, and the Huang Jinshu is the other.

Besides buffing himself and weakening his opponents, the Taiji Domain also contains two other effects.

First, it carries the power of Yin-Yang decomposition; when other domains face the Taiji Domain, their power is greatly reduced. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's Dark Demon Domain was the first to experience this domain suppression.

Second, the Huang Jinshu is a symbol of light and life, a top-tier existence among plant-type lifeforms. After the Taiji Domain fused with the Huang Jinshu's energy, it also suppresses plant-type soul masters and those with dark attributes.

Very unfortunately, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was hit again, its Dark Demon Domain almost entirely covered by the Taiji Domain.

Originally holding a slight disadvantage, the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger had intended to release its domain to turn the tables and ruthlessly crush the human before it. However, with both domains appearing together, the tiger's disadvantageous situation suddenly turned into a high-pressure uphill battle!

"Qi moves mountains and rivers, suppress!"

His first soul ring flared with intense light. Zhao Xuanzhen drew a circle with both hands; the Yin and Yang Qi within the Taiji Domain were incredibly dense, causing the power of his Yin-Yang attribute soul skills to surge. An incomparable black-and-white Taiji diagram appeared, descending upon the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger like Mount Tai.

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger hissed and roared, the gale biting cold. Its vicious Evil God Hook at the end of its tail circled and spiraled, causing the surrounding air to fluctuate violently. The Evil God Hook overflowed with extreme evil power, then straightened, extended, and lengthened, finally transforming into a gray spike filled with evil energy!

Evil God Spike!

"Boom—"

The Evil God Spike tore through the black-and-white air currents along its path, charging forward toward the Qi-moving mountains and rivers. Zhao Xuanzhen brought his palms together, the Taiji diagram instantly wrapped back, and the Yin and Yang Qi exploded with a bang. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger retreated under the impact, and when it stabilized its form, its four limbs had already plowed two deep trenches into the Life-and-Death Arena, half its body sunken into the churned-up earth.

"Roar—"

The tiger's roar was no longer majestic; the god-level soul beast now revealed the air of a cornered beast. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger raised its upper body, and countless light orbs containing the three attributes of evil, wind, and thunder gathered above its head.

Eerie gray electric light accompanied the primal evil energy, condensing into the most powerful innate soul skill of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger clan: Dark Demon Evil God Thunder!

"Zhen character, Yang Thunder!"

Among the Bagua runes floating in the Taiji Domain, the Zhen hexagram of Thunder suddenly shone. Thunderclouds rolled over the Life-and-Death Arena, and the brilliant heavenly thunder descended like a god. The most rigid and fierce Heavenly Yang Thunder collided violently with the Dark Demon Evil God Thunder!

The moment the two thunderbolts intertwined, the world seemed to lose its voice. The Dark Demon Evil God Thunder was frantic and violent, wanting to destroy everything around it, while the Heavenly Yang Thunder was righteous and awe-inspiring, like a scorching sun burning away filth.

The Dark Demon Evil God Thunder began to dissipate, and the Dark Demon Domain cracked accordingly. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's fur peeled away under the brilliant golden thunder, revealing charred and ugly flesh.

Scorched smoke rose, and as the last wisp of evil thunder was annihilated, the Heavenly Yang Thunder transformed into a giant pillar, pinning the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger into the ground.

A golden figure broke through the scorched smoke. Under the illumination of the remaining thunder, the dark golden claw blades extending from his fingertips were bone-chillingly cold!

The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's beast eyes revealed a fear of death. The moment Zhao Xuanzhen descended, the Dark Golden Terrorclaw stabbed out coldly, the sharp claws striking a gray air shield—the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's final line of defense!

The innate soul skill Evil God Protection, triggered by the Evil God bloodline, constructed an indestructible protective shield. Compared to the similar soul skill Invincible Golden Body, Evil God Protection's defensive limit was slightly lower, but its duration was longer than the Invincible Golden Body!

Separated by a layer of gray air shield, the human and the beast stared at each other again. The human's gaze was cold and stern, spitting out an undying killing intent, while the soul beast roared in fury. The dark golden blade, only inches away, was like the Grim Reaper's life-taking scythe, striking the Evil God Protection once, twice... countless times, emitting a series of teeth-aching cutting sounds!

"Screech, screech..."

The Evil God Protection was about to dissipate, the cracks in the gray air shield constantly expanding. The Dark Demon Evil God Tiger was severely wounded and had no power to resist, only able to watch helplessly as the human expressionlessly delivered death to it inch by inch!

Finally, the Evil God Protection shattered under the storm-like attacks of the Dark Golden Terrorclaw, and the claw blade stabbed into the pitch-black "King" character on the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's head, piercing its brain in one strike!

The notorious god-level soul beast turned into dust, the Taiji Domain slowly retracted, and the Bagua phantom returned to silence.

