Soul Emperor Awakening

’This absorption speed... why is it getting slower and slower? Could he have passed out?’

On several occasions, Qing Piaoyun had wanted to pull Lin Xuan out. But when he saw the Bone Forging Liquid around Lin Xuan gradually turning transparent, he knew he was still absorbing it. As long as Lin Xuan was still absorbing, Qing Piaoyun wouldn’t pull him out.

It was just that the speed was far too slow, much slower than before. Lin Xuan’s entire body was submerged in the Bone Forging Pool; he hadn’t floated to the surface. There was no issue with being fully submerged, as one could still breathe, so there was nothing to worry about. But if a person floated to the surface, it meant they had passed out.

Just as he had that thought, Lin Xuan floated up from the Bone Forging Pool. Qing Piaoyun froze, a look of disappointment on his face. ’Exactly two days? Although the amount he’s absorbed is more than what others absorb in three days, is this really as long as he can last...?’

’I really thought he could last for eight days. After all, he’s performed so many miracles before. It’s a shame he can’t seem to pull one off now.’

Just as he was about to jump in and save him, the floating Lin Xuan suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp glint shot out from them, but what was even more prominent was an intense killing intent!

The overwhelming killing intent surged out from his body, but it was quickly retracted, and he sank back into the pool.

"What happened to you? You seemed to have passed out just now!" Qing Piaoyun asked.

"Master, I have disappointed you. But from now on, I will absolutely not disappoint anyone!" Lin Xuan’s killing intent was completely withdrawn, but his eyes still held the fiery glint of anger, and even more so, an endless well of willpower!

Qing Piaoyun didn’t know what had happened to Lin Xuan, but he sensed a significant change in him. ’Has he become even more resolute than before?’

Indeed, Lin Xuan had almost passed out just now. But the strength of his will had allowed him to maintain a sliver of consciousness, and he finally pulled himself back from his memories. The rule Lin Hua had warned him about was ultimately broken ahead of schedule; he had read all the memories while only at the Ninth Layer of Spirit Refining Stage!

He had read all of the Lin Family’s memories and now understood the entire sequence of events. Killing intent and anger had soared through him, but he quickly calmed down. After everything he had been through, he was much more composed than before.

He finally understood why Lin Hua hadn’t wanted him to know. The process was truly agonizing, as if he had witnessed the Lin Family’s actual destruction. But what remained most vivid in his memory was the final fragment.

"Yes, he has the blood of the Lin Family... If he turns out to be mediocre, then let him be mediocre. Let him live an ordinary life, and that will be enough. But if he can forge his own will, he must reach a higher realm before he can be allowed to return. Otherwise, he must never come back..."

His father’s words echoed in his ears, shaking him to his core.

He knew that his father had said this, ultimately, so that he could live a peaceful life instead of being perpetually caught up in that conflict. Carrying the burden of hatred as one moves forward can easily twist a person’s heart. But now that he knew the truth, it brought him endless pain.

’With the blood of the Lin Family in my veins, I refuse to be mediocre! Otherwise, how could I be worthy of the expectations so many people have for me? If I really become mediocre, how will I protect my family? If I don’t get stronger, history will just repeat itself. It will be impossible to stay out of it.’

A light flickered in Lin Xuan’s eyes. He would not resign himself to a life of mediocrity. After seeing those painful memories, he finally understood how much the Lin Family had sacrificed to protect him. The death of Lin Hua alone was enough to fill him with boundless rage. The thought of him living an ordinary life was impossible!

His mind became as clear as a mirror. Compared to the destruction of his family, the pain in his body now felt like nothing!

Immediately, Lin Xuan slowly closed his eyes. His absorption speed suddenly accelerated severalfold. The surrounding Bone Forging Liquid was sucked into his body at a rate visible to the naked eye, and at the same time, even more blood seeped out from his body. From beginning to end, he did not let out a single groan!

’Painful? Of course, it was painful. But compared to the ache in his heart, this physical pain was nothing.’

Under this powerful will, he gradually began to merge with the Bone Forging Pool, and the pain in his body no longer felt so agonizing. Floating there, he felt as if he had become one with the entire area.

’Heavens, what am I seeing? He actually managed to reach the Realm of Unity of Heaven and Man in the Bone Forging Pool!’ Qing Piaoyun was dumbfounded. He saw Lin Xuan fusing with his surroundings within the pool.

In the Realm of Unity of Heaven and Man, not only does one’s absorption speed more than double, but most importantly, the pain is reduced. When a person becomes one with their surroundings, with no distinction between self and other, how can there be any pain to speak of?

However, under normal circumstances, it is incredibly difficult to enter the Realm of Unity of Heaven and Man, mainly because the pain makes it impossible to concentrate. It is simply torture. But from another perspective, it seemed Lin Xuan was actually enjoying himself, which was how he entered this state!

Enjoying the pain? Of course not. The true enjoyment came from increasing his strength.

In the Realm of Unity of Heaven and Man, the surrounding Bone Forging Liquid poured madly into his body, continuously tempering it. A faint golden light began to emanate from him, and a faint aura of the Golden Dragon King radiated from within.

These Dragon Bones all belonged to the Golden Dragon Race, so it was normal for him to have an aura similar to the Golden Dragon King’s. If the Golden Dragon King’s soul were to undergo Soul Possession with him, what level of compatibility would they reach?

Lin Xuan wasn’t thinking about such things for now. He only wanted to absorb with mad abandon. He wasn’t trying to surpass Tong Yulong, but to surpass himself!

「The third day!」

「The fourth day!」

...

「The eighth day!」

「The ninth day!」

...

「The eleventh day!」

「The twelfth day!」

For a full twelve days, Lin Xuan remained in the Bone Forging Pool. The surrounding Bone Forging Liquid had been absorbed until it was almost transparent, turning into something like plain water. If anyone else wanted to absorb it, they would have to wait for the Dragon Bones at the bottom of the pool to secrete more marrow, which would be impossible in the short term.

The crucial part was that Lin Xuan still hadn’t come out. Instead, a golden light flickered across the surface of his body, as if his bones had been tempered to the same hardness as Dragon Bone. A vortex had formed around him as the Bone Forging Liquid continued to pour unceasingly into his body.

’The twelfth day. He’s been absorbing for a full twelve days. This completely shatters the eight-day limit! I wonder what state his body will be in when he finally comes out.’ Qing Piaoyun was dumbfounded, unable to believe his eyes. He could see the expression on Lin Xuan’s face as he sat in the pool... and it looked like he was smiling.

Everyone else wore an expression of agony, yet he was in there smiling, as if to declare just how wonderful Cultivation was.

There was shock by the Bone Forging Pool, and there was shock outside as well. Lin Xuan had been inside for twelve days and still hadn’t emerged, which left everyone stunned. They had no idea if he had been absorbing for twelve days or had merely been staying inside for twelve days.

If he had truly been absorbing for twelve days, that would be utterly terrifying. He would have once again shattered the record set by Tong Yulong!