An Invitation from Two Kui · Sword Pointed at the Soul Rankings
The day the Soul Stele trembled, a storm suddenly arose within the Thousand Realms Sect.
At the main peak Heavenly Soul Square, thousands of disciples gathered before the monument. This was because a strange phenomenon burst forth from the center of the monument, piercing through the clouds and illuminating the golden list.
[Third Place - Qin Yu - Realm Merit Points: 9175]
Within moments, the entire sect fell silent in uproar.
"Qin Yu? That newly promoted disciple, he ranked third?"
"He just returned from a mission to conquer the realms, and he's already defeated several Soul Rankings experts?!"
"This person is someone who's been blacklisted by the Soul Realm, yet they managed to defy the odds and rise up within the sect?"
Many people looked towards the Northern Region beneath the monument, the place where weapons were forged. There had been rumors that he had shattered the Thunder Sha, helping Zhou Yu forge the Thunder Soul Weapon Embryo... Now, it seemed that was no longer just a rumor, but a harbinger of something.
The shock intensified, and not only the disciples, but also the elders and outer sect deacons were discussing it privately— Qin Yu's momentum was unstoppable.
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But beyond the shock, a murderous intent was brewing.
Below the Soul Stele, inside the Poison Array Hall.
With a deafening roar, black mist shot into the sky, and the soul array twisted.
Shang Kui's face was ashen, and he shattered the stone table with a single palm strike. Poisonous patterns clung to his body, and his killing intent was chilling.
"He actually made it to third place," Shang Kui muttered, his voice filled with barely suppressed anger.
Qin Yu not only killed the two Realm Consciousness Realm sent by the Shang Lineage, but also completely annihilated Zhang Hao, his most trusted confidant, in the secret realm.
"You killed my powerful Shang Lineage, stole my mission, broke my seal, and dare to climb over my head to get on the leaderboard?"
"If I don't kill him, how can I be called the 'leader'?"
He turned around abruptly and whispered:
"Breath Hunt Hall to fully prepare the poison array. Three days later, regardless of victory or defeat on the battlefield, I want him—his soul to be shattered."
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At the same time, outside the Talisman Hall, another oppressive aura was slowly rising.
Lu Xuchen's aura of blood and qi shook the surrounding area, and the stone platform beneath his fist cracked inch by inch.
He showed no anger, but rather an Ultimate calm and collected killing intent.
"The seal of the boundary... the Shang Lineage's promise, the time has come to fulfill it." He gazed at the distant Soul Stele, "I am not fighting for Shang Kui, I am fighting to break through the limits and ascend to the boundary."
A golden seal appeared on his chest, the "Boundary Destiny Mark" passed down by the Shang Lineage —only by killing the target could the seal be broken and one step into the Extreme Realm.
"Qin Yu," he said softly, as if conversing with fate.
"Three days from now, I, Lu Xuchen, will shatter your soul under my fist on the Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform."
He turned and walked into the center of the formation, the golden challenge letter rising into the air.
[Soul Rankings Challenge: Lu Xuchen, Jiexun 7211, challenges Qin Yu, the third-ranked Soul Stele user. Three days later, at the Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform, a life-or-death duel.]
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At this moment, Qin Yu was in the weapon-forging ground, breathing deeply with his eyes closed.
He was neither surprised nor did he shy away from the topic.
Faced with the challenge, he simply rose slowly, gazed towards the Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform, and said calmly:
"It's finally here."
What was even more shocking was the sudden loss of control over the entire Soul Stele Square after the challenge letter soared into the air.
"Lu Xuchen... Lu Xuchen has made a move?! He actually challenged Qin Yu!"
"He's sixth on the Soul Rankings! He's a true Limit Breaker! Someone like that actually made a move?"
"Just reached third place and already facing a life-or-death challenge? This isn't the Soul Rankings, it's the Hunting Ranking..."
Countless disciples gasped, whispered, were alarmed, and chuckled, a cacophony of emotions swirling within them.
"... Even Shang Kui ranked fifth, didn't dare to make the first move, yet Lu Xuchen actually did?"
"He's gone mad, he's gone mad. This battle with Qin Yu... will be tough."
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At the Heavenly Palace Peak, that snow-clad figure stood silently among the plum blossoms. The wind did not stir the hem of her clothes, but it did disturb the deep thoughts in her eyes.
Qian Ruishan stared at the golden characters and challenge letter on the third spot of the Soul Stele for a long time.
She wasn't surprised that Qin Yu made the list; in fact, she had a premonition. But she knew that once she took that step, there was no turning back.
"The top three on the Soul Stele are no longer glory, but... the most conspicuous prey," she murmured.
In the Spirit Firmament Great Realm, anyone without a powerful background who dares to stand out will inevitably face suppression, persecution, and machinations from various quarters.
Qin Yu had no clan, no support, and no powerful connections. She knew that if a storm were to come in the future, he might have to fight against the greed of the entire realm all by himself.
Qian Ruishan gently closed her eyes.
If that moment ever comes... I will do anything to be with him.
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Behind the weapon-forging platform, amidst the faint embers of the lightning patterns, Zhou Yu and Yao Wanqing stood at the edge of the array's core, gazing at the soul scrolls in the sky, speechless for a long time.
"Third," Yao Wanqing said softly, "He was originally eighth, right?"
"Hmm..." Zhou Yu nodded, her expression complicated.
"We knew he would be promoted, but we didn't expect him to be in the top three."
Yao Wanqing slowly turned her head. "Do you think... he can handle it?"
Zhou Yu remained silent for a moment, then gently grasped the fully formed weapon embryo in his hand—the weapon blade that Qin Yu had personally helped him forge.
Without Qin Yu's help, he would never have been able to forge this weapon.
"No matter how this battle ends, I will stand by his side," he said.
Yao Wanqing was taken aback and looked at him.
"Because I know Lu Xuchen wouldn't challenge someone without a reason," Zhou Yu said in a low voice, "He's doing this for Shang Kui, and Shang Kui is from the Shang Lineage Clan."
"To fight Lu Xuchen is to Shang Kui; to Shang Kui... is to betray the entire Shang Lineage Clan."
His voice was deep:
"And Qin Yu will defeat them all sooner or later."