Chapter 384: Soul Legacy

The rankings displayed on the pillar:

First: Island Lord of Ten Thousand SwordsSecond: Emperor An YangThird: Demon Slayer

The Guardian God watched in utter astonishment. The two individuals ranked above Meng Chuan were both incredibly famous. Emperor An Yang, needless to say, was the strongest tribulation-level Soul expert in human history, reaching the 'Third Tribulation of the Soul'. He cultivated the Samsara Divine Body and Samsara Spear Art, and once established an empire that unified the world.

As for the 'Island Lord of Ten Thousand Swords', ranked first, he was a reclusive swordsman and the most accomplished 'Sword Dao' practitioner in human history. He had no interest in establishing an empire or teaching disciples. Although he was the strongest expert of his era, and many disciples of Cang Yuan Sect revered him as the sect's foremost figure, the Island Lord of Ten Thousand Swords mostly lived alone on an overseas island, rarely interacting with the outside world. His consciousness and thoughts primarily resided in his flesh-and-blood avatars, which constantly roamed the River of Spacetime, earning him immense renown.

He independently created the 'Thirteen Sword Fiend Demon Body', a technique unparalleled in lethality. He even, as an Emperor, transcended ranks to slay a 'Tribulation-level mighty figure'. He was single-mindedly devoted to the Sword Dao, intending to follow the physical body tribulation path.

Although his 'Thirteen Sword Fiend Demon Body' was incredibly powerful, surpassing even the Samsara Divine Body, it was too extreme. Achieving 'Tribulation-level' perfection with the physical body was exceedingly difficult, and he ultimately failed to take that step in his lifetime, dying with regret. In human history, only Patriarch Cang Yuan ever achieved 'Tribulation-level' physical body perfection. Furthermore, the scattered sword arts he left on Ten Thousand Swords Island inspired later generations of Godfiends, leading to the creation of sects like the 'Ten Thousand Swords Sect', which flourished for a long time.

“He is now only behind the Island Lord of Ten Thousand Swords and Emperor An Yang,” the Guardian God mused inwardly. “This Godfiend might achieve accomplishments comparable to theirs in the future.”

Rumbling thunder filled the air. The torrential rain plunged the world into chaos. Meng Chuan struggled to steer his small boat, the roar of thunder echoing in his ears as bolts of lightning furiously struck down.

Meng Chuan used his full Soul consciousness to control the boat, while also desperately rowing to evade. As lightning bolts struck, some hit the seawater beside the boat, their power somewhat reduced when they reached the vessel. Though Meng Chuan's consciousness trembled momentarily, he quickly recovered. But sometimes... lightning struck the boat directly.

“CRACK!” One lightning bolt was too fast for Meng Chuan to dodge; it struck the boat directly. The thick lightning enveloped both the boat and Meng Chuan. Meng Chuan's mind went blank instantly. It felt like the end of the world.

By the time Meng Chuan regained consciousness, he and his small boat were already deep underwater.

“Up!” Meng Chuan propelled the boat with his paddle and consciousness, pushing upwards with all his might. Despite the surging undercurrents, he broke through to the surface once more.

“BOOM.” A towering hundred-zhang-high wave, like a mountain, crashed down directly. Meng Chuan, however, steered his small boat swiftly towards the giant wave. At this point, being closer to the wave was actually safer. If he stayed further away, he would easily be directly hit by the hundred-zhang wave crest. By getting very close, he could utilize a relatively empty space to avoid the impact.

Calmly, in the harsh environment, he sought opportunities, struggling to survive again and again. His consciousness also worked to protect the wooden boat from being shattered by the impacts.

“This boat is a manifestation of my Soul consciousness,” Meng Chuan understood. “As long as my consciousness doesn't collapse, it won't break apart.”

However, the conditions at sea grew increasingly harsh. Lightning bolts continued to strike with thunderous force. The waves became more terrifying, and Meng Chuan felt his consciousness beginning to blur. Yet, the persistence within him kept him going.

“RUMBLE!” A massive eight-hundred-zhang-high wave, truly taller than many mountains, crashed down just as Meng Chuan struggled to bring his boat from the seabed to the surface. There was nowhere to hide; he could only endure.

CRASH!!!

Under this heavy impact, the wooden boat exploded into pieces. When the force continuously increased, it eventually surpassed the limit of endurance.

