Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 She is One of Us Now

On the VIP platform at the entrance of the Qingyun Mountain Range, Du Pengcheng and Cui Wei were intently watching the changes in Ye Qingchen’s points.

”They’re still rising! Up by fifty-six points! And now another sixty!”

”Incredible... It’s only been a few minutes, and his points have already surpassed a thousand!”

Du Pengcheng and Cui Wei could no longer remain calm. In just a few short minutes, Ye Qingchen’s score had reached 1,223. The rapid change left them feeling overwhelmed as his ranking soared, quickly reaching the 200th position. This meant that in mere minutes, Ye Qingchen had slain over twenty Second-Order Monster Beasts, a display of combat strength that far exceeded their imagination.

The key was, according to the information they received, Ye Qingchen was only seventeen years old. At such a young age and with such formidable power, he definitely had a much brighter future than Huang Xiaoshuai, who was currently ranked first. They were somewhat puzzled as to why such a gifted youth had hidden himself for over twenty days, barely hunting any Monster Beasts.

While they were still bewildered, a powerful Martial Soul aura suddenly burst forth from the depths of the Qingyun Mountain Range.

”Is this...”

”The aura of a Ten-star Holy Soul!”

Du Pengcheng and Cui Wei exchanged a look, seeing endless surprise reflected in each other’s eyes.

SWOOSH!

SWOOSH!

The two men on duty immediately leaped into the air, speeding toward the depths of the Qingyun Mountain Range. They had never expected to find the Ten-star Holy Soul prodigy, so fervently sought by the royal family of the Northern Desolate Country and the Six Major Sects, right here in the Qingyun Mountain Range trial. If they could help their Sect find this peerless genius, they would undoubtedly receive a magnificent reward.

***

Having just entered the Qingyun Mountain Range, Qin Yue also felt the potent aura of the Vermilion Bird Holy Soul, and her brows furrowed. She had detonated the Qin Family’s Roaring Heaven Thunder as a signal, yet Ye Qingchen had still allowed Xiao Xiao to release her Ten-star Holy Soul. It was obvious they had run into an extremely difficult situation.

At this thought, Qin Yue hastened forward at full speed.

「Hundreds of miles away.」

Two middle-aged women with an ethereal grace sensed the disturbance within the Qingyun Mountain Range. Their eyes lit up, and applying the Shrinking Earth Into Inches technique, they raced toward the mountains.

***

Li Susu was venturing deeper into the Qingyun Mountain Range, led by the Li Family experts, when she too sensed a burst of powerful Martial Soul energy. The aura seemed to be connected to her own Vermilion Bird Martial Soul, as if they shared the same pulse. Feeling as if something was calling to her from the unseen, she immediately commanded, ”Let’s go! We’ll check it out over there!” and led the Li Family experts toward Ye Qingchen and Xiao Xiao’s location.

「At the place where Ye Qingchen and Xiao Xiao were trapped.」

The moment Xiao Xiao’s Vermilion Bird Holy Soul erupted, powerful flames swept outward. The seven or eight Second-Order Gray Wolves that had been charging at the front were engulfed before they could react, burned into nothingness. This terrifying display of power was a clear testament to why it was called a Holy Soul.

Even the Third-Order Gray Wolf King was startled by the terrifying attack Xiao Xiao had just unleashed, leaping backward instinctively. It had not anticipated that the seemingly delicate and weak Xiao Xiao could be even more dangerous than Ye Qingchen.

”If you don’t get lost now, I’ll burn you all to death!” Xiao Xiao declared. She supported the exhausted Ye Qingchen, the Vermilion Bird Holy Soul hovering and flapping its wings above her head. Her slender body trembled slightly, but her beautiful eyes shone with determination.

Truthfully, facing this pack of ferocious gray wolves, Xiao Xiao didn’t have the slightest confidence in defeating them. But for Ye Qingchen’s sake, though fear gripped her heart, she refused to back down.

Supporting Ye Qingchen, she took a step forward, and then another.

