Soul Emperor Awakening

Lin Xuan’s prolonged stay on the Second Layer made the onlookers increasingly skeptical. The Tuo Family Disciples who challenged the tower had never spent so much time on a single floor. Some took longer than others, but none had ever taken this long.

This made the spectators, who had been eager to see how high Lin Xuan could climb, feel that the whole affair was becoming tasteless. They were losing interest. So much for a Seventh-class Talent; in here, he was just trash.

"This is boring. I’m not watching anymore. He’s probably just struggling to hold on in there."

"I’m leaving. I’ll take another look if something actually happens. Who knows when he’ll make it to the Third Layer. He’ll probably just get knocked out of the tower soon anyway."

"Well, I’ve got nothing better to do. I’ll stay and watch. An outsider really can’t compare to us from the Tu Family. The Martial God Tower belongs to us, after all!"

...

A portion of the audience chose to leave, finding it pointless to wait when there was no sign of activity from Lin Xuan. If anything were to happen, they figured he would just be ejected, severely injured. Challengers are automatically teleported out when they lose the ability to fight, so there was no danger of death.

Most people believed that if any news came, it would simply be of him being teleported out. Lin Xuan had been in there for far too long. His pace was, without a doubt, the slowest in history.

Normally, those who could enter the tower for training were all talented Tuo Family Disciples who had mastered numerous abilities, so of course their clearing speed wouldn’t be slow. Lin Xuan, the outsider, was different. After a quick clear of the First Layer, he got completely stuck the moment he reached the Second Layer.

Tuo Yunhai, however, was still full of hope for Lin Xuan, believing he would surely break through to the Third Layer and even reach the Fifth Layer!

Tuo Zhanhong, on the other hand, shook his head, no longer holding out much hope for Lin Xuan. He was only staying to see the final outcome. If Lin Xuan was ejected with severe injuries, he could at least provide immediate medical treatment.

While the crowd outside was pessimistic, inside the Martial God Tower, Lin Xuan’s eyes burned with fighting spirit!

His Spiritual Power was focused to its absolute limit, his gaze never straying from the Staff Envoy’s body. He felt his own concentration reach an unprecedented Realm.

His clothes were tattered and torn, and his body was covered in wounds, but he seemed completely oblivious, feeling no pain at all.

Faintly, a golden light flickered within his pupils, and the Soul Pearl in his body began to thrum. Gradually, he could clearly see the aura covering the Staff Envoy’s body. This aura wasn’t just a surface layer; it was as if the envoy was encased within a much larger version of itself.

The sight stunned him for a moment. In that brief instant of distraction, the Staff Envoy struck. By the time he reacted, the heavy blow was already upon him. He quickly threw up a hand to block, his arm covered in Golden Dragon Scales.

BANG!

Lin Xuan was sent flying by a blow from the staff. He flipped in mid-air before landing steadily on his feet. The moment he was stable, he grinned. "I finally get it! So this is Martial Intent!" He began to laugh as if he’d gone mad. Anyone else seeing him would have thought he’d lost his mind.

The Staff Envoy paid him no mind. After knocking him away, it immediately charged forward again, preparing to deliver another fatal blow.

"The foundation of Martial Intent is the Unity of Qi and Soul!"

The bloodline within Lin Xuan began to churn, his aura skyrocketing. Faintly, a phantom image emerged from his body, rising up to envelop him. It looked like an enlarged version of Lin Xuan, one that completely shrouded his physical form.

"Cloud-Entering Form!"

A flash of qi glinted in Lin Xuan’s eyes. He swung the Chi Dragon Heavens Rod in his hands and thrust it forward with immense force. The phantom image surrounding him moved in perfect sync, as if two Lin Xuans were attacking as one, perfectly fused together.

For a split second, he felt as if he had become a Martial God—unstoppable!

BOOM!

The rod never even made contact. The Martial Intent enveloping it was enough to send the Staff Envoy flying. The incomparably domineering Martial Intent then surged from Lin Xuan’s body, striking the envoy’s tough frame a second time.

THUD!

Struck by the two consecutive blows, the Staff Envoy’s own Martial Intent shattered with ease. The power of Lin Xuan’s attack could no longer be measured by simple force. It was a form of Spiritual Attack—a tangible manifestation of Spiritual Power, otherwise known as a Soul Attack.

The Staff Envoy slammed hard against the wall, the force of the impact sending it rebounding back. Its chest was deeply caved in, looking not as if it had been struck by a simple staff, but by some colossal club!

The foundation of Martial Intent is the unity of one’s aura and soul—a fusion of Spiritual Power and aura, akin to a materialized spiritual attack! An ultimate fusion of the two could unleash astonishing power, greatly enhancing both the range and force of an attack.

The Martial God Tower restricted Elemental Power, but it did not restrict Spiritual Power, nor did it restrict one’s aura!

’So this is Martial Intent...’ Lin Xuan’s eyes were filled with shock. He had never expected Martial Intent to be so formidable, so powerful it was hard to believe. But its strength was linked to his own Spiritual Power and aura; if his Spiritual Power were weaker, the attack would not have been nearly as domineering.

After all, he had been a Fourth Grade Pattern Master before. After such a long period of tempering, he had likely reached the Realm of a Fifth Grade Pattern Master. The Spiritual Power of these Tuo Family members might not be weak, but how could it possibly compare to Lin Xuan’s indomitable will?

Martial Intent Power could also be called the Power of Will—the ability to transform one’s will into an incomparably powerful force. This was the true essence of a Martial God’s Power!

The will of a Martial God is absolute and domineering, capable of manifesting as a sharp blade to slay monsters and devils. The greatest difference between humans and Demon Beasts is the possession of an unyielding will. Humanity’s innate talent may not compare to that of Divine Beasts, but their incredible Willpower allows them to crush even those creatures!

It is this tenacious will that has allowed humanity to survive—and even thrive—amidst countless Demon Beasts.

The reason he could manifest Martial Intent so smoothly was that he already had a sufficient foundation. Having constantly hovered on the brink of life and death, all he lacked was a catalyst. Once ignited, the result was an explosion of unstoppable power!

Finally, at this moment, his incredibly tenacious Willpower could be truly brought to bear.

If Tuo Zhanhong and the others had been here, they would have been utterly astounded by Lin Xuan’s display. He could already project his Martial Intent to attack independently of his body—a profound application, far beyond the most basic level.

’It turns out none of my efforts were wasted. I just needed to find the right way to unleash it!’

Lin Xuan tightened his grip on the Chi Dragon Heavens Rod, feeling that all his hard work had been worth it. True effort is never in vain.

"You have passed the trial of the Second Layer. Prepare to enter the Third Layer for the next trial!"

The familiar voice sounded, confirming that he had passed the trial of the Second Layer. He was finally about to enter the Third Layer. What challenges awaited him on the unknown Third Layer?