King of Creation Chapter 1764 - 1749: The Successor

The designation of First Killing Spear wasn't a self-achieved honor for Sima Yan, but rather a legacy bestowed upon him.

This inheritance didn't stem from his lineage, ancestors, or mentor, but originated from a venerated War Soul housed within the War Soul Hall.

Within the War Soul Hall, veneration is offered to the War Souls of commanders, marshals, and high-ranking generals who met tragic ends in the myriad of conflicts since antiquity.

These War Souls revered in the War Soul Hall are distinct from the Ancient God War Spirits enshrined in the Barbarian Spirit Hall.

When Ancient God War Spirits in the Barbarian Spirit Hall sustained severe injuries or perished, their Primordial Spirits remained intact. These spirits concealed their presence through slumber, utilizing their potent Primordial Spirits and treasured artifacts to evade any pursuing enemies.

Through this prolonged dormancy, they gradually mended their catastrophic wounds—essentially becoming Remnant Souls.

War Souls, however, operate under different principles; not every commander or general possessed the requisite qualifications to ascend to the status of a War Soul.

To achieve the rank of a War Soul, an individual needed not only profound personal power but also a significant capability to command and unite the military forces under their banner.

Only those leaders who could command legions, rallying thousands of soldiers with their banners unfurled, enabling waves of them to charge forward, could transform into War Souls posthumously.

A War Soul embodies more than just power; it is a potent obsession, an unyielding will.

Upon the demise of a leader and their vast contingent of soldiers, the Military Priests of the Ancestor God Temple employed secret arts to amalgamate the leader's obsessions and the soldiers' fighting spirit. They then forged a War Soul, with the leader's will serving as the core framework and the soldiers' battle intent and obsessions forming its substance.

Consequently, even if a leader's cultivation level during their lifetime wasn't exceptionally high, upon becoming a War Soul, their combat prowess became extraordinarily formidable, amplified by the collective battle intent of countless soldiers.

The War Souls venerated within the War Soul Hall exemplify this very principle.

It was not uncommon for a War Soul at the Realm King Realm to readily vanquish ordinary Dao Realm cultivators.

However, the potency of a War Soul gradually ebbed with each deployment and could not be replenished. Therefore, War Souls typically did not engage in combat independently; their appearance signaled a dire, life-or-death crisis for the War Soul Hall.

To maximize the efficacy of these War Souls, the priests of the War Soul Hall, much like an apprenticeship, would select one or more War Souls. They would engage in communion, study their unique divine skills, and simultaneously fortify the War Soul by dedicating their Telekinesis, progressively deepening the War Soul's significance.

Generally, depending on the War Soul's power and the complexity of its divine skills, dozens to thousands of priests might engage in communion and veneration with a single War Soul.

Nevertheless, War Souls possess distinctive attributes, and the success of communion and veneration hinged significantly on the compatibility of these attributes.

Should one's compatibility with a specific War Soul be limited, no matter the extent of their efforts, they could never truly harness the War Soul's intrinsic power.

A higher level of compatibility directly correlated with the amount of War Soul power one could acquire.

On rare occasions, certain priests, achieving compatibility rates exceeding eighty percent with their chosen War Souls, would be accepted by the War Soul and fully grasp its most crucial power.

Such priests were designated as 'Inheritors' within the War Soul Hall's hierarchy.

The circumstances surrounding Inheritors bore a strong resemblance to the Inherited Divine Messengers from other halls. However, other halls typically enshrined a limited number of Ancient God War Spirits; for instance, the Barbarian Spirit Hall previously housed merely two.

The War Soul Hall, conversely, operated differently. Despite the rarity of leaders qualifying for posthumous veneration as War Souls, the accumulation over a million years, from antiquity to the present, resulted in an exceedingly vast quantity.

The War Soul Hall was home to tens of thousands of War Souls.

Even if not every single War Soul could identify an Inheritor, the population of Inheritors within the War Soul Hall remained notably substantial.

Furthermore, War Soul Inheritors were not singular in their designation as Inherited Divine Messengers often were.

War Soul Inheritors merely needed to demonstrate a compatibility rate above eighty percent, coupled with sufficient dedication and aptitude, to attain the status of Inheritor.

It could be one or two individuals, perhaps even ten or more.

However, irrespective of the number of Inheritors, only the strongest contender, or a singular Inheritor if unique, would solely inherit the title once held by a War Soul.

