Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
With Zhu Zhuqing in his left arm and Zhu Zhuyun in his right, Ye Hao instantly experienced the joy of being an "emperor."
To wield power while awake and rest on a beauty's lap while drunk—this was the pinnacle of life.
His large hands wrapped around their slender waists, and his gaze couldn't help but linger on their devilish figures.
"Royal-grade delicacies—truly worthy of the name."
"..."
The room fell into dead silence.
"Ahhh—!!!"
Soon, a piercing scream shattered the night's tranquility.
Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun were utterly terrified, shrinking into the corner like frightened kittens. Ye Hao's sudden action had startled them beyond words.
"Hahaha!!!"
Ye Hao laughed heartily, looking at the Zhu sisters with amusement.
"A girl's courage is indeed small—this saying holds true."
Ye Hao turned to Zhu Zhuyun. "Did you receive a letter from Zhu Zhuqing?"
Zhu Zhuyun was taken aback but nodded. "We did receive a secret message from her."
"Me?" Zhu Zhuqing was stunned. She had been imprisoned in the Spirit Hall the entire time—how could she have sent any letters?
"I used a little trick, hoping to catch a big fish. Instead, I caught a pair of sisters."
Ye Hao's eyes burned with intensity, as if he might devour them at any moment.
"Ye... Ye Hao, you..."
Zhu Zhuqing stammered, unable to comprehend that Ye Hao could be like this.
A beast in human form!
"Guards, take these sisters away. No one is allowed near them without my orders."
Under the sisters' despairing gazes, they were forcibly dragged away.
"Did they really think I was interested in them? Just a little scare—their nerves are too fragile."
Ye Hao smirked.
"Eighty-ninth rank soul power—just one more level. I must break through to Title Douluo as soon as possible and complete the Eighth Trial."
Steadying his mind, Ye Hao sat cross-legged, no longer dwelling on the earlier scene. He focused entirely on cultivation.
Meanwhile, on Sea God Island...
Tang San was tightly bound to a deep silver pillar, his limbs and neck shackled. Towering waves crashed against him, each impact sending waves of pain through his body.
This was his third trial—Angry Waves Abyss.
Twelve hours a day enduring the ocean's fury, lasting an entire year.
Though the Sea God had reduced the difficulty of the trials, he hadn't gone easy on this one.
Instead, the challenge had been intensified—each wave carried the force of a soul master's casual strike.
Over this year, Tang San had suffered immensely, battered beyond recognition.
His hair was disheveled, blood trickling from his lips as he gritted his teeth in endurance.
"Ahhh—!!!"
Tang San screamed in agony, venting his pent-up frustration.
"Third Trial completed."
The Sea God's voice echoed briefly in Tang San's mind before fading.
Instantly, the chains binding him vanished.
Exhausted, Tang San collapsed, gasping for air. The relief of survival washed over him—being alive truly is wonderful.
"Finally... the Third Trial is done. One step closer to my revenge. Now, what's the Fourth Trial?"
Eagerly, Tang San checked the next challenge, but its contents made him curse aloud.
"Sea God's Fourth Trial: Shark vs. Whale War—Assist the Demon Soul Great White Shark tribe in slaying the Evil Spirit Orca King."
Tang San froze.
"Evil Spirit Orca King?"
"Wait... Didn't Xiao Bai say the Evil Spirit Orca King was already gone, taken by someone... That person—"
"Ye Hao!"
The name made Tang San gnash his teeth in fury. His face twisted into a beast-like snarl.
"That's right! That 'Evil Tiger' I met on the way to the Spirit Hall must have been the Evil Spirit Orca King!"
Tang San clenched his fists, trembling with rage.
"Ye Hao! My hundred-thousand-year soul ring! My hundred-thousand-year soul bone! I hate you! I HATE YOU!!!"
He howled at the sky in frustration.
"With all my talent, I end up with nothing! Why does Ye Hao have all the luck while I suffer? Not a single soul bone—not even my only external spirit bone remains! Heaven is unfair! UNFAIR!!!"
"Ye Hao! I WILL KILL YOU!!!"
His screams carried far, even reaching Poseidon's ears.
Bo Saixi frowned, her patience with Tang San long exhausted.
