Chapter 156: Master of the Dragon Soul, Xiao Ruoli

"Today, I will cripple you!" Zhang Xiaofan said coldly, and then made a move to step directly onto Cao Li's dantian. That single kick would have been enough to abolish his cultivation entirely.

Right at that moment, a figure materialized out of nowhere, closing the distance in an instant. With a gentle push of a single palm, Zhang Xiaofan's body was sent drifting sideways uncontrollably.

Zhang Xiaofan felt only a soft, weightless blow, yet he found himself utterly powerless to resist it. At the same time, there was not a shred of hostility directed at him from that strike.

Only then did Zhang Xiaofan catch sight of a man in his fifties looking at him with a faint smile. The man spoke calmly, "The Dragon Soul is in dire need of talented individuals at the moment. For my sake, spare him this time, how about it?"

Looking at this man, despite the gentle smile on his face, Zhang Xiaofan felt an immense, crushing pressure. To him, the man felt as vast and unfathomable as a boundless abyss.

"Why should I give you face? If I had been the one who lost, would he have let me off?" Despite the overwhelming pressure, Zhang Xiaofan replied with his expression completely unchanged.

Xiao Ruoli was once again surprised. This young man was actually able to remain so composed under his pressure... Although he had not intentionally released his aura, the invisible coercion was certainly not something a young man merely at the late Kai-Spirit Realm could withstand.

Such a state of mind was truly rare and precious.

Xiao Ruoli simply smiled, showing no trace of anger.

"Audacious! Do you even know who is standing before you?"

At that exact moment, one of the eight figures who had arrived alongside the man spoke in a deep, stern voice.

"The Lord of Dragon Soul. Naturally, I know."

Looking at the expressions of awe on the faces of everyone in the grand hall, coupled with the formidable auras emanating from these nine individuals, it was not hard for Zhang Xiaofan to guess that the man before him—dressed in white robes and exuding a transcendent aura—was none other than the Sovereign of the Dragon Soul.

"However, even the Lord of Dragon Soul must respect the Dragon Soul Challenge Decree, must he not? Otherwise, how can the rules of the Dragon Soul be enforced, and how can they command the respect of the masses?" Zhang Xiaofan said neither servilely nor overbearingly.

"Audacious!" The Tiger King immediately bellowed in fury. Even among his peers, none dared to speak to Xiao Ruoli in such a manner. In his eyes, although this kid possessed decent talent, his audacity was simply too boundless.

Yet Xiao Ruoli merely chuckled and said, "He is entirely right. Since the rule of the Dragon Soul Challenge Decree has been established, then even I must abide by it. If I were to openly disregard the rules, how could I ever demand discipline from the members of the Dragon Soul in the future?"

Looking intently at Zhang Xiaofan, Xiao Ruoli continued, "I am not pleading for mercy on his behalf, but the Dragon Soul is indeed in urgent need of capable people. How about this—as long as you spare him, I will grant you one condition. Naturally, that condition cannot be too excessive."

Zhang Xiaofan naturally understood the art of compromise. For the Lord of Dragon Soul to speak in such a manner was already more than fair; if he were to stubbornly push the issue further, he would only have himself to suffer the consequences.

"Since you have put it that way, I will let him go. Having him trampled beneath my feet has already achieved my purpose," Zhang Xiaofan nodded and said.

"I owe you a favor. Whenever you need it, you may come to me at any time," Xiao Ruoli said. "Your talent is exceptional. You may consider participating in the evaluation of the Dragon Soul Hall. As long as you pass the trial, I can consult with the elders of the Dragon Soul Hall and grant you the opportunity of a baptism."

***

Hearing Xiao Ruoli's words, everyone in the hall was utterly astonished. The minimum qualification to even step foot into the Dragon Soul Hall was the Void-Breaking Realm!

Yet the young man right before their eyes was only at the late Kai-Spirit Realm, and yet he had been granted such an extraordinary opportunity!

Furthermore, once he passed the trial, he would be rewarded with a bodily baptism!

None of those present in the hall were strangers to the concept of a baptism. It required a colossal price to cleanse and temper a martial cultivator's body, drastically elevating their strength. It could truly be called a process of complete metamorphosis.

Qin Tianyu had ascended to the Void-Breaking Realm only after undergoing the Qin family's baptism, becoming the youngest Void-Breaking Realm martial artist in the Dragon Soul Hall.

As for the baptisms of the Dragon Soul Hall itself, hardly a handful of people had ever been granted such a privilege across countless years!

A single baptism consumed astronomical resources, a scale of consumption that ordinary people could scarcely even imagine.

Yet the Lord of Dragon Soul had just promised Zhang Xiaofan a chance at a baptism—a gesture that undeniably filled everyone in the hall with intense envy.

For Xiao Ruoli to go this far could only prove one thing: the young man standing before them possessed talent of the highest order!

Even for Qin Tianyu, the Dragon Soul had not readily bestowed its baptism; instead, it had been the Qin family that conducted the baptism themselves.

