[Martial Soul Ranking Seventeenth: Seven Slaughter Sword]
[Holder: Chen Xin (Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect)]
[Evaluation: A top-tier weapon-type martial soul on the continent, the supreme king among sword martial souls. It is innately endowed with the Seven Slaughter Domain and possesses powerful offensive methods such as the Seven Slaughter Sword Art.]
[Reward: Soul power level increased by 1 level, all soul ring age limits increased by eight hundred years, the ninth soul ring evolves into the one-hundred-thousand-year tier, and the sharpness of the martial soul increases by 10 percent.]
As the ranking was revealed, countless people stared at the Seven Slaughter Sword martial soul, which was ranked only seventeenth, and were left speechless for a long time.
"The Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is only ranked seventeenth?"
"The Sword Douluo is the number one sword user on the continent, yet he is only seventeenth. The depths of this continent run far deeper than we thought!"
"Forget about that for now. Didn't you see one of the rewards? The ninth soul ring is upgraded to the one-hundred-thousand-year tier. That is a one-hundred-thousand-year soul ring!"
"Exactly. If being ranked only seventeenth already gives such generous rewards, wouldn't the top few be completely heaven-defying?"
"My heavens, this is absolute madness."
Within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Chen Xin, who had been locked in an intense battle with Bone Douluo Gu Rong, suddenly halted in midair.
The rewards from the golden ranking had already been distributed. He closed his eyes to sense them, and a power that made him feel incomparably warm and deeply yearning slowly flowed into both his martial soul and his physical body.
It was as if his very soul was becoming light and blissful under this warm power.
The Seven Slaughter Sword trembled without cease, and the sound of sword resonance echoed throughout the entire Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
"Clang…"
Another sword cry rang out as the soul rings beneath Chen Xin's feet began to change.
First was his soul power level, which had not budged for many years. It surged instantly from level ninety-six to the peak of level ninety-seven. His overall presence strengthened by far more than just a little.
At the same time, the sword intent of the Seven Slaughter Sword, already so sharp that it could not be gazed upon directly, became even more peerlessly sharp under the shroud of golden light.
"Boom…"
The space above the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect suddenly collapsed, torn apart by the terrifying sword energy released by the Seven Slaughter Sword.
An increase of 10 percent in martial soul sharpness was without question the greatest opportunity the Seven Slaughter Sword martial soul could receive.
As both the martial soul and level improved, the soul rings beneath his feet also underwent astonishing changes.
Purple, purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!
Nine soul rings circulated freely above the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Not a single yellow soul ring was present. Every one of them was over a thousand years old.
The ninth soul ring, in particular, was the blood-red one-hundred-thousand-year soul ring, the supreme treasure sought after by countless soul masters in the soul master world.
"Old Swordman, your strength has actually reached such a terrifying level?"
Bone Douluo Gu Rong was utterly shocked. Previously, Chen Xin's Seven Slaughter Sword martial soul had been evenly matched with his own defensive capabilities, and neither side could easily do anything to the other.
Earlier, after Gu Rong himself had received various rewards from entering the ranking, Chen Xin's attacks had become even less capable of breaking his defenses.
But now?
Gu Rong touched the cut on his face, sliced open by sword energy casually released by the Seven Slaughter Sword, and could not help but feel alarmed.
As a long-time rival and old friend, no one understood better than him what an increase of 10 percent in martial soul sharpness truly meant.
What was more, was Chen Xin's soul ring configuration even something a human could possess?
The power of a single one-hundred-thousand-year soul ring undoubtedly pushed Chen Xin's strength to the peak of his life.
Seeing Gu Rong standing there in a daze, a faint smile flickered across the Sword Douluo's face.
His hands, calloused from years of sword practice, gently stroked the blade of the Seven Slaughter Sword. That feeling of perfect harmony, of wanting to cut down everything, grew ever stronger.
"Old Bones, do you still dare to keep fighting?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Thus, the two who had just paused resumed their fierce battle amid the cheers of the many disciples of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Any soul master at the Soul Saint level or above could clearly see it.
