237: Before the ancestral hall, the steps of destiny.

The celestial phenomenon triggered by the pillar of Chaos light slowly dissipated, and the sky of the Medicine World returned to clarity, yet the shock left in the hearts of all witnesses lingered, unable to calm down.

Above the stone platform, the aged voice announced with unquestionable authority:

“The first stage, 'Myriad Medicine Corridor,' and the second stage, 'heart-questioning stone,' are complete. Those who triggered three or more chimes may follow the guiding Elder to the guesthouse to rest. Clan Elders will receive them later. Those who triggered six or more chimes may enter the outer perimeter of the Ancestral Shrine to observe the final rites of the Medicine Ceremony.”

The voice paused, then singled out a name:

“Li Ao, follow me.”

As the words fell, a gentle light containing powerful spatial force enveloped Li Ao, and the scenery around him instantly blurred. The next moment, he was no longer on the stone platform but appeared before a deep, ancient stone staircase.

The stone steps, constructed from an unknown material, were dark gray, winding upwards toward an ancient architectural complex veiled in thick spiritual mist and the aura of time. That was the location of the Medicine Clan's Ancestral Shrine. Unlike the vibrant life force of the external Medicine World, the atmosphere here was older and heavier, permeated by a faint sense of nirvana, which shared the same Origin as Li Ao's power but was far more ancient and vast.

That aged figure now stood beneath the stone steps; it was not a phantom voice but a physical entity. He was still clad in hemp robes, his face indistinct, but Li Ao could clearly feel the terrifying aura of the opponent, which was like an abyss and far surpassed Yao Dan's. This was a true powerhouse standing at the Peak of the continent, likely a Half-Saint or even a Dou Saint Old Ancestor of the Medicine Clan!

“I am Yao Yan, the Shrine Guardian,” the hemp-robed Elder introduced himself, his tone peaceful. Yet, his eyes, which seemed capable of piercing the Void Realm, looked at Li Ao with scrutiny and an indescribable complexity of emotion. “You are excellent, better... than I anticipated.”

His gaze swept over Li Ao's body, especially lingering on the faint gray rule patterns beneath his skin, before looking toward the slightly warm fragment of the nirvana ancient talisman in his embrace.

“You carry ‘His’ aura, and ‘His’ token,” Yao Yan said slowly. “What is even rarer is that you have forged your own path—a path... that transcends nirvana: ‘Gui Xu’.”

Li Ao's heart slightly tightened. The opponent had indeed seen the essence of his power. His expression remained unchanged as he cupped his hands and said, “Junior Li Ao greets Senior Yao Yan.”

Yao Yan waved his hand, pointing to the winding stone steps: “This is the 'Stairway of Destiny,' leading to the core of the Ancestral Shrine. Step onto it, and you will be able to witness a wisp of the Will of the Medicine Ancestor he left behind. At the same time, these steps are a final test and gift for you, and for the Physical Body you Cultivate.”

Li Ao followed his finger and extended his Soul Power to perceive the steps. These steps looked ordinary, but every single one contained strange power. The steps near the bottom were permeated with extremely pure, almost liquid life essence, so rich that it could instantly revive a dying person and greatly nourish the Physical Body's vitality. However, the higher one went, the weaker the life essence became, and another power began to intensify—that was incomparably pure Death Qi of nirvana, originating from the world's Origin! The higher he went, the denser the Death Qi of nirvana became, reaching the visible top of the steps, which was almost an absolute domain of death where all things returned to nothingness!

Life and death formed a perfect opposition and unity on this staircase.

“The life essence tempers the blood and Qi, solidifying the Foundation; the Death Qi of nirvana sharpens the will and forges the rule-bound body,” Yao Yan's voice held a profound meaning. “Ordinary people, even if qualified, can only Cultivate using the life essence at the bottom. But you... you might be able to attempt the summit. If you can withstand the baptism of the extreme Death Qi of nirvana at the Peak, your 'Nirvana Hegemon Body' can truly reach Perfection, entering the Third Stage Middle Stage, or even Late Stage!”

A sharp light burst from Li Ao's eyes. He had been worrying about finding powerful enough nirvana energy to complete the final tempering of his Hegemon Body, and unexpectedly, the opportunity was right here!

