Douluo: Glory of the Unrivaled Angel

Word Count: 2,986 Words

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Three months later, under the cover of night, Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard glowed with a golden light before the Ancient Golden Tree. This radiant shimmer had lingered there for a full three months. The Inner Courtyard students, initially stunned to learn that Ling Bai was condensing his Spirit Core, had gradually shifted to speculating when he might emerge from seclusion. Some even started a small betting pool.

Two young women finished their day's courses and paused in front of the golden light while passing by the Ancient Golden Tree. The first, a spirited red-haired girl with a heroic air, reached out and knocked on the light. A crisp sound, like knocking on an eggshell, echoed back with a series of sharp 'ping' sounds. She pursed her lips and turned to the elegant, platinum-blonde beauty beside her.

"The day after tomorrow, you'll be leaving for Sun Moon Imperial Academy. Why hasn't this guy finished yet?!"

Naturally, these two were Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Ning Tian let out a soft sigh at these words. The day of the two academies' exchange was approaching. She and Ling Bai would soon face another two and a half years apart, and with a year and a half of Star Dou Forest experience training ahead, their separation would last a full four years.

"Hey! Get up already! Come on, wake up!"

Wu Feng, growing impatient, cupped her hands around her mouth like a trumpet and shouted at the golden orb. Ning Tian, caught between laughter and tears, quickly covered her mouth and said helplessly:

"Xiao Feng, Bai-ge is condensing his Spirit Core, not oversleeping. Besides, the Angelic Domain is protecting him, your voice can't reach him at all. Let's head back and rest early."

"I'm only shouting for fun since it can't get through. What if he suffers a cultivation deviation otherwise?"

Wu Feng grinned, then grabbed Ning Tian's small hand and turned to leave. Just then, web-like cracks suddenly spread across the golden light, and an even brighter radiance burst out.

The golden glow instantly expanded, transforming into a blazing sun that rose high into the sky. The darkness seemed to be illuminated, bursting with eternal light.

BOOM—

The sun reached its zenith and exploded with a thunderous sound, resembling the most beautiful fireworks wilting at their peak. The sky did not dim. Instead, a figure stepped out from the sun, radiating an even more dazzling golden light.

The figure appeared in a sacred cruciform posture. Six resplendent golden wings outshone even the moon's gentle silver glow. He needed no wing flaps to soar. Simply by spreading all six wings, he summoned a fierce wind that lifted him above the sea of clouds.

His face was bathed in moonlight, and his expression was tranquil, as if he had broken free from mortal constraints, a Seraphim whose beauty even darkness feared to approach. As the golden domain unfolded, it instantly enveloped both the Inner and Outer Courtyards of Shrek Academy. Countless angels soared up from flames, their voices chanting holy hymns, as if exalting the might of a deity.

The majestic sound of the hymns roused everyone from slumber. Hundreds, thousands of students stepped out of their dormitories from both courtyards. They looked at the holy angels blazing all around, rubbed their eyes in disbelief, and then looked up. When they saw the golden six-winged figure in the sky, their expressions gradually shifted from awe to reverence and infatuation.

Streams of light flew skyward as teachers and students, each at least a Spirit Saint, rose up. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the true identity of the six-winged figure.

It had scared them to death. For a moment, they had thought some audacious fool dared to attack Shrek Academy at night. It turned out that Ling Bai had emerged from seclusion.

"Sister Ruoruo, let's go down! My Martial Spirit is being suppressed so much by the Angelic Domain, I can hardly bear it…"

The Golden Crow Holy Lady Wu Ming gasped for breath high in the sky as if someone were strangling her. Her face was flushed bright red. The Seraphim, as the ruler of the skies, suppressed all flight-type Martial Spirits. The Golden Crow, being fire-attributed, suffered dual suppression when encountering the Seraphim's Ultimate Fire, making it impossible for Wu Ming to remain aloft for long.

"Little Junior Brother has grown so strong…"

Han Ruoruo did not hear her best friend's call. Her beautiful eyes stared fixedly at Ling Bai. Her lashes, like reeds by the lakeshore, swayed gently in the wind.

