High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 358 Ninety-Nine Thousand Years of Heart Refinement! The Great Power of the Endless Sea!

Dead silence.

An absolute stillness, enough to freeze souls and time itself, descended upon the entrance platform of this Yao Guang Secret Realm.

The uproar and tremor caused by the Heavenly King's single punch that killed his nemesis now seemed like a distant echo from the previous era, completely swallowed and erased by a deeper and more extreme fear.

All eyes were fixed on the figure standing in the void—the mechanical avatar known as "Vanguard".

Their gaze could not be focused, because the space where the Azure Heaven King had stood before that figure had been transformed into pure "nothingness".

That was not physical annihilation, not the dust after an energy burst, nor the cracks after space shattered. It was an erasure at the "conceptual" level.

It was as if an invisible hand, holding an eraser, had completely and without a trace wiped the existence of "Azure King" from the canvas of the universe.

There were no screams, no last words, no aftershocks of energy, and not even the lingering echoes of laws.

There is only one outcome.

A result that sent chills down the spines of every battle-hardened, resolute king-level expert present.

"What... happened just now?"

A powerful king from the troll race swallowed hard, his massive body trembling slightly.

He had once competed with the Azure King for an opportunity in a star field and knew the terror of the other's physical body.

That is a supreme physique capable of withstanding the power of a secret treasure and shattering a life-bearing planet with a single punch; it is one of the most brilliant manifestations of the divine path of "proving the Dao through strength".

However, even such an immortal battle body was as fragile as a bubble in the sunlight in the face of that pure black light.

"It's divine light... a pure black divine light."

Beside him, a Feather Clan King, a master of pupil techniques, spoke with a hoarse voice. His beautiful eyes were bloodshot, the result of forcibly activating his primordial pupil technique in an attempt to analyze the backlash left by what had just happened.

"I didn't see anything clearly,"

He closed his eyes in anguish, seemingly unwilling to recall the horrific scene. "That light... it didn't belong to any law we understand. It wasn't destruction, it wasn't annihilation, it wasn't devouring... it was a 'definition.' It defined the existence of the 'Azure King' as belonging to nothingness. And then, he returned to nothingness."

This explanation is even more chilling than a direct description of the death.

Which of the kings present wasn't a ruler of a cosmic kingdom, whose words carried the weight of law?

But their "law" is based on rules under the will of the universe.

But the "vanguard's" attack seemed to be setting rules, as if it were proclaiming the truth of the universe.

This is a qualitative difference, a crushing defeat on a level of life.

"The Azure King, renowned for his physique and having embarked on the path to godhood... was defeated head-on by a mechanical race?"

A king, as tall as a rock giant, muttered to himself, his worldview being challenged like never before.

In the general understanding of all races, the mechanical race is strong in calculation, legion warfare, and domain combat; their individual physical strength has never been their advantage.

But this "quick first move" completely overturned everyone's understanding.

In an instant, the tens of thousands of powerful figures who had previously harbored their own thoughts and were secretly plotting on the platform all became extremely quiet.

No one dared to communicate privately anymore, no one dared to release their aura to test each other, and no one dared to even entertain the thought of fighting.

All eyes, filled with awe, fear, and bewilderment, cautiously swept over the mechanical figure, fearing that any disrespectful thought would invite that pure black "annihilation" divine light.

They had no doubt that the divine light could easily erase them completely from this universe.

Qin Feng stood quietly, his eyes beneath the mechanical mask remaining calm and still.

He paid no attention to the shock around him.

For him, killing the Heavenly King was both inevitable and necessary.

The same divine path cannot accommodate two "limits".

The very existence of the other party is an obstacle to his path to enlightenment.

It's good that it's being cleared out now.

What he cared more about was the effect of that attack.

【Ultimate Divine Light】.

This is his signature technique, created after he had integrated all his knowledge throughout his life and spent ten thousand years after being promoted to king.

"Its power is adequate; it's certainly enough to deal with a King, but not enough to deal with an Emperor."

Qin Feng made his own assessment.

