Chapter 17

Yewuque gazed calmly ahead, completely ignoring the sudden voice from behind. Over the past ten years, the ridicule and humiliation he had endured in the Murong family far exceeded what others could imagine.

The contemptuous questioning voice from Sima Ao’s mouth could not stir the slightest ripple in Yewuque’s heart. Or rather, after these ten years, Yewuque had long become indifferent to all of it. Unless he wanted to, it was very difficult for anyone of his generation to provoke him with words.

A hint of understanding flashed in Lin Yingluo’s eyes. Yewuque’s reaction was not unexpected. After witnessing the battle at the Murong family two days ago and seeing Yewuque challenge the terrifying peer, Jun Shanlie, Lin Yingluo knew that Yewuque had embarked on a path that ordinary people dared not even imagine.

Sima Ao might be considered outstanding among the younger generation, but compared to Jun Shanlie, he was far, far inferior.

Sima Ao, standing behind Yewuque, realized that his words were being ignored by this guy who hadn’t even condensed a Soul Moon. Anger began to rise in his heart, but a glance at Lin Yingluo, whom he adored, made him unwilling to lose composure in front of her. Sima Ao temporarily suppressed his anger.

Qi Shilong stood with his hands behind his back, his martial robe fluttering in the wind as he flew through the air. However, he was fully aware of every move the three young people behind him made.

He knew that Yewuque’s sudden appearance would certainly provoke Sima Ao’s dissatisfaction, but he was not worried about Lin Yingluo. This little girl was more observant than anyone else.

Over the next month, Qi Shilong would mobilize all the resources at his disposal to cultivate these three young people, striving to enhance their strength before the Hundred Cities Battle.

Especially Yewuque, Qi Shilong had the highest expectations for him. Having achieved the Great Perfection of the Body Tempering stage, he could defeat the Soul Moon stage’s Murong Tian. Yewuque’s accumulation far exceeded that of his peers. If he could condense a Soul Moon and enter the Soul Cleansing stage within this month, he would become the ace of the three!

"It seems that I also need to compete in this Hundred Cities Battle. Zhao Wujie, this time, we will settle the score once and for all."

A hint of sharpness flashed in Qi Shilong’s slightly weathered eyes.

"Whoosh"

A circle of yuan force light streaked across the sky. After carefully observing it for a while, Yewuque suddenly spoke, breaking the silence: "City Lord Qi, I am now at the Great Perfection of the Body Tempering stage. I still have many doubts about how to condense a Soul Moon and enter the Soul Cleansing stage. I dare to ask City Lord Qi to enlighten me."

Sima Ao, standing with his arms crossed, revealed a look of disdain upon hearing Yewuque’s question.

"Ha ha, very well. There is still some distance to my residence, so I will explain the Soul Moon to you. Lin Yingluo, Sima Ao, although both of you have already condensed a Soul Moon and entered the Soul Cleansing stage, the following content will also be useful to you."

Qi Shilong’s words echoed in Lin Yingluo and Sima Ao’s ears. The former nodded lightly, while the latter’s eyes also showed a serious expression.

"Practitioners cultivate through several stages. The first stage is the Body Tempering stage. As the name suggests, it involves refining the skin, flesh, tendons, bones, and marrow, strengthening the physical body, and refining the blood and qi. When the body and yuan force are perfectly integrated, the practitioner reaches the Great Perfection of the Body Tempering stage, which is where you, Yewuque, are now. The next step is to break through to the Soul Cleansing stage."

"Speaking of the Soul Cleansing stage, we must mention its hallmark, the Soul Moon! What is a Soul Moon? How does it form? Humans are the most intelligent of all beings. From birth, they are accompanied by seven souls. These seven souls are: the Heroic Soul, the Essence Soul, the Power Soul, the Origin Soul, the Qi Soul, the Wisdom Soul, and the Heavenly Rush Soul. However, ordinary people cannot see their own seven souls because they are intangible and formless."

"Only practitioners who have reached the Great Perfection of the Body Tempering stage can sense the existence of these seven souls. After sensing their existence, the practitioner must condense these intangible and formless souls one by one. The seven souls contain immense power, which is why the Soul Moon exists. The Soul Moon is the tangible manifestation of the seven souls. As the seven souls are condensed, the Soul Moon will change color."

At this point, Qi Shilong noticed that the three young people behind him were listening intently and smiled in satisfaction. He continued: "The first stage of the Soul Cleansing stage, the Heroic Soul stage, and the second stage, the Essence Soul stage, correspond to light silver and dark silver, respectively. The third stage, the Power Soul stage, and the fourth stage, the Origin Soul stage, correspond to light purple and dark purple, respectively. The last three stages, the Qi Soul stage, the Wisdom Soul stage, and the Heavenly Rush Soul stage, correspond to purple-gold, light gold, and gold, respectively. In other words, by identifying the color of a practitioner’s Soul Moon, you can determine which stage of the Soul Cleansing stage they are in. For example, Lin Yingluo and Sima Ao, both of you currently have light silver Soul Moons and are beginning to turn dark silver, indicating that you are at the peak of the Heroic Soul stage."

