“Senior, what is going on?” Lin Tian was completely stunned.
With his cultivation at the 7th stage Earth Martial Realm, that sword strike should have easily pierced the chest of even a 10th stage Earth Martial Realm cultivator. It was a nearly invincible blow against anyone below the Heaven Martial Realm—yet it hadn’t even scratched Qing’er’s skin?
How was that possible?
After a moment, the remnant soul finally spoke, “You’re asking me? Who should I ask?”
She released her spiritual Qi, attempting to sense Qing’er’s cultivation level. However, Ye Chen had long anticipated this and had already used a technique to block any spiritual probing, leaving the remnant soul sensing nothing at all.
Unwilling to accept this, Lin Tian struck again.
This time, he didn’t hold back. It was a blow that could threaten even someone at the 1st stage Heaven Martial Realm.
Bang!
The spiritual sword hit Qing’er—she was completely fine, but the sword snapped in half.
Lin Tian felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. That sword had killed more than ten 4th and 5th grade profound beasts without issue, yet it had just been shattered by Qing’er’s body?
That was insane!
Ye Chen felt slightly more at ease. Although Qing’er’s cultivation level was only at the 6th stage Earth Martial Realm—one stage below Lin Tian—what she had awakened within her was an unprecedented Immortal Vein. Her true combat strength far exceeded Lin Tian’s by more than ten stages.
Understanding this, Ye Chen said, “Qing’er, hit him!”
Qing’er looked hesitant. She had never hit anyone before. But since Ye Chen said so, she obeyed.
Her small hand gently pushed against Lin Tian’s chest.
Crack crack crack…
A series of bone-breaking sounds echoed out. Who knew how many of his ribs had snapped? Lin Tian’s body was blasted away like a falling meteor, smashing into a giant boulder and embedding deeply into it.
“To have such strength at such a young age… what will she become when she grows up?” Lin Tian crawled out of the stone trembling. After swallowing several pills in a row, he couldn’t help but shout toward the remnant soul, “Senior, please act now. Kill her while she’s still young and eliminate the threat at its root!”
The remnant soul had only just recovered from her shock. But instead of attacking, she spoke earnestly, “I think it’s better to reconsider. Rather than becoming enemies with such a peerless prodigy, wouldn’t it be wiser to become allies while there’s still room for peace?”
The Sword Empire was already unprecedented for having both Lin Tian and Ye Chen appear as monstrous geniuses in the same generation.
And now, a little girl—another peerless genius—had appeared.
Only five years old, and she already had such terrifying strength…
Even having witnessed it herself, the remnant soul still felt it was absurd!
She believed that if she went all out, she could probably kill Qing’er now.
But that would be too much of a loss!
She couldn’t bring herself to do it!
“Peace? Nonsense!” Lin Tian’s killing intent grew even thicker. “One peerless genius like me is enough for the entire Sword Empire—no, for the whole Eastern Wasteland! Any others who try to steal my spotlight… must die!”
He added coldly, “And as a true peerless genius, I have no need for friends.”
While Ye Chen continued to focus on fusing the heavenly flame, he noticed Lin Tian didn’t flee even after being defeated by Qing’er, and instead stood there muttering to himself. He realized Lin Tian must be conversing with the remnant soul inside him.
Lin Tian himself wasn’t worth worrying about.
But the remnant soul inside him had to be taken seriously.
If she were persuaded and attacked with full strength, the still-developing Qing’er might not be able to withstand it.
From Ye Chen’s memories of his past life, he knew the remnant soul still had a conscience.
For example, when Lin Tian had once tried to utterly wipe Ye Chen out, the remnant soul hadn’t taken action. If she had, not even the entire War King Manor sacrificing themselves would’ve been enough to save Ye Chen.
Later, when Lin Tian reached the King Martial Realm, the remnant soul had grown disgusted with his bloodlust and left him for good, cutting ties entirely.
So Ye Chen made his move first. “You’d better not touch my sister. If you do, I promise you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
He had already made up his mind. If the remnant soul tried anything, he would risk going berserk and forcefully use a forbidden technique to expel her.
Lin Tian sneered, “Wrong. If I don’t kill your sister today, then I’ll regret it forever.”
Ye Chen gave him a cold look and said, “Shut up. I wasn’t talking to trash like you—I was talking to the remnant soul inside you.”
Lin Tian froze.
The remnant soul stored in his body was one of his greatest secrets. As someone always cautious, he had never told anyone. How did Ye Chen know?
Impossible!
That bastard must be bluffing!
With that thought, Lin Tian sneered, “What remnant soul? What nonsense are you spouting?”
Ye Chen laughed coldly, “Trash. Without the remnant soul’s help, how could you have awakened an emperor-grade martial meridian? How could you have reached the 7th stage Earth Martial Realm?”
That struck a nerve. Lin Tian flew into a rage, “Shut up! I got to where I am through my own hard work!”
He immediately sent a message to the remnant soul, “Senior, grant me power—I want to kill him now!”
Before she could reply, Ye Chen spoke again, “You once reached the Emperor Martial Realm. Are you really content living like a parasite in someone else’s body?”
Ye Chen even knew the remnant soul’s peak cultivation?
The remnant soul confirmed he wasn’t bluffing and finally emerged from Lin Tian’s body.
She was now just a remnant soul, her form faint, facial features not fully clear, but her outline was strikingly beautiful—elegant and cold, with a stunning figure. Her beauty was breathtaking.
Ye Chen hadn’t expected the remnant soul to be so beautiful. Even after seeing countless women in his past life, he was still momentarily dazzled.
As for Lin Tian, he was completely shocked—and his eyes soon filled with obsession.
In truth, ever since the remnant soul had entered his body, this was the first time she had ever revealed herself.
And that first time had been in a pitch-black cave, so he hadn’t seen her appearance clearly.
He had assumed the remnant soul was an old hag, given her age. But now that he saw her beauty and elegance—surpassing even Sword Spirit Lady—he felt a powerful and strange desire rise within him. To be precise, a strong desire to conquer.
“If you’re willing to leave Lin Tian and follow me, I can help you rebuild your body!” Ye Chen declared.
Of course, it wasn’t her beauty he was after—but her strength.
Even as a remnant soul, she possessed power comparable to the King Martial Realm. If he helped her restore her body, she could return to her peak at the Emperor Martial Realm.
That kind of strength could sweep across the entire Eastern Wasteland.
The remnant soul froze.
Naturally, she dreamed of rebuilding her body and returning to her peak.
But as a remnant soul, she knew how impossible that was. Only a Saint Martial Realm expert, willing to pay a tremendous cost, might be able to do it. And those kinds of figures—high above the mortal world—would never help her.
Yet here was Ye Chen, clearly difficult to see through despite his current cultivation only being at the Earth Martial Realm, making such a promise.
How could he possibly succeed?
“I promise you,” Ye Chen said firmly, “as long as we find a few rare body-rebuilding materials, I have a 90% chance of helping you succeed!”
In truth, he was 100% confident—but deliberately held back 10% to avoid seeming arrogant.
The remnant soul was stunned. But looking into Ye Chen’s steady, unwavering eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to doubt him.
Ye Chen had created too many miracles.
Everything that seemed impossible… suddenly seemed within reach when it was him!
Beside them, Lin Tian nearly exploded on the spot. Ye Chen was stealing his ally right in front of him—did he think he was invisible?