Soul Emperor Awakening

On the outskirts, Lin Xuan continued to carve on his way to Qingcheng Mansion. The jostling of the horse didn’t cause his hand to slip in the slightest. Thanks to his improved Cultivation and Spiritual Power, his carving speed was extremely fast. He had already finished the majority of it during his mad dash from the Shang Family’s territory past Vast Origin City.

The entire process had taken two to three Hours—no short amount of time. Under his deft carving, the Five-Colored Spirit Wood in his hand gradually took shape. What emerged was not a person, but a Phoenix with its wings spread in flight!

In his soul, the image he perceived was that of a Phoenix, not a person. But that didn’t matter. ’A Phoenix is more than enough.’ This was a Divine Beast, after all; the power it could unleash would be astonishing, so there was no need to worry.

"It’s done!" After Lin Xuan made the final cut, a lifelike Phoenix rested in his palm. Thanks to the unique properties of the Five-Colored Spirit Wood, the patterns on its surface were dazzlingly colorful, a perfect match for the magnificent hues of a Phoenix.

’I wonder how effective it’ll be?’ Lin Xuan was very pleased with his work, but he didn’t use it. Instead, he placed it into his Storage Space, deciding he wasn’t in a hurry to use it just yet.

After placing it in his Storage Space, he took out another small piece of Five-Colored Spirit Wood and began to carve again. He only needed a small section to make a carving, so it didn’t require much of the precious wood. This way, even after carving a few statues, he would still have some left to take back to Qingcheng Mansion.

Besides, he only needed to prove that he possessed Five-Colored Spirit Wood, not hand it over for Qingcheng Mansion to make into Spirit Wood Paper.

Just as he was about to make his first cut, he heard a clamor from far behind him. He turned to look, and his heart went cold. In the distance, two horses were galloping toward him at high speed. He only recognized one of the riders: Fang Qingyu, who hated him to the bone! He didn’t recognize the other man, but from the aura he exuded, he could sense the man’s Cultivation was at the Essence Pill Stage, likely the Third or Fourth Layer.

Fang Qingyu made no attempt to hide, instead letting out a sinister laugh. "Well, well. Look at you, with all this leisure time to be carving on the road. How about you carve one for me, too?"

There was no doubt they came with ill intent. Seeing their murderous aura, he knew a crisis was at hand!

’The Fang Family really does hate my guts, sending even an Essence Pill Stage expert after me!’ Lin Xuan remained perfectly calm. Escape was impossible. The gap in their power was simply too vast. It wasn’t just him; even Ling Tian wouldn’t be able to escape this.

Even if his opponent’s talent was far inferior, their Cultivation had reached the Essence Pill Stage. Against that, you were dead. He was at the Third Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage, a whole Great Realm below his opponent. How could he possibly contend?

"Ah, Young Master Fang. Of course, that’s no problem. Next time, after I finish a carving, I’ll have it sent to your estate." As Lin Xuan spoke, he was rapidly carving "Lin Hua." He didn’t even need to look down at his hands as he carved frantically, his speed increasing severalfold. In the blink of an eye, a torso took shape.

He didn’t know what effect the Five-Colored Spirit Wood would produce, but it was bound to be far more potent than ordinary wood, or even stone.

"Why wait for next time? Why don’t you carve one for yourself right now?" Fang Qingyu’s face twisted into a savage grin. "So you can take it with you to your grave!"

Lin Xuan’s expression remained neutral, showing no hint of panic. His hands continued to carve, not slowing in the slightest, while his gaze remained locked on them. The horse beneath him continued its frantic gallop, unaware of the closing danger.

"Oh, so this is an Inner Hall Disciple from Qingcheng Mansion. He doesn’t show the slightest panic, even after seeing us." The Fang Family’s Fourth Elder, Fang Shi, was somewhat surprised by Lin Xuan’s calm expression. "I can’t tell if he’s just putting on a brave face or if he’s been scared witless. To be still working on a Wood Carving at a time like this... what’s the point?"

"Who cares how calm he is? He’s not escaping this time!" Fang Qingyu sneered. "Kid, go on, act tough now! Weren’t you so fierce to me before? I’m right here. I’m giving you a free shot. You dare to come over?"