It was not only the Golden Crow Holy Lady Wu Ming who was suppressed. Within Shrek Academy, among those below the rank of Titled Douluo, any Martial Spirit associated with fire, ice, light, darkness, poison, or similar attributes related to light, heat, dark, or cold trembled at this moment. They emitted terrified whimpers to their masters. Even Ma Xiaotao with her Ultimate Fire and Huo Yuhao with his Ultimate Ice were not spared.

The Evil Fire Phoenix and Ice Jade Scorpion were no different from ordinary Martial Spirits before Ling Bai, who now embodied the combined might of Ultimate Holy, Ultimate Light, and Ultimate Fire, and had prematurely unleashed his six-winged form. They could only kneel and beg for the angel's mercy.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong leaned on each other for support. Ultimate Light stood at the summit of light attributes, and the Bright Goddess Butterfly, as a flight-type Martial Spirit, fared even worse than the Ice Jade Scorpion.

The two gazed unwillingly at the sky, hoping that this was merely an illusion brought on by exhaustion. Yet, their knees trembled violently, and their bodies seemed to melt in the glorious hymns echoing through the sky.

The elders walked out from Sea God Pavilion, their worldviews shattered by Ling Bai's Seraphim. A God-level Martial Spirit could evolve further still! What tier did the Tri-Ultimate Seraphim belong to?

God King?

Beyond God?

A unanimous silence fell over the Sea God Pavilion elders, but one fact was clear: for the next three hundred years, the title of the continent's number one would belong to Ling Bai. His name was destined to be inscribed in Douluo Continent's history!

Ling Bai remained unaware of the outside world's thoughts. He hovered in the sky, a faint golden light blooming between his brows, as his mind sank into his Spiritual Sea.

Within the vast, boundless expanse of the Spiritual Sea, a golden orb pulsed with a gentle light. The orb was a perfect sphere, like the newborn sun of this world. Fine golden ripples spread outward, and the aura of three Ultimate attributes pervaded the surroundings.

The Tri-Ultimate Angel Spirit Core!

A Spirit Master could establish a Spirit Core in three locations: between the brows, in the chest, or at the dantian. The dantian was the easiest of these.

Ling Bai had chosen not the dantian but the most challenging spot: between the brows. Condensing the second Spirit Core would undoubtedly be hundreds, even thousands, of times harder than the first. With Snow Empress's aid this time, success was nearly assured. Thus, it made sense to tackle the hardest location now, reserving the dantian and chest to potentially reduce the difficulty for the second and third Spirit Cores.

"It's done…"

A trace of gratification mixed with exhaustion crossed the Snow Empress's exquisitely beautiful face. Maintaining the balance of three Ultimate attributes throughout the Angel Spirit Core's condensation had exhausted even her, a 700,000-year spirit beast. The breath she had forced herself to hold finally released, and as her vision darkened, she fell into a deep sleep.

Ling Bai swiftly caught Snow Empress and carried her into the ice house. Electrolux watched them enter together, a thoughtful look crossing his face. Three seconds later, realization struck, and he promptly sealed his hearing and vision.

You two do as you wish. This old man knows nothing!

Snow Empress's sleeping face was serene inside the ice house. Ling Bai was not so base as to take advantage of his companion in her vulnerable state. Softly, he murmured, "Thank you for your hard work," before his form gradually faded, withdrawing from the Spiritual Sea.

Snow Empress's eyes fluttered open slowly. Her gaze was breathtaking, as if it held all the autumn waters of the world, a clear and tranquil blue lake rippling with emotion.

"Still somewhat of a gentleman…"

The corners of her rosy lips curled into a faint smile. She needed a good rest, utterly spent after losing her original body and expending so much spiritual power, and quickly drifted back to sleep.

…

At night, Sea God Lake shimmered with a faint silver sheen, its gentle glow dancing with the subtle rhythm of the waves, creating a sparkling expanse of ripples.

Ling Bai landed on solid ground and strolled along the lakeshore with Ning Tian and Wu Feng.

Two years had passed, and the two girls, having entered their developmental years, had changed significantly. Ning Tian had blossomed into a graceful young lady, her features and demeanor increasingly mirroring her mother, Ning Fengya. Every gesture now carried a touch of nobility and elegance.

