Soul Emperor Awakening

"Such astonishing Killing Intent. Has he undergone Demonization?" A guard gripped his weapon tightly, ready to swing his sword and cut Lin Xuan down the moment he charged out.

The guards were all at the Essence Pill Stage Level, so killing someone of Lin Xuan’s level was a simple matter. Their duty was not only to guard the Godslaying Array but also to execute any Cultivators who underwent Demonization.

What they called Demonization referred to a Cultivator whose consciousness had been devoured by Killing Intent. They lost all self-awareness, becoming no different from a walking corpse.

They would execute anyone who underwent Demonization, no matter who it was! Even if it were Zhao Fei and his companions who succumbed, the guards would cut them down without hesitation. This was because once a Cultivator underwent Demonization, there was virtually no chance of saving them.

It wasn’t that they wanted to kill, but that they had no other choice.

"Haha, he really has undergone Demonization! Hurry up and kill him! Leaving him alive would just be a menace!" Zhao Fei laughed loudly, but inwardly, he was terrified. That gaze from before had startled him, and he couldn’t shake the feeling of being targeted.

Zi Yi’s face turned pale as she murmured, "Has he really undergone Demonization...?"

Lin Xuan slowly turned around, the White Pupil Rod clutched in his hand. But the White Pupil Rod was no longer white; it had turned completely red. An intense Killing Intent emanated from the staff, as if the God of Slaughter himself had descended!

A moment later, the red glow in Lin Xuan’s eyes gradually faded, returning to their usual color. His eyes were now filled with a sharp, clear light; he didn’t look like he had lost his mind in the slightest.

The Killing Intent surrounding him vanished without a trace. He wasn’t emitting any Killing Intent at all, appearing completely normal.

"Demonization? What’s that?" Lin Xuan gave a faint smile and began to walk out slowly. Each step was powerful, and his eyes shone with a vibrant light.

At that moment, he felt his entire body surge with power. His Cultivation had shot straight to the Eighth Layer of the Spirit Refining Stage! He had advanced two entire layers just by spending some time in the Godslaying Array—a truly astonishing speed.

Of course, this wasn’t solely due to the Godslaying Array. It was the combined effects of the enhanced Dragon Blood Pill and the Blood Jade Fruit, coupled with the Godslaying Array’s environment, that had allowed his Cultivation to break through two consecutive layers.

He was very satisfied with this outcome. Not only was his Cultivation speed fast, but his foundation was also exceptionally stable. This was much faster than cultivating in the Cyan Cloud Tower, and he had gained considerable combat experience to boot. This deal had been an incredible bargain. He was now even more confident he could take first place in the top-ten finals and stand at the same Peak as Ling Tian.

Inside the Godslaying Array, he had also absorbed the soul of the God of Slaughter, perfectly converting that immense Killing Intent and absorbing it all into his body. He could now feel a red Energy circulating through his meridians. This was the Energy of the red mist, which he could now call upon whenever he wished.

After the God of Slaughter’s Soul Possession, he could control the red mist with absolute ease. Therefore, while absorbing the surrounding red mist, he had retrieved the statue early on, making sure no one else saw it.

"N-No Demonization? How is that possible!" Zhao Fei and his group were dumbfounded. That Lin Xuan hadn’t undergone Demonization was shocking enough, but he had also clearly improved significantly.

"I don’t know what Demonization is. That aside, I believe I won this contest, didn’t I?" Lin Xuan glanced at the nearby Stone Stele. His number was fixed at 1,978, just shy of breaking two thousand.

At that point, soldiers at the Essence Pill Stage would indeed appear, but that was their limit. The Godslaying Array was designed for those at or below the Essence Pill Stage. For those at the Spirit Pill Stage Level, its effects were negligible, almost nonexistent.

Now, it was their turn to face reality. Judging by the numbers, Lin Xuan had won—and he had won thoroughly, completely crushing the two of them.

"Th-this is impossible! With your original Cultivation, how could you possibly achieve a number like that?" Zhao Fei’s face was livid as he pointed at Lin Xuan. "You must have cheated! You used something to raise your number that quickly!"

Zhao Fei wasn’t wrong. Lin Xuan had indeed cheated by easily summoning the statue, but that, too, was a form of strength.

"You suspect me of cheating? If you’ve got what it takes, why don’t you try cheating, then?" Lin Xuan retorted.

Zhao Fei raised his sword and aimed it at Lin Xuan, saying coldly, "I do suspect you of cheating. Let’s exchange a few moves, and we’ll find out your true strength!"

Before the words had even left his mouth, without waiting for Lin Xuan’s permission, he swung the Spirit Sword in his hand and attacked. A surge of Killing Intent erupted from his body and pressed down on Lin Xuan.

This was how one used the Killing Intent absorbed from the Godslaying Array: to interfere with an opponent and bolster one’s own will to fight!

"Meteor Piercing Technique!"

With a wave of his hand, a red light shot toward Lin Xuan’s chest. Unleashed with the power of the Peak of Spirit Refining Stage, its speed was so great it left only a crimson streak in its wake. The very space around him trembled, and the Power of Heaven and Earth enveloped him. With his talent, he was already able to mobilize the Power of Heaven and Earth, and by combining it with his own Celestial Level Martial Arts, the might of his attack increased by several levels!

An overwhelming pressure originating from the heavens and the earth washed over them, causing Zi Yi, who was watching from the side, to pale. She hadn’t expected Zhao Fei’s strength to have improved so drastically in the short time since she had last seen him.

Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes. ’This is the strongest move I’ve seen so far.’ But when he saw the Killing Intent Zhao Fei was wielding, a mocking smile played on his lips.

"Killing Intent, is it? Then I’ll show you what *real* Killing Intent is!" Lin Xuan let out a low shout. "Godslaying Domain!"

Lin Xuan rapidly circulated the red mist within him. In an instant, a heaven-piercing Killing Intent erupted from his body and surged madly toward Zhao Fei. His eyes once again turned a terrifying scarlet, making him look demonic and horrifying.

Engulfed by this Killing Intent, Zhao Fei felt his movements slow. Illusions even appeared before his eyes—countless soldiers raising long spears and thrusting them at him. The scene was just like being inside the Godslaying Array itself!

"H-How is this possible!"

Panic seized Zhao Fei’s heart, and he swung his sword at the charging soldiers. To outsiders, it looked as if he were slashing at empty air, but they didn’t think he had lost his mind. They knew he was trapped in a Domain!

Only geniuses with astounding talent could unleash a Domain attack. They never imagined Lin Xuan would be able to use one—and it was the God of Slaughter’s Domain, no less!

As Zhao Fei attacked wildly, a speck of red light flashed out from amidst the dense forest of spears. Before he could even react, it struck him in the chest!

THUD!

Zhao Fei let out a muffled grunt and was sent flying by the strike. He rolled a few times on the ground before struggling back to his feet, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were filled with terror, as if he still hadn’t recovered from the Godslaying Domain.

Looking at Zhao Fei’s expression, Lin Xuan shook his head. Zhao Fei wasn’t ordinarily so pathetic; his talent was astonishing. But it was precisely that astonishing talent that had led to his defeat today!

Possessing considerable talent, he had grown too arrogant and was too quick to underestimate his opponents. His path had been incredibly smooth, without any real setbacks, which was why he fell so easily into the Godslaying Domain. Most importantly, his heart had been consumed by anger, and upon entering the Godslaying Domain, his state of mind perfectly matched the Domain’s very essence, accelerating his entrapment.

Anger and impulse, more so than Killing Intent, are what make a person lose their reason.