Ji Juechen gasped for breath, his muscles taut and veins bulging!
He had never experienced the exquisite agony of having all six Emperor-level Nine Dragon Powers driven into his body at once.
The pain was like countless ants thrashing in his veins, or flames raging through his marrow.
Ji Juechen watched Xu Qing lower his fists. His blood-red eyes had never been clearer!
He felt it!
That sincere fist intent!
How pure! How unwavering!!
And how enviable...
Such a powerful Martial Soul, such talent that eclipsed everyone else... I've never had anything like that...
He raised both hands and gripped his long sword, pouring every thought and intention into its blade.
Xu Qing naturally sensed that something had changed in Ji Juechen and decided to let his morals return and his martial virtue come back online.
He would give him a chance to show what he could do.
What kind of surprise will you bring me?
The arena fell silent. Only Ji Juechen's voice echoed through the vast combat testing chamber.
"My name is Ji Juechen."
He spoke softly, his expression devout.
"My Innate Soul Power is only level three, and my Martial Soul is nothing more than an ordinary sword."
"Heh... I've made it this far by persevering, again and again, and then fucking persevering some more!"
"Perseverance is all I have."
How hard could one person's perseverance be!?
Every Soul Master present could answer that question.
But what was Ji Juechen's answer?
He gave no reply, but the long sword in his hands had already answered for him.
The dull gray sword, like a fire poker, now shone like a miniature sun, lighting up the entire underground chamber.
"There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters—that's something I've always believed with absolute conviction!"
Ji Juechen raised his head and looked at Xu Qing with blood-red eyes.
"This sword embodies every obsession I have."
"It's also the sword technique I just comprehended. I call it—Obsession!"
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
Blinding beams of light blurred the vision of everyone present.
Everyone except Xu Qing!
"Tsk... What do you mean, 'a sword technique I just comprehended'..."
And you call this having nothing but perseverance?
Xu Qing rolled his neck, joints cracking, and his gaze turned serious.
His Soul Power had run dry, and only a pitiful trace of mental strength remained...
Was he at the end of his rope?
No!
[Martial Soul Trait: Undying!!]
His defiant will erupted once more!
His rapidly beating heart declared that his body was nowhere near its limit!!
"Second Blood Burst!"
A glimmer of red flashed deep in his pupils!
Boom—!!!
A visible shockwave exploded from Xu Qing, and the metal floor beneath his feet cracked like a spiderweb.
Faint crimson patterns surfaced across his skin. His muscles swelled, yet his lines remained sleek.
A self-created Body Sect secret technique—Blood Burst!
By controlling his heart rate and pushing it above five hundred beats per minute, he could unlock this special form.
So far, in the entire Body Sect, only he and the old man—the only other person with his own body as his Martial Soul—could use it.
He took a deep breath, then sprang into action!
"I have a fist!"
"One that can move mountains!"
Boom—!!
His blood-red fist slammed into the radiant sword, unleashing a deafening crash!
"Break the River!"
Boom—!!
Ji Juechen actually withstood two full punches! The only price was a few tiny cracks in the web of skin between his thumb and forefinger!
Blood kept seeping from the corners of his mouth. His face was expressionless, his mind empty; he poured everything he had into his sword.
He treasured this battle, this clarity he had never known before.
It filled him with joy and left him reluctant to let go.
Xu Qing's figure vanished once more. Only successive sonic booms and the howling wind of his fists could be heard!
"Overturn the Sea!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
But Ji Juechen's sword never fell.
In the end, he still lacked a little foundation...
A gale swept over him, and scorching heat struck his head, bringing him back to his senses.
Xu Qing had held back at the end. Ji Juechen stared blankly at the black fist.
For a long time, he couldn't speak. He tried to open his mouth, only to find it flooded with a coppery sweetness, and then blood burst from all over his body.
Six Emperor-level Nine Dragons, the backlash from his sword technique, and Xu Qing's fists.
He was gravely wounded and on the brink of death.
"Heh... Sorry. In the end, I still couldn't let you enjoy yourself..."
"Juechen!!"
Lin Jiayi, the dean of instruction, was the first to rush over. He stuck a Milk Bottle into Ji Juechen's mouth while using a Communication Soul Tool to contact the academy's medical staff.
"Hang in there, Juechen!!"
"Don't worry, I can keep him alive."
A blue glimmer flashed in Xu Qing's palm, and a blue syringe appeared.
"This is the latest research from the Body Sect. I call it Adrenaline. One shot, and it'll have Ji bouncing around full of life!"
Lin Jiayi's mouth twitched as his gaze darted between Hall Master Jing, who had already stepped onto the arena, and the blue syringe in Xu Qing's hand.
"Go ahead and use the Adrenaline on him, Xu Qing." Hall Master Jing trusted his own people completely. "I also have some pills that can temporarily ease his injuries. Give him the shot first."
What he meant was: Don't worry. Even if it doesn't work, Grandpa here has medicine!
Xu Qing nodded, crouched down, and gave Ji Juechen a shot of Adrenaline. Ji Juechen immediately opened his eyes and sat up!
Adrenaline could push the body beyond its limits. Even someone half-dead could get back up and bounce around for a while.
The only problem was the steep cost. A single shot consumed fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins!
The manufacturing process was so complicated, it was practically T0 difficulty.
All that sudden, vigorous movement caused the tiny wounds on Ji Juechen's body, which had just healed, to split open again.
Blood blossomed across his body once more.
Hall Master Jing's eyes lit up. Hey, one shot and he's alive!
If this could be mass-produced, then in a war, the casualty rate could drop dramatically!
As he thought this, he pulled out a dark green pill the size of a longan and slipped it into Ji Juechen's mouth. Ji Juechen's wounds began healing at a visible speed.
"All right, that should do it. Jiayi, take Juechen to the infirmary."
"Yes, Hall Master!"
Lin Jiayi took out a stretcher Soul Tool, laid Ji Juechen on it, then used his Soul Power to control it and tow him away.
Xiao Meng had come up as soon as the battle ended and had been hiding behind Xu Qing ever since. She held a jar of fine ointment and was applying it to him.
It was cool and warm, soft and fragrant...
Ahem, the ointment was fragrant. The ointment.
"Huh? You've healed... Brother Xu, you're so fast..."
Xu Qing's face darkened. His black hand shot out into thin air, pulled out a piece of clothing, and draped it over himself to cover his body.
A young man had to protect himself when he was out and about.
Everyone out there was lusting after his body!
He looked at Hall Master Jing, whose eyes were filled with affection and satisfaction, and asked:
"Hall Master Jing..."
"Hey! There's no one else around now. You're still calling me Hall Master?"
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