Profound Heaven Soul Sovereign

After parting ways with the cloaked man, Ye Xuan headed for the city gates without a second thought and left the city directly.

The eyes of Yin Jiu, who was tailing Ye Xuan, suddenly lit up.

He had been wondering how to get his hands on Ye Xuan the entire time. After all, despite his strength, he wasn’t powerful enough to act with impunity within the Imperial Capital.

But he never dreamed Ye Xuan would actually dare to leave the Imperial Capital. He didn’t dare make a major move inside the city, but outside its walls, things were completely different.

’This kid is truly arrogant.’ 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Yin Jiu sneered. He guessed Ye Xuan had some trick up his sleeve or had concealed his true cultivation, but it didn’t matter. Now that he was outside the city gates, the kid was as good as dead.

He immediately followed Ye Xuan, leaving the Imperial Capital just moments later.

On the plain outside the Imperial Capital, Ye Xuan sped along, heading for a more deserted area.

「Half an hour later.」 Ye Xuan came to a stop in a dense mountain forest.

’At this distance, even a Tier Eight Martial Emperor in the Imperial Capital probably couldn’t sense what’s happening.’

"You must be pretty confident to have led me all the way out here," Yin Jiu said coldly, looking at Ye Xuan. "But I have no idea where that confidence comes from. A mere Tier Five Martial Sect? So what if you have a few tricks? Do you really think you can do anything to me?"

Yin Jiu’s words were cold, but even as he spoke, his Profound Sense rapidly spread out, cautiously scanning the surroundings.

He was used to acting arrogantly in the Imperial Capital, and the sole reason he was still alive was his cautious nature. No matter how domineering his words, he never let his guard down, regardless of his opponent’s strength.

The faint smile playing on Ye Xuan’s lips, in particular, put him on high alert.

"Enough with the pointless talk," Ye Xuan said lightly. "You followed me here to make a move, didn’t you? Don’t waste my time."

’The man is after my treasures, but I’m just as interested in his Blue Thunder Crystal. It would’ve been fine if he hadn’t followed me. But since he has, he won’t be going back alive.’

"Brat, are you trying to stall for time? I suppose your little friend will be here shortly? You might be able to fool others with that act, but trying to fool me? Not a chance."

The moment Yin Jiu finished speaking, he thrust his hands forward, sending several black threads slicing rapidly toward Ye Xuan.

’In his mind, the only reason Ye Xuan was so composed was that he had backup coming. All he had to do was kill Ye Xuan quickly. Then, no matter who showed up, all they’d find was a corpse.’

"Do I need to call for help just to deal with you?" Ye Xuan sneered. He raised a hand, and a black grinding disc materialized above Yin Jiu’s head, plummeting down toward him.

’He hadn’t let Jin Lin act for two reasons. First, he wanted to test his own strength. Second, they weren’t far from the Imperial Capital, and Jin Lin’s dense Demon King aura would easily attract the attention of any Martial King experts in the city if a battle broke out.’

"A Profound Treasure! And you’re a Soul Refiner?" Yin Jiu’s eyes widened in shock.

Ye Xuan being a Tier Five Martial Sect at such a young age was already stunning enough. The revelation that he was also a Soul Refiner completely changed Yin Jiu’s perception of him.

’A Martial Sect and a Soul Refiner this young... he must be from a major power on the Dream Realm Plain.’

’This kid has to die.’

Yin Jiu’s resolve hardened. If he didn’t kill Ye Xuan today, he would be the one to suffer for it later.

BOOM!

But before he could increase the power of his attack, the black grinding disc overhead swelled rapidly, becoming like a small mountain pressing down on him. A terrifying aura swept through the forest like a hurricane.

Yin Jiu’s expression changed drastically. Fortunately, his vast combat experience kept him from turning to retreat as others might. He switched from offense to defense, thrusting his clawed gauntlets upward to meet the descending disc.

CRASH!

The black grinding disc slammed into Yin Jiu’s hands. The immense pressure instantly pulverized the rocks on the ground, sending out a series of deep thuds.

’A Fifth Grade Profound Treasure.’

Yin Jiu had assumed Ye Xuan’s Profound Treasure wouldn’t be very powerful, but the moment they connected, his expression changed. The force transmitted from the disc sent him staggering back several steps, his hands faintly numb.

’What a terrifying kid.’

Yin Jiu was terrified, but before he could even recover his wits, Ye Xuan’s Profound Treasure was hurtling toward him once more.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The relentless assault made Yin Jiu’s face pale, and he cursed his luck. He never imagined that a man who looked to be in his twenties could possess such strength.

Yin Jiu quickly recovered. He knew if he stayed on the defensive, he would eventually be struck down. The moment he blocked another attack, a circular blade appeared in his hand. It transformed into a streak of light, aiming straight for Ye Xuan’s head.

