Instructor Qinghe's urgent voice shattered the tranquility of Life Spirit Valley and instantly put the three, who had just advanced in cultivation, on a war footing.
The Life Soul Power Lin Chen had just withdrawn stirred faintly around him, and a cold gleam flashed in his eyes. Spirit Hall truly had no patience. After its failed probe into the Secret Realm, it had openly assembled outside Qinglan Mountain, clearly intending to pressure the academy—or even storm it by force, seize the Secret Realm's opportunities, and capture him.
"So you're finally willing to show yourselves."
Lin Chen's tone was calm, yet carried an inviolable authority. Having just reached level twenty-two as a Soul Grandmaster, his strength had surged. He had been worrying about finding a suitable opponent to test his combat power, and Spirit Hall had delivered itself to his doorstep. This was the perfect chance to kill a chicken to warn the monkeys and show them that Qinglan Academy was no soft persimmon they could squeeze at will.
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi exchanged a glance. Soul power stirred around both women, their auras steady and resolute.
Su Qingyuan was a level-thirteen Soul Master. A purple Thousand-Year Soul Ring shone above her head, and her Azure Lotus Martial Soul quietly bloomed, its pure white halo enveloping a gentle current of Life Force. Yue Huaxi had just become a level-twenty-one Soul Grandmaster. Two yellow Soul Rings circled her, her Moonlight Spirit Grass Martial Soul glimmered silver, and her cool soul power stood ready to unleash.
They were no longer weaklings who could only hide behind Lin Chen's protection. Now they could fight beside him, and they would never hold him back again.
"Lead the way. We're going to Azure Cloud Hall," Lin Chen said gravely. Holding both women's hands, he followed Instructor Qinghe with steady strides, hurrying toward Azure Cloud Hall.
Along the way, the atmosphere within the academy had utterly changed.
The instructors wore grave expressions as they rushed about coordinating preparations. The students had put aside their usual joking, every face solemn, while the Core Disciples had assembled and awaited orders. All of Qinglan Academy was shrouded in the tension of impending battle; even the air seemed thick with gunpowder.
By the time they reached Azure Cloud Hall, the academy's senior staff had filled the hall. True Person Qinglan sat in the principal seat, expression stern, tightly gripping the Spirit Hall token. A formidable Soul Saint aura faintly radiated outward, weighing heavily upon the entire hall.
"Lin Chen, you're here." True Person Qinglan looked up at him with a trace of expectation. "According to reports from our guards, Spirit Hall has assembled a seven-person squad outside Qinglan Mountain's gate. Their leader is a level-forty-two Soul Ancestor, accompanied by two Soul Elders above level thirty. The rest are all Soul Grandmasters. They claim that unless we hand over you and control of the Secret Realm, they'll breach our gate by force and wash Qinglan Academy in blood."
At those words, every senior staff member in the hall turned livid.
Spirit Hall was far too arrogant!
Qinglan Academy might not be among the continent's greatest powers, but its legacy stretched back a thousand years. How could they breach it simply because they said they would? Yet the enemy's lineup was formidable. Aside from True Person Qinglan, a Soul Saint, the academy had only two Soul Ancestor instructors. A head-on clash would inevitably exact a terrible price.
Lin Chen stepped forward and bowed before declaring firmly, "Headmaster, there's no need to be angry. They're nothing but a ragtag mob from Spirit Hall. You and the instructors needn't trouble yourselves with them. I'm willing to take Qingyuan and Xi'er to the gate and drive every last one of them back!"
The entire hall fell deathly silent!
Everyone stared at Lin Chen in disbelief. One senior staff member could not help speaking up. "Lin Chen, your talent may defy the heavens, but they have a level-forty-two Soul Ancestor and two Soul Elders! You're only a level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster. Even fighting those three alone would be difficult, let alone their entire seven-person squad. This is far too dangerous!"
"Exactly! You mustn't act rashly. Leave this to us old folk!"
Everyone tried to dissuade him, convinced that Lin Chen was underestimating the enemy. The gulf between a Soul Grandmaster and a Soul Ancestor remained a heavenly chasm, and these opponents were a fully assembled elite Spirit Hall squad.
True Person Qinglan also frowned slightly and was about to urge caution, only to meet Lin Chen's unwavering, confident gaze.
Looking at the youth who had created miracle after miracle—from crushing Soul Elders above his level, to defeating a Soul Ancestor deacon, to reaching level twenty-two in just three days—that concern gradually gave way to trust.
"Are you completely certain?" True Person Qinglan asked gravely.
