Soul Emperor Awakening

"Huang Qianyun, you lost the bet this time, didn’t you!"

Shang Zhihao wasn’t about to cut Huang Qianyun any slack. After all, Huang Qianyun had been the one to propose the bet. Now, he had lost—and lost completely—to the both of them.

Now he would have to call both of them "Grandpa," and from now on, he’d have to avoid them whenever he saw them. This was an utter disgrace to the Huang Family.

Huang Qianyun’s face flushed beet red. With so many people watching, how could he bring himself to say it? But a bet was a bet. Even though it was just a verbal agreement, everyone had witnessed it. If he didn’t honor it, his reputation would be ruined.

"What, can’t get the words out?" Shang Zhihao sneered. "You were the one who made the promise. Are you trying to go back on your word now?"

"I will only say it to the one who won," Huang Qianyun said coldly. "This bet involved three people, not two!"

Shang Zhihao crossed his arms and sneered. "Fine by me. Just say it to him, then. You don’t have to say it to me!" From his perspective, it made no difference who Huang Qianyun said it to. As long as he got to see the man squirm, he was satisfied.

Especially since Lin Xuan was from the Liu Family, which made him practically an ally. So what if they weren’t close? The enemy of his enemy was his friend.

Huang Qianyun walked up to Lin Xuan, his face flushed, and glared at him. "Are you really going to make me honor this bet?" His voice was heavy with a veiled threat, implying that if Lin Xuan said yes, he might be killed on the spot.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lin Xuan sneered, "Of course. I’m all ears." He had no intention of being polite. A threat like that meant nothing to him. ’I’ve already provoked the Fang Family, who are much stronger than the Huang Family. Why would I be afraid of them?’

"You!" Huang Qianyun’s anger flared when he realized his threat was useless.

He desperately wanted to attack Lin Xuan, but countless eyes were fixed on them. Even Luo Xiao was watching from the side. If he didn’t honor the bet, he would be utterly disgraced.

"Grand... Grandpa..." Huang Qianyun muttered.

"What was that? I can’t hear you. Could you speak up? And you call yourself a Cultivator? You’re not even as loud as a normal person!" Lin Xuan said coldly.

With their enhanced hearing, it was impossible not to have heard him. But the voice was too quiet, utterly lacking in sincerity. ’If the roles were reversed,’ Lin Xuan thought, ’with Huang Qianyun’s arrogant personality, he’d probably have made us run through the streets shouting it. That’s the kind of thing he’d do.’

"Grand... GRANDPA!" Huang Qianyun roared. The word "Grandpa" echoed through the hall, causing many onlookers to break out in a cold sweat.

"There we go, grandson!" Lin Xuan replied with a satisfied smile.

A shiver went through the crowd. ’This Lin Xuan really has a death wish.’ Huang Qianyun would surely hate him to the bone now. It wouldn’t be surprising if he sent powerful experts to ambush Lin Xuan.

After blurting it out, Huang Qianyun pointed a finger at Lin Xuan’s face. "Brat, are you really from the Liu Family? I know the Liu Family, and they don’t have anyone at your level!"

"Grandson, is that any way to talk to your grandpa?" Lin Xuan scoffed.

"Don’t you dare talk back to me! I already said it. Believe it or not, I could crush you like a bug!" Huang Qianyun advanced on him, his icy gaze locked on Lin Xuan as he released the pressure of his Cultivation—Second Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage.

He wouldn’t actually attack, but he wanted to overwhelm Lin Xuan with his aura.

Shang Zhihao’s expression changed. Just as he was about to step in front of Lin Xuan, he saw Lin Xuan pull something out and slap it down hard on the stone table. "Crush me?" Lin Xuan sneered. "If you think you’ve got what it takes, I’ll be waiting for your challenge in the Inner Hall!"

When the crowd got a clear look at the Token on the table, they first froze, then gasped collectively. Engraved on it were the words: *Inner Hall, Rank 22, Lin Yunlong!*

Lin Yunlong!

The most fearsome new talent in Qingcheng Mansion, a peerless genius destined to become a Core Disciple, was here taking the assessment? And he was already a Third Grade Pattern Master? What kind of Heaven-Defying talent did it take to reach such a level?

"Lin Yunlong... You’re Lin Yunlong!" Huang Qianyun’s expression changed dramatically. The oppressive aura around him vanished without a trace, and he instantly deflated. ’Crush him?’ he thought. ’He’d be lucky if Lin Xuan didn’t crush *him*.’

With his own Cultivation, Huang Qianyun could never hope to enter the Inner Hall. If he had what it took, he would’ve gotten in long ago. The status of a Pattern Master was noble, but Qingcheng Mansion only accepted disciples with explosive combat prowess. Being a Pattern Master, even a Fourth Grade one, was useless for entry!

Of course, everyone who made it into the Inner Hall was exceptionally capable; being a Pattern Master was just a side skill for them. A high-Level Pattern Master did enjoy a good standing in Qingcheng Mansion, but there were trade-offs. In the Early Stage of one’s journey, they had to focus on their combat Cultivation, or risk the embarrassment of being knocked out of the rankings.

In the Late Stage, it wasn’t difficult for them to furiously pursue the path of a Pattern Master. With Qingcheng Mansion’s resources and their own astonishing talent, wouldn’t reaching the level of a Third Grade Pattern Master or higher be a simple matter?

However, Lin Xuan was a true exception. Among all the disciples in the Inner Hall, there wasn’t a single other Third Grade Pattern Master. Not even Ling Tian had reached that level, mainly because there was no time to focus on it unless one reached the rank of Core Disciple.

It wasn’t just Huang Qianyun whose expression was shifting wildly; even Shang Zhihao and Luo Xiao were stunned. Who could have imagined that the young man before them was the rising star, Lin Yunlong? All those who had previously looked down on Lin Xuan were dumbstruck. Now, they felt they weren’t even worthy of carrying his shoes.

Rank 22 in the Inner Hall. That was a golden seal of approval.

"So, still want to have that match?" Lin Xuan’s sneer widened. ’This is the advantage of being high-profile,’ he thought. ’If I were too low-key, no one would even recognize the name.’

Huang Qianyun’s expression was grim. He had just antagonized a future Core Disciple. He wanted nothing more than to slap himself.

"Hmph! Not interested!" Huang Qianyun spat. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and hurried away without a backward glance. The situation was beyond humiliating.

He didn’t dare utter another threat. Lin Xuan had provoked him, but all he could do was swallow this bitter pill. He had been outmatched, and that was that. Sending someone for revenge would be courting death. If Qingcheng Mansion discovered the Huang Family was behind it, they wouldn’t let it slide.

Qingcheng Mansion was notoriously protective of its own. As long as a disciple didn’t cause any major trouble, the Mansion would protect them fiercely. In a case like this, where he was simply outmatched, if Huang Qianyun dared to send men for revenge, the Huang Family would be doomed!

Losing a fair contest and then retaliating in secret? Where would that leave Qingcheng Mansion’s prestige? They would surely send their own experts to surround the Huang Family. Even if they didn’t annihilate the entire family, Huang Qianyun himself would undoubtedly be crippled.

It was this reputation that commanded the respect of the great families and allowed the Mansion to stand strong for so many years. If it couldn’t even protect its own disciples, what future could it have?

Lin Xuan retrieved his Token, sighing aloud, "This Identity Token really is useful. In fact, this is exactly how it’s meant to be used." Internally, he sneered. There was more he hadn’t said.

’Huang Qianyun is cut from the same cloth as his brother, Huang Ming. They’re both arrogant bullies who instantly deflate the moment they meet someone stronger. They’re nothing but cowards!’

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