All of Spirit Hall's ambushers were hauled away, and the chaos in the arena finally subsided. Yet Lin Chen's feat of sweeping aside a level forty-five Soul Ancestor from Spirit Hall as a mere Soul Elder had already become a thunderclap that shook every corner of the Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy.
The sun sank in the west, its lingering glow spilling over the vast arena. Many students still lingered, gazing fervently in the direction Lin Chen had left and repeatedly discussing the battle that had just shaken them to their cores.
A level thirty-one Soul Elder, three green Soul Rings of heaven-defying ages, an overwhelmingly powerful life domain, the effortless defeat of Spirit Hall's elites... These distinctions had propelled Lin Chen to the pinnacle of Heaven Dou City's young Soul Masters, making him someone no one dared provoke lightly.
Holding Su Qingyuan's and Yue Huaxi's hands, Lin Chen slowly left the arena with Li Ran accompanying them and headed toward the Core Cultivation Courtyard.
The Soul Power from his recent breakthrough to Soul Elder still flowed gently throughout his body. The five-thousand-year Life Spirit Deer Soul Ring meshed perfectly with his Martial Soul, and pure Life Soul Power circulated through his meridians. Each cycle further strengthened his cultivation and made his command of the Soul Elder realm more practiced.
"Lin Chen, you're the academy's man of the hour now. The dean and His Highness the Crown Prince were full of praise for you. They even said they wanted to reward you personally," Li Ran said as they walked, his voice brimming with admiration. The academy's former geniuses all paled beside Lin Chen.
Lin Chen nodded lightly, unconcerned with such empty prestige. "There's no need for a reward. I only want the top-tier cultivation resources the academy promised, along with unrestricted access to the Soul Beast Forest behind the mountain."
To him, strength was the foundation on which he stood. His most urgent task was to fully stabilize his Soul Elder cultivation, further refine his Soul Skills, and uncover the potential of his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul so he could face the retaliation Spirit Hall was certain to launch.
"Of course. You're this year's Elite Tournament champion and a Core Disciple promoted under exceptional circumstances. Those resources have long been prepared for you," Li Ran promptly replied. "The dean specifically ordered that the Heaven-Rank Training Room be opened to you, along with the Soul Skill manuals on the Scripture Repository's third floor and the Spirit Herb Garden's finest life-aligned immortal herbs. You can use them all as you please."
The Heaven-Rank Training Room was the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's highest-grade cultivation facility, and the entire academy had only three. Its internal Soul Gathering Formation was several times more powerful than those in ordinary training rooms, and its spiritual energy was so dense it seemed impossible to disperse. Cultivating there allowed one to advance a thousand miles in a day; even members of the imperial family might not qualify to use it.
Upon returning to the Core Cultivation Courtyard, Lin Chen had Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi cultivate on their own in the courtyard, while he turned and entered his exclusive Heaven-Rank Training Room.
Jade paved the training room's floor, and a small Soul Gathering Formation shimmered with spiritual light at its center. The Life Spiritual Energy in the air was almost tangible, seeping into his body in fine threads and leaving his mind clear and serene.
Lin Chen sat cross-legged at the center of the Soul Gathering Formation, closed his eyes, and focused. Casting aside all stray thoughts, he activated his Life Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and circulated his Soul Power at full strength.
Three deep-green Soul Rings hovered around him, rotating slowly. The five-thousand-year Life Spirit Deer Soul Ring continuously released gentle, rich Life Soul Power that fused completely with his own, repairing the minute damage his meridians had sustained during the fierce battle while steadily expanding the sea of Soul Power within his dantian.
The divide between Soul Grandmaster and Soul Elder was a crucial watershed on a Soul Master's path.
After the breakthrough, not only had his reserves of Soul Power increased dramatically, but the power of his Soul Skills, the strength of his domain, and the toughness of his body had all undergone a qualitative leap. Lin Chen could clearly sense that, even without relying on his domain, his Soul Power and Soul Skills alone were now enough to easily crush Soul Ancestors below level forty. With his Life Domain activated, he was certain of victory even against Soul Ancestors above level forty-five.
Time trickled past, and night enveloped Heaven Dou City. Inside the training room, the green light surrounding Lin Chen grew increasingly subdued. His previously restless Soul Power settled completely, and his level thirty-one Soul Elder cultivation was fully stabilized!
