Soul Emperor Awakening

The idea that he could prepare for the Core Disciple assessment right after joining the Inner Hall left the crowd unable to calm down for a long time. ’Isn’t this disparity a bit too much?’

Ling Tian, the top disciple of the Inner Hall, was only just now taking the Core Disciple assessment, yet Lin Xuan could prepare for it right after joining. This indirectly proved that Lin Xuan had gone through a terrifying trial—specifically, the Asura trial. It proved that such a thing really existed; otherwise, Elder Qing Piaoyun would not have been so excited.

Lin Xuan was also thrilled. This brought him one step closer to his goal. ’To jump straight to the Core Disciple assessment... this reward really is astonishing.’

"Don’t celebrate too soon. The Core Disciple assessment is very difficult. Who knows, one of the requirements might be to defeat the number one disciple," Qing Liuyun said, quickly dousing him with cold water.

Lin Xuan was taken aback. He gave a wry smile and said, "Senior, can you please not put pressure on me at a time like this? Besides, if I can join the ranks of the Core Disciples, I should be able to see Miss Yiyi, right?"

He knew Qing Liuyun was telling the truth, but it was a rather harsh one. He was confident that he could defeat Ling Tian, the top disciple of the Inner Hall, but definitely not now! Ling Tian’s Cultivation had likely already reached the Fourth and Fifth Layers of the Spirit Refining Stage, putting him worlds apart from Lin Xuan.

"I’m not trying to discourage you, just giving you a heads-up," Qing Liuyun laughed. "We’ll see. If you’re lucky, you should be able to see Yiyi... The Inner Hall and the Core Hall are two different places. Inner Hall disciples can’t get in, but Core Hall disciples can come out. I wonder how Yiyi is doing now?"

Qing Liuyun once again drifted into his memories. He had been here for too long and had no idea how his daughter was doing now.

"By the way, the fact that you actually passed this Asura trial is truly remarkable. It’s more than enough to prove your potential," Qing Piaoyun explained, clearly in a great mood. "It’s been so long since anyone passed it that we stopped bothering to announce it. I never expected someone to stumble upon the Asura trial by chance, let alone pass it! With your strength, I’m afraid even Ling Tian would have had a hard time passing it back in his day."

Qing Piaoyun’s words were astonishing. ’Doesn’t that mean Lin Xuan is even stronger than Ling Tian?’

The crowd’s gazes toward Lin Xuan grew complicated. Some were filled with jealousy, others with envy, but most felt admiration. When someone’s achievements become so lofty they seem unreachable, all that’s left is to admire them. Besides, Lin Xuan’s ordinary background made him seem more relatable.

"Now that we have you as an example, I think we’ll announce this condition from now on. We’ll see if anyone else can pass the Asura trial... However, the slightest mistake could be fatal, so one would have to carefully consider if they’re strong enough." Qing Piaoyun smiled and added, "Let’s go. I will personally take you to the Inner Hall!"

Qing Piaoyun wasn’t joking. There was a good reason the trial had been sealed away—it was simply too difficult to be public knowledge. The challengers of the Cloud Ascension Tower were all at or below the Body Refining Stage. To suddenly face two Iron Men at the Peak of Body Refining Stage was a challenge of extraordinary difficulty.

Especially when jumping from the Fourth Layer to the Seventh Layer with no transition, one was thrown directly into the most terrifying battle. Not everyone was like Lin Xuan, who possessed the Soul Pearl.

Without the Soul Pearl, one could not easily learn Extreme Point Inch Light. The technique was simple to execute but extremely difficult to cultivate. From that perspective, Lin Xuan had benefited greatly.

"The... the Inner Hall..." Just then, Huang Ming slowly regained consciousness. Upon hearing that Lin Xuan was joining the Inner Hall, his chest tightened, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood before fainting once more.

This was the ultimate irony for him. Challenging a monster who had cleared the Cloud Ascension Tower was simply a death wish. But he just couldn’t wrap his head around it. ’How can someone like Lin Xuan, with a mere Fourth-class Talent, be so terrifying?’

"Where’s my Spirit-Breaking Pill?" Lin Xuan said, walking over to Huang Ming’s attendant.

With trembling hands, the attendant took the pill from Huang Ming’s Storage Pouch and handed it over. At that moment, Lin Xuan’s figure seemed to tower over him. They had truly picked a fight with the wrong person.

After accepting the pill, Lin Xuan turned to Qing Piaoyun and said, "I’m sorry to have kept you, Fifth Elder."

Qing Piaoyun asked no questions. He shot a glance at Huang Ming, then turned and led Lin Xuan away. The remaining crowd could only look at each other in dismay. ’That Huang Ming is truly pitiful. Offending someone like Lin Xuan, who’s destined to reach the Strong Level, has surely brought great trouble upon the Huang Family.’

