The words "Spirit Hall" were like bone-piercing ice, instantly freezing the atmosphere beside the spirit pool on the Secret Realm's second level.
Lin Chen kept Su Qingyuan firmly behind him. The gentle Life Soul Power surrounding him suddenly turned fierce, and icy killing intent surged through his clear eyes.
He understood Spirit Hall's greed and ruthlessness better than anyone. These people had trespassed into the Azure Mist Secret Realm. Their interest in the thousand-year Pure Lotus Soul Beast was a pretense—their real purpose was to uncover the secrets of Qinglan Academy's Secret Realm, or even capture a heaven-defying genius like him!
Qinglan Academy stood in a remote location. Though Spirit Hall wielded immense influence, it could not easily act against the academy openly. Sending peripheral members into the Secret Realm was clearly a calculated move to seize its opportunities in secret and eliminate promising geniuses!
"Quite a big mouth for such a little brat." The sinister middle-aged man leading them sneered. Soul Rings erupted around him—two yellow, one purple, and one black. With four Soul Rings circling his body, he was a level-thirty-eight power attack system Soul Ancestor!
The two young Soul Masters behind him also released their Martial Souls. Both were Soul Grandmasters above level twenty, and their three Soul Rings radiated dense power. Clearly, they were skilled peripheral members carefully cultivated by Spirit Hall.
"I am Zhao Kun, a deacon of Spirit Hall. I came to Qinglan Mountain on my superiors' orders to seek opportunities." Zhao Kun swept his sinister gaze over Lin Chen, greed filling his eyes. "Hand over the secret of your heaven-defying Soul Rings, and give me that thousand-year Pure Lotus Soul Beast. Then I may leave your corpse intact. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless and slaughtering all three of you here!"
In his eyes, Lin Chen was merely a level-twenty-one Soul Grandmaster. Whatever talent he had displayed before, he would crumble before a Soul Ancestor. With two more Soul Grandmasters assisting Zhao Kun, capturing the three of them would be as easy as turning over his hand.
The two Spirit Hall Soul Grandmasters also stepped forward, activating Martial Soul Possession. Their auras locked onto Lin Chen and the two women, mocking smiles covering their faces.
"Deacon, why waste words on this brat? Just kill him, and the Soul Ring secret and Pure Lotus Soul Beast will all be ours!"
"A wet-behind-the-ears brat can't cross the gulf separating him from a Soul Ancestor, no matter how talented he is. Today is the day he dies!"
Su Qingyuan hid behind Lin Chen, clutching the hem of his clothes. Facing the menacing Spirit Hall members, she was deeply anxious, yet she did not shrink back in the slightest. She knew she absolutely could not become a burden to him.
Yue Huaxi moved to Lin Chen's side. Her Moonlight Spirit Grass Martial Soul blossomed fully, spreading pale silver Soul Power. Resolve filled her cool face. "I'll fight beside you."
She was only a level-twelve Soul Master, and the difference between her and a Soul Ancestor accompanied by two Soul Grandmasters was like a heavenly chasm. Even so, she chose to stand beside Lin Chen and never abandon him.
Sensing the devotion of the two women beside him, warmth flowed through Lin Chen's heart, yet his killing intent grew even stronger.
He gently patted Yue Huaxi's shoulder, his voice steady and firm. "Xi'er, protect Qingyuan. Leave this to me. One Soul Ancestor and two Soul Grandmasters aren't worthy of making either of you fight."
As his words fell, Lin Chen stepped forward. A pale green halo of life swept outward, fully unleashing his Life Domain!
The ten-meter domain instantly enveloped the entire area. Utterly pure Life Force filled the air, carrying an overwhelming suppressive force that bore down hard on the three Spirit Hall members!
[Life Domain triggered: enemy Soul Power suppressed by 30%, Martial Soul strength weakened by 25%!]
