The Li Fire body refinement was complete.

Screech!

A clear and melodious phoenix cry resounded through the clouds. The eight pillars of fire erupted abruptly, their flames intertwining to form a fire phoenix that blotted out the sky.

Its crimson eyes fixed on Shen Xian. As its wings swept, the fiery rain that filled the sky transformed into two colors—crimson and gold.

Crimson was Li Fire. Gold was Karmic Fire.

After the first stage came the refinement of the soul by Karmic Fire.

The two types of flames were fundamentally different. Li Fire was violent, tempering the body and burning the flesh; Karmic Fire was treacherous, specializing in attacking the Dao Heart.

Those who were struggling to hold on watched this scene, dumbfounded. They hadn’t expected Shen Xian to complete the Li Fire body refinement so quickly.

Especially Shen Xiao, whose eyes were now filled with fury.

“What incredible luck. But let’s see how you pass the soul refinement next,” he muttered under his breath.

In the arena, Shen Xian suddenly felt his soul tremble.

Golden Karmic Fire poured down like a reversed heavenly river, cascading from the crown of his head.

Unlike the pain of Li Fire scorching the body, this golden flame directly penetrated his physical form, igniting a blazing heart-fire within his sea of consciousness.

Visions swarmed before Shen Xian’s eyes—the cold glances of his childhood, the mockery of his clansmen, the hardships of his Dao path. All these inner demons were ignited by the Karmic Fire.

“What a formidable soul-refining fire!”

Understanding dawned in his heart. He immediately embraced unity and guarded his core.

The mercury-like armor formed by the Mystic Essence True Congealing Art rippled, filtering the raging heart-fire layer by layer. The scattered thoughts that burned away dissipated as black smoke, while his Dao Heart became increasingly crystalline and translucent.

Strangely, as the Karmic Fire tempered him, Shen Xian’s divine sense became like a mirror wiped clean of dust. He clearly saw threads of causality swirling within the golden flames—each wisp of fire was burning away a corresponding mental obstacle.

As he lightly touched the flames with his fingertips, the Karmic Fire coiled docilely around them, manifesting the true form of his Dao Heart: a golden lotus blooming amidst a sea of fire. Sitting within the lotus heart was a miniature figure identical to him, inhaling and exhaling pure soul power.

“So that’s how it is.” Shen Xian smiled with comprehension.

This Karmic Fire appeared perilous, but in reality, it was a supreme opportunity to temper one’s Dao Heart.

He actively opened his divine sense, allowing the golden flames to flood into his sea of consciousness. With each flame that swept past, his soul solidified further. Faintly, the clear sound of a jade chime rang from the depths of his consciousness.

Around him, many Shen Family disciples had also completed their Li Fire body refinement and reached this stage of Karmic Fire soul refinement.

They sat cross-legged in a circle with Shen Xiao at its center. Their spiritual power interconnected, forming a semi-transparent light shield above their heads.

However, their situation was not optimistic.

“Hold on!” Shen Xiao, positioned at the center of the formation, had a talisman floating above his head emitting waves of cold air.

His expression was grave, yet he maintained the dignity of a Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection cultivator. “Operate the Cold Jade Heart Sutra! Use Frost Soul power to resist!”

Yet at the edge of the formation, one of the collateral branch disciples who had mocked Shen Xian earlier already had blood seeping from all seven orifices.

His entire body trembled like a sieve; the icy Dao Heart within his sea of consciousness was visibly melting away at a rapid pace.

While resisting together could dissipate part of the force’s power, those whose strength was insufficient ultimately lacked the power to resist.

“No… don’t…” The disciple suddenly let out a piercing scream, frantically clawing at his scalp with both hands. “Fire… fire everywhere! Save me!”

His Dao Heart completely collapsed. Like one possessed by demons, he rushed out of the formation and was instantly swallowed by the fiery rain filling the sky.

This scene shook everyone to their core.

Shen Xiao gritted his teeth and shouted, “Don’t lose focus! Concentrate!”

He abruptly bit the tip of his tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the talisman. The cold air immediately surged by thirty percent.

This Foundation Establishment Realm Perfection cultivator appeared remarkably composed and confident at this moment. This brought considerable reassurance to everyone’s hearts.

As time passed, the situation gradually stabilized. Although some had suffered Dao Heart collapse because of this, thanks to everyone’s arduous resistance, no further casualties occurred for now.

It was only then that Shen Xiao had a moment to notice Shen Xian standing alone amidst it all.

Facing such terrifying willpower impact alone… he should have already perished, body and soul, long ago by now!