Sima Yan's title, First Killing Spear, was a legacy inherited from a War Soul seasoned through countless battles.

At this juncture, confronting Sima Yan directly, Ye Zhen sensed an overwhelming ferocity, akin to facing thousands of troops and cavalry simultaneously.

Despite Ye Zhen's extensive experience in innumerable combats, this intense aura still managed to momentarily unnerve him.

Specifically, from Ye Zhen's vantage point, the spear momentum displayed by Sima Yan was utterly flawless.

"His Spear Dao is merely a hair's breadth from the apex; proceed with caution!" Purple Spirit's voice resonated within Ye Zhen’s Spirit Palace, "Additionally, allow me to take over!"

"I desire to glean further insights into Sword Dao from you, thus I must personally wield the Purple Spirit Immortal Sword. At any rate, with you present, should I prove incapable, you can intervene! Besides, my speed!" Ye Zhen displayed a confident demeanor.

"Speed...." Purple Spirit unexpectedly fell silent.

"Precisely, it is I! I've come to challenge your War Soul Hall, seeking nothing but defeat!" Ye Zhen inhaled deeply, his hand subtly elevating the Purple Spirit Immortal Sword, thereby diminishing the oppressive aura exuded by Sima Yan's Blood-tassel Spear.

"Presumptuous! Nevertheless, be warned that my mastery lies in the path of the Killing Spear; once unleashed, it only returns after drawing blood. Tread carefully!"

"You shall be the nineteenth!" Ye Zhen's expression was one of pride.

"Fantasize not!"

With a guttural shout, Sima Yan surged forward, his Blood-tassel Spear suddenly manifesting as successive waves of blood that cascaded towards Ye Zhen.

Yet, Ye Zhen emitted a soft chuckle, his Divine Sense delving into the Strong Wind Spirit Essence Pearl within the Mirage Dragon Pearl. Without any overt movement, his form flickered instantaneously, appearing miraculously behind Sima Yan.

Wind Flash!

At this juncture, numerous priests intensely focused their Divine Sense upon this engagement, particularly those from the War Soul Hall, whose visages grew exceedingly somber upon re-detecting Ye Zhen's astonishing velocity.

There was no alternative; Ye Zhen's speed was simply too overwhelming. Their eyes failed to track him, nor could they ascertain his trajectory; only fleeting wisps of Divine Sense faintly registered the movement of Ye Zhen's Qi, and that was merely a detection.

Leveraging the Wind Flash ability derived from the Strong Wind Spirit Essence Pearl, Ye Zhen materialized behind Sima Yan and swiftly delivered a kick towards him.

Ultimately, Ye Zhen's genuine objective was to apply pressure, targeting the identity associated with the Ten Thousand Bones Reincarnation Seal rather than pursuing a fatal confrontation, thus maintaining a degree of restraint.

Much like before, repelling Sima Yan with a kick and subsequently subduing him would suffice as a victory.

In the realm of martial arts, speed reigns supreme; Ye Zhen harbored absolute confidence in this principle.

However, precisely as Ye Zhen's kick was initiated, Sima Yan's seemingly unfocused Blood-tassel Spear vibrated with a surge of Qi Force. The spearhead contorted as if it were a flexible whip, lashing back at Ye Zhen akin to a venomous serpent returning to its lair.

This uncanny strike connected directly with Ye Zhen.

The tempestuous Spear Light detonated beneath Ye Zhen's feet, instantly obliterating the mid-grade Suppressing Device level boots he had painstakingly crafted himself.

The Spear Light was intercepted by the Dragon Scale Spirit Armor adorning Ye Zhen's person, yet the sheer impact left him discomfited.

His entire right leg felt as though it had been electrocuted; were he not suspended in mid-air, maintaining his footing might have proven a challenge.

This turn of events caused the eyes of War Soul Hall Master Bi Ze to gleam with interest.

It also led to a deepening seriousness on Ye Zhen's countenance.

This Sima Yan was demonstrably more than just intriguing.

The preceding miraculous counterattack, to Ye Zhen's perception, felt more akin to an ingrained combat reflex, an organic reaction, much like swatting instinctively at a mosquito bite.

Earlier, Sima Yan's combat instincts had registered the perceived threat, prompting a spear thrust rooted solely in pure instinct.

Nevertheless, while Ye Zhen experienced shock, Sima Yan was even more profoundly taken aback.

