Soul Emperor Awakening

Lin Xuan’s action made the surrounding disciples gasp. It seemed he really didn’t take Chen Hao seriously at all. After all, Chen Hao’s cultivation had just broken through to the Seventh Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage.

But when the crowd got a clear look at the White Pupil Rod in Lin Xuan’s hand, their expressions changed drastically. That was a Spiritual Artifact!

Those who owned Spiritual Artifacts in the Inner Hall could be counted on one hand. Half-Spiritual Artifacts were more common, but true Spiritual Artifacts were incredibly rare. Lin Xuan goes out for a stroll and comes back with a Spiritual Artifact, leaving them dumbfounded. Not to mention, he also brought back a daughter. He was a true winner at life!

When Chen Hao saw the White Pupil Rod, his heart sank. The Giant Sword in his hand was a Half-Spiritual Artifact, but it was far inferior to Lin Xuan’s. The difference between a true Spiritual Artifact and a Half-Spiritual Artifact was more than just a single grade; the "half" in its name didn’t begin to describe the gap.

"The Elders let you advance directly to tenth place, but I refuse to accept it! I challenge you! Do you accept or not?" Chen Hao took a slight step back, his voice lowered. He no longer dared to shout so loudly, clearly intimidated by Lin Xuan’s presence.

"Fine. No problem." Lin Xuan glanced to the side and gestured. "How about that open space over there?"

"Fine!" Chen Hao turned, hoisted his Giant Sword onto his shoulder, and walked toward the nearby open space. Lin Xuan, carrying Liu Yue’Er, followed him. The two stood facing each other, but the sight of him holding a little girl was a bit strange.

Lin Xuan then took a few sets of clothes from his Storage Space and laid them on the ground. Training clothes were easily damaged, so if he didn’t keep a few spares, he’d surely end up running around naked. After arranging them into a makeshift bed, he carefully placed Liu Yue’Er on top, adjusted her into a comfortable position, and then stood up.

Chen Hao, who had been furious just moments ago, found his anger dissipating as he watched. ’Damn, he’s a good father!’ He took such meticulous care of his daughter. In a way, he really was a winner at life.

The onlookers exchanged glances, feeling a bit speechless. ’Is this the same domineering Lin Xuan from before?’ They never expected the arrogant Lin Xuan to have such a gentle side.

"Sorry for the wait. But this will be over soon." Lin Xuan held the White Pupil Rod in one hand, gave it a light swing, and rested its tip on the ground. His clothes fluttered, though there was no wind.

"Over soon, you say? Then let me see just how fast you are!" Chen Hao roared and charged toward Lin Xuan. Even while carrying the massive Giant Sword, his speed didn’t diminish in the slightest.

He didn’t use any kind of Body Technique; he simply sprinted forward. With every step, the ground trembled, and the entire area began to shake. Chen Hao was like a humanoid Giant Beast.

It was simple and brutal. Chen Hao charged head-on, his powerful aura soaring into the sky. A crushing pressure, seemingly from the heavens and the earth, bore down on Lin Xuan, leaving him no room to escape. This all-encompassing pressure created an illusion for Lin Xuan—as if Chen Hao had transformed into a mountain bearing down on him, making any attempt to dodge futile.

’So this is the Power of Heaven and Earth. A contest of strength, is it...?’ Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes. The trembling of the earth was so strong it vibrated through his skin. ’Chen Hao really has some skill. His control over the Power of Heaven and Earth is much better than Chen Yun’s.’

But using the Power of Heaven and Earth in front of him was like teaching a fish to swim!

’If this is a contest of strength, then I don’t believe I’ll lose to anyone!’ Lin Xuan brandished the White Pupil Rod. A white aura surged from it, flowing through his arm and into his body. A cold, white light flickered in his eyes.

In an instant, his body seemed to merge with the world around him. The immense Power of Heaven and Earth in the area began to pour madly into his White Pupil Rod. As it was infused with this power, the white patterns on the rod grew increasingly brilliant, and the White-eyed Tiger within it roared, looking as if it would burst free from the staff.

The scene was reminiscent of that moment back in the fortress when he had unleashed a strike with all his might. This, too, would be an all-out attack! But now, his cultivation had reached the Sixth Layer, up from the Fifth Layer before. With a higher level of cultivation, the power would naturally be different.

Especially after absorbing the Blood Jade Fruit, his entire body’s strength had seen a massive increase. As he gripped the White Pupil Rod, a deep crimson energy emerged from within him and coiled around his arm. This was the enhancing effect of the Blood Jade Fruit, capable of greatly boosting one’s physical power!

To the onlookers, Lin Xuan’s aura seemed far weaker than Chen Hao’s, completely engulfed by it. Lin Xuan was like a lone boat in a vast ocean, tossed about by the waves and in danger of capsizing at any moment.

"Mighty Power!"

Chen Hao charged, swinging his Giant Sword down in a heavy smash. There were no flashy moves, just a straightforward, head-on attack. Yet, it was precisely this directness that created a sense of powerlessness, a feeling that there was nowhere to hide.

His entire being had become a mountain, crushing down and covering the entire area. Where could one possibly run?

Facing the descending Giant Sword, Lin Xuan was fearless. He swung the White Pupil Rod up to meet it. A slender rod against a giant sword—which one would prevail?

The moment he swung, a star seemed to flash within the white light of his eyes, like a glimpse into the void of a deep night—unfathomably profound!

"Heaven-Striking Staff Technique, Third Form: Shattering Void!"

The force behind his swing was so immense that the White Pupil Rod bent, resembling a crescent moon in the eyes of the crowd. But what more people saw was the space itself beginning to shatter wherever the rod passed!

BOOM!

The two weapons collided with immense force. A massive White-eyed Tiger leaped from the body of the rod, pouncing not at Chen Hao, but at the very heavens and earth behind him!

BANG!

An explosion of air resounded. The crowd’s eyes widened in disbelief as they saw the sky begin to break apart, piece by piece. To be precise, it was the Power of Heaven and Earth that Chen Hao controlled that was shattering!

In just a few breaths, the aura behind Chen Hao completely vanished, shattered by Lin Xuan. A sharp "CRACK!" followed as the massive blade of the sword flew into the air. After spinning several times, it plunged straight into the ground, leaving only a severed hilt in Chen Hao’s hand.

SWOOSH!

The White Pupil Rod, having been swung by Lin Xuan, traced an arc through the air before instantly pointing at Chen Hao’s chest. Lin Xuan smiled faintly. "Do you concede?"

Chen Hao stared blankly at his broken Giant Sword. A moment ago, he had felt his entire aura shatter, leaving behind a profound emptiness. He found he couldn’t summon his strength anymore. With the Power of Heaven and Earth broken, all that was left was his mortal body. And how could his mortal body possibly compare to Lin Xuan’s?

"I... I lose..." Chen Hao still hadn’t recovered from the shock. He had never felt so powerless. His domain had been destroyed, leaving him feeling as if he’d been stripped of his weapon, completely defenseless.

’When your entire domain is shattered, even the weapon in your hand is no longer a weapon, but a pile of scrap iron!’

And now, it wasn’t just his domain that was shattered, but his weapon as well. This was the power of "One Stick Shatters Void," the third form of the Heaven-Striking Staff Technique!

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