“Thank you for the guidance, Senior.” Li Ao took a deep breath, no longer hesitating, and stepped onto the first stone step.

Boom! A sea of majestic life essence instantly surged into his body, like warm spring water, nourishing the blood and Qi that had been slightly depleted in the Myriad Medicine Corridor, giving his Nirvana Hegemon Body a feeling of comfort. He did not stop and continued upward.

Ten steps, twenty steps, fifty steps... The higher he went, the richer the life essence became, but his Physical Body was already strong enough that this essence primarily served to warm and replenish. His speed began to slow because the Death Qi of nirvana ahead started to show its power.

Upon reaching the one hundredth step, the surrounding life force and Death Qi had reached a balance. Further up, the gray Death Qi of nirvana coiled around him like cold mist, attempting to erode his vitality and obliterate his Soul.

The gray rule patterns beneath Li Ao's skin lit up spontaneously. The Gui Xu Concept circulated, assimilating and absorbing the Death Qi of nirvana to temper his muscles and bones. His Physical Body trembled slightly, emitting a hum like the clash of divine metal, and its strength steadily increased.

Two hundred steps, three hundred steps... The Death Qi of nirvana grew denser, having already transformed into visible gray airflow, like steel knives scraping bone. Below, Cao Ying, Dan Chen, and others who were fortunate enough to observe from the outer perimeter of the Ancestral Shrine watched Li Ao's figure steadily ascending, faintly visible within the gray airflow, all speechless with shock. They felt a stinging pain in their Souls just approaching the steps, yet Li Ao walked among the Death Qi as if on level ground!

Yao Yan stood beneath the steps, silently watching Li Ao's retreating figure, the admiration in his eyes growing deeper.

Five hundred steps! The Death Qi of nirvana here was like substantial liquid, washing over Li Ao's Physical Body. His robes turned to ash in the Death Qi, exposing his powerful and perfect torso. The gray rule patterns beneath his skin were like living Dragon snakes, swimming beneath the surface, fiercely devouring the surrounding Death Qi.

His Hegemon Body was undergoing a qualitative transformation! Its strength officially Broke through the barrier of a Three-Star Dou Zun, advancing toward Four-Star!

Seven hundred steps! The Death Qi was so dense it formed gray flames, burning fiercely—the “Fire of Nirvana,” capable of incinerating Souls and annihilating rules! Fine cracks began to appear on Li Ao's skin, but they were instantly repaired by the Gui Xu Life Force. Breaking down and building up, cycling endlessly.

Eight hundred steps! Only the last hundred steps remained to the summit. The pressure here was terrifying; even space was warped by the extreme Death Qi. Blood began to seep from Li Ao's seven orifices, yet his gaze grew sharper and brighter. The strength of his Hegemon Body had stabilized at the Four-Star Dou Zun level and was still increasing!

Nine hundred ninety-nine steps! The final step!

The scene before him seemed like a Void Realm before Chaos had opened, containing only the most Origin and ultimate nirvana. Li Ao let out a long cry, pushing the Gui Xu Concept to its maximum. His whole body seemed to transform into a miniature Gui Xu black hole as he resolutely took the final step!

“Rumble!!!” A tremendous sound, like the creation of heaven and earth, erupted within him!

All the Death Qi of nirvana was completely swallowed and refined by him, like hundreds of rivers returning to the sea! The gray rule patterns on his skin suddenly erupted with dazzling light, then completely vanished, achieving perfect Fusion with his Physical Body, becoming one.

A boundless feeling of power, as if he could shatter stars with a punch or crush the Void Realm with a stomp, filled every corner of his body!

Nirvana Hegemon Body, Third Stage Late Stage, achieved!

Relying solely on his Physical Body, he no longer feared a Five-Star Dou Zun! When his blood and Qi circulated, faint streams of Chaos Qi accompanied them!

He stood at the summit of the stone steps. Below him were surging vitality and Death Qi, and ahead was an ancient, weathered stone door, seemingly connecting to another era.

Engraved on the stone door were two large characters containing endless Dao charm—Ancestral Shrine.

The Will of the Medicine Ancestor was just beyond the door.