Seven days later, with even firmer determination and a deeper understanding of himself, Yan once again stepped into the Fire God Secret Realm.
But after three days and three nights of grueling battle, he was defeated once more.
The mirror image, now with an overall strength increased by five percent, was just too difficult to deal with.
Half a month later, Yan entered the Fire God Secret Realm once again.
This time, the mirror image's overall strength had already reached one hundred and ten percent of Yan's original self.
Following the spatial fluctuations, Yan stood once more in the trial arena with a diameter of one kilometer.
Opposite him, the mirror image that looked exactly like him was already waiting quietly, its aura exuding an even greater sense of calm and overwhelming pressure than before.
The battle began once again, but this time, Yan adopted a completely different strategy.
He no longer relied solely on fire element power, but cleverly incorporated the earth element abilities he had gradually mastered during his cultivation.
He knew that using only his original fire attribute power to fight would make it hard to defeat a mirror image even stronger than himself. Only by innovating and integrating could he forge a path to victory.
As Yan activated his thoughts, a heavy and stable earth elemental force slowly rose from the ground, interweaving with the surging fire element within him to form an unprecedentedly strange energy field.
The mirror image seemed to sense this unusual aura as well. It quickly adjusted its stance, preparing to face Yan's new round of offensive.
Unlike before, Yan's attacks now displayed more earth elemental power, and all were created on the spot, catching the mirror image off guard.
As time went on, the battle gradually entered a fever pitch.
Yan continuously attempted to fully unleash the combined power of the earth and fire elements. Each of his attacks carried the might of dual attributes, leaving the mirror image struggling to respond.
Although the mirror image was powerful, under Yan's relentless and innovative assault, it began to show signs of being overwhelmed.
Finally, during an intense clash, Yan seized a flaw in the mirror image's defense and gathered all the earth and fire elemental power in his body into a single point, transforming it into a dazzling ray of light that directly struck the mirror image's core.
At that moment, the entire trial arena seemed to tremble. The mirror image's figure gradually faded within the light and ultimately vanished into nothingness.
The battle was over. Yan stood where he was, still catching his breath, but his eyes were filled with the joy of victory.
The two previous failed challenges had taught him how to find breakthroughs in adversity, how to stay calm and innovate when facing powerful enemies.
The vast trial arena vanished without warning, and once again, the Fire God's voice rang in Yan's ears:
"[Assessment passed. All spirit rings' years increased by twenty thousand years. Right arm spirit bone's year increased by forty thousand years]."
Yan felt the transformation in his soul power as it surged from the sudden reward.
The increase in spirit ring years meant the power and duration of his abilities would be enhanced.
The year increase in his right arm spirit bone caused it to directly evolve into the hundred-thousand-year level.
At this point, all six spirit bones on Yan's body had reached the hundred-thousand-year threshold.
Though his soul power level hadn't changed, his overall strength had grown significantly.
As the Fire God's voice faded away, Yan returned once more to the real world outside the Fire God Secret Realm.
Time flew like a white steed flitting past a crevice. In the blink of an eye, several months had passed.
During the divine trial, Ye Lingling broke through to level eighty and received a God-bestowed spirit ring.
Shui Bing'er also passed the second trial of the Water God, receiving a reward of one level increase in soul power, reaching level ninety. However, she did not receive a God-bestowed spirit ring; she would need to find her ninth ring on her own.
That day, Shui Bing'er came to find Yan, eager to share the news with him.
"Brother Yan, I've broken through to level ninety in soul power."
Upon hearing this, a doting smile tugged at the corners of Yan's lips.
"That's great. Then let's go to the center of Star Dou Great Forest and look for the Sky Azure Bull Python."
"Brother Yan, we didn't find it last time. Will we be able to find it this time?"
"I don't know. Let's just try our luck. Last time we appeared at the same time as Bibi Dong. Maybe it sensed that. It was injured back then. After such a long period of recovery, it should be mostly healed by now. If we run into it again, it might show itself."
"Mm, then let's go look for it."
A few days later, the two arrived beside that lake deep within the Star Dou Great Forest.
The lake was so deep that the bottom could not be seen. The surface of the lake was completely calm, reflecting only the shadows of the two of them.
"Brother Yan, it doesn't seem to be here."
"No! It's right at the bottom of the lake."
"You've already sensed it?"
"Mm, I felt a very faint soul power fluctuation. It seems like it has deliberately suppressed its aura."
Yan's spiritual power had already reached the demi-god level, much stronger than when he last came here, and his perception ability was also stronger.
He sensed that the Sky Azure Bull Python was at a certain location at the bottom of the lake.
"Brother Yan, if it stays hidden at the bottom of the lake and doesn't come out, what should we do?"
"I have a way."
Yan slowly released his martial soul. The surroundings turned into a blazing world, even causing the lake water to boil.
Immediately after, his eighth spirit ring lit up.
That eighth spirit ring, which came from the Titan Giant Ape, contained the Titan Giant Ape's power.
When Shui Bing'er saw this, she suddenly understood something.
"Brother Yan, you're planning to use the Titan Giant Ape's spirit ring as bait to lure it out?"
"Mm. I've already deliberately suppressed my soul power. If it knows that it's just the two of us here, it will definitely show up."
Sure enough, in the depths of the lake, the Sky Azure Bull Python sensed this familiar yet foreign aura, and flames of anger and vengeance burned fiercely in its heart.
With a deafening roar, the lake seemed to be torn apart as the Sky Azure Bull Python's massive body suddenly burst out from the water, carrying endless pressure and fury.
Its eyes were like torches, fixed straight on Yan, as if it wanted to tear him apart.
"You're the one who killed Er Ming?"
"That's right. And let me give you some bad news. That rabbit has already sacrificed herself for Tang San. She won't be coming back."
"What?! You're talking about Xiao Wu?"
The Sky Azure Bull Python found it hard to believe.
"The rabbit I'm talking about who else could it be besides her?"
Yan deliberately provoked the Sky Azure Bull Python to prevent it from escaping.
"You despicable human Soul Master, I'm going to kill you!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python roared furiously, shooting out a beam of azure energy from its mouth straight at Yan and Shui Bing'er.
Facing this powerful attack, Yan didn't dodge.
The ninth spirit ring on his body suddenly lit up, bursting forth with brilliant scarlet-gold light. His ninth spirit ability, Magma Pulse, was unleashed with a surge, colliding directly with that azure energy beam.
At the moment he saw Yan's scarlet-gold spirit ring, the Sky Azure Bull Python was instantly stunned.
"That's a million-year-level spirit ring. How could it appear on him?"
Under Yan's overwhelming pressure, the Sky Azure Bull Python's body seemed to stiffen.
The scarlet-gold Magma Pulse, with overwhelming force, pierced through the azure energy beam and landed directly on its massive body.
With Yan's current strength, it was enough to completely crush the Sky Azure Bull Python