He slowly opened his eyes, a sharp gleam flashing through them before fading. His aura was steady and profound; he had fully adapted to the power of the Soul Elder realm.
With a wave of his hand, pale-green Soul Power gathered into shape, nimble yet domineering. His control over his third Soul Skill, Life Prison Cage, had grown even more practiced, while the range of his Life Domain expanded once more and its suppressive effect rose to another level.
While Lin Chen stabilized his cultivation, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe sat opposite the academy's dean in the Guest Hall deep within the academy.
"Dean, do you think Lin Chen can be won over to serve the imperial family?" Xue Qinghe asked, holding a feather fan. His voice was gentle, but his gaze carried a deeper meaning.
The talent and combat prowess Lin Chen had displayed were far too heaven-defying. If he could be brought into the imperial family's service, he would undoubtedly bolster their strength enormously and counterbalance Spirit Hall's influence in Heaven Dou City.
The dean stroked his beard and pondered for a moment. "This young man is resolute, exceptionally powerful, and has a mind of his own. He won't be easily won over. But he and Spirit Hall are as incompatible as fire and water. The imperial family has no conflict of interest with him. We can instead befriend him and face Spirit Hall's threat together in the future."
Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, a faint smile curving his lips. "In that case, we'll treat him with courtesy and devote the academy's resources to helping him grow. One day, he will surely become a powerful ally to the imperial family."
The two exchanged a glance, plans already taking shape in their minds.
Meanwhile, in the academy's ordinary student dormitory, the atmosphere was unbearably oppressive.
Tang San sat alone by the window. The cold moonlight outside illuminated his deeply sullen face.
From Lin Chen's entrance to his relentless domination of Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors, then his breakthrough to Soul Elder in a desperate situation and his sweeping defeat of Spirit Hall's ambushers, every scene stabbed deep into Tang San.
He possessed twin Martial Souls and the Tang Sect Secret Arts, and considered himself a heaven-sent genius. Yet before Lin Chen, he remained utterly suppressed, without even the slightest chance of catching up. The stark disparity and fierce jealousy drove his obsession ever closer to madness.
"Lin Chen, I won't keep losing to you..."
Tang San murmured under his breath. Soul Power quietly circulated around him, and a phantom of the Clear Sky Hammer silently appeared in his left hand. His gaze became utterly resolute as he swore to surpass Lin Chen at any cost and reclaim the glory that belonged to him.
The night passed in the blink of an eye.
Early the next morning, Lin Chen emerged from the Heaven-Rank Training Room, looking refreshed and radiant, his Soul Elder aura perfectly natural.
After a night of cultivation, Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi had also made progress. Their gazes were filled with delight and trust as they looked at Lin Chen.
After a brief rest, Li Ran delivered a token for the Scripture Repository and an access permit for the Spirit Herb Garden, along with a piece of news.
"Lin Chen, Spirit Hall has made a move. Under pressure from the imperial family, the Heaven Dou Branch Hall has placed the Blood Demon Soul Ancestor and the deputy hall master under house arrest. But Spirit Hall Headquarters seems to have already learned about you. Apparently, some powerful figures among their higher ranks are furious, and they'll most likely send even stronger experts to Heaven Dou City."
At those words, Lin Chen's gaze cooled slightly, and a disdainful smile curved his lips.
He had long expected that Spirit Hall would not let the matter rest. But now he was a Soul Elder, with the protection of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and the imperial family. Given enough time, he would be able to put up a fight even if Spirit Hall sent a Soul Emperor.
"Perfect. I'll use this opportunity to show Spirit Hall the price of provoking me."
Lin Chen clenched his fists, his Soul Elder Soul Power stirring faintly. He felt no fear whatsoever; instead, an even fiercer will to fight ignited within him.
Afterward, he took the two female leads straight to the Scripture Repository, hoping to find top-tier Soul Skills suited to his Life Blue Silver Grass and further increase his strength.
What he did not know was that, far away at Spirit Hall Headquarters, a Death Warrant targeting him had already been quietly issued. A formidable Soul Emperor was traveling day and night toward Heaven Dou City, and an even greater crisis was silently drawing near.
Heaven Dou City's peace was merely a temporary facade. The curtain was about to rise once again on a new storm of upheaval!
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