Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

In just two short years, Feng Yao's training on Poseidon Island was unstoppable, and he conquered the third, fourth and fifth trials with astonishing efficiency!
The third test, [Tidal Body Tempering], was specially adjusted by the Sea God to [Utilization of the Power of the Vast Ocean]. This was no simple test. The Sea God required Feng Yao to personally guide the tidal power of the raging waves, drawing upon his profound understanding of the power of the vast ocean from the previous two tests, to temper the bodies of Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Ye Lingling. This required extremely precise control: Feng Yao had to constantly sense the limits of the three women's physical condition and accurately regulate the intensity and rhythm of the tides. Too much force could damage their meridians; too little force would fail to temper their bodies and solidify their foundations. This placed extremely high demands on Feng Yao's mental strength, control, and understanding of the power of the vast ocean. In the end, he perfectly completed the task, allowing the three women to receive maximum training within safe limits.

The subsequent fourth test, "The Battle of the Peak Shark Whale," and the fifth test, "Challenge the Guardians of the Sacred Pillars," while similar in content to the original work, saw the Sea God impose stricter restrictions on Feng Yao: not only was he forbidden from using his second martial soul, the Fuxi Qin, and the power of his soul bone, but strict time limits were also set for both tests.

However, these restrictions posed little obstacle to Feng Yao, whose foundation was incredibly deep and whose methods were endless. He even passed these two highly difficult tests in less than a month at an astonishing speed!

Especially in the fifth trial, he had to challenge seven Title Douluos guarding the Sacred Pillars in a series of battles within a limited time. Having lost his second Martial Soul and Soul Bone—his trump cards—Feng Yao relied solely on his peak level 97 Soul Power, the terrifying recovery and burst of power from his dual Soul Cores, and his profound understanding of the power of the Vast Ocean, still displaying overwhelming strength. He could always quickly find the weaknesses of each guardian, either using skill to overcome brute force or overwhelming strength with sheer power, making his battles efficient and awe-inspiring.

After these two tests, Feng Yao, with his unparalleled strength and unfathomable adaptability, completely won the awe of everyone on Poseidon Island. His prestige rose to the top, second only to the High Priest Poseidon, and no one dared to question the talent and potential of this outsider examiner.

Having passed the three tests in a row, the Sea God bestowed upon him an extremely generous reward—three more precious divine-given soul rings!

However, when Feng Yao absorbed the three divinely bestowed soul rings one by one to their limit, the boundless divine power surged into his dual soul cores like a torrent, propelling his soul power level to soar all the way up until it finally stabilized at the peak of level ninety-eight. Instead of being happy, he frowned slightly.

Not right.

Logically speaking, the energy contained in a divinely bestowed spirit ring is extremely pure and vast, enough to support a spirit master in pushing their limits. Based on his previous experience, at the high-level Title Douluo level, perfectly absorbing the energy of a divinely bestowed spirit ring would normally increase one or even nearly two levels of spirit power. However, now, having exhausted all his strength to absorb the energy of these three spirit rings to the limit of his own capacity, the final effect was merely to raise him from the peak of level 97 to the peak of level 98, a mere one-level increase.

The "conversion efficiency" of this energy has plummeted.

What alarmed Feng Yao even more was that, as his soul power stabilized at the peak of level ninety-eight, he clearly felt an invisible and intangible yet omnipresent sense of "constraint." It was as if the entire world had transformed into a resilient barrier, subtly repelling and restricting his further growth. His soul power, which he used to control with ease, now grew with unusual difficulty and stagnation. Every effort to condense and refine a trace required many times more mental energy and time than before. It felt like a container with a fixed volume that was already full; forcibly pouring more in would not only fail to inject even a fraction but would also subject the container to immense pressure, threatening to cause it to collapse.

“It’s not that the world is rejecting me…” Feng Yao’s mind raced, and he instantly realized, “It’s that the rules of this world I live in have an invisible ‘upper limit’ to the individual power they can accommodate. I… am approaching that limit.”

