Martial Saint with Passives

Gasping for breath, Qin Wuya glanced at Qin Xuange, who had only surpassed him by a single tier. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Although his Realm was only the Mid-stage of the First Layer of True Master Realm, his Divine Soul strength was nearly at the Second Layer!

’Just one tier...’

’Cousin, you haven’t left me that far behind! One day, I will surpass you!’

At that moment, his Dao Heart, which had been battered and broken the day before, finally regained a shred of confidence.

...

Soon, it was Jiang Che’s turn.

As he walked onto the platform, his appearance failed to cause much of a stir in the vast plaza.

After all, compared to the world-renowned top-tier Demon Fiends, the name Jiang Che was still unfamiliar to those from other prefectures.

But in the waiting area for Cangzhou Prefecture, the atmosphere instantly grew incredibly tense.

Everyone held their breath, their eyes glued to Jiang Che’s figure.

”Jiang Che’s Realm has risen too quickly. It’s only been a few months at most...”

In the crowd, a few disciples from other sects couldn’t help but mutter, their tones laced with sour grapes:

”That’s right. In the cultivation of the Martial Dao, rushing for quick results is the biggest taboo. You can stack up a Realm with Elixir Pills, but the Divine Soul... that requires slow, patient tempering!”

”I’m telling you, he’s in for it this time! He’s probably specialized, with a Divine Soul strength still stuck at the Refining Organ Realm!”

These jarring comments reached Qin Wuya’s ears, and a flicker of... dark anticipation sparked within him.

’That’s right... advancing so quickly, his foundation must be unstable!’

’If he crashes and burns on this trial...’

He stared intently at Jiang Che, eagerly anticipating the moment the other man would make a fool of himself.

Now that he had hope of catching up to his cousin, the desire to compete with Jiang Che was rekindled in Qin Wuya’s heart.

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Jiang Che, with a calm expression, stepped onto the Celestial Ladder.

HUMMM—

An invisible wave swept over his body.

Jiang Che paused for a moment.

’This is the pressure of the Heart Inquiry Celestial Ladder?’

He carefully examined the sensation, only to find...

The so-called pressure on his Divine Soul was so faint that it was almost negligible to him!

It was even weaker than a gentle breeze on his face!

’It seems... the inheritance from True Master Xuan Yang and the surge in my Divine Soul when I broke through to the True Master Realm boosted me more than I imagined.’

Greatly reassured, Jiang Che began to walk, ascending at a steady, unhurried pace.

Tier Ten...

Tier Twenty...

Tier Thirty...

His pace didn’t falter in the slightest. Even the rhythm of his breathing remained perfectly steady.

Seeing this, the hearts of everyone from Cangzhou Prefecture leaped into their throats!

Tier Thirty was the benchmark for the Second Layer of True Master Realm!

The true state of Jiang Che’s Divine Soul was about to be revealed!

Thirty-one... thirty-two... thirty-five!

Jiang Che continued as if he were walking on level ground, easily crossing Tier Thirty-Five!

”This...”

Qin Wuya’s pupils contracted violently. The flicker of hope he’d just felt was instantly extinguished, and his heart sank into the pit of his stomach once more.

Tier Thirty-Five!

This meant that not only had Jiang Che’s Divine Soul not lagged behind, it was actually a cut above his Realm at the Second Layer Peak of True Master Realm!

”I told you! How could Chief Jiang possibly have a weakness!” the disciples of the Cangyun Sect exclaimed, pumping their fists in excitement.

As for the disciples from other sects who had been predicting Jiang Che’s failure, they felt a stinging slap across their faces.

But some still stubbornly argued:

”Hmph, it’s only Tier Thirty-Five. He must be at the end of his rope. This is the absolute best he can do!”

Hearing this, Qin Wuya and the others were like drowning men clutching at straws, and a sliver of hope rose in their hearts once more.

’That’s right! He has to be at the end of his rope! He’s definitely just forcing it!’

However, in the very next second, Jiang Che’s actions dealt them a vicious slap across the face.

Thirty-six... thirty-eight... forty!

Jiang Che reached the fortieth tier in one go!

This was a Divine Soul level equivalent to the Third Layer of True Master Realm!

”Excellent! What a kid!”

Offstage, Xu Qingshan was so excited he slapped his thigh, his old face flushing red. The pride and excitement in his eyes were practically bursting forth.

By this point, the other spectators, who had initially paid him little mind, finally began to take notice.

Many of the prodigies from other prefectures cast astonished gazes in his direction.

”Who’s that? Which prefecture is he from?”

”From Cangzhou Prefecture? Interesting. He actually managed to surpass his Realm by a whole layer.”

And yet, Jiang Che’s steps didn’t stop!

Forty-one... forty-three... forty-five!

When he stood on the forty-fifth step, the atmosphere in the entire plaza finally shifted!

One had to understand that on the current rankings, aside from a few monstrous Demon Fiends, those who could reach the forty-fifth tier were few and far between!

[Jiang Che]

[Current Divine Soul Ranking: 18]

Eighteenth place!

The guy who ranked thirty-first in the Realm trial had actually broken into the top twenty in the Divine Soul Pass, a test of one’s foundation?!

Everyone from Cangzhou Prefecture gasped in unison, a cold shock making their scalps tingle.

Those who had been making sour remarks just moments before now stood with their mouths agape, looking like strangled ducks, unable to utter a single sound.

Qin Wuya’s face was ashen, and his entire body trembled.

At this moment, no one dared to question Jiang Che’s foundation any longer.

Only a single thought remained in everyone’s mind—

This guy...

Just how high will he climb?!

Where... are his limits?!

Under everyone’s watchful gaze, Jiang Che lifted his foot once more.

Forty-six...

Forty-seven...

Forty-eight...

Each step landed as if it were treading upon the heartstrings of the crowd.

Finally, as he set foot on the forty-ninth step, his pace faltered slightly, and he came to a stop.