The Angel Temple.
"Argh... it hurts!"
Golden flames coursed over her entire body, spreading across her face and form. With a soft ding, all of Qian Renxue's clothes vanished, revealing her perfect naked body.
Strange patterns slowly peeled away like clothing, enveloping her whole body. Golden lights shone against one another, constantly bursting with dazzling brilliance.
As her consciousness gradually returned, the pain also awakened. Qian Renxue's entire body sank into a tingling numbness that penetrated her marrow until she lost the ability to think, leaving her in such agony that she wished she were dead.
She wanted to cry for help, only to discover that she could not make a sound. She could only endure through sheer willpower, teetering on the brink of collapse at every moment.
At this juncture between life and death, remembering her grandfather's words brought Qian Renxue back to clarity. If she could not withstand this pain, she would shatter completely. She would fail the Angel Ninth Trial and become a wisp of dust within the temple.
After the Ninth Trial began, a faint voice within her had reminded her that there were three barriers in her heart-or rather, three obsessions.
Although she did not understand what they specifically referred to, Qian Renxue vaguely understood that perhaps this was the substance of the trial.
Suddenly, golden feathers fell from the sky. The familiar feeling made Qian Renxue murmur in surprise, "Could this first barrier refer to Grandfather?"
"No." She immediately rejected that guess. "I understand now. It's Grandfather's sacrifice. How do I move forward while bearing the death of my closest kin? This is the first test the Angel God has given me!"
As she spoke, she stood up, and even the pain seemed to ease considerably.
"Qian Renxue, you are far more resilient than