Above the sky, the Soul Stele was still shaking, and the entire Thousand Realms Sect seemed to fall into a strange silence, before suddenly erupting into earth-shattering waves!
Deep within the sect's core, the long-sealed "Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation" suddenly appeared. Cracks tore open in the void, and the nine-cornered ancient array rose to the top of the heavens. Within the array, talismanic light cascaded like waterfalls, and soul light surged like tides, as if it had come from time immemorial, carrying a mysterious will that transcended all dimensions.
The elders and deacons of the entire sect, as well as some of the peak Realm Consciousness Realm experts who were in seclusion, were all awakened, their expressions filled with horror.
"It's Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation... It actually awakened on its own?"
"Only when the three elements in front of the Thousand Realms Sect Soul Stele vibrate and resonate with the Soul of the Sect can this formation awaken... Could it be... Qin Yu?"
No one could remain calm. Even the usually unassuming soul of the sect leader slowly materialized a soul shadow atop the main hall, gazing at the heart of the Soul-Sealing Array, whispering silently, as if a long-planned scheme was about to unfold.
Within the Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation, nine Soul Platforms slowly rose, each engraved with Soul-Binding Runes, surging with the power of Annihilation Rules. Only those who have truly reached the pinnacle of the Fifth Rank of True Soul have the right to enter!
At the same time, the Soul Stele resonated once more, linking the Selection Ritual Array and the Soul Sealing Array. Nine illusory figures of light and shadow appeared prominently above the array's core.
Qin Yu, Qian Ruishan, Ming Ye, Ge Minglan, Kong Che Hua Yin, Shang Kui, Mu Qingzhen, Cang Ke.
At this moment, Qian Ruishan appeared slowly, her ice-blue robe fluttering in the wind. Her expression remained indifferent, but when she caught sight of Qin Yu, her eyes flickered slightly, and she whispered as softly as the wind.
"He... in the end, he triggered it."
In the distance, Ling Jingxi stood atop the Soul Tower of the Auction House, her eyes deep and unfathomable.
"The Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation has been activated... Within the Heavenly Abyss, the 'Origin Tribulation Thread' should also begin to stir slightly."
In an instant, the name of the Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation resounded throughout the sect once again, and all disciples were shaken. The nine top-ranked disciples on the Heaven Ranking were about to gather at the Nine Soul Platform, igniting an unprecedented internal battle within the sect.
--And the starting point of all this was Qin Yu, who triggered the awakening of the core of the Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation had been dormant for thirty-six years.
Soon after, the square was packed with thousands of disciples, including the nine disciples selected by the selection array.
"Only those who possess True Soul of the fifth rank or higher, whose soul consciousness is intact, and who have never betrayed the sect's will, may activate the Nine Souls Array Platform!"
High above the sect, a will from the Soul Master Array crashed down, like an ancient soul speaking of destiny. The nine figures were immediately drawn in, their bodies trembled, and they transformed into streaks of soul light, slowly stepping into the nine rising "Soul Sealing Array Platforms".
On the array platform, strands of soul-sealing power that had been dormant for billions of years slowly awakened. Multiple runes of black gold, azure, and dark silver intertwined, like a sealed domain that suppressed the Nine Nether netherworlds, causing array patterns to surge beneath the feet of every person who stepped in.
Qin Yu on the main platform at the very center, the power of the ring seal deeply buried and unmoved. His figure was upright, and as his blood and qi surged, he actually drew a wisp of purple-gold light from the center of the soul array, which briefly appeared.
"This is... soul pressure calibration?!"
"The purple-gold soul light on the main platform is the initial assessment of the soul pressure of those entering the formation... Qin Yu, his soul pressure value is already approaching its Limit?"
All the onlookers outside the formation were shocked, especially the several elders Soul Hall, whose expressions were extremely solemn and who kept whispering to each other.
"Qin Yu, at the peak of the fifth level of True Soul, possesses a Soul Pressure that surpasses that of all disciples in the past century and is approaching the Limit of Qian Ruishan before she fully unleashed her power!"
Qin Yu remained calm and composed. Although the Azure Ring within his body had not yet manifested, he sensed a faint "Azure Ring fluctuation" flowing quietly from beneath his Soul Platform, like a premonition of the future.
As Qian Ruishan stepped onto the Second Soul Array Platform, clad in a cold-patterned ice robe, the atmosphere of heaven and earth suddenly changed. The array patterns froze on their own, freezing the runes within a five-zhang radius. A wisp of pale blue soul energy flowed like an ice vein, directly entering the heart of the main array!
