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**
Hearing Ling Xiao's words, a smirk broke across Yan's face, and he spoke up, "Hmph, Ling Xiao, it seems this is your true motive. What you said earlier about mostly fighting soul beasts, lacking experience against soul masters, and needing more training was nothing but a pretext."
"Your real intention is to challenge the successors of the major factions in the soul master world, defeat them, and forge your own glorious reputation. Whether someone's cultivation has reached the Soul Ancestor realm doesn't matter to you at all."
"You want to declare to the world that you, Ling Xiao, stand at the absolute apex of the current soul master world's younger generation. You're after the title of the Number One Figure among the younger generation of the soul master world."
"Heh, Yan, you truly are someone who has competed against me for many years; you've read my mind perfectly."
Seeing his inner thoughts exposed by Yan, Ling Xiao no longer concealed them. He laughed and said, "If you want that title too, I don't mind accepting your challenge. However, that will have to wait for the future."
"Right now, I have no interest in you. The Martial Souls inherited by the major factions across the soul master world are incredibly diverse, and every single one of them is an exceptionally powerful Martial Soul. They are the ones I am interested in."
As he spoke, a brilliant light erupted from Ling Xiao's eyes.
Even though his Profound Sky Axe was a top-tier Martial Soul, he would never look down on the might of high-grade or other top-tier Martial Souls because of it.
Years ago, he had already wanted to personally experience the formidable inherited Martial Souls of the major factions. Today, with his cultivation newly established, it was the perfect time to test his edge.
"Although some of the most exceptional younger generation within the major factions right now haven't reached the Soul Ancestor realm, you must understand that they are by no means characters ordinary Soul Elder rank soul masters can compare to."
"Without exception, every single one of them possesses outstanding innate Martial Soul talent. Not only are their Martial Souls powerful, but they have also never lacked cultivation resources since childhood."
"Moreover, they are guided by famous masters, and their mastery and understanding of their own Martial Souls are definitely not things ordinary soul masters can hope to match.
"Some of the exceptionally powerful sects and clans even possess their own inherited secret techniques. Take an existence at the level of the Seven Great Sects, for instance."
"Their most outstanding younger generation, even if they haven't reached the Soul Ancestor realm, can easily hold their own against ordinary Soul Ancestors as long as they have the cultivation of a high-stage Soul Elder."
"In fact, it's highly likely they could even defeat them."
"Furthermore, if I duel those who are only at the Soul Elder realm, I will also suppress my soul power to the peak of the Soul Elder rank. While the inherent strength of a Martial Soul's origin power cannot be completely masked."
"I will have done my best to suppress my own strength. If they don't even have the courage to accept a challenge under these conditions, then they simply lack the qualification to exchange blows with me, Ling Xiao."
"These disciples of grand sects and great clans all hail from extraordinary backgrounds and look down on everyone from a high perch. Few among their peers can contend with them. Defeating every single one of them... don't you think that sounds like a lot of fun?"
Ling Xiao said slowly, a hint of a smile gracing his eyes.
"It truly is a very interesting matter. Ling Xiao, I'll go with you," Yan said, highly intrigued, as the fighting spirit within his heart was thoroughly ignited by Ling Xiao's words.
"But do we really have to travel to the major factions one by one entirely on our own?"
Hearing Yan's question, Ling Xiao turned his gaze toward the distance and shook his head.
"Of course not. This time, I intend to borrow the might of Spirit Hall. I have already submitted a request to Her Holiness the Pope. Spirit Hall will arrange a grand contingent, led by an Elder of the Titled Douluo level."
"We will hoist our banners high and journey to the major factions of the soul master world to challenge their younger generation, delivering challenge letters well in advance."
Ling Xiao's shocking declaration left Yan utterly astounded once again.
"What did you say?! You want to challenge the major factions under the name of Spirit Hall, with a Titled Douluo Elder leading the way, and even deliver formal challenge letters?"
