Complete the First Trial, Become a Soul Emperor

Shen Lian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, only to discover with delight that under this extreme pressure, the Soul Power within him had become even more condensed, like refined steel tempered by hammering.

He could clearly sense that the crimson glow of his third Spirit Ring had brightened somewhat, and even the phantom of the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul had become more solid.

Huang Tian's voice sounded in his Consciousness Sea, carrying a trace of approval:

"Interesting. Every step of these stairs contains the oppressive force of Divine Power of Destruction. It is an excellent tempering ground for your Martial Soul."

The dragon phantom churned within his Consciousness Sea, and a warm current flowed into every part of his body, easing the soreness in his muscles as Huang Tian continued:

"Keep going, brat. Next time, strive to break through one hundred steps."

Shen Lian nodded heavily, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. He sat cross-legged on the ninety-ninth step and began circulating his Soul Power.

The fragments of the Law of Destruction around him were like lively sprites. He actively drew them into his body, where they continuously collided and fused with the power of the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon.

Above the altar, the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon slowly opened its eyes. The boy's diligent figure was reflected in its enormous pupils, and it let out an almost inaudible sigh.

Time within the Inheritance Land seemed distorted. The ghostly green flames danced day after day, though more than a thousand days and nights had unknowingly passed.

When Shen Lian coughed up a mist of blood for the thirteenth time during cultivation, the sudden stabbing pain in his palm made him realize that his bones had completed another reconstruction.

This was the transformation brought by a breakthrough in Soul Power, as well as the reward for being crushed countless times by Divine Power of Destruction across the nine hundred-odd steps.

Fifteen-year-old Shen Lian had shed his youthful immaturity. His swordlike brows were sharp, and his eyes held a composure beyond his years.

Dark purple dragon-scale patterns flickered faintly at the side of his neck. The Mark of Destruction on his brow brightened and dimmed with his breathing. Whenever he circulated his Soul Power, it bloomed with an eerie purple light, echoing the Vermilion Bird Wings spread behind him.

Over the past five years, Shen Lian's body had grown rapidly, and even his every gesture now faintly carried the pressure of one in power.

"Nine hundred ninety-eight steps..."

Shen Lian knelt on one knee upon the stone stairs, his knuckles deeply embedded in the rune-covered surface.

The boy who had stopped at the ninety-ninth step five years ago was now enduring Divine Power of Destruction powerful enough to crush mountains.

His clothes had long been soaked through with sweat, then baked dry by the heat, leaving layer after layer of salt frost. His disheveled hair clung to his forehead, yet it could not conceal the blazing light in his eyes.

Memories surged forth like a tide.

When he broke through to Soul Ancestor, he had forcibly absorbed a thirteen-thousand-year Spirit Ring amid a law storm of thunder and lightning. Then, at the instant the Dragon-Slaying Blade's fourth soul skill, Dragon Breath Sky-Breaking Slash, tore through space, Huang Tian had cried out in his Consciousness Sea:

"This is an ancient talent of the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon!"

On the day he advanced to Soul King, the power of a thirty-thousand-year Spirit Ring resonated with Destruction Power, giving rise to Shen Lian's fifth soul skill, Sky-Breaking Shadow-Splitting Slash. The entire Inheritance Land's space twisted, and even the sleeping Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon trembled.

"Just one more step..."

Shen Lian slowly rose to his feet, his legs trembling uncontrollably from overexertion.

Above the final step floated a dark golden divine rune. Within its flowing radiance, the manifested form of Destruction Power could vaguely be seen.

Shen Lian drew a deep breath. The Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul operated at full force, and dark purple Soul Power swept through his entire body like an erupting volcano.

The instant he took that step, the entire Inheritance Land suddenly shook violently. The green flames on either side of the stairs instantly turned purple, transforming into countless Spears of Destruction that stabbed toward him.

"Break!"

Shen Lian roared, his Vermilion Bird Wings spreading with a thunderous burst as his fifth soul skill, Sky-Breaking Shadow-Splitting Slash, and fourth soul skill, Dragon Breath Sky-Breaking Slash, activated simultaneously.

Wrapped in scorching Dragon Breath, Shen Lian crashed head-on against the pressure brought by Destruction Power. The resulting energy storm flung him away.

Shen Lian flipped through the air and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His gaze grew even firmer—he was determined to claim the nine hundred ninety-ninth step.

Shen Lian then wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth again, the dark golden divine rune flowing atop the final step reflected in his dark purple pupils.

Shen Lian took a deep breath, every nerve stretched taut as a bowstring. Driven by the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon Martial Soul, the Soul Power within him became a boiling torrent.

"Hah!"

With an earth-shaking roar, Shen Lian used every ounce of strength in his body and finally planted his foot on the nine hundred ninety-ninth step.

In an instant, the entire Inheritance Land trembled violently. The phantom stars above the vault shattered one after another, turning into streams of light that filled the sky.

The Divine Power of Destruction, which had felt like Mount Tai pressing down upon him, receded like a tide. In its place came a gentle energy, like a mother's hand softly brushing over every inch of Shen Lian's skin, nourishing his exhausted body.

Shen Lian collapsed onto the stairs, feeling numbness and relief coursing through his limbs. The wild joy of surviving the ordeal intertwined with the lightness of having cast off a crushing burden.

"Buzz—"

A blinding purple light suddenly exploded in Shen Lian's Consciousness Sea. A majestic voice echoed through his mind like a great bell:

"Destruction Trial One has been completed. Destruction Trial Two will begin when you advance to Soul Saint. Rewards will now be distributed: each Spirit Ring's age will increase by five thousand years, and you will receive one God-Bestowed Spirit Ring!"

As soon as the voice fell, dazzling light erupted around Shen Lian. His five Spirit Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet and circled through the air.

His originally yellow first Spirit Ring began to tremble violently as its radiance intensified. The yellow glow was gradually swallowed by purple, its patterns becoming deeper and more intricate, until it finally settled as a five-thousand-eight-hundred-year purple Spirit Ring.

The light of his second Spirit Ring continuously condensed, rising from one thousand seven hundred years to six thousand seven hundred years and emitting an even richer purple glow.

His third Spirit Ring let out a dragonlike roar as its purple color instantly turned pitch-black, like the depths of the night sky. Its age reached eleven thousand years.

His fourth and fifth Spirit Rings also transformed within the light, their ages rising to eighteen thousand and thirty-five thousand years respectively.

Looking at the configuration of purple, purple, black, black, and black Spirit Rings before him, Shen Lian's hands trembled slightly.

This was not merely a symbol of strength. It was proof of his five years of relentless struggle on these stairs and his countless battles against Divine Power of Destruction.

As the ages of his Spirit Rings surged, vast Soul Power roiled through his body. Shen Lian had already been at the threshold of level fifty-nine.

Thus, his Soul Power burst through the shackles of level fifty-nine like floodwaters breaching a dam.

Shen Lian felt a violent tremor erupt from his dantian, followed by a warm and powerful force traveling through his meridians and spreading across his body.

A faint purple glow appeared on Shen Lian's skin. The phantom of the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon behind him became ever more solid, to the point where every scale could be clearly seen.

"I broke through... I've finally become a Soul Emperor!"

Shen Lian threw back his head and howled, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement and joy.

At that moment, even the void of the Inheritance Land resonated. Huang Tian, the Purple Imperial Heaven-Extinguishing Dragon within Shen Lian's Consciousness Sea, opened his eyes as well, and a glimmer of gratification flashed through his enormous pupils.