Before the Battle for Glory: The Night Oath of Ten Thousand Talismans (Part Two)
--Battle Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform - Sealing Day
Before dawn, the Soul Tower remained silent, yet the entire Thousand Realms Sect had fallen into a silence even deeper than the lightning tribulation.
At the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), the main runes of the Thirty-Three Soul Tower were activated simultaneously, and Soul Mirrors slowly rose into the sky. Tens of thousands of disciples, led by their elders, gathered in the central squares of the various branch altars, standing solemnly and holding their breath.
"Qin Yu... does he really dare to accept Lu Xuchen's challenge?"
"He's already in third place, this battle... wouldn't it be tantamount to ending his own career?"
"Lu Xuchen possesses Limit-Breaking Martial Physique and has formed Realm Blood Seal. Unless one enters the Realm Consciousness Realm, he is utterly unmatched..."
Although the commotion was quiet, it couldn't suppress the high-altitude Kong Ling rune that appeared in the main mirror of the Soul Tower:
The Soul Rankings Challenge has been officially confirmed; war is on the horizon!
Battle time: Noon
Battle between: Qin Yu, ranked third on the Soul Rankings, and Lu Xuchen, ranked sixth on the Soul Rankings.
Battle Location: Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform - Core Seal Domain
Soul Battle Rank System: No Rules - No Interference with Life and Death - Barriers Determine Survival Automatically
The announcement shocked the entire clan.
Beneath the Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform, Elder Xuanji stood atop the cloud ladder, clad in a light gray robe, his expression solemn, holding the Soul Scepter, gazing at the unactivated array core.
"This battle is the decisive battle for the sects' soul-determining order."
"This battle is the prelude to the future war in the world of war."
"No one is allowed to interfere or make a sound in this battle. Anyone who disobeys will have their Soul Seal sealed for three years and be expelled from the outer sect."
With just three short sentences, he silenced all the noise in the room.
Then, an ancient soul war drum resounded from the center of the Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform!
Boom--!
Boom--!!
After three sounds, the sky changed slightly, and the Soul Stele appeared radiant, connecting to the area below the battle platform like veins.
That was a sign of the Soul Stele's imprint linking, meaning that one of the two sides in the battle had already stepped onto the battle stage!
Countless gazes turned towards the floating seal opening on the south side of the battle platform.
The next moment, a majestic figure broke through the formation and entered, his aura as deep as the abyss, his skin as solid as cast iron, a crimson-gold soul flame erupting from his head, his soul veins fully revealed on his body, and even the aura of thunder and flame condensed on his back, transforming into the Wings of Realm Blood!
--Lu Xuchen, Extreme-Breaking Five Forms, Vein-Returning Form in the World.
"He... he's activated all five elements?! Has he gone mad!?"
"They'd rather burn Qin Yu with their Realm Blood than let him die?!"
At this moment, even the disciples below the Heavenly Heaven Ranking in the inner sect changed their expressions slightly, realizing that there was no turning back for Lu Xuchen in this battle.
His fighting spirit was so intense that he was willing to burn his life to slay the soul!
Before they could recover from their shock, the array seal on the north side of the battle platform suddenly emitted a cold light, and a young figure slowly stepped into the floating array core.
He had neither crimson gold soul flames nor Boundless Realm blood to protect his body; he was only wearing the battle robes of an outer disciple of the Thousand Realms Sect, with a Black Bone Long Spear held horizontally behind him.
However, his eyes were calm, and his steps were as steady as a rock, as if the gravity of the entire Soul Battle Space had no effect on him.
At that moment, all the disciples were shaken:
It's Qin Yu!
He's here!
When the Soul Mirror reflected Qin Yu's image, all 13,461 Soul Mirrors in the entire sect vibrated simultaneously.
The character "War" appeared in the Soul Mirror, and a halo of light emanated from the heavens.
The battle for the souls is decided; both sides' battle formations have been confirmed.
Countdown - Noon
Soul Stele and Soul Sequence Anomaly Detection in Progress...
Lu Xuchen stared at Qin Yu, his eyes showing no contempt, but rather a deep, cold indifference:
You killed Zhang Hao.
"You killed Shang Kui's Realm Warrior."
"You killed my brother Shang Kui's sworn brother."
Qin Yu remained expressionless and replied calmly, "Not bad."
Lu Xuchen slowly raised his right hand, the Realm Blood patterns spreading from his arm to his shoulder, with faint thunderous sounds of breaking through limits flowing in his veins.
"So you deserve to die."
"Whether I deserve to die is not for you to decide." Qin Yu raised his eyes. "You fight for the lives of others, while I only live for my own soul."