The Third-Order Gray Wolf King sensed the powerful flames and pressure from the Vermilion Bird Holy Soul and instinctively retreated. However, it was extremely cunning. It didn’t turn tail and flee but instead commanded the other Second-Order Gray Wolves to maintain a distance from Xiao Xiao, neither too close nor too far.

Xiao Xiao had no real combat experience. In her frantic effort to protect Ye Qingchen, she had wildly channeled the flame power of her Vermilion Bird Holy Soul, consuming her energy at an alarming rate. Since she had only just broken through to the Martial Artist realm, her Spiritual Power was soon depleted after protecting Ye Qingchen for less than a hundred meters. The Vermilion Bird Holy Soul above her head began to dim.

Seeing the fading Vermilion Bird Holy Soul, the Third-Order Gray Wolf King’s crimson eyes flashed with ruthlessness. It threw its head back and let out a long howl.

”AWOOO—”

Following the command, three or four Second-Order Gray Wolves leaped out in succession, lunging toward Xiao Xiao and Ye Qingchen with bared teeth and claws.

”Young Master, I’m so useless... I couldn’t protect you, and now I’ve dragged you down!” Xiao Xiao cried, her heart filled with self-reproach. She placed her frail body in front of Ye Qingchen, took one last, wistful look at him, and then resignedly closed her eyes.

Just then—

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Several flashes of sword light streaked past. The Second-Order Gray Wolves that had rushed toward them fell to the ground almost simultaneously, disemboweled, their blood pooling on the ground. A beautiful figure holding a blood-stained longsword landed in front of Xiao Xiao.

”Qin Yue!” Ye Qingchen exclaimed, overjoyed. Qin Yue had finally arrived at this critical moment between life and death.

Judging by the power of her attack, her strength has obviously grown significantly!

The Third-Order Gray Wolf King sensed Qin Yue’s power, let out a sharp cry, and fled into the distance with its remaining Second-Order Gray Wolves, quickly disappearing into the dense forest.

”Are you both all right?” Qin Yue asked, sheathing her longsword and looking at Ye Qingchen and Xiao Xiao with concern.

”Leader Qin! Thank you for saving our lives!” Xiao Xiao exclaimed. She opened her eyes in surprise, overjoyed to see that Qin Yue had rescued them.

”We can’t stay here long. Let’s go!” Qin Yue said. Frowning at their condition, she quickly gave them each a First-Grade Return Spirit Pill and tried to lead them away immediately.

However, they had barely walked ten meters with Ye Qingchen and Xiao Xiao when two figures appeared before them, blocking their path. The newcomers were none other than Du Pengcheng and Cui Wei, who had hurried over.

Du Pengcheng flipped his hand over to produce the ranking chart. Seeing that Xiao Xiao’s score had skyrocketed from ten points to 281 in an instant, both his and Cui Wei’s eyes lit up, their gazes burning as they stared at Xiao Xiao.

It’s confirmed! This girl, Xiao Xiao, who was ranked last, must be the peerless prodigy with the Ten-star Holy Soul! No wonder her points were stuck at the very bottom without moving. She must not have wanted to expose herself!

”This girl is that maidservant from the Ye Family!” Du Pengcheng’s eyes fell on Xiao Xiao, and he recognized her at a glance.

Cui Wei recognized her as well. She was the very girl from the Ye Family whose Spiritual Power fluctuations he had sensed. Fortunately, they had not barred her from the competition due to her humble status; otherwise, they would have let a peerless genius slip right through their fingers.

Having confirmed Xiao Xiao’s identity, Du Pengcheng and Cui Wei both turned to Qin Yue, their gazes turning cold.

”Leader Qin, that’s rather unscrupulous of you, don’t you think?” Du Pengcheng said in a grave voice.

Cui Wei added, ”Where are you taking them, Leader Qin? Don’t tell me the Qin Family intends to monopolize the peerless genius with the Ten-star Holy Soul?”

”She is the one our Six Major Sects are looking for,” Du Pengcheng stated flatly. ”No one is taking her away today but us!”