The ancient wilderness stretched endlessly beyond the reach of sight. A bleak wind swept across the desolate expanse carrying with it a chill that whispered of ages long gone. Sparse patches of half grown grass swayed under its touch neither fully alive nor fully dead as if caught between the present and a forgotten past.
From time to time the faint outlines of oxen and sheep appeared upon the plain their bodies translucent like mist. They drifted silently across the land each figure a fragment of memory shaped from soul force. Their mournful cries wove through the air dimming even the pale light of the heavens until the entire sky seemed heavy with sorrow.
Far above in the boundless void space itself rippled as though stirred by an unseen hand. The shimmering disturbance spread outward in all directions filling the air with an ethereal presence. From the shifting currents a figure emerged not of flesh and blood but of pure condensed soul force.
"This is the space created by the Huangquan Saint" Soul Miesheng's voice was low yet laced with intrigue. "Interesting. To open an entire world with divine means to shape endless living beings from nothing but soul power. It has a certain artistry."
He crouched and plucked a single flower from the ground its petals delicate yet infused with the faint glow of soul energy. For a moment he studied it turning it in his hand as though weighing its beauty against some unspoken truth. Then he sighed faintly.
"Yet no matter how vivid no matter how lifelike" His fingers closed crushing the flower without hesitation "It is still lifeless. And this place is nothing more than a grave."
As if to answer his words the sky itself began to stir. A deep humming rose from above the clouds and the gray vault of heaven darkened in an instant. A colossal finger descended from the storm shattering the cloud layer as it pressed downward. Its sheer presence warped the air crushing the surrounding space as it fell toward Soul Miesheng.
"Huangquan Finger"
Soul Miesheng gave a short laugh and stepped forward raising his right hand into a fist. He struck upward meeting the descending force head on. The impact thundered through the sky shattering the massive finger into fragments of dissipating soul energy.
The fragments did not fade entirely. Instead they swirled together in the air condensing into an enormous face that filled the heavens gazing down upon him with an expression of cold authority.
"You dare speak so arrogantly within the domain of this Saint" The voice rolled through the air heavy with restrained anger.
"I merely state the truth" Soul Miesheng replied brushing his hands together "Whether you enjoy hearing it or not has nothing to do with me. Wake up old man. You are already dead."
Thunder rolled in the distance as the great face darkened. Black clouds gathered from every direction folding over one another until the sky itself became a storm. Lightning danced within the clouds and the air grew heavy as if the world waited for a verdict.
"Angry are you" Soul Miesheng stepped calmly onto the void his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes never left the looming image above.
"Hand over the blood essence of the Huangquan Saint and the method for casting Huangquan Heavenly Wrath. Do so and I will leave your space in peace."
A cold laugh rumbled from above. "Arrogant child. You come asking this Saint for treasures and speak with such presumption. How could I permit it"
"You misunderstand" Soul Miesheng's black robe stirred in the wind his voice sharp "I am not asking to borrow. I am here to take. Openly and without apology."
"Very well" The voice grew colder "This Saint will see what strength you believe you have."
The sky shifted violently as the Saint's power surged. In the blink of an eye the world turned blood red. From the heart of the storm a vast hand of soul energy descended like the judgment of the heavens itself. The air bent and swayed around it as though the world's own pulse beat in time with its fall.
"Huangquan Palm"
"So it is to be a contest of soul force" Soul Miesheng noted quietly. His opponent's power was immense likely already touching that legendary threshold. Yet as the palm fell he spoke again his voice cutting through the oppressive force. "Your soul force is indeed strong but this strike is unsteady. Your mind wavers."
The full might of his own soul force at the perfection of the Heavenly Realm surged forth coalescing in an instant into a massive chain. The iron links clashed against the descending palm with a sound like steel grinding upon stone. The chain was crushed link by link under the weight of the attack yet the repeated impacts tore a gaping hole through the center of the hand. The palm dissolved into motes of light fading into the air.
"Gathering the soul to form substance and breaking the whole with a single point" The Saint's voice carried a note of surprise.
The enormous face wavered then shifted condensing into the figure of a middle aged man. His form floated in the air his hands clasped behind his back as he surveyed the intruder. Around him the myriad forms of life conjured from the realm bowed low acknowledging him as their sovereign.
"A Heavenly Realm soul at perfection" the Saint said "Your talent is commendable. But compared to this Saint your strength is as a stream before the sea."
As he spoke the very fabric of the space began to tremble. The illusory life faded away dissolving into pure soul energy that gathered above them. Slowly it condensed into a titanic figure of earthen yellow a thousand zhang tall its features identical to the Saint's own. The aura it radiated was boundless as if even the seas and skies would bow before it.
"Emperor Realm" Soul Miesheng's eyes narrowed. This was soul force that could move the will of heaven and earth a level that even among legends few had reached. It was said the Huangquan Saint had once stood a step away from becoming a Dou Emperor. Now the truth stood before him.
"Leave this space now and I will spare your life" The Saint's voice was calm once more like deep water unmoved by the wind. "Otherwise you will die."
Soul Miesheng laughed softly lifting his arms as the black robe swirled about him. "That line has only ever been mine to speak to others."
He stepped forward and his own form swelled until he too stood a thousand zhang high his gaze meeting the Saint's without a trace of fear.
"Then I shall grant you death" The Saint intoned. Symbols of power drifted through the air as the colossal form broke through the clouds and looked down upon his challenger. The golden eyes fixed upon Soul Miesheng and a single deep note escaped his lips. Invisible waves of sound rolled outward crushing everything in their path.
"Emperor Realm soul force truly is formidable" Soul Miesheng's voice cut through the pressure "But you are only a lingering fragment clinging to existence."
At his words his soul force surged like an ocean in storm countless ripples spreading through the air. Layer upon layer they built upon one another each wave stronger than the last until the space itself trembled.
"Soul force technique Myriad Spirits Overlapping Waves" This was the technique he had once seen performed within the Cloud Dream Marsh stealing its secrets through observation and memory.
The Saint's eyes widened faintly. "You too wield a soul force technique" His tone sharpened as the first wave of sound struck the first crashing wave of soul energy. Each collision sent shockwaves tearing through the conjured world. Flowers fish birds and beasts born of soul power shattered into nothing under the strain.
Wave met note again and again. The clash was relentless each moment tipping between advance and retreat. Yet slowly the waves began to yield pushed back layer by layer by the Saint's force.
"Even with a soul force technique even at the perfection of the Heavenly Realm even though I am but a fragment" the Saint's voice rolled forward "What can you do. The gap between the Heavenly and Emperor Realms is beyond your imagining."
A second note gathered at the Saint's lips ready to end the struggle in a single decisive strike. But before it could sound Soul Miesheng's eyes opened wide the depths of his gaze turning utterly black as if swallowing all light.
His lips curved in a small smile and he stretched lazily as though the crushing pressure meant nothing. "Old man I should thank you. You have just helped me comprehend the Emperor Realm."
(End of Chapter)
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