Three Years in the Blink of an Eye, the Hell Gate (4K)

Time flies, spring comes and autumn goes, and in the blink of an eye, three years have passed since the Seven Sects Selection Conference that shook the continent.

Three years may be just a blink of an eye in the long Life of Soul Master, but in these three years, the entire Soul Master World of the Douluo Continent has undergone profound changes due to the spread of the "Method of Soul Cores".

The Soul Core Condensation Method publicly taught by Yu Yuanchen, Qian Daoliu, and Tang Chen was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples. From Soul Sage laying the foundation by condensing Soul Power Vortex, to Soul Douluo using this method to liquefy Soul Power and solidify their foundation, and then to Titled Douluo condensing true Soul Core, the complete system has pointed out a more solid path to heaven for countless Soul Master.

On the continent, Soul Master at the Soul Sage level and above have generally seen a slight but tangible improvement in strength. Their Soul Power is more condensed, their recovery speed is faster, and their endurance is enhanced, which is gradually showing its advantages in hunting Soul Beast, sect sparring, and even Border Conflict.

There are even rumors that some veteran Soul Douluo have been stuck at the peak of level 89 for many years, through great perseverance and exquisite control of their Soul Power, have actually succeeded in condensing the Soul Core Prototype. Taking advantage of the infusion of Heaven and Earth Origin Qi during their breakthrough, they stepped into the coveted realm of Titled Douluo in one fell swoop! Although the specific individuals involved are kept secret, the spread of such information has undoubtedly further fueled the enthusiasm of Soul Master for cultivating the Method of Soul Cores.

Of course, the Method of Soul Cores has a high threshold, requiring strict control over Soul Power Control and spatial perception, and is not something everyone can master. But its existence is like a lighthouse, illuminating the path for many. The overall strength of the Soul Master World is quietly improving at a steady pace.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Forbidden Area in the Back Mountain.

Yu Yuanchen sat cross-legged on a Thunder-Attracting Platform, his body devoid of any Soul Power fluctuations, his aura extremely restrained. He had been in seclusion for over a year, yet his Cultivation Level remained at the peak of level Level 98, and he was not in a hurry to break through the bottleneck of Level 99 Titled Douluo.

At his level, simply accumulating Soul Power is no longer the key. Understanding the laws, clarifying one's own path, and exploring the essence of power are more important. He put most of his energy into perfecting his own "Martial Way" system and exploring the "Ultimate Form Soul Core" that belongs to him.

The Thunder Sacred Dragon Martial Soul has perfectly merged with him, his "Human-Dragon Unity" realm is stable, and he is becoming more and more proficient in using the "Martial Soul True Body Possession" state. However, he can feel that the potential of the Soul Core is far from being fully explored. At level ninety, he fused the Ultimate Thunder with his own Soul Power, Blood Essence, and Spiritual Power, directly condensing it into an advanced Soul Core with extraordinary potential that still needs to be explored.

To reach level ninety-nine, he needs to undergo another fundamental transformation of his Soul Core, making it a complete vessel for his "Dao," which is even more difficult. This requires opportunity and enlightenment; it cannot be rushed.

However, these three years of seclusion were not without gains. His Spiritual Power became increasingly refined and condensed on the basis of the Spirit Domain Realm, and he successfully constructed a "Spirit Domain" that belonged only to himself. Once unleashed, its power was unfathomable.

Clear Sky Sect, Fire-Forging Hall.

The clanging of metal hammers filled the air, and steam rose from the furnace. Tang Chen, shirtless, his bronze muscles bulging, was not wielding the massive Clear Sky Hammer, but rather holding a uniquely shaped forging hammer, intently hammering a red-hot metal blank.

He wasn't forging an ordinary weapon, but rather hammering a peculiar metal blank. Under the repeated forging of the Clear Sky Hammer, which contained his Soul Power and unique Force Application Technique, the metal faintly emitted weak energy fluctuations, and its texture was undergoing strange changes.

After the Method of Soul Cores spread, he did not slacken his cultivation, and his Cultivation Level steadily increased to level ninety-seven. However, he also devoted a lot of energy to "forging". After discussing with Yu Yuanchen and Qian Daoliu, he became more and more convinced of the possibility of becoming a god through "forging".

For the past three years, aside from cultivation, he devoted most of his energy to this "New Forging Method." Combining the characteristics of the Clear Sky Hammer, his own control over power, and the endurance brought by the Soul Core, he attempted to integrate Soul Power into the forging process at a special frequency. Surprisingly, this actually caused the metal to undergo a kind of "activation," making its hardness and energy conductivity far exceed that of ordinary metals! This was undoubtedly a completely new path! He named it "Hundred Forging Essence Gold Technique" (not the Hundred Refinement from Dou San).

However, compared to Yu Yuanchen, who devoted himself to cultivation, and Tang Chen, who was engrossed in forging, the experiences of another prodigy, Qian Daoliu, over the past three years have been much more tortuous.