"Always the same complaints. No effort, no action—just whining while others work hard to ascend. Instead of reflecting on himself, he blames others. How was Tang San even born?"
She sighed deeply.
Hard work brings rewards. Only those without ability and a habit of complaining would blame fate like this.
Bo Saixi chose to ignore him. Over the past year, Tang San had frequently erupted like this, sometimes howling in the middle of the night.
Sea God Island had received countless complaints—all about Tang San.
Who screams at night when people need to work the next day?
"Unbelievable."
Bo Saixi rolled her eyes, sealing off the Sea God Temple to block out the noise.
Meanwhile, Tang San staggered out of the ocean like a zombie, drenched and broken.
"My hundred-thousand-year soul ring... my hundred-thousand-year soul bone... Ye Hao, you owe me! YOU OWE ME!"
He muttered deliriously, his eyes vacant—already half-mad.
"Since the Evil Spirit Orca King has been claimed by another, the Fourth Trial is considered complete."
The Sea God's indifferent voice echoed in Tang San's mind.
"NO—!!!"
Tang San wailed again, filled with resentment.
His chance at a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and soul bone had vanished before his eyes.
"Stealing my opportunities is no different from murder! Ye Hao, just you wait!"
His eyes burned red, the Slaughter Domain flaring uncontrollably. A faint red glow flickered between his brows—he was on the verge of madness.
"Sea God's Fifth Trial: Challenge the Six Sacred Pillar Guardians. Starting from the first guardian, defeat all six within thirty-six hours to pass."
Tang San: "..."
This was an impossible task. As a Soul Sage, how could he defeat Title Douluo?
Moreover, he had to beat all six within three days.
Defeated, Tang San slumped to the ground, his spirit shattered.
-----
Three months later...
"I've finally broken through to the ninetieth rank!"
In the Spirit Hall, Ye Hao was overjoyed. After three months of relentless effort, he had finally reached the ninetieth rank—officially becoming a Title Douluo.
All that remained was his crucial ninth soul ring.
For this, Ye Hao already had a plan.
"The day has finally come."
Zhu Zhu sighed. Ever since being captured by Ye Hao, he had been waiting for this moment.
"Time flies. To think I, Ye Hao, would become a Title Douluo."
Looking back at his days in Sunset Forest, the memories felt nostalgic.
"Master, when shall we begin?" Zhu Zhu asked.
"Now. Call Xie Hu and Zhu'er as well," Ye Hao instructed.
Soon, the three stood before him, their expressions calm. They knew what was coming.
Sacrifice.
Zhu Zhu would become Ye Hao's ninth soul ring for the Death Spider Emperor.
Zhu'er would be the first soul ring for the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor.
And Xie Hu would be the second.
"Any last words?"
Ye Hao looked at the three.
Sacrifice meant giving up their lives.
"None," Zhu'er replied firmly.
"Let's do it. Death isn't permanent—we'll be revived. A good deal," Xie Hu said optimistically.
"We're ready," Zhu Zhu answered.
With that, Ye Hao said no more.
The sacrifice began.
Ye Hao took the lead, his eight soul rings glowing as the Death Spider Emperor materialized behind him. Among them, three hundred-thousand-year soul rings shone brilliantly.
"Begin!"
Zhu Zhu's eyes burned with determination.
A deafening roar erupted as overwhelming energy burst from his body. A blinding red light shot from his forehead, dyeing the entire hall crimson. Time itself seemed to freeze.
Zhu Zhu, in his Death Spider Emperor form, began the sacrifice. His massive body contrasted starkly with the spectral Death Spider Emperor behind Ye Hao.
Three mighty hundred-thousand-year soul beasts sacrificing themselves—all while Ye Hao stood at the ninetieth rank.
No one could predict the terrifying heights he would reach.
Three hundred-thousand-year soul beasts at once—unprecedented in history!
"It's starting."
In the Elder Hall, Qian Daoliu gazed at the crimson pillar of light erupting from the sacrifice site.
At the same time, deep in the Rakshasa Secret Realm, Bibi Dong opened her eyes.
"The day has come. Hao'er is about to become a Title Douluo. I must work harder too."