She slowly turned her head and glanced at Qin Yu, her tone indifferent:
I won't let you die before anyone else.
I don't know to whom it was spoken, but the words became a vow.
Ming Ye then entered the third array platform. The soul light on the entire platform suddenly dimmed, followed by a burst of black soul flames. His figure vanished behind the soul shadows, leaving only a whispered message:
"After this battle, I will only remember his name."
The nine soul platforms were positioned one by one, soul pressure emerged, and the center of the formation suddenly shifted.
--boom!
Beneath the main platform, a chaotic lightning mark appeared, seemingly piercing through the Netherworld's sea of lightning that sealed the world. It briefly intersected with the "Soul-Locking Abyss Seal" at the deepest part of the entire ritual array, eliciting gasps from countless people.
As the core of the array activated, the Nine Souls Array Platform, like a sealed celestial wheel dormant for millennia, slowly reviveed. The radiance of the runes converged, illuminating the entire sealed trial area, and streams of soul power surged from beneath the platform, as if ancient souls were breaking free from their seal!
At this moment, the soul consciousness of every person who stepped in was impacted and tested by the "Soul-Sealing Suppression Seal".
On the main platform, Qin Yu stood motionless. Suddenly, a faint blue lightning bolt spread from the center of the array to the feet of him. The lightning bolt was extremely thin, as if it were about to reach the very source of his soul. The moment the lightning bolt touched him, the entire main platform trembled violently!
"The pressure on his soul has begun... The array's core seal is stripping away a wisp of his original soul essence?"
The high-ranking members of the sect who were watching all narrowed their eyes.
Boom!!!
In Qin Yu's mind, a thunderous soul exploded, his vision was torn apart, and his sea of consciousness was like an abyss of ten thousand thunderbolts. His soul and body were pulled, torn apart, and then forcibly compressed into a blue and white rune array!
At that moment, Qin Yu's expression changed drastically, but he did not struggle violently. Instead, he closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and sank his mind and body into the deepest part of his Soul Sea. With Ultimate calmness, he forcefully suppressed the power that Soul Rend and sent it back to the source of his consciousness sea!
"Want to suppress me? Ask me for permission first."
His voice was deep and resonant, like a raging inferno within thunder.
The runes around his body trembled slightly. Although the Azure Ring was not revealed, a wisp of "Soul-Stabilizing Causal Law" hidden deep within it was slowly unfolding, dissolving and absorbing the power of the suppressing seal that had invaded his soul consciousness!
Meanwhile, on the Second Soul array platform, Qian Ruishan's condition became even more severe.
Within her sea of consciousness, two soul shadows appeared simultaneously, one icy blue and holy, the other pitch black and still. The two souls resonated like two gates, jointly resisting the soul-sealing suppression!
But just as the Soul Town descended, the black soul shadow suddenly whispered, "One day... you will have to choose."
Bang!!
The entire Second Soul array platform suddenly erupted with waves of ice and lightning, freezing the runes and shattering the soul mist in the sky.
Everyone looked up in shock, only to see an unnamed blue soul light emerge from behind Qian Ruishan. It seemed to have no causal connection with this world, yet it appeared like a sovereign god within the torn Soul Seal!
The sect leader's gaze changed abruptly, and he slowly sat up straight.
"Her soul... has completely broken free from the shackles of the soul path."
Qian Ruishan seemed completely oblivious to all of this, only looking at Qin Yu with her eyes slightly narrowed and her lips moving silently:
"I don't know why you chose this path... but if you don't go, I won't back down."
On the third platform, Ming Ye's black flame soul shadow suddenly contracted. Deep within his sea of consciousness, an ancient seal seemed to be triggered, and a ghostly spirit transformed into a snake, coiling around his consciousness core as if to devour it entirely!
Ming Ye suddenly opened his eyes, and five Soul Seal appeared on his palm:
"Fate-Returning Soul Seal, Nether Wheel Without Life —Break!"
A black vortex exploded, the soul serpent shattered, and the sea of consciousness trembled!
However, Shang Kui on the fourth platform suddenly coughed up black blood when the soul pressure descended. A soul thought formed by the "Realm Poison Soul Pattern" was forcibly forced out of his body by the array core runes and was annihilated on the spot!
Shang Kui roared, "Impossible! My Soul Seal... how could it be countered by the suppressing seal?!"
The disciples of the Thousand Realms Sect were shocked; none of them were not horrified.
The Soul Stele Trial could actually shatter the very essence of Soul Seal?!
