Soul Emperor Awakening

Lin Yunlong!

A name that had become somewhat unfamiliar surfaced in everyone’s mind. They were all stunned by him, left completely dumbfounded and unable to utter a single word.

The news of his death had been announced nearly two months ago, so his sudden appearance shocked everyone. And upon his return, he seemed much stronger than before.

"Fifth Elder, does this mean I can’t participate in the challenge tournament? But that can’t be right. Isn’t the timing perfect? Don’t new members get an extension of up to two months to participate?"

Lin Xuan knew what was shocking them. In fact, when he returned to the Inner Hall, even the guards were dumbfounded. Wasn’t he supposed to be dead? Still, they let him through since they recognized him.

Snapping out of his shock, Qing Piaoyun flashed in front of Lin Xuan, grabbed his arm, and, quite discourteously, began probing his body.

"The... Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage!!" Qing Piaoyun exclaimed in shock.

The Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage!

Everyone was stunned by this level of Cultivation. The Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage wasn’t particularly high; Zhang Fu, lying there unconscious, was at the very same level. The crucial part was that in just two months, Lin Xuan had broken through from the Eighth Layer of the Body Refining Stage to the Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage. That kind of speed was simply meteoric!

’The Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage, huh...’ Zhao Hua’s gaze turned cold, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

’Wasn’t Zhang Fu, lying on the ground, at this same Cultivation? And didn’t I still slash him half to death with a single strike?’

"Such fast Cultivation speed. Could he have broken through by constantly consuming pills?"

"It’s possible. A breakthrough like that would leave his foundation unstable. With just a Fourth-class Talent, it’s impossible to cultivate that fast. He must have relied on Elixir Pills."

"If he broke through using Elixir Pills, how does he dare challenge Zhao Hua? He’s probably not even on Zhang Fu’s level. How could he possibly compete with Zhao Hua?"

...

Everyone speculated that Lin Xuan had broken through by consuming pills. Their preconceptions were too deeply ingrained: low talent meant slow progress, unless one relied on Elixir Pills! Otherwise, such speed was impossible. Advancing his Cultivation by four layers in two months—what did that even mean? In a few more months, wouldn’t he be soaring to the heavens?

"That reminds me, what was all that about you being dead?" Qing Piaoyun questioned.

"It’s nothing, really. It’s a long story... but the report was a mistake. The situation was indeed quite dangerous back then, but it’s not Miss Liu’s fault." Lin Xuan knew the news must have come from Liu Menghua. ’Under those circumstances,’ he thought, ’anyone would have assumed I was dead.’

"Very well. It’s good you made it back alive!" Qing Piaoyun said, looking at him. "Are you sure you want to challenge Zhao Hua? Did you not see the last match?"

"I saw it," Lin Xuan replied casually. "What does that have to do with me?"

This remark enraged Zhao Hua, who glared at him coldly. "Then get up here and fight me right now. I barely expended any energy in the last fight, so I don’t need to rest! Since you’re courting death, don’t blame me for being merciless!"

By defeating Zhang Fu, Zhao Hua was no longer at the bottom of the rankings. Instead, the person who was previously ninety-ninth automatically dropped one place to become the new last rank. In this tournament, a successful challenger didn’t swap places with the loser; the loser merely dropped one rank.

Thus, under normal circumstances, the next challenger would fight the person now ranked ninety-ninth—someone who was surely not as domineering as Zhao Hua, and who certainly didn’t possess the power to take down Zhang Fu with a single blow.

Lin Xuan took up his Dragon Cloud Rod and strode slowly onto the Martial Arts Arena, completely unafraid of Zhao Hua’s ferocious gaze. Without a doubt, Zhao Hua had cultivated an extremely vicious form of Martial Arts. His entire body radiated a savage aura, as did the great saber in his hand. It reeked so strongly of blood, one would think he had slain countless Demon Beasts, or maybe even people.

As the two faced off, Qing Piaoyun said nothing more. He could not interfere with a disciple’s decision; as long as it was within the rules, he had to allow it.

Zhao Hua’s methods had been vicious, but he hadn’t broken any rules. Blades have no eyes, and there was nothing wrong with using one’s full strength to defeat Zhang Fu. It was just that, in terms of restraint, he had clearly gone too far. The gap in their strength was simply too great.

’I can’t believe he’s still alive!’ Zhang Qi, who was naturally in the crowd, was startled by Lin Xuan’s appearance. ’Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage, huh? Let’s see just how much progress you’ve made these past two months. The genius the Elders have such high hopes for? Let’s see just how much of a genius you really are!’

Liu Xuan’s eyes glinted with anticipation, also eager to see Lin Xuan’s performance.

A handsome young man meditated in the distance, a wide-open space surrounding him as no one dared to draw near. He kept his eyes closed, cultivating, not even bothering to open them when Lin Xuan arrived. This was the Inner Hall’s strongest expert: Ling Tian. To him, these events were trivial. He was only present out of routine and had no real interest in the tournament, because no one ever dared to challenge him.

He was aware of Lin Xuan’s situation but had never cared to pay it any mind. There was no particular reason, other than his absolute confidence in his own strength.

"The Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage? What a coincidence, so am I. But I wonder if your Cultivation is a little... inflated?" A red glint shone from the edge of Zhao Hua’s great saber, his eyes filled with scorn.

"We’ll find out when we fight, won’t we? Why waste your breath?" Lin Xuan said coolly.

"Trying to provoke me?" Zhao Hua sneered. "Do you take me for one of those idiots? I’ll show you what a real gap in power looks like! You have a Celestial Level Martial Art? So do I! I’m no stepping stone. I’m an insurmountable mountain!"

Celestial Level Martial Arts—Cloud Dominating Saber! Its might, Overbearing as a Rainbow!

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Hua transformed into an intense crimson blur, sweeping forward like a rainbow arcing across the sky. He left a long trail of red light as he thrust straight toward Lin Xuan, carving a deep, glowing-red gash into the ground, radiating savagery and bloodlust.

Strong! Very strong!

This strike was a whole level stronger than the one he had used against Zhang Fu! It was clear that Zhao Hua was unleashing his full power this time. He wasn’t arrogantly holding back or taking things slow, but was instead like a tiger hunting a rabbit—using his full might from the very start!

The display was stunning. Even having seen it once before, the crowd was still shocked. Was this really the same Zhao Hua who used to be at the bottom of the rankings? With this kind of power, he had a good chance of breaking into the top fifty, especially since he possessed a Celestial Level Martial Art.

’A Celestial Level Martial Art, huh...’

Lin Xuan tightened his grip on the Dragon Cloud Rod. He didn’t draw on the soul within the Soul Pearl. Instead, his entire being became immersed in the world around him. In the blink of an eye, he seemed to merge completely with his surroundings, achieving the Realm of Unity of Heaven and Man.

In that instant, Zhao Hua’s charging speed seemed to slow down significantly in his perception, though it was still incredibly fast. Lin Xuan swung his rod to meet the attack. The dragon pattern on the Dragon Cloud Rod flashed with red light, and the rod itself, much like its wielder, seemed to merge with the world.

"If you’re a mountain in my way, then I’ll just have to shatter you!" Lin Xuan roared, thrusting his rod forward.

Celestial Level Martial Arts, Heaven-Striking Staff Technique—First Form, Broken Mountains and Rivers!

At that moment, what Lin Xuan held was no longer the Dragon Cloud Rod, but the world itself! A pale green light coiled around the staff as it smashed forward, carrying with it the power to shatter heaven and earth.

BOOM!

A terrifying explosion erupted between them, unleashing a shockwave even more fearsome than the last. The entire area trembled! Fortunately, the Martial Arts Arena had long been reinforced with protective Restrictions; otherwise, the blast would have surely affected the spectators outside.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The violent explosion of Energy slammed frantically against the Restriction, creating a sound like a furious knocking. The sight left everyone utterly speechless. Was this really the power of the Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage? Were they sure neither of them had hidden their true Cultivation?

When the explosion subsided, a great red saber flew out from the cloud of dust. It tumbled a few times in the air before plunging violently into the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, burying itself deep in the hard ground. Everyone could clearly see that a large hole had been punched clean through the blade of the Low Grade Treasure Artifact!

As the dust settled, the crowd could finally make out the scene within.

Lin Xuan stood not far from Zhao Hua, holding the Dragon Cloud Rod in one hand, still in the posture of a forward thrust.

Meanwhile, Zhao Hua was on his knees, his hands bloody and hanging limp as if the bones within were shattered. A long gouge was carved into the ground between them—a mark left as Zhao Hua was violently pushed back.

’Lin Yunlong... won?’

The result was obvious. Lin Xuan was completely unharmed, while Zhao Hua was kneeling on the ground, unable to move. Even his Weapon had been shattered. Such terrifying combat prowess made everyone’s hearts tremble.

It was another one-move victory. But this time, it was Lin Xuan who had defeated Zhao Hua in a single blow, not the other way around.

And this was the power of the Celestial Level Martial Arts, the Heaven-Striking Staff Technique—the power of its first form, Broken Mountains and Rivers!

Years of quiet cultivation, unleashed in a single day to shake the world.

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