He had not clearly perceived Ye Zhen's form moments prior; that spear thrust was an entirely instinctive response, yet it had averted a catastrophic early defeat for him.

A palpable seriousness began to dawn in both their gazes.

The Purple Spirit Immortal Sword shimmered, its Sword Momentum undergoing a subtle shift. Layers of sword shadows surged forth like a relentless torrent, endlessly converging with Sima Yan's spear momentum.

To the astonishment of all observers, Ye Zhen's Sword Momentum appeared to be on par with Sima Yan's spear momentum; solely through his Sword Technique, he was matching Sima Yan blow for blow.

Mere moments later, the expressions of the onlookers grew increasingly perplexed.

Initially, Ye Zhen's Sword Technique seemed somewhat unpolished, brilliant in execution but lacking a certain indefinable element, not quite reaching perfection.

However, the longer the duel persisted, the more fluid and impeccable Ye Zhen's Sword Technique became.

At the outset, Sima Yan had managed incremental advances, but after a quarter of an hour had passed, Sima Yan was actually beginning to exhibit signs of being pushed back.

This shift prompted a change in the focused expression of the War Soul Hall Master Bi Ze, who remarked, "Conclude this swiftly; this young man appears to be utilizing you for sword practice!"

Heeding Bi Ze's admonition, Sima Yan, who had been relishing the intensity of the combat, suddenly adopted an exceedingly grim aspect.

Within the War Soul Hall, few were capable of withstanding his spear techniques when faced head-on.

A thrilling duel was underway as Ye Zhen faced Sima Yan today.

However, upon the Hall Master's timely interjection, the sharp-eyed Sima Yan recollected the alterations in Ye Zhen's Sword Momentum.

He realized with shock that he was indeed being utilized as a mere training dummy for Ye Zhen's sword practice!

A jolt of surprise coursed through him, causing the Blood-tassel Spear clutched in his hand to tremble uncontrollably, imbued with an immense surge of Killing Qi!

"Kill!"

Though Sima Yan's cry was singular, to the onlookers, it resonated with the thunderous roar of a vast army, striking fear into their hearts.

In that precise moment, Sima Yan's Blood-tassel Spear launched itself forward like a deadly viper, the very fabric of space appearing to contort and compress around it.

The spear traversed the kilometer separating him and Ye Zhen in an instant, its trajectory aimed directly at Ye Zhen's chest, radiating a boundless Killing Qi.

Behold, the First Killing Spear technique – the Empty Killing Spear!

Yet, as the spearhead plunged forward, Sima Yan's countenance shifted drastically.

The anticipated sensation of piercing flesh was conspicuously absent.

He had been evaded!

It was nothing more than an afterimage!

"It seems your practice has concluded. If you've had your fill, then suffice it to say, our bout is over!"

Ye Zhen's voice echoed from behind Sima Yan, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound of air being cleaved and an intense, blazing aura.

Acting on pure instinct, Sima Yan unleashed another spear strike backward!

A blinding flash of fiery light erupted violently.

Witnessing this, Sima Yan's features contorted in alarm. The tip of his Blood-tassel Spear vibrated furiously, unleashing a torrent of cold light in an attempt to completely extinguish the burgeoning inferno.

This drastic measure was prompted by his recognition of the terrifying power contained within the flame's embrace.

With Ye Zhen's greatly enhanced cultivation, the formidable Sixth Formation Profound Fire Drill was not to be trifled with!

However, before Sima Yan could fully suppress the exploding flames, Ye Zhen vanished from his sight once more, the terrifying, blazing aura now manifesting to his flank.

In a swift, disorienting flurry, Sima Yan found himself utterly besieged!

Almost simultaneously, Ye Zhen executed a rapid rotation around Sima Yan, the residual afterimages of his Wind Flash technique weaving together in a bewildering display, creating the illusion of countless Ye Zhens encircling his opponent.

The very next instant, a thunderous Sword Light, swift as lightning, slashed into Sima Yan's defensive posture.

It must be acknowledged that Sima Yan's mastery over the Spear Dao was truly profound. At this critical juncture, the tail end of his spear instinctively intercepted Ye Zhen's Sword Light, mitigating its full impact.

This crucial deflection prevented a fatal disembowelment, though he was still sent hurtling backward by Ye Zhen's Purple Spirit Immortal Sword, spitting a mouthful of blood.

As Sima Yan crashed to the ground, the countenance of War Soul Hall Master Bi Ze turned exceedingly grim.