"Completely." Lin Chen answered without hesitation, his tone as decisive as a blade striking iron. "Before absolute strength, numerical superiority means nothing. Spirit Hall came here to establish its authority. Then I'll send them back with their feathers shorn and put an end to their designs on Qinglan Academy!"
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi also stepped forward and said in unison, "We're willing to fight alongside Lin Chen!"
Seeing their resolve, True Person Qinglan remained silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Very well! I'll place my trust in you this once! The academy guards will support you from behind the gate. Remember, if you encounter danger, retreat immediately. I'll intervene at once!"
"Thank you, Headmaster!"
Lin Chen bowed in thanks. Without another word, he turned and led Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi out of Azure Cloud Hall, racing toward Qinglan Academy's mountain gate.
Before long, the three reached the gate.
The heavy bluestone gate stood shut, with the arrogant jeers of Spirit Hall's members coming from outside. Lin Chen raised a hand in signal, and the guards slowly opened it. Sunlight poured in, illuminating the scene beyond.
Seven Soul Masters dressed in black Spirit Hall uniforms stood in formation before the gate. Their leader was a tall, burly man with a vicious face. Four Soul Rings—two yellow, one purple, and one black—circled him as he unleashed his level-forty-two Soul Ancestor aura without restraint, sweeping the area with crushing pressure.
The two Soul Elders beside him were both above level thirty-five, their three Soul Rings radiating powerful auras. The remaining four Soul Grandmasters also had vicious eyes, brimming with unbridled arrogance.
"Oh? Has Qinglan Academy run out of people? Sending three little children out to fight us—what a joke!" The burly Spirit Hall Soul Ancestor sneered, sweeping a contemptuous gaze over the three.
The other Spirit Hall Soul Masters burst into laughter as well, mocking them mercilessly.
"A level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster, a Soul Master barely above level ten, and a newly advanced Soul Grandmaster actually dare to face us? You're courting death!"
"Hand over Lin Chen and open the Secret Realm's entrance right now, or we'll flatten Qinglan Academy today!"
At their taunts, Su Qingyuan's and Yue Huaxi's lovely faces chilled. Their soul power stirred silently, ready to strike at any moment.
Lin Chen stepped forward to stand alone at the front. His expression remained calm as he regarded the burly Soul Ancestor with an indifferent gaze. His icy voice cut through every taunt. "I am Lin Chen. The Secret Realm belongs to Qinglan Academy. Spirit Hall has no right to lay a finger on it."
"You're Lin Chen?" A trace of greed flashed through the burly man's eyes as he sized him up. "I heard you crippled that useless Zhao Kun despite being just a Soul Grandmaster. Seems you do have some talent. Unfortunately, you should never have offended Spirit Hall. Today, I'll cripple you and bring you back to await His Highness's judgment!"
As his words fell, the burly man's soul power surged and his Soul Ancestor aura climbed again. He barked, "Attack! Capture these three brats! Cripple the boy and bring the girls back to Spirit Hall!"
The two Soul Elders and four Soul Grandmasters immediately activated their martial souls. All their Soul Rings lit up as they lunged at the three, assorted Soul Skills flashing fiercely. They intended to use their numerical advantage to crush them in an instant!
"Qingyuan, protect yourself with Azure Lotus Guard. Xi'er, pin down the Soul Grandmasters on the left. Leave the rest to me."
Lin Chen spoke lightly, as though he faced not seven powerful enemies, but a handful of ants.
Before his words had faded, his pale green Life Domain erupted outward, instantly enveloping every Spirit Hall member within its ten-meter range!
[Life Domain triggered: enemy soul power suppressed by 35%, martial soul activity weakened by 30%!]
Overwhelming suppression instantly descended upon all seven Spirit Hall members. Their once-surging soul power abruptly stagnated, their martial souls wilted, and the momentum of their charge dropped by half. Even their movements slowed!
"What the hell is this? Why won't my soul power obey me?"
"What powerful suppression! What kind of ability is this?"
Their expressions changed drastically. They cried out, their faces filled with horror.
Before they could react, two deep green Soul Rings rose from beneath Lin Chen's feet. The thirty-eight-hundred-year and five-thousand-year rings blazed brilliantly. Their ages, far beyond conventional limits, instantly overwhelmed the Soul Rings of every Spirit Hall Soul Master present, making even their martial souls tremble!
"First Soul Skill—Life Entanglement!"
Countless massive stalks of Life Blue Silver Grass burst wildly from the ground like enraged green dragons. Moving with incredible speed, they instantly sealed every escape route and lashed toward the Spirit Hall Soul Masters!
