RBCT Chapter 568 - 90: Is the Soul Testing Stele Broken? (Third Update)
Chapter 568 - 90: Is the Soul Testing Stele Broken? (Third Update)
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Lin Chen walked calmly towards the Soul Testing Stele.
Everyone present followed Lin Chen with their gaze, doubt written across their faces.
They were puzzled about what Lin Chen was truly thinking.
Even if Lin Chen wanted to earn points for Canglan Martial Arts Academy, was it necessary to follow right after Bian Xinjie? Appearing at this moment would surely be a disgrace?
Let others undergo testing first, and when dozens of them fail, then step forward. By then, everyone would have calmed down from the shock that Bian Xinji brought.
"It seems your genius from Liang is a proud person as well,"
Lu Qiguang said with a smile, and the strongmen from other countries turned their eyes to Hou Zhantian. Calling it pride, but actually it’s foolishness.
In the martial arts ranking competition, morale is sometimes crucial. Most martial artists present have similar strengths, and victory often depends on who performs better in the moment, with higher morale having the advantage.
"A man without pride cannot stand,"
Hou Zhantian replied coldly, looking at Lin Chen with old eyes. He didn’t understand why Lin Chen chose to step out now, but remembering how Lin Chen once turned the tide at Lingxiao Martial Arts Academy...
Could it be that Lin Chen is confident to surpass Bian Xinjie?
Hou Zhantian’s heart harbored a thread of expectation, though the possibility was very slim. But back when facing Sihe Martial Arts Academy and Pilgrim Martial Arts Academy, didn’t everyone also think Lin Chen had little chance of winning?
In front of the stele, Bian Xinjie looked at Lin Chen approaching, his face cold, eyes mocking, thinking two miraculous feats in Liang means he could achieve them every time.
Ignorant fool, he’d just wait to see the joke.
On a tower pavilion at the left side of the academy, Murong Yan clenched her hands and murmured, "There will surely be a miracle."
Beside her, Murong Xin seemed helpless, "Sister, where are so many miracles coming from? Lin Chen has just entered the grade, his victory over Su Zhe was due to his strong physique, breaking Su Zhe’s Sword Qi, but the growth of Divine Soul follows the tier. Lin Chen is merely a Ninth-Grade Martial Artist, reaching one zhang height is already considered good."
"Fifth Sister, I believe in Lin Chen. Since Lin Chen dared to step forward at this moment, he must have confidence."
Murong Xin curled her lips, thinking that her younger sister was infatuated with Lin Chen to the point of being delirious.
"If Lin Chen truly could surpass Bian Xinjie..." Murong Shuang listened to her two sisters and smiled, "Doesn’t need to surpass, as long as Lin Chen can reach a ten zhang height, Father and Mother will absolutely not oppose your affair with Lin Chen."
The events in the Imperial Garden seemed to have little impact, but Murong Shuang knew Father did not want her youngest sister to marry Lin Chen.
In past circumstances, with Lin Chen’s demonstrated strength and talent, coupled with her youngest sister’s affection for him, Father would surely agree to the marriage. But now, with Liang and Han Kingdoms at war, her youngest sister’s union with Lin Chen may drag Yan Kingdom into the matter.
But if Lin Chen truly could reach ten zhang, Father would likely disregard the conflict between Liang and Han Kingdoms. Such potential promises sure entrance into the First Grade in the future.
The Soul Testing Stele is the property of Yan Kingdom, hence only their Royal Family knows one secret about it.
Ninth-Grade Martial Artists can reach ten zhang height, and as long as they do not fall, they are bound to enter the First Grade in the future, not the kind that barely makes it into the First Grade in old age, but quite possibly before the age of fifty.
Entering the First Grade at fifty leaves thirty years of peak period!
Across the Nine Kingdoms, only Han Kingdom currently has two individuals entering the First Grade before fifty, while the other eight do not.
Passing by Bian Xinjie, Lin Chen stood before the stone stele, under the gaze of everyone present, raising his right hand and gently placing it on the stele.
The moment his palm touched the stele, Lin Chen’s eye twitched, sensing a unique suction from his palm, that even shifted the little figure in his dantian slightly.
This suction was directed at the little figure.
Lin Chen’s thoughts moved, causing the little figure to tremble and return to its original place, dissipating this unique suction.
Bang!
At the very moment the suction vanished, the black light beam on the stele surged upwards, instantly reaching three zhang high. Watching this, many martial artists’ faces showed shock.
Three zhang!
This is already close to the forefront, and it’s worth noting Lin Chen is merely a new student at the academy.
"Why does he deserve the three zhang!"
At the Zheng Kingdom Martial Arts Academy side, Benshan Lang’s eyes showed resentment. Lin Chen reaching three zhang would have people cease doubting his capabilities, reducing ridicule, something he hated to see.
"No wonder Junior Brother Lin dared to ascend, three zhang height... Though defeated, still honorable,"
Li Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. Compared to Bian Xinjie’s fifteen zhang, Lin Chen’s three zhang height is insignificant, but don’t forget Junior Brother Lin is two years younger than Bian Xinjie. Whether Bian Xinjie could achieve three zhang two years ago is still questionable.
Seeing the three zhang black light beam on the stele, Bian Xinjie chuckled lightly, thinking how naïve, thinking this could restore face for Liang.