Just as this oppressive silence was about to become eternal, a peaceful voice rang out unexpectedly in everyone's ears, breaking the suffocating atmosphere.

"Fellow Daoists, there is no need to panic."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young man dressed in a star-patterned Taoist robe, holding an ancient tortoise shell, who had appeared in the center of the platform at some point.

His aura was not powerful, merely at the Marquis level, but his eyes seemed to contain the profound truth of the universe's birth and death, calm and deep.

His appearance did not cause any spatial fluctuations, as if he had been there from the beginning, but was only "seen" by everyone when he spoke.

"Tianji Gate!"

A knowledgeable and powerful king recognized the mysterious star trail patterns on the other party's Daoist robe and couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

The Heavenly Mystery Sect, one of the most mysterious organizations in the universe, does not participate in any racial conflicts, yet knows the most secrets of the universe. Their disciples travel to various dangerous places and secret realms, seemingly omnipresent.

"I am Yan Qi, a disciple of the Tianji Sect."

The young man bowed slightly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, lingering only briefly on Qin Feng's mechanized body, before continuing, "By order of my sect, I will explain the rules of this 'Yao Guang Inheritance' to you all, so that you may not needlessly lose your lives."

His words sent a chill down the spines of many powerful figures present.

The fact that the Tianji Sect took the initiative to appear and explain is enough to prove that the danger of the Yao Guang inheritance far exceeds their imagination.

Yan Qi's gaze fell upon the portal of light leading to the depths of the secret realm, and his voice rang out unhurriedly:
"This place is where the renowned Venerable Yao Guang passed away in ancient times. Venerable Yao Guang was an unparalleled powerhouse, whose strength was among the top of all Venerables. The legacy he left behind is closely related to one's spiritual will."

"The Yao Guang inheritance is divided into three stages. What you are currently at is only the entrance to the first stage."

He extended a finger and pointed to the portal shrouded in mist.

"This first test is called the 'Test of Refining the Heart'."

"This trial does not test cultivation level, laws, or combat strength. It tests only one thing—the Dao Heart."

Yan Qi's voice had a peculiar rhythm, as if it could strike the depths of one's soul.

"After entering the portal, your souls will be drawn into an illusionary world. This illusionary world has ninety-nine levels, and on each level, you will need to spend a full ten thousand years."

Over these ten thousand years, you will experience all aspects of life, the myriad facets of the world, and confront the most extreme temptations, the deepest pain, the most perplexing confusion, and the most utter loneliness.

"Only by guarding one's original mind and keeping one's Dao heart unmoved can one see through the illusion and enter the next level."

"Ninety-nine layers of illusion, added together, amount to ninety-nine hundred thousand years."

"Om-!"

As soon as Yan Qi finished speaking, the entire platform erupted in chaos.

"Nine hundred and ninety thousand years? In an illusion?"

"What a joke! We have only cultivated for a million years! If we stay in the illusion for nearly a million years, will we still be able to distinguish between reality and illusion after we come out?"

"This is terrifying! This isn't a test; it's clearly an attempt to completely assimilate our souls into an illusion!"

"Moreover, each level takes ten thousand years... The variables involved are too great! If one is not careful and loses their composure, they may be doomed to eternal damnation!"

The expressions of countless powerful figures who had been granted the title of King changed drastically.

They are all people of strong will; otherwise, they wouldn't have gotten to where they are today.

However, the nearly one million years of illusory experience has exceeded their psychological limits.

During their long lives, they may have secluded themselves for tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of years.

But that's in the real world, in an environment that you can control, and when you're practicing for a clear goal.

But the illusion is completely different.

In that world, everything about you could be distorted—your perceptions, your emotions, your memories… After nearly a million years of erosion, who can guarantee how much of their “true self” will remain?
Yan Qi seemed to have anticipated the reactions of the crowd. He calmly added, "The Venerable Yao Guang set up this trial not for ordinary people. According to the records of my Tianji Sect, since the appearance of this Yao Guang Secret Realm, tens of millions of beings have entered this first trial, including many exceptionally talented individuals."

"However, most ordinary beings will suffer a mental breakdown around the fiftieth floor, their souls assimilated by the illusion and becoming a part of it. Only one in ten thousand can persevere to the end."

