89: A heart as pure as ice versus a heart as hard as iron

"The 400-meter mark!"

"Everyone, look! Chu Xiong has broken into the 400-meter mark!"

"Heavens! Chu Xiong is too fierce! He actually broke into the 400-meter mark!"

"It's over, it's over! Lin Yi is bound to lose this time! The 400-meter mark of the willpower stone pillar! Compared to the 500-meter mark, this is another major threshold. Even the Divine Soul will undergo another transformation!"

"Reaching this level, Chu Xiong is absolutely certain to win this match."

"Yeah! Chu Xiong is sure to win! Lin Yi has no hope!"

"No hope!"

...As Chu Xiong's body stepped into the range of the 400-meter mark of the willpower stone pillar.

On the square, Disciples and even First-Rank Martial Artist teachers all shook their heads; no one favored Lin Yi.

Even the middle-aged man in purple robes, the Pavilion Master of Tianshan Pavilion on the viewing platform, frowned slightly at this sight and said:

"The 400-meter mark of the willpower stone pillar? I really didn't expect that under Lin Yi's pressure, Chu Xiong's potential would be forced out."

"Reaching the 400-meter mark of the willpower stone pillar at sixteen years old... this performance is even slightly better than an Innate-level Genius like Xu Ze."

"If the Chu Family provides further cultivation later on, Chu Xiong will likely break through to the Innate realm, or even the Xiantian Golden Core Realm!"

"Sigh! It seems Lin Yi has lost this round!"

"Yes! Barring any accidents, this little fellow Lin Yi should have lost."

Hearing this, the Sect Master of Tianshan Sect also shook his head gently.

The 400-meter mark of the willpower stone pillar is a qualitative change!

If placed in the outside world, even First-Rank Martial Artists with slightly ordinary willpower would only be at this level.

Even in Tianshan Pavilion, the number of Genius Disciples whose willpower can reach the 400-meter mark is very small, totaling no more than 20 people.

But Chu Xiong has only been in Tianshan Pavilion for a little over a year, and his willpower has already reached this level. This achievement is naturally terrifyingly immense!

Whereas Lin Yi is just someone who joined Tianshan Pavilion three months ago, and even a month ago, he fell unconscious upon reaching the 430-meter mark. How could he possibly defeat Chu Xiong in this match?

"Haha!"

"Hahaha!"

Hearing the exclamations of the surrounding Disciples and teachers, and feeling the frantic transformation of his own Divine Soul.

On the square at this moment, while Chu Xiong quickly withdrew his body from the 400-meter mark, he didn't even care about his dizzy head and immediately began laughing breathlessly:

"Haha! I won! I won!"

"The 400-meter mark! Lin Yi, with such a terrifying result, let's see what you, you dog, can use to win against me!"

"Still 'just you?' Arrogant dog, your skills aren't much, but your tone is quite big!"

"Haha! Someone from a small place is just someone from a small place. No matter what, you're just a frog at the bottom of a well, only fit to become the nourishment for my Breakthrough in the end!"

...In front of Lin Yi, Chu Xiong mocked and cursed frantically, seemingly wanting to reclaim the face he lost on the arena a thousand times over.

As for apprehension?

There was none at all.

After all, although Lin Yi's talent was higher than his, he came from the Wanxiang Tower's Chu Family and had a noble status. Now that he was within sight of the Innate Golden Core, even Wanxiang Tower would value him immensely once they found out.

So, never mind that Lin Yi hadn't even reached the Innate True Essence Realm yet; even if he truly achieved the Innate Golden Core in the future, Chu Xiong wouldn't fear him at all, relying on the background of the Chu Family and Wanxiang Tower.

Thinking of this, the sneer on Chu Xiong's face grew even wider, and his insults became even more foul.

However, Lin Yi's expression remained unchanged in the face of Chu Xiong's trash talk—or rather, he ignored it completely.

Because ever since he entered the 450-meter mark of the willpower stone pillar, Lin Yi's two great talents, "My Heart is Like Iron" and "Heart Like Pure Ice," had already begun to exert their power rapidly!

At this moment, he only felt a coldness in his mind and an extreme calmness in his heart.

He was so calm that never mind trash talk, Lin Yi wouldn't care even if ten thousand blades were added to his body.

Because his spirit, his willpower, and his conviction were now entirely focused on resisting the terrifying willpower impact and willpower illusions of the willpower stone pillar.

Selfless and oblivious!

No joy, no sorrow!

This was Lin Yi's current state.

This state was very similar to Chu Xiong's previous special state, but it was even more powerful!

And unlike Chu Xiong, who only managed to enter that special state by chance after gathering the right timing, location, and people, Lin Yi could enter it actively.

This was the terror of the "Beyond Mystic Purple Rank" willpower talent formed by the stacking of the two great talents, "Heart Like Pure Ice" and "My Heart is Like Iron"!

..."Kill! Kill! Kill!"

"Lin Yi! You deserve to die! You deserve to die!"

"Lin Yi! Give me back my life! Give me back my life!"

"Young Master Lin Yi, ever since I first met you nine years ago, I have been enamored with you. I have pursued you for nine whole years until now. Do you not have even a shred of feeling for me? Are you determined to abandon me? Fine! In that case, I shall just leave."

...In front of the willpower stone pillar, as Lin Yi approached step by step, layers of willpower impacts continuously pierced through his mind.

In these illusions, there was a battlefield filled with Killing Intent, where countless soldiers formed formations to strangle him alive!

There was Liu Fusheng, who died with his eyes open and turned into a vengeful ghost, seeking his life!

There was also a Fairy, as tender as water and as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal, pursued by countless Prodigies, yet her heart belonged only to him.

There was also endless wealth, enough to rival a nation... greed, anger, obsession, hatred, love, evil, and desire—all the most craved and deepest desires in the human heart were reenacted one by one in these layers of illusions, trying to pull him down, make him addicted, and prevent him from ever being liberated!

But... "My Heart is Like Iron, indestructible; even facing a desperate situation, I shall not retreat or falter!"

"Heart Like Pure Ice, the sky falling will not startle me; though ten thousand things change, I remain settled, with a joyful spirit and clear Qi!"

"Buzz!"

Outside, the impact of the willpower stone pillar continued to press down.

But on the attribute panel, the eight large blue-purple characters of "Heart Like Pure Ice" and "My Heart is Like Iron" seemed to shine even more brilliantly!

The terrifying impact, the extremely powerful talents, and the increasingly perilous spiritual desperate situation that accompanied each step closer to the willpower stone pillar.

All of these seemed to merge into one, converging into an unparalleled and incredible power.

Afterward, they together tempered an incomparably beautiful and dazzling Exquisite Dao Heart for Lin Yi, one that was countless times more brilliant than the most radiant gemstone!

And the result of this was... the 430-meter mark!

The 420-meter mark!

The 410-meter mark!

The 409-meter mark!

...The 406-meter mark!

The 405-meter mark!

The 404-meter mark!

...On the square, Lin Yi advanced slowly but steadily, step by step.

Until finally, amidst everyone's shock and Chu Xiong's incredible, even terrified gaze, as if it were only natural... he took a step and crossed into the range of the 400-meter mark of the willpower stone pillar.