On the tower pavilion, Murong Xin watched the three zhang high black light beam and sighed, "If not for the achievements of Bian Xinjie’s group in front, Lin Chen’s result would have been shocking, but unfortunately..."
Before her words finished, Murong Xin’s mouth slightly opened, incredulously looking at the sudden change of the stele.
Bang!
Another beam of light shot up at the Soul Testing Stele at that moment, not merging with the previous beam. Two beams stood side by side, with this beam soaring directly to six zhang height, while the first beam also grew to six zhang height alongside the emergence of the second beam.
At the scene, not a whisper was heard.
No one knew why the Soul Testing Stele transformed in this manner.
"Two beams of six zhang height, doesn’t that mean Senior Brother Lin equals a twelve zhang height?"
Meng Xing was incredibly excited, while others beside him also stared at the two beams in shock.
"This... This is the first time I have ever seen the Soul Testing Stele display two beams of light."
The disciples of the Yan Kingdom Royal Martial Arts Academy were the most shocked at this moment. They were the most familiar with the Soul Testing Stele and had undergone the Divine Soul Trial numerous times over the years, yet they had never seen anyone able to make the stele show two beams of light.
Not only had they never seen it, but they had never heard the instructors and head of the academy mention it.
Seeing two black beams of light reaching six zhang high, Bian Xinjie merely turned cold-faced, while next to him, Lu Chuanning’s expression was unusually grim. He had achieved a height slightly over nine zhang, and if Lin Chen’s two beams could be calculated together, wouldn’t it mean Lin Chen had surpassed him?
He, a formidable warrior ranked seventh on the Celestial List, actually lost to Lin Chen, the first on the Earth List, in divine soul strength?
Impossible, there must be something wrong with the Soul Testing Stele.
"Silence!"
Faced with the uproar on site, Murong Song lightly reprimanded: "The appearance of double beams is a normal occurrence; there is no problem with the Soul Testing Stele."
After speaking, Murong Song’s eyes fixed on Lin Chen tightly, understanding well why the Soul Testing Stele showed double beams—the reason being Lin Chen’s ability to separate the divine soul.
The divine soul separation technique is a secret not passed down outside the royal family of the Yan Kingdom, and only royal family members stepping into the Middle Grade are eligible to practice this secret technique.
It’s not that they won’t teach it to the young clan members, but without reaching the Middle Grade Realm, the strength of the divine soul won’t achieve this, making the teaching futile and posing a risk of exposing the secret technique.
Murong Song’s words immediately dissipated the voices of suspicion on site, followed by someone exclaiming.
"Another one appeared!"
A third black beam emerged this time, directly rising to nine zhang, bringing the previous two beams also to nine zhang.
"Brother Murong, how should we calculate the score?"
Lu Qiguang watched the three black beams with a somewhat gloomy expression. If they were added together, Lin Chen would measure at a height of twenty-seven zhang, far surpassing Bian Xinjie.
"No rush."
Murong Song did not rush to answer, instead looking at Lin Chen with a gaze full of anticipation.
Can it be even more?
"I knew it, I just knew it."
In the tower pavilion, Murong Yan’s charming eyes shone brightly, and behind her, Murong Xin’s mouth gaped wide enough to fit a goose egg.
Bian Xinjie at this moment held no trace of a smile, with his only pride now lying in the fact that Lin Chen’s height had still not overtaken his.
"I don’t know what method you used, but the beam can only calculate the height of the tallest one."
Lin Chen, with his hand on the stele, listened to the slightly exasperated words of Bian Xinjie behind him, the corner of his mouth slightly upturned; well... let’s completely destroy your wishful thinking.
"There... the fourth one has appeared."
"It’s not over, the fifth..."
"The sixth..."
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Three more black beams appeared, and the six black beams shot straight into the sky, with each at a height of eighteen zhang.
"Surpassed!"
"Senior Brother Lin surpassed Bian Xinjie, with a single beam reaching eighteen zhang, and six in total, which adds to a height of one hundred eight zhang."
Kong Qing’s voice trembled slightly, and everyone on site held expressions frozen in disbelief, staring at the six unusually conspicuous black beams, unable to comprehend how Lin Chen managed it.
Is the Soul Testing Stele broken?
However, the head of the Royal Martial Arts Academy had already stated there was no problem with the stele.
Bang!
After maintaining for five breaths, Lin Chen withdrew his hand, the beams dispersed, and tranquility returned.
Yet, the scene remained silent.
Three breaths later, Lu Chuanning flashed to the stele and suddenly struck it with a palm.
He refused to believe the stele wasn’t broken!
Bang!
The beams rose again from the stele, stably stopping just over nine zhang, matching his previous test result without discrepancy.
Lu Chuanning’s eyes widened, showing a dazed look, and everyone witnessing this moment now confirmed that Lin Chen’s results were true.
Seeing the dazed Lu Chuanning, then looking at that erect figure standing there, at this moment everyone deeply imprinted this silhouette in their minds.
No matter how many years pass, it’s likely they will not forget this scene.
PS: I know everyone has monthly tickets at the end of the month, and on the 28th, it’s a double monthly ticket day, so save them for two more days, don’t waste them.