"Only those with great perseverance, great wisdom, and a Dao heart as firm as divine iron can possibly complete these ninety-nine layers of illusion and gain the qualification to enter the second level."

His words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the flames of hope in many people's hearts.

However, it also aroused the competitive spirit of some truly top talents.

"Great perseverance? Great wisdom? Hmph, we cultivators fight against the heavens, struggle against the earth, and battle against man. What we seek is courageous and diligent progress. If we are afraid of even a mere illusion, how can we talk about climbing to the peak of martial arts?"

A powerful King-level expert with a violent aura and his body crackling with lightning snorted coldly and was the first to step out. Without hesitation, he rushed into the portal of light, and his figure disappeared instantly.

Once there's a first, there's a second, and a third.

Those who were confident in their own Dao heart and absolute self-assurance chose to enter.

The opportunity is right in front of them, but if they don't even have the courage to try, then their path in martial arts will probably come to an end.

Although the Azure King perished, his death, in a way, proved the strength of the "Vanguard" and made some people realize that in order to win this battle for opportunity, they had to do extraordinary things.

Data flashed across Qin Feng's mechanical eyes.

"The Heart Refining Gate? It does have some similarities to the Blood God Tower and the Holy Tower of the Holy Academy."

The trials he has endured are countless.

Whether it was the 20 million years of solitary seclusion in the Blood God Tower or the 150,000-year mental war against the evil god's will of terror, both tempered his Dao heart to an unimaginable level.

His "path to the limit" is the purest, the loneliest, and the most steadfast path.

Nine hundred and ninety thousand years of trials in the illusionary realm, which would be an insurmountable chasm with nine deaths and one life for others, might just be a... somewhat long cultivation journey for him.

Without any hesitation, Qin Feng controlled the body of "Vanguard" and stepped into the gate of light.

Following him, thousands more powerful individuals who had been granted the title of King gritted their teeth and entered.

But many more people, after weighing the pros and cons, chose to give up.

They glanced at the gate of light with awe, then transformed into streaks of light and left this place of trouble.

Finally, when the platform in front of the gate of light returned to complete calm, more than 70% of the tens of thousands of beings present had chosen to leave.

……

When Qin Feng regained consciousness, he found himself in an endless white space.

There is no up or down, no direction, no passage of time, only absolute emptiness and whiteness.

A cold, emotionless thought resonated within his soul.

[The first level of the Heart Refining Challenge: Sitting in Meditation.]

[Mission: Sit here in meditation for ten thousand years.]

[Rules: No cultivation, no comprehension of laws, no contemplation of anything related to martial arts. Only meditation is permitted.]

Qin Feng's consciousness stirred slightly.

This rule, though seemingly simple, is in fact incredibly vicious.

For a martial artist who is used to thinking and getting stronger all the time, making him do nothing, think nothing, and just sit there is a form of torture.

Especially in such an absolutely lonely environment with no reference points, the sense of time passing is stretched infinitely, and every minute and every second is torture.

Ten thousand years of sitting in meditation is enough to drive a person with a weak mind completely insane.

However, Qin Feng simply glanced at the space and then sat down cross-legged on the spot.

His mechanical body remained motionless, and his very soul sank into stillness, like ice that had never melted for millennia.

His consciousness entered a strange "dormant" state.

One year, ten years, a hundred years...

A thousand years, five thousand years...

As the last second of the ten thousandth year ended, that cold thought resounded once more.

First level, passed.

The white space before them shattered instantly, transforming into a completely different scene.

He became an ordinary blacksmith, whose daily work consisted of swinging his hammer and forging a piece of ordinary iron that could never be completely forged.

[The second level of the Heart Refinement Challenge: Repetition.]

[Mission: Swing the hammer for ten thousand years.]

……

[The Tenth Level of Refining the Mind: Wealth and Prosperity.]

[Mission: As the emperor of a mortal kingdom, enjoy ten thousand years of ultimate luxury and power.]

……

[The Thirty-Sixth Level of Refining the Heart: Love and Hatred.]

