Wang Chen calmly said to Ji Juechen, "Go all out. Show me everything you've got."
Ji Juechen nodded, his voice cold and steady. "I'll fight with all my strength. But I hope… I can personally experience your Intent."
With those words, Ji Juechen slowly drew the ancient black longsword in his hand. The moment the blade left its sheath, his entire aura shifted dramatically—becoming razor-sharp and oppressive, like a drawn sword ready to cut through the heavens.
His gaze softened as he looked at the longsword, his eyes filled with devotion, as though he were gazing upon something more precious than life itself.
At the same time, six Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet—two yellow, two purple, and two black—shining brilliantly. Ji Juechen's six soul skills, unlike most combat-type Soul Masters, were all amplification-type, designed to boost his own soul power.
As the six amplifying skills were activated, his soul power surged like a flood, rising from the early stage of the Soul Emperor realm to its very peak.
Ji Juechen had long understood that his Martial Soul—a simple sword—was far too weak in quality. No matter how much he tried to strengthen its sharpness or toughness, it could never compare to the top-tier Martial Souls.
So, he had chosen a different path: to enhance his soul power like a Soul Engineer, and compensate for his Martial Soul's deficiencies with a powerful physical weapon—his Heavenly Meteor Iron Sword.
That was why he used this sword forged from celestial ore. His own sword Martial Soul lacked edge and resilience, and in battle against stronger opponents, it would likely shatter after a few clashes.
Now, a suffocatingly sharp aura erupted from Ji Juechen's body, rippling through the air itself. In that instant, it was as if he and his sword had completely merged into one.
Infusing his soul into the sword—this was Ji Juechen's cultivation path. His sword Martial Soul had already transformed from a physical form into pure energy, allowing it to seamlessly merge into his Heavenly Meteor Iron Sword.
A Martial Soul was part of a Soul Master's very being. Thus, once his soul and weapon fused, man and sword became indistinguishable—the sword was him, and he was the sword.
As his immense soul power flowed into the Heavenly Meteor Iron Sword, a clear and high-pitched hum resonated from the blade. The tip of the sword quivered gently, and a violent sword intent swept outward, surging straight toward Wang Chen.
That sharp Sword Intent filled the entire examination hall. Even Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, who were standing off to the side, instinctively summoned their Martial Souls to defend themselves, but even so, they were forced to retreat a step.
The sword intent was so sharp that they both felt an illusion—as if their bodies, even their souls, were about to be cut apart.
The two quickly backed away to give Wang Chen and Ji Juechen space to fight.
Xiao Hongchen looked at Ji Juechen in shock. "So this is the madman Ji Juechen's power? No wonder he can fight on par with a Rank 7 Soul Engineer…"
Meng Hongchen, meanwhile, couldn't help but worry. Though she trusted Wang Chen, Ji Juechen was a Soul Emperor—his power far from ordinary.
She turned to the proctor, Instructor Lin Jiayi, an eight-ringed Soul Douluo and Rank 8 Soul Engineer. "Teacher Lin, please—when they fight, make sure Wang Chen-ge isn't hurt, or else… hmph!"
Lin Jiayi could only give a wry smile. Ji Juechen's strength was indeed terrifying—comparable to a Rank 7 Soul Engineer. While Lin Jiayi himself could easily defeat him, protecting someone during such an intense battle was a different matter entirely.
Killing was easy. Saving someone mid-battle—now that was difficult.
As Lin Jiayi fretted, Wang Chen was already analyzing Ji Juechen. Deep within his soul, the Black Book silently activated—instantly recording every detail of Ji Juechen's abilities.
Wang Chen smiled faintly and curled a finger at him. "Come."
Since he had already recorded Ji Juechen's skills, it wouldn't hurt to let him experience what Xiao Hongchen had just gone through—the Monarch Over the World technique.
Ji Juechen's eyes sharpened further. His instincts screamed that the youth before him, though nearly ten years younger, was more dangerous even than the Soul Douluo standing nearby.
He gripped his sword tightly, sword intent condensing to a point.
Then—without warning—he shot forward like a released arrow. His speed was terrifying, no slower than a Soul Engineer using a propulsion system. His movement left behind afterimages, a streak of black lightning tearing through the air, which howled in protest.
In an instant, he appeared before Wang Chen and slashed. The black sword light cut through the air with lethal precision, even slicing the very atmosphere apart.
Wang Chen's expression remained calm. With his Soul Douluo-level spiritual perception, he tracked Ji Juechen's movement effortlessly.
