Profound Heaven Soul Sovereign

If Ye Xuan had proposed some unique kind of contest, Rongyang might have thought he had a special trick to win. But for him to suggest such a conventional method of competition left Rongyang deeply puzzled.

’Where does this boy get the confidence to challenge me like this?’

A martial soul duel was one of the most definitive tests of a Soul Refiner’s abilities. First, one had to use various materials to create a martial soul. Then, the two Soul Refiners had to control their creations and battle. The one whose martial soul emerged victorious was the final winner.

This process first tested a Soul Refiner’s experience and skill in crafting martial souls, and then it tested their cultivation level.

A weaker Soul Refiner, even if they crafted a powerful martial soul, could easily lose to a Soul Refiner with a higher cultivation level who had crafted only an ordinary martial soul, simply because their own cultivation was insufficient.

And Rongyang knew exactly how strong he was: an Initial Layer of Seventh Grade Soul Refiner and a Tier Eight Second Layer Martial Emperor. With this level of power, aside from the president of the Soul Master Tower, there was hardly another Soul Refiner in the entire Celestial Capital Prefecture who would dare challenge him to a Soul Refining duel.

But Ye Xuan had done just that. Rongyang certainly didn’t believe the boy was kind enough to intentionally hand over the Profound Light Pavilion to him.

’Since this kid dared to propose such terms, he must be confident. He’s so young, his cultivation is definitely no match for mine. So, this boy before me must have mastered some kind of martial soul formula with a very special ability.’

’That must be it.’

With a slight turn of his thoughts, Rongyang seized upon this possibility, feeling as if he had uncovered the truth of the matter.

’Hmph, so he plans to win using a special martial soul formula. What a fool’s dream. Come on, then. I’ll show you that in front of me, Rongyang, any special formula is nothing but a fleeting cloud.’

A cold glint flashed through Rongyang’s eyes, but inwardly, he was growing excited.

Special martial soul formulas were incredibly attractive to a Soul Refiner. The more special Ye Xuan’s formula was, the more thrilled Rongyang became. If he could get his hands on that formula in the end, then...

Just the thought of it made Rongyang incredibly excited.

"Fine, I accept," Rongyang said with a cold smile. He was thrilled inside, but his face remained impassive.

Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes. "And if you lose?"

"Me, lose?" Rongyang burst out laughing. "Young man, you’re overthinking things. Would I lose?"

"I’m asking what happens if you lose," Ye Xuan said coldly. "My wager is the entire Profound Light Pavilion. What’s yours?"

Rongyang was taken aback. To be honest, he hadn’t even considered the possibility of losing. In his eyes, he was the certain victor of this competition.

He thought for a moment, then sneered, "I won’t lose. But fine, if I do, you can name your price."

Ye Xuan said icily, "I want your life."

"Insolence!" Li Rucheng roared. "How dare you speak to Master Rongyang like that!"

Rongyang’s gaze turned cold as well, filled with killing intent. He said frostily, "Young man, you want my life?"

His voice was laced with a terrifying murderous aura, as if it could erupt at any moment.

Ye Xuan sneered. "What, don’t you dare? If you can’t afford the stakes, then just pretend I never said anything."

Ye Xuan’s sudden change in tone stunned the onlookers.

Was this a goading tactic, or was the boy from the Profound Light Pavilion feigning retreat to advance?

Regardless, Ye Xuan’s words were undoubtedly like a sharp sword thrust directly at Rongyang, making it difficult for him to refuse the challenge.

Besides, in all of Celestial Capital Prefecture, how many people would dare say "you can’t afford the stakes" to Master Rongyang, the Vice President of the Soul Master Tower?

Was Master Rongyang someone who couldn’t afford the stakes?

Although Rongyang kept telling himself to stay calm and not be provoked, he was still enraged by Ye Xuan’s attitude, and a fire of anger shot up in his heart.

He chuckled coldly. "Wager my life? My status is far too noble. It’s not that I can’t afford it, but that your Profound Light Pavilion isn’t worthy. You want to trade a mere shop for my life? Am I such a cheap person?"

Ye Xuan scoffed. "After all that, it just means you can’t afford it."

"Haha," Rongyang couldn’t help but laugh out loud. "Go ahead and ask around! Am I, Rongyang, someone who can’t afford the stakes? But wanting to trade a single shop for my life, isn’t that a bit ridiculous? I think it’s you who lacks the sincerity to bet with me, isn’t it?"

Rongyang was no fool; he had turned the tables with a counter-accusation.

It had to be said, his words made a fair point. Ye Xuan’s wager was the Profound Light Pavilion, while Rongyang’s was his life. The crowd also found it hard to say that a single Profound Light Pavilion was worth the life of a Seventh Grade Soul Refiner.

"Fine." Ye Xuan’s gaze darkened. "Since my Profound Light Pavilion isn’t worth your life, let’s trade it for a single punch from me. If you lose, you must stand there and let me hit you once. You are not allowed to retaliate or resist. Do you dare?"

"You’re sure it’s one punch from you?" Rongyang raised an eyebrow.