[Mission: Experience a deeply unforgettable love-hate entanglement that lasts for ten thousand years.]

……

[The Seventy-Second Level of Refining the Heart: Despair.]

[Mission: As an interstellar prisoner, you are trapped on a desolate planet, witnessing the end of the universe, and facing eternal darkness and loneliness for ten thousand years.]

……

Layer upon layer of illusion, ten thousand years after ten thousand years.

Qin Feng's soul was like a lone boat sailing in an endless sea of ​​suffering.

The sea is churning with towering waves, swirling eddies of desire, sorrowful icebergs, dense fog of confusion, and abyss of despair.

Countless times, the "he" in the illusion experienced life and death, separation and reunion, and tasted the bitterness of love and hate.

He was once an emperor who held the lives of hundreds of millions in his hands, and he was also an ant struggling to survive on the roadside.
He was once revered by millions, and also betrayed by his closest relatives; he once had everything, and also lost everything.

These experiences are enough to cause cracks in the Dao heart of any King-level cultivator, or even cause it to collapse completely.

However, no matter how the illusions outside change, no matter what storms the "lone boat" experiences, in the deepest part of the cabin, Qin Feng's "limit" primal spiritual light always shines like an eternal lighthouse, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither defiled nor pure, its light constant.

He was merely an observer.

He coldly observes "himself" in the illusion, experiencing all of this.

These illusions, for him who had already transcended the limits of his own path, were ultimately just fleeting bubbles. His path had long since transcended the realm of these worldly concerns.

Nine hundred thousand years...

950,000 years...

980,000 years...

When Qin Feng's consciousness entered the ninety-ninth layer of illusion, he found himself back in the original white space.

On the opposite side of him, another "him" appeared.

A "vanguard" also clad in mechanical armor.

[The Ninety-Ninth Level of Refining the Heart: Ask Me.]

[Mission: Persuade 'me,' or be persuaded by 'me.' Time limit: 10,000 years.]

The "vanguard" on the other side spoke up, his voice exactly the same as his.

Why did you choose that path of "extreme"?

"That's a dead end, a path with no end, no companions, a path destined to be an enemy of the entire universe. What's the point of everything you've done?"

"Look at you. For this path, you gave up your cheat code, abandoned comfort, and even staged a fake death, losing everyone and your friends. What did you gain? Only endless battles and loneliness."

"Give up. You possess the foundation of the Primal Singularity and the immortality of the Twin Masks. You could easily choose an easier path. Cooperate with the Chaos God, and you will gain unimaginable power. Why struggle so bitterly?"

The "me" opposite him materialized all the slightest possible wavering in Qin Feng's heart and expressed it in the most incisive language.

This is the most dangerous hurdle.

It doesn't attack your will, but rather the "foundation" of your will.

Qin Feng's conscious self looked at the "self" opposite him and simply asked a question calmly.

"The road is made by walking. How can you know that my road leads to a dead end?"

His answer was only one.

"My path is the limit. Above the limit, there is no other path."

No need for argument, no need for persuasion.

His very existence is the answer.

The "ask me" that had been going on for ten thousand years turned into Qin Feng's one-sided "sitting in solitude" for ten thousand years.

When the last second ended, the "me" on the other side quietly disappeared.

[The Heart-Refining Trial, ninety-nine levels, all passed.]

hum!
Qin Feng's consciousness was suddenly pulled away from that long river of time and returned to his mechanical body in reality.

Before them, there was still that same portal of light leading to the depths of the secret realm.

However, the platform, which was originally empty, now has dozens of figures standing sparsely.

Each of these figures exuded a calm and collected aura, their eyes carrying a profound depth that seemed to have witnessed countless ages.

Their cultivation levels may not have increased, but their souls and wills have undoubtedly undergone an ultimate baptism, becoming incredibly resilient.

Qin Feng's gaze swept across the scene, revealing that of the thousands of powerful individuals who had entered the illusion, only a few dozen remained. A success rate of nearly one percent.

The first test of Venerable Yaoguang eliminated the vast majority of the competitors.