Zhao Kun and his companions' expressions changed drastically. The Soul Power inside them suddenly grew sluggish, becoming incredibly difficult to circulate. Even their Martial Souls seemed to wilt. Their strength was forcibly suppressed by thirty percent, and their formerly fierce auras diminished by more than half!
"What's happening?! Why won't my Soul Power move?!"
"What is this bizarre ability? A Soul Skill? Or a domain?!"
The two Spirit Hall Soul Grandmasters cried out in horror. They had never seen such a heaven-defying suppression ability. Even Spirit Hall's ancient records contained no mention of anything like it!
Storm-tossed waves rose in Zhao Kun's heart. His gaze toward Lin Chen changed completely, shifting from contempt to disbelief. "A domain? A level-twenty-one Soul Grandmaster like you actually awakened a domain?! Impossible!"
Domain power was a legendary ability. Only experts at Soul Saint rank or above had even a tiny chance of awakening it. How could a Soul Grandmaster possess one?!
Yet the suppression bearing down on his body was all too real. He had no choice but to believe it!
Zhao Kun was shocked and furious, but greed outweighed both. If he could capture Lin Chen, seize the secret of his domain, and present it to Spirit Hall's higher-ups, his fortunes would soar, carrying him to the heavens in a single step!
"So what if you have a domain?! A Soul Grandmaster is still a Soul Grandmaster! Let's see how long you can hold out!" Zhao Kun roared, unleashing his Soul Ancestor Soul Power at full strength and activating his third and fourth Soul Skills simultaneously. "Third Soul Skill—Black Rock Break! Fourth Soul Skill—Giant Rock Crush!"
Pitch-black rock Soul Power surged outward, and the ground shook violently. Enormous rocks formed out of thin air and hurtled toward Lin Chen with a momentum that threatened to destroy heaven and earth. A Soul Ancestor's all-out strike was powerful enough to grievously injure or even instantly kill an ordinary Soul Grandmaster!
The two Spirit Hall Soul Grandmasters did not dare hold back either. They activated their Soul Skills, sending two attacks right behind Zhao Kun's and sealing off every avenue of escape!
Had any Qinglan Academy instructors been watching, they would surely have broken into a cold sweat for Lin Chen. An insurmountable gulf separated a Soul Ancestor from a Soul Grandmaster, and he was fighting three opponents alone!
Yet Lin Chen's expression remained calm. His gaze was indifferent as he watched the attacks approach, without the slightest fear.
"Five-thousand-year Soul Ring, unleash your power!"
Two dark green Soul Rings blazed beneath Lin Chen's feet. His five-thousand-year second Soul Ring shone especially brilliantly, its overwhelming aura eclipsing even Zhao Kun's black Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring!
Pale green Life Blue Silver Grass burst wildly from the earth, several times thicker than before. Like green dragons reaching into the heavens, the strands intertwined before Lin Chen into an impenetrable barrier!
"First Soul Skill—Life Entanglement! Second Soul Skill—Life Suppression!"
He activated both Soul Skills simultaneously, transforming Life Force into overwhelming binding and suppressive force. Blue silver grass filled the air, instantly wrapping around the incoming rocks and Soul Power attacks. In a mere instant, it dismantled every attack!
The heavy rocks crumbled directly into powder beneath the binding Life Blue Silver Grass. Lin Chen had effortlessly neutralized a Soul Ancestor's powerful Soul Skills!
"How is this possible?!" Zhao Kun's eyes nearly split with fury, disbelief covering his face.
A Soul Grandmaster had blocked his all-out attack with such ease. It completely overturned everything he knew about Soul Master cultivation!
Without giving Zhao Kun a chance to react, Lin Chen flashed forward and took the offensive!
He drove his Life Domain at full strength, increasing its suppression once more. Zhao Kun and his companions felt their bodies grow even heavier, their movements turning sluggish.
