104: Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the collapse of the secret realm

Beside the Sacred Spirit Pool, the deadly silence after the fierce battle was broken by the gurgling of the pool water.

Xiao Chen and Han Yue sat cross-legged by the pool, frantically absorbing the pure and vast energy from within.

The milky-white pool water seemed to possess life, actively coiling around their bodies, nourishing their meridians, bones, and souls.

Han Yue's originally pale complexion quickly regained its rosy hue, the wound on her shoulder healed at a visible speed, and her aura steadily rose, subtly touching the threshold of an Eight-star Dou Zong.

Her moon-attribute cultivation technique seemed exceptionally compatible with this Sacred Spirit energy, leading to immense gains.

Xiao Chen's gains, however, far exceeded imagination.

Not only was his cultivation firmly established at the mid-stage of Eight-star Dou Zong, but more importantly, the complete inheritance of the Nine Axes of Heaven Opening, brought by the integration of the dark-gold battle axe's phantom into his glabella, was being rapidly assimilated by him.

The methods of exerting force and the true essence of the artistic conception of each axe move were imprinted into his soul like a brand.

At the same time, the awakened Xiao Clan bloodline, irrigated by the Sacred Spirit energy, became purer and more surging, with golden light flowing within his glabella clan mark, emitting a primeval pressure.

He did not rush to touch the remaining two Sacred Spirit light clusters, but instead immersed his entire mind in consolidating his realm and comprehending the Heaven Opening Axe Intent.

He knew that outside, the world must have been turned upside down; with the Young Hall Master of the Soul Hall fallen, the Soul Hall would never let it go.

He had to quickly increase his strength to cope with the coming storm.

Several hours later, Xiao Chen was the first to open his eyes, a dark-gold axe-light flashing and then vanishing from his pupils.

His aura was well-rounded and restrained, yet it gave people an unfathomable feeling.

He felt that his control over the Heaven Opening Axe Intent had reached a completely new level.

Although there was still a long way to go before fully mastering all nine axe moves, the first four moves were already thoroughly comprehended, their power doubled.

He looked at Han Yue beside him, seeing that she was still in deep cultivation, her aura stable and long, so he did not disturb her.

His gaze shifted to the two remaining Sacred Spirit light clusters on the altar.

One cluster emitted a rich vitality, seemingly containing a pill; the other fluctuated with powerful soul energy, vaguely resembling a jade slip.

“The pill should be a sacred medicine for healing or improving cultivation, and the jade slip might be a soul cultivation technique or secret art.” Xiao Chen's thoughts stirred, and his soul power extended, carefully drawing the two light clusters towards him.

As the light clusters came into his hand, information naturally surfaced in his mind.

“A nascent Nine-Rank pill — life-generating fortune pill! It contains a trace of the power of creation, capable of bringing flesh to bones and reviving the dead, and even nourishing the soul's origin.

It is a sacred healing item!”

“High-grade Heaven-tier Soul Defense Dou Technique — Indestructible Soul Armor! When cultivated to mastery, it can condense an Indestructible Soul Armor, capable of withstanding Heavenly Realm Soul attacks!”

They were indeed peerless treasures!

Xiao Chen was overjoyed.

The life-generating fortune pill was equivalent to an extra life at critical moments, and the Indestructible Soul Armor just happened to compensate for the relative weakness in his soul defense (although he had the Soul Emperor Bell, its consumption was enormous).

He did not hesitate, carefully putting away the life-generating fortune pill, then his soul immersed itself in the jade slip, beginning to comprehend the Indestructible Soul Armor.

Just as he was initially grasping the cultivation method of the Indestructible Soul Armor, the entire divine hall suddenly shook violently!

The milky-white light pillar on the altar began to flicker erratically, and cracks appeared in the surrounding pale golden barrier!

“Not good! The secret realm is about to collapse!” Xiao Chen’s expression changed, and he immediately woke Han Yue.

