Chapter 580 - 576: Divine Soul Showdown

Chapter 580: Chapter 576: Divine Soul Showdown

The power Lin Hao exuded caught the attention of the others.

After all, those observing the duel between Lin Hao and Tuoba Yangyu were either disciples of the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion’s Upper House or figures of the elder rank.

To break through from the Seventh to the Eighth Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm and then continue to advance so meteorically—it was utterly shocking.

Nourishing the Divine Soul in the Soul Gathering Realm wasn’t something a Cultivation Technique alone could determine.

Even with an emperor-grade technique, it was all for naught without a supreme comprehension and the ability to truly attune with one’s Divine Soul.

Countless Martial Artists across the Celestial Yang Continent had wasted their lives away, stagnating in the Soul Gathering Realm.

The Divine Soul was the most difficult thing to master.

And now, Lin Hao had not only broken through directly from the Seventh to the Eighth Layer but was even showing signs of advancing toward the Ninth Layer. It was simply unimaginable.

Most importantly, he was accomplishing this during a duel with a disciple from the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion’s Upper House!

For someone at the Seventh Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm to fight a Ninth Layer expert and not perish was already astounding enough. But now, Lin Hao was actually breaking through...

The onlookers were at a loss for words to describe Lin Hao.

They were utterly stunned. Only Tuoba Yangyu grew more and more agitated, as Duanmu Ci still hadn’t responded.

In truth, Duanmu Ci had also noticed the terrifying speed of Lin Hao’s advancement. He wanted to make a move, but he had his reservations.

A battle of this magnitude was certain to have elders watching in secret. The only reason he’d dared to act a moment ago was that he came from a Holy Land and was adept at reading people. He knew the elders wouldn’t have stopped him then.

After all, the elders also wanted to see Lin Hao’s potential.

And Lin Hao had just proven his worth.

If he were to act again now, especially alongside Tuoba Yangyu, the watching elders would surely not allow it.

That was why he hesitated.

Tuoba Yangyu felt an immense pressure from Lin Hao, his mind a tangled mess. Naturally, he couldn’t guess what Duanmu Ci was thinking.

Seeing that he couldn’t sway Duanmu Ci, Tuoba Yangyu gave up.

Suddenly, he recalled what Wan Boyan had told him just a moment ago.

The next moment, Tuoba Yangyu focused his mind. Uniting his essence, qi, and spirit, he prepared to annihilate Lin Hao.

At that moment, Tuoba Yangyu had only one thought: ’I absolutely cannot let Lin Hao break through to the Ninth Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm!’

Casting aside all distractions, Tuoba Yangyu once again unleashed his terrifying potential.

His peculiar, grass-like Divine Soul reappeared. At the same time, his entire body began to glow as he directly tapped into the power of his Lifebound True Blood.

Thick streams of azure energy were absorbed by the grass, which swelled violently in the wind.

After absorbing the azure energy, the Divine Soul sent ripple after ripple through the void.

These ripples were terrifyingly powerful. Upon striking the Tai Chi Array Map protecting Lin Hao, they erupted with a deafening BOOM.

Everything around the point of impact was being annihilated!

Dust and sand filled the sky, completely engulfing the area. Terrifying energy radiated outward, causing one mountain after another to collapse.

Towering trees and massive boulders were instantly pulverized!

The area where they fought was left in ruins. Shockwaves of energy spread out like a tsunami, as if signaling the apocalypse.

The power unleashed by a Ninth Layer Soul Gathering Realm Martial Artist using their Lifebound True Blood and Divine Soul was simply too terrifying to behold.

At the center of the storm, Lin Hao’s body was violently struck.

The energy unleashed by a Ninth Layer Soul Gathering Realm expert who had united their essence, qi, and spirit heavily injured Lin Hao.

Even though Lin Hao’s cultivation had broken through to the Eighth Layer and his body had been strengthened by the process, he still couldn’t withstand the blow.

