In the secluded cultivation ground of the Hun Realm, within a hall filled with soul candles representing all clan descendants, a candle marked with Hun Yu Cun's name suddenly extinguished.
"Huh? Hun Yu Cun's soul candle has gone out," a young boy cleaning the area exclaimed in surprise.
"Oh, you mean that Hun Yu Cun, right? I heard someone from the outside world challenged the Soul Path, and he went to confront them. I guess he lost and was killed," a middle-aged man glanced over and said with an indifferent expression.
"But teacher, shouldn't we report this? A descendant of the Hun Clan has been killed..." the young boy asked.
The elder coldly laughed and scornfully said, "He was just a menial descendant with a Grade 1 Bloodline, a waste who didn't even qualify to participate in the clan's coming-of-age ceremony. A disciple without a Clan Mark is not worth bothering about. If he's dead, he's dead."
The elder waved his hand dismissively. In the Dou God Clans, the concentration of the Dou God Bloodline was everything. Those with low-grade bloodlines were not even considered true members of the clan.
...
Elsewhere, in the trials of the Hun Realm's pathway, Xiao Yan held the Soul Command and said, "I want to take an additional trial! Challenge the Soul Evaluation Test!"
Although he was unsure of how many days he had spent inside, he hadn't forgotten something Hun Lao Gui mentioned upon his entry. The Hall of Souls placed a greater emphasis on cultivating the soul and Soul Skills, thus encouraging him to opt for trials based on Soul Skills to fight with his soul.
This meant that from the very beginning, Hun Lao Gui had advised him to take on challenges based on the strength of his soul rather than relying on his cultivation or Dou Techniques. This was simply because his cultivation was too weak.
Conversely, he possessed an exceptionally strong soul due to his innate talent. This talent could grant him a favorable rating.
Xiao Yan hadn't initially chosen to challenge the Soul Evaluation Test because he had this exact moment in mind—to take an additional trial.
He had thought about it early on: first earn some soul points by exchanging them for a pill that would enhance his Spiritual Strength, then proceed with the Spiritual Strength Challenge. He figured this approach could surely add a little more to his score.
If he could directly reach a High Xuan Class and gain a thousand soul points, then the Spirit Heart Gathering Soul Technique would be within his reach!
Especially after the battle with Hun Yu Cun, his desire for a Soul Training Method grew even stronger.
Buzz~~ The Soul Command emitted a faint, ghostly light as his words fell, causing his mind to blur momentarily. Xiao Yan was no longer surprised by this; the Soul Command possessed the miraculous ability to allow one's soul to leave the body and traverse the pathways of the Hun Realm.
When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in another trial area. Before him lay a track with three soul-light membranes serving as obstacles.
"Is this the place for the Spiritual Strength Challenge?"
Xiao Yan looked down at his hands. He was definitely not in his physical state but in the form of a soul body that lacked any physical substance.
Logically, given his current Spiritual Strength, it would be impossible for him to transform into a soul body. Yet, within this pathway, he had managed to do just that by borrowing the power of the Soul Command.
[The Xuan Class Spiritual Strength Challenge is initiated. Learn the most basic High Huang Class Soul Skill: Soul Impact. Utilize the Soul Skill, Soul Impact, to strike the soul-light membranes. Breaking through the membranes signifies passing the challenge.]
A stream of spiritual information instantly implanted itself into Xiao Yan's mind, and the details of a Soul Skill rapidly unfolded in his consciousness.
'High Huang Class Soul Skill, Soul Impact. It allows one's soul to leave the body for a very short period of time to collide with the opponent's soul, making it almost impossible to defend against.'
He frowned deeply. This Soul Impact must be the weakest Soul Skill within the Hall of Souls since it was only at the High Huang Class.
Although this Soul Skill appeared to be quite formidable as it allowed the soul to temporarily leave the body to attack the opponent, he understood it to be a mere collision attack devoid of any technique.
It was akin to headbutting someone else's head; victory or defeat depended entirely on who had the 'harder head'. In other words, this Soul Impact was all about whose Spiritual Strength was stronger. The weaker party would be knocked unconscious by the opponent's soul collision.
