Chapter 396: Chapter 396: The Flame Purgatory of the Thirty-Sixth Layer

"Tianling Divine Son, congratulations on completing the most crucial step of Stepping into the Void. Although you entered the Void Realm far behind many others, your Void Realm First Transformation reached Perfection immediately upon your breakthrough. You’ve already caught up!"

Xia Xinqin offered her sincere congratulations.

The others then offered their own sincere congratulations.

...

"Alright, let’s keep moving. We’ll head to the Thirty-Sixth Layer, and along the way, we’ll see what kind of Celestial Mandate Totems appear on the ’four-nine’ levels."

After discussing the sensation of Stepping into the Void with the others, Ye Tianling led them onward once more.

After what happened when Lu Minghui tested it, no one was eager to experience the Killing Soul methods of that Blood-Colored Space. They decided to wait until the world’s transformations progressed further before trying again.

They passed through the thirty-fourth layer with ease, continuing their discussions on cultivation along the way.

Along the way, Ye Tianling and his party encountered nearly twenty groups of Cultivators from various clans of the Ten Thousand Spirit Races. However, upon seeing Gleyun, they all bowed respectfully.

As a result, no conflicts broke out. Clearly, Gleyun, the Celestial Spirit Divine Son, was already renowned for his unparalleled might.

The thirty-fifth layer was another glacial expanse.

However, the ambient pressure, the snowflakes manifested from Runes, and other phenomena were all several times more powerful here.

Here, Xia Xinqin, Hu Teng, Yao Lun, and Lu Minghui could no longer withstand the pressure.

Yao Ling and Xia Xinyue, on the other hand, were barely managing, visibly struggling.

Gleyun and Ye Tianling, however, showed no signs of strain.

"I’ll take them,"

Ye Tianling said.

"If you intend to push past the Thirty-Sixth Layer of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, it would be best to let me share some of the burden,"

Gleyun suggested.

Ye Tianling shook his head. With a wave of his hand, he released his Void Realm-level Samadhi True Fire, infused with the aura of Karmic Fire, to envelop the group.

Instantly, Ye Tianling felt the pressure on him increase dramatically. Yet, he found it even easier to handle than before.

After his transformation to the Void Realm First Transformation, Ye Tianling felt a greater affinity with the world. ’In fact,’ he thought, ’I suspect this Heaven-Reaching Tower is part of the Space-Time Soul-locking Tower! A part of the Blood Moon Secret Realm.’

At the same time, Ye Tianling had a vague feeling that the so-called Blood-Colored Soul Realm Battlefield was likely the World within the Blood Secret Realm itself!

It was just a shame that, even now, Ye Tianling still couldn’t enter the Blood Secret Realm. He could only control the Space-Time Soul-locking Tower, and even then, only to use the Dragon Soul Divine Blood inside for his Cultivation.

"It was a kind offer, and I appreciate it. But the Heaven-Reaching Tower affects a Cultivator’s entire path, our future prospects. Everyone knows the rule: the difficulty doubles for each person you carry. The floors of this tower represent the heights and depths of one’s Talent and bloodline transformation. This is no child’s play."

Ye Tianling said earnestly.

"You know that, and you still—"

Yao Ling shot Ye Tianling a reproachful glance, her voice tinged with displeasure.

Lu Minghui and Hu Teng, however, were overcome with shame, and at the same time, deeply moved.

"I will repay this debt in the future, even if it costs me my life!"

Hu Teng took a deep breath and bowed deeply.

"Me too! As long as Tianling Divine Son will have me, my life, Lu Minghui’s life, belongs to you!"

Lu Minghui pledged his allegiance.

Xia Xinqin looked at Lu Minghui and then at Hu Teng’s declaration, but she merely pursed her lips, saying nothing.

However, the look in her beautiful eyes was just as resolute.

Though she remained silent, her heart was filled with a deep sense of gratitude.

As for Yao Lun, it went without saying. He had practically become Ye Tianling’s biggest fanboy.

Ye Tianling nodded slightly, very pleased with their reactions.

His Soul Talent had also strengthened severalfold. His Sensing Power was clearer now, the improvement quite noticeable.

Combined with his Nine-Orifice Exquisite Heart, he could carefully gauge the emotions of those around him and get a generally accurate reading.

They would soon be through the thirty-fifth layer.

The icy landscape stretched out before them, ending at the bank of a river.

It was a silent river, yet it inspired a soul-chilling dread.

"The Thirty-Sixth Layer will manifest the moment we step into this river. I wonder what it will be. A land of ice? A crimson expanse, a blood-colored space like the one for Killing Souls, or something else entirely?"

Gleyun murmured, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"The Thirty-Sixth Layer is a death trap. Don’t make any rash moves."

Just then, a clear, pleasant voice sounded from behind them.

A party of three drifted toward them, trailing a faint, sweet fragrance.

"Goddess Yami Fei, have you already entered the Thirty-Sixth Layer? Is this your second time here?"

Gleyun was visibly impressed and couldn’t stop himself from asking.

The woman in the lead, the one who had spoken, was indeed the Life Goddess, Yami Fei.

The two women beside her were also Saintesses from the Divine Hall of Life, named Yami Ling and Yami Xin.

"That’s right, Divine Child Gleyun. The Thirty-Sixth Layer is a Flame Purgatory, a place of peerless blood-fire. It contains a mutated Divine Fire of at least Top Grade Spirit Level, one that embodies All Laws. If we could harvest and refine it into our Pill Fire, the power would be terrifying.

Many talented prodigies have come for it this time, but harvesting it... is extremely difficult.

To say nothing of the fact that before you even reach the Thirty-Sixth Layer, you must enter a blood-colored killing field where you’re very likely to be killed!"

Yami Fei’s gaze swept past Yao Ling and the others, finally resting on Ye Tianling. A flicker of shock passed through her beautiful eyes.

"And you are, fellow Profounder? May I ask your name?"

Suppressing her shock, Yami Fei couldn’t help but feel the desire to get to know him.

Her voice was musical and sweet.

"Life Goddess, this is the Kunpeng Divine Son of our Golden-winged Roc Clan, Divine Child Ye Tianling."

Seeing that Ye Tianling seemed to have no intention of responding, Yao Lun quickly answered for him.

"So you are the Kunpeng Divine Son. Forgive me for my lack of recognition."

Yami Fei’s expression flickered with recognition.

Yami Ling and Yami Xin, standing beside Yami Fei, were in disbelief. ’Their Goddess from the Divine Hall of Life, so proud and aloof, is actually initiating a conversation with a strange male Cultivator?’

’And even more unbelievably, that male Cultivator seems to be paying no mind to Yami Fei, the most beautiful Goddess of their Divine Hall of Life?’

If the environment here wasn’t so harsh, constantly assailing their minds, they would have suspected they were hearing things!

"So before the Thirty-Sixth Layer, there’s a blood-colored killing field? Are the Souls inside independent?"

Ye Tianling was lost in thought. It wasn’t that he was ignoring the Life Goddess Yami Fei; he was simply reminded of what had happened to Lu Minghui earlier.

Now that Yao Lun had made the introductions, Ye Tianling directly voiced the question on his mind.