Soul Emperor Awakening

Lan Sheng was dead. The young master of the Lan Family was dead. The news spread like wildfire throughout Gathering Spirit Island and raced to the outside world. This was a major event. The one who had killed Lan Sheng was the wanted mysterious youth, a young man with the surname Lin who had never revealed his full name.

Lin Xuan hadn’t told anyone his name, so the most anyone knew was his surname. Thus, the rumors that spread only spoke of a mysterious youth named Lin who had killed Lan Sheng by challenging someone above his level, shocking everyone.

It wasn’t the fact that he’d challenged someone above his level that shocked them, but that the Lan Family’s young master had been killed. No one could imagine the terrifying fury the Lan Family Patriarch would unleash. This was absolutely a death sentence.

Lin Xuan walked down from the Martial Arts Arena, came before the Zhuang Family, and slapped the Token on the table. "Where’s my share?" he said.

He had bet a full five million, and with a three-to-one payout, it became fifteen million. Acquiring Primordial Stones this way was faster than outright robbery. The Zhuang Family reluctantly transferred the Primordial Stones into a Storage Ring. It wasn’t that he couldn’t afford the loss, but rather that giving them to Lin Xuan was pointless. ’Once he leaves Gathering Spirit Island, won’t these Primordial Stones just fall into the Lan Family’s hands anyway?’

He truly felt it was a waste for Lin Xuan, but rules were rules, and he couldn’t break them.

Everyone else stared greedily at the ring in Lin Xuan’s hand, itching to snatch it away. But they didn’t dare make a move—not here, not outside. They wouldn’t dare to act recklessly.

"This is your share. Please take it." The Zhuang Family handed it over reluctantly. It was a complete waste, and everyone knew it.

Gathering Spirit Island was so prosperous in large part because its security was excellent. If security were poor, who would dare to trade here? What would be the point of coming to Gathering Spirit Island if you were just going to be robbed the moment you pulled something out?

The most important thing here was to keep a low profile. If you were too conspicuous, you’d be targeted the moment you stepped outside. In that sense, the area was chaotic. Die outside, and no one would ever know. There were plenty of places to get rid of a body; a simple toss into the Demon Cloud Sea, and you’d instantly become food for the Tiger Fish.

After collecting his winnings, Lin Xuan turned to the mysterious seller beside him. "Can we go now?" he asked.

His words were baffling. The onlookers were stunned for a moment before sneering inwardly. ’In his situation, does he really think he can just walk away? If it were me, surrendering would be useless. I’d be better off spending all these Primordial Stones and dying with a full stomach.’

The mysterious seller chuckled. "Of course. As long as you’re ready, we can leave right now."

Lin Xuan nodded and said to Tuo Yunhai, "Let’s go. We’re leaving."

Tuo Yunhai hesitated. "But outside..." he said worriedly. When he saw Lin Xuan shake his head, he fell silent and followed him out. The mysterious black-robed figure trailed behind them, and the crowd quickly followed, eager to see what Lin Xuan would do.

Sister Ya watched the mysterious seller, giving him and his companions a thoughtful look. She then decided to follow as well, pushing the upcoming auction to the back of her mind.

When they reached the gate of Gathering Spirit Island, they found it surrounded by powerful experts. There were more than a dozen cultivators at the Essence Pill Stage, and two masters at the Spirit Pill Stage were overseeing them. Unless Lin Xuan was an incredibly powerful Spirit Pill Stage expert himself, there was absolutely no escape!

Of course, if he really were a Spirit Pill Stage expert, the welcoming committee would be far more terrifying than this. The power the Lan Family could mobilize was immense. ’Not enough of our own men? Simple, just throw Primordial Stones at the problem! Hire a few more Spirit Pill Stage experts to help, and even if Lin Xuan is at the Spirit Pill Stage, he’ll still be stopped.’

"Just walk out with confidence. I’ll be right behind you, and I won’t let a single hair on your heads be harmed," the mysterious seller sent via voice transmission, following along.

Lin Xuan nodded and, without hesitation, led Tuo Yunhai toward the exit. He trusted that the mysterious seller wouldn’t harm him, and he certainly wasn’t one of the Lan Family. ’If he was with the Lan Family and let me kill Lan Sheng, he’d have to be insane.’

"He’s really going out. Is he surrendering?"

"It’s useless. If he hadn’t killed Young Master Lan, maybe. But what’s the point of surrendering now?"

"Exactly. If he’d been caught before and handed over the Phoenix, he might have had a chance to live. But now? It’s hopeless. He’s a dead man."

...

The crowd murmured behind them, certain that Lin Xuan was walking to his death. The powerful experts outside were watching like tigers stalking their prey. The second he stepped out, he’d be captured instantly. He had no chance of resisting. They wouldn’t even need the Spirit Pill Stage masters; the Essence Pill Stage cultivators alone would be enough to crush him.

"I can’t believe you actually have the nerve to show your face! If you’ve got the guts, then take another step!" Lan Sheng’s Attendant roared, first stunned, then enraged, as he saw Lin Xuan emerge.

Lan Sheng’s corpse had already been transported to the Lan Family’s home island. The body had to be cremated, but it couldn’t be done here. This was also so the Lan Family Patriarch could see for himself how his son had died.

"I’m not just coming out..." A red light flashed in Lin Xuan’s eyes. "...I’m also doing this!" The Chi Dragon Heavens Rod clenched in his fist suddenly shot forward, past the exit.

"Extreme Point Inch Light!"

The Cloud Return Technique activated once more. Combined with his terrifying Essence Pill Stage Cultivation, he unleashed an even more extreme power. A force of eight hundred thousand pounds erupted from the rod as he swung it, transforming into a streak of red light that pierced toward the Attendant.

It happened so suddenly that the surrounding guards couldn’t react in time. Who would have thought Lin Xuan would actually charge out and immediately try to kill the Attendant?

The Attendant’s own Cultivation wasn’t low; he was at the Fourth or Fifth Layer of the Essence Pill Stage. But he had assumed Lin Xuan wouldn’t dare to act so brazenly again. Who could have known Lin Xuan still had the audacity to attack?

A streak of red light pierced through the air. It moved so fast that the tip of the rod grew hot from friction. The Attendant had only just begun to react when it viciously slammed into his chest.

THUD!

The heavy blow sent the Attendant flying in a parabolic arc, landing in the Demon Cloud Sea. He sank beneath the waves and didn’t resurface. No one knew if he was dead or alive.

"Like master, like servant—both rotten to the core!" Lin Xuan declared, retracting his long rod. This spot was technically outside the island’s jurisdiction, so he was free to attack.

With that, he was completely exposed to the encirclement of the experts outside. Snapping back to their senses, they roared and lunged at him. Several cultivators at the Eighth and Ninth Layers of the Essence Pill Stage moved to surround him. No matter how brazen Lin Xuan was, he couldn’t act arrogant now.

Lin Xuan’s gaze turned cold, showing no fear toward the many Essence Pill Stage experts rushing him. In that moment, he was waiting for the mysterious seller to rescue him. If the seller didn’t intervene, he would surely be captured. This was his only hope. Without it, he truly wouldn’t be able to escape even if he sprouted wings.