Beneath the sky, the Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation was in full operation. The soul pressure and soul power of every True Soul Level 5 expert on the Nine Souls Array Platform surged and rose like a raging storm, converging on the "Sealing Soul-Suppressing Chain" at the center of the array.
At the center of the array, where the soul patterns intersect, a black and gold lockstone, engraved with countless ancient Soul Seal, slowly appears. The stone is three zhang tall, like the foundation of the realm, and the nine illusory sealing chains on it tremble one by one.
This is the "Suppression Seal Soul Stele" left behind by the Thousand Realms Sect—only those who pass the most rigorous soul pressure test can activate it!
"Qin Yu, your Soul Suppression Value... surpasses the limits of the Soul Stele!"
As the Soul Hall elder's voice faded, the entire audience was horrified.
All eyes converged on the main platform. Qin Yu's black hair rippled, and the Qi of the universe flowed backward. Although the power of the Azure Ring within his body was still being suppressed, the perfected fifth-order True Soul realm erupted completely at this moment.
Boom!!
The Soul Stele suddenly trembled violently, and a phantom resembling a "Origin Tribulation Soul Chain" pierced through the monument, surging out rapidly from the Ninefold Soul Lock and rushing straight towards Qin Yu!
"Backlash from the Soul Stele!?"
"He activated the Origin-level Soul Chain without first summoning the Soul Seal; that's far too dangerous!"
"If it cannot be suppressed, this chain will backfire on its soul, leaving its fate uncertain!"
On the nine Soul Platforms, Ge Minglan, Ming Ye, Shang Kui, and the others were all shocked.
Ge Minglan, in particular, frowned deeply. He had long anticipated the mystery of this formation, but he had not expected that Qin Yu could awaken the "Origin-level Soul Chain"!
"Has he gone mad? Knowing that the Soul Stele is unstable, he directly used his Soul Shell to draw upon the fury of the Suppressing Chains?"
The Soul-Sealing Array patterns roared, and the Soul Locks surged. At the core of the array, the illusory Source Chain crashed down on Qin Yu's Soul Sea like a thunderbolt.
At that moment, Qian Ruishan made her move!
She stepped out of the Soul Platform, a flash of light appeared between her brows, and her two souls resonated. The icy blue soul shadow unfolded faintly, condensing into a snow-patterned soul ring in her palm, blocking Qin Yu's path.
"Qin Yu, take a step back."
But Qin Yu merely turned and smiled, his palms flat on his chest, his Soul Sea appearing naturally, undaunted by the source chains' pressure on his soul, his tone low and firm:
"I will not back down, because this is a hurdle I must overcome."
Boom boom boom--
As the soul chain struck the Soul Sea, a faint golden light suddenly shone in Qin Yu's eyes!
The third form of the Azure Ring did not manifest, but its "Soul Suppression Returns to the Abyss" essence resonated faintly in the depths of the Soul Sea, causing the source chain to tremble suddenly just before it arrived. It was forcibly suppressed into the depths of the Soul Sea, transforming into a "Soul Seal Imprint" engraved within its consciousness!
In an instant, the entire hall fell silent.
Ming Ye closed his eyes and sighed softly, Ge Minglan's pupils contracted, and Shang Kui clenched his fist suddenly, exuding a chilling aura.
--At this moment, the Soul Master Array slowly retracted the light of the Source Chain, and the first layer of the Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation was officially completed!
"He used his physical body Soul Sea to withstand the Origin-level Soul Chain?"
"This is... the true seal of the Soul Stele!? From this day forward, the Soul Stele of the Thousand Realms Sect will likely be reshuffled."
Among the disciples outside the formation, some murmured, while deep within the Soul Hall, the sect leader and the elders remained silent, only a "hidden gaze" silently watching Qin Yu from the center of the formation, lingering for a long time...
The Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation returned to calm, but within the Thousand Realms Sect, no one truly relaxed.
"The Soul Suppression Platform is complete; the battle of True Soul has officially begun!"
The Soul Hall elder's voice echoed once more.
Of the nine disciples who passed the Soul Chain Imprint, only six Soul Sealing Platforms remain. These platforms are formed from arrays and each has its own unique style. The platform Qin Yu erected is called the "No-Silence Soul Platform," the oldest and most mysterious of all. Its body is constructed of pure black boundary rock, unburnt by soul fire and unlit by boundary light, seemingly sunk in an abyss of eternal damnation. Only a true master of soul imprinting can detonate its primordial soul power.
