91: On the Soul Refining Ladder, lotus blossoms bloom with every step.

Stepping out of the light screen at the end of the bewitching soul path, the scene before his eyes changed once again.

A massive gray stone staircase, seemingly leading to the heavens, stretched across the void. Each step of the staircase was three feet high and of unknown width, extending upwards and disappearing into the clouds, with no end in sight. This was the second stage of the assessment—the soul refining ladder!

Unlike the pervasive Soul interference of the bewitching soul path, the soul refining ladder brought tangible Soul pressure!

The moment Li Ao stepped onto the first step, he felt a majestic and vast pressure of the Soul, like an invisible tide, pouring down from all directions, especially from above, heavily pressing upon his Soul body! This pressure was not a simple impact; it was more like a tempering process, as if trying to squeeze out the Impurities within the Soul to make it more refined.

Above the staircase, many early participants were already climbing with difficulty. The higher they went, the stronger the pressure became. Many people's speed visibly slowed down, their faces flushed, veins bulging on their foreheads, and their bodies trembling slightly. Taking each step seemed incredibly strenuous. Some could not withstand the increasingly terrifying pressure, screaming as they tumbled off the steps, crushing their jade tokens to be teleported away.

Li Ao looked up at the seemingly endless staircase, his gaze calm. The soul refining ladder was indeed a great test for ordinary Spirit Realm Souls; the hundred steps were enough to eliminate the vast majority of people. But for him, this was more like a rare opportunity for tempering.

He did not hesitate and ascended the steps.

One step, two steps, three steps... His speed remained unhurried, yet every step was as steady as a mountain, landing on the stone steps with a faint, solid sound. The heavy pressure that could make the Souls of Alchemists of the same rank tremble, when applied to his Soul body—which had been tempered repeatedly by the Annihilation Rule—was like a stream flowing into the ocean, only capable of stirring up minor ripples. Instead, it was quietly absorbed and transformed by his Soul, causing his Soul Power to become more solidified and pure under the immense pressure.

Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps... Li Ao quickly surpassed most of the participants who were struggling to climb. His anomaly once again drew attention.

"That guy... why does he seem unaffected?"

"What a terrifying Soul Foundation! He walks as if on flat ground despite this level of pressure?"

"Look around him; his Soul radiance is contained and integrated. He is probably not far from the Heavenly Realm Soul!"

Under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Li Ao had already passed the fiftieth step. At this height, the pressure had doubled, and even top Geniuses like Cao Ying and Dan Chen visibly slowed down, needing to mobilize all their Soul Power to resist.

Cao Ying's body was enveloped in a seven-colored Soul radiance, making her look like a nimble, colorful butterfly. Although she appeared strained, her steps remained steady. She watched the green-robed figure ahead, her beautiful eyes filled with admiration.

Dan Chen, on the other hand, appeared to be struggling more. Her Physique was special, and although her Soul Power was immense, it was difficult to control. Her small face was slightly pale, but her eyes were stubborn, and she continued upwards step by step.

Tang Huo'er relied on the fierce power of the Nine Dragon Lightning Flame, where lightning and fire intertwined, forcibly breaking through the pressure. Her speed was not slow, and she kept close to the leading group.

Meanwhile, the Black-Robed Youth moved like a phantom with strange steps. When the Soul pressure approached him, it seemed to be twisted and diverted by an invisible force, allowing him to advance in a relatively effortless manner.

As Li Ao stepped onto the seventieth step, an unexpected change occurred!

Above the stone staircase, the pure Soul pressure suddenly mixed with streaks of scorching, Soul-burning flame power! This flame was not physical; it acted directly upon the Soul, as if intending to ignite it!

"It's Soul Fire tempering!" Someone exclaimed. "After the seventieth step, the soul refining ladder activates Soul Fire to test the Soul's endurance and purity!"

"Ah!" Immediately, several Alchemists were caught off guard. Their Souls seemed to ignite, and they let out miserable screams, illusory flames rising from their bodies. They hurriedly crushed their jade tokens and fled.

Li Ao raised an eyebrow, feeling the pain of the lingering Soul-burning heat. This slight pain was nothing compared to what he endured when he first drew the Annihilation Rule into his body to temper his Soul. With a thought, the wisp of Soul Origin fused with the Annihilation Concept in his Sea of Consciousness slightly vibrated. All invading Soul Fire power was assimilated and calmed by the deeper meaning of "Annihilation" the moment it approached, instead transforming into pure Soul nourishment.