The Angel God Trial are by no means easy.

After leaving Spirit City, Qian Daoliu officially began his journey of Divine Examination. The first few trials were not too difficult for him, given his current peak Soul Power of level 97 and his Angelic Angel Martial Soul.

The First Trial, "Breakthrough the Sky," requires enduring the thin air and immense pressure at an altitude of 30,000 meters, while absorbing the sun's radiant energy. The time limit is one year. This is because the Angel God Position is compatible with the sun, laying the foundation for their future. The reward is a 5% increase in God Position affinity.

The Second Trial, "Angel Holy Light Baptism," involved enduring the Body Tempering of holy light before the Angel God Statue in the Worship Hall, testing his physical endurance. He passed it easily, in less than a day. The reward was a 5% increase in his affinity with the God Position position.

But the Third Trial, "Exterminate Demons and Slay Evil," truly stumped him.

Assessment criteria: Independently kill twenty Fallen Soul Master of Soul Sage level or above, or evil Soul Beast with over Cultivation Level. Time limit: Two years.

Judging from his strength, it seems simple, but in reality, it's extremely troublesome!

The reason is simple: the Spirit Hall has ruled the continent for thousands of years, and has always spared no effort in cracking down on Fallen Soul Master and evil Soul Beast. Under the Spirit Hall's continuous high-pressure crackdown, the open and large-scale forces of Fallen Soul Master on the continent have long since disappeared. Most evil Soul Beast are killed by other Soul Beast when they are young, and even if they manage to grow up and show their faces, they may be killed by stronger high-level Soul Beast or besieged by the Spirit Hall people who come after hearing about them.

Occasionally, a few might slip through the net, but they always hide themselves extremely well, their whereabouts shrouded in mystery, rarely daring to show themselves. Fallen Soul Master at the Soul Sage level? Those are absolutely extremely rare. Evil Soul Beast over ten thousand years old? Not only are they incredibly rare, but each one is even more secretive than the last.

Although Qian Daoliu was the young master of the Spirit Hall and had easy access to resources, he still felt extremely troubled by the limited number of targets available. He couldn't very well go to a place City of Slaughter to "recruit" people just to complete the mission, could he? In his heart, the Divine Examination was a sacred test, a tempering of one's will and abilities. Using such a near-cheating method would undoubtedly be inappropriate. However, he wasn't a rigid person. He secretly decided to find people himself first, and only go to the City of Slaughter, he couldn't be blamed for this. The process didn't matter, but the attitude had to be correct.

Thus began a year-and-a-half-long, needle-in-a-haystack search. Relying on the Spirit Hall's vast intelligence network and his own keen sense of evil, he traversed many remote and treacherous places across the continent.

Persistence pays off, and he actually uncovered seven deeply hidden "big fish"—seven Fallen Soul Master with strength ranging from Soul Sage to Soul Douluo. These guys either practiced evil arts or went into hiding after committing heinous crimes. They were all extremely cunning, but in the face of Qian Daoliu's absolute strength, they could not escape being Purification by the holy flames.

"Damn the Spirit Hall! Damn the Angel Soul Master! We've all hidden in this godforsaken place, and you still won't leave us alone!" This was the most common lament of those Fallen Soul Master before their deaths. They probably couldn't understand until their dying breath why a level 97 Six-winged Angel Super Douluo would personally hunt them down across the continent as "minor characters."

After eliminating seven Fallen Soul Master, thirteen targets remained. Qian Daoliu turned his attention to the Evil Soul Beast. Compared to cunning humans, Evil Soul Beast were relatively easier to find, but their tracks were still extremely limited. He spent another year venturing into various remote ancient forests, dark swamps, and barren deserts, relying on the senses of his Angel Martial Soul to painstakingly locate three Evil Soul Beast over ten thousand years old and slay them. If they could speak, they would surely curse just like the Fallen Soul Master.

At this point, only six months remained until the three-year deadline. And he still needed to meet ten targets!

Left with no other choice, Qian Daoliu finally turned his attention to the place he was most reluctant to choose— the City of Slaughter. Although unwilling, the deadline for the Divine Examination was approaching, and he could not fail. He hoped that the Divine Ancestor would not blame him; it was not that his junior had not tried hard enough, but rather that his junior had tried too hard.

On this day, Qian Daoliu passed through a continuous mountain range— the Savage Beast Hills. There were many Soul Beast here, but their Cultivation Level were generally not high, with the highest being no more than a thousand years old. Few powerful individuals usually set foot here.

Looking at the somewhat familiar scene before him, a slight ripple stirred in Qian Daoliu's cold heart. He recalled the time many years ago when he, Yu Yuanchen, and Tang Chen had trained together in this place before they became famous, fighting against the Beast Tide together. Although their strength was weak at that time, they were full of passion and their friendship was sincere.

