Soul Emperor Awakening

The reward from Qing Piaoyun was so generous it made many people burn with envy. If he could receive such a lavish prize now, what would he get for meeting the standard of breaking into the top ten?

Or what if he even managed to defeat Ling Tian? The reward for that would be absolutely staggering!

To complete all three tasks within two years would make one a prodigy of astonishing talent. Just completing the first two would already mark someone as a genius. The top ten wasn’t so easy to enter, and defeating Ling Tian was even more unthinkable. Ling Tian himself had Sixth-class Talent—and was even rumored to possess Seventh-class Talent!

His Cultivation had apparently reached the Seventh or Eighth Layers of the Spirit Refining Stage. How was that even a fight?

Therefore, if Lin Xuan truly managed to catch up to and defeat Ling Tian, no one would have any grounds to object, no matter how great the reward. If he could go from the Eighth Layer of the Body Refining Stage all the way to defeating Ling Tian, what could anyone possibly say?

The Cyan Cloud Step was fast, but that didn’t mean one’s Cultivation could soar to the heavens just as easily!

"Thank you, Fifth Elder!" Lin Xuan gratefully accepted the bottle of Elixir Pills. As for other challenges, he would have to put them on hold for now.

He wouldn’t have been able to withstand it even if he had one more chance. Soul Possession consumed not just Elemental Power, but Spiritual Power as well.

"If you can complete the second standard ahead of schedule, the reward will be even more generous!" Qing Piaoyun dangled a huge temptation, encouraging Lin Xuan’s progress.

"This disciple can only promise to do his best. My senior brothers are all incredibly talented, so climbing the ranks will be extremely difficult," Lin Xuan said humbly.

With so many people watching, being too arrogant would only earn him their hostility. ’Know when to keep a low profile and when to make a splash.’ That was common sense.

’Now that I’ve gotten my lucky break, I should definitely keep my head down. Provoking others won’t do me any good right now. Besides, I know for a fact I can’t beat them.’ He was self-aware enough for that much.

Qing Piaoyun was very satisfied with Lin Xuan’s attitude. This place was full of geniuses; being too arrogant was not a good thing.

The Martial Arts Arena had been considerably damaged and needed repairs, so the duels were temporarily paused. Seizing the opportunity, Qing Piaoyun pulled Lin Xuan aside. "Your Cyan Cloud Step has reached the Micro Level," he inquired. "Have you truly never practiced it before?" This was the biggest question on his mind. If Lin Xuan had genuinely reached such a level in just a few months, it was simply astonishing.

"That is correct. This disciple learned it in the Cloud Ascension Tower and had absolutely no prior training in it. As I’m sure you know, Elder, the Cyan Cloud Step cannot be taught to outsiders, can it?" Lin Xuan wasn’t lying; he truly had mastered it in a matter of months.

Qing Piaoyun looked into Lin Xuan’s eyes and saw a firm conviction. It was clearly not the expression of someone who was lying.

"In that case, your talent is truly astonishing..." Qing Piaoyun drew a sharp breath. Even he had not cultivated the technique to the Micro Level. The fact that Lin Xuan had was a testament to how frighteningly talented he was.

"Fifth Elder, this disciple has a solemn request, and I hope you will grant it," Lin Xuan said in a serious tone.

"Oh? What is it? As long as it’s not anything too out of the ordinary, I believe I have the authority to approve it." Qing Piaoyun greatly admired Lin Xuan. The moment Lin Xuan became a Core Disciple, he was determined to accept him as his personal student, and he wouldn’t let anyone try to snatch him away.

"It’s actually not a major affair. I simply wish to meet Miss Qing Yiyi. This disciple is aware that the Cyan Cloud Step was created by the Grand Elder, and so I wish to meet his daughter, Miss Yi Yi, to exchange some insights with her," Lin Xuan stated with gravity.

Qing Liuyun had fallen into a deep slumber, and he likely didn’t have much time left. That’s why Lin Xuan wanted to meet Qing Yiyi as soon as possible and fulfill Qing Liuyun’s wish.

Qing Piaoyun gave Lin Xuan a strange look, as if sizing up a scoundrel.

"Are you sure you just want to ’exchange insights,’ and not ’get to know her’?" Qing Piaoyun teased.

Lin Xuan froze for a moment, then forced a wry smile. It was clear Qing Piaoyun saw him as just another one of Qing Yiyi’s suitors. All this talk of exchanging insights was just a ridiculous excuse. ’I’ve already reached the Micro Level, what the hell is there to discuss?’

"Well, that’s simple. As it happens, Yiyi is cultivating in the Cyan Cloud Tower. When she comes out, I’ll mention this to her. To reach the Micro Level at such a young age, I imagine she’ll be interested in you too." Qing Piaoyun chuckled. "As for whether she’ll pay you any mind, that will depend on your own abilities. She has many, many suitors..."

Lin Xuan didn’t bother denying anything. Whatever the elder wanted to think was none of his concern.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Fifth Elder," Lin Xuan said with gratitude.

After this small interlude, and once the Martial Arts Arena had been hastily repaired, Qing Piaoyun returned to the platform.

"Does anyone else wish to participate in the challenge matches now?" Qing Piaoyun temporarily set the matter aside and swept his gaze over the crowd.

These challenge matches weren’t just for Lin Xuan, after all. Others needed to issue their challenges, and the process would unfold in due time.

A new challenger stepped up almost immediately, so Lin Xuan left the Martial Arts Arena and became a spectator on the sidelines.

He had just stepped off the Martial Arts Arena when Liu Xuan came up to him, smiling. "Brother Lin, your progress in the last two months has been astonishing! Your ranking is higher than mine now. You’ll have to look after me from now on!"

His smile was broad, as bright and sunny as ever, with no hint of flattery. He was simply treating Lin Xuan the same way he always had.

"I wouldn’t dare say I can ’look after’ you. There are still many things I need you to remind me of, Brother Liu. I’m a newcomer, after all. I’m the one who will still need you to look after me," Lin Xuan replied humbly.

He had a rather favorable impression of Liu Xuan. The fact that Liu Xuan had sided with him against Zhang Qi showed he had a proud and righteous spirit of his own.

Just then, two young men walked toward them. They carried themselves with powerful auras and wore expressions of haughty arrogance, clearly looking down on everyone around them.

"That’s Chen Yun, ranked twelfth, and Wan Ning, ranked tenth. They’re clearly not here to be friendly," Liu Xuan whispered as a warning.

The pair stopped in front of them and looked Lin Xuan up and down. Wan Ning, the higher-ranked of the two, spoke with a smile. "Junior Brother Lin, your skills are truly astonishing. Who knows, perhaps I’ll be the one you challenge next. When the time comes, I hope Junior Brother Lin will be merciful!"

There was nothing overtly sinister about Wan Ning’s smile; it was just a cheerful grin, seemingly without any hidden meaning. But one had to be most wary of people like this, especially those with such a high rank.

"How could that be? Senior Brother Wan’s Cultivation is so profound. If anything, I’ll be the one asking for Senior Brother Wan’s mercy," Lin Xuan replied with a smile.

Wan Ning reached out and draped an arm over Lin Xuan’s shoulder, leaning in close. "How about we make a wager?" he said in a low voice. "If you win, I’ll give you my Weapon. If you lose, you give me yours. Doesn’t that make things more interesting? Let’s set the deadline for six months from now. Any longer would hardly be a testament to Junior Brother Lin’s talent, now would it?"

As he spoke, his grip on Lin Xuan’s shoulder tightened. If not for Lin Xuan’s tough Physique, the pressure might have been enough to fracture bone.

’So the fox’s tail is finally showing.’

Lin Xuan sneered inwardly. ’This is just a one-sided attempt to intimidate me. As expected, these geniuses are all proud and arrogant; none of them want to be used as a stepping stone. If I want to keep climbing, I’ll have to get past Wan Ning!’

The rules of the challenge matches were clear. To even hope to reach eleventh place, one first had to defeat the person ranked tenth. Only by taking the tenth rank could one continue to climb higher.

Wagers were common, but a bet this unfair was just plain predatory.

Wan Ning, ranked tenth, was already at the Sixth Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage. The gap between his Cultivation and Lin Xuan’s was enormous, yet he demanded a challenge within six months. This time limit was even stricter than the one set by the Elders.

Lin Xuan’s expression remained unchanged. ’It really isn’t easy to establish a foothold in a place overflowing with geniuses.’

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