"Buzz"

As Qi Shilong spoke, Lin Yingluo and Sima Ao’s bodies trembled, and a light silver Soul Moon rose behind them, floating and emitting a powerful aura.

"Therefore, over the next month, you two should focus on breaking through to the Essence Soul stage. If successful, your yuan force will increase significantly. After all, in the seven stages of the Soul Cleansing stage, the gap between each stage is significant. Without powerful combat techniques, a practitioner one stage higher can easily exhaust you with their abundant yuan force. Yewuque, I give you half a month to condense a Soul Moon and enter the Heroic Soul stage. Only then will you have the qualifications and ability to achieve what you want in the Hundred Cities Battle."

The last sentence stirred Yewuque’s heart, and his eyes shone with determination.

Indeed!

The Hundred Cities Battle is not something just anyone can participate in. Each participant represents their main city, and all are young geniuses. Just taking the two beside him, either one could easily defeat Murong Tian.

If he wanted to achieve outstanding results in the Hundred Cities Battle, he would need formidable strength. Yewuque understood that with the Battle Saint Law Origin, he could fight at the Heroic Soul stage while at the Great Perfection of the Body Tempering stage. However, such strength would not be enough in the Hundred Cities Battle. Yewuque could imagine that many geniuses in the battle might have reached the Essence Soul stage, and some might even be at the mid or late stages of the Essence Soul stage.

He was still too weak. Condensing a Soul Moon and entering the Heroic Soul stage was urgent for Yewuque!

Once he successfully broke through to the Heroic Soul stage, Yewuque felt that his combat strength would make a significant leap. He sensed a daunting aura from the Battle Saint Law Origin in his dantian.

Moreover, after breaking through to the Soul Cleansing stage, Yewuque had another trump card: the Blood Dragon Jade left by Uncle Fu.

Murong Tian challenged him for this Blood Dragon Jade because Uncle Fu said that a Soul Cleansing stage practitioner would gain an unexpected transformation with this jade.

With all these circumstances, Yewuque firmly believed that once he broke through to the Soul Cleansing stage, he would have the qualifications to compete with anyone in the Hundred Cities Battle.

With a clear path ahead, Yewuque was eager to start his cultivation!

Qi Shilong’s gaze swept over the three young people, knowing that they were all motivated and enthusiastic. The next month would be crucial for their cultivation.

"However, due to that event, the Hundred Cities Battle has been advanced. Those who have received the news will no longer hold back. In the previous Hundred Cities Battle, many geniuses restrained themselves, diligently cultivating, all for the chance to shine in this battle and gain the favor of those from that place, obtaining a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! This Hundred Cities Battle will be the most brutal and spectacular in recent decades. I wonder if the three young people behind me can reach that level."

His gaze flickered as he slowly swept over Yewuque, standing alone with his back to the box.

"Perhaps only he has that potential..."

If Qi Shilong did not see potential in Yewuque, why would he invite him to represent Longguang Main City in the Hundred Cities Battle?

Yewuque, under the pressure from Jun Shanlie, showed no fear or hesitation and even proposed a four-year challenge. Even Qi Shilong felt a surge of emotion!

Moreover, Qi Shilong slowly recalled how brilliant this young man named Yewuque was ten years ago. If not for that, how could Jun Shanlie, at his current height, still remember him?

Although he did not know why Yewuque was labeled as a waste for the past ten years, Qi Shilong, who had witnessed his rise, believed that perhaps this young man could achieve miracles that others could not.

"Buzz" "Whoosh"

As Yewuque and the others were lost in their thoughts, they suddenly felt a jolt and then rapidly descended.

"Flying in the sky is something a Soul Cleansing stage practitioner cannot do. This... is the power beyond the Soul Cleansing stage..."

Yewuque’s mind was filled with this thought. He knew that his cultivation journey was just beginning.

"Buzz"

With Qi Shilong’s control, the faint yuan force light circle slowly disappeared, eventually vanishing into nothingness. Yewuque and the others now stood on solid ground.

"Here is..."

The three, standing still, realized they had arrived at an unfamiliar place.

"Rushing water"

In Yewuque’s line of sight, about ten zhang away, there was a small mountain emitting an extremely intense aura, and the sound of rushing water filled his ears.

At the same time, Yewuque distinctly felt a faint warmth rising from the mountain. As soon as he touched this warmth, he felt his Saint Dao Battle Qi tremble slightly, and its flow seemed to quicken.

Lin Yingluo and Sima Ao felt the same warmth from the mountain.

A look of shock flashed in Lin Yingluo’s cold eyes, and she seemed to recall something. She looked at Qi Shilong, who nodded with a smile.

"Yes, there, that is a yuan force river."

Yewuque was somewhat puzzled by these words, but Lin Yingluo and Sima Ao’s expressions changed immediately!