Soul Emperor Awakening

Faced with the numerous Essence Pill Stage experts closing in on him, Lin Xuan didn’t just wait for death. Instead, he pushed his internal Elemental Power to its limit, preparing to use Soul Possession in a final, desperate struggle.

’If I’m going to be captured, I might as well go down fighting. Capture is inevitable anyway. I can’t hide on Gathering Spirit Island forever. If the Lan Family negotiates with the Island Master, my capture will likely be approved. For the sake of his own pride, the Lan Family’s Patriarch will surely pay a hefty price for my head.’

His only hope was to somehow break through to the Spirit Pill Stage Level in the meantime. Of course, that was pure fantasy. If it were that easy, the Spirit Pill Stage wouldn’t be worth anything.

"Haha, you’ve got guts. I like that!"

Suddenly, a shadowy figure materialized beside him. A long staff extended from within the black robes and swung violently to the side. A ring of black Qi swept outwards like a surging, dark tidal wave, engulfing everything in its path!

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Four or five Essence Pill Stage experts were all sent flying. They spat mouthfuls of blood as they were violently thrown aside. Some slammed into the ground, while others crashed into the walls, leaving deep craters.

Without exception, every single one of them was killed in that single blow. No trace of life remained, and blood trickled from all seven of their orifices.

"Instant Teleportation, Eight Extremes Staff Technique!"

’If that power had swept over me,’ Lin Xuan thought as he felt an earth-shattering power brush past his head, ’not even my Golden Dragon Bone would have saved me. I would’ve been instantly shattered by that black Qi Force and killed on the spot!’

Not only did the man use the Instant Teleportation unique to the Core Formation Stage, but he also unleashed the Eight Extremes Staff Technique. In the hands of a Core Formation Stage expert, the Staff Technique was simply cataclysmic. Perhaps his mastery wasn’t absolutely perfect, but the power it unleashed would force even Spirit Pill Stage experts to keep a wide berth!

The one who had unleashed the Eight Extremes Staff Technique was none other than the mysterious, black-robed man who had promised to save Lin Xuan. He had actually appeared, with Tuo Yunhai in tow. He had promised to save them both, and he was a man of his word.

His arrival left the onlookers, who had been watching Lin Xuan on the verge of capture, completely stunned. Their minds buzzed with the unbelievable sight. A Core Formation Stage expert had actually appeared to save him.

"Heavens, why is there a Core Formation Stage expert here? And he’s that boy’s accomplice? This is terrifying!"

"No wonder he wasn’t afraid of the Lan Family. With an expert like that protecting him, what the hell is there to be afraid of!"

"This time, the Lan Family has really bitten off more than they can chew..."

...

The crowd erupted into a frenzy. Core Formation Stage experts were simply too rare. Many had seen Spirit Pill Stage cultivators, but those at the Core Formation Stage were a truly uncommon sight. That was the pinnacle of power, the same Level as an Island Master! Even the Island Master of Gathering Spirit Island would have to take this man seriously!

Sister Ya was also dumbfounded, the shock in her heart reaching an unparalleled degree. She knew the mysterious seller’s identity wasn’t simple, but she had never imagined he would be a Core Formation Stage expert. And most importantly, he had saved Lin Xuan. ’They were just conducting a transaction earlier,’ she thought, ’they can’t possibly be accomplices.’

Whether they were accomplices or had some other relationship, it no longer mattered. At least they were together now.

"You... who the hell are you? The ones you killed were our Lan Family’s men! Don’t you know who the Lan Family is?!" The Spirit Pill Stage expert was furious, but didn’t dare to step forward.

To put it bluntly, in the eyes of a Core Formation Stage expert, someone at the Spirit Pill Stage was no more than an ant to be crushed at will. Their only option was to try and intimidate this mysterious powerhouse with their family’s name. They certainly didn’t dare to step forward; they had no wish to die.

"The Lan Family? What right do you have to speak to me? Even Lan Qinghua wouldn’t dare to bring up the Lan Family’s name in my presence!" the mysterious expert sneered.

The crowd turned pale with shock at his words. Lan Qinghua was the name of the Lan Family Patriarch. For this mysterious expert to say his name so casually, without a trace of fear, truly showed he held the Lan Family in utter contempt.

"Good, kid. You really are from the Lin Family. Let me take you away from here. I’ll show you what true, absolute power is!"

With a loud laugh, the mysterious man in black robes lightly waved his black staff. He pointed it gently at one of the Spirit Pill Stage experts, and his body dissolved into a piercing beam of black light. It was just a thin, dark streak, seemingly unremarkable.

The black light didn’t seem fast. The Spirit Pill Stage expert tried to dodge, but found it had already pierced his body. With a dull THUD, a ball of black light erupted from within him. Just like that, a revered Spirit Pill Stage expert exploded before everyone’s eyes. The eerie black light clung to his sundered remains, devouring what was left of his body!

Shock. Absolute, utter shock! This was true, absolute power. Spirit Pill Stage experts were truly nothing but ants, slain with no difficulty at all. The man toyed with them all, holding them in the palm of his hand.

’So this is Extreme Point Inch Light when used by a Core Formation Stage expert... It’s overwhelmingly powerful,’ Lin Xuan thought with a frown. ’Given the circumstances, could he really be from the Lin Family? I can’t figure out his motives. Someone from the Lin Family shouldn’t have sold those two items.’

Regardless, this earth-shattering power made Lin Xuan’s blood boil with excitement. It was just so incredibly strong. Lin Hua had told him before not to even think about avenging the Lin Family without reaching the Core Formation Stage. He had to master this level of terrifying power before he could even attempt revenge. The difficulty was immense.

In other words, reaching the Core Formation Stage was merely the minimum requirement to be qualified! It didn’t guarantee victory. Those were two completely different things.

After that small demonstration of power, the remaining Spirit Pill Stage experts scattered. None of them dared to try intimidating the mysterious man with words again. That was just asking to be killed.

"Let’s go!" The mysterious expert didn’t continue his slaughter. He likely figured that if he caused too much of a commotion, the Lan Family would become absolutely enraged, which would be a hassle to deal with later.

With that, the mysterious expert waved his hand, and a black light enveloped both Lin Xuan and Tuo Yunhai without causing them the slightest harm. This was the mark of incredible Control Power over one’s Elemental Power—the ability to manipulate it at will.

He then took a light step forward. Two streams of black Elemental Power erupted from his back, forming a pair of wings that propelled him forward at incredible speed. In the blink of an eye, they had covered a vast distance. He was careful not to fly too high, as attracting lightning would be a problem.

He wasn’t afraid of the lightning, but that didn’t mean Lin Xuan and Tuo Yunhai weren’t.

The men from the Lan Family could only watch helplessly as Lin Xuan and the others escaped. Who would dare to fight a Core Formation Stage expert head-on? The only possible outcome was death.

After a long while, the people of Gathering Spirit Island finally recovered from their shock. The sudden turn of events had left them utterly dumbfounded. In the end, a single thought surfaced in everyone’s mind: ’It really pays to have a powerful backer!’

With a Core Formation Stage expert for a backer, one could truly do as they pleased. Lin Xuan was the perfect example. Everyone had thought his capture was certain, but who would have guessed that the Lan Family would be the ones to suffer a massive loss? Not only had many of their men died, but they had also failed to capture Lin Xuan!