Devouring Soul Emperor

The secret passage was rather narrow. Bathed in the light of his Primordial Power, Chu Qingyun walked deeper at an unhurried pace.

He could feel himself on a constant, downward slope.

After about five or six minutes, Chu Qingyun suddenly detected a faint fluctuation of Primordial Power. Two steps later, the view opened up before him; he had arrived in what looked like an underground cavern.

THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD...

As if sensing his arrival, a series of muffled thuds echoed, and several piles of fire around him spontaneously ignited. The firelight illuminated the entire underground cavern.

Chu Qingyun knew he must have passed through the secret passage and entered the array Elder Qin had told him about.

"Finally... someone has come."

"Young man, show me your Martial Soul..."

A voice steeped in the passage of ages echoed from all corners of the cavern, making it impossible to pinpoint its source.

Elder Qin had said that the senior’s Residual Soul here had only initiated the trial for him after seeing his Tier Four Flame Martial Soul.

Without hesitation, Chu Qingyun focused his mind and unleashed his Flame Iron Wire Ten-Star Vine Soul.

"Ooh... a pure, Tier Four Flame Martial Soul. Rare indeed, very rare..."

"Kid, put away your Iron Wire Ten-Star Vine Martial Soul. They’re just Twin Martial Souls. It’s not as if I’ve never seen them before..."

Chu Qingyun was stunned. He never expected that the "Mutated Martial Soul" he had so painstakingly created would be seen through in an instant. ’This senior is truly extraordinary...’

Snapping back to his senses, Chu Qingyun gave an awkward laugh and withdrew the Iron Wire Ten-Star Vine Martial Soul. His Flame Martial Soul reverted to its simple form—a ball of fire.

"There are two trials. Pass them perfectly, and I guarantee you will become the most preeminent Alchemist in the Northern Domain."

"Alas, it’s a shame it’s only a Tier Four Martial Soul..."

The ancient voice sounded somewhat regretful.

Chu Qingyun couldn’t help his surprise at these words.

With just his Tier Four Flame Martial Soul, this senior could guarantee he’d become the Northern Domain’s top Alchemist!

Chu Qingyun was no longer the clueless greenhorn who had just left Chu Family Village, ignorant of the world. He now had some grasp of just how vast the Northern Domain truly was.

’This senior really is something else...’ Chu Qingyun thought.

Chu Qingyun, however, paid no mind to the senior’s regret. He knew that, sooner or later, every one of his Martial Souls would evolve into an even higher tier.

As the voice faded, ripples of Primordial Power spread through the air. Suddenly, four large, black, three-legged cauldrons materialized before Chu Qingyun, floating in mid-air with a somewhat illusory appearance.

From left to right, the four cauldrons were arranged in ascending order of size.

"The Array of Cauldrons is a method to awaken and test Soul Power. There should be more cauldrons for a more detailed, graded test."

"However, I only have four here. You have one hour. If you cannot awaken your Soul Power within that time, it proves you have no destiny with the Alchemy Dao."

"Lifting the smallest cauldron with your Soul Power means your aptitude is poor. You would struggle to even reach the Spirit Level; there’s no need to waste your time on the path of the Alchemy Dao."

"Lifting the second means your aptitude is average. You barely qualify to become an Alchemist, but your ultimate achievements will be limited."

"Lifting the third means your Soul Power is strong. Your aptitude in this area is superior; you could be called a genius."

"Only by lifting the fourth cauldron will you be considered to have perfectly passed my test."

"Time is limited, so don’t waste it. Focus your energy and concentration. Use your will to lift the cauldrons, starting with the smallest. This Array of Cauldrons will help you awaken your Soul Power."

With that said, the voice vanished.

Silence returned to the cavern. There was only Chu Qingyun and the four cauldrons floating before him.

The first cauldron was only about a foot tall, floating motionlessly in mid-air.

Following the voice’s instructions, Chu Qingyun took a deep breath, focused his mind and will on the cauldron, and attempted to make it rise.

And then... the smallest cauldron trembled and, under Chu Qingyun’s control, slowly began to float upward!

"Hmm?"

A surprised and skeptical voice suddenly echoed from all around.

"Have you awakened your Soul Power before? No... in a remote place like this, there shouldn’t be an Array of Cauldrons..."

’Awakened my Soul Power?’

’If it’s about controlling things with one’s mind...’

Chu Qingyun suddenly recalled the time he had fought his way into the Qin Family. Dong Mingfan had ambushed him, attacking his eyes with hidden weapons. In that critical, life-or-death moment, Chu Qingyun had somehow caused the two hair-thin needles to slow down. Afterward, his head had throbbed with a splitting pain, and it had taken a long while for him to recover.

’Could that have been my Soul Power awakening?’

Chu Qingyun voiced his speculation aloud.

After a moment of silence, the voice spoke again. Unlike before, this time it held a trace of excitement.

"Very likely. To awaken Soul Power without an Array of Cauldrons... your Soul Power must be exceptionally strong. Continue. Continue with the cauldrons."

Calming his Heart and Mind, Chu Qingyun focused his will on the second cauldron.

The second cauldron was a full meter high, dozens of times larger than the first.

Under the pull of Chu Qingyun’s Soul Power, the second cauldron paused for a moment before it too began to rise slowly, floating in the air.

Lifting the second cauldron was completely effortless!

A flicker of excitement ran through Chu Qingyun as he focused his Soul Power on the third cauldron.

The third cauldron was a full five meters tall—truly a great cauldron.

Not daring to be careless, Chu Qingyun took two deep breaths, concentrated his mind, and suddenly exerted his will on the third cauldron.

He felt an immense resistance instantly.

Lifting the first two cauldrons had felt as if he hadn’t used any effort at all. But this third one was exponentially heavier than the second!

Still, this weight was not unbearable for Chu Qingyun.

His expression turned grave. He focused all his will and mental energy into a sudden push. The great cauldron trembled, showing signs of wanting to rise.

"Rise!"

Chu Qingyun roared in his mind and pushed again. The great cauldron finally wobbled into the air, lifted by his Soul Power!

"Phew..."

After raising the third cauldron to the same height as the other two, Chu Qingyun felt a throbbing pressure in his head, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.

This must be from overexerting his Soul Power.

Thus, Chu Qingyun didn’t rush to attempt the fourth cauldron. Instead, he sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and rested to recover his mental energy.

And the voice did not rush him.