Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character

”I never expected the famous Lin Langtian of the Great Flame Dynasty to be a prodigy among Symbol Masters, too!” Ling Quan’s voice echoed through the spacious eighth floor of the Symbol Master Tower as he stared at Lin Langtian. After a long pause, he asked seriously, ”Why would a talent like you hide your skills for so long?”

Lin Langtian was caught off guard but replied calmly, ”Well, actually... I only recently discovered I had any talent for symbol mastery.”

Ling Quan’s mouth twitched at his response. Was Lin Langtian implying that his talents in Yuan Power were so impressive that his symbol mastery skills seemed trivial by comparison? This thought struck a nerve, and Ling Quan’s face darkened as he scoffed, ”Even if you’ve made it to the eighth floor, you’re still just a low-level Spirit Symbol Master. I’ve promised Huangpu City that I’ll secure this Symbol Master Tower for them.”

With that, Ling Quan turned away, summoning all his spirit power to resist the overwhelming spiritual pressure as he took heavy, deliberate steps toward the center of the eighth floor.

”So, this is the power of a half-step Intermediate Spirit Symbol Master,” Lin Langtian muttered, observing the potent energy surrounding Ling Quan. As a newly advanced low-level Spirit Symbol Master, Lin Langtian was roughly equivalent to a Yuan Power user at the Minor Formation Stage. But because of his unique life-bound symbol, his true power could match someone at the Major Formation Stage.

Ling Quan, with his half-step Intermediate Spirit Symbol Master strength, could be compared to someone near the Minor Qi Creation Stage. His raw power was slightly above Lin Langtian’s, but Lin Langtian wasn’t deterred.

”You won’t win by brute force alone,” Lin Langtian murmured to himself. The mental pressure on the eighth floor was many times more intense than on the seventh, so thick it was almost like moving through mud. Even breathing was difficult.

Lin Langtian glanced at Ling Quan’s figure ahead, his expression becoming serious. Channeling a surge of spirit power, he layered his entire body in protection, then, despite feeling as if his feet were made of lead, he pushed forward.

In the Symbol Master Tower, Yuan Power couldn’t be used. Fortunately, Lin Langtian’s physical body had been tempered with Black Flame Power, giving him an added resistance to the pressure.

”Thud…”

Each of Lin Langtian’s steps echoed through the vast eighth floor. Hearing the sound of footsteps behind him, Ling Quan’s eye twitched, though he refused to look back. Silently, they continued, one behind the other, inching toward the center of the eighth floor.

The distance was short—less than a hundred steps—but with the overwhelming pressure, it took them nearly fifteen minutes.

Suddenly, there was a dull thud. Ling Quan, unable to bear the force any longer, fell to one knee. Bracing himself with his hands, he panted heavily, sounding like a winded bellows.

Just three steps ahead of him was the spiritual barrier to the ninth floor, yet each of those final steps felt like crossing an unbridgeable chasm. Ling Quan had only taken half a step before the pressure forced him down, its power unimaginable.

”Two and a half steps to go...” Ling Quan stared at the barrier, feeling defeated.

”Thud.”

From behind him came another heavy footstep. Ling Quan looked back and saw Lin Langtian’s figure just a single step behind him.

”How is this possible? He’s only a low-level Spirit Symbol Master…”

For the first time, Ling Quan, hailed as the Flame Dynasty’s top Symbol Master, felt an intense sense of frustration. As he observed Lin Langtian’s silent advance, he clenched his fists.

”Impressive… The Symbol Master Tower’s spiritual pressure is something else,” Lin Langtian muttered, briefly glancing at Ling Quan before taking another step forward. As he neared the center, he recalled Jin Xing’s mention that the ninth floor might hold something valuable. He had come this far; there was no turning back now.

A soft creak echoed as Lin Langtian’s body dipped slightly from the pressure. Even his bones groaned, but instead of backing down, a fierce, wild energy radiated from him.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Lin Langtian smiled faintly and surged forward, taking three steps in one stride to stand before the spiritual barrier.

Ling Quan’s eyes widened in shock. He had struggled with each step, but Lin Langtian had crossed three paces in one stride. Such a feat was unheard of.

Watching him, Lin Langtian smiled calmly, unfazed by his surprise.

The Black Flame Body was indeed formidable.

Facing the barrier to the ninth floor, Lin Langtian furrowed his brow. It was clear that this was no ordinary barrier; only an Intermediate Spirit Symbol Master might have the strength to pass through it. As a low-level Spirit Symbol Master, the barrier seemed just beyond his reach.

”Looks like I’ll have to try a different approach...” Lin Langtian’s eyes flashed as he stepped forward again.

In his Mind Palace, a swirling, chaotic energy emerged, enveloping him—a force known as the Primal Essence.

The moment the Primal Essence surged forth, Lin Langtian immediately felt the crushing pressure lighten.

Grinning, he seized the opportunity, stepping directly into the spiritual barrier. Ling Quan watched in horror as Lin Langtian pushed through it.

”He… he actually did it?”

Ling Quan took a sharp breath. Seeing Lin Langtian disappear beyond the barrier, his face was filled with disbelief. For the first time, he felt genuine awe and defeat.

At that same moment outside the Symbol Master Tower, news of Lin Langtian’s breakthrough to the eighth floor sparked chaos and astonishment among the crowd.