Facing him didn't even require full power. One Monarch Over the World strike would be more than enough.
Though both were Soul Emperors in soul power, Wang Chen's body and spiritual force were far beyond Ji Juechen's level.
He summoned a Soul Tool Spear from his storage device, fusing his Artifact Spirit Martial Soul into it.
His soul power, spirit, and will merged as one, forming the Monarch Over the World battle technique, which he infused into the spear.
Unlike Ji Juechen's overwhelming display, Wang Chen's energy was completely restrained. All the might of his strike was compressed within the spear, leaving the surroundings utterly undisturbed—an indicator of supreme control.
The two weapons clashed.
Boom—!
The air around them seemed to collapse, the space distorting from the force. Cracks spidered across the hall's reinforced floor.
Sword intent and battle will collide violently.
Ji Juechen felt his sword intent disintegrate under the crushing tide of Wang Chen's will. Blood welled from his palm as the force sent him flying backward.
Everyone watching was stunned.
Even Lin Jiayi, a Soul Douluo, stared in disbelief.
Ji Juechen—who could fight a Rank 7 Soul Engineer—had been repelled in one exchange. Did this mean Wang Chen's strength surpassed even that?
Xiao Hongchen felt his self-confidence shatter yet again.
He had always been proud of his genius. But Wang Chen—barely fifteen, yet terrifyingly strong—made him feel utterly insignificant.
Meng Hongchen, however, gazed at Wang Chen with starry eyes. Her face flushed as she clasped her hands to her cheeks. "Wang Chen-ge is so… amazing…" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Standing tall, spear in hand, Wang Chen radiated dominance—like a sovereign overlooking all beneath heaven.
He didn't chase Ji Juechen immediately. Instead, he reflected, savoring the fleeting trace of sword intent from their clash.
So that's his path... His Sword Intent is crude—similar to my Monarch Over the World, but still incomplete.
Wang Chen compared it in his mind. Ji Juechen's sword intent fused soul power, will, and spirit—but roughly, lacking harmony. It was still in its infancy.
That was understandable. Ji Juechen had trained alone for barely over a decade, without any teacher or guidance. His progress was astonishing nonetheless.
By contrast, the Monarch Over the World was created by Dragon God Douluo Mu En, an Ultimate Douluo who had lived for over two centuries. Mu En's mastery of soul power, spirit, and will was unmatched, and his experience was vast.
If Ji Juechen's self-created sword intent could rival that in just ten years, then he might as well have been cheating reality itself.
What truly fascinated Wang Chen wasn't the sword intent—but Ji Juechen's method: transforming a solid Martial Soul into energy and fusing it with a physical weapon.
That was the secret to his miraculous cultivation speed despite his low innate talent.
Interesting... but I can study that later, Wang Chen thought. I've already recorded his entire ability in the Black Book. Let's finish this quickly.
Ji Juechen, though pale, was exhilarated. "Again!" he shouted.
Soul power erupted from his body like a volcano. His six rings shone, the two black ones trembling violently. His sword intent grew fiercer, deeper—clearly evolving mid-battle.
He rushed at Wang Chen again, slashing with all his might, a tide of sword light bearing down like a storm.
But Wang Chen had no patience left to prolong the fight. He was eager to return and study the new technique.
As the sword came down, he shifted fluidly, his spear colliding with the black blade once more.
A deafening clang split the air.
Wang Chen pressed down with immense force, pinning Ji Juechen's sword against the ground.
Ji Juechen tried to pull free, but the crushing weight on his arm made it impossible.
In the next instant, Wang Chen moved like lightning, closing in and slamming into him with a brutal Iron Mountain Strike.
Ji Juechen's eyes widened in shock. He had never expected Wang Chen to abandon his weapon and fight hand-to-hand.
Without his sword, Ji Juechen's combat ability plummeted by seventy percent. He had no chance to react before Wang Chen's shoulder slammed into him like a mountain.
The blow sent him flying. Even with all his soul power reinforcing his body, it was useless.
He crashed to the ground, blood spraying from his lips. His Heavenly Meteor Sword flew from his grasp, embedding itself deep into the distant wall, the blade still trembling from the impact.
Ji Juechen lay sprawled across the floor, body wracked with pain. He tried to move—but couldn't.
Wang Chen stood tall, lowering his spear, his voice calm yet absolute:
"Your skill was good…"
…but it's mine now.