Soul Emperor Awakening

"What’s this disciple’s name?" the other Elders asked. They had been watching for so long, yet they still didn’t know the name of the disciple sitting before them.

"According to his Identity Token, his name is Chen Kanglin. His Cultivation is only at the Sixth Layer of Spirit Refining Stage, which isn’t particularly high. I had someone investigate him earlier. This disciple is usually unremarkable, just quietly focuses on his Cultivation. Who would have thought he’d erupt with such astonishing potential?" The Sixth Elder stroked his beard in satisfaction. "It’s already been two and a half Hours. In another half Hour, it’ll be three. He’s bound to get the Spirit God Technique then. The Sect Leader will be overjoyed when he hears about this!"

"Speaking of which, the Vice Sect Leader is already on his way over. The Sect Leader isn’t coming for now, but this is a major event for our sect!" The Fourth Elder smiled, lowering his voice so as not to disturb Lin Xuan.

For them, this wasn’t just a major event; it was a cause for great celebration! Enduring for three Hours meant that Chen Kanglin’s Soul Strength had reached the Level of a Sixth Grade Pattern Master. How could they not be pleasantly surprised?

Unfortunately, the one before them wasn’t Chen Kanglin, but Lin Xuan. In that sense, this was not a good thing—in fact, it was a very bad thing. But they hadn’t seen through his disguise. They just watched with cheerful smiles, believing the Divine Seal Sect was about to produce a peerless genius.

A Sixth Grade Pattern Master who was still in the Spirit Refining Stage... the mere thought was terrifying. How many Sixth Grade Pattern Masters did the entire Divine Seal Sect have? Only two!

That’s right, the entire Divine Seal Sect had only two Sixth Grade Pattern Masters: the Sect Leader and the Vice Sect Leader. As for Sun Zhe’s grand ambition to become a Sixth Grade Pattern Master within five years, the Sixth Elder had merely smiled, neither denying nor confirming it.

Overall, he didn’t have high hopes. However, with Sun Zhe’s talent, even if he couldn’t make it in five years, he should be able to succeed with a bit more time. That was why they had invested so heavily in nurturing him, and why they had spent so many resources to save him—all because they believed he could become a Sixth Grade Pattern Master.

But now, things were completely different. All their attention had shifted to Lin Xuan. No one cared about Sun Zhe’s situation, at least not at this moment.

’Where the hell did this bastard come from? If he takes all my resources, how am I supposed to get my revenge!’ A storm of rage brewed in Sun Zhe’s heart. He wished he could kill this upstart with a single palm strike, but with so many people watching, he could only swallow his anger and watch helplessly.

"Hmm, so this is the genius who can last for three Hours..." Just then, Hai Qingdong arrived. The crowd parted to let him through.

After studying Lin Xuan’s back for a moment, he felt a sense of familiarity. But when he looked at the face, it seemed unfamiliar again. He could only assume he had seen him around the Divine Seal Sect before but hadn’t committed the face to memory due to the sheer number of disciples.

"Yes, with a Fifth Layer of Spirit Refining Stage Cultivation, he’s about to reach the three-Hour mark. He’ll definitely obtain the Spirit God Technique then!" the Sixth Elder said, ecstatic.

"To reach such a Realm with only a Spirit Refining Stage Cultivation... all we can say is that we’ve truly grown old..." Hai Qingdong sighed, his eyes holding no jealousy. "Let’s just wait for him to pass. I hope he doesn’t fail at the last second."

It had to be three Hours or more, not a second less. Otherwise, obtaining the Spirit God Technique was impossible.

Of course, Lin Xuan reached this mark with ease. By this point, he felt a terrifying pressure. The surrounding Soul Attacks had intensified dozens of times over, and Illusions assaulted his mind with abandon. If his soul hadn’t been greatly strengthened, he really wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.

For now, however, he could still hold on. He didn’t know how long it would take to obtain the Spirit God Technique; it was all based on his own limits.

Finally, at the three-and-a-half-Hour mark, Lin Xuan could hold on no longer. His eyes snapped open, and he slapped a hand on the ground, his body floating up before slowly descending. A bit of color returned to his pale face. Three and a half Hours was his current limit!

’If I can’t even get the Spirit God Technique after all this time, then I’ll just have to accept it. I’ll completely accept it.’

At that moment, a five-colored light flashed in the sky above and drilled into Lin Xuan’s head. A flood of information poured into his mind, filling it with unfamiliar memories.

"Spirit God Technique!"

Lin Xuan’s body trembled slightly. As he felt the memories flood his mind, he couldn’t help but rejoice internally. ’I finally got the Spirit God Technique. That really wasn’t easy.’

He had to admit, this soul assessment was truly difficult. He really couldn’t have endured it any longer. He had originally thought he could last indefinitely, but the Soul Attacks just kept getting stronger, as if they were endless. If they hadn’t intensified, he could have held on for any number of Hours.

But with this ceaseless intensification, the situation was entirely different.

’What a powerful Spirit God Technique. So this is a Soul Attack type of Martial Arts... It’s truly marvelous...’ Lin Xuan opened his eyes. The Spirit God Technique was now deeply branded in his mind, and he began to crazily deduce and cultivate it.

"He really surpassed three Hours! Three and a half Hours!" Hai Qingdong clapped his hands, pleasantly surprised. "This is simply Heaven-Defying! Even with my Soul Strength, I could only last a little bit longer at most. How on earth did you cultivate your soul to be so Heaven-Defying?"

Lin Xuan was taken aback. Only then did he notice the large crowd behind him, which included Hai Qingdong and the others. With so many Elders surrounding him, he felt well and truly trapped.

"I somehow became this strong. I’m not sure how it happened either," Lin Xuan said, feigning reverence.

"Somehow became this strong?" Hai Qingdong said in surprise. "Then come over here and let me probe your body to see what’s going on. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. With a Soul Strength as formidable as yours, you’re guaranteed to become the Sect Leader in the future!"

This was no exaggeration. As long as Lin Xuan’s Cultivation caught up, the position of Divine Seal Sect’s Sect Leader would surely be his. Envious and jealous gazes fell upon him, but they made Lin Xuan hesitate. ’If he probes me, he’ll definitely discover this mask.’

"I’m feeling a bit unwell. Could I go to the Recovery Chamber to rest for a bit first? I will come find the Vice Sect Leader to speak in detail afterward!" Lin Xuan quickly made an excuse.

"There’s no need for the Recovery Chamber. I have a Recovery Elixir right here. Just take this. There’s no need to go there." Hai Qingdong smiled and generously took out a Recovery Elixir. This was an Elixir Pill for restoring Spiritual Power, far more precious than common Elixir Pills that restore Elemental Power.

Lin Xuan’s expression fell. ’It looks like I’m about to be exposed.’