Soul Emperor Awakening

'I didn't expect a Phoenix. So this is a Celestial Level battle...' Lin Xuan gripped his Chi Dragon Heavens Rod, watching the Phoenix Fire rage ever stronger. The sight was truly startling—it was even more powerful than the flames he himself wielded.

This was the true challenge. It was no wonder so many of the Demon Race were stuck at the Earth Level, unable to break through to Celestial. 'And no wonder Mo Qianji was so arrogant after earning his Celestial Level qualification. If I can't even defeat this Phoenix, I don't have the right to face him.'

'A Phoenix... it might be difficult for others, but for me, not so much.'

Lin Xuan immediately drew upon the Yulan Pearl within him, and the Yulan Sacred Fire surged to life. The spectral blue flame that erupted was in no way inferior to the Phoenix Fire; in fact, it seemed to faintly surpass it in power. The moment it appeared, a terrifyingly cold aura spread out in all directions, suppressing the rising heat and causing the temperature to plummet.

Just because others feared fire didn't mean he did. In fact, his power was its perfect counter.

"The Celestial Level battle begins now!"

After the voice drifted down from the sky, the Phoenix immediately made her move. With a light step, she appeared at Lin Xuan's side in the blink of an eye. As expected of the Phoenix Race, renowned for its speed, she was astonishingly fast. Without the slightest hesitation, she swung her palm, her slender hand containing a terrifying Flame.

"Burning World Red Lotus!"

Lin Xuan instantly recognized the attack. It was imbued with a terrifying amount of Fire Elemental Power, and it would only take a few direct hits to trigger a fatal detonation. His opponent would show no mercy; every strike was a killing blow!

Although she wasn't a real member of the Demon Race—just an illusion—her power was identical to that of a true Phoenix. Her Martial Arts and abilities were all perfectly replicated.

FWOOSH!

The palm strike was accompanied by a terrifying wave of flames that surged forward to consume him. For anyone else, this dual-pronged attack would have been nearly impossible to block. But it was Lin Xuan she was facing now!

The moment the Phoenix moved, he was already swinging his rod to meet her. The shaft of the rod was wreathed in the Yulan Sacred Fire, and as he swung it, it left a trail of blue light in its wake, freezing the very air it passed through.

BOOM!

The Chi Dragon Heavens Rod slammed against the Phoenix's palm, triggering a shocking explosion that sent them both flying backward. Any Phoenix Fire that latched onto Lin Xuan was instantly snuffed out by the Yulan Sacred Fire. The Sacred Fire he had unleashed on his opponent, however, was not so easily extinguished.

Huang Nu's entire arm was encased in the Yulan Sacred Fire and frozen solid. Not a single spark of Phoenix Fire could escape, completely suppressed by Lin Xuan's Yulan Sacred Fire. The frost was even creeping up her body, forcing Huang Nu to desperately summon more of her own Phoenix Fire to fight it off.

This was a true, absolute counter. The saying that the Yulan Sacred Fire was the bane of the Phoenix was no exaggeration, and this was the ultimate proof. It was complete domination, utterly suppressing her Phoenix Fire to the point of a potential instant kill.

The key was that Lin Xuan's own strength was no less than Huang Nu's. The Yulan Sacred Fire he could unleash far surpassed that of other members of the Demon Race, so it was only natural that he could suppress her Phoenix Fire. Just because other demons struggled against her didn't mean he would. With such a powerful counter, his opponent couldn't even bring half of her true strength to bear!

"Break!"

Taking advantage of her momentary paralysis, Lin Xuan thrust his rod at Huang Nu again. A point of blue light flashed, followed by an explosive wave of blue flames surging toward her. Huang Nu immediately sensed the danger. A pair of Phoenix Wings burst from her back, and she shot into the sky, trying to evade Lin Xuan's fatal attack.

'Trying to escape? Not so fast!'

In an instant, Lin Xuan activated the Phoenix's Soul Possession. FWOOSH! A pair of Phoenix Wings unfurled from his back. With one powerful beat, he shot after the fleeing Phoenix.

Thanks to the burst of speed from the Phoenix Wings, Lin Xuan caught up to Huang Nu before she could even react. The Chi Dragon Heavens Rod, wreathed in the Yulan Sacred Fire, pierced straight through her body. As the Sacred Fire burned, it flash-froze her into an ice sculpture, which then exploded in mid-air.

She shattered into a shower of ice shards, an almost instantaneous kill. For someone who wielded the Yulan Sacred Fire, fighting a Phoenix was far too easy. He was virtually unharmed. The only downside was the significant power consumption, but he could still handle another fight.

'Still, I have to admit, this Phoenix was pretty tough. Not only was its Phoenix Fire powerful, but it could also fly. That's what gives other members of the Demon Race the biggest headache. If you can't fly, how can you possibly give chase?'

"You have successfully earned the Celestial Level qualification. Do you wish to attempt the Reincarnation Level challenge?" the voice from the sky asked.

'The Reincarnation Level...' Lin Xuan licked his lips. If his injuries were more serious, he definitely wouldn't have continued.

In the Gate of Life and Death, surrender wasn't an option. You were either beaten until you were gravely injured and thrown out, or you died! That's why Liu Yue'Er and the others had chosen to forfeit immediately after clearing the Celestial Level. If the Celestial Level battle was that terrifying, the Reincarnation Level would be beyond imagination—its difficulty was absolutely Heaven-Defying.

One moment of carelessness could mean death. Who would willingly risk that? Reaching the Reincarnation Level allowed one to become a Floor Master, but remaining at the Celestial Level was safer. In standard fights, you could surrender if you were outmatched, at least guaranteeing your own survival.

"I will challenge the Reincarnation Level!" Lin Xuan didn't hesitate for long before making his decision. 'If I don't even have this much nerve, how can I ever hope to grow stronger?'

'It's not blind confidence. I truly believe I have the strength to fight my way through. I have so many abilities I haven't even fully utilized yet. I have to keep going.'

"The Reincarnation Level challenge begins now," the voice announced from the sky once more.

A fiery red figure then appeared before Lin Xuan. When he got a clear look at the member of the Demon Race, he froze. He never expected his opponent to be an acquaintance—it was none other than the former Fox King!

That's right! His Reincarnation Level opponent was the former Fox King. She looked exactly as he remembered. The moment she appeared, the innate power of her Charm washed over him. It was useless, however. With his Soul Pearl, he was completely immune to Charm.

'I get it now. The opponents for these trials are all chosen from powerful members of the Demon Race from the past!' Lin Xuan finally understood. These opponents were all based on real people, either former Floor Masters or other exceptionally strong combatants.

The Fox King before him was the perfect example. She had been incredibly strong in the Ice and Snow Tower back in her day, so it wasn't surprising that she was chosen as a Reincarnation Level opponent. For Lin Xuan, however, this was a massive, pleasant surprise.