The Gate of Life Opens: Worth It or Not?

Yet Carl merely smiled.

Honestly, she had never worried about tempering her body. The Eight Gates Formation inherently possessed methods for tempering the body.

Normally, training such an ability came with endless exercise and pain.

It could be called the Self-Discipline Formation, or even more aptly, the Self-Torment Formation.

A cultivation method forged through limitless effort, burning blood and sweat, allowing a mortal body to battle gods.

But in Carl's hands, she only needed to grind enough favorability to advance, without even having to worry about her life.

Thus, her physical strength at this moment was indeed far beyond the ordinary.

Furthermore, upon opening the third gate of the Eight Gates—the Gate of Life—the vitality potential of her body would be endlessly stimulated.

So now, she had more than enough confidence to face the trial of the Ice-and-Fire Spirits' remnant souls.

And frankly speaking, tempering the body was nothing more than using energy to permeate every inch of bone, flesh, blood, and even skin and hair.

Normally, Carl could only advance through various methods, instantly drawing upon the power of heaven and earth and using that magic power to temper her body.

But next, with two Elf Remnant Souls guiding their core magical energy to temper her body, Carl suddenly found herself looking forward to it.

If she could raise her physical body to a terrifying level ahead of time, did that mean she could fully use moves like Morning Peacock earlier?

It could even be said that her strength would experience even more terrifying growth in a short period of time.

After all, the foundation for opening each gate grew exponentially from the previous one.

If that was the case, hadn't she struck it rich this time?

Carl strode forward resolutely.

At that moment, the Ice-and-Fire Spirits also kept their word and gathered in all the surrounding fire- and ice-element magical power.

The frost and flame auras throughout the village, and even within the distant lake, gathered toward the two of them like mountains and seas, nearly condensing into tangible forms.

The two spirits' auras rose inch by inch.

Charlotte, standing behind them, immediately revealed a panicked look of shock.

She had not expected that after reclaiming their magic power, the Ice-and-Fire Spirits' own abilities would rise to such a degree.

This was truly troublesome now.

Although Carl was mysterious and advanced at an astonishing speed, facing a trial from Ice-Fire Elves that possessed both ability and strength was practically a nine-in-ten chance of death.

At that moment, the women behind her all voiced their concern.

Yet Carl did not even furrow her brow. She even had the leisure to turn around and joke with them, calming their emotions. It was clear just how composed she was.

Just then, the Ice-Fire Elves exchanged a knowing glance before spiraling around each other.

A tiny ice-and-fire tornado instantly rose around them.

It possessed both the scorching heat of flames and the merciless chill of frost.

Two utterly opposing powers fused together at that moment, forming the most extreme destructive force.

And that tornado encircled Carl directly.

Frost and flames continuously sliced through the air. The magical power erupting around Carl instantly made her realize just how terrifying this energy was.

At that moment, her eyes were filled with resolve.

The lingering will of these Ice-Fire Elves was clearly testing her determination and loyalty, rather than merely her strength.

Since they harbored resentment, the source of that resentment might have been some form of betrayal and scheme.

Therefore, no matter what, all she needed to do now was stand firm against everything and never beg for mercy.

Carl's heart was resolute.

As the ice-and-fire aura continually assailed her and grew increasingly violent, she immediately felt immense pressure. The next moment, she lightly snapped her fingers.

Under the Elves' astonished gazes, she spoke:

"Eight Gates—first gate, Gate of Opening, open!"

As her words fell,

a shimmering glow immediately flashed around Carl's body,

like a thin membrane clinging to her skin.

The forces that had originally sought to erode Carl now seemed to be blocked by some invisible barrier, with more than half of them held back.

The Ice-and-Fire Spirits froze for a moment.

The next instant, they doubled their output.

Seeing this, Carl smiled again.

"Eight Gates—second gate, Gate of Rest, open."

She lightly tapped her shoulder.

As the second gate of the Eight Gates, the Gate of Rest, opened, a certain wave of vapor began to rise from Carl's body.

But her defensive power only grew stronger and stronger, until the Elves increased their output once more.

Carl continued, striking toward her heart.

"Eight Gates—third gate, Gate of Life, open!"

This was a power she had only just obtained by diligently refreshing favorability.

As the power of the Gate of Life opened, the originally pearly-white radiance began to slowly change. A force of vitality even continuously spilled out and swirled around her.

Carl's aura rose by more than a single level.

Green light and shadows of unknown origin began to spread continuously around her.

The Ice-Fire Elves were genuinely astonished now.

They had not expected Carl to possess such a trump card.

Seeing that the person before them was such a tough bone to chew, the Ice-Fire Elves instantly threw themselves into the attack.

The original ice-and-fire tornado

instantly transformed into countless sharp blades that swept toward her.

The ultimate trial of ice and fire

continuously oppressed the surrounding magic power,

until it nearly solidified.

Yet even though Carl revealed a pained expression, she still did not waver in the slightest.

Amid the flames and frost, the Elves' voices continued to murmur:

"Do you truly have no regrets?

As long as you give up resisting and let the people behind you share the burden with you, we will transfer most of our power away.

After all, aren't you a group?

Since you are a group, then they should bear it as well..."

Those murmuring voices made the women beside her look extremely grim.

Although they wanted to rush in as well, the already anxious women became the clearest-headed people present after Charlotte and Vanessa reminded them.

"Don't go over there. This is a trap set by the Elf Remnant Souls.

Once we step inside, Carl will face even greater danger.

And those two Elf Remnant Souls will break the oath they just made because of it."

"Besides, don't you believe in Carl?

Ever since I met her, she has never disappointed anyone."

Hearing Charlotte's words was as if some power had calmed their hearts.

The women forcibly suppressed their emotions.

Meanwhile, Carl felt the skin outside her body being continuously scorched, frozen, and split apart.

She even slowly sat down cross-legged, silent as a meditating monk.

No matter how the ice-and-fire remnant souls ravaged her, she remained unmoving.

Within the enormous block of ice, flames darted back and forth.

The scorching steam seemed capable of roasting a person alive.

The remnant souls of the Ice-and-Fire Spirits slowly emerged from within.

They looked at Carl before them, their voices low and complicated:

"Why are you so resolute? Are you truly not afraid in the slightest?

For their sake, is it really worth it?"

The Ice-and-Fire Spirits' emotions were especially complicated.