117: Soul Refining Sea of ​​Fire, Soul Jade's Murderous Intent

On the white jade platform, the atmosphere was solemn. The nearly one hundred geniuses who successfully passed the "Path of Inquiry" all focused their gaze on the colorful flame-burning passage ahead – the Soul Refining Sea of Fire.

The flames flickered silently, yet they emitted a terrifying high temperature that made one's soul tremble, and the air was filled with a strange aura of purification and destruction intertwined.

"The Soul Refining Sea of Fire... It is said that this fire specializes in burning away soul impurities. If one can endure it, their soul power will be greatly refined, but if one cannot, it will result in severe soul damage at best, or complete dissipation of the soul at worst!" Feng Xian of Starfall Pavilion had a grave expression.

He primarily cultivated the Sword Dao and had little experience in soul refinement, making him quite wary of this trial.

"Hmph, a mere sea of fire, what's there to fear!" Soul Jade sneered, and a surge of death qi enveloped his body, forming a black light barrier to protect him as he was the first to step into the sea of fire!

The colorful flames licked at the barrier, making sizzling sounds, but they couldn't break through immediately. He maintained his speed and quickly rushed towards the depths of the sea of fire.

Heavenly Nether Sect Saint Son, Hua Jin, and others also employed various methods, either summoning soul-defending treasures or activating special cultivation arts, following closely behind.

"Junior Brother Xiao, this sea of fire is a great test for the soul. We..." Han Xue looked at Xiao Chen, a hint of worry in her beautiful eyes.

Her Moon-attribute cultivation art was inclined towards gentleness, putting her at a disadvantage against such intensely Yang flames.

"It's fine, stick close to me." Xiao Chen's expression was calm. With his Spirit Realm Great Perfection soul power, coupled with the newly comprehended Indestructible Soul Armor and the heaven burning furnace's natural affinity for flames, he had little fear of this Soul Refining Sea of Fire.

With a thought, a thin yet tough dark golden soul armor covered his body. At the same time, he subtly released the aura of the Soul Heart Flame, and the surrounding colorful flames, as if encountering a monarch, became much gentler, even actively avoiding him.

He stepped into the sea of fire, and Han Xue, Qiu Ji, and others quickly followed, staying close behind him. With Xiao Chen's soul power field protecting them, the pressure they endured was greatly reduced.

Within the sea of fire, vision was distorted, and soul perception was greatly suppressed. Besides the high temperature that burned the soul, there were also invisible inner fires that arose from the depths of one's heart, stirring up emotions and desires, and bringing forth numerous distracting thoughts, testing one's Dao heart.

Many geniuses, while resisting the external flames, were taken advantage of by the inner fire, emitting painful roars. Their soul light rapidly dimmed, and they were eventually swallowed by the flames, eliminated from the trial.

Xiao Chen's mind was clear, and the Myriad Souls Returning Flow Art was operating at its peak, cutting off all distracting thoughts.

As he steadily moved forward, he also actively guided a wisp of colorful flame into his body, slowly refining it with the heaven burning furnace.

Although these flames were violent, the purifying power within them was a great tonic for his soul. He felt his soul origin becoming more condensed and pure under this refinement, and the Spirit Realm barrier subtly loosened, as if he had touched the edge of the Heavenly Realm!

"Hm?" As he advanced, Xiao Chen's soul perception suddenly caught a violent soul fluctuation and a chilling killing intent from behind him!

It was Soul Jade! He had actually returned, hiding in the flames, waiting for an opportunity to ambush!

"Be careful!" Xiao Chen roared, abruptly pushing Han Xue and the others aside, and at the same time, he turned and unleashed a punch!

Dark golden Heaven Opening Axe Intent flowed on his fist, and space slightly twisted!

"Boom!"

A condensed Nether Soul Thorn violently collided with Xiao Chen's fist energy! The soul thorn shattered, but a sinister Soul Impact spread along the fist energy, directly striking Xiao Chen's sea of consciousness!

"Petty tricks!" Xiao Chen snorted coldly, and the Indestructible Soul Armor glowed brightly, easily blocking that Soul Impact!

He looked with icy eyes at Soul Jade's figure slowly emerging from the flames: "Soul Jade, are these the only sneak attack methods you know?"

"Hehehe... To be able to block this young master's Nether Soul Thorn, your soul is indeed delicious." Soul Jade licked his lips, his killing intent growing stronger. "However, this Soul Refining Sea of Fire will be your burial ground! Myriad Souls Devouring Heart Array!"