He suddenly recalled the secrets Tang Chen had revealed before his death regarding the divine order and the Asura God's control of "balance." At this moment, he was personally verifying this cruel rule. It wasn't that he lacked talent or resources, but rather that the fundamental laws of this world had placed invisible shackles on mortal life.

This explains why, in the world of Soul Masters, those who reach the Title Douluo level are all exceptionally talented individuals with unquestionable innate abilities. However, once they cross the level 90 threshold, their cultivation speed drops drastically. After level 95, progress becomes extremely difficult, with many struggling to make any progress throughout their lives, and even years of meditation yielding minimal results. It's not that they aren't working hard enough; rather, they have touched the power boundaries set by the world's rules for mortals. Without a special opportunity to break through these shackles, they are trapped in this invisible cage.

At this moment, Feng Yao was clearly standing before this boundary.

At the summit of Poseidon Mountain, above the horizon.

Feng Yao stood opposite Poseidon. The sea breeze whipped at Poseidon's long, grey hair and empty ceremonial robes, yet it could not dispel the boundless majesty emanating from her, a majesty that seemed to merge with the entire island of Poseidon. Though the flame of her life flickered like a candle in the wind, when she held the golden scepter symbolizing the sea god's authority on earth, she was the ruler of this ocean, the pinnacle of mortal power.

Feng Yao's expression was more solemn than ever before. The content of his sixth test was etched clearly into his mind: [Defeat the Sea God Douluo Poseidon.]

This is not perseverance, but victory! It means he must overwhelm this powerful being who represents the pinnacle of human strength!
"Senior, please enlighten me." Feng Yao cupped his hands, and his aura instantly rose to its peak. His soul power, at the peak of level ninety-eight, surged and rippled, his two soul cores operating efficiently like a cosmic vortex, and the power of his two divine soul bones was ready to be unleashed.

Poseidon's cloudy eyes looked at Feng Yao, a complex emotion flashing across them—admiration,感慨, and perhaps even a hint of relief. She slowly raised the scepter in her hand, her voice hoarse yet containing undeniable power: "The sixth trial of the Sea God begins. Feng Yao, hold back. Let me see just how far you've come."

The moment the words left her lips, Poseidon moved! She didn't use any fancy soul skills, but simply tapped the golden scepter in her hand forward lightly.

"Om-!"

The entire Poseidon Island seemed to tremble! Endless Poseidon light converged from all directions, not as a simple energy surge, but as a condensed, almost transparent, deep blue water line! This water line was as thin as a hair, yet it contained terrifying penetrating power and destructive energy. Wherever it passed, the space groaned in agony, piercing straight towards Feng Yao's brow!

The first strike is an ultimate point kill!

Feng Yao's pupils contracted sharply, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. His right arm was instantly covered with a dark golden keratin layer, and the power of his divine-level right arm bone erupted in full force—"The second skill of the Guixu Right Arm Soul Bone, Tear the Sky!"

He raised his hand and grabbed, not to meet the attack head-on, but with a precise strike to the weak point on the side of the waterline! The power of the vast ocean and the power of spatial distortion intertwined!
"Hey!"

A piercing tearing sound rang out as he ripped and deflected the terrifying waterline with a single punch, grazing his temple and silently piercing and obliterating a reef in the distant sea behind him!
"Good!" Poseidon's eyes flashed, and she swung her scepter again: "Sixth Soul Skill - Sea Burial!"

In an instant, the seawater, air, and even light around Feng Yao became incredibly viscous, as if they had transformed into the water pressure of the bottom of a deep sea, squeezing in from all directions to completely imprison and crush him! This was absolute control over the power of heaven and earth!

Feng Yao grunted, and the Innate Eight Trigrams Plate in his palm shone brightly: "Qian Trigram Heavenly Movement! Heavenly Gang Protects the Body!"