The Sword Douluo's offensive power had increased by far more than just a few degrees. Bone Douluo was forced to rely on spatial power, constantly shifting through the void, just to barely keep up.
Ning Fengzhi watched the two of them with an unprecedented heaviness on his face.
If Bone Douluo, due to unfamiliarity with the development direction of his martial soul, had changed the spatial Bone Dragon's main offensive path into a defensive one, then ranking eighteenth was something Ning Fengzhi could accept.
But…
The Seven Slaughter Sword martial soul was one that had carved out a fearsome reputation across the continent. Anyone from a major power knew its name.
From the current generation's Chen Xin, to the previous generation's Chen Jianjun, and even further back to the sword hero Chen Xun, which one of them was not a renowned powerhouse?
If one were to be truly strict about it, who would dare claim that the development direction of the Seven Slaughter Sword martial soul was wrong?
This meant there was only one possible conclusion. The Seven Slaughter Sword could only rank at this position.
Thinking of this, Ning Fengzhi let out a bitter smile. How laughable that the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect called itself one of the Upper Three Sects, when there were still so many powerful individuals and martial souls in the world that he had never even known existed.
Within the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong gripped the Papal Scepter even more tightly. A trembling hum even came from within the staff itself, revealing the fury she felt at that moment.
"A one-hundred-thousand-year soul ring. There truly is a reward of this level."
"What a Sword Douluo. What a Bone Douluo."
Bibi Dong quickly calmed herself. Regardless of how many martial souls from the Spirit Hall would appear in the top ranks, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect could no longer be treated with an ordinary mindset.
Bone Douluo at level ninety-six, with strengthened spatial power, was absolutely no weaker than a level ninety-seven Titled Douluo.
Chen Xin, originally already at the peak of level ninety-six, not only broke through to the peak of level ninety-seven, but also received such heaven-defying changes to his soul ring configuration. There were likely very few people in the Spirit Hall who could defeat him.
And with these two, if Ning Fengzhi were to fully support them, then aside from herself and Qian Daoliu, who in the entire Spirit Hall could compare?
...
Bibi Dong felt as though her heart was bleeding. She had schemed for many years, secretly cultivating and recruiting so many Titled Douluo, all for the sake of eradicating the Upper Three Sects.
Yet now, could these Titled Douluo at levels ninety-two and ninety-three really block Chen Xin's full-powered strike?
Bibi Dong asked herself, and the answer was no.
The Titled Douluo she had recruited did not even have a chance to make it onto the ranking.
"Forget it. Once I inherit the divine position, dealing with them will be effortless."
"With my innate talent, the rewards I gain on the Martial Soul Ranking will naturally be even more generous."
Bibi Dong comforted herself inwardly, while not forgetting to pass down her command.
"All elders, heed my order. The Soul Hunting Plan is temporarily canceled. Everything will be discussed again after this upheaval."
"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope!"
Within the Hall of Offerings, doubts were also raised about this ranking.
"Eldest Brother, we all know the strength of the Seven Slaughter Sword martial soul. Aside from the two of us, even Third Brother and the others cannot really compare."
"Yet it is only ranked seventeenth…"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's words were understood by the Third through Seventh Offerings. What he implied was that they themselves might not appear on the ranking at all.
"I have crossed hands with Chen Xun and Chen Jianjun. One was a level ninety-eight peak Titled Douluo, the other a level ninety-seven peak. Their swordsmanship was divine. But Chen Xin…"
"He is still lacking. When he entered the ranking, he was only level ninety-six. Ranking here is only natural."
"After all, this ranking looks not only at the martial soul, but also at the soul master's degree of development. In this regard, Chen Xin is still inferior to his father."
"If it were Chen Jianjun or Chen Xun instead, their ranking would definitely not be this low."
"Third Brother, you need not belittle yourselves."
"Yes, Eldest Brother!"
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