Chapter 88

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Chapter 88: Soul Mastery Baptism

Warm breath brushed against her ear, followed by the soft, jade-like body of Qin Chu Yi pressing against Ming He. Her breath faltered slightly; she dared not look down at Qin Chu Yi. Instead, she stiffly hugged her tightly, stood up, and walked toward the hall door.

The blue sleeves swept by as the crimson hall door thundered open. The azure sea flowed in midair, yet an invisible barrier isolated it, allowing the seawater and air to coexist, while the palaces in the Deep Sea stood firm and unyielding.

Ming He stepped out of the hall, turning her back to the Deep Sea, shielding Qin Chu Yi from the unknown dangers and the bone-chilling cold, ensuring she would not be struck by the icy waves.

Qin Chu Yi’s gaze softened, filled with tenderness and starlight. She hooked her arm around Ming He’s neck and tilted her head slightly. At the top of the crimson plaque, two gilded characters danced like dragons and phoenixes, sending a dizzying sensation deep within her soul.

Just as she had thought.

A flicker of determination flashed in Qin Chu Yi’s eyes as she scanned the invisible, suspended seawater between the Deep Sea and the palaces. Her emotions stirred slightly before she turned to Ming He and spoke softly, “I understand now.”

Ming He met her bright gaze, feeling a sudden clarity about the greatest difference between those born into noble families and rogue cultivators. She nodded and embraced Qin Chu Yi, walking closer to the hall, expertly shutting the door behind them.

Outside the grand hall, across the Deep Sea.

A black-clothed man, his face concealed by a wolf mask, stood nearby the crimson door, gazing at the two characters with his head held high. The eyes behind the mask held endless desolation, colder than the Deep Sea itself.

His original intention was to kill Ming He and Qin Chu Yi.

Their birth had already stirred immense turmoil around the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb, resonating with the mysteries of the Great Path. These two were extraordinary geniuses of the human race, destined to become the greatest obstacles in the battle against foreign races on the Tianwu Continent, and would pose a threat to his master.

Loyal to his master, he couldn’t let them live, so he followed them all the way, but unexpectedly encountered this grand hall.

The master of the Star Lock?

He sneered disdainfully, his contempt unhidden. The palaces cut off the Deep Sea and its sounds, so his low laughter was also blocked.

Yóu Lìng’s laughter seemed like a deadly curse, her gaze deep and dark like a blood wolf pouncing on its prey. Clad in black, like a black wolf, she was born to be a Shura collecting lives from hell.

Ming He.

She thought of these two characters, feeling her emotions rise and fall. The one the Star Lock had chosen, the favored daughter of the heavens protected by the stars, a symbol of light and hope, a sword cultivator advancing fearlessly under the blazing sun—was this who she was?

Yóu Lìng gazed deeply at the crimson hall door and suddenly changed her mind; she no longer wanted to kill Ming He.

Now, she wished to destroy her, to watch the light fall into the despair of darkness, to see the human race destroy their own extraordinary genius.

That would surely be amusing.

“Senior Sister, what do those two characters say?” Ming He curiously asked as she carried Qin Chu Yi back into the hall.

“Stars,” Qin Chu Yi replied, her gaze deep and still remaining nestled in Ming He’s arms, not intending to come down. “That is the language of the Ancient Clan.”

“Ancient Clan?” Ming He blinked. She knew that Qin Chu Yi’s Qin Clan was an Ancient Clan, and most influential families in the central region had Ancient Clan heritage.

“The Ancient Clan is a very broad concept,” Qin Chu Yi’s expression turned complex. “To be more precise, that is the language of the Soul Mastery Ancient Clan, also called the Soul Clan. People of the Soul Clan only cultivate soul mastery; from the moment they are born, they are stronger than ordinary beings.”

Ming He nodded. She was aware of soul mastery, having first obtained the God-Breaking Spike from Bai Mengjiao, which was a soul mastery technique, and then later acquiring the Ghostly Sword from the Domain Lord’s mansion in the Eastern Region.

Among the three thousand Great Paths, soul mastery is one of them; due to its difficulty, the number of soul cultivators is far fewer than that of formation masters and weapon masters.

However, when successfully cultivated, the destructiveness of a soul cultivator is unimaginable. Saying they could destroy heaven and earth would not be an exaggeration.

“Members of the Soul Clan have unique bloodlines and find it hard to reproduce, flourishing in ancient times but nearing extinction now,” Qin Chu Yi sighed. “According to our clan’s ancient texts, thousands of years ago, the Sword Master led the human race to fend off the Myriad Races, among which were the ancestors of the Soul Clan.

