At the moment when their lives hung by a thread, that dazzling golden light tore through the air at incredible speed. Like a falling sun, it carried an inviolable divine pressure as it slammed into Ghost Hand's fifth Soul Skill—Ghost Hand Soul Annihilation!
Boom!
A deafening explosion shook the sky. The pitch-black, soul-annihilating ghost claw was shattered instantly by the golden light, and the resulting waves of Soul Power swept in every direction, completely dispersing the ghostly energy that filled the air.
Ghost Hand's expression changed sharply. He hastily retreated and looked toward the source of the golden light, wariness entering his eyes for the first time. "Who's there? Who dares interfere with Spirit Hall's business?"
Everyone followed the light and saw a figure in golden robes standing in midair. Six Soul Rings shone around him—two yellow, two purple, and two black. He, too, was a level sixty-two Soul Emperor. Divine golden Soul Power wreathed his body, and his Martial Soul was a Divine Golden Luan poised to spread its wings and fly. His aura was majestic and upright. He was none other than Jin Luan, a Soul Emperor from the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Consecrations!
"A member of Spirit Hall dares commit violence within the Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Do you truly think the Imperial Royal Family has no one to stand against you?"
Jin Luan spoke coldly, his voice carrying throughout the academy. As a retainer serving directly under the royal family, he was responsible for safeguarding Heaven Dou City. Upon sensing a clash of Soul Power at the Soul Emperor level, he had rushed over immediately, arriving just in time to save Lin Chen and the two women.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe hurried over and stood beside Jin Luan, regarding Ghost Hand with an icy expression. "Spirit Hall has repeatedly caused trouble in Heaven Dou City. I did not pursue your previous ambush against Young Master Lin Chen, yet now you have sent a Soul Emperor to openly attack and kill him. Do you intend to declare war on the Heaven Dou Empire?"
As his words fell, Xue Qinghe quietly circulated his Soul Power. The royal guards behind him assembled at once, and a dense crowd of Soul Masters surrounded the scene. The atmosphere instantly grew taut, like swords drawn and bows bent.
Ghost Hand's face darkened to the extreme, and he cursed inwardly.
He had thought killing a newly advanced Soul Elder would be as easy as turning over his hand. He had never expected a royal Soul Emperor to come to the rescue. Now his opponent was fresh while he was exhausted, and the academy's Soul Saint headmaster was watching like a tiger eyeing its prey. If he continued this struggle, not only would he fail to kill Lin Chen, he would throw his own life away.
But Spirit Hall's orders could not be defied. Gritting his teeth, he roared, "Jin Luan, this is a private grudge between Spirit Hall and Lin Chen. Are you sure you want to interfere? Neither you nor the Heaven Dou Imperial Family will come to a good end if you offend Spirit Hall!"
"Young Master Lin Chen is an honored guest of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and a genius the empire values. I will protect him!" Jin Luan stepped forward, and his Divine Golden Luan Martial Soul spread its wings, its Soul Power ready to strike. "Dare act recklessly again, and this place will be your grave!"
Golden Soul Power confronted black Soul Power across the distance. The air was stretched so taut it seemed ready to snap at a touch.
Supporting Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi, Lin Chen slowly rose to his feet. He endured his internal injuries and circulated his Life Soul Power to heal himself rapidly.
The heaven-defying self-healing ability of Life Blue Silver Grass revealed itself to the fullest at that moment. Despite his severe injuries, his wounds closed at incredible speed, and his chaotic Soul Power gradually steadied. Even his nearly exhausted reserves slowly recovered under the nourishment of Life Spiritual Energy.
Seeing the blood at the corner of Su Qingyuan's mouth and Yue Huaxi's pale face, killing intent surged in Lin Chen's eyes. Green light flowed around him as he spoke in a bone-chilling voice. "Ghost Hand, I will remember today's grudge. Once my cultivation reaches its full strength, I will go to Spirit Hall myself and settle this debt!"
He knew very well that with Jin Luan protecting him today, Ghost Hand could not hurt him. But he could not draw too heavily on the royal family's goodwill, either. His most pressing priorities were to recover, cultivate the Myriad Spirit Vine Sea Soul Skill, and grow stronger.
Ghost Hand stared fixedly at Lin Chen, grinding his teeth with hatred, yet ultimately did not dare attack.
Alone against two Soul Emperors, a Soul Saint, and countless royal and academy Soul Masters, he had no chance of victory. Continuing this standoff would lead only to death.
"Fine! What a Heaven Dou Imperial Family! What a Lin Chen!" Ghost Hand laughed in fury. "You were lucky today. Sooner or later, Spirit Hall will settle this debt! Just you wait—the next time we meet, I will take your head!"
After delivering that threat, Ghost Hand dared not linger. Black energy surged around him, and his body became a dark streak that shot into the sky. He fled the Heaven Dou Royal Academy in panic, not daring to stop for even a moment.