Wu Feng's most noticeable change was her figure. Perhaps it was because fire attribute Spirit Masters developed well, but at just fourteen years old, she possessed mature curves that didn't match her age. She was voluptuous in the front and perky in the back, exceptionally bodacious. Given time, she would certainly follow in the footsteps of her seniors, Ma Xiaotao and Wu Ming, becoming the Inner Courtyard's third 'Active Volcano.'

Having been apart for so long, each of them had much to say. Ling Bai briefly recounted his experiences in the Star Dou Forest, though he omitted the details about the Great Beasts and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. The two girls, in turn, filled him in on everything that had happened in the Inner Courtyard.

Truthfully, nothing earth-shattering had occurred within the Inner Courtyard. Those who should be quietly cultivating did so; those who should be carrying out surveillance assignments did so. The only mildly noteworthy incident was Tang Ya's disappearance. Bei Bei became increasingly melancholic, working extra hard every month to make time to search for her far and wide.

"If Ning Tian and I hadn't entered the Inner Courtyard, we'd have never known just how many beautiful Senior Sisters you've managed to charm with that pretty face of yours!"

After chatting a while, Wu Feng immediately began dredging up old accounts. Planting her hands on her hips, she glared fiercely. "The Senior Brothers spilled everything! You and Golden Fairy Han Ruoruo call each other Elder Sister and Little Junior Brother, always having meals together, meeting at the library, wandering Shrek City, acting all close and cozy!

Then there's Evil Fire Phoenix Ma Xiaotao. You two clashed from day one of enrollment. Did fighting spark some feelings? During the Shrek Seven Monsters' joint training, you were always partnered up. She treats you differently than anyone else!

Jade Phosphor Serpent Dugu Lin dresses glamorously and flits before your eyes all day. The Senior Brothers said she looks ready to swallow you whole!

Oh, and Ice Element Ling Luochen, always with that icy face, lurking in the Spirit Dueling Arena waiting for you. No one else in the Inner Courtyard gets that kind of treatment!"

Wu Feng rattled off the long list in one breath, finally venting the frustration she'd bottled up. She never would have imagined, even if beaten to death, that while Ning Tian inherited Ning Fengya's looks and temperament, Ling Bai, a sort of adopted son, had somehow learned her succubus-like ways. His talent for attracting the opposite sex was second to none!

Who is it? Just who's selling me out behind my back!

Ling Bai's heart was thrown into turmoil. Say what you want, but did you have to only tell the unvarnished truth?!

In reality, on the day Ning Tian and Wu Feng entered the Inner Courtyard, two Inner Courtyard students served as their guide seniors. One was short and scrawny like a macaque, while the other's manner was so effeminate he seemed more feminine than Wu Feng herself.

"Senior Brother Yao, Senior Brother Gongyang, thank you for your help," Ning Tian said with a gentle smile.

Yao Haoxuan waved it off. "You're our Adoptive Father's fellow disciples. It's our duty!"

"By the way, Senior Brothers, does Bai-ge have any close Senior Sisters in the Inner Courtyard?" Ning Tian asked. "I have some beauty and skincare products—not especially rare, but a secret recipe from the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

Last time Bai-ge returned to the clan, he mentioned wanting to gift them, but then he left for training in the Star Dou Forest. I thought I'd deliver them on his behalf."

The two suspected nothing and burst out laughing.

"Aiya, you're asking the right people! We're known as the Inner Courtyard's know-it-alls. We know every bit of gossip here!

Let me tell you, Adoptive Father is really something else; tons of girls flock around him. For instance, Golden Fairy Han Ruoruo, she's a big shot, basically the Second Senior Sister of the Inner Courtyard. She...

And you've met Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen… They…

Then there's Jade Phosphor Serpent Dugu Lin..."

Yao Haoxuan and Gongyang Mo sold Ling Bai out completely, and the two girls got firsthand intelligence, locking onto four girls with Han Ruoruo at the head.

Ling Bai coughed lightly. "We're just meal buddies, purely platonic. It's natural for close friends to have minor emotional tangles. Let's not dwell on it.

Xiao Tian, during my training in the Star Dou Forest, I acquired a spirit bone suited for you."