Countless strands of Life Blue Silver Grass moved with incredible agility, as though they had come alive. They instantly coiled around the two Spirit Hall Soul Grandmasters, binding them tightly in a single exchange. The force of Life Suppression descended, and both men collapsed to the ground. Their Soul Power was completely sealed, leaving them unable even to scream. They lost all ability to fight in an instant!
With the small fry dealt with, Lin Chen fixed his gaze on Zhao Kun, his eyes as cold as blades. "You trespassed into the Azure Mist Secret Realm and harmed people from my academy. Today, I'll make you pay!"
"Arrogant brat!" Shocked and furious, Zhao Kun threw all his Soul Power into breaking free of the domain's suppression, desperate to launch a final counterattack. "I'm a Soul Ancestor! A Soul Grandmaster like you can forget about killing me!"
He summoned all his Soul Power to unleash a retaliatory Soul Skill, but under the Life Domain's suppression, his power circulated agonizingly slowly. His Soul Skill had barely begun to form before Lin Chen's blue silver grass interrupted it completely.
"Before me, even a Soul Ancestor amounts to nothing."
Lin Chen spoke mildly, yet his words carried unquestionable dominance. He focused power at his fingertips, and Life Blue Silver Grass instantly wrapped around Zhao Kun's limbs and tightened viciously. The full suppressive force of his five-thousand-year Soul Skill poured onto Zhao Kun!
Bang!
Zhao Kun's massive body slammed into the ground, his bones cracking. His Soul Power dispersed completely, and his Martial Soul was forcibly driven back into his body. Unable to resist any longer, he could only lie there coughing up mouthfuls of blood, his eyes filled with despair and terror.
He finally understood that he was not facing an ordinary genius Soul Grandmaster, but a heaven-defying monster!
Differences in cultivation and Soul Ring rank meant absolutely nothing before Lin Chen!
Lin Chen slowly walked up to Zhao Kun, his gaze icy and utterly merciless. "Tell me. What exactly did Spirit Hall send you into the Azure Mist Secret Realm for? Are there others besides you?"
Zhao Kun coughed up blood but remained defiant. "You won't get a single piece of information out of me. Spirit Hall won't let you get away with this!"
Lin Chen's eyes turned cold. Life Soul Power instantly poured into Zhao Kun's body and churned through his meridians. Agony made Zhao Kun convulse and scream repeatedly.
"I don't have the patience to waste words on you. If you won't talk, I'll cripple your Martial Soul and leave you a broken man for the rest of your life!"
A Martial Soul was a Soul Master's foundation. Having it crippled inspired a hatred deeper even than the murder of one's father!
Zhao Kun's courage shattered completely. No longer daring to hold out, he hurriedly spoke. "I'll talk! I'll talk! Our superiors sent us here first to search for opportunities involving life energy in the Azure Mist Secret Realm, and second to investigate you. They heard you possessed heaven-defying Soul Rings, and the Hall Master ordered us to bring you back to Spirit Hall! Besides us, another team is guarding the Secret Realm's perimeter, ready to assist us at any moment!"
Lin Chen understood. Just as he had suspected, Spirit Hall was not merely targeting the Secret Realm's opportunities. It was also after an extraordinary genius like him.
Spirit Hall had never tolerated geniuses beyond its control. It either brought them into its fold or erased them, using ruthlessly vicious methods.
"How many forces does Spirit Hall have stationed in the surrounding cities? Do you know Tang San's whereabouts?" Lin Chen pressed in a low voice. What concerned him most was still his fated entanglement with Tang San, along with Spirit Hall's overall deployment.
Zhao Kun froze, evidently unfamiliar with Tang San's name, and hurriedly shook his head. "I don't know any Tang San. We're only peripheral deacons, responsible solely for this Secret Realm mission!"
Seeing that he did not appear to be lying, Lin Chen asked no further questions. With a movement of Soul Power at his fingertips, he crippled Zhao Kun's Martial Soul, severing his cultivation completely.
He would never show softhearted mercy to Spirit Hall's people. Sparing Zhao Kun's life today was already the limit.