The power of Qian Tian instantly spread out from him, like the blazing sun in the sky calming the waves on the sea, forcefully withstanding the terrifying invisible pressure! At the same time, his feet moved with profound subtlety, and his figure became blurred—"Zhen Gua Thunder Movement · Thunder Shakes the Nine Heavens!"

Boom! He seemed to transform into lightning, forcefully breaking free from some of the restraints, his figure rushing towards Poseidon like a flash of lightning! In mid-air, close combat might be his only chance! He wasn't arrogant enough to try and compete with Poseidon in water control.

"Oh? The use of heaven and thunder?" Poseidon was slightly surprised, but remained calm and unhurried, slamming her scepter on the ground: "Seventh Soul Skill - True Form of the Sea God!" Rumble! The sea beneath her feet instantly boiled, and a figure appeared behind her. With the appearance of that figure, the people of Sea God Island all bowed down in submission. Although the waves around the island were already surging, with towering waves layered upon layer, they were fearless. They knew that the Sea God would not harm his people.

The enormous waves seemed like children at the mercy of that figure, possessing terrifying power capable of shattering mountains and splitting rocks, surging towards Feng Yao! Each wave was comparable to the full-force attack of a high-level Title Douluo!
Feng Yao's gaze sharpened, and he unleashed both palms simultaneously, his soul power surging: "Li Trigram Fire Burns!"

With one hand, he drew upon the gentle force of water to disperse and deflect its power; with the other, he ignited the might of fire to evaporate and incinerate it! Water and fire are inherently incompatible, but under his profound understanding of the Bagua symbols and his exquisite control of the dual soul cores, a brief balance and synergy were formed, forcibly tearing a gap in the layers of giant waves!
Like a swordfish swimming upstream, he broke through the waves and finally approached Poseidon within ten feet!
"Be careful, senior!" Feng Yao shouted, and a huge figure appeared behind him. The seventh soul skill, the weapon spirit true form, was activated instantly, and an invisible wave spread out in an instant. He pressed the strings of the zither with both hands—Zheng—!
An invisible and intangible melody, yet penetrating the very essence of the soul and resonating at the very foundation of the laws, resounded throughout heaven and earth! This was an attack targeting the spiritual realm, intended to disrupt Poseidon's connection with the power of the sea!

Poseidon swayed slightly, a flicker of emotion crossing her eyes, clearly affected. But as a Limit Douluo, her spiritual power was vast and boundless, and she instantly regained her composure: "Not bad, a decent soul attack, but not enough!"

Centered on her, azure domain instantly expanded, enveloping Feng Yao! Within this domain, Poseidon was the absolute ruler! Feng Yao suddenly felt as if she had fallen into an endless abyss, her movements were hindered, her soul power flowed sluggishly, and even her perception was greatly weakened!

“Feng Yao, sometimes it’s not a good thing to comprehend too much of the power of heaven and earth. At least for now, you can’t use all of that power perfectly…” Poseidon’s voice was like the sound of the sea.

"We must break through this domain!" Feng Yao's mind raced as he pushed his understanding of the domain to its limit.

"It's useless." Poseidon's voice echoed within the domain as she raised her scepter. "Take my final move. If you can withstand it, you've passed! Ninth Soul Skill, Descent of the Sea God!"

The energy of the entire ocean converged wildly upon her, along with the power of faith accumulated over countless years on Seagod Island! The golden scepter in her hand erupted with a dazzling light like the sun, transforming into a towering blue figure! This figure contained the rage of the ocean, the majesty of authority, and the lifelong cultivation of a Limit Douluo! It was as if the entire weight of the ocean had pressed down upon her!
This is an unavoidable, ultimate blow!
Feng Yao felt an unprecedented threat of death! He knew that any trickery was useless; only a direct confrontation would work!
He took a deep breath, adjusting his state to an unprecedented peak. His dual soul cores spun at an unprecedented speed, and his soul power, spiritual power, soul bone power, and insights into the innate Eight Trigrams… everything merged perfectly at this moment!
"One of the soul bone skills of Guixu's right arm is 'Sky Support'! One of the soul bone skills of Guixu's torso is 'Guardian of Guixu'."