Han Yue awoke from her cultivation with a start, feeling the violent spatial fluctuations, her pretty face slightly changed: “It must be Soul Annihilation Life’s demise that triggered some restriction in the core of the secret realm, or... the Soul Hall powerhouses outside are forcibly breaking through the boundary!”

“Go!” Xiao Chen made a decisive decision, grabbing Han Yue’s wrist, his figure rapidly retreating, rushing towards the edge of the altar.

He unleashed his full soul power, searching for the weakest spatial node.

At the same time, he activated a trace of spatial comprehension contained within his newly understood Heaven Opening Axe Intent, drawing with his hands in the air, attempting to tear open a temporary spatial passage.

“Nine Axes of Heaven Opening — Fifth Stance, Void Breaking!” Although not yet fully mastered, relying on its characteristic of tearing space, combined with his Spirit Realm Soul's perception of spatial nodes, Xiao Chen barely managed to tear open a tiny crack in the violently fluctuating spatial barrier!

“Enter!” Xiao Chen shouted, and he and Han Yue plunged into the crack together!

The moment they disappeared, the entire altar collapsed with a roar!

The milky-white light pillar dissipated, the Sacred Spirit Pool dried up, and the divine hall space, like a shattered mirror, crumbled inch by inch!

A terrifying spatial storm swept over everything!

...Outside the Fallen Saint Space, Tianxuan City, above the Prodigy Platform.

The originally stable spatial vortex suddenly twisted and expanded violently, emitting destructive fluctuations!

The powerhouses of various factions guarding below the platform changed their expressions dramatically!

“Spatial anomaly! The secret realm is about to collapse!”

“What happened inside?!”

“Quick! Stabilize the spatial passage!”

Powerhouses from the Pill Tower, Soul Hall, Heavenly Nether Sect, and other factions all made their moves, injecting vast Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) into the formation, attempting to stabilize the passage and receive their disciples.

However, at this moment, within the Soul Hall camp, a black-robed elder who had been resting with his eyes closed, his aura as terrifying as an abyss, suddenly opened his eyes!

Overwhelming killing intent and fury erupted from his eyes!

He was none other than the true body of one of the Soul Hall's Ninth Heavenly Venerable, who was overseeing this grand event!

“Miasheng... has fallen!” Ninth Heavenly Venerable’s voice was hoarse, containing destructive rage, “It’s the Xiao Clan remnant! Xiao Chen! This Venerable demands blood for blood!”

He no longer cared about the stability of the spatial passage, his withered hand shot out fiercely, transforming into a Nether Ghost Claw that blotted out the sky, carrying the terrifying might of a Dou Zun Peak, and savagely grabbed at the violently fluctuating spatial vortex!

He actually intended to forcibly break open the secret realm and annihilate everyone inside!

“Soul Hall old ghost, how dare you!” From the Pill Tower camp, Xuan Kongzi’s projection roared, a condensed pillar of starlight shot into the sky, attempting to block him!

Powerhouses from the Heavenly Nether Sect, Flower Sect, and other factions also moved to stop him!

If Ninth Heavenly Venerable succeeded, all the young geniuses inside would be buried with him!

“Boom—!!!”

Several terrifying energies violently collided at the spatial vortex!

A destructive energy storm erupted!

The Prodigy Platform shook violently, and the protective barrier shattered instantly!

The spectators below fled in terror!

The Fallen Saint Space, already on the verge of collapse, completely disintegrated under the impact of such external forces!

“Pfft!”

The spatial vortex exploded!

Countless disheveled figures were thrown out from it, falling onto the shattered Prodigy Platform like dumplings!

Most of them were severely injured, their auras weak.

In the chaos, two figures shot out from the center of the explosion like meteors, heavily crashing in front of the Pill Tower camp.

It was Xiao Chen and Han Yue!

Xiao Chen's mouth was bleeding, his face pale, clearly having suffered a severe shock in the final spatial storm, but his eyes were still sharp.

Han Yue was protected behind him, her injuries slightly lighter.

“Xiao Chen!”

“Han Yue!”