Lu Xuchen sneered, "Then let's see whose soul is heavier!"
Boom--!
Before Lu Xuchen could finish speaking, the three floating seals at the edge of the battle platform suddenly lit up with light patterns.
From the light pattern on the left, a figure quietly appeared, dressed in black with a plain belt, his expression cold and silent.
Yao Wanqing.
She looked at Qin Yu quietly, her eyes showing no panic, only a barely perceptible firmness.
From the floating image on the right, a figure in a green robe stepped through the air and arrived—it was Zhou Yu. His brows were furrowed, and he held a long sword, with lightning patterns faintly visible beneath his battle robe.
"If you fight, I will watch; if you are wounded, I will kill."
He said these words in a low voice, and only Qin Yu could hear them.
At the very center of the third imprint, a blue and white intertwined soul light suddenly appeared, its radiance like the first rays of moonlight, indifferent yet captivating.
A figure in a snow-white robe danced lightly, standing still like a solitary lotus in the snow.
Qian Ruishan!
She didn't speak, but just looked at Qin Yu quietly, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
It was a premonition, a silent vow.
"I don't believe in fate, but I can protect you."
At this moment, the three of them stood still, and the three of them stood like three protective locks outside the Soul Battle Arena, fixing Qin Yu in the center of the arena.
The war drums sounded for the third time!
The sky changed color, the golden patterns on the Soul Stele trembled, and countless gazes from the entire sect turned to the black-robed youth in the center.
The battle has been decided; the decisive battle will begin in three breaths!
At that moment, a strange phenomenon suddenly appeared above the Soul Stele—
A line of pale gold characters appeared on the top of the Soul Stele:
Current Soul Order Anomaly: Qin Yu's Soul Battle Survival Value is fluctuating.
Current Realm Merit Points: 9175
Soul Order Suppressor Triggered: Lu Xuchen's Forced Challenge, Guided by Battle Soul Tokens
Triggered by the Three Soul Seal Observer: Yao Wanqing, Zhou Yu, and Qian Ruishan
The entire sect was silent, except for the Thirty-Three Soul Mirrors, which trembled violently, seemingly unable to withstand the Threshold soul pressure before the war!
Boom--!!
The first strike was launched by Lu Xuchen!
His body did not move, but on the Soul Platform, a crimson-gold lightning pattern instantly exploded, transforming into five illusory fist imprints. Each fist imprint reflected the power of the Extreme Realm- Breaking Blood within his body, carrying the crushing might of the Five Elements in One!
" --Extreme-Breaking Five Forms: Severing the Body and Burning the Soul!"
This move once severely injured an outer sect elder at the Realm Consciousness Second Stage, but today he used it on Qin Yu!
Qin Yu did not retreat. Instead, he stepped onto the Soul Platform, his figure as steady as a green mountain. The Black Bone Long Spear rang out from behind him and fell into his palm.
"Ring Spear - World-Slaying Slash!"
The spear flashed like lightning, circling through the air, and an arc-shaped soul blade ripped through the void. In the utter stillness, it shattered the soul and severed the boundary energy!
Boom--!!
Five fists landed simultaneously, spear shadows cleaved the sky, and amidst the radiant soul light, the entire Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform instantly sank half a foot!
"What!? It actually blocked Lu Xuchen's Five Elements Heavy Fist?"
"He... didn't use the power of the Realm Blood!"
The disciples were all stunned.
"This is only his first move..." Qian Ruishan said softly, her eyes remaining still, but her heart skipped a beat for a moment.
Zhou Yu's face darkened. "He hasn't even used his second move yet..."
The next moment, Lu Xuchen roared, his figure flashed, and he stepped into Qin Yu's vicinity by three zhang. His five fingers clenched into a fist, and his entire arm transformed into a heavy blade of soul gold!
"Breaking Limit Divine Arm - Soul Seal!"
This is a soul-destroying killing move he unleashed by forcibly fusing soul power with his physical body!
Qin Yu frowned slightly, but did not retreat, and swung his spear in a counterattack.
" --Silent Severing Abyss."
This move was silent and without light, only a serene vortex spreading from the tip of the spear.
When the two collided, the heavens and earth trembled silently, as if all sound had been swallowed up by the "abyss" at the center of the spear!
Boom!!!
Finally, a deafening explosion, three breaths late, reverberated across the battle platform!
Lu Xuchen staggered back seven steps, the Soul Platform stone beneath his feet shattered, and bloody gashes appeared on his five fingers and the base of his thumb.
Although Qin Yu did not retreat, his sleeves were completely torn, and the spear in his hand trembled like thunder!
