Soul Emperor Awakening

「Outside the Martial God Tower.」

The crowd of spectators, who had been waiting for any change, finally saw the Martial God Tower emit a faint glow. The light ascended to the Third Layer, confirming that Lin Xuan had successfully entered.

This development slightly changed the crowd’s opinion. They had all assumed Lin Xuan would get stuck on the Second Layer, never reaching the third. But even now that he had, no one thought much of it. Most disciples who entered the tower could reach the Third Layer, and many could even press on to the Fourth Layer, so this accomplishment was nothing special.

"That took far too long. He spent a whole day on the Second Layer alone. He must have barely scraped through by brute force."

"I’d say so. He must have hit his limit. He’ll probably be teleported out within fifteen minutes."

"Still, breaking through the Second Layer shows he has some ability. It proves his power was enough to overcome that layer’s Martial Intent."

...

No one thought highly of Lin Xuan’s chances, with the sole exception of Tuo Yunhai. Lin Xuan had simply taken too long. There were no advantages to lingering inside the tower; it only led to a massive consumption of Elemental Power. Since he had taken so much time to pass, everyone assumed he must have barely clawed his way through.

This meant his journey would end on the Third Layer. Such a mediocre result would be a complete waste of the opportunity Tuo Yunhai had given him.

"He took quite a while, but at least he made it through the Second Layer. I imagine he’ll be stopping on the Third. The trial on the Third Layer is significantly harder than the second..." Tuo Zhanhong squinted at the Martial God Tower, steeling himself to catch Lin Xuan. Those ejected from the tower were almost always either critically wounded or had sustained substantial injuries.

Of course, one could also choose to surrender and emerge unscathed, but that would only earn them contempt. Who would respect someone who fled without even trying to fight?

"Brother Lin won’t just stop at the Third Layer! He’ll definitely ascend to an even higher level!" Tuo Yunhai insisted.

"Oh? What makes you think so? You were born on Divine Martial Island; you of all people should know how difficult the Martial God Tower is," Tuo Zhanhong inquired.

"I know how difficult the Martial God Tower is, but I have even greater faith in Brother Lin’s strength. He would never surrender so easily. Never!" He recalled how Lin Xuan had faced countless experts, remaining calm and composed in the face of peril. Even when confronted by opponents far stronger than himself, he would always fight with everything he had!

The people nearby revealed scornful expressions upon hearing Tuo Yunhai’s words. ’If Lin Xuan is so strong, why did he spend so much time on the Second Layer?’

None of them voiced their thoughts. Tuo Yunhai was a Core Disciple now; his Eighth-class Talent was far beyond them. They couldn’t afford to spout idle gossip.

"Is that so? Well, whether he surrenders or not is ultimately up to him..." Tuo Zhanhong’s gaze returned to the Martial God Tower.

Just then, Lin Xuan was transported from the Second Layer to the Third. Once he could see his surroundings clearly, he found that the environment was unchanged. The only thing that had changed was his opponent.

Where there was once a single Staff Envoy, there were now three! Not only had their numbers increased, but the Martial Intent they exuded was also significantly stronger. If their individual Martial Intents were to merge, they would form a presence like a small mountain.

’They increased the number of enemies and the strength of their Martial Intent? Just as I thought. If I hadn’t mastered Martial Intent, I would have been utterly defeated on this layer!’

Lin Xuan felt no worry, only a profound sense of relief. He was thankful he had made the right choice. If he hadn’t mastered Martial Intent on the Second Layer, he would have had no time to do so here. In terms of both numbers and intensity, this challenge far surpassed that of the Second Layer.

This was only natural. If the Third Layer were on the same level as the second, someone would have reached the peak of the Martial God Tower long ago.

THUD THUD THUD!

The three Staff Envoys snatched up their giant rods and charged forward. The ground shook under the might of their massive bodies. They swung their colossal weapons down toward Lin Xuan, a vast Martial Intent rising from their forms that made them seem even more immense, its pressure suffocating.

"Cloud Return Technique!"

Lin Xuan activated the Cloud Return Technique once more. The Bloodline Power within him surged wildly, instantly raising his strength to its absolute Peak. A heaven-shattering aura erupted from him, instantly fusing with his unparalleled, domineering Willpower. It coalesced into a massive phantom that enveloped him completely.

"Eight Extremes Staff Technique!"

Lin Xuan charged forward. BOOM! Like a cannonball, he shot forward as his powerful legs erupted with ultimate force, launching him into the air. He leaped high and brought his staff crashing down fiercely upon the three Staff Envoys. A red light flashed around him mid-descent, and a majestic aura rose from his body. He was like a War God cleaving down from the heavens!

KABOOM!

An immeasurable, terrifying force came crashing down, colliding with the giant rods that rose to meet it. The phantom of his Martial Intent slammed down as well, like a great mountain falling from the sky, striking with brutal force.

THUD!

The tyrannical Martial Intent sent the three Staff Envoys flying, shattering the layer of Martial Intent covering their bodies in a single, unstoppable blow! As they were flung back, the red glint in Lin Xuan’s eyes never faded. He spun rapidly on his feet, transforming into a top that swept across his surroundings. The Martial Intent shrouding him moved like a shadow, following the motion of his great rod as it swung out in a devastating arc.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The three Staff Envoys were sent flying, slamming hard against the walls. However, because Lin Xuan’s power had been divided among them, they were not seriously damaged. They had just scrambled back to their feet before they were charging at Lin Xuan again, feeling no pain.

Facing the Staff Envoys charging from three different directions, Lin Xuan’s aura surged once more. His eyes filled with unwavering resolve as he fiercely slammed the butt of his Chi Dragon Heavens Rod into the ground and roared, "Soul Martial Intent!"

In that instant, the souls of the Golden Dragon King and Qing Liuyun fused with his body. Immediately, two phantoms of unbelievably tyrannical Martial Intent emerged from within him. Now, he was manifesting three different types of Martial Intent!

The Golden Martial Intent, a blaze of golden light! The Cyan Martial Intent, a wisp of nimble cyan smoke! The Staff Martial Intent, a torrent of tyrannical bloodline power!

Three types of Martial Intent, all originating from a single person! It was simply unbelievable. If Tuo Zhanhong were to witness this scene, he would be rendered utterly speechless. He had only ever seen someone wield a single type of Martial Intent, never three at once.

"Break!"

With a furious roar from Lin Xuan, the three Martial Intents shot out from his body. The Golden Dragon King’s phantom swung a fist glittering with golden light, smashing it down on one of the Staff Envoys. The blow slammed the creature into the ground, its chest completely caved in.

Qing Liuyun’s Cyan Martial Intent flashed with a cyan brilliance and brought a foot down with immense force, stomping another Staff Envoy so hard it was nearly driven into the ground.

The Staff Martial Intent conjured by Lin Xuan swung its long rod in an ultimate thrust. With a flash of red light, the massive body of the third Staff Envoy was pinned to the wall, its chest completely crushed!

Once the attacks landed, the three manifestations of Martial Intent vanished without a trace. They were like a fleeting burst of power—arriving in an instant, and gone just as fast.

Three attacks, launched simultaneously, had obliterated all three targets. It was an act of absolutely Heaven-Defying violence. This was the Soul Martial Intent that Lin Xuan had newly mastered!

Soul is Willpower; once mastered and integrated, their essence is one and the same.