Xuan Kongzi and the others immediately stepped forward, shielding the two.

And Ninth Heavenly Venerable’s gaze, like a venomous snake, instantly locked onto Xiao Chen!

That terrifying killing intent made the surrounding air congeal!

“Little bastard! Pay with your life!” Ninth Heavenly Venerable didn't ask for reasons, directly pointing a finger!

A Nether Death Ray, condensed to the extreme, tore through space, heading straight for Xiao Chen's glabella!

This strike contained the full power of a Dou Zun Peak, its speed so extreme that Xuan Kongzi and the others were too late to rescue him!

The crisis of death instantly descended!

Facing this deadly blow, Xiao Chen's pupils constricted, but there was no fear in his eyes; instead, a raging battle intent ignited!

He roared, his Spirit Realm Soul and Eight-star Dou Zong Dou Qi (Fighting Skill) burning madly, the golden light of his glabella clan mark flashing, pushing the Indestructible Soul Armor, which he had just begun to comprehend, to its limit!

A thin yet resilient soul armor, flowing with dark-gold runes, instantly covered his entire body!

At the same time, he cupped his hands in the air, unleashing a superficial understanding of the fifth stance of the Heaven Opening Axe Intent, “Void Breaking,” not as an attack, but to twist the space in front of him, attempting to deflect the trajectory of the death ray!

“Clang—!!!”

The Nether Death Ray slammed hard against the soul armor!

The armor vibrated violently, cracks spreading, but it ultimately did not shatter immediately!

And the trajectory of the death ray was also deflected by an inch by the twisted space!

“Pfft!”

The death ray grazed Xiao Chen's shoulder, drawing a spray of blood, leaving a deep wound visible to the bone, with chilling death energy frantically corroding it!

Xiao Chen grunted, flying backward, spitting out blood, severely injured and near death!

But he... didn't die!

He had forcibly withstood a furious blow from a Dou Zun Peak!

“What?!

He actually didn't die?!”

“What kind of soul defense is that?!”

“He twisted space?!”

The entire venue erupted in an uproar!

Everyone was utterly shocked by this scene!

An Eight-star Dou Zong, actually survived a fatal blow from a Dou Zun Peak!

This completely subverted their understanding!

“Little beast!!” Ninth Heavenly Venerable was both shocked and enraged, about to make another move.

“Soul Hall old ghost! Do you think my Pill Tower has no one?!” Xuan Kongzi was thoroughly enraged, his true body's projection shone brightly, joining forces with the projections of Heavenly Thunder Master and Mysterious Robe, blocking in front of Xiao Chen, their vast soul pressure clashing head-on with Ninth Heavenly Venerable!

“This child killed my Young Hall Master of the Soul Hall, he deserves ten thousand deaths! If the Pill Tower harbors him, it is to declare war on my Soul Hall!” Ninth Heavenly Venerable’s killing intent surged.

“Within the secret realm, life and death are destined! Soul Annihilation Life was not skilled enough and fell within it, who is to blame? If you want to fight, my Pill Tower will accompany you to the end!” Xuan Kongzi did not yield an inch.

The scene instantly became tense, with two major powerhouses facing off, the atmosphere reaching an extreme point!

The Heavenly Nether Sect, Flower Sect, and other factions watched coldly, each with their own thoughts.

Xiao Chen struggled to stand with the support of Han Yue and Ye Chong, swallowed the life-generating fortune pill, and as the vast medicinal power spread, his injuries quickly stabilized.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze coldly fixed on Ninth Heavenly Venerable, utterly fearless.

He knew that after this battle, he and the Soul Hall were irreconcilable.

The heavens of the Central Plains were about to change.

And his journey would also enter a new, more magnificent, and more bloody and cruel stage!

The Prodigy Grand Event concluded in such a tragic manner.

And Xiao Chen's name, with the fall of the Young Hall Master of the Soul Hall and his legend of surviving a Dou Zun (Battle Venerable) attack, would completely shake the entire Central Plains!