"Silent Severing Abyss... Did he create this technique himself!?"
"He overwhelmed Lu Xuchen using pure combat skills!?"
Outside the Soul Mirror, countless disciples stared in disbelief, and many inner sect experts couldn't help but stand up, their faces filled with horror.
And on the Soul Stele, the inscription quietly changed again:
Qin Yu's Soul Suppression Value Breakthrough Against Current Opponent - Abnormal Movement Judgment Successfully
Battle Rating: Exceeding Standard - Soul Pressure +85
Predicted increase in current Realm Merit Points: +200
Record current Soul Battle progress? -- "Soul Seal Activating..."
But no one knew that this was far from over.
Lu Xuchen's face was as cold as iron. The five soul patterns on his body suddenly retracted and then exploded, forming a huge soul Flame Realm that instantly enveloped a corner of the battle stage!
"Realm Blood: Extreme Restriction Seal!"
This is a secret technique passed down through Lu Xuchen's clan, Limit divine art that can only be used when the Soul of Realm is about to collapse and the battle reaches its final three breaths.
Once this technique is used, it means he can no longer retreat, nor is he able to retreat.
The soul flames surged, the runes on the battle platform twisted violently, and a chilling surge of blood pressure swept over, causing even the disciples watching from below to retreat. Even those several miles away in front of the Soul Mirror could feel the terrifying fluctuations that nearly crushed their sea of consciousness.
"Lu Xuchen has gone mad!"
"He's even using the Extreme Restriction Seal? He has no intention of letting Qin Yu survive the battle!"
Qian Ruishan's fingers clenched tightly in her sleeve, her knuckles turning white. Her soul pulse trembled, almost unable to resist breaking through the formation.
But Qin Yu did not move.
He raised his head, his eyes deep, and gazed silently at the churning, blood-red aura of soul pressure.
He slowly tightened the spear handle with his right hand, and the soul platform beneath his feet trembled slightly. A ring of fine, almost invisible gray lines surged towards the bottom of the platform, centered on him.
The Azure Ring did not appear, but the surging, Annihilation soul intent slowly emerged from behind him!
"He... he's about to use his third move!" Zhou Yu was startled, and even Yao Wanqing looked up instantly, feeling a kind of oppressive force distorting the soul power structure at the center of the battle arena.
That's neither Realm Artifact nor a secret technique.
It was an indescribable "vortex of destruction".
"The third move?" Qian Ruishan exhaled slowly, her eyes gleaming with a spiritual light. "It's not a sword, not a fist, but a spear—it's his soul—resonating within me."
On the stage, Lu Xuchen roared, his arms burning with soul energy, unleashing his final strike from his soul rings!
"Forbidden Finale: Realm God!"
He transformed into a blazing sun god of war, his five ultimate soul veins burning like star patterns running through his body, and his figure flew over!
And Qin Yu finally made a move.
He raised the spear, slapped the center of the spear with his left palm, and whispered:
" --Silent Origin Wheel Prison."
It wasn't a shout, but a sacrificial invocation.
With a single touch of the spear tip, the battle platform instantly seemed to be drained of all its soul power.
"What?!"
"That is..."
"The Heavenly Soul has been swallowed!?"
Boom--!!!
The next moment, a massive vortex of soul prison suddenly appeared with Qin Yu at its center, as if at that moment, he was no longer human, but the Lord of Annihilation!
Lu Xuchen's Realm Blood God Fist landed, but was swallowed up in mid-air by the Annihilation vortex derived from the spear's core, and fell into the void before it could even transmit its force!
With a deafening crash, the entire Ten Thousand Talisman Battle Platform sank half a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters), and the warning sound of the talisman array rang out for the first time:
Battle Platform Structure Threshold - Soul Pressure Danger Threshold Exceeds Level Six
Please, Elder, decide whether to halt the Soul War.
Xuanji's gaze sharpened, but he shook his head and remained silent.
Lu Xuchen's figure flew backward, spitting out soul blood, his arms charred black, his aura exhausted, and the space and soul domain, along with Lu Xuchen, fell silent.
Qin Yu in the center of the Soul Prison, his brows furrowed. Clearly, although he had won this battle, it had also placed an extremely heavy burden on him.
The Soul Mirror emerges and makes its final judgment:
Battle Ended - Winner: Qin Yu
Realm Merit Points +300 (Soul Stele under adjustment)
Soul Order Anomaly: Qin Yu's Promotion Confirmed
Soul Stele Anomaly Confirmed
The Soul Rankings sequence has been updated.
