Devouring Soul Emperor

’This guy actually defeated Yu Ren.’

Princess Qingyou watched Chu Qingyun on the stage, a peculiar light flashing in her eyes.

Beside her, however, Yin Feiyang frowned imperceptibly. A hint of hostility surfaced in his eyes as he looked at Chu Qingyun.

Yin Feiyang was the prodigy of the Imperial City’s Yin Family. In terms of status, he likely ranked even higher than the Seventh Prince, Xia He, who was a prince in name only.

But upon seeing Princess Qingyou in Shangqing County, he had fallen for her at first sight, even going so far as to become her so-called attendant.

So now, seeing that Princess Qingyou was showing some interest in Chu Qingyun, he was naturally quite disple displeased and a little jealous.

"Your Highness, shall I go and teach him a lesson?" Yin Feiyang whispered.

Princess Qingyou shook her head, her gaze slowly sweeping over the remaining people below the stage. "With all the Earth Spirit Realm geniuses from every county gathered here," she said, "is there truly no one who can deal with a Third-level Martial Spirit?"

Hearing this, the faces of the Level 4 Martial Spirits below the stage flushed with shame, while the few Fifth-level Martial Spirits present showed flashes of irritation.

If an ordinary person had said such a thing, it would have been utterly useless. In fact, it might have even provoked public outrage, making them a target for everyone’s anger.

But coming from Princess Qingyou, it was a different story. She was a peerless beauty, and a powerful Fifth-level Martial Spirit besides.

Spoken by her, these words only served to stoke the desire of those below the stage to challenge Chu Qingyun.

Chu Qingyun, on the other hand, shot Princess Qingyou a helpless glance. ’This woman is too petty,’ he thought. ’Just because I rejected her once, she has to stir up trouble like this.’

Soon enough, a burly, powerfully built man leaped onto the stage. "Chu Qingyun, let me, Zheng Baoshan, experience the might of your Sword Qi for myself!"

A Fifth-level Martial Spirit!

Chu Qingyun’s eyes narrowed as a surge of battle lust rose within him.

"I’m ready when you are," Chu Qingyun said.

The protective barrier around the stage sealed shut once more, and the Secret Patterns of the Array upon it activated.

Facing a Fifth-level Martial Spirit, Chu Qingyun immediately activated the Ice Pattern of his Profound Celestial Divine Pattern’s Fifth Layer, and also unleashed his Tier Four Martial Soul and Thunder Light Sword Qi.

"Heh heh, to have cultivated Sword Qi at such a young age... you’re truly a genius among geniuses."

"But it’s a shame you ran into me..."

"Golden Net Body!"

"Gold-Devouring Insect, Gilded Protection!"

Zheng Baoshan had personally experienced the power of the Qi Realm, so even facing a Third-level Martial Spirit, he wasn’t about to be careless. He immediately used every Secret Technique and Soul Technique he had cultivated.

His Tier Four Martial Soul, the Gold-Devouring Insect, was a Defense-type Martial Soul.

Once the Gilded Protection Soul Technique was cast, Zheng Baoshan’s skin took on a gilded hue, and his entire body radiated a dazzling golden light.

On top of this, he activated the Golden Net Body Secret Technique, causing a dense network of brilliant golden lines to appear across his already metallic skin.

He looked as if he had been cast from solid gold. Merely standing there, he gave off an impression of being as immovable as a mountain, completely indestructible.

Seeing this, many in the crowd below the stage shook their heads in private.

"A Defensive Secret Technique on top of Defensive Soul Techniques... It seems Chu Qingyun has met his perfect counter."

"Sword Qi is incredibly sharp, but Chu Qingyun’s Realm is too low. If he were a Level 4 Martial Spirit, Zheng Baoshan would stand no chance. But as a mere Level 3 Martial Spirit, I fear he’ll find it difficult to win."

"Victory or defeat will all come down to whether his Sword Qi can break through that defense..."

On the stage.

Zheng Baoshan let out a hearty laugh as Primordial Power surged from his palm. He strode forward and reached for Chu Qingyun. "Chu Qingyun, I won’t stand on ceremony! Here I come!"

Seeing this clumsy grab, Chu Qingyun couldn’t help but shake his head.

If he had to use four words to describe Zheng Baoshan’s attack, it would be: wide open to attack!

If an ordinary Level 3 or Level 4 Martial Spirit had charged at him like that, Chu Qingyun had dozens of ways to disable him with a single strike.

But against Zheng Baoshan, it was a frustrating situation.

The man was covered from head to toe in shimmering golden light, and his defense was absurdly powerful. It looked like he was full of openings, but in reality, there were no openings to exploit.

With a flick of his sword, Chu Qingyun swung. The Sword Qi, fast as an afterimage, slashed at Zheng Baoshan’s hand.

Even the Primordial Power of a Fifth-level Martial Spirit was no match for his Sword Qi and was instantly cleaved apart.

However, when the Sword Qi struck his hand, it produced the sharp CLANG of metal on metal.

A shower of golden sparks erupted from Zheng Baoshan’s palm.

The Sword Qi scraped across his palm, yet it failed to break through his defense!

"Hahaha," Zheng Baoshan boomed. "Chu Qingyun, I’ve fought opponents with Sword Qi before. Only someone at my own Realm can break my defense with it. You’re talented, but you’re too young, and your Realm is too low."

"Don’t worry, though. I’m not going to hurt you!"

Zheng Baoshan laughed again. This time, dazzling Primordial Power surged from both his hands as he lunged toward Chu Qingyun once more, his form just as artless and full of openings as before.

With two swift slashes, Chu Qingyun once again dispersed the Primordial Power on the man’s palms.

But when the Thunder Light Sword Qi swept across Zheng Baoshan’s body, it couldn’t breach his defense in the slightest. All it did was produce a series of metallic clangs and a shower of golden sparks.

Chu Qingyun’s Sword Technique was masterful. He delivered eighteen consecutive strikes, testing Zheng Baoshan’s defense from head to toe, but not a single blow could break through.

’What incredible defense!’

Even Chu Qingyun had to admit it: this man’s defense was the most powerful he had ever encountered, even stronger than his own Iron Wall Martial Soul.

As for Huang Yinghao’s Defense-type Martial Soul, it couldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath.

"Chu Qingyun, any other tricks up your sleeve? Ready to admit defeat?"

Zheng Baoshan said with a smile, rubbing his hands together.

Although the man had come onto the stage to fight, it seemed he only wanted to spar with Chu Qingyun, with no real intention of harming him.

Chu Qingyun stood with his sword, his expression calm. "I do have one more move," he said. "But I’m afraid if I use it, I might actually hurt you."

"Oh?" Hearing this, Zheng Baoshan looked very interested.

"Whatever move you have, just use it! As long as you don’t hack off my arms or legs, I promise I won’t hold it against you!" Zheng Baoshan said.

Chu Qingyun nodded, and from his palm, even more Primordial Power surged into the Strange Sword.

Ordinary Sword Qi is usually a light gray color.

But because Chu Qingyun’s Thunder Light Sword Qi contained tendrils of faint purple Thunder Light Power, it appeared a deeper color, tinged with violet.

But now, as Chu Qingyun poured in his Primordial Power, all the Thunder Light Power within the Sword Qi was roused into action.

The meter-long sheath of Sword Qi enveloping the Strange Sword lost its original gray color, replaced by a shimmering, translucent violet.

After the Sword Qi had grown to a meter long and absorbed more Thunderlight Stones, its Thunder Light Power had also increased significantly.

And only when all of its Thunder Light Power was activated could it be called true Thunder Light Sword Qi!