After dealing with the Spirit Hall members, Lin Chen turned and hurried back to the spirit pool. The coldness instantly left his face, replaced by a gentle expression.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi hurried to meet him. Seeing that he was unharmed, they finally let their anxious hearts settle.
"Lin Chen, are you all right?" Su Qingyuan reached out to touch his arm, her eyes filled with worry.
"I'm fine. Just a few clowns prancing about—nothing to fear." Lin Chen smiled and took her hand, speaking gently. "Qingyuan, the time is right. Enter the spirit pool now and absorb the thousand-year Pure Lotus Soul Beast's Soul Ring. Xi'er and I will stand guard for you."
Su Qingyuan nodded and drew a deep breath, her eyes becoming resolute.
She knew this was the crucial step toward becoming a Soul Master, and her first step toward catching up with Lin Chen.
Under Lin Chen's guidance, Su Qingyuan slowly entered the spirit pool and approached the thousand-year Pure Lotus Soul Beast.
Lin Chen summoned his Life Soul Power and gently soothed the Pure Lotus Soul Beast, bringing it into a peaceful state. Then he acted, gently ending its life. A pale purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring slowly rose and hovered above Su Qingyuan's head.
"Calm your mind, circulate your Soul Power, and guide the Soul Ring's energy into your body. I'll use my Life Soul Power to stabilize your foundation and neutralize the Soul Ring's impact. Absorb it without fear. With me here, you won't be in any danger."
Lin Chen's voice was like a soothing pill, putting Su Qingyuan completely at ease. She closed her eyes, circulated the Soul Power within her at full strength, and began absorbing the Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
Yue Huaxi stood guard at one side of the spirit pool, vigilantly watching their surroundings to prevent any more enemies from entering and keep Su Qingyuan safe.
Lin Chen stood beside the spirit pool with his Life Domain continuously active. An unending stream of gentle Life Force flowed into the pool and enveloped Su Qingyuan, helping her channel the Soul Ring's power and stabilize her meridians to ensure the absorption proceeded without a single mishap.
The Thousand-Year Soul Ring's power was vast yet gentle, perfectly compatible with Su Qingyuan's Pure Lotus Martial Soul. With Lin Chen's help, the absorption went exceptionally smoothly.
The pale purple Soul Ring's radiance gradually faded as it merged into Su Qingyuan's body bit by bit. A pure white lotus halo rose around her, her Pure Lotus Martial Soul grew increasingly brilliant, and her aura strengthened rapidly.
A short while later, Su Qingyuan slowly opened her eyes, a glimmer of pure white spiritual light flashing within them. Her Soul Ring lit up, and a purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring circled steadily around her. She had successfully advanced from a level-ten Soul Scholar to a level-eleven Soul Master!
Her first Soul Skill—Azure Lotus Protection—awakened as well!
She had succeeded!
As a Soul Scholar, she had absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, breaking convention and ascending to the heavens in a single step!
Su Qingyuan stepped out of the spirit pool and threw herself into Lin Chen's arms, her eyes brimming with excitement and joy. "Lin Chen, I did it! I'm a Soul Master!"
Lin Chen gently embraced her, his eyes filled with tenderness. "I knew you could do it."
Watching them, Yue Huaxi's lips also curved into a faint smile. She was sincerely happy for Su Qingyuan.
Lin Chen raised his head and looked toward the world beyond the Secret Realm, his gaze growing deep.
He had effortlessly thwarted Spirit Hall's first probe, but this was only the beginning. Spirit Hall would never let the matter rest, and the dangers ahead would only multiply.
At the same time, he could sense a familiar Soul Power aura quietly rising in the distance. It was Tang San's aura, and the distance between them was steadily shrinking.
They had already secured the opportunity on the Secret Realm's second level, and Su Qingyuan had successfully absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. It was time to leave the Secret Realm, return to the academy, and make preparations for the coming wind and rain.
"Let's go. Back to the academy!"
Before you continue