Time flew by swiftly as days and months passed. Half a year had already elapsed since that thrilling journey back from the Star Dou Great Forest.
During these six months, Heaven Dou City appeared calm on the surface, yet beneath the tranquility, unrest simmered as various forces maneuvered behind the scenes. However, the Li Residence in the western part of the city stood like an isolated paradise, immersed in a serene atmosphere of diligent cultivation and focused training.
Deep within the estate, in Marco's private training ground, the air was scorching hot, faintly swirling with azure and crimson flames. Marco stood bare-chested, revealing his lean and well-defined muscles. Beads of sweat trickled down his back, evaporating before they could hit the ground due to the intense heat radiating from his body. Five Soul Rings slowly rotated beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, with the fifth position still vacant. Yet, the surging Soul Power emanating from him had clearly reached the bottleneck of the fiftieth level! All he needed was a suitable Soul Ring to officially step into the Soul King realm and become a true pillar of strength in the Soul Master Realm.
Throughout these six months, he hadn't rushed to obtain a Soul Ring. Instead, he dedicated all his efforts to solidifying his foundation, stabilizing his rapidly increased Soul Power, and honing his various abilities to their limits. His greatest achievement was perfecting his self-created Spirit Ability, "Demon Wind Kick," to the peak attainable at his current level. His movements alternated between ghostly flickers and meteor-like descents, his legs wreathed in Azure Flame and Armament Haki. Each kick tore through the air with a piercing shriek, its power astonishing, making it another formidable trump card alongside his Azure Flame Phoenix Spirit and "Phoenix Domain."
Beyond his personal training, Marco's friendship with Osler had deepened over the past half-year. Perhaps due to their shared peril in the Star Dou Forest or Marco's assistance in evolving his Martial Soul, Osler practically treated the Li Residence as a second home, frequently visiting to spar and seek guidance.
On this particular day, two figures clashed and weaved rapidly within the training ground.
"Nether Panther Transformation!" Osler growled, his body enveloped in swirling black light. His form became more agile and elongated, his panther tail lashing out as his speed surged. His claws, gleaming with an eerie light, slashed toward Marco.
A glint flashed in Marco's Double Pupils as his feet moved in an esoteric pattern—the essence of "Paper Drawing." His body drifted like willow catkins, narrowly evading the claw strike. Simultaneously, he countered with a hand chop, coated with a faint layer of Armament Haki, precisely targeting Osler's wrist and forcing him to retreat defensively.
Thud! A dull impact echoed as Osler was pushed back two steps, grimacing and shaking his wrist. "Boss, your strength is just insane! You're this tough even without using a Spirit Ability!"
Marco settled into a neutral stance and smiled faintly. "Your 'Nether Panther Transformation' lasts longer now, and your speed and attack have improved significantly. It seems the third Soul Ring harmonizes exceptionally well with your Martial Soul."
"Hehe, that's all thanks to you, boss!" Osler scratched his head and laughed, his eyes filled with gratitude. He then changed the subject and asked curiously, "Boss, what are those evasion techniques you just used, and that burst speed skill you taught me before called? They feel far more sophisticated than the movement techniques passed down in my family!"
Marco looked at the sincere desire in Osler's eyes and pondered for a moment. Six months of interaction had convinced him that Osler had a good nature and genuinely regarded him as an elder brother. Remembering his father's advice about building his own influence, he made a decision.
"Osler, do you want to learn?" Marco asked seriously.
Osler was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed, nodding eagerly, "Yes! Of course! Are you willing to teach me, boss?"
"What I'm imparting to you isn't an ordinary Spirit Ability, but a unique method called the 'Six Styles' that tempers the body and unlocks its potential," Marco said solemnly. "The training process is extremely arduous and demands high talent and perseverance. Are you sure you want to learn?"
"No matter how difficult, I'll learn it!" Osler declared without hesitation, pounding his chest in assurance.