"I wonder how Brother Yuanchen and that fellow Tang Chen are doing now." A faint smile, almost imperceptible to himself, crept onto Qian Daoliu's lips as he shook his head, dispelling the lingering nostalgia. The Path to Godhood a solitary one; completing the mission is the priority right now.

Just as he was about to leave and continue his journey to the City of Slaughter, a commotion suddenly arose from the depths of the hills. A small-scale Beast Tide out, with about a hundred low-level Soul Beast, some ten or a hundred years old, scattering in panic as if they had been frightened by something.

For Qian Daoliu now, this Beast Tide could be wiped out with a wave of his hand. He casually raised his hand, and a sword aura swept across, killing dozens of Soul Beast at the forefront. The remaining Soul Beast were so frightened that they scattered and fled.

However, just as he was about to leave, his brows suddenly furrowed!

Wrong!

He keenly sensed that the residual blood and Soul Power on the corpses of the Soul Beast he had killed were flowing away at an extremely subtle and slow pace in a certain direction deep within the hills! If he hadn't possessed the Six-winged Angel Martial Soul, which granted him an extreme sensitivity to energy flow, especially negative energy, he probably wouldn't have been able to detect it at all!

This method of drawing power is cold, filthy, and carries a nauseatingly evil aura, far beyond what a normal Soul Beast can achieve through absorption! It's more like... a conscious act of plunder!

"Something's strange!" Qian Daoliu's eyes narrowed, and he instantly suppressed all his aura, slightly altering his own aura fluctuations to blend closer to his surroundings. He wanted to see what kind of thing dared to pull such a sneaky trick in broad daylight!

His figure moved like a pale golden streak of light, silently slipping into the depths of the Savage Beast Hills, following the faint, almost imperceptible Trace Origin of evil.

The deeper they went, the stronger the sense of evil and death in the air became. The surrounding vegetation began to thin out and turn yellow, as if its Life Force had been drained. Occasionally, they could see the shriveled corpses of some Soul Beast, their deaths tragic and miserable, as if all their essence had been drained. Even the earth became increasingly cracked and barren as Qian Daoliu went deeper.

Qian Daoliu's heart sank. This was no ordinary evil Soul Beast! In fact, it was unlike any Soul Beast or Fallen Soul Master he knew!

Finally, after passing through a thick, impenetrable black fog that reeked of Sulfur, the scene before him caused even the most knowledgeable and resolute man, Qian Daoliu, to instantly shrink in shock, gasp, and feel his blood almost freeze!

Ahead lay a valley basin where the earth had cracked, revealing dark red rocks beneath, resembling congealed blood. In the center of the basin, space was extremely distorted, forming an irregular vortex about ten zhang in diameter! At the edge of the vortex, viscous, ink-like dark energy churned, within which countless twisted, tormented, and venomous phantoms of souls struggled and wailed!

At the center of the vortex, a colossal portal, formed from countless bones and dark energy, could be vaguely seen! The portal opened only a tiny crack, yet the aura emanating from it was filled with the purest and most ancient evil, chaos, and Destruction will! It seemed to connect to the Nine Netherworlds hell!

Sisi of dark red energy seeped from the cracks in the portal, like tentacles, greedily drawing away all Life Force and energy from the surrounding area! The blood essence of those Soul Beast was being absorbed by these things!

What alarmed Qian Daoliu even more was that this illusory portal seemed to be gradually solidifying at a slow but steady pace! It was as if some terrifying being was trying to forcefully descend upon this world from the other side of the portal!

"This is... Planar Passage? The Hell Gate?!" Qian Daoliu murmured, his golden eyes filled with unprecedented shock and solemnity!

As the inheritor of the Angel God, his perception of evil aura far surpassed that of ordinary people. He could even sense a terrifying pressure emanating from a higher plane, making his very soul tremble, emanating from this portal! This was no evil that could originate from the Douluo Continent itself! This was... an invasion from another plane!

Just as his mind was reeling, the crimson vortex in the crack suddenly accelerated its rotation! The illusory stone gate trembled violently, and a condensed dark red beam of light, like a venomous snake, shot out from the crack, heading straight for Qian Daoliu's hiding place! At the same time, an evil will filled with savagery, slaughter, and chaos surged in like a tide, attempting to erode his mind!

"I've been discovered!" Alarm bells rang in Qian Daoliu's mind! Without time to think, his Soul Core began to operate wildly, and the Six-winged Angel Martial Soul instantly possessed him! Brilliant Holy Light erupted, dispelling the surrounding gray mist!

"Angel's Protection!"

A sacred light shield enveloped his entire body, colliding violently with the dark red beam of light!

Boom!

Holy Light and Fel Energy clashed violently, producing a piercing hissing sound. Qian Daoliu snorted coldly, taking several steps back to dissipate the impact, his expression slightly grave.

The power contained in that beam of light was extremely concentrated and strange. If it weren't for the fact that Angel Divine Power is naturally able to restrain evil, he would probably have been injured just now! The guy who threw that attack was probably no less powerful than Titled Douluo.