Soul Emperor Awakening

The Micro Level Cyan Cloud Step was the absolute highest tier of the technique. Of course, the effect it produced depended on the user’s Cultivation, but what Lin Xuan had just displayed was the absolute limit of his current speed!

His entire body blended into the world around him, a perfect interpretation of the Realm of a Celestial Level Martial Arts, allowing him to effortlessly dodge Zhang Qi’s fatal blow.

The familiar sight made Qing Piaoyun mistakenly think it was Qing Liuyun. In reality, it was essentially Qing Liuyun performing the move, so of course it looked incredibly familiar.

Qing Piaoyun blinked, realizing he had been mistaken. The person before him wasn’t Qing Liuyun, but Lin Xuan. To have reached the Micro Level at such a young age, and so soon after learning the Cyan Cloud Step, was enough to leave him utterly shocked.

Reaching the Initial Micro Level was already incredible. It was difficult to advance to the Micro Level without several years of practice. Who would have thought that he would display the Micro Level Cyan Cloud Step in the blink of an eye?

"This... This is astounding. I actually thought the Grand Elder had returned..." Once the shock subsided, a wave of sadness washed over Qing Piaoyun. ’To think that genius of the past had fallen so tragically.’

This scene didn’t just affect Qing Piaoyun; it stunned everyone present! Most of them believed they would be unable to dodge Zhang Qi’s spear thrust. Their only options would be to block it head-on or be struck.

Lin Xuan had given them a third answer—evasion!

"Micro Level Cyan Cloud Step... Is that really something a Fourth-class Talent can achieve?" Ling Tian’s brow furrowed, his heart filled with shock. He had never learned the Cyan Cloud Step, but he knew for a fact he couldn’t have dodged Zhang Qi’s attack. There was no other reason for it; his own Body Technique Level wasn’t high enough.

’I’d have no problem blocking it head-on,’ Ling Tian thought, ’I could even shatter Zhang Qi’s ultimate move with ease.’

"That... that Cyan Cloud Step... It looks just like how the Elders perform it, doesn’t it?"

"I was thinking the same thing! I can’t lock onto his aura at all!"

"Damn it, how the hell does that freak cultivate!?"

...

The crowd was dumbfounded. Lin Xuan’s Cyan Cloud Step had the air of a master, truly rivaling that of the Elders. The only gap was his Cultivation—his speed wasn’t as staggering—but the Realm of the technique was on full display.

"This... This is impossible!" Zhang Qi’s missed strike sent an even deeper shock through him. He quickly spun around and thrust his spear at Lin Xuan again.

But no matter what he did, he couldn’t lock onto Lin Xuan. He could see him with his naked eye, but he couldn’t lock onto his aura. This meant Lin Xuan could easily evade his attacks and would not be hit.

"Nothing is impossible... Broken Mountains and Rivers!" After executing the Cyan Cloud Step, Lin Xuan rapidly circled to his side, raised the Dragon Cloud Rod high, and brought it smashing down.

Thanks to Qing Liuyun’s possession, his understanding of the Realm was far deeper, and he was more perfectly integrated with the world. If before he could only command a small sliver of the Power of Heaven and Earth, he could now control a vast swath of it!

As he unleashed Broken Mountains and Rivers again, Zhang Qi’s face fell. He could clearly feel that the attack had improved dramatically; it was on a completely different level than before. Lin Xuan had somehow forced it to a whole new tier of power!

’Wasn’t that his limit before?’

Zhang Qi didn’t dwell on it. With a furious roar, he charged forward to meet the attack. He wasn’t afraid of Lin Xuan’s technique; he refused to believe he couldn’t defeat him.

BOOM!

The two weapons clashed once more. The furious impact of the two Top Level Treasure Artifacts triggered an astonishing explosion of Elemental Power. The Power of Distortion from the Heaven-Striking Staff Technique slammed against the indomitable power of the Spear Dragon Technique, neither willing to yield.

After the intense collision of Elemental Power, both were knocked back again. This time, however, they were thrown back roughly the same distance. This meant they were now on equal footing. All that was left was to see who had greater endurance.

But Zhang Qi could not accept this result. A draw meant he had lost. In a fight between someone at the Second Layer of Spirit Refining Stage and someone at the Fourth Layer, it was painfully obvious who had truly lost.

"This... this is impossible! How can you still be getting stronger? You’re definitely not just at the Second Layer of Spirit Refining Stage!" Zhang Qi reigned in his power. Unleashing those two ultimate moves in a row had consumed too much of his Elemental Power, and he took several deep, ragged breaths.

Lin Xuan wasn’t in much better shape. The Soul Possession was doubling his Elemental Power consumption. A protracted battle would be fatal for him, so he absolutely could not let this fight drag on.

"Believe it or not, that’s none of my concern!" Lin Xuan sneered. ’So what if my Cultivation isn’t at the Second Layer? As long as I win, that’s all that matters. No one will dare say a word against me.’

"Fine! We’ll see how long you can last!" Zhang Qi growled, raising his heavy spear and once again unleashing an ultimate thrust.

Yet his heart was filled with indignation. He refused to believe Lin Xuan could win, but he had long since lost his earlier confidence. He was starting to feel a sliver of fear... the fear that Lin Xuan might actually win!

If Lin Xuan really won, how could he ever show his face again?

"Let’s end this..."

Lin Xuan took a deep breath. He stood perfectly still as he commanded the Soul Pearl within him, causing Lin Hua’s soul to fuse with him as well!

The fusion of two souls caused his aura to skyrocket once more. The combined insight from two Spirit Pill Stage Realms far surpassed that of any single one. Especially since both had been powerful Spirit Pill Stage experts, their stacked power made the world around him seem to grow startlingly clear.

Just to stand there was to embody a Realm in and of itself! This was the Spirit Pill Stage.

Qing Piaoyun’s eyes went wide. He could feel that Lin Xuan’s attunement to the world had already surpassed his own! If he couldn’t clearly sense that Lin Xuan’s Cultivation was still at the Spirit Refining Stage, he would have thought he was a Spirit Pill Stage expert, or even a Core Formation Stage master standing before him.

When Lin Xuan opened his eyes again, the rapidly charging Zhang Qi seemed no different than an ant! From the perspective of a Spirit Pill Stage expert’s Realm, a Spirit Refining Stage Cultivator was indeed nothing more than an ant.

He moved. His speed hadn’t changed, but as he swung the Dragon Cloud Rod, the entire area instantly distorted. It was as if all the Power of Heaven and Earth surged into his rod; he had even violently siphoned away the power from Zhang Qi’s side.

The purpose of a Celestial Level Martial Arts was to channel the Power of Heaven and Earth, and Lin Xuan had now taken that concept to its absolute limit...

As Zhang Qi charged forward, he suddenly felt an unrivaled pressure wash over him, striking a jolt of fear into his heart. His charge slowed by half a beat.

That half-beat of hesitation, coupled with that sliver of fear, already signified his defeat...

"Heaven-Striking Staff Technique, First Form—Broken Mountains and Rivers!"

Lin Xuan let out a furious roar and brought his staff down with immense force. The terrifying Power of Distortion radiated out from Zhang Qi, twisting the entire area.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The incredibly violent strike blasted away a huge chunk of the Martial Arts Arena. Zhang Qi had managed to receive the blow head-on, but he was still smashed violently into the ground. The golden light surrounding him had long since dissipated, leaving only his bruised and battered body collapsed on the floor, twitching uncontrollably.

His mind was in a daze, and he had already lost half his consciousness. If not for his Gold Attribute Technique, his body would have been obliterated by the terrifying attack. Had Lin Xuan’s Cultivation also been at the Fourth Layer of Spirit Refining Stage, Zhang Qi would have been killed in a single blow!

THUD!

Lin Xuan planted the Dragon Cloud Rod into the stage, using it to steady himself. The Soul Possession had already faded, and his body felt profoundly empty of Elemental Power.

"I finally won..."

He felt an urge to cry. ’So this is what victory feels like!’ He had never imagined he could climb to such heights; he’d thought he would be hiding in that small hut for the rest of his life.

But now, through his own efforts, he had reached these heights! Only he knew the hardships he had endured to get here.

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