These dozens of prodigies who successfully passed the test will undoubtedly be the strongest opponents in the upcoming competition for inheritance.

……

On one side was a sparse group of only a few dozen people. They stood or sat, silent. Each of them seemed to have been washed by the ages, carrying a kind of somber and weary weight that had been washed away.

However, their eyes were like stars polished in the night, astonishingly bright, and the light of their will within them was so strong that it could pierce through the void.

Nearly a million years of mental tempering did not break them; instead, it was like an ultimate quenching, forging the hardest part of their souls into something even purer and more immortal.

On the other side were the tens of thousands of losers.

Their situation stands in stark contrast to that of the successful people.

Many people collapsed to the ground, their eyes vacant and unfocused, as if most of their souls had been ripped out, leaving only a walking corpse.

Saliva dripped from their mouths as they unconsciously murmured names and memories from the illusion, clearly their minds had completely collapsed, forever lost in that 990,000-year-long false cycle of reincarnation.

Their path has come to an end.

A group of people were in slightly better condition. They were barely able to stay conscious, but their faces were as pale as paper, and their bodies trembled uncontrollably, as if they had just woken up from the most terrifying nightmare.

Their eyes were filled with lingering fear, resentment, and a kind of... awe from the depths of their souls.

Their gazes involuntarily fell upon the dozens of successful individuals, especially that lone, unchanging mechanical figure—"Vanguard."

"Is this the difference...?"

A demon king, whose Dao heart collapsed due to the pain of his loved ones turning against him in the seventy-third level of the illusion, muttered to himself in a hoarse voice.

His fists were clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, and the demonic blood that flowed out carried a resentful, fishy smell.

He clearly remembered that in that illusion, he was betrayed by his most trusted offspring and his most beloved Daoist partner, his cultivation was destroyed, and he was thrown into the Avici Hell to suffer torment for ten thousand years.

The pain of falling from the clouds to the dust, of turning from the deepest love into the deepest hatred, completely tore apart his Daoist heart.

He didn't make it through.

But these people in front of us survived.

They not only survived this hurdle, but also the twenty-six more perilous ones that followed.

This means that the pain, despair, loneliness, and torment they experienced were several times, or even dozens of times, greater than what he had experienced.

What terrifying willpower and what unbreakable Dao heart does this require?

At that moment, his resentment was gradually replaced by a pure admiration.

That was not awe of power, but the highest respect for the ethereal yet real power of "will".

Another Stone Clan King who failed in the fiftieth level of the "Mortal" trial let out a long sigh. The reason for his failure was simple, and also ridiculous.

After living as a mortal for nine thousand years, he had completely forgotten that he was a powerful king and was immersed in the happiness of being surrounded by his children and grandchildren and enjoying his old age.

When the ten thousandth year arrived and the illusion shattered, his Dao heart cracked because he could not accept the huge gap between reality and his reality.

He looked at those successful people, especially at that "vanguard" who remained as calm and composed as an iceberg from beginning to end, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"We pursue power, comprehend the laws, and think we have reached the pinnacle of the universe, looking down on all living beings. But in the end, we can't even hold onto the most basic 'true self'... How tragic, how lamentable."

The whispers of the losers formed a somber undercurrent.

The look in their eyes as they gazed at those dozens of successful individuals had lost its initial envy and hostility, replaced by a heartfelt sense of recognition and admiration.

They experienced it firsthand, so they understand better than anyone how great and difficult it is to emerge from that nearly million-year-old mental purgatory.

Just then, the figure of the Tianji Sect disciple "Yan Qi" quietly reappeared.

He glanced at the devastated losers, a flicker of pity in his eyes, but said nothing more.

Having witnessed countless life and death, success and failure, my heart is now as still as water.

His gaze shifted to Qin Feng and dozens of other successful individuals, a barely perceptible hint of approval appearing on his calm face.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoists, on successfully passing the 'Heart Refining Trial'."

"Those who can see through the ninety-nine layers of mortal illusion and guard their true self and Dao heart are all people with great perseverance and wisdom, and are qualified to compete for the true inheritance of Venerable Yaoguang."