He blocked with his right arm, unleashing the power of his Guixu torso bones to the extreme, forming an all-around protection; his right fist clenched tightly, the power of his Liekong right arm bones condensed to the extreme, and the space at the edge of his fist continuously collapsed and annihilated!

"Give it to me...break it!"

He roared, neither dodging nor avoiding, and met the blue figure head-on with a punch that contained all his power!

Rumble——! ! !
An indescribably terrifying explosion resounded atop Poseidon Mountain! The blinding light instantly blinded the entire island! The violent energy surge spread outwards like a tsunami, but was barely held back by the island's own protective barrier!

The light lasted for more than ten seconds before gradually fading away.

Feng Yao knelt on one knee, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. His right arm trembled slightly, and his clothes were torn in several places, clearly indicating that he had suffered a severe shock. But he managed to stand up!
Opposite him, Poseidon remained standing, the golden scepter in her hand now dimmed considerably. She looked at Feng Yao, a complex yet relieved smile appearing on her aged face.

"The younger generation is truly formidable... I... have lost."

As her words fell, the vast ocean domain that had enveloped the entire area quietly dissipated. In the sky, the majestic oracle of the Sea God resounded at that opportune moment:

[Sixth Trial of the Sea God: Defeat Sea God Douluo Poseidon, passed. Reward: Sea God Affinity increased by 20%.]

Feng Yao slowly stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and bowed deeply to Poseidon: "Senior, you are too kind. If it weren't for your... poor condition, I would have had no chance of winning."

Poseidon shook his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the winds and seeing into the distance: "Victory is victory. The path you've taken is different from ours... Perhaps, you really can break the... shackles of this world."

After this all-out battle, Feng Yao's senses became increasingly clear. Poseidon's power was immense, yet it always gave him a feeling of being "within a framework," the ultimate limit allowed by the rules of this world. And he himself, in the final moment of collision, faintly touched that invisible "ceiling."

Feng Yao clearly realized that the root cause of his sluggish progress in cultivation was not a lack of energy, but rather that he had touched upon a deeper barrier of rules—his understanding of the laws governing the operation of this world was still shallow, and the world itself had its limits in bearing individual power.

During his epic duel with Poseidon, this realization became even clearer. He could clearly sense that this Limit Douluo's total soul power was actually less abundant than his own. However, Poseidon, with her almost instinctive and profound understanding of the essence of the Vast Ocean's power, could resonate with heaven and earth with every move, unleashing every ounce of power to the limit allowed by the current world's rules. Her strength lay in her harmony and control.

In contrast, while possessing far greater energy, the lack of true understanding of the fusion between power and the laws of nature makes one like a child wielding a heavy hammer but lacking the skill to apply it. This extraordinary power not only fails to gain the world's recognition and support but also invites the instinctive rejection of the rules. Just as a young elephant is unaware of its own strength, while an adult elephant knows how to use skillful force to move a giant log—the degree of understanding of the rules determines the actual height that power can reach.

Feng Yao's current predicament stems from the fact that his power growth rate has outpaced his cognitive advancement. To advance further, he needs not only the accumulation of energy but also a profound understanding of the essence of the world, so that he can learn how to unleash his power to its true limit within the framework of the rules of this world.

Most Title Douluo struggle to advance beyond level 95 because their understanding of the world is too shallow; they think only of their Martial Soul. They are merely trapped in their own limited world, never considering the world beyond it.

God-level powerhouses are those who have reached the limits of this world and are seeking to break through.

"You... understand?" Poseidon asked hoarsely.

Feng Yao took a deep breath, suppressing his surging blood and qi, and nodded solemnly: "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I understand."

To advance further and achieve godhood, one needs more than just the accumulation of energy; one must also possess a profound understanding and transcendence of the essence of the world and the root of its laws! (End of Chapter)