The Peerless Emperor (TPE)

During the breakthrough to the Nirvana Realm, the soul power within one's body ignites, wrapping around the body to refine it. However, Wei Wushuang had never seen a soul martial artist's breakthrough to the Nirvana Realm result in such a massive outpouring of soul fire, completely engulfing the entire room.

This strange situation made Wei Wushuang anxious. "Lin Qian, you'd better not have any mishaps."

In the courtyard, Wei Wushuang remained outside the room, watching the soul fire that enveloped the house burn throughout the night. Yet, even by dawn the next day, the flames had not subsided. In fact, they burned even more fiercely.

"Is Lin Qian in the middle of a breakthrough?" Lei Qian, who had become accustomed to visiting each day, stared in shock at the flames surrounding the house.

He recalled that when he himself had broken through to the Nirvana Realm, the soul fire that enveloped his body barely extended an inch beyond him, and it had already made his grandfather ecstatic. But Lin Qian's flames? They were several feet high and wide—unbelievable.

Lei Qian couldn't help but wonder just how powerful Lin Qian would become after breaking through to the Nirvana Realm, given how strong he already was in the Forming Realm.

"Lei Qian, how long did your breakthrough take?" Wei Wushuang suddenly turned to ask Lei Qian.

Lei Qian thought for a moment and replied, "When I broke through to the Nirvana Realm, it took me a little over two hours."

Wei Wushuang nodded lightly and then looked back at the house. "This kid has been at it for a whole night already. Why hasn't he completed the breakthrough yet?"

Lei Qian shook his head, still in awe of the flames before him. Despite his amazement, Lei Qian didn't waste time and began to cultivate in the courtyard.

"Perhaps it's because this kid has such a deep foundation that his breakthrough is taking longer," Wei Wushuang mused as he continued to watch the house.

However, what Wei Wushuang didn't anticipate was that it would take a full three days and nights before the soul fire engulfing the house finally began to dissipate.

Inside the house, a figure sat motionless on the wooden floor—a humanoid figure covered in charred blackness.

Crack!

A crack suddenly appeared in the blackened shell. Like a spreading web, the crack extended across the entire surface of the figure, and the blackened shell began to fall away, shattering like a layer of black ash.

As the shell crumbled, Lin Qian was revealed beneath it. His hair, which had been burned away, had regrown, cascading down his back. His tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and his once-scarred skin was now as smooth as a newborn's, enviable enough to drive any beauty-conscious woman from his previous life mad with jealousy.

At that moment, Lin Qian's eyes snapped open, and the soul power within him surged, enveloping his entire body. The energy took on a brilliant yellow hue, and an overwhelming imperial aura exploded outward.

Wei Wushuang and Lei Qian, who were waiting outside in the courtyard, both felt the sudden change. In their perception, it was as if a supreme ruler had appeared within the house.

Wei Wushuang could easily withstand the pressure, but Lei Qian wasn't as fortunate. Already exhausted from his cultivation, the unexpected surge of power forced him to his knees.

Only when Lei Qian's body instinctively activated his purple lightning soul power did he manage to stand against the oppressive aura.

"Roar!"

An eerie roar echoed from within the house, causing Wei Wushuang and Lei Qian to exchange glances.

Meanwhile, Lin Qian's bright yellow soul power condensed into nine golden dragons, coiling around him. As Lin Qian gazed at the nine dragons surrounding him, he couldn't help but laugh. "The supreme nine dragons... Nirvana Realm truly is extraordinary. Even abilities from games seem possible now."

Suddenly, the nine golden dragons transformed, becoming enveloped in crimson lightning, turning into terrifying thunder dragons that radiated overwhelming power.

In the blink of an eye, the crimson lightning vanished, and the nine soul dragons returned to their original form. Then, icy coldness appeared out of nowhere, coating the dragons with frost and covering the entire room with a layer of ice.

Just as quickly as it had appeared, the ice melted away, and all traces of the previous phenomena disappeared as Lin Qian retracted his soul power into his body.

Standing up, Lin Qian walked over to a wardrobe in the room, retrieved a clean set of clothes, and changed. Feeling refreshed, he opened the door and stepped out into the courtyard.

Seeing Lin Qian emerge, Wei Wushuang quickly approached him. "How did it go? Did you succeed?"

Lei Qian, just as curious, followed closely behind, eager to know whether Lin Qian had truly broken through to the Nirvana Realm. The long duration of Lin Qian's breakthrough had left them both anxious.

"Of course, I succeeded," Lin Qian replied with a raised brow and a grin. "If I could manage twelve cycles of Nirvana, how could I possibly fail to break through to the Nirvana Realm?"

Although Lin Qian spoke casually, the process had been incredibly perilous. The massive infusion of spiritual energy from Tianhen had caused him unbearable pain, nearly pushing him to the brink of collapse.

But if he had lost consciousness, the breakthrough would have failed.

Every time he was on the verge of collapse, the image of a girl's smile would flash through his mind. His parents had disappeared after risking everything to help him with his soul core, and every night, Lin Qian would sit alone in the courtyard, staring at the night sky.

It was during those lonely moments that Ye Xin would suddenly appear, always with a gentle smile, keeping him company.

Her smile would dispel the shadows in Lin Qian's heart, banishing his loneliness.

"I wonder how Xin'er is doing now," Lin Qian thought to himself. Then, suddenly raising his head, he asked, "Master, are you sure Xin'er will go to the ancient ruins this time?"

"Of course. With Ye Xin having broken through to the Nirvana Realm, the Sword Saint of the Divine Sword Sect will naturally want to secure such a valuable opportunity for her disciple," Wei Wushuang reassured him, patting Lin Qian on the shoulder.

Lei Qian, who had been listening in, was stunned. "Boss, do you... have some connection with the young Sword Saint of the Divine Sword Sect?"

Seeing Lei Qian's shocked expression, Lin Qian nodded. "Of course. Ye Xin is my betrothed."

"Oh!" Lei Qian nodded repeatedly, surprised. "I never would have guessed. The prodigy of the Divine Sword Sect is actually your fiancée. That's quite the revelation."

"Enough of that. Let's get back to you. What's changed after you broke through to the Nirvana Realm? What's your soul core's attribute?" Wei Wushuang interrupted, his concern evident.

"The attribute is pretty common—it's an enhancement."

"Enhancement? Really?" Wei Wushuang's face fell with disappointment. "Such a weak attribute?"

Lei Qian was equally surprised, frowning as he looked at Lin Qian. "Boss, how could your attribute be weaker than mine?"