Soul Emperor Awakening

After Lin Xuan sank to the bottom of the lake, he quickly recovered. The recoil from the blow had torn open a wound on the hand gripping his Dragon Cloud Rod; the Cyan-Scaled Python’s toughness far surpassed his imagination.

It was unbelievably tough. It was the first time he had ever struck something so hard. His strike, packing a force of three thousand five hundred pounds, was enough to shatter a giant boulder. Yet when it landed on the Cyan-Scaled Python, it felt like hitting an even harder rock. The recoil alone almost severely injured him.

Without a second thought, he executed the Cyan Cloud Step and began to ascend toward the surface. Under his control, a potent surge of Elemental Power gathered precisely at his feet, allowing him to walk through the water as if on solid ground!

But just as he started to rush for the surface, the Cyan-Scaled Python was already lunging at him, its gaping maw wide open. It was far faster and more agile than he was.

’Down! I have to go down!’

Lin Xuan spun around and frantically dashed toward the lakebed. Qing Liuyun’s soul hadn’t withdrawn, which was the only way he could execute the Celestial Level Martial Arts, Cyan Cloud Step, to its full potential. If he tried to perform it alone, he would be far too clumsy. ’Especially in a life-or-death situation like this, every extra bit of help is another chance to live!’

As he rushed toward the lakebed, he saw a faint light glowing ahead. There, in the clear water illuminated by the filtering Moonlight, he could actually make out a massive palace!

That’s right—an Underwater Palace. Without a moment’s hesitation, Lin Xuan headed straight for it. His Elemental Power was being consumed at an alarming rate, especially since he had to maintain an Elemental Power Shield around his body just to breathe.

Normally, a cultivator at the Body Refining Stage would be incapable of manipulating Elemental Power this way, as it required an extremely high level of Elemental Power Control Ability. This was all thanks to Qing Liuyun’s Soul Possession, which had elevated his Control Power to the Spirit Pill Stage Level!

The level of Control Power was astonishing, but the rate of consumption was even more frightening. In just a short time, a significant portion of his Elemental Power was already gone. If this kept up, the Cyan-Scaled Python would surely catch him.

’I’ll take my chances and rush into this palace!’

The palace was right before him. Escaping upward was impossible; the Cyan-Scaled Python was right above him, ready to intercept him no matter which way he turned. His only hope to temporarily evade it was to keep plunging deeper.

Thus, his only gamble was the Underwater Palace. ’If I can just navigate through it for a bit and lose the Cyan-Scaled Python, I can make a break for the surface. Demon Beasts aren’t very smart, after all. A few simple tricks should be enough to shake it off.’

WHOOSH!

Lin Xuan shot forward like a jet of water, reaching the vicinity of the Underwater Palace in the blink of an eye. The Cyan-Scaled Python was right on his tail, mere meters from snapping him up! Its powerful jaws could undoubtedly rip him in two with a single bite!

"Go!"

Lin Xuan pulled out a stone carving of a Flame Heart Sect disciple and flung it behind him. In an instant, it transformed into the likeness of a person and charged. The Cyan-Scaled Python froze for a second, but then devoured it all the same, crushing the stone carving in a single, effortless bite.

Lin Xuan hadn’t expected the carving to delay it for long; he only hoped to create a little distance. As expected, the trick bought him a precious few feet. Seizing the opening, he rapidly mobilized the Elemental Power within his body.

’Go!’

Lin Xuan’s eyes blazed with the will to live. He refused to die here. He still had too much to do. With an inner roar, his speed surged. An instant later, he felt as if he had passed through a thin membrane and entered a different space.

He felt his entire body lighten as he fell downward. THUD. He landed on soft mud. He stared ahead in utter astonishment—this area had no water!

There was no water here. After dismissing his shield, he could breathe freely. The water was completely held back by an outer barrier; not a single drop could enter. Only the damp earth under his feet proved he was still at the bottom of the lake.

THUMP!

The sound of a violent impact echoed from behind. Lin Xuan whipped around to see the Cyan-Scaled Python slam heavily against the barrier, only to be thrown back by the recoil.

Through the thin barrier, he saw the resentful gaze of the Cyan-Scaled Python. It opened its jaws as if to bite him but was completely blocked by the membrane, unable to enter. Its furious roars were swallowed by the water, unable to penetrate the barrier at all.

’What is this place?’ Lin Xuan was dumbfounded, with no idea what was going on. Nevertheless, he ended the Soul Possession to avoid consuming too much Elemental Power.

"Where is this place?" Qing Liuyun’s voice echoed in his mind, just as confused as he was. "I’ve explored the bottom of this lake before. This isn’t my first time seeing that Cyan-Scaled Python, but it is absolutely my first time seeing this Underwater Palace... How strange. Why didn’t I notice it before?"

"It must be related to the Soul Pearl..." Lin Xuan surmised. The palace before him looked ancient. The mottled surfaces and shattered stone pillars were all proof that it had existed for many, many years.

It couldn’t have just appeared in the last few years. Since Qing Liuyun had never seen it before, it must be that the Soul Pearl allowed Lin Xuan to perceive things that were normally hidden.

"That’s possible," Qing Liuyun said after his shock subsided, his voice weak. "That outer layer must be an extremely powerful Restriction, one that not only blocks intruders but also keeps this place hidden. That’s the only explanation... I... I’m not going to make it. I feel like I could fade away at any moment..."

Lin Xuan quickly entered his Soul Space. Just as he’d feared, Qing Liuyun’s form was translucent and flickering, on the verge of disappearing completely.

"Is it the Soul Possession? Is it causing your consciousness to fade?" Lin Xuan asked, as this was the only explanation he could think of. Qing Liuyun had been fine before, but his condition seemed to have worsened after each possession.

His worst fears were now coming true. Qing Liuyun was about to fade away, just like Lin Hua before him.

"No," Qing Liuyun lamented. "In truth, the moment we entered this space, I felt my consciousness start to fade. It feels as if a single command from you could wipe me out completely... Even without the Soul Possession, I don’t think I would have lasted much longer anyway."

"Then... doesn’t that mean I’m the one who harmed you?" Lin Xuan asked, his voice filled with guilt.

But Qing Liuyun shook his head, a carefree smile on his face. "No. I’m already overjoyed that you brought me out of the Cloud Ascension Tower. I wouldn’t want to stay in there, even if it meant I could live forever. It’s just... before I fade completely, I really want to see Yiyi..."

His greatest lingering attachment was his daughter, Qing Yiyi. He just didn’t know if he could hold on long enough to see her.

"Don’t worry," Lin Xuan said with determination. "When I get back, I will absolutely take you to see Miss Yiyi! When the time comes, I’ll get the Fifth Elder to arrange a meeting, even if I have to beg him! So please, you have to hold on."

"I hope so..." Qing Liuyun closed his eyes and sat down, appearing to fall into a deep sleep.

Perhaps this was the only way he could temporarily preserve what was left of his consciousness. But it would still fade eventually; that outcome was inevitable. The only exception would be to return to the place where his soul had been housed, but Qing Liuyun would rather see the outside world than spend an eternity trapped inside.

Trapped in there, he couldn’t speak to or see anyone he wanted. What was the point of remaining conscious under those conditions? Besides, it wasn’t possible to remain conscious forever. Lin Hua was the perfect example of that.

By the time Lin Xuan had found him, Lin Hua’s soul had already been on the verge of turning transparent. If it had continued, he would have disappeared completely.

’Looks like I can’t get out the way I came in for now,’ Lin Xuan thought, his gaze shifting to the magnificent palace. ’I might as well go inside and see if I can find another exit!’ He wondered what secrets the palace might hold.

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