Chapter 149 Long Aotian smiled bitterly: I am no longer qualified to be Junior Brother Liu Yuan's practice subject.
In the open space in front of the main hall of the Body Sect, following Du Busi's almost out-of-control exclamation, the entire area fell into a long, almost suffocating silence.
"Gold-level Second Awakening..."
Elder Chen's fingers, which had been trembling slightly with excitement, froze completely in mid-air. He stared wide-eyed at Liu Yuan's deep, three-pronged pupils.
The other elders and disciples around them, including Long Aotian, also felt their brains buzzing at that moment, followed by a series of exclamations and discussions.
"Gold level... How is this possible?" an inner disciple exclaimed, his voice filled with awe.
In the Body Sect's martial soul theory, the secondary awakening of the Body Martial Soul is divided into four levels: Bronze, Iron, Silver, and the legendary Gold.
With each advancement to a higher level, the martial soul's enhancement of the physical body undergoes a qualitative leap.
The Gold-level Second Awakening not only represents the ultimate physical enhancement or attribute boost, but also a near-divine level of rank suppression.
Most importantly, the threshold for a second awakening at the Gold level is extremely high. Under normal circumstances, a Soul Master needs to reach the level of a Title Douluo at level 90, when their physical strength and soul essence reach their peak, before they have a very small chance of touching the threshold of the Gold level.
Even Poison Undying, a level 98 Super Douluo, is no exception to this.
Even someone as powerful as Du Busi only achieved Gold-level Awakening with the help of his sect's secret techniques after reaching the Title Douluo level.
Looking at Long Aotian, the leading figure of the younger generation, his amazing defensive power, which he showed in the All-Continent Soul Master Competition, was actually only at the Silver level of awakening.
According to the cultivation path of the Body Sect, if Long Aotian wants to awaken the Gold level, he will have to wait until level 90 before he can try to seize that sliver of hope.
But Liu Yuan's current soul power level is clearly only level 55, yet he actually completed the second awakening of the gold level at the Soul King realm?
This can no longer be explained by the so-called "genius"; it has broken the ironclad rule of the Body Sect's ten-thousand-year heritage.
"Sect Master, are you sure?" Elder Chen swallowed hard and asked Poison Undying again, his tone tinged with caution.
"This is a Gold-level item! Liu Yuan is only in his fifties now, is it really possible that he's Gold-level?"
Poison Undying snorted coldly, the fanaticism in his eyes undiminished. His double emerald green pupils were fixed on Liu Yuan, and he stated in a resolute tone:
"I have spent my whole life studying the Body Martial Soul. I would never be wrong about this absolute level suppression of bloodline origin!"
"Liu Yuan's current three-pupil form, and that spatial aura that surpasses all living beings, are definitely a genuine second awakening of the Gold rank!"
Upon hearing this, everyone felt it was even harder to breathe.
If what was just shock a moment ago has now evolved into a kind of fanatical worship.
Having reached the Golden Awakening level, a feat only attainable by Title Douluo at level 50, means that Liu Yuan's future potential has likely exceeded everyone's imagination.
Du Busi took a few deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down, and then anxiously asked Liu Yuan:
"Liu Yuan, tell me quickly, after completing this Gold-level awakening, what specific improvements have you made to your physical functions and soul power attributes? Have you awakened any new talent abilities?"
Liu Yuan lowered his eyes slightly, feeling the surging power within his body, like a great river.
Although the three pupils had already concealed their divine light, he could still sense the blazing purple-gold sun in his sea of consciousness when he closed his eyes and looked inward.
After a moment, Liu Yuan slowly opened his eyes and replied to Poison Undying:
"Master, I feel a bit strange right now, and I can't quite put my finger on it right now."
"The most obvious feeling is the qualitative change in mental power. The range and subtlety of my mental exploration are several times higher than before I awakened."
"As for the changes in my physical functions and soul skills, I'm not very clear about them either, since I've only just completed my breakthrough and haven't had a chance to put them into practice yet."
After hearing this, Du Busi, though somewhat itching to try it, nodded to indicate that he understood.
"That's normal. The power of the Gold level is too profound. It can't be fully mastered by simply sitting in seclusion and meditating." Poison Immortal looked around, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
"These things still need to be explored gradually through actual combat. Only under the pressure of battle will your Three Eyes and Golden Awakening reveal their true nature. It would be best to have a practical test right now."
Upon hearing this, many disciples around the arena turned their heads in unison, all looking at Long Aotian.
Clearly, in everyone's subconscious, the only person who could be Liu Yuan's practice partner and who was of similar age was this senior brother.
Everyone is eagerly anticipating how much of a lead Liu Yuan will demonstrate, given that both of them have undergone a second awakening.
However, to everyone's surprise, Long Aotian did not step forward with the same fighting spirit as usual this time.
Feeling the gazes around him, Long Aotian shook his head with a wry smile. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he actually did not agree.
He looked at Liu Yuan with no jealousy in his eyes, only a deep sense of self-awareness.
"Everyone, stop looking at me," Long Aotian said frankly, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Although I am not afraid of fighting, I am very clear that I can no longer keep up with Junior Brother Liu Yuan. Although it is very sad to say this, I am afraid that I am no longer even qualified to spar with Junior Brother Liu Yuan."
Long Aotian was very clear-headed; he had no intention of putting on a show.
Just that one eye contact almost caused him to have a mental breakdown. The absolute difference in their ranks made him realize that even if he went on stage, he would only be instantly defeated again, and it would not serve as any substantial reference for Liu Yuan's test.
Poison Undying clearly considered this as well.
He knew that although Long Aotian's current level was slightly higher than Liu Yuan's, he was no longer a match for Liu Yuan, who had undergone a second awakening at the Gold level.
Poison Undying's gaze slowly swept over the elders, past those veteran powerhouses at the Title Douluo level, and finally settled on an elder who had recently been promoted.
"Elder Li, you go ahead."
Elder Li, whose name was called, was slightly taken aback. He looked to be about forty years old, in his prime, and was a newly promoted elder whom the sect was focusing on cultivating.
Poison Immortal continued, "Among all the elders, your cultivation level is the lowest, currently only level seventy-five, but that's just right."
"You are a powerful offensive Soul Saint with solid Soul Power. With your cultivation level, you can take on Liu Yuan's attacks without directly overwhelming him due to his higher level, and you can also test the true depth of Liu Yuan's combat strength. If other Title Douluos were to take action, these details would not be able to be tested."
Elder Li had also calmed down from his shock. He clasped his hands in a salute to Poison Undying, then looked at Liu Yuan with a hint of curiosity and fighting spirit in his eyes:
"Sect Master, rest assured, I will keep things in check. Junior Brother Liu Yuan, please!"
Liu Yuan nodded slightly and replied, "Please enlighten me, Elder Li."
Without any hesitation, the two headed directly to the sect's core martial arts arena, surrounded by the crowd.
The arena was now surrounded by people. Even the disciples who were healing or dealing with trivial matters rushed over like madmen after hearing the news that Liu Yuan was going to fight a level 75 Soul Saint.
The entire audience was filled with anticipation, and the air was thick with tension and excitement.
Everyone stared wide-eyed, their hearts filled with immense questions and curiosity:
As a level 50 Soul King, Liu Yuan faces a level 75 Soul Saint with a Martial Soul True Body. With the blessing of a Gold-level second awakening, what kind of earth-shattering combat power can he display?
(End of chapter)