They were the strongest among the Soul Clan, displaying countless techniques on the battlefield, continuously unleashing soul power, causing untold numbers of alien souls to perish in battle.

According to the ancient texts, he single-handedly slaughtered a million alien races during the most dire times on the Tianwu Continent, fighting fiercely without retreat until his entire body was shattered by the alien races.

But he was a soul cultivator; as long as he lived, he could always kill alien races without rest."

Qin Chu Yi’s eyes gleamed with reverence and aspiration for the mighty and the ancestors. "Soul mastery is anchored by the Sea of Souls and wields Soul Techniques as its means of attack. Naturally, the writings of the greats from the Soul Clan are nothing short of extraordinary."

"This grand hall must be a relic of a powerful Soul Clan figure, possibly even the former abode of the Soul Ancestor," Qin Chu Yi’s voice quivered, unable to mask her excitement.

That was the Soul Ancestor, a comrade-in-arms of the Sword Master and a venerable hero of the Tianwu Continent.

"But why the mention of ‘stars’?" Ming He mused, "Could it be that the Soul Clan is connected to the Star Lock?"

"Most likely," Qin Chu Yi confirmed. "I’ve delved into numerous ancient texts about the great wars, and the creation and forging of the Star Lock were pivotal. It was once the beacon of hope for the Sword Master and many formidable beings. Legend has it that the Soul Clan, Mermaid Clan, and human race were all involved in its creation…"

The mention of the Mermaid Clan stirred something in Ming He. She remembered the auction at Baiyu Building in Ding Kang City, where Bai Mengjiao, of the Mermaid Clan’s royal bloodline, instantly recognized her as the master of the Star Lock.

"Ancient times? The Star Lock? The battlefield of the heavens?" Ming He whispered, her voice tinged with longing. "What was it like back then?"

It was an era of alien races wreaking havoc, the human race standing firm, the Soul Clan extinguishing myriad paths with their techniques, sword cultivators shaking mountains and rivers, knife cultivators splitting the heavens, sound cultivators quaking the earth, and formation masters using the world as their chessboard. What an extraordinary time it must have been!

A fiery passion burned in Ming He’s heart. Never before had she yearned so intensely for the battlefield of the heavens, nor had she felt such pride in being part of the human race. She carried the blood of her people, and she was now a sword cultivator.

"Who knows? Those tales are buried under the weight of history," Qin Chu Yi reflected, her emotions mirroring Ming He’s. "Perhaps only when the alien races retreat from the Tianwu Continent can we leisurely explore the paths our forebears walked."

She composed herself and drew closer to Ming He. "Let’s explore the side hall," she suggested, to see if the Soul Clan left anything for future generations.

"Alright," Ming He agreed without hesitation, carrying Qin Chu Yi across the threshold of the side hall. It was still empty, yet untouched by dust or chaos, as the palace itself shielded it from the outside world. For the enigmatic Soul Clan, this must have been a trivial feat.

Ming He quietly speculated as she approached the front of the side hall. There stood an Ancient Wooden Table, upon which rested a shrine devoid of inscriptions or even fragments of words.

Though there was no wind, the black drapery fluttered slightly, enveloping them in an ancient and solemn atmosphere.

No words were needed; the sudden emotions rising in Ming He’s heart told her the answer. The Star Lock in her chest trembled silently. This was the resting place of a powerful Soul Clan figure, perhaps the Soul Ancestor himself.

Qin Chu Yi clearly understood as well; she struggled out of Ming He’s embrace, clasped her hands together, and knelt before the shrine. Her body, which had never bent to enemies, expressed deep reverence and admiration in this moment.

Blood seeped through her blue garments, her movements revealing her injuries, yet Qin Chu Yi did not frown or care. She simply bowed before the shrine, filled with endless respect for the human race’s forebears.

Ming He knelt beside her, feeling a surge of emotion that was not lessened by her status as an outsider in this realm.

She still did not know what stories the Soul Ancestor had lived through, how they connected to the Star Lock, or how they had concealed themselves in the Deep Sea.

But he had indeed saved both her and Qin Chu Yi’s lives.

At least a thousand years after his passing.

"Clang!"

A sudden ringing broke the silence of the grand hall, followed by a streak of light descending from the heavens, striking the shrine. In the next moment, a brilliant glow erupted, illuminating the darkened hall more brightly than the blazing sun.