The platforms for the remaining five people are as follows:
-Ming Ye · Nether Ash Soul Platform
-Ge Minglan · Myriad Phenomena Soul Platform
-Shang Kui · Realm Poison Soul Platform
-Kong Che Illusory Sealing Soul Platform
-Hua Yin · Blood Extreme Soul Platform
As their souls converged, the auras of the six individuals surged and roared. At this moment, the sect's Soul Stele appeared, beginning to record the combat soul pressure and soul skill vibration values of the six individuals in real time.
"Combat style: No contest of cultivation level, no life-or-death struggle, only a contest of the explosive power and control of soul pressure."
"Ultimately, the 'Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation' will determine the ranking of the six souls based on three factors: the degree of soul pressure suppression, the proficiency in using soul skills, and the Limit the Soul Sea's endurance!"
The battle has officially begun!
Qin Yu on the No-Silence Soul Platform, silently raising his hand. Black soul flames slowly condensed in his palm, revealing—
[Silent Origin: Wheel-Breaking Seal]!
With a single strike, he instantly suppressed the soul patterns beneath the Soul Platform, causing the entire platform to tremble!
At the same time, Ming Ye moved, transforming into a black shadow and disappearing into the bottom of the Nether Ash Soul Platform. Moments later, the ground suddenly collapsed, and ten thousand soul shadows transformed into blades, revolving around the entire platform. That was none other than his renowned "Shadow Prison Soul-Severing Formation".
Shang Kui bit his fingertip, and the poisonous blood spilled onto the Soul Platform, triggering the "Realm Poison Soul Pattern." However, it was immediately suppressed by the formation, indicating that the Soul Pattern contained external force and did not conform to the rules of the Soul Platform!
Ge Minglan lightly gestured with his fingers, and the Myriad Manifestations Formation appeared above the Soul Platform, Soul Transformation images. However, once his soul control technique was used, the core of the Soul Platform began to vibrate, indicating that his soul control skills were not yet fully self-consistent.
Kong Che was the quietest. He set up nine phantom images of himself on the stage, merging illusionary consciousness and soul pattern techniques. After unleashing a single strike, he shattered three of his own soul bodies, demonstrating an extremely high level of self-harming soul control.
Hua Yin... then used his pure flesh and blood soul to unleash the "Extreme-Breaking Soul Seal," forcibly suppressing his Soul Sea with his physical soul, and shattered the soul pattern center of the entire platform with a single punch, causing the entire soul platform to suddenly dim!
Six people side by side, shaking the very foundations of the world!
The sect disciples watched the battle with bated breath, while the elders made their assessments from the high platform. The Soul Stele's light and shadow automatically began ranking, comparing, and identifying data.
Qin Yu, at the very center of the Soul Platform, concealed his soul fire and did not retreat an inch.
He knew full well that this competition was not about defeating his opponent, but rather...
"So that they'll never see my back again."
After a storm, it was discovered that the two remaining on the Soul Platform were Qin Yu and Ming Ye.
The two of them will enter the final Soul Platform duel.
Qin Yu and Ming Ye stepped onto the final Soul Platform almost simultaneously, one to the east and one to the west. Their soul light tore through the sky, and the world suddenly fell silent. Under everyone's gaze, the Soul Sealing Platform trembled violently, and two soul pressure avatars condensed almost at the same time. Both were figures in black robes, yet they exuded extreme sharpness and killing intent.
Ming Ye made his move silently, and a phantom of a fallen night soul appeared behind him. The shadow was like a surging tide, instantly transforming into countless soul blades that flew towards Qin Yu. Qin Yu's spear trembled, the Gray Ring disappeared, and the power of the Ring Spear had transformed into a wisp of dark golden flame, directly devouring those soul blades one by one from the void.
Neither of them used their trump cards, both testing each other. Ming Ye coldly said, "You are stronger than the rumors suggest." Qin Yu replied calmly, "You are not as arrogant as you appear." Amidst the clashing of their soul lights, their divine senses had already generated several intense sparks, however—
Just when everyone thought this was a doomed duel, the two stopped almost simultaneously. Ming Ye withdrew his soul shadow and chuckled softly, "This battle shouldn't be decided at this moment." Qin Yu also slowly lowered his spear, "You are not the enemy."
The Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation trembled slightly, as if in response to the tacit understanding between the two. On the Soul Stele, their rankings remained unchanged, yet their soul pressures trembled, stabilizing their respective positions. In a corner unnoticed by anyone, the two exchanged a glance, and the bond of comradeship had quietly taken root.
"If one day in the future the Shang Lineage Clan and the Soul Hunting Army cause turmoil, you and I joining forces may not be unable to defy fate." Ming Ye's voice echoed like a night ghost, falling into the depths of Qin Yu's mind. He did not respond, but at that moment, his Azure Ring seemed to tremble slightly, as if acknowledging this unspoken oath.
