Soul Emperor Awakening

The flash of black and white light finally ignited the entire arena. A powerful explosive aura erupted wildly on the Martial Arts Arena, and the resulting shockwave was blocked by the surrounding barrier. The immense force shook the barrier violently, making it seem as if it were about to shatter.

Qing Piaoyun’s expression changed. He quickly channeled his Elemental Power to reinforce the barrier around the arena. This alone showed that the force of the blast was absolutely astronomical, shaking the barrier nearly to its breaking point. The other disciples’ faces paled. If they were caught in that, they would undoubtedly be severely injured.

After a long while, the tremors finally subsided, and the dust that filled the air began to settle. Everyone’s hearts were in their throats. Who had won, and who had lost? The result was about to be revealed—who was the true number one in the Inner Hall!

As the scene cleared, the crowd could finally see the state of the arena. Both fighters were kneeling on the ground, using their weapons to prop up their battered bodies. They gasped for breath, their Elemental Power completely depleted. Neither had much strength left to attack.

This result was enough to make Lin Xuan proud. Fighting someone a Great Realm above him to a standstill had shocked everyone, and they could not calm down for a long time. They had all thought Lin Xuan’s defeat was certain, yet here he was, having fought Ling Tian to the point of mutual destruction. This was a true battle that transcended realms, far beyond anything they could have imagined.

Had it been anyone else, they would have been floored by the first move, unable to last this long.

"HUFF, HUFF..."

Lin Xuan gasped for air. He had already withdrawn the soul empowerment, and the Elemental Power in his body was truly exhausted. He had never been in such a brutal fight. He had relied on the Soul Pearl just to fight Ling Tian to a standstill. It went to show the sheer difference a Realm gap could make; only by desperately stacking his Fourth Layer Soul was he barely able to fight to a draw!

’Unless I summon those statues... I could crush him in an instant. But I can’t do that here.’

"You truly are strong, but we must decide a winner here!" Ling Tian forced himself to his feet. His body swayed, yet he did not fall. He still had the strength to stand.

He began to slowly walk toward Lin Xuan, shuffling forward one step at a time. He didn’t need to do much—just one punch or one sword strike to ensure Lin Xuan couldn’t get up again. That would be true victory.

Lin Xuan, too, forced himself up. He swayed slightly, holding the White Pupil Rod, his gaze filled with determination. He would not admit defeat.

When Lin Xuan rose to his feet, the crowd erupted. Both of them were this battered, yet they still had the strength to stand. It was simply incredible.

"Yes. A winner must be decided!"

Lin Xuan’s voice was low, not lacking for strength despite his grievous injuries.

A sharp glint flashed in Ling Tian’s eyes. He suddenly swung his sword, thrusting it at Lin Xuan. The attack was neither fast nor slow—a far cry from his previous speed—but to be able to attack at all at this point was a miracle in itself.

Facing the oncoming Black Abyss Sword, Lin Xuan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. To the onlookers, it looked as if he had given up, as if he were admitting defeat.

No one spoke. Everyone held their breath, unwilling to utter a single word before the very end.

Just as the Black Abyss Sword was about to strike, Lin Xuan’s eyes snapped open. He thrust the White Pupil Rod in his hands forward with immense force. A faint Qi Force swirled around it—not much, but it was enough!

"Cloud-Entering Form!"

The most basic move of the Lin’s Staff Technique, and the one he had practiced the most. Even now, completely spent, he could rely on instinct to unleash its greatest power!

The crowd could see with their own eyes that the aura of this strike was extraordinary, having reached the true realm of Returning to the Essence. Facing the thrusting rod, however, Ling Tian revealed a faint smile. It was a smile of relief, of surrender...

"THUD!"

The rod struck faster than the sword, slamming heavily into Ling Tian’s chest and sending him flying. He tumbled across the ground a few times before landing, motionless.

Lin Xuan held his stance for a moment before leaning on the White Pupil Rod for support, gasping for breath. Sweat soaked his clothes, mixing with his blood, and a searing pain shot through him. It all felt so real.

He stared fixedly at the spot where Ling Tian had fallen, wondering if he could still get up. But after a moment, he knew. He had finally won. He had actually won!

Qing Piaoyun instantly flashed to Ling Tian’s side. He turned him over and found him unconscious, completely immobile. Only then did Qing Piaoyun let out a sigh of relief. If this had dragged on any longer, real trouble could have occurred.

"In this match, the winner is Lin Yunlong!" After his sigh of relief, Qing Piaoyun announced the thrilling result.

Lin Xuan had won!

It was a legendary announcement. In just over half a year since joining the Inner Hall, he had passed the Core Disciple assessment and fought his way to become number one! To join the ranks of the Core Disciples in only six months was an astonishing speed. It might not have been as fast as Qing Liuyun, but he could be the next Qing Liuyun!

When he first arrived, no one had high hopes for him. The three goals set by the leadership had seemed like a fantasy, utterly unattainable. He had been belittled countless times, and no one believed Lin Xuan could succeed.

But now, he had succeeded. Through his own efforts, he had climbed step by step to the very peak of the Inner Hall!

"He really won! He’s a Core Disciple now!"

"That Lin Yunlong is just unbelievable! He defeated Ling Tian—Ling Tian, who’s at the Essence Pill Stage!"

...

The hearts of the crowd pounded. Lin Xuan had truly worked a miracle! The murmurs of amazement didn’t die down for a long time.

Lin Xuan, who had been barely holding himself up, had already taken out and swallowed a Healing Elixir. He sat down to meditate and recover. If he had kept pushing himself, he would have likely passed out. His injuries weren’t particularly severe, but the toll on his energy was immense. He just needed to recover a bit.

Sitting in the audience, a cold glint appeared in Cyan Cloud Peak’s eyes. He seemed to have a different take on Lin Xuan’s performance, but he didn’t show it, lightly stroking his chin without saying a word.

Qing Yiyi’s eyes sparkled; she was genuinely happy for Lin Xuan. No one in the entire arena, including her, had thought he would win. ’Now that he’s truly won, it means I’ll be able to see him in the Core Hall from now on.’

However, entering the Core Hall was just another beginning for Lin Xuan. Cultivation could never be relaxed; it was a journey without end.

"I knew it. I believed he could win..." Lei Zhantian watched Lin Xuan with admiration. But then he remembered the power Lin Xuan had just unleashed. ’The difference between how he fought me and how he fought now is just too vast.’

The finals for the top ten had finally concluded, leaving everyone with their own thoughts. Perhaps the most worried of all were the Eldest Prince’s people. Chen Zhiquan and his men were just waiting to go back and get a tongue-lashing, which was hardly good news for them.

Becoming a Core Disciple meant Lin Xuan’s status would be much higher. Once he was taken as a disciple by an Elder, the chances of making a move against him would be slim to none. That was why the Eldest Prince had spared no effort to eliminate Lin Xuan!