Lin Ye's Bright Slash erupted with the speed of an instantaneous slash, even faster than most agility-type skills.
There was no need to mention the destructive power of Holy Fire Slash.
Qian Daoliu could tell that its power was nearly comparable to the fourth soul skill of a standard top-tier Soul Master.
"Not bad. Next, we'll find Xiaoxue her fourth soul ring."
Qian Renxue's fourth soul ring could reach around six thousand years.
The older the soul beast, the rarer and harder it was to find. Still, before night fell completely, they successfully secured Qian Renxue's fourth soul ring.
Her Soul Power had broken through to the peak of Rank 41. With a little more cultivation, she would be able to reach Rank 42.
Just like in the original story, Qian Renxue's fourth soul skill was a control-type soul skill named Angel Free Will.
"Xiaoxue, disciple, more than half the time allotted for your first Angel Trial has passed, yet you haven't even completed half of your Angel Path. You must work even harder on the trials ahead."
Qian Daoliu instructed them on the way back.
"Understood."
Both Lin Ye and Qian Renxue were full of confidence.
After absorbing their soul rings this time, both their strength and physiques had greatly improved.
Once they returned, they would surely make many breakthroughs.
The next day, they returned to the Core Land of Inheritance and stood before the Angel Path.
Qian Renxue curled her lips into a smile. "Lin Ye, I'm fifty meters ahead of you, right? Today, I'll definitely leave you far behind!"
"You might not be able to do that." Lin Ye wore the same confident expression.
"Then let's find out!"
"Sure!"
Both of them were filled with fighting spirit as they charged into the Angel Path together.
In one breath, they rushed past three hundred meters.
Then four hundred meters!
Four hundred and ten meters—the limit Lin Ye had reached when he had only one ring.
The two continued onward.
Five hundred meters!
They had both reached five hundred meters!
"First soul skill, Angel Sword Domain!"
"External Soul Bone, Bright Dragon Wings!"
Lin Ye unleashed his strongest state and continued forward.
The two of them actually broke through six hundred meters in one go!
In the end, Qian Renxue reached six hundred and fifty meters, while Lin Ye reached six hundred and twenty.
"Damn it! Not only did I fail to widen the gap, he even closed it by twenty meters!" Qian Renxue secretly clenched her fist, her expression darkening.
Lin Ye said smugly, "Qian Renxue, at this rate, I might overtake you soon!"
"Hmph! That's impossible!"
"Nothing is impossible."
The two returned to their quietly competitive atmosphere.
Yet it was precisely this sense of competition that made their determination to strive even firmer and filled them with motivation.
Unknowingly, it accelerated the rate at which their strength improved.
Elsewhere.
In Star Luo City, within the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai knelt before the Star Luo Emperor. Dai Mubai wore a miserable expression as he cried, "Father! One of my arms was cut off. Are we really just... just going to let this go?!"
The Star Luo Emperor roared, "Fools! Do you know who you provoked?!"
"They are not merely people from the Worship Hall. That angel girl you spoke of does not possess an ordinary angel martial soul—she belongs to the Six-Winged Angel clan! Do you understand?!"
"Six-Winged...? I heard that Qian Renxue, the youngest descendant of the Six-Winged Angel clan, had already died young!"
The Star Luo Emperor looked as though he hated iron for not becoming steel and snapped furiously, "Not only is she alive, she has obtained the inheritance of the Angel God. She is a god's heir!!"
"The girl you encountered in that town was Qian Renxue!"
"What?! A god's heir..."
Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai were stunned upon hearing this, realizing that they had nearly caused a catastrophe.
"If you had accidentally killed that girl in the town, Spirit Hall would have destroyed our Star Luo Empire at any cost!!"
"Get the hell out of here, both of you!!" The Star Luo Emperor's furious roar echoed through the hall.
Even an empire could not afford to provoke Spirit Hall. Qian Renxue could be killed, but absolutely not openly.
If a prince of Star Luo killed Qian Renxue, the Star Luo Empire would surely pay a terrible price.
When the Angel Nine Trials had descended, although Qian Daoliu had done his utmost to seal off the news, paper could not contain fire. The information had still reached the imperial families, as well as major powers such as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Seven Great Sects.
By now, most major figures on the continent knew that Spirit Hall had produced an Angel Heir.
But they did not know about Lin Ye.
Over the next period of time, Lin Ye still increased by nearly one rank every month.
Five months later!
His Soul Power had risen from Rank 23 to the peak of Rank 27.
Qian Renxue was Rank 44!
The sixth month.
The first trial was ending, with two days remaining.
At this moment, Lin Ye was Rank 28.
Qian Renxue was Rank 45.
Their progress had officially caught up, both reaching nine hundred and ninety-nine meters!
They stood at the starting point of the Angel Path.
This would be their final attempt.
And this attempt would directly complete their first trial.
"He... actually caught up to me!" Qian Renxue hated the feeling of being surpassed. She clenched her fist and looked toward Lin Ye, thinking, I will never lose to a two-ring Soul Master!
"Come on. It's time for us to decide the winner."
"Come!"
The two made their preparations.
For the final time, they charged into the Angel Path together.
They moved quickly through the first five hundred meters.
After six hundred meters, their speed began to slow. Seven hundred meters, eight hundred meters—they grew slower and slower.
Their physical strength and Soul Power were also rapidly depleting.
By nine hundred meters, they had already slowed to a crawl, every step difficult.
Nine hundred and ninety meters!
The final ten meters!
At this moment, Lin Ye and Qian Renxue's Soul Power and physical strength were both nearly at their limits!
Every step was incomparably difficult!
But as long as they steadied themselves and did not panic, they could both finish. It was only a matter of who would be faster.
Five meters!
Three meters!
"Only two meters left!" Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, only to suddenly discover that Lin Ye was one step ahead of her.
"Damn it! I absolutely can't let him surpass me!"
Qian Renxue's desire to win reached its peak, and she caught back up.
The two were in sync again!
The final meter!
Lin Ye's competitive spirit also rose!
But because neither was willing to yield, they both grew anxious. In their haste, they simultaneously lost their balance.
"Not good!"
Neither of them intended to give up. This was their last chance.
At that instant, they both looked at each other.
Their gazes met, and it was as if they understood what the other meant.
"Give me your hand!"
In perfect tacit understanding, they reached out and grabbed each other's hands, their fingers interlocking without realizing it!
"Since we've come this far, let's finish it together!"
"Fine. A draw isn't a bad result either."
They exchanged a glance, held hands, and stepped over the final meter together, finally reaching the end.
The Angel Light faded away.
Both of them collapsed onto the ground at the same time from exhaustion.
"It's finally over. I'm exhausted," Lin Ye panted.
Qian Renxue could not help looking at Lin Ye beside her. She had never expected that she would end up reaching the finish line hand in hand with this boy. Panting softly, she asked, "Did my hand feel good?"
Lin Ye glanced at their interlocked fingers and smiled. "It was fine—soft, smooth, pretty comfortable. But don't get the wrong idea. I'm still young; I don't understand women."
Before you continue