Qin Tianyu's expression turned ugly and dark. The very outcome he feared most had come to pass. The talent Zhang Xiaofan had displayed had captured Xiao Ruoli's favor, prompting the Sovereign to make an exception and allow a mere late Kai-Spirit Realm youth to participate in the Dragon Soul Hall's trial.

Once he passed that trial and received the baptism, his strength would undoubtedly advance by leaps and bounds...

When that time came, he would no longer be the undisputed prodigy of the Dragon Soul Hall.

Zhang Xiaofan was also somewhat surprised. Entering the Dragon Soul Hall was indeed an honor he desired, and most importantly, gaining entry meant he could defeat Qin Tianyu and wash away the humiliation of the past three years!

As for the baptism, Zhang Xiaofan was naturally aware of what it entailed, but he had no intention of accepting it. According to the records within the Nine Heavens True Dragon Scripture, while a baptism could indeed dramatically boost a martial artist's strength in the short term, it achieved this by excessively overdrawing their hidden potential.

Zhang Xiaofan had no desire to elevate his power through such a method, knowing full well that doing so would inevitably obstruct his future path of cultivation.

Armed with the Nine Heavens True Dragon Scripture, how lofty was Zhang Xiaofan's vision? What he pursued was the ultimate, supreme realm of transcendence!

"Thank you, Your Excellency. I will certainly participate in the trial of the Dragon Soul Hall, but as for the baptism, I must decline," Zhang Xiaofan said earnestly.

"Do you even realize how many people spend their entire lives dreaming of a baptism? And yet you refuse it?" Xiao Ruoli was deeply taken aback.

"Because what I pursue is the supreme realm of the Great Vehicle. I do not wish for any external factor to impair my potential. Thank you for your kind intention, My Lord, but I believe that even without a baptism, reaching the Void-Breaking Realm should not prove difficult for me."

Zhang Xiaofan's voice was calm and steady. To the ears of most people present—who did not even comprehend what the supreme realm of the Great Vehicle was—these sounded merely like the arrogant boasts of reckless youth. But as Xiao Ruoli looked into Zhang Xiaofan's eyes, he saw a gaze brimming with absolute confidence and boundless heroic spirit. Those eyes were like a starlit night sky, as though they held the boundless cosmos within them.

How could Xiao Ruoli not know of the supreme realm of the Great Vehicle? Even for someone of his standing, such a realm was something he dared not even dream of; it was like the stars in the firmament—visible to the eye, yet forever out of reach.

Hearing those words spoken from the lips of this young man, Xiao Ruoli felt an inexplicable sense that perhaps this youth truly could attain such a realm. It was merely a feeling, an ethereal and illusory premonition...

At the same time, he was astonished that this young man actually knew of the supreme realm of the Great Vehicle.

"Perhaps I will not live to see that day..."

Xiao Ruoli murmured softly, then slowly turned and walked toward the dragon throne. The Eight Tiger Kings cast deep, meaningful glances at Zhang Xiaofan before following suit, each taking their respective seats.

Cao Li picked himself up from the ground, glaring at Zhang Xiaofan with venomous hatred. Having been humiliated so thoroughly by Zhang Xiaofan in front of so many people, he felt no gratitude whatsoever for being spared; instead, the resentment in his heart grew only more festering and profound.

Zhang Xiaofan naturally noticed that hostile gaze, though he paid it no mind. He had no fear of Cao Li's retaliation; given his current strength, a martial artist of Cao Li's caliber was no longer worth regarding as a threat.

If Cao Li dared to seek revenge, he would gladly teach him the meaning of regret.

Nearby, Du Yuefeng smiled faintly. The speed at which Zhang Xiaofan's strength had grown genuinely exceeded his expectations, and he felt a deep sense of gratification for the young man.

At that moment, Xiao Ruoli looked toward one of the Tiger Kings seated below and said, "Nanshan, begin."

That particular Tiger King, named Nanshan, appeared to be in his late sixties or early seventies. He immediately stood up, walked to the space between the thrones on either side, and spoke in a solemn voice to the grand hall below.

"The reason we have gathered all of you here today is to announce a certain matter. No doubt some of you already have wind of it."

"A thousand years ago, there was a powerful sect in the Kunlun Mountains known as the Lingxuan Sect. They left behind the Soul-Suppressing Stones. By gathering two pieces of the Soul-Suppressing Stone, one can piece together a map to locate the ruins of that ancient sect. Now, the Soul-Suppressing Stones have been gathered, and the Dragon Soul is preparing to embark on an expedition to unearth these treasures."

Nanshan paused for a moment before continuing, "However, the ruins of such ancient sects are invariably bound by corresponding barrier rules. We do not yet know how heavily it will restrict our cultivation levels, nor do we know the minimum age requirement for entry. Everything will only become clear once we arrive at the site."

"Now, may I ask Zhang Xiaofan to come forward and hand over the Soul-Suppressing Stones. Since the Soul-Suppressing Stones were collected by Zhang Xiaofan himself, the Dragon Soul will grant him three entry quotas." Nanshan looked toward Zhang Xiaofan, signaling for him to step forward.