With that, he produced the 90,000-year Mystic Moon Jade Deer right leg spirit bone and handed it to Ning Tian.

"Wow——"

The brilliantly glowing spirit bone instantly captured Wu Feng's attention. Ning Tian, however, smiled with deeper meaning. Some matters were better aired than buried. It was good that Wu Feng brought it up directly. It served both to pressure Ling Bai and to probe his feelings for her.

Pulling out a top-tier spirit bone just below the 100,000-year level simply to change the subject showed that Ling Bai still valued her in his heart.

"This comes from a 90,000-year Mystic Moon Jade Deer. Among the 10,000-year spirit beasts I defeated or slew, its combat strength wasn't the highest, but its interference and survival spirit skills left a lasting impression. As a limb spirit bone, it's more than qualified. Xiao Tian, absorb it now. Wu Feng and I will stand guard."

"Okay," Ning Tian agreed.

The trio returned to the wooden house shared by Ning Tian and Wu Feng; the two girls still lived together as they had in the Outer Courtyard. Ning Tian began absorbing the spirit bone, leaving Ling Bai and Wu Feng sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at each other.

After a few minutes, Wu Feng broke the silence. "Hey, the day after tomorrow, I'm going with Ning Tian to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy."

"You're going with her?" Ling Bai frowned.

"Of course!" Wu Feng clenched her fists. "Ning Tian, an auxiliary-type Spirit Master, is heading to a foreign land alone. What if those scoundrels at the Sun Moon Imperial Academy bully her?!"

"Leaving aside whether Shrek would even allocate a precious exchange student slot to you, the real issue is you're not in the Spirit Guidance Department. You're clueless about nine out of ten aspects of Spirit Guidance Devices! What will you do at Sun Moon, just gawk at rare metals?"

"That's none of your concern! I secretly requested Director Du to let me go as an accompanying student. It doesn't take up an exchange slot!"

"Why bother…"

"Hmph, I'm not like you, you heartless man! I will protect Ning Tian with my life!"

"Alright, alright…"

Ling Bai rubbed his temples. "You've broken through to Spirit Ancestor, haven't you? Did you absorb the Dark Gold Terror Claw?"

"Mm."

Recalling the Dark Gold Terror Claw, a shiver of lingering fear ran through Wu Feng. Fortunately, dragon-type Spirit Masters had robust physiques, and she had mastered the Blazing Dragon Armor. Moreover, her Spirit Ancestor rank surpassed the 2,000-year cultivation of the Dark Gold Terror Claw Bear. Only by enduring excruciating pain had she barely managed to fuse with the Dark Gold Terror Claw right palm bone.

Ling Bai gave a slight nod. "With the Dark Gold Terror Claw, you're among the elite of Spirit Ancestors. Trading blows with Spirit Kings shouldn't pose a problem."

"Exactly!"

Wu Feng's pride shone through, her metaphorical tail wagging high. "I'm incredibly strong now. Beyond the Dark Gold Terror Claw, the Scarlet Armored Dragon spirit ring awakened a trace of ancient Fire Dragon bloodline within my Red Dragon. When I spar with Dai Huabin and Xie Huanyue, we exchange wins and losses evenly!"

"Since you're so determined, naturally I can't forcibly stop you."

Ling Bai took out another spirit bone, this one a torso bone, fiery red all over, and placed it on the bed. The terrifying heat radiating from it instantly caused the room's temperature to soar.

"This spirit bone hails from my fifth spirit ring, a 70,000-year Scorching Sun Fire Dragon. Like your Red Dragon Martial Spirit and third spirit ring, the Scarlet Armored Dragon, it descends from the Fire Dragon lineage. The Scarlet Armored Dragon awakened your bloodline; this torso bone will help solidify it. With the Scorching Sun Fire Dragon's superior cultivation, it will benefit your Red Dragon even more."

Ling Bai raised his right hand and held it out in front of Wu Feng.

"It's settled, then. Protect her with your life."

"As long as I draw breath, I will never let Ning Tian suffer the slightest harm!"

Wu Feng enunciated each word clearly, biting out every syllable.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Three palm strikes sealed the oath!