"What a pity. No matter how much the values are stacked, a fake without the Evil God bloodline can never compare to the real Dark Demon Evil God Tiger."

Zhao Xuanzhen sighed. If he had traveled back twenty thousand years, he would indeed have been interested in experiencing the power of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. Perhaps the creation of this Life-and-Death Arena also held the meaning of commemorating this legendary evil soul beast.

Life and death decided, Zhao Xuanzhen automatically exited the Life-and-Death Arena. Walking out of the gray fog, he saw his homeroom teacher, Shen Yi, looking shocked.

"Shen Laoshi, are there any other make-up exams?"

Shen Yi was already speechless, shaking her head blankly.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going."

"... Alright."

The final make-up exam ended. Zhao Xuanzhen left the Life-and-Death Arena. He did not choose to return to Sea God Island to cultivate or leave the city for the Spirit Tower headquarters; instead, unexpectedly, he went to three places in succession.

The Mecha Design Association, the Mecha Manufacturing Association, and the Mecha Repair Association.

He registered his identity at the three major secondary occupation associations and accepted some tasks.

As a wealthy second-generation heir of the Spirit Tower, Zhao Xuanzhen, with the Xuanlong Street at his back, naturally didn't care about the meager rewards of the tasks; he only needed practical combat training for his secondary occupations, especially mecha manufacturing.

The martial souls of Shi Laike students were at least of an upper-middle level, and the quality of tasks released by the professional associations was generally high. Doing them personally allowed Zhao Xuanzhen to gain rich practical experience, laying the foundation for making his two-character Doukai in the future.

The three major associations were located in three directions of Shi Laike Academy, far from each other, and he had to pass membership tests. Zhao Xuanzhen spent quite a bit of time, and by the time he finished everything, the daylight had already turned into a starry sky.

Bathing in the moonlight as he returned to Sea God Island, Zhao Xuanzhen admired the night scenery along the way. The night was like ink, the surface of Sea God Lake was like a clear mirror, the shimmering waves connected in patches, and the drooping branches of the ancient trees by the lake swayed gently in the night breeze, occasionally brushing across the water, startling up a few fine ripples.

By the side of Sea God Lake, a sword tip pierced through this tranquility.

The bright yellow longsword was like the flowing light of a galaxy, each swing bringing up a dazzling trajectory, the moonlight split into scattered frost and snow by the sword light.

A golden ponytail swayed with the moves, the ends of the hair sweeping across the back of her neck soaked with sweat, condensing into a wet arc under the moonlight. The girl's azure pupils were clearer than the water of Sea God Lake, currently burning with scorching sharpness.

Ye Xinglan, Star God Sword.

In another space-time, the reason Ye Xinglan was able to comprehend sword intent at such a young age was that her peerless sword talent, unremitting efforts, and never-give-up will were all indispensable.

Zhao Xuanzhen stopped his steps, gazing at the golden-haired girl dancing with her sword under the moon. The sound of the sword tip breaking through the air was always as crisp and sharp as tearing silk, her fingers gripping the sword tightly, sweat drops falling into the carvings on the hilt, the Star God Sword blade reflecting her stubborn face.

The fireflies startled by the lake circled around the girl, but always retreated in a panic the moment they touched the sword light, as if fearing this paranoid sharpness.

Practice one move ten times, practice one move a hundred times.

When she sheathed her sword on the last move, the Star God Sword vibrated in the humid air for a long time. Ye Xinglan panted slightly, a strand of golden hair falling down, trembling with her heaving chest.

The girl slowly turned around, azure and pitch-black eyes meeting. Raising her hand to wipe the sweat from her eyelashes, she had a very unusual look: calm, focused, and sharp as a sword.

"My sword... how is it?"

Ye Xinglan didn't care why Zhao Xuanzhen appeared by Sea God Lake in the middle of the night; she cared more about the opinion of the peer powerhouse she viewed as her target on her swordsmanship.

"Your realm has improved greatly, close to comprehending sword intent, but it is still not pure enough." Zhao Xuanzhen pointed to where her heart was in her chest.

"You have concerns in your heart, filling your chest; if there is no resolution, it often becomes an obsession."

These words hit the nail on the head, which was exactly the dilemma Ye Xinglan was facing. Her snow-white teeth bit deeply into her crimson lips, and she said faintly:

"Since the day I failed the Tianhai Alliance competition, I have thought about many things this past year, but I haven't gotten any answers.

Why, at a similar age, am I not as strong as you?

Why has my diligent daily effort in cultivation not narrowed the gap?

Why did defending my honor ultimately backfire..."

Three questions in a row. Ye Xinglan looked up at the starry sky, the stars shining brightly, but not a single star could untie the doubts piled up in her entire heart.

"I don't understand what is right and what is wrong. Too many questions fill my mind. Could it be that the beliefs I have always held onto really don't have a shred of merit?

