Soul Emperor Awakening

King's Purgatory was one of the most difficult tasks available. It wasn't the *only* one at the highest difficulty, but it was still shocking enough to make everyone wonder: had Lin Xuan lost his mind?

To challenge the highest difficulty... If it were them, they would rather face Mo Qianyun than attempt a Reincarnation Level task. The difficulty was simply too immense. It was a life-or-death situation. When challenging Mo Qianyun, one could still surrender.

But in a task like this, surrender wasn't an option. To lose was to die. Failing to complete it meant being trapped inside, and even if you survived, it was a fate no different from death. One had to pass the Reincarnation Level task to get out.

Therefore, losing was as good as being dead; only by succeeding could one emerge. It was cruel. Absolutely cruel. That was why no one dared to accept a task of this Level, especially a Demon Cultivator from below the Ninth Layer.

Why was this the case? Because becoming a City Lord had prerequisites, one of which was completing a Reincarnation Level task. To be precise, a prospective City Lord had to obtain ten Ice and Snow Badges—that was a given—and also successfully complete two of the most difficult Reincarnation Level tasks.

That's right. Two of the most difficult Reincarnation Level tasks—specifically, two tasks that each awarded three Ice and Snow Badges. These were just the primary prerequisites; there were other requirements as well.

In retrospect, obtaining ten Ice and Snow Badges was actually the easy part. The Reincarnation Level tasks were the truly terrifying hurdle. Even for the Floor Master of the Ninth Layer, the difficulty of the task wasn't reduced in the slightest. Once they entered, death was a very likely outcome.

Upon their death, the position would become vacant. However, most Demon Cultivators feared death, especially those who had managed to become the Floor Master of the Ninth Layer. The reason none of them had become a City Lord yet was either a lack of confidence or because they were waiting for their power to grow even stronger before accepting the challenge.

For anyone below the Ninth Layer, challenging a Reincarnation Level task was simply insane, as the difficulty remained the same for everyone, regardless of their own Level. For Lin Xuan, who had just gained entry to the Sixth Layer, to participate in the King's Purgatory... it was nothing short of a death wish.

"He chose the King's Purgatory? That's one of the hardest tasks there is! Does he have that much confidence in himself?"

"Even the Floor Master of the Ninth Layer wouldn't dare accept that task, yet he did. He's really got a death wish!"

"Well, things just got easy for Mo Qianyun. He won't even need to fight a challenger; this guy's already a dead man!"

...

Not a single Demon Cultivator believed Lin Xuan could succeed. True, he was strong, but they had seen stronger. Absorbing a bit of Golden Dragon Bone didn't make him invincible. Even true Golden Dragons had died in there, so what chance did Lin Xuan have, having only absorbed a Golden Dragon Bone? He was just a counterfeit member of the Golden Dragon Race, incomparable to the real thing.

The physique and power of the Black Dragon Race were in no way inferior to the Golden Dragons, and even they had been brought to their knees inside. What hope did that leave for Lin Xuan?

While many Demon Cultivators had high hopes for Lin Xuan, that didn't mean they believed he could reach the Ninth Layer and become the City Lord. Especially now—choosing a Reincarnation Level task before he had even reached the Ninth Layer was truly no different from suicide.

"So that's why you were so arrogant. You were just looking for a way to die by taking on a Reincarnation Level task. To think my challenger would be such an idiot!" Mo Qianyun's look of astonishment faded, replaced by a cold sneer as he looked at Lin Xuan.

"An idiot?" Lin Xuan looked at Mo Qianyun and said calmly, "Rather than calling me an idiot, it would be more accurate to say you all lack courage."

That one phrase—"lack courage"—ignited Mo Qianyun's fury. "It's not a lack of courage," he retorted angrily. "It's called not taking on a battle I'm not certain I can win! Blind recklessness is just a death wish. That's idiocy, not heroism!"

"So, what you're really saying is that you lack the ability?" Lin Xuan asked with a faint smile.

Mo Qianyun was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood. Pointing at Lin Xuan, he snarled, "Fine! Fine! Since you're so confident and so powerful, if you actually manage to pass, I'll hand over my position as Floor Master with my own two hands. You won't even need to challenge me!"

The fact that he dared to make such a declaration was proof of just how difficult the King's Purgatory was. To them, it was a nightmare. Of the two required Reincarnation Level tasks, one might pass the first, only to fail the second. The fact that no City Lord had emerged to this day was the clearest testament to this truth.

To avoid losing their talented members, the Black Dragon Race had simply taken over the Floor Master positions, effectively ruling the Ice and Snow Tower. It wasn't much different from being the City Lord, and they didn't have to risk their lives in Reincarnation Level tasks, so they were content.

The other Demon Cultivators were stunned by Mo Qianyun's declaration. 'How could he make such a promise?' If Lin Xuan actually succeeded, wouldn't he have to admit defeat and hand over his position as Floor Master?

But then they considered it and realized it was a near-impossible feat. If Lin Xuan were a Demon Cultivator on the Level of the Ninth Layer, he might have had a chance. But he was only on the Sixth Layer, and the difference between the two was night and day. Being on a higher floor didn't just mean a higher Cultivation; it meant one's control over Ice and Snow Energy was drastically improved, which would give them a relative advantage in a Reincarnation Level task.

"Alright then. I look forward to you handing over the position of Floor Master with your own two hands."

Lin Xuan gave a placid smile, then ignored them and turned, walking toward the Cultivation Chamber for the challenge. 'Am I being reckless? Of course not. The Reincarnation Level task is the most difficult, but my confidence doesn't stem from my own abilities. It comes from the knowledge that the previous Fox King had successfully passed the King's Purgatory!

'The specifics of how he did it were unclear, since the previous Fox King's soul memories were almost nonexistent, but just knowing from Hu Hong that he had passed was enough. I don't want to waste any time. I want to charge to the top as fast as possible, and taking on this Reincarnation Level task is undoubtedly the best way to do that.

'The previous Fox King passed it, so with his soul, there's no reason I can't pass it too, right? Jin Wei and the others advised against this kind of task, especially one that rewards three Ice and Snow Badges—even they never dared attempt one. A one-badge task was manageable, but three was the highest difficulty.'

For Lin Xuan, this wasn't just about rapidly increasing his number of Ice and Snow Badges. More importantly, it meant completing one of the major requirements ahead of schedule. A condition for becoming City Lord was to complete challenges from two of the most difficult Reincarnation Level tasks, and this mission fit the bill perfectly.

He arrived before the Cultivation Chamber where the King's Purgatory would be held. After taking a deep breath, he reached out and placed his hand on the door, activating it. Even with the previous Fox King's soul, he still felt a sliver of nervousness. This was, after all, a Reincarnation Level task.

'King's Purgatory... The name alone was terrifying. I wonder what the result will be.'

Once the entrance was open, nothing could be seen of the inside; its contents would only be revealed to one who stepped through. Lin Xuan paused for a moment, then walked in without any further hesitation. The Stone Gate slammed shut with a heavy THUD, leaving the crowd of Demon Cultivators outside staring at one another. Lin Xuan had actually gone in!

"I'll be damned if you actually make it out of there," Mo Qianyun sneered. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned to leave. "This works out well. Saves me the trouble."

No one believed Lin Xuan would walk out alive. No one, except for himself.