The Martial Soul vision persisted until the thunderclouds convulsed violently. A golden radiance burst from their depths, billowing outward like a tempest of celestial radiance.

  Violet clouds dissolved into the wind, leaving the heavens pristine as a newborn realm—as though the cataclysm had never occurred.

  Qing Bu Li stood rooted as a mountain of ice, his pallid face betraying no movement until the vision faded completely.

  Only then did he release a shuddering breath, though the shadow of dread lingered in his eyes.

  "That Martial Soul pressure... It had to be from the sovereign of Violet Flames... The one I glimpsed during the Heavenly Martial Summit..."

  A memory surged:

  A throne forged of liquid gold hovered in the void, exuding divine authority. Upon it sat a man of ethereal beauty, his movements flowed like celestial rivers yet concealed the power to shatter creation—as if he could pluck stars from the firmament or shatter the heavens with a mere flick of his wrist.

  A fleeting vision, yet seared eternally into Qing Bu Li’s mind.

  His already ashen face paled to the hue of bone.

  He hovered motionless, ensnared in a vice of reverential dread.

  Soon, over a dozen streaks of light soared from Bai Shui City’s imperial palace.

  Leading them was Hou Mingyi—commander of Cangnan’s royal guard and a master at the Peak Perfection of the True Martial Realm.

  They descended before Qing Bu Li, their wings of faint light shimmering—a hallmark of True Martial warriors, who could shape their energy into weapons, armor, or wings, albeit at immense cost.

  "Dean Qing," Hou Mingyi bowed urgently, his voice taut with unease.

  Qing Bu Li waved a dismissive hand.

  "The matter is resolved. Return."

  Hou Mingyi hesitated. "The emperor demands answers. Our Martial Souls trembled—"

  "My word is the answer."

  Hou Mingyi stiffened, then clasped his fists.

  "By your decree."

  None dared defy the "Martial King," whose authority rivaled emperors across the Northern Five Kingdoms.

  The group retreated swiftly, their wings shimmered with faint light.

  At the academy’s assessment ground, the crowd gradually stirred from their stupor.

  Qin Zhen stood trembling yet unyielding, his robes drenched in cold sweat.

  Yu Liang and Zuo Heng scrambled to their feet, brushing dirt from their clothes—their humiliation laid bare before hundreds.

  Noticing Qin Zhen’s unwavering posture, Yu Liang’s eyes smoldered with envy.

  His students excel, his strength surpasses mine... Even in disgrace, he stands tall.

  Zuo Heng shot a furtive glance at Wu Qiyue, relieved to find her eyes closed:

  Perhaps she didn’t witness my shame.

  Other students with awakened Martial Souls rose calmly, their pride less bruised.

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  Wu Qiyue, however, bore the deepest scars.

  She discreetly wiped twin trails of blood from her eyes, now bloodshot and raw.

  A single thought crushing mountains and rivers...

  Her mind reeled.

  That was the Supreme Martial Soul’s “Dominion Over All”!

  Only “Unrivaled Under Heaven” or “Supreme Tyranny” could unleash such yang-infused, cosmos-rending pressure.

  But their bearers...

  Could that phenomenon have been caused by one of those legends merely passing through? Not Xiao Chen?

  Wu Qiyue's mind churned with a storm of suspicion and terror, countless doubts swirled in her mind.

  Recalling the terrifying pressure that had just crushed her, she couldn't help but tremble from head to toe, her fear overwhelming her self-control.

  "Qiyue, fear not," Zuo Heng proclaimed, oblivious to the dirt staining his knees.

  "Even if the heavens crumble, I shall shield you!"

  Zuo Heng felt her trembling and hastily stepped forward to showcase himself.

  Scarcely had he finished speaking when he felt the weight of scornful stares around him.

  Mud still caked his limbs and knees, yet he seemed to have forgotten his humiliating state entirely.

  Wu Qiyue opened her eyes, though they had regained their clarity, yet weariness lingered within. She paid no heed to Zuo Heng.

  Zuo Heng flushed scarlet. The crimson flush spread from his cheeks to his ears, stark against the dirt-streaked uniform.

  He shooting venomous glares at snickering students until they averted their gazes.

  "Oh! What... was that?" a student stammered, clutching his chest.

  "My Soul nearly shattered!"

  "Martial Soul suppression," Qin Zhen replied grimly.

  "A being of unimaginable power unleashed their Soul, crushing all others."

  " Headmaster Qing!" Yu Liang interjected, wiping sweat from his brow.