Ming He looked up in astonishment, feeling as if she had glimpsed the most dazzling magnificence in the world—an unimaginable scene that shook her to the core.

She beheld a brilliance so bright it was blinding; countless stars traversed time and space, effortlessly dispelling the darkness. Against the backdrop of shadows, they fell upon it, forming the stars of the heavens in Ming He’s eyes.

Vast and infinite, the sky was filled with countless stars, the most beautiful form of light amidst darkness. The starry night shimmered, radiant silver light reflecting in dazzling waves, capturing the essence of tranquil time.

"Boom!"

A stream of light emerged from the shrine and soared into the starry night, transforming into a Full Moon at the center of the stars. Countless stars surrounded the moon, and the stars and moon shone together.

This was the Vast Moon of the Hearts of Soul Cultivators, radiating brilliance that obscured the bloodshed—a spectacle of purity and grandeur.

The Star Lock trembled more violently.

Ming He’s gaze remained fixed on the starry night, her spirit captivated by its brilliance. Her presence radiated silently, and spiritual energy surged forth, filling the hall with splendor.

Qin Chu Yi looked at her in astonishment, then her eyes lit up with excitement. “Soul Mastery Baptism!”

It was the greatest gift a soul cultivator could bestow upon their junior, using their life’s soul power to create a realm of soul mastery, cleansing both roots and the Sea of Souls. Only the most powerful of the Soul Clan could perform such a feat.

Ming He was able to receive this Soul Mastery Baptism likely because she was the master of the Star Lock.

Qin Chu Yi remained calm and focused, taking on the role of Guardian of the Path without disturbing Ming He, devoting herself entirely to safeguarding her.

Ming He’s aura continued to rise.

Dust Dispersal Stage Four.

Dust Dispersal Stage Five.

Dust Dispersal Stage Six.

Qin Chu Yi sensed the vast depth of her aura with mild surprise but felt no concern about her foundation; the Soul Mastery Baptism would only strengthen her already indestructible roots. Even if she broke through to the Great Emperor realm now, it would be a solid achievement with no artificial gains.

Of course, reaching the Great Emperor realm was too distant and ethereal, so it was out of the question.

Dust Dispersal Stage Seven!

Finally, Ming He’s aura ceased its ascent, but this did not mean her Soul Mastery Baptism ended here.

The baptism of the powerful was never limited to just cultivation.

“Clang!”

The bone book in Ming He’s storage ring emitted a resonant sound as if it had a will of its own; it flew out and hovered beside her. The pages of the bone book began to turn by themselves, no longer lingering on the third page that Ming He had struggled to flip before.

Yang Light, Kai Yang, Yu Heng, Tian Quan, Tian Ji, Tian Xuan, Tian Shu—the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique illuminated within Ming He’s heart, merging with the stars of the heavens and the Vast Moon of the Hearts of Soul Cultivators. The swordsmanship in the starry sky was profound and insightful, revealing a moment of clarity.

Miles away, in an endless wasteland,

A girl in black bore the weight of blood all over her body, her blood-red eyes shining brighter than the scorching sun. Her face was stained with blood, and her body was riddled with deep wounds that pierced the bones, her spiritual energy nearly depleted.

Yet, with sheer instinct and unyielding spirit, she clutched her sword. Her right hand formed a seal, and array flags fluttered in the wind. In the distance, she heard her companions calling out, running towards her, but she knew she would not make it.

The girl in black felt a twinge of regret; she wished she had slain more of the alien race. Then, she lunged into the crowd of enemies, prepared for self-detonation.

Unfortunately, the alien race had other plans, their powerful claws piercing her shoulder, blocking her spiritual energy from reaching her heart. Her self-detonation was thwarted, and she lost the strength to fight back, finding herself in the very center of her enemies.

It seemed death was inevitable!

Yet, the girl harbored no despair, nor did she feel dimness; death was far from terrifying to her, especially in battle!

Suddenly, starlight began to rise in the void. The sword in her hand let out a long cry, as if responding to something from afar. Its brilliance, combined with the innate sharpness of the sword, pierced through the fierce defenses of the alien race, effortlessly piercing their hearts.

Was this… the guidance of the stars?

The girl in black paused slightly, a smile appearing on her lips as she grasped the North Star Sword, this time gaining strength and vitality from the blade.

Beneath the starry radiance in the wasteland, she shouted and moved with her sword, moving like the wind through the encircling enemies. With a swift motion, she struck back, spilling blood across the ground and merging with her approaching companions to create a united force.

They obliterated that batch of the alien race.