The Martial Soul Tower opens once every three years, and each time only a thousand people are allowed in. Only those who have broken through to Grandmaster within the last three years qualify to enter.
Right now, it's not yet time for the opening, but hundreds—almost a thousand people—have already gathered around the Martial Soul Hall.
To enter the Martial Soul Hall, you need a Martial Soul Token. Before setting off, the Melody Empress had already distributed the tokens to Ian Song and the others.
After picking a corner to stand in, the Sanctum Martial Academy group quietly waited. There was still more than half an hour before the Martial Soul Hall would open.
Suddenly, Ian Song sensed someone secretly watching him, their gaze filled with hidden hostility.
He lifted his eyes slightly and used his Clairvoyant Vision divine ability to lock onto the person.
It was an unfamiliar face, but the figure felt oddly familiar.
Soon, Ian realized the person was wearing an exquisite human-skin mask. Without his Clairvoyant Vision, it would have been nearly impossible to see through it with the naked eye.
Underneath the mask was a face Ian knew well—it was Nate Moore, the world’s original protagonist whom he hadn’t seen in ages.
“Is this just the inertia of the plot? I didn’t expect Nate Moore to show up at the Martial Soul Hall after all.”
Ian felt a bit sentimental, but he was also puzzled—why did this guy bear him such hostility? Logically, after Nate’s demonic cultivation was exposed, Ian had kindly taken in his sister. Nate should be grateful, not hostile. So what was the reason for this animosity?
Could this guy just be an ungrateful wolf?
At the same time, Nate Moore’s cultivation startled Ian a little—he’d already reached late Grandmaster. But then again, since he was practicing the Devouring Demon Lord’s demonic art, it made sense.
Nate Moore slowly looked away, but in his heart he’d already decided—once inside the Martial Soul Hall, he’d seize the chance to kill the one who stole his fortune.
If he’d stayed the naive boy in New Dawn City, he’d never have realized how valuable that ring was. But as his cultivation and experience grew, he began to suspect that the ring Ian took from him was an incredible opportunity.
He had three reasons for this suspicion. First, after fleeing Pristine Way Sect, he went to New Dawn City to investigate and found that Leon Huang’s reputation was terrible—actually, downright notorious.
Why would a notorious wastrel suddenly change his ways, help cure his sister’s blindness, and trade that for a seemingly ordinary ring?
Second, on the way to Pristine Way Sect, he was hunted by Victor Wu’s men, but Leon Huang didn’t hesitate to offend the Wu Clan and rescued him. Afterward, Leon kept protecting him, and when Nate had to flee after his demonic cultivation was exposed, he asked Leon to look after his sister—and Leon agreed without a second thought.
There was no prior friendship between the two, so why would Leon Huang treat him so well?
It must be because he got some huge benefit from Nate and wanted to make up for it.
The black-robed elder called out again.
The gate of light was huge, allowing ten people through at a time.
Soon, all thirty-plus members of Sanctum Martial Academy entered the gate of light.
Here was a sheer cliff, but it was actually the gateway to the outside.
Actually, this was no longer the Martial Soul Hall, but a sub-dimensional world connected to it.
This world wasn’t large—about the size of a small state—but searching for Martial Souls here was still extremely difficult.
According to the Melody Empress, opening the Martial Soul Hall consumes enormous energy and lasts for ten days every three years.
In other words, Ian Song and the others had only ten days to search.
“Should we search for Martial Souls together, or split up?” a female student asked, unsure.
“It’s so big here, let’s split up!” suggested the male student Chen Feng.
“Agreed, I also support splitting up. That way, our chances of finding a Martial Soul are higher!”
Next, everyone voiced their opinions, and basically all agreed to split up.
“What about you, Leon Huang?” Chen Feng looked at Ian Song and asked. He didn’t ask Harriet Gu, because he knew that even if they split up, Harriet would stay with him.
“I agree with splitting up,” Ian Song said.
“In that case, let’s get started!”
As soon as Chen Feng finished speaking, everyone shot off in all directions—they’d already spent a lot of time discussing.
“Let’s go too!”
Ian Song said to Harriet Gu, and the two of them started walking forward.
The two didn’t hurry—they weren’t searching for Martial Souls so much as strolling like tourists.
Half an hour later, Ian Song suddenly turned and said, “You’ve been following us for quite a while—come out!”
A black shadow flashed, and a figure landed a few meters in front of Ian Song.
“Nate Moore, why are you following me?” Ian Song asked with a smile.
“Didn’t expect you to recognize me!” Nate Moore was surprised, and tore off his human-skin mask, revealing a pale, shadowed face. “Give me back that ring, and I’ll spare your life!”
“Return it to you?” Ian Song laughed. “That ring never belonged to you, so what’s there to return?”
Nate Moore’s eyes narrowed, his face twisting with killing intent. He said coldly, “Fine. I was going to give you a chance to live, but since you don’t appreciate it, I’ll just kill you and take my ring back myself!”
Ian Song only smiled, unfazed by the threat.
The atmosphere grew tense, with Harriet Gu watching quietly from the side.
Nate Moore’s aura surged, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze.
Ian Song’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained calm.
Harriet Gu stepped forward, standing beside Ian Song, her gaze cold.
Nate Moore glanced at Harriet Gu, a hint of wariness in his eyes, but quickly refocused on Ian Song.
“You really think you can stop me?” Nate Moore sneered.
Ian Song replied lightly, “You’re welcome to try.”
Nate Moore’s face twisted with fury, and his killing intent exploded.
The confrontation between the two was about to ignite.
But before Nate Moore could make a move, Ian Song suddenly spoke:
“If you want the ring, you’ll have to take it from me.”
Nate Moore laughed coldly, “That’s exactly what I intend to do!”
The tension between them reached its peak, and the air seemed to crackle with energy.
Harriet Gu watched silently, ready to intervene if needed.
Ian Song’s lips curled into a faint smile, completely unafraid.
Nate Moore’s killing intent rose to its limit, and he prepared to attack.
The showdown between the usurped original protagonist and the new lead was imminent.
In this Martial Soul Trial World, only one could emerge victorious.
The chapter ends with the two facing off, ready to fight for their fate.