It could even shatter the opponent's soul and cause them to lose their soul.
However, if the opponent's soul was stronger than one's own, it would be similar to smashing an egg against a rock. It was essentially an act of suicide!
'No wonder they chose this kind of Soul Skill for the challenge test. This skill has no technical content at all; it purely depends on the individual's Spiritual Strength!'
Hun Lao Gui had not deceived him; he recommended the Spiritual Strength test because it was where he had the greatest advantage.
In a real battle based on Dou Qi cultivation level, the outcome could change in the blink of an eye due to the differences in opponents' abilities.
For instance, facing Zhang Chuan Wu from the Poison Sect of the Chu Yun Empire without proper preparation could be extremely dangerous. However, Xiao Yan, an alchemist equipped with an array of medicinal pills, managed to handle it.
During the battle with Hun Yu Cun, Xiao Yan's advantage came from possessing a Di Class Dou Technique. Without the Flame Splitting Tsunami, he likely would have lost.
However, the test of Spiritual Strength was straightforward. The strength of one's Spiritual Strength was exactly as it was. It did not change based on one's possession of formidable Dou Techniques or Soul Skills, nor did it vary with the strength of one's cultivation.
This test was more akin to a test of innate talent.
Xiao Yan sat cross-legged and began to recall the soul information he had just received. Even if he didn't pass the challenge, learning a High Huang Class Soul Skill for free was still a win.
Who knew? Perhaps this Soul Skill could play a decisive role at a critical moment.
'This Soul Skill doesn't seem too difficult to learn. Could it be that being in a soul body state makes it easier to learn Soul Skills?' Xiao Yan slowly stood up and looked at the light membrane in front of him.
It didn't take long for him to grasp the method of using this Soul Skill! Unlike Dou Techniques, this Soul Skill had no levels of proficiency; there was no such thing as a minor or major level of mastery. The effectiveness of the Soul Impact depended entirely on one's Spiritual Strength.
After studying it for a while, Xiao Yan gained a deeper understanding of the light membrane in front of him. Even though the membrane seemed thin, it couldn't be broken if one's Spiritual State was weaker than the Intermediate Mortal State.
'This Xuan Class Spiritual Strength challenge involves three light membranes, which presumably correspond to the Low, Intermediate, and High Xuan Class levels. This means that if I want to reach the High Xuan Class rating, I need to break through all three light membranes in succession.'
Xiao Yan patted his forehead. Currently, in his soul body state, using the Soul Impact was basically like headbutting directly through the obstacles!
In a way, this Soul Impact effectively made one's 'head' tougher...
There was no technique behind the Soul Impact; it was just a matter of who had the tougher 'head'!
Gritting his teeth, Xiao Yan lunged forward and smashed headfirst into the first light membrane in a straightforward and brute manner.
The membrane shattered like glass with a bang, and he immediately felt a counterforce that left his mind slightly dazed.
'So, this is what a Soul Impact feels like? Using Soul Skills carries certain risks to oneself.' Soul Impact was the most basic of Soul Skills, while the more advanced ones were essentially similar in nature, all involving condensing one's soul to attack others.
Any mishap with a Soul Skill could backlash and affect one's own soul.
Xiao Yan didn't stop. Instead, he continued with all his might, charging headfirst into the second light membrane. He instantly felt his soul tremble violently as the crisp sound of shattering filled the air.
'I refuse to believe this!' His fists clenched tightly, and his legs pushed off the ground as he collided with the last light membrane like a cannonball.
With a deep, bell-like sound, Xiao Yan was bounced back and landed on the ground. If anyone were to see his condition at this moment, they would be extremely astonished. His soul body was flickering like a malfunctioning television screen, barely able to maintain its shape.
[Having completed the Xuan Class Soul Evaluation Test, you are granted the title of High Xuan Class Soul Envoy. You may choose to exit the trial grounds and enter the Treasure Hall to use your soul points to exchange for resources.]
Xiao Yan slowly sat up upon hearing this spiritual voice, grinned, and looked toward the light membrane, which surprisingly had a small hole in the middle!
"Hey, Hun Huzi, can you hear me? Can you give me some extra points if I refine some pills?"