When the two Spirit Hall Soul Ancestors who had been hemming in the headmaster saw their Soul Emperor retreat in defeat, they lost all desire to fight. They found an opening and fled in disarray.
At last, this life-and-death crisis involving a Soul Emperor had been completely resolved.
“Young Master Lin Chen, are you all right?” Jin Luan withdrew his Martial Soul, landed, and hurried over. His tone held concern, and his gaze was filled with amazement as he looked at Lin Chen.
A level thirty-one Soul Elder had endured two attacks from a Soul Emperor without dying and had even unleashed a counterattack. Such talent and resilience were unlike anything he had seen in his life.
Lin Chen cupped his hands slightly and spoke sincerely. "Thank you, Retainer Jin Luan and Your Highness the Crown Prince, for saving us. I will remember this kindness."
"There is no need for such courtesy, young master. You are the academy's pride and a genius of the Heaven Dou Empire. Keeping you safe is simply our duty." Xue Qinghe spoke warmly, the appreciation in his eyes deepening. "Spirit Hall will certainly not let this failure rest. I will arrange for royal guards to protect the academy in secret. You need only focus on recovering and cultivating."
The academy headmaster also approached. Looking at the devastated Scripture Repository, he smiled helplessly. “As long as you are safe, that is enough. Damage to the Scripture Repository is of no consequence; your injuries come first. I will immediately arrange for the academy's best healing immortal herbs. Go back and rest.”
Surrounded by the others, Lin Chen returned to the Core Cultivation Courtyard. Every student and instructor along the way cast awed gazes toward him.
He had escaped alive from a Soul Emperor and earned the full protection of both the royal family and the academy. Lin Chen's standing in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was now unmatched.
Back in the courtyard, Lin Chen had Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi sit cross-legged. He mobilized his Life Soul Power and channeled it into their bodies to help heal their injuries.
The pale green Life Soul Power was gentle and soothing. Wherever it flowed, the backlash injuries within the two women healed rapidly. Color gradually returned to their pale cheeks, and their Soul Power recovered to its peak.
“Thanks to you, we're all right now,” Su Qingyuan said softly, her eyes filled with heartache. The sight of Lin Chen fighting desperately for his life had been deeply etched into her heart.
Yue Huaxi nodded as well, her eyes slightly reddened. “We won't let you shoulder everything alone again. We need to become stronger as soon as possible so we can fight by your side.”
Lin Chen chuckled and tousled their hair. “Don't worry, I'm fine. With Life Blue Silver Grass's self-healing ability, I won't fall so easily.”
Once the two women were resting comfortably, Lin Chen returned alone to the Heaven-Rank Training Room and sat cross-legged. While circulating his Soul Power to fully heal his internal injuries, he took out the Myriad Spirit Vine Sea Soul Skill manual he had obtained from the Scripture Repository and immersed himself in studying it.
This battle against a Soul Emperor had laid bare his shortcomings: insufficient Soul Power reserves, too narrow a range of Soul Skills, and no trump card capable of turning the tables and killing an opponent above his level.
Yet precisely because of this fierce battle, his control over his Life Domain and his use of Soul Power had become increasingly refined. The life Martial Soul Origin within him had also been elevated through the tempering of life and death. He was now only a single step away from becoming a level thirty-two Soul Elder.
“Myriad Spirit Vine Sea draws upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, gathers the power of myriad spirits, and uses a life Martial Soul as its guide. No defense can withstand it, no confinement can hold it...”
Lin Chen quietly recited the Soul Skill's cultivation formula. Drawing on the characteristics of his own Life Blue Silver Grass, he grasped the essence of the skill bit by bit.
He could feel that once he fully mastered this top-tier Soul Skill, he would have the strength to fight even if he encountered another Soul Emperor, rather than merely enduring a one-sided beating.
As the night deepened, green light suffused the training room. Lin Chen devoted himself completely to cultivation. His Soul Rings slowly revolved around him, and his vitality and Soul Power grew ever richer.
Meanwhile, Ghost Hand, who had fled Heaven Dou City, sent word to Spirit Hall Headquarters overnight, reporting in full both his failure and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's protection of Lin Chen.
Deep within Spirit Hall, a cold, sinister voice rang out, carrying towering fury. "Since the Heaven Dou Imperial Family insists on protecting him, we will wait for the right opportunity. When it comes, we will settle everything together—principal and interest!"
An even greater conspiracy quietly brewed in the shadows.
Lin Chen knew nothing of this. He was already immersed in cultivating his Soul Skill. Green light blazed around him, and countless phantoms of Blue Silver Grass encircled his body. He had already gained his first glimpse into the mysteries of the Myriad Spirit Vine Sea Soul Skill!
After this ordeal of life and death, his path toward becoming a true powerhouse had grown ever broader. Awaiting him were stronger opponents, greater opportunities, and, one day, a battle at the pinnacle in which he would sweep through Spirit Hall!
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