He formed hand seals, and a burst of death qi erupted from his body. The colorful flames in the sea of fire were actually stirred by him, mixing with the wails of countless resentful souls, transforming into a massive soul purgatory that completely enveloped Xiao Chen!

Within the array, illusions abounded, inner demons ran rampant, and countless soul beasts formed by the secret arts of the Soul Hall surged forward to attack! Its power was far beyond anything before!

"Junior Brother Xiao!" Han Xue and the others' expressions changed drastically. They wanted to rescue him, but the aftershocks of the array forced them to retreat repeatedly, unable to get close!

"Soul Jade, you're courting death!" Xiao Chen's eyes blazed with cold light. Faced with this deadly situation, he no longer held back!

His Spirit Realm Great Perfection soul power fully erupted, and the dark golden battle axe phantom in his sea of consciousness hummed!

"Nine Axes of Heaven Opening — Soul Axe, Sever the Heart!"

He pointed his fingers like a sword, unleashing a soul attack imbued with the Heaven Opening Axe Intent's profound meaning of severing all falsehoods and directly targeting the heart!

There was no earth-shattering energy collision, only an invisible and formless axe qi, yet it contained the will to sever all obsessions and illusions, tearing through soul space and fiercely striking towards Soul Jade at the core of the array!

"What?! Soul attack taking form?!" Soul Jade's pupils constricted, his face filled with shock!

He hadn't expected Xiao Chen's soul attack to reach such a realm! In a hurry, he frantically activated his death qi defense!

"Sizzle!"

Wherever the soul axe qi passed, the Myriad Souls Devouring Heart Array was torn apart like paper! Countless illusory soul beasts wailed and dissipated!

The axe qi's momentum remained undiminished, directly striking Soul Jade's soul defense!

"Pfft!"

Soul Jade was hit hard, spitting out a mouthful of black blood. His body trembled violently, and his soul was injured! His gaze towards Xiao Chen was filled with horror and venom: "You... you actually touched the threshold of the Heavenly Realm Soul?!"

"Now you know, it's too late!" Xiao Chen pressed his advantage, his figure like lightning, instantly closing in on Soul Jade. The dark golden battle axe phantom condensed again, and he fiercely brought down a "Splitting Sky" axe strike, infused with the Power of Space!

This time, it was a dual physical and soul attack!

"Nether Escape!" Soul Jade was both shocked and enraged, not daring to meet the attack head-on. He unleashed a secret art, his figure transforming into a wisp of black smoke, merging into the sea of fire, and instantly fleeing far away, leaving only a roar filled with killing intent: "Xiao Chen! On the Heavenly Secret Platform, this young master will surely take your life!"

Xiao Chen did not pursue. The Soul Refining Sea of Fire was a special environment, and forcibly pursuing might lead to unforeseen complications.

He dispersed the battle axe and swept his soul perception around, confirming that Soul Jade had fled far away, before turning to look at the still shaken Han Xue and the others.

"It's alright now, let's continue forward."

After this battle, Xiao Chen's prestige in the sea of fire grew even greater. Other geniuses, seeing him, all gave way, no one daring to provoke him again.

He led the Pill Tower group, refining their souls all the way, steadily advancing, and finally passed through the long Soul Refining Sea of Fire, reaching the other shore.

The other shore was an even grander suspended stone platform. Above the platform, clouds and mist swirled, and an ancient altar was faintly visible. This was the third trial – the Heavenly Secret Platform!

At this moment, more than thirty people had gathered on the stone platform, all top geniuses who had successfully passed the first two trials.

Soul Jade stood in the distance with a gloomy expression. Heavenly Nether Sect Saint Son, Hua Jin, Feng Xian, and others were also present, their gazes towards Xiao Chen filled with apprehension and complexity.

"The third trial, the Heavenly Secret Platform!" A grand voice resounded, "Those who ascend the platform must undergo the 'Heavenly Mechanism Baptism' and comprehend their own destiny!

Only those who can trigger a resonance with the Heavenly Mechanism can obtain the final inheritance! Now, ascend the platform!"

As the voice fell, the suspended stone platform hummed, and A ladder of light descends.

The ultimate opportunity was right before their eyes! Everyone's eyes became fervent!

Xiao Chen's gaze was calm. He took a step, being the first to ascend the Heavenly Secret Platform! He knew that the real challenge had only just begun!

Soul Jade's killing intent, and the covetousness of the other geniuses, would all completely erupt at this moment!