He turned slightly to the side and made a "please" gesture.

"Please follow me to the second level."

Having said that, Yan Qi took the lead and walked towards a path paved with white light deep inside the platform.

Qin Feng and the others followed without hesitation.

The losers, with mixed feelings, watched as these true prodigies ventured deeper into the mysterious realm. They knew their chance had come to an end.

……

The path formed by light seemed to have no end.

It floats in an absolute dark void, with bottomless abysses on both sides of the road.

Walking on this road, everyone felt a strange sense of unease.

It was as if countless terrifying beings, capable of devouring even a king, lurked in the darkness beyond the road.

"This road is called 'Guardian Bridge'."

Yan Qi, who was walking at the front, introduced the place without turning his head. His voice echoed in the silent passage, sounding exceptionally clear.

"This bridge was created by Venerable Yaoguang using his own Dao principles to connect the three great barriers. On this bridge, any form of fighting will be regarded as a provocation against the Venerable and will bring unpredictable consequences."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone saw that in the dark abyss on both sides of the road, one broken skeleton after another was floating.

These skeletons came in various shapes and sizes, including humanoid, animaloid, crystalline remains left by elemental life forms, and even the cold metal skeletons of mechanical races.

But without exception, they all maintained the most ferocious and painful posture before their death.

Some skeletons are in an attack stance, but their bones are covered with fine cracks that burst out from the inside, as if they were burst from the inside by an irresistible force.

Some skeletons were curled up in a ball, their hands tightly clutching their heads, as if enduring some kind of extreme soul torment.

On its skull, one can even see tiny holes, as if pierced from the very source of its soul by an invisible awl.

There was also an exceptionally large skeleton belonging to a cosmic behemoth. Its head, comparable to a star, was raised high, seemingly roaring silently at the void. However, its entire body was petrified by a grayish-white power, and even the last trace of its soul's resentment was frozen in that eternal posture.

"These……"

A prodigy from the Dragon Clan who had successfully completed the challenge had his pupils shrink. "They're all Kings?"

Judging from the aura of law that remained on these skeletons even after countless years, they were all powerful beings at the King level in life, and some of them were even top-tier Kings whose auras were so powerful that they made everyone present feel apprehensive.

"good."

Yan Qi's tone remained calm, "They are all beings who have tried to make a move on this 'Bridge of Guardians of the Heart' or who have broken the rules in an attempt to seize the opportunities of others."

He casually pointed to a skeleton with a dark gold color, and there was a huge hole in the chest of the skeleton, as if the heart had been dug out alive.

"This is the 'Vajra King' who was famous throughout a star field 300,000 years ago. He was born with an indestructible body and his physical body was so strong that even ordinary royal-level treasures could not harm him in the slightest."

After passing the first trial, overconfident in his strength, he attempted to ambush another prodigy. However, the instant he struck, his 'indestructible body' began to crumble from the inside out, his heart turned to dust, and he perished on the spot.

He then pointed to another skeleton shrouded in gray mist.

"That was the 'Illusion King,' a master of illusion and soul attacks. He tried to use illusion to bewitch his competitors and make them kill each other. As a result, his soul was devoured by the power of the rules of this place, and he was trapped in an endless illusion he created until his soul's essence was completely exhausted and he died."

With each skeleton Yan Qi introduced, the hearts of the crowd sank a little deeper.

Which of these fallen powerhouses wasn't once a legendary figure?

Their methods and their strength, if displayed to the outside world, would be enough to cause a stir in a star system.

However, here, before the rules left behind by Venerable Yaoguang, they are as fragile as ants.

No one needs to lift a finger; the act of "breaking the rules" itself is enough to bring about a devastating blow.

This is a higher level of power, an inviolable "order" established by a Venerable-level expert.

The last vestiges of hope and resentment in everyone's hearts were completely extinguished by the sight of bones scattered all over the ground.

They deeply realized that the only way to obtain the Yao Guang inheritance was to honestly abide by the rules and rely on their own strength to pass the challenges.

Any attempt to take shortcuts will only end up like these skeletons.

At the end of the road, the light shone even brighter.