His steps did not halt; he continued upward.

Eightieth step! The Soul Fire power intensified, and at the same time, it was mixed with bone-chilling Profound Ice Qi. The combination of ice and fire tested the resilience of the Soul!

Ninetieth step! Besides the ice and fire, various illusions were generated, targeting inner flaws and confusing the mind!

However, none of this could stop Li Ao's steps. His Soul was like a Chaos Divine Stone that had endured countless tribulations without wearing down. Let the wind, fire, thunder, and lightning rage; he remained unshaken. Instead, through this repeated tempering, his Soul became even more crystal clear and internally radiant.

Ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven... As Li Ao stepped onto the ninety-ninth step, about to stride toward the hundredth step symbolizing Perfection, the Soul radiance that had been contained around him finally flowed out naturally and uncontrollably.

It was not dazzling, but a deep, Chaos color that seemed capable of containing everything. As the radiance flowed, faint gray, purely Soul Power-condensed lotus phantoms were subtly left behind on the stone steps he had just trod!

Lotus steps!

Although they were only fleeting phantoms, this phenomenon profoundly shook the minds of everyone who witnessed it!

"Soul manifestation, lotus steps?! This is the ultimate refinement of Soul Power, an embodiment close to the Dao!" Below, Cao Ying gasped, her eyes filled with disbelief. She prided herself on her exceptional Soul talent, but even she knew this step was impossible for her!

Dan Chen, Tang Huo'er, and the others also looked aghast. In the Black-Robed Youth's grayish-white pupils, intense fluctuations appeared for the first time.

Outside the soul refining ladder, Xuan Yi Elder and the others, who were observing the internal situation through a special formation, could no longer remain composed.

"This young man... his Soul is no longer in the Spirit Realm!" An Elder's voice trembled.

Xuan Yi Elder's gaze was burning as she stared intently at the fleeting lotus phantom beneath Li Ao's feet. She took a deep breath and slowly said, "His Soul has initially merged with a certain supreme Rule. Although it hasn't fully transformed into the Heavenly Realm, its essence... already transcends the Spirit Realm! It can be called... Half-step Heavenly Realm!"

A Half-step Heavenly Realm Soul! And a Soul fused with the extremely terrifying Annihilation Rule!

If this news were to spread, it would be enough to shake the entire Central Plains Alchemist world!

Under the gaze of countless shocked eyes, Li Ao calmly stepped onto the hundredth step!

The moment his feet landed firmly on the platform of the hundredth step, the entire soul refining ladder seemed to tremble slightly. In front of the platform, a more solidified gateway radiating soft light quietly appeared. That was the entrance to the third stage, the heart questioning pass.

Li Ao did not hesitate at all, nor did he look back at the Geniuses still struggling below. He stepped straight into the light gate, and his figure disappeared.

His goal had never been to compete with these peers. His gaze had long been fixed on the final reward and the hope of saving Medusa.

As Li Ao was the first to pass the soul refining ladder, the other top Geniuses were stimulated and unleashed even greater potential.

Cao Ying let out a delicate shout, and a seven-colored Soul radiance shot into the sky, transforming into a magnificent Phoenix phantom that carried her through the final few steps, successfully reaching the summit.

Dan Chen bit her tongue, and a more immense, yet slightly mixed, Soul Power erupted. She forcefully endured the ice and fire illusion, staggering as she stepped onto the hundredth step.

Tang Huo'er, with lightning and fire intertwined and Dragons roaring, used sheer force to break the rules and powerfully reached the summit.

The Black-Robed Youth's figure twisted like a ghost. Using a strange method to dispel most of the pressure, he also quietly appeared on the platform.

Subsequently, more than ten participants with particularly outstanding Soul Power struggled to complete the hundred-step climb.

When the last person stepped onto the hundred-step platform, the light gate slowly dissipated. This meant that fewer than thirty people remained who had passed the second stage of the assessment!

These thirty people were, without exception, the true elites of this Pill Gathering, possessing the strength to contend for the top hundred, or even higher rankings!

However, everyone understood that the green-robed figure who was the first to enter the heart questioning pass was already like an invisible mountain pressing down on all their hearts.

What would the upcoming heart questioning pass entail?

---