“Huh?” Meng Chuan suddenly woke up. He saw the ancient palace again, and the meditation cushion he was sitting on.

“The trial is over,” Meng Chuan realized. His fatigued spirit quickly recovered, and he felt much more relaxed.

“I wonder how I rank in the Heart Sea Hall's historical records,” Meng Chuan murmured, standing up. At that moment, the Heart Sea Hall's doors boomed open directly, revealing the black-robed, long-browed elder standing outside, staring blankly at Meng Chuan.

“What's wrong?” Meng Chuan stepped out of the hall.

The black-robed, long-browed elder scrutinized Meng Chuan, as if looking at a monster, then pointed to the pillar nearby. Meng Chuan turned his head and saw the rankings displayed on the pillar. With a glance, Meng Chuan was also somewhat surprised:

First: Demon SlayerSecond: Island Lord of Ten Thousand SwordsThird: Emperor An Yang

“I'm ranked first?” Meng Chuan himself couldn't believe it. He was very young, a 59-year-old fifth-level Soul expert, which alone would place him among the top five in history. But combined with his spiritual will, he was actually in the first position? This list included tribulation-level mighty figures, Emperors, and human powerhouses who had comprehended the Heaven and Earth realm. How could a mere King Godfiend rank first?

The black-robed, long-browed elder finally snapped out of his daze and couldn't help but say, “In terms of Soul realm, many in human history have surpassed you. Even those at the eighth-level 'Tribulation-level' Soul are on this list. And in terms of spiritual will, tribulation-level Soul mighty figures who have cultivated for tens of thousands of years certainly possess stronger will than you. However, this is a ranking of potential. Your Soul, your spiritual will... judging by your age of 59, your Soul potential is the highest in human history,” the black-robed, long-browed elder stated with certainty.

Although human history's strongest expert, 'Patriarch Cang Yuan', had no need to challenge the Heart Sea Hall, later generations knew that Patriarch Cang Yuan's Soul was a significant weakness; he remained at the seventh level of the Soul throughout his life, unable to reach the eighth level. As for before Patriarch Cang Yuan's time, the human world was much weaker then, with cultivation peaking at the Creation realm, and even the emergence of a single Venerable was a rare occurrence.

“Those with high talent sometimes end up becoming ordinary,” Meng Chuan said with a smile. “I am still far from the senior powerhouses like the Island Lord of Ten Thousand Swords and Emperor An Yang.”

Potential is one thing, strength is another. They are two different matters. Meng Chuan was very clear-headed. And in fact, he himself knew that his Soul talent was exceptionally high!

“Given your Soul talent, you are very suited to follow the Soul cultivation path,” the black-robed, long-browed elder advised. “In the future, please don't choose the 'physical body tribulation' path. After all, only Patriarch Cang Yuan cultivated his physical body to perfection and reached the Tribulation realm. Other Godfiends cannot achieve it. Patriarch Cang Yuan himself admitted that this is due to the Godfiend system itself. In the Godfiend system, one cultivates true essence; the physical body is secondary. Naturally, it's difficult to cultivate the physical body to perfection. The Soul is different. The Soul treats all beings equally; it doesn't care about the system, but rather about tempering the mind,” the black-robed, long-browed elder said.

“Thank you, but I'm still far from becoming an Emperor, so I don't need to consider these things for now,” Meng Chuan replied with a smile.

“I'm just reminding you because I see your potential,” the black-robed, long-browed elder chuckled. “Since you have passed the Heart Sea Hall trial, you may now peruse all the various Soul secret arts within the Heart Sea Hall.”

Meng Chuan felt a surge of anticipation.

“The Heart Sea Hall's evaluation of you has surpassed the threshold for a 'Tribulation-level' expert,” the black-robed, long-browed elder smiled. “Therefore, a hidden legacy within the Heart Sea Hall can be passed on to you.”

“Oh?” Meng Chuan was surprised.

“This is the most mysterious Soul legacy that Patriarch Cang Yuan obtained during his long journeys through the River of Spacetime. Patriarch Cang Yuan judged it to be a legacy from an 'Eighth Tribulation-level Soul mighty figure',” the black-robed, long-browed elder explained. “This legacy is restricted by the rules of the River of Spacetime and will disappear after being taught nine times. It has already been taught seven times in history. Your potential ranking is high enough, so you can also learn it.”