Seeing his firm resolve, Marco held nothing back. In the following days, he began systematically guiding Osler in cultivating the Six Styles.
"Shave" involved instantly stomping the ground dozens of times at high speed to generate explosive reactive force for rapid movement. Osler initially struggled to even grasp the basics, nearly cramping his legs, but under Marco's patient guidance and leveraging the agility from his Panther Martial Soul, he barely mastered the rudimentary form after several months. Though far from Marco's swiftness, his short-distance burst speed already far surpassed that of other Agility-Attack Soul Masters at his level.
"Iron Block" required channeling power into a well-trained body to give it the hardness of iron. This was even more challenging for Osler. Repeatedly colliding with wooden stakes and stone walls left him bruised and miserable, with slow progress, but his defense was gradually improving.
"Paper Drawing" involved relaxing all bodily strength and evading attacks by the skin of one's teeth through sensing airflow changes from an opponent's movements. This demanded exceptional perception and relaxation skills. Osler trained until he was dizzy, often getting pelted with stones Marco casually flicked, but he gradually began to understand the basics.
"Moonwalk" used powerful leg strength to step on the air, generating strong hovering force to walk in the sky as if on stairs. This required extremely high Soul Power control, and Osler couldn't even begin to master it yet, only sighing in admiration.
"Tempest Kick" created slashing attacks by kicking at super high speeds to generate vacuum blades. Osler, with his decent leg strength, quickly managed to produce some air blades, but their power was worlds apart from Marco's.
"Finger Gun" concentrated full-body power into the index finger, releasing a lightning-fast strike with a hardened finger. Focusing Soul Power at the fingertip gave it strong penetration, which somewhat aligned with Osler's Panther Claws, making him train this style with the most enthusiasm.
The cultivation of the Six Styles greatly tempered Osler's physical foundation. Though far from mastery, his overall strength, especially in close-quarters combat, had undergone a qualitative leap. Osler was even more grateful to Marco, almost following his every lead. Osler's parents, the clan leaders, saw their son's rapid improvement in strength.
The Li Family was overjoyed by Marco's rapid progress and his increasingly close relationship with them. They prepared generous gifts to express their gratitude and visited the Li residence more frequently.
Meanwhile, Li Zhaoyan, another core member of the Li Family, had been living in semi-seclusion for the past six months. Having successfully advanced to Titled Douluo and integrated the Evil God Pearl as his ninth spirit ring, with his Martial Soul evolving into the Evil God Spear, he needed time to fully master this drastically enhanced and sinister power. More importantly, he bore the heavy responsibility of the Nine Trials of Fear.
With his formidable strength and unwavering willpower, Li Zhaoyan had already passed the first three trials.
The first trial, "Climbing Mount Fear," required him to ascend the peak while enduring immense gravitational pressure and soul-piercing fear illusions, advancing step by step until he reached the summit.
The second trial, "Fear Survival," demanded he struggle to survive for one month in the divine mountain infested with terrifying Soul Beasts over ten thousand years old. Through numerous bloody battles, he honed his mastery over the fear attribute of the Evil God Spear.
The third trial, "Fear Baptism," involved withstanding the soul-scouring Fear Divine Wind at the mountain peak for three months, greatly tempering his willpower.
Currently, he was deeply focused on the fourth trial, "Creation," which required him to develop a unique Spirit Ability centered around "fear." This demanded exceptional comprehension, so he often secluded himself, radiating an intimidating and sinister aura.
As the sun set, Marco concluded his guidance for Osler and stood alone in the courtyard, gazing at the brilliant evening clouds while silently calculating.
"Six months have passed... Brother Lu, it's about time you arrived on this grander stage," he thought, envisioning Lu Zhou's unwavering dedication to the path of the blade. A sense of anticipation welled within him. With Heaven Dou City on the verge of turmoil, having such a rival and friend would surely make the journey ahead far from lonely.
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