The Might of a Single Sword

Boom—!

An indescribably terrifying pressure erupted from Ji Juechen's seemingly slender body like a tsunami!

The metal walls of Training Ground No. 7 groaned under the unbearable pressure. The lights flickered wildly, as though they might go out at any moment.

The air froze at that instant.

Teacher Wang's arrogance instantly stiffened, replaced by utter terror. He was merely a Four-Ring Soul Sect. Before this pressure, as if a god had descended, he felt like an ant facing a storm. Even breathing became a luxury.

Xu Tianchen, the instigator, was in even worse shape. As a Soul Emperor, his perception of Soul Power Levels far surpassed Teacher Wang's. At this moment, the pressure he felt had exceeded that of a Soul Douluo, even surpassing the limits of the Titled Douluo in his understanding! It was an absolute suppression from the deepest level of life itself, making the Radiant Lion martial soul within him tremble. It did not even dare to manifest.

"Th-this is impossible..." Xu Tianchen's legs shook like sieves, his teeth chattering as his eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

Before everyone's utterly terrified gazes, nine incomparably massive Soul Rings flashing with Dark Gold light slowly rose beneath Ji Juechen's feet.

They were neither black nor red, but an incomparably profound Dark Gold, as though they contained the starry cosmos itself! Every Soul Ring was covered in complex, mysterious golden patterns. Merely looking at them made one's soul tremble.

"Th-the first Soul Ring... is Million Years?!" Teacher Wang screamed, his voice sharp and warped with terror. "No! That's impossible! A Million Year Soul Ring has never appeared in the history of Douluo Continent! This is an illusion! It must be an illusion!"

Yet the suffocatingly real pressure told him that it was all true.

Ji Juechen paid no attention to their shock. At that moment, his entire world had changed. Empowered by the Million Year Soul Rings, his five senses had been magnified countless times. He could "see" the flow of Soul Power within Xu Tianchen's body, "hear" Teacher Wang's heart pounding wildly in fear, and even "feel" every subtle change in the elements around him.

[Ding! "Fear" emotion detected. Sources: Teacher Wang, Xu Tianchen.]

[Emotion Intensity: 95. Sword Intent Points obtained: +2000.]

[Ding! "Disbelief" emotion detected. Source: Jing Ziyan.]

[Emotion Intensity: 92. Sword Intent Points obtained: +1800.]

The system notifications were crisp and pleasant. Ji Juechen's heart remained utterly unmoved; he even found it only natural.

This was the pinnacle of the sword path he pursued—the power to stand above all else.

"Y-you... what kind of monster are you..." Xu Tianchen squeezed out the words with all the strength in his body.

Ji Juechen finally focused his gaze on him. There was a trace of scrutiny in those cold eyes, like a butcher examining meat on a chopping block.

"Monster?" He slowly raised the longsword in his hand, its tip pointing from afar at Xu Tianchen. "The moment you bared your claws at me, you should have been prepared to have them severed."

Before his words had even faded, he moved.

There was no earth-shattering soul skill, no dazzling display of light. He merely took a simple step, and his figure vanished from where he stood like a ghost.

Xu Tianchen's pupils suddenly contracted. He did not even have time to activate his soul skill. All he could do was watch helplessly as the sword tip gleaming with Dark Gold light rapidly expanded in his vision.

Too fast!

Faster than dynamic vision!

Faster than neural reactions!

"NO—!"

He let out the final unwilling roar of his life.

"Squelch!"

A soft sound rang out, the noise of a sharp blade piercing flesh clear to all.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

Ji Juechen appeared behind Xu Tianchen with his back to him, slowly sheathing his sword. It was as though nothing had happened.

Xu Tianchen stood rigidly in place, utterly motionless. The next second, the Soul Rings above his head began to shatter inch by inch like glass, starting from the seventh Soul Ring, then the sixth, the fifth... all the way down to the first!

Thud!

Xu Tianchen fell stiffly to the ground, his eyes wide open and filled with endless terror and resentment. The Soul Power within him had completely dissipated. Every Soul Ring had shattered, and all his cultivation was ruined!

He had gone from a Soul Emperor with limitless prospects to an ordinary man.

One sword had crippled a Soul Emperor!

The entire training ground was deathly silent. One could have heard a pin drop.

Teacher Wang collapsed limply to the floor, a warm wetness spreading through his crotch. He had been frightened into losing control of his bladder. He looked at Ji Juechen as though he were a demonic god crawling out of hell.

Jing Ziyan, meanwhile, tightly covered her mouth with her small hands, her beautiful eyes filled with shock. She knew Ji Juechen was strong, but she had never imagined he could be this strong! That was not the pure Sword Fanatic she knew. He was a true... Sword God!

[Ding! "Admiration" emotion detected. Source: Jing Ziyan.]

[Emotion Intensity: 98! Critical reward triggered!]

[Congratulations, Host! Sword Intent Points obtained: x5000!]

[Congratulations, Host! Special physique obtained: Sword God Physique (Prototype)!]

Feeling a warm current surge through his body and the subtle transformation of his bones and muscles, Ji Juechen's heart finally stirred slightly.

So admiration contained such abundant energy.

Just then, the Million Year Soul Rings within him began to grow illusory. The three-minute experience period had ended.

That world-destroying pressure receded like the tide. The nine Dark Gold Soul Rings vanished, and Ji Juechen returned to being the "Sword Fanatic" who was only a Four-Ring Soul Sect.

But everyone knew he could never go back.

Ji Juechen did not spare another glance at Xu Tianchen and Teacher Wang on the ground. He turned, walked to the stone platform, picked up the bowl of chicken soup that had already grown somewhat cold, and drained it in one gulp.

Only after doing all that did he say a single sentence to the still-stunned Jing Ziyan.

"Let's go."

With that, he strode toward the exit of the training ground.

Jing Ziyan stood stunned for several seconds before suddenly coming to her senses. She hurried after him, jogging to his side with eyes bright as stars. "Ji Juechen, you were incredible just now! How did you make that sword strike? Can you teach me?"

Ji Juechen did not answer. He merely continued walking in silence.

But in his heart, he had already opened the System Mall. Looking at his balance of 5,800 Sword Intent Points, his gaze settled on a skill.

[Sword Qi Projection: Requires 5000 Sword Intent Points.]

"Exchange it."

[Ding! Exchange successful! Host has mastered Sword Qi Projection.]

A new insight merged into his mind. Ji Juechen casually waved his hand, and a three-foot-long streak of white sword qi shot from his fingertips, leaving a bottomless gash in the distant metal wall.

"Wow!" Jing Ziyan cried out in surprise.

Ji Juechen withdrew his hand, and that nearly imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of his lips once more.

This world seemed to be... starting to become interesting.