The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

Blood God's Needles, Kill's prideful soul technique, transformed his soul force into countless needle-like sword energies that pierced into the enemy's body, infiltrating their meridians and dantian, wreaking havoc within.

A direct hit from this soul technique would cause severe damage, even if the victim survived. No matter how great Lin Qian's talent or how strong his physique, it would take him seven or eight years to recover fully.

At just twenty years old, time before thirty was incredibly valuable for a soul martial artist like Lin Qian. If Kill could set him back by that much, it would have a huge impact on his future cultivation.

The thought of destroying such a prodigious talent, one with an ancestral-grade soul weapon, filled Kill with an uncontrollable excitement. This was the pleasure he sought in battle!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The blood-red needles pierced into Lin Qian's body, and dark, clotted blood oozed out. But instead of showing pain, Lin Qian's face broke into a smile.

"Thank you!" Lin Qian grinned as the surrounding water swirled violently, spinning the blood away from his body.

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted from within Lin Qian, his strength surging. Under everyone's watchful eyes, his cultivation broke through from Void-breaking Realm Stage Six to Stage Seven!

"How is this possible?" Kill's blood-red eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn't comprehend what was happening.

Lin Qian had been injured repeatedly in their clash, and after taking a direct hit from his Blood God's Needles, he should have been incapacitated. Yet, instead of being crippled, Lin Qian had advanced in cultivation!

Kill couldn't have known that Lin Qian's dantian held a vast reserve of compressed soul force, specifically prepared for a breakthrough during battle.

As they fought, Lin Qian had been delighted—Kill had become the perfect whetstone, the ideal opponent to push him through his breakthrough!

Especially when Kill used Blood God's Needles, Lin Qian was overjoyed.

The compressed soul force in his dantian had been a tremendous burden on his body, and the Blood God's Needles had helped release that pressure, expelling the clotted blood and easing the strain on his body.

As they clashed, Lin Qian had used Kill to hone his soul force, and by the time the needles struck him, everything was in place for his breakthrough.

Without destruction, there can be no creation.

Lin Qian's goal had been achieved—the time for his breakthrough had come!

On the viewing platform, Zhou Yi'an let out a sigh of relief as he watched Lin Qian's cultivation rise. The tension he'd been feeling finally eased.

Earlier, when Lin Qian was about to be struck by the Blood God's Needles, Zhou Yi'an had been on the verge of intervening to save him. Even Zhang Zide had been ready to act.

But the two had noticed that Lin Qian didn't show any panic when faced with the needles—in fact, he seemed almost expectant. That had given them pause, and they held back.

Now, they were both glad they hadn't intervened. If they had, they would have prevented Lin Qian's breakthrough, missing the chance to witness this incredible scene.

"How dare you use me! You actually had the nerve to use me!" Realizing that he'd been used, Kill screamed in rage at Lin Qian and charged forward, intent on killing him.

But before he could reach Lin Qian, the once-calm waters around Lin Qian suddenly became turbulent again. Powerful currents surged toward Kill, forcing him back.

At the same time, Lin Qian's aura, which had just risen to Void-breaking Realm Stage Seven, surged again, pushing him to Stage Eight.

Pushed back by the raging water, Kill looked ahead in shock.

Not just him—everyone watching the tournament had their eyes glued to Lin Qian, who had once again defied their expectations.

Breaking through during a fight was one thing, but advancing two stages in a row?

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would have believed it.

Boom!

Suddenly, the turbulent waters around Lin Qian grew even more violent, sweeping Kill even further away, forcing him to retreat again.

Void-breaking Realm Stage Nine!

At the center of the swirling water, Lin Qian's wounds had completely healed. There wasn't even a scar left as the surrounding water protected him, making it impossible for Kill to get close.

"Lin Qian... you're beyond belief," Zhang Zide muttered in shock, unable to close his gaping mouth.

Li Yunfeng was equally stunned, but along with his shock, his eyes gleamed with battle intent. It was as if he couldn't wait to fight Lin Qian himself.

At that moment, the violent currents around Lin Qian suddenly contracted, and he closed his eyes, the water around him becoming eerily still.

Then, in an instant, Lin Qian's eyes snapped open, and his aura transformed into an imperial might, surging wildly.

Crimson-golden lightning soul force erupted, forming nine thunder dragons that roared furiously, tearing through the arena's water.

As the dragons surged, the water in the arena evaporated, and the pressure within the space skyrocketed.

At the same time, brilliant golden imperial soul force ignited, cloaking Lin Qian in the Emperor's Robe.

Lin Qian had undergone a complete transformation.

Void-breaking Realm, Soaring Sky Stage!

The once water-filled arena was now empty, the water vaporized. Lin Qian stood in mid-air, his Emperor's Robe burning around him, his gaze cold as he stared down at Kill.

If facing Kill had been a challenge before, now, in Lin Qian's eyes, he was insignificant.

All those present at the Eight-Armed Sea Clan's tournament had witnessed a miracle.

In less than the time it takes for a cup of tea, Lin Qian had broken through from Void-breaking Realm Stage Six to Soaring Sky Stage, advancing four stages in a row!

Everyone was in awe, except for two groups of people who looked on with grim expressions.

One was Kill, and the other was Wu Chunshan.

Suddenly, the imperial robe burning around Lin Qian dissipated, and the nine thunder dragons swirling around him vanished.

Seeing this, Kill frowned, confused.

"In light of the huge favor you've done for me, I won't make things difficult for you. Surrender," Lin Qian said lightly, as if he had no intention of holding a grudge against Kill.

Lin Qian's words made Kill grit his teeth in fury, the humiliation burning deep. With a furious roar, he charged at Lin Qian once again.