The crisis beside the spirit pool had finally subsided, and the second level of the Secret Realm returned to its former tranquility. Only the rubble scattered across the ground and the Spirit Hall members stripped of their soul power bore witness to the heart-stopping battle that had just taken place.
Su Qingyuan successfully absorbed the Thousand-Year Pure Lotus Soul Ring. The pristine white lotus halo around her slowly receded, leaving the steady, pure aura of a level-eleven Soul Master. The purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring above her head shone brilliantly—an utterly heaven-defying start unmatched among Qinglan Academy's new students.
She stood beside Lin Chen, her delight impossible to conceal. Her formerly gentle demeanor now carried the vitality and resilience unique to a Soul Master. Her first soul skill, Azure Lotus Protection, had fully stabilized. Not only could it form a lotus shield to defend against attacks, but it also contained a faint trace of Life Force that could heal minor injuries, complementing Lin Chen's Life Soul Power perfectly.
Yue Huaxi had kept watch beside them throughout. Her tense expression finally relaxed, and a faint smile crossed her cool features. Her gaze toward Su Qingyuan was full of well wishes; when she turned to Lin Chen, the admiration and trust in her eyes deepened further. He could clash head-on with a Soul Ancestor despite being only a Soul Grandmaster, and still protect both women with ease. Such a Lin Chen had long since become her firmest pillar of support.
Lin Chen surveyed their surroundings. After confirming that the Spirit Hall members could no longer resist and that no other soul power fluctuations remained deep in the Secret Realm, he took both beauties by the hand and headed toward the exit.
"Spirit Hall infiltrating the Secret Realm is no small matter. We must inform the dean and the academy's senior staff as soon as possible so they can prepare." Lin Chen spoke gravely, unconsciously quickening his pace.
Though Qinglan Academy had deep foundations, its remote location and overall strength left it far inferior to Spirit Hall. If Spirit Hall attacked in force, even True Person Qinglan's presence might not prevent a crisis. Worse still, Spirit Hall had already set its sights on Lin Chen, and its next operation would surely be more carefully planned.
The three swiftly retraced their steps, encountering no more soul beasts along the way. In less than an hour, they passed through the portal of light on the Secret Realm's second level and returned to the Life Spirit Valley.
The moment they emerged, Instructor Qinghe, who had been waiting outside the portal, hurried over with worry and urgency in her eyes. Ever since the three had entered the secret realm, she had been unable to rest easy and had remained there, afraid they might meet with disaster.
"Lin Chen, you're finally out. Nothing went wrong on the second level, did it?" Instructor Qinghe looked the three of them up and down. Only after seeing that they were uninjured did she breathe a sigh of relief. Then she noticed the purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring above Su Qingyuan's head. Her eyes widened in shock. "Qingyuan... you successfully absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring?!"
A Soul Scholar absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring—such a heaven-defying feat had never been recorded even in Qinglan Academy's several-thousand-year history! Su Qingyuan had broken the academy's record, becoming its first-ever student to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as a Soul Scholar!
Lin Chen nodded slightly. His tone was grave, without the slightest joy, as he went straight to the point. "Instructor, something serious did happen inside the Secret Realm. We encountered Spirit Hall members in its depths. Their leader was a level-thirty-eight Soul Ancestor deacon, accompanied by two Soul Grandmasters. They came for the opportunities in the Secret Realm and for me. They also have people waiting to support them on the outskirts."
Spirit Hall!
The name exploded like thunder in Instructor Qinghe's ears. Her expression changed sharply, her delight instantly replaced by solemn concern.
As one of Qinglan Academy's core instructors, she naturally knew of Spirit Hall's wolfish ambitions. Over the years, its forces had continued to expand, swallowing smaller factions across the continent and plundering opportunities involving soul beasts. Such acts had long become commonplace, but she had never expected it to reach its hand into the Azure Mist Secret Realm!
"This is a matter of utmost importance. We must report it to the dean immediately!" Instructor Qinghe's expression turned stern. Not daring to delay, she hurried toward the Azure Cloud Hall, where the academy's senior staff resided, with Lin Chen and the two women.
