Douluo Dalu: I have a Soul Beast Clone

Currently, the standout characteristic of Li Chang'an is his rapid cultivation speed, while his martial soul does not exhibit excessively exaggerated power. Perhaps in the eyes of the Heaven Dou Emperor and others, his future potential seems limitless. However, to Qian Renxue, who hails from Spirit Hall, possesses innate rank 20 soul power, and is the inheritor of the Angel God, he is merely average.

Even if he achieves the rank of Ultimate Douluo in the future, he would still be powerless against divine beings, posing no real threat.

However, if he not only cultivated quickly but also displayed the ability to absorb soul rings beyond the standard age limit, Qian Renxue would undoubtedly suspect that he also possesses a divine-level martial soul or is, perhaps, a candidate chosen by the gods. Such potential to ascend to divinity would undoubtedly threaten the Spirit Hall's hegemony!

At that point, there would be no doubt she would move to eliminate him.

Thus, for the currently vulnerable Li Chang'an, it is far better to maintain a façade of normalcy than to take unnecessary risks and provoke Qian Renxue into killing him. Besides, the age of a soul ring can be enhanced later through divine trials. It simply isn't worth jeopardizing his safety for a minor advantage now.

This time, Li Chang'an ventured into the Soul Beast Forest to obtain his third soul ring. As before, one of the three Academy Deans accompanied him. After all, Li Chang'an is now the precious gem of Heaven Dou Academy, regarded as the empire's future protector. Naturally, his safety is paramount.

A Soul Douluo escorting him to hunt a thousand-year-old soul beast in the artificially created forest, where the strongest soul beasts barely reach ten thousand years, ensured no mishaps.

With a loud bang, a towering, six-meter-tall golden-furred ape fell to the ground. The beast, bristling with spiked, metallic fur and exuding an intimidating presence, was slain with ease. The dean calmly retracted his hand and gestured for Li Chang'an to finish the job.

The soul beast was a Golden Steel Ape, its body as tough as steel and aligned with the metal attribute. Its innate skill, Titanium Body, provided an unassuming yet incredibly effective ability—enhancing all of its attributes, including strength, agility, and resilience.

Li Chang'an had chosen this soul beast specifically for its ability to augment attributes. While it was not as extraordinary as a Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, it was still a top-tier soul beast. As a third soul ring, it was more than satisfactory.

With a swift thrust of his Jade Scale Sword, Li Chang'an ended the life of the Golden Steel Ape. Moments later, a purple thousand-year soul ring coalesced above the beast's corpse.

Sitting cross-legged, he guided the soul ring toward himself and began the absorption process.

The process went smoothly, and Li Chang'an completed the absorption in just half an hour. However, to avoid arousing the suspicion of the accompanying dean, he pretended to meditate for another three hours before "reluctantly" opening his eyes.

"How is it? What soul skill did you acquire?" the dean inquired eagerly.

Li Chang'an held the Jade Scale Sword in his hand, focused intently for a moment, then gave a low shout:

"Third Soul Skill: Sword Core!"

As he spoke, the dean sensed a sudden surge in Li Chang'an's aura. The skill was evidently a powerful augmentation ability.

"This soul skill allows me to increase my soul power by 30%!" Li Chang'an explained.

"Excellent!"

The dean's eyes lit up as he nodded in approval, stroking his beard in satisfaction.

A 30% boost may not sound like much, but augmentation skills like this are incredibly valuable. A 30% enhancement during combat can often be the deciding factor between victory and defeat. It does far more for a soul master's combat ability than merely increasing their raw soul power.

In reality, Li Chang'an had downplayed the skill's effects. Sword Core not only increased soul power but also enhanced physical attributes such as strength, speed, resilience, and even the sharpness of his sword. It was an all-encompassing boost!

Such comprehensive augmentation made the skill far superior to one that only enhanced soul power. In battle, the ability to raise all attributes simultaneously provides a decisive, crushing advantage.

As he pondered the future potential of the skill, Li Chang'an couldn't help but wonder about one thing:

Would soul skills remain functional after reaching rank 100 and ascending to godhood?

If they did, would the 30% augmentation remain unchanged?

If so, the implications would be terrifying.

However, Li Chang'an suspected this was unlikely. In the original story, soul skills appeared to have limitations. For example, Xiao Wu's Invincible Golden Body, which granted temporary invulnerability, could be broken by divine power or ten-thousand-year soul techniques.

Such abilities likely only applied within the mortal realm. Upon ascending to godhood, their effects would probably diminish or cease altogether.

"Time to head back," Li Chang'an declared.

Now that his goal was achieved, there was no reason to linger in the Soul Beast Forest.

"On the way back, I should pick up some gifts for Yanzi. It's about time I made our relationship official," Li Chang'an thought.

After weeks of interaction, his relationship with Dugu Yan had reached the point where only a confession was needed to become a couple. He felt the timing was just right to secure this beautiful serpent maiden as his own.

After all, what if Yu Tianheng—the four-legged lizard—managed to steal her away?

Li Chang'an knew Yu Tianheng had been hanging around Dugu Yan recently, clearly trying to court her. Even a blind person could see his intentions.

Meanwhile, at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy…

"Yu Tianheng! How many times do I have to tell you? I'm not interested in you! Stop bothering me!" Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes glinted coldly as she spoke in a frosty tone.

"Yanzi…" Yu Tianheng gazed at her with a deep, yearning expression. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, she interrupted him mercilessly.

"Stop!"

"Who gave you the right to call me Yanzi?"

Dugu Yan's patience had reached its limit. She cut him off sharply, her tone brimming with disdain. "Please address me as Miss Dugu or Dugu Yan!"

"...Alright," Yu Tianheng said, his face flushing with embarrassment. No woman had ever spoken to him this way. If not for the fact that her grandfather was a Title Douluo…

Suppressing his anger, he forced himself to speak calmly. "Miss Dugu, I came today to tell you something important."

"Just spit it out already!"

Dugu Yan, clearly fed up, glared at him impatiently. The constant pestering from this Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's Young Master was driving her to the brink of a breakdown.