The Tai Chi Array Map didn’t shatter, but the terrifying might Tuoba Yangyu had unleashed blasted right through it and slammed into his body.

Although the Tai Chi Array Map had blocked the majority of the force, the energy that bled through was still immense.

And at that moment, Lin Hao had reached the most critical juncture.

When the True Self Divine Soul uttered the word "Lin," it signified its complete comprehension of the Dao Sound. The unification of the Divine Soul and his physical body produced an unimaginable power.

The first benefit of this deepened martial understanding manifested in the Divine Illumination Scripture.

Lin Hao had already studied the Divine Illumination Scripture thoroughly, but now, its deepest mysteries resurfaced in his mind with unparalleled clarity.

The absorption of starlight was now endless.

Lin Hao’s method for the Soul Gathering Realm was to borrow starlight to nourish his soul. As long as the stars themselves did not go out, he could draw enough energy to complete his breakthrough!

That was why Lin Hao felt no bottleneck after breaking through from the Seventh to the Eighth Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm.

He surged from the Early Layer of Eighth Layer straight to its peak.

By the time Tuoba Yangyu’s attack arrived, Lin Hao was already at the critical juncture of breaking through to the Ninth Layer.

Although there was no bottleneck, the amount of starlight required to reach the Ninth Layer of the Soul Gathering Realm was terrifyingly immense.

At this time, the moon formed of starlight in the sky grew larger and larger. A massive pillar of energy poured down from it, all of it absorbed by the True Self Divine Soul.

With the arrival of Tuoba Yangyu’s attack, Lin Hao was forced to divert a portion of his focus to defend himself, instantly putting him in a perilous situation.

But even so, Lin Hao persisted.

As long as there was enough starlight, he could break through.

"He’s using starlight to nourish his soul! Cut off the flow of starlight and you’ll stop him!" Suddenly, a voice rang in Tuoba Yangyu’s ear.

It was Duanmu Ci’s voice.

As an observer, he could see the situation far more clearly than Tuoba Yangyu.

Although he couldn’t interfere directly, he also didn’t want Lin Hao to break through, so he sent a secret voice transmission to advise Tuoba Yangyu.

Tuoba Yangyu’s eyes lit up, and he reacted at once.

His Divine Soul trembled faintly before suddenly expanding to blot out the sky.

The moon made of starlight was obscured, and the True Self Divine Soul was instantly cut off from its power source.

Lin Hao’s body shuddered, and he violently spat out a mouthful of blood.

His entire being—muscles, bones, skin, and fascia—had been operating at high velocity under the flow of starlight. How could he possibly withstand having that power source abruptly cut off?

Tuoba Yangyu was overjoyed to see his tactic work.

But in the next moment, his expression changed drastically.

Lin Hao’s True Self Divine Soul had made its move.

It transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the Divine Soul looming above.

BOOM!

A violent collision rang out. Terrifying energy exploded outward, sweeping across a thousand miles!

Tuoba Yangyu’s body reeled as if struck by lightning.

It was his Divine Soul that the True Self Divine Soul had struck. The power was so ferocious that his very consciousness trembled.

’Lin Hao, you’re at the Eighth Layer, and I’m at the Ninth! I will not be weaker than you!’

Tuoba Yangyu roared in his heart. The next moment, a look of resolve flashed in his eyes.

Gritting his teeth, Tuoba Yangyu’s body seemed to ignite.

This was the sign of him using his Lifebound True Blood with all his might.

As Tuoba Yangyu made his move, the Divine Soul obscuring the starlight shone even more brilliantly.

At the same time, the Divine Soul descended at extreme speed, intent on suppressing and obliterating both the True Self Divine Soul and Lin Hao himself!

Tuoba Yangyu’s reaction was fast, but the True Self Divine Soul’s was even faster.

Having failed to destroy it in one blow, the True Self Divine Soul moved again.

This time, the True Self Divine Soul merely lifted its hand slightly.

And with that simple gesture, something terrifying happened...