Soul Emperor Awakening

"It’s already been twelve days. How is Lin Yunlong not out yet? Did he really spend twelve days absorbing? If that’s true, wouldn’t that be a little too terrifying?"

"You’ve got to be kidding. Everyone knows how terrifying the Bone Forging Pool is. The absorption process feels like your skin is being scraped off by knives. Could he really endure that for twelve days? I’m guessing the Fifth Elder is deliberately letting him stay in there."

"Exactly. How could he have the nerve to come out if he didn’t stay a few extra days? After all, he’s supposed to be a ’super genius’ from the Inner Hall. If he didn’t stay for a long time, it would just prove he was bluffing, right?"

...

A crowd of disciples was mocking Lin Xuan, claiming he was a fake. They believed the Fifth Elder was in on it, colluding with him to trick everyone into thinking he had broken the record. Although Lin Xuan was undeniably strong, they didn’t believe he could last that long in the pool. They suspected he was deliberately absorbing a tiny amount, then just waiting, simply to drag out the time.

This strategy would naturally make people believe he was a genius, since he had lasted even longer than Tong Yulong.

But none of them actually believed it. They all thought he was deliberately stalling. Being fast at breaking through the Illusionary Mist Array didn’t mean one could endure the Bone Forging Pool for a long time. It was like how a fast runner isn’t necessarily a big eater.

"Look, Xiao Qian’s back. Now we’re in for a good show." Seeing Xiao Qian return, someone immediately went to inform him, "Xiao Qian, your spot for the Bone Forging Pool was snatched by that disciple from the Inner Hall. If you want to get in, you’ll have to wait for quite a while now."

"What!" Xiao Qian’s eyes went cold. He said icily, "My spot for the Bone Forging Pool was given to some trash from the Inner Hall Sect? What’s going on? Don’t the Elders know how crucial this is for me? There isn’t much time left! Does this mean my talent is worse than that Inner Hall trash?!"

Xiao Qian was a member of the Genius Sect, and his Cultivation had reached the Second Layer of the Essence Pill Stage, similar to Rao Longtian. Most importantly, he possessed an Eighth-class Talent. At around nineteen years old, the same age as Lin Xuan, he had already broken through to the Second Layer of the Essence Pill Stage!

Disciples with an Eighth-class Talent were exceedingly rare—you could count them on one hand. Possessing an Eighth-class Talent was practically a guaranteed ticket into the Bone Forging Pool. Now that Lin Xuan had taken his spot, one could only imagine the fury burning inside someone who already despised the Inner Hall Sect.

Forget Qingcheng Mansion—in the entire Soaring Dragon Empire, there were definitely fewer than a hundred people with an Eighth-class Talent! The Empire’s population numbered in the hundreds of millions, its lands unimaginably vast, yet there were fewer than a hundred people with an Eighth-class Talent. As for Ninth-class Talent, you could count them on one hand.

This was truly a case of being one in ten million, or even one in a hundred million! Therefore, achieving an Eighth-class Talent meant you had surpassed tens of millions of others; receiving immense benefits was a given.

Overall, his ranking was somewhere in the middle, only slightly stronger than Rao Longtian. But his edge was his astonishing talent, which was even greater than Ling Tian’s, and he was younger than Ling Tian as well.

It was precisely because he was such a genius that his temper was so explosive. In his eyes, not yielding resources to him was tantamount to disrespecting his talent.

After saying his piece, he stormed off toward the Bone Forging Pool. The other disciples exchanged glances, then quickly followed, their faces alight with anticipation for the drama to come.

At that moment, in the Bone Forging Pool, Lin Xuan finally opened his eyes. A brilliant golden light shot out from them, startling Qing Piaoyun at the side. He couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "What a commanding gaze!"

With a push of his foot, Lin Xuan leaped out of the Bone Forging Pool. His entire body glowed with a faint golden light. The wounds he once had were long gone, leaving behind what appeared to be a perfect physique. He didn’t look exceptionally muscular, but one could sense an imperious power seeping out from his very bones.

Faintly, one could see his bones shimmering with golden light through his skin, as if a Golden Dragon Bone had been integrated into his body, running through him completely. A faint Dragon’s Might emanated from his very marrow. With his bones reforged, there was no telling how much their durability had increased.

He put on his clothes and turned to look at the liquid in the Bone Forging Pool. It was now as clear as water, completely devoid of the white bone marrow it once held. He had only come out because it was all absorbed. ’But all in all,’ he thought, ’it was enough.’

"It’s... all been reforged?" Qing Piaoyun stammered. He couldn’t be certain, because no one had ever accomplished such a feat, not even the Elders.

"Yes, it’s all been completely reforged," Lin Xuan replied with a faint smile.

Qing Piaoyun was so stunned he couldn’t get a word out. He had no idea what to say next.

Just then, a furious roar came from outside. "Lin Yunlong, get out here! You dare steal my spot!"

Lin Xuan frowned, pushed the door open, and stepped outside. The first thing that met his eyes was Xiao Qian’s furious face. His rage was visibly skyrocketing, his aura erupting as the situation became explosive.

The moment he emerged, the crowd’s eyes scanned him up and down, trying to discern something, but in truth, there was nothing to be seen. His bones were on the inside; unless you dug them out, how could you possibly see the results?

"Steal your spot? This spot is something I earned. How is that stealing?" Lin Xuan said calmly. "You’ll just have to wait your turn. Go in next time."

"Go in next time? Why don’t you go in next time instead?" Xiao Qian roared. "You piece of trash from the Inner Hall Sect! I heard you were in there for twelve days. Were you absorbing for twelve days, or just lingering for twelve days? If you ask me, you probably couldn’t have lasted more than two! If you really stayed in there for twelve days, then prove it! See if you can withstand a few of my attacks!"

"Are you questioning my supervision?" Qing Piaoyun strode out, his face livid. He had not taken on many disciples; Lin Xuan was only his second.

He was a man who kept his personal and official duties strictly separate. If Lin Xuan had intentionally stalled for time, he would have slapped him across the face without a second thought, perhaps even disowned him as a disciple. To Qing Piaoyun, that was a complete waste of time. If you weren’t capable, you weren’t capable; dragging it out was pointless. Thus, he was deeply displeased by Xiao Qian’s accusation.

Xiao Qian was taken aback; he hadn’t expected an Elder to be inside. He immediately lowered his voice and said, "Disciple does not doubt your supervision, sir. I just wish to exchange a few pointers with Lin Yunlong to verify if he truly absorbed for twelve days."

He dared not provoke the Fifth Elder’s wrath. The Fifth Elder was usually not one to lose his temper, but when he did, it was a terrifying sight. If that happened, Xiao Qian knew he would face dire consequences.

"Master, since someone doubts my ability, would you allow your disciple to exchange a few moves with him?" Lin Xuan said with a slight smile. He knew this was unavoidable. If he were to back down, the gossip would be relentless, and most importantly, he feared it would tarnish Qing Piaoyun’s reputation.

Besides, he really did want to test his new strength against someone. ’I need to see just what level my body’s durability has reached!’