Current ranking --
① Qian Ruishan: Realm Consciousness Realm First Stage Perfection - Realm Merit Points: Unknown
Qin Yu: True Soul Realm Third Stage, Realm Merit Points: 9575
Ming Ye: True Soul Realm Fifth Stage, Realm Merit Points: 9620 (Ranking temporarily suppressed due to changes in Soul Suppression Value)
④Ge Ge Minglan
⑤ Shang Kui
⑥ Lu Xuchen (disappeared)
The Soul Stele Imprint will be officially reprinted in three days, at which time the Soul Seal Ritual Order will be changed to Qin Yu's order.
Boom!!!
As the last line of text on the Soul Stele fell, the Thirty-Three Soul Mirrors unleashed an almost overwhelming soul pressure shockwave in every corner of the sect!
The Thousand Realms Sect is in an uproar!
"He really even bet on Ming Ye!?"
"Nine thousand five hundred and seventy-five Realm Merit Points... Are you kidding me? He's only at the True Soul Third Stage!"
"Is this a temporary ranking suppressed by an anomaly in soul pressure? But this is just too insane..."
"In the past few hundred years, has anyone in the Thousand Realms Sect managed to surpass the second-ranked member of the Soul Rankings in the True Soul Realm?!"
"What kind of monster is he...?"
Inside the outer disciples' gathering hall, several Soul Elders who had retired behind the scenes and been in seclusion for many years opened their eyes, their gazes calm and profound.
"This child can no longer be treated as an 'inner disciple in seclusion'."
"It's time... to personally present the 'Three Soul Seal Imprints Book' to the Sect Master."
But beyond all the clamor and awe, each of the three mirrors held its own silence—
Qian Ruishan gazed at Qin Yu's figure slowly sheathing his spear in the Soul Mirror and gently exhaled.
There was no surprise in her eyes.
Only a barely perceptible trace of fatigue remained.
"Finally... we've made it to the top."
"But this position is unstable."
She gripped the Soul Ring tightly in her palm, the Cold Core Qi within her body surging, her mind made up.
If an enemy general appears, or if a calamity is imminent, she will spare no effort to personally go to the battlefield!
Meanwhile, Yao Wanqing's eyes were filled with complex emotions. She bit her lower lip and looked at the figure on the stage. In her eyes, besides respect and shock, there was also a kind of tremor that she herself could not yet recognize.
"He... really is the kind of person who can push himself to the extreme."
"But the more this is the case..."
She slowly lowered her head, without uttering a word.
Zhou Yu gripped the sword at his waist tightly.
He knew better than anyone that although Qin Yu won this battle, he only forced out Lu Xuchen's Realm Blood, not crushed his Battle Soul.
"Not enough."
We're not enough.
He closed his eyes, and a crystal-clear vow arose in his heart:
The embryonic form of the Soul Bone Edge - Thunder Sha True Marrow must be forged and completed as soon as possible.
Because Qin Yu has already risen to second place on the Soul Rankings.
And after Qian Ruishan, who ranks first on the Soul Rankings, the focus of the entire Spirit Firmament Great Realm is on her!
Thousand Realms Sect, Shang Domain Mountain Pavilion.
Inside a dark and gloomy hall, poisonous breath surged like a tide, and soul mist billowed.
"What did you say?!" The Realm Poison Soul Pattern on Shang Kui's body suddenly lit up, and the entire Soul Chamber instantly trembled violently!
"Lu Xuchen has been defeated?"
The messenger disciple knelt on the ground, barely daring to breathe, his soul on the verge of collapse.
"Yes... All thirty-three Soul Mirrors have been ordered. Lu Xuchen was defeated, and Qin Yu... The Realm Merit Points 9,575."
Click!
A Black Bone cup was crushed to pieces by Shang Kui, and poisonous mist swirled into his palm.
"After the Ming Ye... it's me!"
"I should have killed him myself long ago, why did I wait for Lu Xuchen!"
"Zhang Hao, Soul General, Sha-Slaying Marquis... all died at his hands!"
"You think he's just lucky to be at the True Soul Third Stage?"
"Wrong!! He's a game-changer, an anomaly in the entire Shang Lineage Clan's scheme that must die!!"
After Shang Kui finished speaking, he slammed his palm down, unleashing a burst of poisonous patterns that caused a sea of poison dozens of feet outside the palace to boil!
He raised his hand and coldly uttered four words:
"--Anti-division, move out."
Meanwhile, in the upper domain of the sect, in front of the Floating Moon Array Platform.
Several individuals at the upper levels of the Soul Stele appeared one after another.
Ming Ye stood there, dressed in black, holding a soul nail in his hand.