The four Spirit Hall Soul Grandmasters charging at the front had not even finished unleashing their Soul Skills before the Blue Silver Grass bound them tight. Their soul power was instantly sealed, and they collapsed to the ground without even a chance to struggle, completely incapable of fighting!
It all happened so fast that the eye could barely follow!
The two Spirit Hall Soul Elders' pupils contracted sharply. Utter terror rose within them as they hastily activated their third Soul Skills to resist. But under the suppression of the Life Domain, their Soul Skills were greatly weakened, leaving them unable to break free of the Blue Silver Grass!
"Second Soul Skill—Life Suppression!"
Lin Chen's gaze was icy. His five-thousand-year Soul Ring blazed, and vast Life Force transformed into the invisible crushing weight of a mountain, slamming down upon the two Soul Elders!
Bang! Bang!
With two dull impacts, the Soul Elders above level thirty were forced directly to their knees. They spat blood, their martial souls driven back into their bodies, and completely lost the ability to fight!
In just three breaths, all six of Spirit Hall's subordinates had been defeated in an instant!
Deathly silence enveloped the mountain gate. Even the wind seemed to have stopped.
The remaining level-forty-two Soul Ancestor froze on the spot. The arrogance and contempt vanished from his face, leaving only sheer terror and disbelief.
Staring at the unruffled youth before him, he could not stop trembling. A level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster had effortlessly defeated six Soul Masters in an instant, including two Soul Elders!
This was no genius. This was a monster!
"You... what kind of monster are you?" The burly man's voice trembled, stripped of all its former arrogance. He turned to flee.
Before Lin Chen, he no longer even had the courage to fight!
"Trying to run now? Too late."
A cold curve lifted Lin Chen's lips. His figure flashed, and he appeared behind the burly man in an instant. Blue Silver Grass shot out like lightning, binding his legs tight. The power of Life Suppression erupted at full force, slamming him into the ground!
A level-forty-two Soul Ancestor could not even fight back in front of Lin Chen!
"Spirit Hall has repeatedly trespassed against Qinglan Academy and provoked me. Today, I'll teach you a lesson!"
Lin Chen's gaze sharpened. His Life Soul Power surged, directly crippling the burly Soul Ancestor's martial soul and reducing him to a powerless wreck. Then he sent the man flying with a kick and shouted coldly, "Go back and tell Spirit Hall's leaders that Qinglan Academy is not yours to provoke! If you dare invade again, I'll make certain none of you return!"
Covered in blood and clutching his ruined martial soul, the burly man scrambled away with his subordinates, fleeing Qinglan Mountain in panic without daring to look back.
Peace returned to the mountain gate.
Lin Chen withdrew his Blue Silver Grass, his aura slowly subsiding, as though he had merely done something utterly insignificant.
Behind him, Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi hurried forward, gazing at him with adoring eyes, their hearts filled with pride.
Behind the gate, the academy guards and the instructors who had rushed over all stood dumbstruck, utterly won over by Lin Chen's strength!
A level-twenty-two Soul Grandmaster had instantly defeated six Soul Masters and crushed a level-forty-two Soul Ancestor. Such a feat shook the ages and dazzled the present!
The news spread throughout Qinglan Academy in an instant, sending every teacher and student into an uproar. Once again, Lin Chen's name was raised to the altar, and he became Qinglan Academy's undisputed greatest genius!
Lin Chen stood before the mountain gate, looking in the direction the Spirit Hall members had fled, his gaze deep.
Crippling one Spirit Hall squad had only quelled the crisis temporarily. After suffering such a great loss, Spirit Hall would certainly not let the matter rest. It would inevitably send stronger experts next.
At the same time, he could clearly sense Tang San's distant soul power growing ever stronger. Evidently, Tang San's cultivation at Shrek Academy was sailing smoothly with the wind. The day when they would meet face-to-face drew ever closer.
The two female leads stood beside him, reaching out to hold his hands and conveying their warmth and resolve.
Lin Chen turned toward them, a gentle smile lifting his lips, even as his fighting spirit burned ever fiercer.
"Spirit Hall, Tang San—all my enemies. I'll defeat every last one."
"Next, we'll keep growing stronger. Once I break through to Soul Elder, we'll leave Qinglan Academy and step onto the continent's stage!"
The wind swept across Qinglan Mountain, carrying the youth's lofty ambitions through the mountain forests. Lin Chen's legend was about to spread beyond Qinglan Academy into the far vaster Douluo Continent!
Before you continue