Chapter 531

In Lin Chen’s dantian.

The ocean of spiritual soul churned with waves, and within those waves, a blue moon slowly rose.

Yet the moon did not ascend by its own power; beneath it, countless martial wills, like branches, supported the moon’s ascent.

If the moon were likened to the fruit of a plant, then these martial wills were its stem and leaves…

Palms, fists, legs…

Blades, spears, swords, axes…

One after another, martial wills rose like plant stems, lifting the moon upward, strikingly similar to the plant meridian diagram of the *Taiyi Qingling Record*.

Hands and legs formed the main stems; basic palm techniques, fist techniques, leg techniques, body movements… these were branches on the main stems, while blades, spears, swords, and axes were the individual leaves upon those branches.

The stems climbed, lifting the moon higher.

Yet the presence of the leaves prevented the stems from standing alone, achieving an ultimate balance—like true vegetation, growing continuously until becoming a towering tree.

…

Time passed slowly; when the moon was once again sent into the starry sky, nine star clouds appeared behind it, as if acknowledging the moon as their sovereign.

The star clouds rotated, the moon’s pure radiance spilled downward, and the sea below churned.

This was the true sight of the moon rising over the sea.

Just as Lin Chen’s spiritual soul completed this vision of the moon rising over the sea, upon his body’s surface, behind him, a moon hung high within the star clouds, its radiance enveloping a ten-zhang radius around him.

“Could this be the legendary martial soul phenomenon?”

When Luo Changhe realized his spiritual sense could not penetrate within ten zhang of Lin Chen, a phrase recorded by a Wanshang-level elder of his sect suddenly flashed in his mind.

The strongest of martial spiritual souls… their spiritual souls can manifest as martial souls.

A martial soul is a born martial genius!

What is a martial soul? It is when the spiritual soul perfectly aligns with martial dao.

Qianji Sect, the sect with the deepest research into spiritual souls throughout the Yan Emperor’s realm, far surpassed all others in spiritual soul studies.

Qianji Sect classified martial artists’ spiritual souls into two types: normal and anomalous.

Anomalous souls were further divided into two kinds: innate anomalous souls and acquired anomalous souls.

Those with innate anomalous souls often perished before reaching adolescence.

Acquired anomalous souls arose from exposure to rare celestial treasures capable of altering the spiritual soul, or from certain fortuitous circumstances.

A martial soul is one type of acquired anomalous soul—and an exceedingly rare one.

Even Qianji Sect could not force a disciple’s spiritual soul to become a martial soul; this was beyond human control.

“Even a martial soul should only gradually form after the Six Primordial Realms, and only have a chance to manifest its phenomenon after reaching Wanshang. Yet Lin Chen is only at Primordial Third Realm—he already possesses a martial soul and has condensed a phenomenon?”

Luo Changhe was certain: the star-cloud moon behind Lin Chen was indeed a martial soul phenomenon. Otherwise, no matter how promising Lin Chen was, he could never have blocked the spiritual sense of a Wanshang-level cultivator.

When a phenomenon manifests, it is recognized by Heaven and Earth!

…

…

At this moment, Lin Chen sank into an arcane state.

Within this ten-zhang radius, he was the true sovereign.

The primordial fluid within him flowed endlessly; countless martial wills surrounded him, granting his martial abilities a terrifying leap.

If he faced that unruly blade-wielder again inside the Tongtian Tower, Lin Chen was confident he could block the man’s slash.

Within ten zhang, wherever the moon’s radiance fell, he was invincible.

“Panel!”

After a long while, Lin Chen murmured softly, and the panel appeared before him.

【Host: Lin Chen】

【Realm: Primordial Third Realm】

【Primordial Technique: Immortal Scripture】 (Evolvable)

【Spiritual Soul: Level 10】

【Comprehension: Level 9】

【Immortal Body: Third Layer】

【Martial Soul Phenomenon: Moon Rising Over the Sea (Prototype)】

Seeing the words “Prototype,” Lin Chen’s eyes lit up—this meant his martial soul phenomenon could still evolve, its power still grow.

As for how to upgrade the martial soul phenomenon, Lin Chen was not worried; whenever an upgrade opportunity arose, [Seize Every Second] would alert him.

This gamble had been worth it.

Suppressing the urge to immediately enter the Tongtian Tower for another challenge, Lin Chen calmed his emotions; the moon behind him receded into the star-cloud vortex, then vanished along with it.

Without the star-cloud vortex’s phenomenon, the hall returned to its original state.

Less than an hour had passed; the two scrolls before Lin Chen still remained.

“I’ll stay in this hall for the full hour—better to avoid unnecessary trouble.”

Lin Chen muttered to himself: he had fully comprehended the *Jiu Zhuan Hunyuan Scripture* and the *Taiyi Qingling Record* in under an hour—word of this would cause an uproar. When it’s time to hide one’s brilliance, one must hide it.

…

…

Outside the hall.

Gu Yunfeng still waited; when he saw his uncle’s figure appear, he immediately bowed respectfully: “Uncle Luo.”

“Let Xiao Yan leave once he emerges.”

“Let him leave?”

Gu Yunfeng froze, then quickly nodded: “I understand, but…”

Luo Changhe knew what his nephew meant by “but…” and cut in: “This boy has already comprehended the *Jiu Zhuan Hunyuan Scripture* and the *Taiyi Qingling Record*.”

Hearing his uncle’s words, Gu Yunfeng’s pupils contracted—so Xiao Yan had truly succeeded.