As Qin Yu and Ming Ye stepped down from the Soul Platform, the Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation trembled violently once more, and the tenth Soul Platform appeared, unlike any of the previous ones. It was shaped like a hexagonal ice crystal, with a Cold Core Soul Pillar rising from its center, radiating extreme cold icy brilliance, as if a ten-thousand-year-old snowfield had solidified into a sacred altar of souls. The entire sect was forced into Entering Stillness for a moment, and even the Soul Shadow of the Realm Master showed a brief moment of contemplation.
Clad in an ice-feathered soul robe, Qian Ruishan silently ascended the Soul Platform. Her steps were calm and steady, yet with each step, frost spread through the void, freezing the flow of soul array energy. Just as she stepped into the center of the platform, the soul pillar at its center suddenly exploded, unleashing a dual-soul vortex, accompanied by a surging tide of strange phenomena—
Countless soul patterns intertwined to form the illusory image of a young girl, slowly rising from between Qian Ruishan's brows. It was a girl almost identical to her, only fainter, more distant, and more Kong Ling. The girl's eyes gazed at Qian Ruishan's true form, and she slowly spoke, "You... in the end, you still came to this."
The sect leader's expression changed drastically, and all the elders of the Soul Hall were moved. Even Qin Yu, who was outside the formation, looked up instantly. Under the Azure Ring, he felt a kind of transcendent fluctuation that was completely different from the laws of the soul—it was an existence from "outside the Soul Path," a soul dimension that should not exist in the present world.
"This... she has two souls in one body?! Besides the Heavenly Soul, she also has a Silent Soul?" an elder exclaimed in shock. "And it's a living resonance? No, it's someone whose destiny contract hasn't been formed yet!"
Qian Ruishan's expression faltered slightly, as if in some pain, yet she remained steadfast. Her voice, as soft as snowflakes, rang out. "I knew this soul existed... but I never imagined it would fully awaken today."
The two illusory souls gazed in Qin Yu's direction and whispered, "Since you have chosen him as your life-bound soul... then from now on, the only option is to fight side by side to the death." These words caused Qin Yu's heart to tremble slightly, and ripples spread deep within the Azure Ring.
Boom! The edges of the entire Soul Platform crumbled, and countless ice-core lock patterns appeared in the void, forcibly stabilizing the platform from collapse. The Soul-Sealing Ritual Formation instantly suppressed the Soul Platform with ten thousand lines of rules. But at this moment, the entire sect knew: Qian Ruishan was no longer an ordinary person.
"She... may have transcended the realm and is no longer within the Soul Path." The sect leader murmured to himself, but said nothing more. His gaze fell on Qin Yu, and he murmured, "If you are truly her bond... perhaps the changes in this world can truly lead us out of that 'Forbidden Soul Path'."
The Soul-Sealing Array gradually fell silent, the array patterns in the sky receded one by one, and the nine Soul Seal swirled from the nine Soul Platforms, slowly returning to the core of the array. With the dissipation of the last wisp of soul pressure, this 'Sealed Battle Soul Trial' finally came to an end. On the plaza, Qin Yu, Qian Ruishan, Ming Ye, and others slowly walked out from the Soul Platforms, each with a different expression, yet all had undergone a transformation etched into their very souls.
The core of the Soul Sealing Array slowly returned to its place, and the Soul Stele trembled for three breaths before solidifying again, with the rankings on it automatically changing. A new Soul Rankings appeared: Qian Ruishan remained in first place, Qin Yu followed closely behind, his Soul Pressure Infusion had completely stabilized his True Soul at the fifth level of perfection, Ming Ye remained in third place.
But at this moment, the most eye-catching thing was not the Soul Stele itself, but the two people who slowly walked down the Soul Platform— Qin Yu and Qian Ruishan.
His soul light had not faded, and the deep light from the fierce battle still lingered in his eyes; while she, her icy soul had not dissipated, the fluctuations of her two souls gradually calmed, and her slightly pursed lips seemed to hide a desire that bloomed only for him.
Their eyes met, and no words were spoken; time seemed to stand still at that moment.
A rare tenderness appeared in Qian Ruishan's eyes. She took half a step closer and whispered, "You... in the end, you still stood in front of me."
Qin Yu shook his head. "Not in front, just side by side."
The two stood side by side beneath the Soul Stele, gazing at the sky, a silent resonance brewing between them.
At this moment, all the clamor and exclamations of the disciples seemed to become background noise, as if the entire world was filled only with the resonance between their souls.