Along the way, the Thousand-Year Soul Ring above Su Qingyuan's head was especially striking. Students cultivating nearby stopped to stare, and voices rose one after another.
"Look! It's Su Qingyuan! She's become a Soul Master, and she even has a purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring!"
"Heavens! A Soul Scholar absorbing a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? That's far too heaven-defying! She's a monster just like Lin Chen!"
"As expected of Qinglan's three prodigies. Every one of them is incredible! The whole academy will be in an uproar now!"
Exclamations rang out endlessly, but Lin Chen and the two women had no attention to spare for them. Their minds were occupied entirely by the crisis of Spirit Hall's infiltration.
A short while later, inside the Azure Cloud Hall.
True Person Qinglan sat in the seat of honor, with the academy's senior staff arrayed on either side. After hearing Instructor Qinghe's report and examining the black token Lin Chen presented, which he had found on Spirit Hall Deacon Zhao Kun, the atmosphere in the hall instantly turned ice-cold.
"Spirit Hall has some nerve! They dared trespass into our Azure Mist Secret Realm and ambush our students! They simply have no regard for Qinglan Academy!" A hot-tempered elder slammed the table and sprang to his feet, soul power surging around him, his face blazing with anger.
The other senior staff members also wore grave expressions, their brows tightly furrowed.
Qinglan Academy had always stayed apart from worldly strife, devoting itself to cultivation. But Spirit Hall's intrusion had shattered that peace. If they failed to prepare in advance, even greater trouble would surely follow.
True Person Qinglan gripped the Spirit Hall token, his knuckles paling slightly. A sharp, cold gleam flashed through his clouded eyes as he spoke slowly. "Spirit Hall's ambitions are boundless. It has long coveted the opportunities in Secret Realms across the continent. Sending peripheral members to infiltrate ours was merely a probe. Greater moves will surely follow. Lin Chen, thanks to your timely intervention, you resolved this crisis and protected both the Secret Realm and our students. You have rendered a great service."
Lin Chen bowed slightly and replied humbly, "You flatter me, Dean. Protecting the academy is my duty. But Spirit Hall is coming at us with fierce momentum. We must prepare for battle in advance in case they attack again."
"You are right." True Person Qinglan nodded, his eyes full of approval. Despite his youth, Lin Chen possessed not only heaven-defying strength, but also meticulous judgment and composure far beyond his peers. "Starting today, the first level of the Secret Realm will be temporarily closed, and additional academy guards will be stationed there. No student may enter the depths of the Secret Realm without permission. At the same time, all instructors must strengthen the students' practical combat training and improve our overall strength, so we can respond to unexpected situations at any moment."
True Person Qinglan issued order after order with calm precision. The senior staff accepted their instructions, and the atmosphere in the hall grew tense and solemn.
Then True Person Qinglan turned to Lin Chen, his gaze gentler still. "You not only took first place in the Cross-Level Challenge Tournament, but also resolved the Spirit Hall crisis and protected the Secret Realm. The academy will reward you again. The second level of the Secret Realm will remain permanently open to you. You may bring Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi there to cultivate whenever you wish. In addition, you will receive three stalks of five-thousand-year Life Spirit Grass to help advance your cultivation."
At those words, the senior staff beside him all looked astonished, yet not one objected.
Five-thousand-year Life Spirit Grass was among the academy's finest resources. Even Core Disciples rarely received any, but Lin Chen's accomplishments fully merited such a reward.
Delight stirred in Lin Chen's heart, and he immediately bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Dean!"
With these premium resources, his cultivation would surely make another breakthrough. He was only one step away from becoming a level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster. He could even further temper his Life Soul Power and strengthen his Life Domain's suppressive force, giving him greater confidence when facing stronger enemies from Spirit Hall.
Once the discussion ended, Lin Chen and the two women withdrew from the Azure Cloud Hall.
