During this period, as a large number of Contamination Points were successfully cleared, the structure of the soul master world underwent significant changes.

Some previously unknown soul masters, through rare treasures obtained from Contamination Points, experienced tremendous leaps in strength. New Title Douluos even emerged, completely changing their destinies and the power dynamics within the soul master world.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was a prime example. By successfully clearing some Contamination Points, they were fortunate enough to acquire several soul tools.

Obtaining these soul tools greatly enhanced the sect’s overall strength.

Realizing the value of soul tools for their sect’s development, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect eagerly devoted themselves to soul tool research.

However, the field of soul tool research is deep and complex, with a steep learning curve. Despite their efforts, they had yet to make significant progress.

Still, given the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect’s persistence, they were unlikely to give up easily.

They understood that they couldn’t always rely on chance encounters with Contamination Points to obtain soul tools. Not only do Contamination Points appear randomly and unpredictably, but they also don’t always yield soul tools—sometimes other rare treasures appear instead.

While these treasures were also valuable, soul tools were better suited to the clan’s support-soul master focus and could maximize their battle capabilities. Thus, researching soul tools was a must.

Meanwhile, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City, was bustling more than ever.

The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, held every five years, was about to begin its Heaven Dou Empire preliminary rounds here.

This grandest event in the soul master world drew attention not just from soul masters, but from everyone—from the highest nobility to commoners. Every citizen of Heaven Dou City saw the tournament as the year’s greatest festival, eagerly awaiting its start.

The tournament venue was the Heaven Dou Grand Soul Arena—the empire’s largest battle arena, able to seat 80,000 spectators. When the tournament began, it would become a sea of passion and excitement.

At the same time, advanced soul master academies from all over the Heaven Dou Empire set out for Heaven Dou City to prepare for the upcoming preliminaries.

Though the tournament was a month away, many academies arrived early to acclimate and adjust their state.

Skywater Academy, one of the empire’s renowned Five Elemental Academies, was led by its powerful Soul Douluo-level dean.

While this strength might not be top-tier on the Douluo Continent, it was enough to make Skywater Academy famous and highly respected.

At this moment, Skywater Academy’s team had already left Skywater City a month early and finally arrived in the vicinity of Heaven Dou City after a long journey.

“Big sister, look! What’s that?”

Within the Skywater Academy team, a lively, pretty blue-haired girl pointed in surprise toward a distant mountain range.

The one being called was also a blue-haired beauty—none other than Shui Bing’er, captain of the Skywater Battle Team.

The playful girl who spoke was her half-sister, Shui Yue’er.

Not just Shui Bing’er, but the rest of the team also looked in the direction Shui Yue’er pointed.

“What is that…?” They saw wisps of black mist slowly rising from a small mountain range in the distance.

With the keen eyesight of soul masters, they could clearly see the black mist gradually spreading outward.

Wherever it touched, lush trees instantly withered, and the once-vibrant earth turned dry and barren, as if all life had been drained away.

Meanwhile, nearby animals and birds sensed a deadly threat and frantically fled, escaping the terrifying area shrouded in black mist.

“A Contamination Point! This isn’t far from Heaven Dou City—how has it gone unnoticed and unpurged? Could it be a newly formed Contamination Point?”

The teacher leading the Skywater team was Shui Ming’er, the academy’s head instructor and aunt to Shui Bing’er and Shui Yue’er. She was a level 76 control-type Soul Sage, a key figure at Skywater Academy.

“What luck. It’s a new Contamination Point; the monsters inside shouldn’t be too strong. Judging by its size, the strongest would be at most at the Soul Emperor level.”

Shui Ming’er—her long blue hair making her look not much older than her twenties—couldn’t hide her delight.

After all, clearing a Contamination Point often yielded generous rewards, and a newborn one was relatively less dangerous. With her strength, she could handle it easily.

Shui Ming’er instinctively glanced at Shui Bing’er.

As the most talented student in Skywater Academy’s history, Shui Bing’er carried the academy’s highest hopes.

Most of the rewards from previous Contamination Point clearings were prioritized for her.

Thanks to this, Shui Bing’er’s soul power had already reached level 49, just a step away from breaking through to Soul King.

If she could obtain a soul power-boosting treasure from this Contamination Point, she might break through before the tournament began.

If Shui Bing’er advanced to Soul King, with her top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Ice Phoenix, the only real threat in the tournament would be Spirit Hall; Skywater Academy would have no rivals among the other teams.

Of course, Shui Ming’er also knew that Skywater Academy wasn’t the only one who could benefit from Contamination Points—other academies could also obtain valuable treasures to boost their students.

Especially Spirit Hall—as the continent’s largest organization, its intelligence network was unmatched, with branches in almost every city.

With such reach, Spirit Hall could often discover and clear Contamination Points first, reaping the richest rewards.

So even if Shui Bing’er broke through, Shui Ming’er didn’t expect to win the championship; she only hoped Skywater Academy would outperform the other Elemental Academies.

Though the Five Elemental Academies once shared strong ties, in recent years, Elephant Armored and Thunderclap Academies had grown apart and left the alliance.

Mainly, Elephant Armored Academy was backed by the Elephant Armored Sect, and Thunderclap Academy by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Only Skywater, Blazing, and God Wind Academies had no powerful sect support—they were purely academic.

Thus, Skywater, Blazing, and God Wind Academies grew closer, while a rift formed with Elephant Armored and Thunderclap.

Still, being close allies didn’t mean Skywater Academy wouldn’t relish surpassing its friends in strength—it would give them more say in the alliance.

Without hesitation, Shui Ming’er decisively led the team toward the distant Contamination Point.

With her Soul Sage-level strength, she was confident.

Even if she couldn’t clear the Point, she could still lead the team to retreat safely.

Soul masters moved swiftly; the weakest among them was at the Soul Ancestor level, and none were slow.

Soon, they reached the Contamination Point’s edge.

“Quick and decisive! This spot isn’t far from Heaven Dou City—others will find it soon. Bing’er, you command the team,” Shui Ming’er ordered.

“Alright, everyone, stay close to me,” Shui Bing’er replied calmly.

Though she was only a month older than the youngest, Shui Yue’er, and younger than the other team members, none underestimated her.

On the contrary, everyone followed her orders.

While this Contamination Point was new, Shui Bing’er and the others had joined academy experts in clearing such Points before.

They knew these Points birthed strange monsters—mindless, purely killing machines with formidable combat power.

Slaying them would leave behind various treasures.

But to completely clear the Point, they had to kill its core monster—the strongest being within.

Shui Bing’er and her teammates’ main task was to clear the mobs, buying Shui Ming’er time and space to deal with the core.

After all, only the core monster’s dropped treasures were truly rare.

Soon, they stepped into the black mist. Instantly, a wave of nausea and discomfort surged over them.

This was the terror of a Contamination Point—anyone entering was constantly eroded by negative energy, while negative emotions flooded their minds.

If affected, soul masters would become irritable or even lose control, attacking their own teammates.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep