Douluo Dalu: I have a Soul Beast Clone

Feng Xiaotian.

A classic negative example.

In the original story, he possessed a mutated martial soul and innate full soul power! With such extraordinary talent, he wasted his potential by obsessing over a self-created soul technique of little practical use. Not only did he neglect his cultivation, but he also seemed to intentionally suppress his level progression for the sake of a woman, ultimately turning himself into a joke.

It's common knowledge that soul masters progress quickly in their early stages. Besides the ease of gaining levels early on, the primary reason is that a young soul master's body is more malleable, brimming with vitality.

Thus, cultivation should be pursued early. The higher the level achieved in youth, the greater the potential for future accomplishments.

But what did he do?

With innate full soul power, he only reached level 44 by the age of 24. While this might still be considered genius compared to others, it pales in comparison to someone like Hu Liena, who reached level 52 as a Soul King by her early twenties with just nine innate soul power.

When you compare, it's all the more glaring!

This guy is a disgrace to the innate full soul power title.

Upon examining the records of soul masters in the Heaven Dou Empire over the years, Li Chang'an discovered that even among those with innate full soul power, Feng Xiaotian's rate of improvement ranked among the slowest. Some individuals with only nine innate soul power outperformed him.

Relying on the fact that he had innate full soul power, he recklessly squandered his talent and wasted precious time. Originally, he might have reached the peak of level 90 or more, but because of those wasted years, his ultimate achievement might at best be level 91 or 92. With worse luck, he might not even break through to Title Douluo.

It's crucial to note that having innate full soul power doesn't guarantee becoming a Title Douluo—just that the chances are higher. There's always a small probability of failure.

So, if one arrogantly wastes their talent under the assumption that they're destined for Title Douluo no matter what, they're gravely mistaken.

Talent is excellent, but without effort, no one can save you.

Do you think breaking through to Title Douluo is that simple?

In historical records of those with innate full soul power, there have been cases—albeit rare—where individuals stopped at the Soul Douluo level.

With Feng Xiaotian serving as such a glaring negative example, Li Chang'an never dared waste a moment of his training. Any free time was dedicated to meditation and cultivation. Aside from necessary rest, he never squandered a second. The accumulation of soul power comes from consistent, everyday effort.

He could confidently say: "The level I've reached today is all thanks to my hard work."

Swipe, stab, slash, sweep, block, hook, thrust, point, flick, lift, spin, parry, intercept, guide, pierce, cleave, shear, scoop.

After repeating the 18 basic sword techniques countless times, nearly two hours had passed.

From around 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., Li Chang'an practiced until beads of sweat began forming on his forehead. Feeling the time was about right, he sheathed his sword, stood still, and exhaled slowly.

Physically, he wasn't too tired. After all, his martial soul, the Green-Scaled Sword, wasn't particularly heavy. Practicing basic moves was akin to doing two hours of continuous calisthenics—not particularly exhausting.

"A true strong soul master needs more than just power—real combat experience is indispensable."

"Training alone in sword techniques won't improve my combat skills. I'll need to spar with others or participate in matches at the Soul Battle Arena."

While he didn't put much stock in fancy techniques, he still valued combat experience. Without it, he might find himself flustered in real fights.

If someone possesses raw strength but doesn't know how to wield it, they're nothing more than a brute.

Thus, sparring with fellow soul masters would be essential for his development.

"Why not today? Perhaps I should challenge a classmate for a sparring session?" The thought struck him suddenly.

Since enrolling, Li Chang'an had focused primarily on studying and cultivating soul power. Unlike many of his peers, he didn't have the typical competitive streak of teenagers. As a result, from the moment he awakened his martial soul until now, he hadn't engaged in a single real battle with another soul master.

In that sense, he was quite an outlier among soul masters. Most of his peers would likely have been eager to flex their newfound powers and assert dominance.

But here he was, diligently studying and training.

As an academy, Heaven Dou Imperial Academy naturally emphasized practical combat experience for its students. After all, soul masters would inevitably face battles. It made sense for the academy to provide a designated space for sparring and practice.

The Soul Battle Zone.

A favorite spot for students, this area allowed them to channel their youthful energy into productive sparring, building experience while letting off steam. A win-win situation.

Here, students could participate in various matches under the supervision of designated instructors, who served as referees, safety monitors, and medical staff. Compared to public Soul Arenas, this venue was much safer.

Of course, safety came at a cost. Participants had to pay one gold soul coin as an entry fee for each match.

After all, battles could damage the arena, and injuries would require treatment. Charging a fee was reasonable—if anything, it was quite affordable.

For an average citizen, a gold soul coin might be a fortune. But for the nobles who attended this academy, it was a trivial amount.

Li Chang'an arrived at the Soul Battle Zone.

The area resembled a simplified version of a public Soul Arena, complete with a spectator section. Since it catered exclusively to students and faculty, it didn't need to be as grand as its public counterparts.

The battle zone was hexagonal in layout, with a large central space featuring five sparring platforms. Surrounding it were tiered seating arrangements capable of accommodating a few hundred spectators.

At the moment, about a hundred students were scattered around the zone, ranging from underclassmen to upperclassmen. Some were merely watching, while others cheered enthusiastically. Even a few teachers were present, either spectating or encouraging their favorites.

On one of the platforms, a match was underway. Judging by the crowd's energy, one of the participants was quite popular.

To Li Chang'an's surprise, one of the competitors was someone he recognized—his potential rival in love, Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

The academy's battle zone primarily operated during the day. Students wishing to compete had to register and pay their fees beforehand. For prominent matches featuring well-known participants, the academy even broadcasted announcements to dormitories via soul tool amplifiers to attract larger audiences.

Spectators, too, were required to pay an entry fee—one gold soul coin for a whole day's access. This fee also covered free snacks, drinks, and meals, making it a bargain.

Ultimately, the academy established the Soul Battle Zone to benefit students, ensuring convenience and comfort wherever possible.

(End of Chapter)