How could he not see that Ye Xuan was only a Tier Seven Martial King? To put it bluntly, a punch from a Tier Seven Martial King probably couldn’t even harm a single hair on his head.

Ye Xuan sneered, "That’s right, from me. Master Rongyang, don’t tell me now that the Profound Light Pavilion isn’t even worth a single punch from me!"

"Fine, I accept," Rongyang sneered. "It’s just one punch, and only from you."

Although he didn’t know what trick Ye Xuan was playing, Ye Xuan was just a young man in his twenties, with a cultivation merely at the Tier Seven Martial King Realm. Rongyang naturally had nothing to worry about.

Ye Xuan smiled faintly.

His earlier demand for Rongyang’s life had merely been a tactic of feigning retreat to advance. Making his opponent take a punch was his true objective all along.

Once the two sides had agreed, the tension between them immediately thickened.

Rongyang quickly took out a piece of paper, wrote down some terms, and then handed it to Ye Xuan. "Sir, this is our wager. Please sign it first."

Ye Xuan took it and saw that it indeed recorded the terms of their wager. Without wasting words, he directly signed the name of the Profound Light Pavilion.

Seeing this, Rongyang smiled coldly to himself and also signed his name.

After two copies of the contract were made, Rongyang surveyed the grand Profound Light Pavilion before him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

In his eyes, the Profound Light Pavilion would become his property in a few moments.

Beside them, Li Rucheng and Qi Liming wore looks of helplessness and wry smiles. They had originally invited Master Rongyang here simply to confirm the Profound Light Pavilion’s guilt. Who knew that Master Rongyang would end up making a bet with them instead?

But though they had invited Rongyang, his status was extraordinary, so they couldn’t force his hand. They could only smile bitterly to themselves. ’It looks like the Profound Light Pavilion will soon be a meal on Master Rongyang’s plate.’

Putting away the agreement, Ye Xuan said calmly, "The competition will be held right here in front of our Profound Light Pavilion. It will officially begin in one hour. This hour is for us to gather materials. As for a referee, the winner of a martial soul duel is obvious at a glance, so no referee is needed. All the Martial Artists present will be the witnesses of our competition. Does Master Rongyang have any other requirements?"

"One hour?" Rongyang sneered. "Then I’ll let you live for one more hour. When the time comes, you’ll learn that in front of me, your Profound Light Pavilion is nothing but a pile of mud that can’t be plastered onto a wall."

It wasn’t that Rongyang was blindly confident; he truly had the foundation to back it up.

He was able to serve as the Vice President of the Celestial Capital Prefecture’s Soul Master Tower not just because of connections, but because he was a genuine Seventh Grade Soul Refiner, officially conferred by the Soul Refiners’ holy land, the Divine Capital.

In the art of crafting martial souls, Rongyang believed that aside from President Zuo Yuan of the Soul Master Tower, no one in the entire Celestial Capital Prefecture could surpass him. Even those who could match him numbered only one or two, and it was hard to say who was stronger. As for Ye Xuan, he didn’t give him a second thought.

But even though Rongyang was extremely confident and self-assured, he did not underestimate Ye Xuan in the slightest.

"Elder Li Rucheng." He beckoned Li Rucheng over, took out his Vice President’s Token, and said to him, "Take my Token, go to the Soul Master Tower in Celestial Capital Prefecture, and request these materials. They must be delivered within one hour."

Li Rucheng took the list, glanced at it, and a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face. He quickly said, "Master Rongyang, rest assured, I will get it done."

"Mm," Rongyang nodded. "Don’t worry. When I win the bet and get the Profound Light Pavilion, the Li family will naturally get a share of the business. After all, I am an expert in Soul Refining, but I’m not very knowledgeable in other areas. When the time comes, this Profound Light Pavilion will surely be a joint operation with your Li family."

Rongyang knew very well what Li Rucheng was thinking and said this calmly.

After all, it was Li Rucheng who had brought him into this matter today. Moreover, he knew that the Li family’s target was also the Profound Light Pavilion. He rarely kept all the spoils for himself.

"Hehe, then my thanks to Master Rongyang," Li Rucheng immediately said with a laugh, cupping his hands.

The competition hadn’t even started, yet the two of them already saw the Profound Light Pavilion as a prize in their grasp.

While the two sides were preparing, news of what was happening at the Profound Light Pavilion quickly spread through Celestial Capital Prefecture like a gust of wind.

Hearing the news, many nearby Martial Artists rushed over.

In an instant, the entire street was packed with people. Inside and out, there were at least several thousand, and the number of spectators drawn by the news was only growing.

Even some renowned experts from Celestial Capital Prefecture swarmed over.

"Haha, Master Gu Ta, you’re here."

"Master Luo Ping, long time no see."

One expert after another gathered on the street, discussing the matter animatedly among themselves.

After its recent period of operation, the Profound Light Pavilion was no longer an unknown entity. And its opponent in the wager, Master Rongyang, was a leading figure in the Soul Master Tower’s Soul Refining Realm. Combined with the involvement of top families like the Lin family and the Li family, the event immediately attracted the attention of the vast majority of people.