Soul Emperor Awakening

"A Strike to Cleave the World!"

The Young Martial God once again unleashed his strongest Ultimate Skill. A colossal Yanyue Saber forged from Martial Intent came crashing down, still imbued with the world-rending Breaking Sky Power, capable of crushing all in its path.

Meeting it head-on was Lin Xuan’s staff, wreathed in the stunning Yulan Sacred Fire. It blazed a trail, igniting the air while freezing everything in its wake with frost, finally transforming into a streak of blue light as it shot upward.

"Soul-Devouring Break!"

’This was an Ultimate Skill of my own creation. It appeared deceptively simple, yet it concealed boundless killing intent. Soul-Devouring Break was tailor-made for me. No matter how much I practice another’s Celestial Level Martial Arts, it’s never truly my own. Their power is undeniable, but Soul-Devouring Break was crafted for my very being.’

’It contained not only the Fox King’s Charm, but also the Martial God’s intent, the Demon Evil Monarch’s Evil Qi, and finally, the Youlan Emperor’s frost.’

’Its effects change depending on the number of souls I possess. Soul Devouring doesn’t just refer to consuming their souls; it’s about condensing the power of all my souls to devour my enemy!’

’This truly is the perfect Martial Art for me. The Lin’s Staff Technique is powerful, but it’s no match for Soul-Devouring Break. The staff technique’s true potential is unlocked by Bloodline Power, whereas Soul-Devouring Break draws on my entire being. That is where my true, ultimate power lies.’

’The more souls I possess, the stronger the effect.’

BOOM!

The two attacks finally collided, creating a violent explosion. Furious shockwaves billowed outward in every direction. Multicolored torrents of energy surged, relentlessly battering the hard iron walls of the chamber.

When the shockwaves finally dissipated, the Young Martial God was pressed against the wall, a smile on his face. He had been blasted away by Lin Xuan’s terrifying strike, but he was unharmed. As an Energy Body, he was incapable of sustaining injury.

Lin Xuan, in contrast, stood perfectly still. The Yulan Sacred Fire that cloaked his body swayed gently, causing the ambient temperature to plummet and transforming the area into a world of ice and snow.

Lin Xuan then recalled the souls, and everything returned to normal. There was no need to continue the fight. He had already won.

He didn’t need to completely disperse the Young Martial God’s Energy Body; he only had to shatter his Martial Intent. It was the same as with the earlier trial against the Martial God as a boy—breaking the Martial Intent was enough.

Their Martial Intent was their very essence. By shattering it, a challenger proved that their own Martial Intent was of a sufficient standard, thus earning them the right to pass the layer.

"You have won," the Young Martial God said, his tone now calm and devoid of its earlier arrogance. He was utterly convinced, acknowledging the reality of Lin Xuan’s power.

’His power may be a mishmash, but an ability that brings victory is a good ability. Purity is irrelevant.’

"I was fortunate," Lin Xuan replied with a faint smile, his face showing little joy. ’I expected to defeat the Young Martial God, so winning isn’t much of a surprise.’

"Your talent is immense. I hope you make good use of this power... With it, you can now open the inner gates of the Divine Martial Hall, where something of great benefit to you lies. However, to truly obtain it, you will need a stroke of fate. Strength alone is not enough; opportunity is paramount. Whether you can claim what is inside is up to you."

After leaving him with those words, the Young Martial God transformed into a beam of light that shot into Lin Xuan’s body, bestowing upon him the corresponding legacy of memories. Just like before, it was a soul stripped of its mundane memories, leaving behind only the most essential and profound knowledge.

He also left behind a wisp of his soul, which fused with the soul of the Martial God from the earlier trial. In a single stroke, this combined soul, once at the Peak of the Core Formation Stage, leaped to the Void Spirit Level!

’What an astonishing concentration of soul power. Overall, it’s somewhat useful, but not overwhelmingly so. To truly unleash its potential, I still need to keep raising my own cultivation and Spiritual Power.’

「Outside the Martial God Tower.」

The Seventh Layer of the tower began to flash, signaling that Lin Xuan had passed and was preparing to ascend to the Eighth Layer!

This scene stunned every member of the Tu Family watching. Lin Xuan had actually passed the Seventh Layer and was now poised to challenge the highest floor—the Eighth Layer. Legend had it that anyone who passed the Eighth Layer would become a god!

Of course, this was an exaggeration. A Martial God was not, in theory, a true god. If even the Martial God himself couldn’t be called a deity, how could someone else become one by passing his trial? But since it had been so long since anyone reached the Eighth Layer, the legends had grown more and more grandiose, blown to mythical proportions.

Still, most people chose to believe it. Even if one didn’t become a god, the boost to one’s strength would surely be immense.

"The Foreign Elder really passed the Seventh Layer! Not even our Island Master has ever managed that! In fact, no one has in all these years. This is unbelievable!"

"And I recall the Foreign Elder was in there for a very short time. It wasn’t even an Hour, was it? To pass the Seventh Layer in less than an Hour... isn’t that a bit too Heaven-Defying?"

"Forget Heaven-Defying, he’s completely eclipsing our entire Tu Family!"

...

The Tu Family disciples erupted in discussion. Lin Xuan had been a prominent figure for a while, but now he was a living legend. Passing the Seventh Layer... what did that even mean!?

"Island Master, Elder Lin... he really passed the Seventh Layer, and so easily, too!" Tuo Zhanhong’s mouth hung agape; even he couldn’t believe it. He had believed it was possible for Lin Xuan to pass, but he never imagined it would be done with such ease.

It seemed even easier for him than the Sixth Layer, where Lin Xuan had been stuck for a full six months!

"Indeed. Heroes truly are born from the young," Tuo Shengfeng said with a smile. "His abilities are far beyond ours. This era belongs to the youth." It was impossible for him not to feel a twinge of jealousy, and the other Elders present felt it too, but it was merely a fleeting envy.

’The Martial God Tower has always been here, open for anyone to challenge. If after all these years we still can’t get past the Sixth Layer, that’s a testament to our own lack of strength. It has nothing to do with Lin Xuan.’

’Ultimately, jealousy is pointless. When we can’t climb it even with every opportunity, we just have to accept our limitations.’

"I wonder if he’ll continue on to challenge the Eighth Layer?" Tuo Zhanhong was eager to see what Lin Xuan would choose. If he didn’t challenge it now, his next visit would be his last chance to enter the Martial God Tower.

"Whether he does or not, at least the inner gates of the Divine Martial Hall can now be opened..." Tuo Shengfeng was more concerned with this fact. No matter how strong Lin Xuan became, he wasn’t a member of the Tu Family, after all. But if he obtained the ultimate treasure, the Tu Family would be the true beneficiary.

Just then, a beam of light shot out from the Martial God Tower and landed steadily on the ground. Lin Xuan had been teleported out.

He took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes, two beams of divine light bursting forth. After that battle, his Cultivation had broken through once more—he had reached the Essence Pill Stage Eighth Layer!