Outside the hall, sunlight spilled over them. Still unable to contain her excitement, Su Qingyuan held Lin Chen's hand and said softly, "Lin Chen, thanks to you, I not only became a Soul Master, but the academy also learned of Spirit Hall's plot in time to prepare."
"We're companions. Protecting one another is only natural." Lin Chen smiled and rubbed her hair, then turned to Yue Huaxi. "Xi'er, you're only one step away from becoming a Soul Grandmaster too. Next, we'll enter secluded cultivation in the Life Spirit Valley. I'll use the spirit grass the academy rewarded me with to help you break through. Once our strength advances further, we won't have to fear Spirit Hall even if they return."
Yue Huaxi nodded gently, anticipation flashing through her cool eyes. She, too, wanted to grow stronger as soon as possible, so she could truly stand beside Lin Chen rather than always remain under his protection.
The three then headed straight into the depths of the Life Spirit Valley. Finding a secluded spot where spiritual energy was richest, they began their secluded cultivation.
Lin Chen first took out a stalk of five-thousand-year Life Spirit Grass. Activating his Life Soul Power, he drew out the pure Life Force within it, divided it into two portions, and channeled them into Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi.
Vast Life Spiritual Energy poured into both women, flowing slowly through their meridians and nourishing their martial souls and foundations. Having just absorbed a Thousand-Year Soul Ring, Su Qingyuan rapidly stabilized her cultivation and broke straight through to level twelve. Yue Huaxi's soul power surged, and her previously stalled cultivation finally loosened, bringing her ever closer to the threshold of Soul Grandmaster.
Lin Chen himself swallowed the remaining spirit grass and devoted himself completely to cultivation.
He circulated the Life Soul Power Cultivation Manual and the Azure Mist Life Art simultaneously, drawing immense quantities of Life Spiritual Energy into his body at a furious rate. It transformed into dense Life Soul Power, continuously washing through his meridians and dantian. Nourished by the unceasing supply from the spirit grass, the barrier holding his cultivation at level twenty-one began to loosen.
His Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul slowly unfurled within him. The power of his five-thousand-year second soul ring was fully refined, while his Life Domain quietly expanded and its suppressive force grew stronger. Tempered by Life Force, his physical strength rose once more. Even without using soul skills, ordinary Soul Elders' attacks would struggle to harm him in the slightest.
Time flew during secluded cultivation.
Before they knew it, three days had passed in a flash.
Within the Life Spirit Valley, Lin Chen's soul power aura suddenly surged. Pale green light swept around him, and the already loosened cultivation barrier shattered in an instant!
Level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster!
He had broken through!
His soul power was several times denser than before, his Life Soul Power purer still, and his control over his Life Domain had become even more effortless.
At the same time, Yue Huaxi's soul power fluctuations reached their peak. Pale silver light blossomed, and the barrier between Soul Master and Soul Grandmaster shattered with a crash. She successfully broke through to level-twenty-one Soul Grandmaster. Her Moonlight Spirit Grass Martial Soul grew ever more radiant, and her second soul ring was quietly taking shape.
Su Qingyuan's cultivation also stabilized at level-thirteen Soul Master. Her Azure Lotus Martial Soul matured further, and she became increasingly proficient in using her soul skill.
In just three short days, all three had achieved a qualitative leap in strength!
Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes, a keen gleam flashing in their depths. His aura was steady and powerful. Feeling the surging soul power within him, he knew that even against a level-forty Soul Ancestor, he now had the strength to fight!
Just then, Instructor Qinghe's voice came again from outside the valley, carrying a note of urgency. "Lin Chen, something terrible has happened! News has come that Spirit Hall members are gathering around Qinglan Mountain. They seem to be preparing to attack our academy. The dean wants you in the Azure Cloud Hall immediately to discuss the situation!"
Lin Chen's gaze abruptly turned cold, and killing intent quietly spread around him.
What was bound to come had come at last.
Spirit Hall's second operation had arrived sooner than expected. A crisis surrounding Qinglan Academy had already descended in silence.
Lin Chen rose and took Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi by the hand, his gaze resolute. "Come. Let's go meet these Spirit Hall people. This time, we'll take the fight to them!"
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