When Xiao Yan traversed the valley and arrived at the deepest part of this Qing Shan, a somewhat familiar scene appeared once again.
Before Xiao Yan stood a sheer cliff, smooth and clean, as if it had been carved out by some sharp weapon. Fiery red lotus flowers grew on all four sides, clustered upwards, bathed in sunlight, their intense heat permeating the air. Directly below the cliff was a bottomless pool of water, clear and paved with pebbles, upon which lotus flowers floated, elegant yet devoid of any fish.
"If the water is too clear, there will be no fish."
Suddenly, these words popped into Xiao Yan's mouth. He raised an eyebrow and then looked up. Starting in front of him, stone platforms floated in the air, with red lotuses blooming on them. Up to the top of the mountain, even without looking closely, Xiao Yan understood that there should be exactly one hundred stone platforms.
Having learned from Gu You and Hai Mochen's experiences, Xiao Yan immediately guessed Ye Honglian's meaning, or rather, he had anticipated it.
Although he had passed Li Bingrui, this hundred-step stone platform was the real test for him. Unless he could cross this hundred-step stone platform, he could not hope to see Ye Honglian.
"Hmph, this Crimson Lotus Stone Platform was specially prepared for you by your master. Even if you can get past me, you can forget about climbing the mountain!"
Li Bingrui stepped forward with a cold expression, her beautiful eyes glaring at the vicious man in front of her, but she only let out a cold snort and made no other move.
Now that Ye Honglian had spoken, she naturally wouldn't attack Xiao Yan again. But even so, the thought of how this guy had actually... still made her furious.
Before the pool, Xiao Yan ignored Li Bingrui beside him, and slowly closed his eyes. Then he exhaled a long breath. The moment he suddenly opened his eyes, a light blue flame flashed in his dark pupils, and the Origin Qi in his body suddenly surged.
" Giant Elephant Art!"
With a roar in his heart, Xiao Yan slammed his feet heavily on the ground, and his figure shot out instantly, arriving on the first stone platform in the blink of an eye. As his feet landed, a surge of power erupted once again.
"Bang!"
With one foot landing, the floating stone platform suddenly sank uncontrollably downwards. Immediately afterwards, Xiao Yan's figure leaped up again, rushing towards the next stone platform.
Afterwards, Li Bingrui watched coldly. Although Xiao Yan's movements seemed fast at the moment, this was only the beginning. The higher he went, the more difficulties he would face.
Above the stone platform, Xiao Yan stood on a red lotus, his figure constantly rushing forward. With each step, the red lotus would instantly shatter, turning into raging flames that burned fiercely. As he flew, the flames clung to his legs like chewing gum, rapidly climbing and spreading with his movements. When Xiao Yan had run halfway up the stone steps, his entire golden body was completely engulfed in flames. Below, Xiao Yan was drenched in sweat, and his expression became solemn.
His golden body was dissipating at a visible speed under the burning flames. The golden light on it was getting weaker and weaker, and some parts were even broken. The flames rushed towards his body, forcing Xiao Yan to use more of his own power to solidify his golden body.
The Giant Elephant Art requires physical strength. Therefore, the depletion of this golden body means that Xiao Yan's own strength is rapidly fading away. If this continues, he might not even reach the top floor before these flames leave him completely exhausted and cause him to collapse on this stone platform.
"Hmph, although your physical strength is formidable, it's nothing compared to the Red Lotus Karmic Fire."
Beside her, Li Bingrui, completely unaware, leaped after him, her feet planted in mid-air, her two snow-white arms wrapped around her chest, covering a large expanse of her soft, white flesh. She looked at Xiao Yan, who was clearly struggling, with a gloating expression, waiting for his defeat.
The Red Lotus Karmic Fire possesses a terrifying flame that can devour the flesh. No matter how powerful a body is, it is as thin as paper in front of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. Once it touches the body, it can be reduced to nothingness in an instant.
Of course, the Red Lotus Karmic Fire is also known as the Fire of Nirvana. Once refined, the person who obtains it can achieve physical sainthood, becoming indestructible and unstoppable by any enemy. However, as things stand now, Xiao Yan cannot even climb this stone platform, so how can he possibly refine the Red Lotus Karmic Fire?
"Drink!"
With his teeth clenched, Xiao Yan let out a low shout. In the blink of an eye, the Ancient Dragon Phoenix Armor appeared on his body, and Heavenly Flames surged up, condensing into Heavenly Flames Armor around his body. Then, his figure suddenly shot out, heading straight for the mountaintop.
On the cliff face, Xiao Yan's figure surged forward, his entire body enveloped in crimson flames. His golden body was shattered, and his Heavenly Flames Armor was rapidly weakening under the erosion of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire. And yet, at this point, Xiao Yan had only reached the seventieth level of the stone platform.
"Laugh..."
After the Heavenly Flames Armor was broken, it was Xiao Yan's turn to use his prized Ancient Dragon Phoenix Armor.
The Ancient Dragon Phoenix Armor has always been known as impervious to water and fire, and it helped Xiao Yan defend against many external enemies in the past. However, it is now far inferior to the Red Lotus Karmic Fire.
By the time Xiao Yan stepped onto the eightieth stone platform, he had exhausted all his strength. The Ancient Dragon Phoenix Armor was still struggling to hold on, but Xiao Yan could only collapse on the stone platform, enduring the burning flames and gritting his teeth to persevere. When the Ancient Dragon Phoenix Armor broke, the flesh and blood of Xiao Yan's body were also rapidly charred and shrunken under the burning of the Heavenly Flames. Within minutes, Xiao Yan's hands had been burned to the point that the white bones beneath were exposed, and even the bones had begun to turn to ash.
"Uh... uh..."
Xiao Yan, whose face was completely disfigured, let out an unrecognizable, painful roar. The flesh on his chest was rapidly dissipating under the burning of the Heavenly Flames, and his entire body was convulsing violently involuntarily. Only in his eye sockets did pale blue flames still rise.
"Click..."
At a certain moment, a strange cracking sound rang out within Xiao Yan's vortex. Xiao Yan's body suddenly froze, and then, this skeletal-like body suddenly raised its head, opened its mouth wide, and let out a deafening roar. A terrifying suction force surged from its mouth, forcibly drawing the raging flames burning all over its body into Xiao Yan's body. Under the intense burning of its own Heavenly Flames, the flames were forcibly refined into surging streams of energy, all of which were poured into the vortex. At this moment, Xiao Yan's aura also rapidly increased, and in the blink of an eye, he had already stepped into the Late Origin Return Realm. Even his body, which had just been burned by the flames, was now completely restored to its original state.
"Call..."
Slowly exhaling, Xiao Yan raised his head, looking at the remaining stone platform above him. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. Then, he suddenly leaped up, his body shooting upwards once again, heading straight for the mountaintop!
Where Xiao Yan's feet landed, the stone platform shattered into pieces!