With his backer present, his attitude was completely different. Beside him, Fang Shi shook his head, feeling a pang of disappointment at Fang Qingyu’s arrogance. ’Arrogant with support, but like a dog without it. He has no spine. How can he ever hope to achieve anything great?’

"Young Master Fang, do we capture him alive, or kill him on the spot?" Fang Shi didn’t want to waste time. Dealing with a brat at the Spirit Refining Stage would take mere moments.

"Capture him alive!" Fang Qingyu’s eyes were filled with malice. Recalling his earlier humiliation, he wanted to capture Lin Xuan alive, torture him for a while, and then kill him. Only that would quench the hatred in his heart.

"No problem," Fang Shi agreed at once. To him, there wasn’t much difference. If he couldn’t even capture a brat at the Spirit Refining Stage, he’d have no face to show anyone ever again.

"If you make a move against me, aren’t you afraid Qingcheng Mansion will find out?" Lin Xuan threatened, his hands never ceasing their carving.

"Afraid Qingcheng Mansion will find out?" Fang Shi chuckled. "I think you might be a little stupid. We’re in the middle of nowhere. Who’s going to report your death? Kid, let me give you a piece of advice: if you have to blame someone, blame yourself for being foolish enough to provoke someone you shouldn’t have!"

The moment the words left his mouth, he launched himself from his warhorse, shooting toward Lin Xuan at a speed that far surpassed a full gallop. At the same time, he flicked his hand toward Lin Xuan’s mount, and a Qi Force condensed from Elemental Power shot out.

"NEIGH!!"

The warhorse screamed in pain and collapsed to the side. But the instant Fang Shi had attacked, Lin Xuan had already vaulted off its back. He pushed off the air itself, executed the Cyan Cloud Step, and shot forward at extreme speed.

"The Cyan Cloud Step!" Fang Shi was taken aback for a moment, then exclaimed, "The Cyan Cloud Step, at the Initial Micro Level! Your talent is truly astonishing. But to think you can escape with just this is nothing but a daydream! I’ll show you that without a powerful Cultivation, even the most masterfully executed Celestial Level Martial Arts cannot display its true power!"

As he spoke, he used a mere Earth Level Body Technique and easily closed the distance on Lin Xuan. It was no trouble at all. In just a few breaths, the gap between them narrowed significantly.

"Let’s see you escape this time!" Fang Qingyu sneered, spurring his horse to chase after them at top speed. He himself lacked the ability to keep up, but in his mind, being able to summon help was a form of strength in itself.

Feeling the ever-strengthening aura at his back, a chill ran down Lin Xuan’s spine. He could already feel a hand reaching for him. No matter how desperately he pushed his Cyan Cloud Step, he couldn’t shake his pursuer in the slightest.

’So this is the disparity?’ For the first time, Lin Xuan truly understood what such a gap in power meant. All his struggles were futile. He was completely locked on; no matter how he dodged, his opponent would instantly lock on to him again.

This was a far cry from the ease he had felt before; now, he was utterly helpless.

"You can’t escape..."

The old man’s voice echoed right beside his ear. An immense pressure bore down near his shoulder; the end was just a hand’s reach away. Once he was caught, all struggle would be futile.

At that moment, Lin Xuan already had the Phoenix Statue clutched in his hand. Pushing off the air, he spun around at blinding speed to face Fang Shi, who was less than half a meter away. He threw the statue and shouted, "Go!"

The Phoenix Statue had barely left his hand when a mournful phoenix cry—"KREEE~"—rang out. A massive Phoenix materialized from thin air, crashing toward Fang Shi wrapped in all-consuming Flame.

"BOOM!"

Before Fang Shi could even react, the powerful impact sent him flying. The Flame instantly set his clothes ablaze, and he frantically scrambled to extinguish them.

"KREEE~"

The Phoenix let out another cry as it wheeled through the air. The scorching Flame made the air around it shimmer and rise. Its flowing, iridescent feathers, its lifelike expression—it was, in every way, a living Phoenix!

’Essence Pill Stage Cultivation!’ Lin Xuan’s eyes widened. The Phoenix that had burst forth actually possessed the power of the First Layer of the Essence Pill Stage!

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