The Death Spider Emperor's body glowed like red agate.
Flames—crimson flames—engulfed Zhu Zhu's form, representing his hundred-thousand-year cultivation. Boundless energy surged forth.
Ye Hao stood motionless under the red light, silently accepting the sacrifice.
"I will revive you."
A single tear rolled down Ye Hao's cheek.
At that moment, the Death God's Heart suddenly flew out, enveloping Zhu Zhu's soul before returning to Ye Hao's side.
As Zhu Zhu's body grew increasingly transparent, the sacrifice reached its climax.
Then, the Death Spider Emperor vanished, replaced by a glowing red soul bone.
"A hundred-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor Left Arm Bone!"
The soul bone hovered midair, pulsing with energy.
Guided by Ye Hao's soul power, it flew toward him, merging seamlessly with his left arm—no resistance, perfect compatibility.
Simultaneously, a vivid hundred-thousand-year soul ring materialized beneath Ye Hao's feet—his ninth soul ring!
His soul power surged to rank ninety-three!
With the left arm bone fused, Ye Hao now only lacked three more bones to complete his full set.
"Title Douluo... I've finally become a Title Douluo."
Ye Hao exhaled deeply. The journey had been arduous.
At his feet, the soul rings gleamed: Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Red, Red, Red, Red!
Nine soul rings, perfectly aligned.
With the final ring in place, Ye Hao's soul power stabilized at rank ninety-three.
Thanks to Zhu Zhu's sacrifice, Ye Hao had achieved his goal.
Paired with the Death Scythe and the Asura Demon Sword, Ye Hao was now unrivaled in the Douluo Continent—the strongest beneath the gods!
His ninth soul skills:
Undying Body!
Death's Descent!
Undying Body was an absolute divine skill.
No matter how severe the damage, as long as Ye Hao activated this skill in advance, he would become immortal.
Even if his body were torn apart, the ninth soul skill could restore him.
Ye Hao would be invincible!
Death's Descent transformed Ye Hao into the Death Spider Emperor's true form. Countless demonic spiders would rain from the sky, unleashing an unprecedented assault until the enemy was annihilated!
With everything settled, Ye Hao relaxed.
As a Title Douluo, he felt reborn.
Holding the Heart of Death, he gazed at Zhu Zhu's soul within. Once Ye Hao ascended to godhood, he would have the power to revive him.
Then, Zhu Zhu could shed his soul beast form and become truly human.
"My turn."
Zhu'er stepped forward calmly.
Ye Hao nodded. "Ready?"
"I've been ready for years. The human world is fascinating—I've seen much these past years. Now, I want to experience sacrifice firsthand."
Ye Hao laughed, admiring Zhu'er's optimism.
Without another word, Zhu'er transformed into her Soul Devouring Spider Emperor form, radiating crimson light. Another scarlet pillar shot into the sky.
Ye Hao took a deep breath, summoning his second martial soul—the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor.
A dark green spiderweb pattern appeared on his forehead as emerald light spread across his body. Three pairs of crystalline green spider legs sprouted from his back, while his arms elongated into spear-like appendages. His lower body was encased in a shimmering green aura.
Soul Devouring Spider Emperor—Possession!
With no soul rings yet, Zhu'er would become Ye Hao's first hundred-thousand-year soul ring for this martial soul.
Having done this before, Ye Hao proceeded smoothly, guiding Zhu'er's sacrifice.
Soon, his second martial soul's first hundred-thousand-year soul ring would be his.
The thought almost made Ye Hao laugh.
Remembering how Tang San had rushed to strengthen himself—especially when he heard Tang San's second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, had only a hundred-year first soul ring—Ye Hao couldn't help but shake his head.
That must be Grandmaster's theory at work.
According to his Ten Core Martial Soul Theories, the first soul ring's limit was a hundred years.
Flawless logic.
"Misleading disciples... utterly misleading!"
Ye Hao chuckled bitterly.
If Tang San could see this scene, he'd be green with envy—maybe even lose his mind.
But alas, Ye Hao wouldn't witness Tang San's meltdown.
Having a teacher like Yu Xiaogang was Tang San's tragedy.
A twin-martial soul genius, wasted.
What a pity...