Chapter 237: Breaking Through To Rank 50, the Young Soul King
Dugu Yan crossed her legs, the tip of her foot swaying lazily as she watched the show unfold with great interest.
She chuckled and nudged Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing on either side with her elbows.
"Hey, you two, you've been in here for half an hour already, just glaring at each other without moving toward the registration desk. What's wrong, scared of losing to the other person, so neither of you dares to get on stage?"
Zhu Zhuqing's dark, bright eyes swept over her.
Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed against the soul tool at her waist.
"I won't lose."
"As for you, you've been slacking lately. Once Qingmo comes out of seclusion, you'll definitely get scolded."
"Hey, you little brat!"
Dugu Yan's forehead was covered in black lines.
She really had been slacking recently, but could that even be blamed on her?
Lin Qingmo was in seclusion.
She was the only Soul Ancestor in the Royal Fighting Team now. There wasn't even anyone left who could pressure her. Even if she wanted to train hard, it was getting difficult.
"Stop arguing, stop arguing!"
Xiao Wu straightened up and glared at Zhu Zhuqing, cheeks puffed up like a pufferfish.
"What did you just say? You won't lose? I was clearly the one who got the Silver Soul Badge first!"
Zhu Zhuqing turned her gaze back and slightly raised a brow.
"Oh? Based on what?"
"Based on my three consecutive wins last week!"
Xiao Wu slammed the table and nearly knocked over the teacup.
"How about we add a wager? Betting only on the badge is boring!"
"What do you want to bet?"
Zhu Zhuqing leaned forward slightly, genuine interest finally appearing in her eyes.
Xiao Wu lifted her chin confidently.
"Listen up. If I win, Zhuqing, you buy me carrots for three months."
She paused, eyes darting around mischievously.
"If you win, I'll be your sparring partner. Train me however you want, and I won't complain. So? Dare or not?"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't even hesitate and nodded faintly. "Deal."
"Hey, wait!"
Dugu Yan immediately leaned over and patted her chest eagerly.
"This sounds way too interesting. I'll be the witness!"
"If either of you loses and tries to back out, I'll let her taste my new poison. I guarantee she won't be able to sleep for three days and nights!"
Xiao Wu shivered and glared at her.
"You're using poison on us? Yanzi, that's way too vicious."
"You have to be a bit cruel to keep things under control."
Dugu Yan grinned smugly.
Right then, the host in the center of the Soul Arena shouted out the next match lineup at the top of his lungs.
The booming voice echoed throughout the arena.
"The next Soul Fight match will be between—Evil Eye White Tiger versus Thousand Hand Asura!"
Before the words even finished, the audience instantly exploded into chaos.
Countless spectators jumped to their feet, waving flags and shouting themselves hoarse. Even the stands trembled faintly from the uproar.
When Xiao Wu heard those two names, she snorted disdainfully and set her teacup down heavily, face filled with disgust.
"Those two annoying guys again."
She frowned and jabbed Dugu Yan with her elbow.
"Yanzi, Tang San neutralized your poison before. Don't you want revenge?"
Dugu Yan curled her lips dismissively. "I'm a Soul Ancestor now. Bullying a Soul Elder would be too embarrassing if word got out."
The two chatted noisily back and forth.
But when they turned around, they found Zhu Zhuqing completely silent.
Her gaze was locked onto Dai Mubai, who had just stepped onto the Soul Arena. Her fingertips clenched until they turned pale, while intense battle intent churned in her eyes.
Dugu Yan leaned closer and nudged her with an elbow.
"Still watching? When are you planning to beat him up?"
She knew a little about the grudge between Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai.
"When I become stronger."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cold as ice, yet her eyes never left the Soul Arena.
Dugu Yan whistled. "When the time comes, and you get on stage, I'll rent the front row and cheer for you!"
Xiao Wu also leaned over, clenching her fists eagerly.
"Remember to call me too. I want to watch."
"If I ever run into those two in the Soul Arena someday, I'm definitely beating them black and blue."
"I'm a Soul Ancestor, and that Dai Mubai is also a Soul Ancestor. Maybe I'll meet him before you do. When that happens, I'll make him understand just how terrifying my poison is."
Dugu Yan laughed as she continued, a sly gleam flashing through her eyes.
…
The back mountain of Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Blue Silver Grass stretched across the mountains like endless waves, swaying with the wind like a blue ocean.
Sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves, scattering fragments of golden light across the sea of blue.
Lin Qingmo sat cross-legged at the center of the Blue Silver Grass field, eyes closed as he entered deep meditation.
Dressed in plain white robes, his body was wrapped in a faint layer of blue light that blended seamlessly with the surrounding Blue Silver Grass. Without looking carefully, it was impossible to even spot him.
A particularly vibrant strand of Blue Silver Grass wrapped around his wrist. Its leaves were glossy and faintly glowing with golden light, utterly different from the ordinary Blue Silver Grass around it.
It was none other than Ah Yin, the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor, rebuilding herself.
Lin Qingmo's soul power circulated slowly through his meridians.
With every completed circulation cycle, large amounts of pure Blue Silver Grass aura flowed into his body through his pores, nourishing his soul veins and cleansing impurities.
Ah Yin's Blue Silver Emperor bloodline resonated with the countless Blue Silver Grasses spread throughout the mountains, continuously injecting the purest life energy into his body to help him break through to Rank 50.
His mind was calm as still water, focused solely on guiding his soul power.
No one knew how much time had passed.
The soul power that had been steadily circulating within him suddenly surged violently.
Like a river breaking free of its banks, it launched a fierce assault against the Rank 50 bottleneck.
The endless Blue Silver Grass across the mountains seemed to answer a summons as it frantically gathered toward him.
Countless blue particles floated out from the grass blades like stars filling the sky, pouring into his body all at once.
"Ah Yin, help me protect my heart meridian."
His eyes remained shut, his voice soft as a breeze yet calm and unwavering.
The Blue Silver Grass wrapped around his wrist instantly erupted with dazzling golden light. Its leaves gently brushed against his cheek, carrying a soothing intent.
An endless stream of life energy surged through his neck, stabilizing his turbulent soul power as it slowly washed away the final barrier.
Lin Qingmo's mind remained as firm as a rock as he guided the raging soul power again and again against that wall.
With every impact, the bottleneck loosened a little more.
The barrier that had obstructed him for so long was gradually shattering.
Finally, a faint sound that only he could hear exploded within his body.
The Rank 50 bottleneck completely broke.
The surging soul power flooded into broader meridians like a breached dam.
The violent power gradually calmed and finally stabilized firmly at Rank 50.
The wildly gathered Blue Silver Grasses slowly returned to normal, once again swaying gently with the wind.
The countless blue light particles in the sky gradually dispersed as well.
He had successfully broken through.
Lin Qingmo slowly opened his eyes, let out a long breath, and stood up, patting the grass scraps from his clothes.
He lowered his head, looking at the Blue Silver Grass wrapped around his wrist. His fingertips lightly touched the glossy leaves, his tone warm and sincere.
"Ah Yin, thank you this time."
"Without you helping me stabilize my soul power, I couldn't have broken through this quickly."
The Blue Silver Grass leaves gently rubbed against his fingertips affectionately.
A faint smile curved onto Lin Qingmo's lips as his fingers softly brushed across the leaves with utmost care.
"When I was breaking through just now, why did it feel like you were even more nervous than I was? I could practically feel your leaves trembling."
The leaves brushed lightly against his cheek again, carrying a faint grassy fragrance, almost shyly blaming him for exposing her feelings.
End of Chapter
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