Devouring Soul Emperor

To have such confidence and resolve, there were only two possibilities.

’Either his strengths don’t lie in offense—perhaps he has a Defensive, control, or Support Type Martial Soul, and has focused all his energy on it.’

’Or, he’s hiding his true strength and didn’t use his full power at all!’

Either way, it showed that this Wen Yanlie could not be underestimated.

So, Chu Qingyun watched intently from start to finish, silently making a mental note of Wen Yanlie. A Level 9 Martial Artist. ’It’s best not to provoke someone like that if I can help it.’

The stir caused by Wen Yanlie quickly subsided, and the examination continued.

Before long, it was another Level 9 Martial Artist’s turn: Xia He.

This Xia He was the complete opposite of Wen Yanlie. His personality was sharp and overt, and he gave off a fierce aura the moment he stepped onto the stage.

Moreover, when he struck, he displayed extreme offensive power.

With just a single slash of his blade, he effortlessly shattered the protective film on the stone tablet. He even left a faint gash on the tablet itself, and all nine marks lit up almost simultaneously.

A perfect pass. Not only were the examinees below the stage shocked, but even the captains of the Great Xia Dragon Guards couldn’t help but be moved.

"Leaving a mark on the stone tablet... that slash is already comparable to a strike from a Half-Step Martial Spirit expert!"

"If that was his full-power strike, it’s one thing. But if that was just a casual blow and he has other ultimate moves, then this person is truly terrifying..."

"Heh heh, looks like only our Captain Sun Daxiong is a match for him."

"Hmph! Zhang Haizi, if you want a fight, I’ll give you one! Stop with your passive-aggressive crap!"

The atmosphere among the captains grew strange as they spoke. It was clear their relationship wasn’t as harmonious as it seemed.

The gash on the stone tablet gradually faded, and the protective film quickly reformed. About five minutes later, the examination resumed.

"Next! Zhao Tianjie!"

It was the Zhao Family’s turn. Chu Qingyun’s gaze sharpened as he focused on Zhao Tianjie.

’It seems a clash with the Zhao Family during the examination is unavoidable.’ Besides, both You Yun and Qin Ya had solemnly warned him to be careful of the Zhao Family during the test.

Thus, Chu Qingyun’s expression was a bit serious at the moment.

Standing before the stone tablet, Zhao Tianjie didn’t dare be careless. He summoned his Tier Three Gale Halberd Martial Soul, unleashed a Soul Technique, and thrust his halberd. The attack transformed into three streaks of light that slammed viciously into the protective film on the tablet’s surface.

The three streaks of light sent ripples across the protective film, and six marks lit up instantly. Within the next few breaths, the seventh and eighth marks also lit up.

However, even after the ripples subsided, the ninth mark ultimately failed to light up.

Zhao Tianjie had used a Tier Three Martial Soul’s Soul Technique. With his strength as a Level 6 Martial Artist, he had produced an attack with the intensity of a Level 8 Martial Artist. Among the five hundred-plus examinees, this was considered upper-middle tier.

After Zhao Tianjie came Zhao Yunhao.

He was also a Level 6 Martial Artist with a Tier Three Martial Soul. His strength was comparable to Zhao Tianjie’s, and using a full-power strike with his Soul Technique, he also lit up eight marks and passed smoothly.

Two people went after them, and then it was Zhao Hanfeng’s turn.

Zhao Hanfeng was known as the number one genius of the Zhao Family’s younger generation. Although he was also a Level 6 Martial Artist, his strength was indeed greater than that of his peers, Zhao Tianjie and Zhao Yunhao.

Zhao Hanfeng didn’t even use his Martial Soul. He pointed a single finger, and it was as if wind and clouds gathered. The protective film on the stone tablet trembled, and all nine marks lit up directly.

With the strength of a Level 6 Martial Artist, without using a Soul Technique, he had unleashed an attack comparable to a Level 9 Martial Artist with just a single finger.

Furthermore, anyone with combat experience could tell that the Power of this Finger Technique was focused and did not disperse. All of its strength was concentrated on a single point, making it even more powerful than a typical Level 9 Martial Artist’s attack!

If not for the protective film’s ability to disperse force, he might have used that concentrated point of power to shatter the surface entirely!

’Worthy of being the leader of Zhao’s Three Heroes. He’s a bit arrogant, but that strength isn’t just for show...’

Zhao Hanfeng’s strike set off another small climax, drawing gasps of astonishment from the crowd below the stage.

Chu Qingyun frowned to himself, but he wasn’t overly worried.

’Being able to produce an attack with the intensity of a Level 9 Martial Artist doesn’t mean he has the actual strength of one.’ For Chu Qingyun, who possessed a Puppet, the only ones who could threaten him were the two Level 9 Martial Artists and the very top few Level 8 Martial Artists.

"Chu Qingyun, more than half of the Level 5 Martial Artists who went up have been eliminated. If you can’t make the cut, you should just scram. Don’t drag down the rest of us Martial Artists from Flame City and embarrass us with you."

After stepping down from the stage, Zhao Hanfeng taunted him with a cold expression.

"Hmph. All you did was produce an attack with the intensity of a Level 9 Martial Artist. Is that supposed to be impressive?" Chu Qingyun snorted.

He wasn’t exactly wrong. Among the Martial Artists who had gone up before, nearly all the Level 8 Martial Artists could light up nine marks, and the vast majority of Level 7 Martial Artists could do it too.

However, for Zhao Hanfeng to light up nine marks with the strength of a Level 6 Martial Artist was worthy of praise even among the many Great Xia Samurai. It was considered an excellent result.

"I don’t know if nine marks is a good result or not," Zhao Hanfeng said, glancing at Chu Qingyun with contempt, "but what I do know is that you definitely can’t light up nine marks!"

"Oh? So certain?"

A hint of mockery and ridicule flashed in Chu Qingyun’s eyes.

"If you don’t believe me, let’s make a bet. If you can light up nine marks, my two brothers and I from the Zhao Family will avoid you whenever we see you from now on. The same goes for you if you lose. Do you dare?" Zhao Hanfeng said confidently.

"You can speak for both of them?"

"Of course!" "Whatever Hanfeng says, goes," Zhao Tianjie and Zhao Yunhao hurriedly chimed in.

Chu Qingyun smiled. "Alright, it’s a deal. I hope you won’t go back on your word then. Otherwise, you’ll bring shame to the entire Zhao Family of Flame City."

"We hail from a prestigious clan; we would never do something like renege on a bet. But a commoner like you? That’s another story," Zhao Hanyun said, his nose in the air and a smug look on his face.

"Tch. Then let me ask you this: the ones who helped the Cao Family renege on their debt yesterday... was it not you three, but three dogs?"

"You..." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The three from the Zhao clan were furious but had no way to vent their anger. Otherwise, it would be the same as contradicting themselves and slapping their own faces.

Speechless, they could only snort heavily and glare at Chu Qingyun.

The first stage of the examination was nearing its end when it was finally Chu Qingyun’s turn to go on stage.

Facing the stone tablet that was over three meters tall, Chu Qingyun pondered for a moment. He decided against using the Thundercloud Sword. It was a Spirit Level Divine Weapon; he was afraid that even the captains, or perhaps the Guard General himself, would grow greedy.

’Even without the Thundercloud Sword, I can still produce the intensity of a Level 9 Martial Artist!’