"Doing this means it's no longer just a personal matter between members of the younger generation. It could even trigger a conflict between Spirit Hall and the major factions. Would Her Holiness the Pope actually agree to this?"
"Just as you suspected, Her Holiness the Pope has indeed agreed."
Staring blankly at Ling Xiao, Yan had previously thought that Ling Xiao's desire to challenge those exceptionally gifted talents was merely to make a name for himself. But now, he began to doubt.
Was Ling Xiao's objective truly that simple?
Why would the Pope agree to such a request?
Sensing Yan's confusion, Ling Xiao smiled secretly to himself. He had been plotting this matter for several years; it was by no means a spontaneous whim.
While journeying to the major factions of the soul master world to challenge their younger generation was indeed to forge his own reputation—letting the name of the Profound Sky Axe resound across the soul master world—
He was not without other motives. What he wanted to achieve was far more than a mere series of challenges. Otherwise, the Pope would never have approved his application.
If this matter was carried out smoothly, it would be equally beneficial to Spirit Hall. At the same time, it was the very first step he was taking to prevent Spirit Hall from being annihilated in the future.
Apart from that, certain setups aimed at Tang San could finally be deployed. In the future, Tang San could forget about having everything go smoothly and bullying others forever like he did in the timeline of Ling Xiao's past life.
Ling Xiao looked at Yan and smiled.
"What, are you scared? If so, you don't have to come along."
Yan snapped out of his daze and snorted coldly.
"Scared? How could I be? I am absolutely going this time. I've wanted to meet the younger generation of the major sects in the soul master world for a long time, I just never had the chance."
"Good. Since that's the case, go back and prepare. Tomorrow morning, we assemble and set out from the foot of the mountain where the Pope Hall is located. Our first stop on this journey is the Elephant Armored Clan."
After Yan left, Ling Xiao quietly gazed into the distance. After pondering in his heart for a moment, he likewise went back to pack his things and bid farewell to his teacher, Mu Chen.
Early the next morning, in the center of Spirit City, at the base of the mountain peak where the Pope Hall stood, a massive crowd of Spirit Hall members gathered, forming an exceptionally large convoy.
At the absolute core of this long procession stood several immensely grand, luxurious carriages heavily designed in the style of the Heaven Dou Empire.
However, what was quite surprising was that the animals used to pull the carriages were not ordinary horses, but soul beasts.
Their bodies radiated a far from weak soul power aura that was of the light attribute, and their cultivation levels were in the realm of hundred-year soul beasts.
Those horse-like soul beasts were completely covered in white scales, with a single horn growing from their heads that flashed with a brilliant light. It was the location where the light-attribute soul power was densest in their entire bodies.
This was precisely a type of soul beast raised by Spirit Hall: the Scaled Horse. Because a single horn grew on its head, it was also called a Unicorn, or a One-Horned Scaled Horse, and it belonged to the descendants of the Ancient Pegasus.
The Ancient Pegasus contained the True Dragon lineage within its body and was ranked among the top-tier soul beasts. Therefore, it could be said that these Scaled Horses also contained a trace of True Dragon blood.
Although it was already extremely diluted, it was still enough for them to reach the level of a mid-grade soul beast. This specific breed of Scaled Horse raised by Spirit Hall was a branch of the light attribute.
Compared to Scaled Horses that contained other types of True Dragon blood, this breed—colloquially known as the White Dragon Steed—was relatively less ferocious and more suited for taming and breeding.
Of course, it was also highly probable that because Spirit Hall operated with the Angel Clan at its core and was further followed by the Sacred Dragon Clan, they had chosen to domesticate light-attribute Scaled Horses.
These Scaled Horses were precisely raised by the clan disciples of the Tuoba Clan within Spirit Hall. Bearing the White Armored Dragon Martial Soul, taming light-attribute Scaled Horses was much easier for them than for other soul masters.
**
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