My past seems to be a failure, my present is confused, and my future is a chaos...

Zhao Xuanzhen, you are one of the origins of my inner confusion. The person who tied the bell must untie it. Now I want to use the Star God Sword to seek an answer from you!"

Ye Xinglan bowed very solemnly, slowly and resolutely raising the Star God Sword. Soul masters of the Extreme Emotion Sword Dao fear being locked by their state of mind the most; if she doesn't resolve her inner knot, she will likely stop at sword intent for life.

The Star God Sword cut through the night fog, the sword tip splashing thousands of cold stars, the clanging sword sound shattering the waves by the lake. Zhao Xuanzhen's clothes suddenly spread out, the arc drawn by his cloud hands inducing the water vapor on the lake, his palms completely neutralizing the Star God Sword's swift thrusts.

His palms slid along the sword spine, his five fingers moving like plucking zither strings. Ye Xinglan's pupils trembled slightly, the sluggish feeling coming from the hilt feeling exactly like stabbing into a mass of viscous moonlight.

The Star God Sword's sword Qi surged, the ribbon binding the girl's hair snapped, her long golden hair spreading out like a waterfall in the moonlight, covering half of her moving face. The dead branches under her feet exploded at the sound, fine wood chips mixed with grass leaves weaving into a translucent curtain between the two.

Zhao Xuanzhen's gaze was calm, walking forward step by step against the Star God Sword. When he started, the air within a radius of three meters condensed into an invisible domain, the golden sword tip sinking deep into a quagmire, the Taiji force flowing upstream along the sword body, turning the Star God Sword's fierce killing moves into soft silk.

His palm tapped the longsword lightly, his pushing hand seemingly slow but actually fast. Ye Xinglan felt the world turn upside down, a cold touch suddenly coming from the hilt, the Star God Sword already resting against her neck.

Staring at Zhao Xuanzhen, who was holding the Star God Sword in reverse, Ye Xinglan bit her lip, the smell of blood seeping between her teeth: "That is your intent, an intent even above Na'er's spear intent!

If I weren't at a critical stage of comprehending the Star God Sword intent, I would never have discovered that obscure intent in my life. Can you tell me what kind of intent it is, to be so profound!"

"Want to know?"

Zhao Xuanzhen chuckled, letting go of the Star God Sword. Then, huge waves suddenly rose on the lake, water curtains filled the sky, and a long dragon roar came from the depths of Sea God Lake. The lake water climbed, thousands of water droplets condensing into a huge water dragon.

The night wind twisted into nine green chains, red lotus flames exploded in the void, the two intertwining with the water dragon and soaring into the sky. The water dragon, wind locks, and flame lotus intertwined behind Zhao Xuanzhen, the Taiji Yin-Yang diagram under his feet constantly expanding, and expanding again.

In the halo of light burst forth by various scenes, Zhao Xuanzhen stood in the center of the Taiji diagram, his clothes spotless, the violent natural power being nothing but a docile toy in his palm.

Pointing his fingers across the void, the Taiji diagram shrank into a black-and-white light ball the size of a pearl, falling into his palm and rotating silently. Zhao Xuanzhen squeezed slightly, the light ball shattering into starlit light powder, the wind stopping, the fire extinguishing, the water dragon sinking into the heart of the lake, the violent elements returning to the world.

"How is it possible, all the power contains your intent..."

Ye Xinglan's worldview collapsed a bit, completely unable to understand the will Zhao Xuanzhen mastered.

"For me, whether it's a sword, a spear, or elements, it's just a form of expression of intent," Zhao Xuanzhen said calmly.

"Taking in all things in the world, forging the Dao of the True Self, this is the intent I have comprehended: Dao Intent."

"Dao Intent..." Ye Xinglan murmured.

"You are worried about gains and losses, caring about the past, worrying about the future, and thus you have lost the present."

Zhao Xuanzhen rose with the wind, flying toward Sea God Island, his gentle voice wafting far away: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift from heaven.

I once thought that cultivation was just being myself, but later I added one thing: always cherish today as if it were a gift."

"The past cannot be changed, the future need not be worried about; all I can do is grasp the present, and immerse myself in the sword..."

Having realized something, Ye Xinglan looked at the slender and upright figure gradually moving away, shouting loudly:

"That day was my fault, I'm sorry!"

"It's in the past."

Zhao Xuanzhen waved his hand. This wasn't the first time Ye Xinglan had apologized, and he wasn't petty enough to haggle with a ten-year-old girl.

Hearing this, a look of disappointment flashed in Ye Xinglan's eyes. In her understanding, it was just time erasing the previous unpleasantness; Zhao Xuanzhen hadn't said "I forgive you" himself.

"Right is right, wrong is wrong. Since I did wrong, I have a responsibility to make compensation. I must hear those words..."

(End of chapter)