As everyone stepped off the "Bridge of Guardians of the Heart," a bright and open view opened up before them.

They arrived at a much larger platform.

This platform seems to be suspended in the center of the universe, with billions of stars around it when you look up and endless chaos churning when you look down.

At the very center of the platform, a magnificent staircase, whose grandeur defies description, rises abruptly from the ground, piercing straight into the unknown, profound dome of the universe.

It has ninety-nine floors.

Each step seemed to be forged from the purest crystallization of pain, exuding a terrifying aura that sent shivers down one's spine. Just looking at it from afar made one feel as if their body and soul were being slowly torn apart by invisible blades.

"This is the second level, the 'Ladder of Pain'."

Yan Qi's voice rang out at the right time, carrying a hint of solemnity.

"The first test, the 'Heart Refining Test,' examines your Dao heart and will. This second test examines your limits of endurance of pain, and whether you can maintain your will to move forward even under extreme pain."

He pointed to the ladder to heaven.

"With each of these ninety-nine heavenly ladders you ascend, your physical bodies and even your souls will endure exponentially increasing pain. That pain will bypass all your defenses, disregard your cultivation level, and directly affect the very essence of your life."

"The first level might just be the pain of broken bones."

"The tenth level might be the torment of burning the soul."

"In the end, the pain of each step will surpass the sum of all the tortures you have ever endured in your lives."

"During this process, you cannot use any secret methods to resist or reduce the pain; you can only rely on the purest willpower to persevere."

Similarly, everyone only has one chance to climb. If you can't withstand the pressure and fall off the ladder, it means failure.

Yan Qi's words made all the geniuses present look extremely serious.

If the first stage of mental training is a test of "resilience", then it is a test of "tenacity".

So, enduring the pain in this second stage tests one's "strength".

These are two completely different tests, but both point directly to the source of will.

"Finally, there is one more thing I need to remind you all."

Yan Qi's gaze swept over everyone. "The Ladder of Suffering only opens once every ten thousand years. In other words, you only have this one chance. If you miss it, you will have to wait another ten thousand years."

This news sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Ten thousand years may not be much in the context of their long lifespan.

But when it comes to seizing opportunities, it can change everything.

No one wants to pin their hopes on ten thousand years from now.

This time, we must succeed!

After explaining the rules, Yan Qi stepped aside and remained silent, leaving the stage to the prodigies who had successfully passed the first test.

The atmosphere on the platform became subtle.

The dozens of prodigies kept their distance from each other, their eyes filled with vigilance and scrutiny.

Although physical confrontation is not allowed here, the sense of competition has become incredibly intense.

Qin Feng remained unchanged for years.

He controlled the avatar of "Vanguard," found a huge floating meteorite far from the crowd, and sat down cross-legged.

His mechanical body was like a lifeless sculpture, and the red light in his eyes faded, as if he had entered standby mode.

He had no interest in communicating with anyone, nor did he bother to observe his so-called competitors.

In his eyes, these so-called prodigies were still far inferior to the Heavenly King.

Since even the Heavenly King could be instantly killed by him, these people naturally posed no threat to him.

What he needs to do now is adjust his state, wait for the Heavenly Ladder to open, and then take this inheritance in his strongest form.

Qin Feng's "lone wolf" attitude, along with the overwhelming ferocity he displayed when he instantly killed Cangtian King, naturally made him the focus of the entire arena and a forbidden zone that no one dared to approach.

The other creatures gathered in twos and threes, whispering and exchanging information, while also assessing each other's strength.

"This second hurdle is probably even more dangerous than the first. The tempering of the mind can still be traced, but this pure pain... is the hardest to endure."

A demon king, shrouded in black mist and whose face was obscured, spoke in a hoarse voice.

"That's right. Physical strength probably won't play a big role here. The key is who has a stronger will and who is more ruthless to themselves."

Beside her, a graceful and stunningly beautiful demon queen softly echoed, but her captivating eyes were filled with solemnity.

Their clan's cultivation is related to desire and the soul, and their resistance to pain is naturally weaker than that of those races that specialize in physical cultivation.