  "He’s secluded, cultivating a divine technique. Only his Martial Soul could unleash such might!"

  The students brightened. " To behold the Martial King's Celestial Soul—what an honor!"

  Qin Zhen frowned: The dean’s Soul is formidable, yes... But this? This was akin to a deity’s wrath.

  "Resume the assessment," he declared, steadying his voice.

  "Xiao Chen’s Martial Soul light—though faint—is confirmed. He passes."

  No one connected the cataclysm to Xiao Chen, who still stared vacantly at the sky, lost in thought.

  "The idiot...passed?"

  "And has Soul potential? Am I dreaming?"

  Whispers rippled through the crowd as they reassessed the boy who once dragged their class into ridicule—now eerily transformed.

  Yu Liang felt his pride stung. " The spirit stone shattered - who knows what that light is? Now that there was an accident, we must retest him."

  "Absolutely! A retest is necessary!"

  The Fourth Class disciples roared in unison.

  They’d come expecting Xiao Chen’s humiliation，his passing would be a slap to their faces.

  Qin Zhen’s expression froze. "Teacher Yu, since when do you meddle in Third Class affairs?"

  Yu Liang sneered. "Afraid of the truth? If you refuse a retest, I’ll report your favoritism to the academy."

  A voice interjected: "Retesting is tedious. There’s a rule allowing the last placer to challenge anyone. If victorious, their results swap."

  It was Zuo Heng. Qin Zhen paled, realizing the trap.

  "The rule does exist."

  "Perfect." Zuo Heng smirked, pointing casually.

  "Zuo Feng, you’ll score last and challenge Xiao Chen. Succeed, and rewards await."

  Qin Zhen’s rage boiled. Wu Qiyue’s eyes flashed with coldness, then calmed：Xiao Chen’s composure—no trace of triumph after passing—unnerved her. Was his past idiocy an act?

  Zuo Feng, though a lesser Zuo clansman, was a Qi Martial Realm 7th Layer prodigy.

  He approached the tester，struck gently, and said flatly: "Zero points. Now challenging Xiao Chen."

  Qin Zhen trembled. "Fine! My own student betrays me!"

  Zuo Feng faltered under his glare but steeled himself：Once I condense my Martial Soul and enter the Inner Court, Qin Zhen can’t touch me.

  He strode to Xiao Chen, feigning respect. "Let’s spar."

  Xiao Chen’s gaze chilled. "No quarrel exists between us. Yet you seek to humiliate me?"

  Zuo Feng smiled cruelly. "You offended Young Master Heng. Your downfall is your own doing. Still, I’ll show mercy… slightly."

  Laughter erupted.

  "He dares provoke Zuo Heng? Worse than expulsion!"

  "How many moves can the fool survive?"

  "One? Lucky if he lasts that long!"

  Xiao Chen stood serene, robes billowing like storm clouds.

  In this world, strength earns respect. Kindness is mistaken for weakness.

  He cracked his knuckles. "The old saying holds: the meek are trampled. My tolerance bred arrogance. Time to teach you principles of honor."

  "Principles?!" Zuo Feng laughed, qi surging. "A trash with Soul potential dares lecture us? I’ll prove you’re still bottom-tier!"

  Xiao Chen’s eyes glinted like frost. "Mock me as ‘fool’ or ‘trash’—indifference isn’t weakness."

  "Enough!" Zuo Feng’s sleeve shredded as qi erupted. "I’ll cripple you instead!"

  He launched Earthquake Fist—a Yellow- tier mid-rank martial skills ——shattering air like collapsing mountains.

  "Mid-tier technique! That’s Qi Martial 9th Layer power!"

  "Fool! He’s done for!"

  Xiao Chen stepped forward, qi swirling like dragon scales. " Tiger’s Roar and Dragon’s Chant—Azure Mist Slash!"

  A deafening roar split the air. A sword qi of swirling mist erupted, cleaving the earth as if splitting heaven from hell.

  Yellow Tier, Profound Tier, Earth Tier, Heaven Tier, with each tier further subdivided into Low Rank, Middle Rank, and High Rank.

  essence, energy, spirit, soul, and will—a comprehensive manifestation of their martial cultivation. Upon coalescing a Martial Soul, a mark called the Martial Soul Brand manifests on the body. Martial Souls are categorized into four tiers, ascending from lowest to highest: Common, Lord, King, and Emperor, each further divided into Lower, Middle, Upper, and Supreme ranks. Over millennia, ten legendary Martial Souls have emerged, shining like eternal stars across history, their brilliance unmatched.