He looked up toward him… and saw Shen Xian safe and sound. He was utterly shocked!

Shen Xiao’s pupils constricted sharply; all color drained from his face in an instant!

He stared fixedly at that leisurely figure within the pillar of light, his lips trembling uncontrollably. “This… this is impossible!”

This outcome was completely beyond Shen Xiao’s expectations.

His first thought was that Shen Xian must definitely have some other treasure on him!

Within their formation array circle, all the Shen Family disciples who could still remain conscious wore expressions as if they’d seen a ghost. That Third Young Master they regarded as trash… was now moving through this Li Fire willpower trial like a fish in water!

“He… he’s actually absorbing Karmic Fire essence?!” A late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator exclaimed involuntarily.

They saw Shen Xian lightly tap with his fingertip… and those very same Karmic Fire essences that caused them unbearable agony actually danced docilely in his palm like tame pets!

Even more terrifying, all the flames within this entire Li realm seemed to be bowing toward him… as if welcoming their sovereign!

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” A disciple named Shen Qing screamed hysterically. “He must be using some evil technique!”

As someone experiencing it firsthand, he knew all too well how terrifying this place’s mental attacks were!

One must know… what he himself faced were impacts already partially dissipated through their collective resistance! Yet that guy… alone… could withstand this place’s power?!

How could that be?!

Wasn’t he only at the Qi Refining Realm second layer?!

Seeing that Shen Xian truly might persist alone until completion… a trace of sinister ruthlessness flashed in Shen Xiao’s eyes.

He must kill this guy!

He stealthily retrieved a jade slip from his sleeve. This item was precisely that top-grade divine sense type magic treasure given to him earlier by that person!

Although physical combat was forbidden here, divine sense attacks were permitted!

“Since you’re seeking death…” Shen Xiao sneered inwardly. Using adjusting their formation array as cover, he secretly palmed that jade slip.

An eerie purple glow shimmered across its surface, transforming into an invisible strand of demonic thought that silently invaded toward Shen Xian’s sea of consciousness.

This demonic thought strand was extremely concealed; even nearby fellow disciples didn’t detect it.

A cold arc curved at the corner of Shen Xiao’s mouth.

The Spirit-Disordering Slip could stir up the deepest fears and obsessions within a cultivator’s heart. No matter how high your cultivation, if your Dao Heart had the slightest flaw, you’d fail utterly at the critical moment during enlightenment.

Like a venomous snake, the demonic thought stealthily approached Shen Xian’s sea of consciousness.

Shen Xiao stared unblinkingly at the figure within the light pillar, eagerly anticipating seeing the other suddenly contort his face as his Dao Heart collapsed in a wretched state.

However! Just as the demonic thought was about to invade Shen Xian’s consciousness—a sudden change occurred!

The mysterious light surrounding Shen Xian suddenly blazed brilliantly! The Mystic Essence True Congealing Art automatically operated at maximum capacity!

That layer of semi-transparent mercury-like protective armor manifested ancient Dao patterns, completely blocking the invading demonic thought outside!

Even more heart-shaking—those originally docile Li Fire essences suddenly became agitated, transforming into countless tiny fire snakes slithering around Shen Xian!

“This…” Shen Xiao’s pupils contracted sharply! He urgently tried to retract the demonic thought but discovered the purple glow on the Spirit-Disordering Slip rapidly fading!

His heart filled with terror—this Spirit-Disordering Slip obtained by Senior Brother Shen Li from ancient ruins—how could it be so fragile?!

Within the light pillar, Shen Xian seemed to sense something and slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was as calm as water, yet it made Shen Xiao feel prickling unease on the back of his neck.

They saw Shen Xian lightly tap his fingertip—those agitated Li Fire essences immediately calmed down, reverting to docile fire sparrows hopping upon his palm.

“Divine sense attack,” Shen Xian murmured softly, his gaze seemingly sweeping past the direction where Shen Xiao sat.

That glance made a chill run through Shen Xiao’s entire body—as if he were targeted by some primordial fierce beast!

Shen Xiao hurriedly collected his mind, pretending nothing happened, and continued maintaining the formation array. But shock and horror surged through his heart like tidewaters!

This Third Young Master regarded as trash… could actually so easily neutralize the Spirit-Disordering Slip interference?!

Yet now the other’s move made him realize that although physical combat was forbidden here, divine sense attacks were allowed.

If so…

He stealthily took out the Void Reflecting Spirit Mirror, his gaze sharp as torchlight.

Next up—his turn to perform!