Ye Xuan had no choice but to recall the Chaotic Heaven and Earth Grinding Disc to block the attack.

In that instant, Yin Jiu unleashed his Martial Soul. An eagle-shaped spirit released streams of power that enveloped his body, cloaking him in a black halo.

Yin Jiu’s speed instantly skyrocketed. Leaving an afterimage in his wake, he appeared before Ye Xuan and swiped with his claw.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

Countless black threads formed a great net that descended upon Ye Xuan. Behind it was Yin Jiu’s savage face.

’Yin Jiu was ready. As soon as Ye Xuan used the grinding disc to defend, he would shift his position and attack from multiple angles with his circular blade. He refused to believe the disc could block all his attacks at such close range.’

To Yin Jiu’s surprise, however, Ye Xuan didn’t use the disc to defend. Instead, he drew the longsword from his waist.

The azure longsword let out a clear dragon’s cry, its light like a pool of spring water intercepting the sky full of black threads.

The collision of Profound Power sent Ye Xuan staggering back several steps before he managed to steady himself.

’This guy really has some tricks up his sleeve. No wonder he was so arrogant in the underground market.’

Ye Xuan was inwardly surprised, but he also gained a clearer understanding of his own strength. After breaking through to Tier Five Martial Sect, his Profound Power had improved by leaps and bounds. Even though he was only at the Tier Five First Layer, thanks to his cultivation of the Nine Profound World-Dominating Art, the intensity of his Profound Power was no weaker than Yin Jiu’s, who was at the Tier Six Second Layer.

If Ye Xuan was surprised, Yin Jiu was utterly shocked. He had never imagined Ye Xuan could block his attack without relying on a Profound Treasure.

He’d been convinced that Ye Xuan’s confidence stemmed from having called for backup. Now he understood: the young man hadn’t called for anyone. His confidence was backed by his own power.

"I refuse to believe it! A dignified Tier Six Martial Venerable like myself can’t even handle a Tier Five Martial Sect like you?"

A vicious glint in his eye, the third astral ring on the Martial Soul above his head suddenly pulsed. A strange aura of Soul Power completely enveloped him.

"Soul Skill—Eagle Strike!"

The black light radiating from Yin Jiu intensified. He seemed to transform into a single black thread, shooting toward Ye Xuan like a bolt of lightning. He moved so fast that to the naked eye, he was nothing but a black line streaking across the sky.

’Die!’

Empowered by his eagle-shaped Martial Soul, Yin Jiu’s speed nearly doubled in an instant. He was moving so fast that even the Profound Sense of a Tier Six Third Layer Martial Venerable might not be able to track him.

Yin Jiu refused to believe Ye Xuan could possibly follow his movements.

But to his utter disbelief, just as his claw descended, a strange cyan sword light appeared before him, intercepting his strike.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

A series of sharp metallic clashes rang out. No matter how Yin Jiu attacked, the cyan longsword seemed to have a mind of its own, steadily blocking every one of his blows.

’This is impossible!’ Yin Jiu was both shocked and enraged. His own attack speed was so fast he could barely follow it himself, so how was Ye Xuan keeping up?

For the first time, a sliver of genuine fear crept into Yin Jiu’s heart.

With a savage look in his eyes, he drew more power from the Martial Soul above his head. The fourth astral ring trembled, and Yin Jiu’s strength surged once more.

BOOM!

Under the barrage of attacks, Ye Xuan was finally overwhelmed and sent flying back several meters.

He stared at the Martial Soul above Yin Jiu’s head, inwardly surprised. ’This Yin Jiu’s Martial Soul is truly powerful. It boosts not only his speed but his strength as well.’

He hadn’t been knocked back because he couldn’t keep up with Yin Jiu’s attacks. His Profound Power was just as intense, but his lower rank meant he lacked Yin Jiu’s stamina. Moreover, his Dragon Pattern Sword was only a fourth-tier Profound Soldier, far inferior to Yin Jiu’s gauntlets.

After this prolonged exchange, Ye Xuan finally had a clear measure of his own strength.

’In that case, it’s time to end this quickly.’

With a single thought, Ye Xuan’s Soul Sense dove into his Storage Ring and focused on a black stone within.

The Zhenyuan Stone.

Under his control, the black Zhenyuan Stone materialized in the air and began to expand rapidly.

Having knocked Ye Xuan back, Yin Jiu was overjoyed. He was about to press his advantage and finish the job when a terrifying killing intent locked onto him. His eyes fell on the Zhenyuan Stone that had just appeared.

"Another Profound Treasure..."

Yin Jiu couldn’t believe Ye Xuan had so many treasures. First the grinding disc, and now this black stone Profound Treasure, which seemed every bit as powerful.

’He was now certain that Ye Xuan was a genius disciple from a major power, most likely one of the top ten. Otherwise, it would be impossible to nurture such a talent or to gift a disciple so many Profound Treasures.’