「The Inner Hall of Qingcheng Mansion, located in the Yuanling Mountain Range—a region within the Soaring Dragon Empire where Elemental Power was particularly abundant.」

The Inner Hall was established here, almost completely isolated from the outside world. Outsiders could not enter as they pleased—any who trespassed would be killed on sight!

Under Qing Piaoyun’s guidance, they passed through a narrow path deep into the Yuanling Mountain Range. The moment he stepped inside, Lin Xuan could feel the dense Elemental Power suffusing the air. It was far more potent than the outside world, and several times more concentrated than at the Lin Family estate.

And this was just outside the entrance. He couldn’t imagine what it would be like deeper inside.

"Fifth Elder, you’ve returned."

The two guards standing at the entrance both had Cultivation at the Essence Pill Stage Level, yet here, they were merely guards. In any other place, they would have already qualified for the Elder Level.

Of course, this didn’t mean their status was low. On the contrary, guarding this place was a critical task, so it was only natural that they couldn’t allow anyone with a low Cultivation to stand post.

"Yes, and I’ve brought back a very promising disciple this time!" Qing Piaoyun was in high spirits, his expectations for Lin Xuan clearly high.

He wasn’t being overly casual; they all knew how difficult the Cloud Ascension Tower was. Anyone who could pass it undoubtedly possessed great potential. With proper nurturing, such a person could become a powerhouse at the Spirit Pill Stage Level in the future!

The two guards’ gazes shifted to Lin Xuan. They sized him up for a moment but didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.

"He passed the Asura trial!" Qing Piaoyun added.

The two men’s eyes widened. They immediately smiled at Lin Xuan. "Junior Brother, your future is limitless!"

"Thank you for the praise, Senior Brothers. I will be in your care from now on," Lin Xuan said humbly, showing no hint of arrogance.

His demeanor left them very satisfied. ’Not arrogant, not conceited. Now this is someone with a future.’

Led by Qing Piaoyun, they arrived at an inner plaza where a few disciples were walking about. The moment Lin Xuan appeared, all eyes snapped to him.

Every new disciple was scrutinized, as no one knew if they might be the next dark horse.

As they sized up Lin Xuan, he sized them up in return. He was inwardly shocked when he perceived their Cultivation. Among the many disciples before him, not a single one was below the Body Refining Stage—the weakest were at the Spirit Refining Stage!

This was to be expected. Those who could join the Inner Hall were by no means ordinary. The weakest were likely at the Peak of Body Refining Stage, and those not present were probably in secluded Cultivation. It was impossible to gain a foothold here without improving one’s Cultivation.

"Fifth Elder, I’d like to ask you about someone," Lin Xuan said.

"Oh? You have an acquaintance in the Inner Hall? Tell me," Qing Piaoyun said. He was in a good mood, so he didn’t mind the question.

"I’d like to ask about a woman named Lin Xue." Lin Xuan just wanted to know how she was doing.

"Lin Xue, you say?" Qing Piaoyun sized him up, a strange look in his eyes. "What is your relationship with her?"

"No special relationship, we’ve just met a few times," he said, making a casual excuse. But a thought occurred to him: ’Lin Xue must be quite famous!’

"Well, Lin Xue is no longer in the Inner Hall. She has already become a Core Disciple," Qing Piaoyun said, dropping a bombshell.

"What? She was in the Inner Hall?" Lin Xuan was stunned. "You’re saying she passed the Core Disciple assessment?"

"With her talent, she didn’t need one," Qing Piaoyun said. "She has an Innate Ice Yin Constitution, a one-in-a-million level of talent. The Third Elder, who also possesses an Ice Yin Body, took her directly as a disciple. What assessment could she possibly need?"

"Ice Yin Body?" The term was unfamiliar to Lin Xuan.

"An Innate Ice Yin Body... good heavens..." Qing Liuyun chimed in. "Kid, don’t tell me you have a thing going on with that girl Lin Xue?"

"Well, we do have a bit of a connection..." Lin Xuan replied, momentarily speechless.

"Then you’re one lucky guy! The Cultivation speed of someone with an Innate Ice Yin Body is absolutely astonishing, a level or two higher than others of the same talent tier. And with the Third Elder personally instructing her, her Cultivation must be skyrocketing!" Qing Liuyun teased, "If you two became cultivation partners, you’d benefit as well... assuming you can get past the Third Elder first, heh heh..."

At that moment, however, Lin Xuan’s heart grew heavy. Lin Xue’s talent was astounding. ’Can I ever catch up to her?’

’No, I definitely can!’ Lin Xuan quickly pushed the thought aside. He wasn’t jealous of Lin Xue; he simply wanted to become stronger than her. That was the only way he would be able to protect them!

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