He remained silent, merely glancing indifferently at the name of the second-place finisher on the Soul Stele before turning away.
"A battle is inevitable."
After he finished speaking, he transformed into black light and disappeared in front of the array platform.
The rankings of Ge Minglan, Kong Che, Shang Kui, and Lu Xuchen have been shaken.
Especially Kong Che, standing at the center of the floating mirror array, had a cold glint in his eyes.
"This person... I need to test whether his soul can break my formation."
At the same time--
A new message was transmitted from the Floating Soul Stele:
Soul War Order: Outer Realm Warning
Qin Yu - Soul Sequence Breakthrough Second - Soul Pressure Ranking Fluctuation Too High
This will attract the attention of other sects, opening up the "Soul Battle Ranking - Lin Yuan Challenge Mechanism".
It is expected that in three days, the outer sect challengers will be able to issue a formal 'Soul Battle Declaration' to Qin Yu.
Throughout the entire Thousand Realms Sect, all those Soul Rankings simultaneously felt a chill run down their spines:
This is more than just a victory in battle.
This is already the epicenter of the storm in the Soul Realm!
Deep within the Thousand Realms Sect's ancestral mountain range, a black altar sealed for a thousand years quietly emerged, radiating dark light. A soul figure dressed in black robes rose from the heart of the altar. It was a projection of the sect master Qian Xuancang's original soul, without revealing its appearance, only gazing at the strange projection on the Soul Stele's celestial position.
After a long silence, he asked slowly, "Nine thousand five hundred and seventy-five Realm Merit Points, second on the Soul Rankings."
"Xuanji, what do you think?"
The black mist churned, and Elder Xuanji quietly appeared, cupping his fists and saying, "Under the pressure of the realm, his foundation was not damaged, clearly he has not gone all out. As for Lu Xuchen, although he was defeated, his soul was not completely destroyed. This boy... his potential is unknown."
The sect leader was silent for a moment, then said softly, "His soul wasn't harmed, but instead, strange phenomena were triggered. Are you aware that there's an extremely incongruous, dormant meridian mark on his body?"
Xuanji's eyes flickered slightly, but he lowered his head and did not answer.
The sect leader continued calmly, "However... this kind of person is no longer suitable to be hidden."
"Release the news of the rank sealing; arrange a 'Sealed Battle Soul Trial' in three days."
Xuanji responded in a low voice, "Yes."
Meanwhile, in another, even more somber place—
Outside the Ten Thousand Souls Forest, in the secret altar of the Soul Hunting Army, a shadow shrouded in black mist and blood flames opened its eyes.
"He... has already threatened the established order of souls for the Shang Lineage and us."
"Release the 'Soul Splitters' at the Severed Phenomena Realm, forming a 'Soul-Severing Group' of three, with the task of killing Qin Yu within five days."
"The Soul Seal has not faded, the hunt continues."
Another, even deeper voice echoed in the void, "The Shang Lineage has dispatched a 'Mirror Severing Envoy' of the Realm Consciousness Fifth Stage to assist. With the Soul Rankings rising, it is time to test the formation."
At this very moment, inside the Cold Abyss Secluded Pavilion.
Qian Ruishan sat cross-legged on the Ice Soul Lotus Platform, her snow-white eyes slightly closed. Suddenly, a wisp of blue ice mark appeared on her forehead soul bone, and an extremely weak yet crystal-clear female voice rang out:
You're finally close to stepping onto that path.
"I've been waiting for you... for a very long time."
"I am you, and also the half of your soul that has not yet awakened..."
Qian Ruishan's soul was shaken to the Threshold freezing almost instantly.
She gripped the Soul Seal Sealing Wheel tightly, whispering each word slowly and deliberately, "It's not time yet."
The blue markings on her forehead faded away, and her consciousness returned to stillness, but her gaze was sharper and calmer than ever before.
Meanwhile, Qin Yu was returning to the secret chamber of the battle platform, closing his eyes and focusing his mind.
His soul power was vast and boundless, and his boundary soul patterns covered his meridians, shimmering like dragon scales. Although he had just fought a battle that had exhausted him greatly, the aftereffects of the third move of the Azure Ring, "Silent Origin Wheel Prison," still resonated within him.
"Realm Merit Points: 9,575..."
He muttered to himself, his eyes showing no trace of smugness, but rather an even greater calmness.
"Second on the Soul Rankings, merely an entry-level cultivator in the Soul Realm."
"Who will they send next...?"
"Soul Hunting Army? Shang Lineage?"
"Even... the sect itself?"
He slowly opened his eyes, a faint light flashing briefly in the depths of his pupils.
"Bring it on."
But don't regret it.