"This time, there are probably no more than three people qualified to compete for the final inheritance."

The first to speak, the King, cast his gaze in three different directions into the distance.

"The first one, naturally, is that 'vanguard'."

Mentioning this name caused everyone around to hold their breath.

"This person... is unfathomable."

The Meizu Queen's tone carried a hint of apprehension that even she herself was unaware of: "To kill the Azure Heaven King in one strike, that kind of power has already exceeded our understanding of the 'King' realm."

Moreover, look at him, from beginning to end, his aura did not fluctuate in the slightest, as if everything in the outside world was irrelevant to him.

With this mindset, combined with his terrifying strength, traversing this 'Ladder of Pain' should be no difficult task.

"good."

Another dragon prodigy, clad in magnificent armor and exuding an air of arrogance, nodded in agreement. "The fact that he could instantly kill the Azure King proves that his attack power has reached an unbelievable level."

Passing the first test proves his unbreakable Dao heart. With top-tier skill in both psychological warfare and mental manipulation, such a person is indeed the most sought-after.

The Demon King nodded and then turned his gaze to the other side.

There, a young man dressed in a simple gray robe, with a withered face, sat cross-legged on a shattered fragment of a star.

His aura was extremely strange, sometimes as still as an abyss, and sometimes exuding a chilling madness.

"The second one is 'Heartless Demon Child', Mo Wuxin."

"It's him?"

The Queen of Meizu frowned slightly. "I've heard of him. He's an unparalleled genius from the 'Abyss of No Return,' cultivating the paths of 'Supreme Forgetfulness' and 'Undying Demon Soul.'"

It is said that in order to cultivate himself, he personally killed all his relatives and loved ones, and refined all his seven emotions and six desires, leaving only a pure demonic heart that pursued power.

He also threw himself into the 'Nine Nether Soul-Devouring Fire' and burned it for three thousand years to temper his demonic soul.

Khorne valued him highly, but failed to sway him.

"Exactly this person."

The Demon King's voice carried a chill, "His path is one accompanied by pain and ruthlessness."

What is a 'stairway to heaven' of torture for ordinary people may just be a form of... spiritual practice for him.

In terms of endurance of pain, probably no one present could surpass him.

Everyone was silent.

A madman who is so cruel to himself must have an absolutely abnormally strong will.

"And who's the third one?"

The dragon prodigy pressed for an answer.

This time, everyone's attention was focused on another female prodigy.

She was a woman dressed in a pristine, moon-white gown.

Her appearance was shrouded in a hazy halo, making it difficult to see clearly, but the pure, ethereal, sacred, and inviolable aura emanating from her seemed to purify the surrounding chaos and darkness.

She stood there quietly, like a pure lotus blooming in the deepest abyss, untouched by the dust of the world.

“The contemporary saintess of ‘Jade Pool Holy Land’, the exquisite fairy.”

The Meizu Queen's tone carried a strange complexity, seemingly a mix of jealousy as a woman and pure admiration.

"The sacred land of Yaochi is a legacy from an era even more ancient than that of Venerable Yaoguang."

They are a single-lineage family, and each generation of holy maidens must possess the legendary 'seven-aperture exquisite heart'.

This kind of Daoist mind is naturally flawless and pure, impervious to all laws and undisturbed by any evil.

It is said that those who possess a "seven-aperture exquisite heart" have an extremely pure will, enabling them to directly perceive the origin of the Great Dao, and no pain or hardship can shake their hearts in the slightest.

"A pure heart and a pure will... this is indeed the best talent to deal with the 'Ladder of Suffering'."

Even the dragon race's prodigies had to admit it.

"Vanguard," a mysterious mechanical race whose strength is unfathomable and whose Dao heart is as firm as divine iron.

A madman who feeds on pain and follows the path of ruthlessness, known as the "Heartless Demon Child".

A "fairy of exquisite beauty" born with a pure and immaculate heart and a will as pure as crystal.

These three individuals, whether judging from their demonstrated strength or their own cultivation paths, are undoubtedly the strongest contenders for the Yao Guang inheritance.

(End of this chapter)