Time flew like an arrow. The one-year truce agreement between the Spirit Empire and the Star Luo Empire was about to expire.
During this year, Qian Renxue had devoted herself wholeheartedly to the Angel God's Trials and had swiftly passed the first two tests. She was now undergoing the third trial.
Bibi Dong was also immersed in the trials of the Rakshasa God. The Star Luo Emperor, Tang Xiao, Ning Fengzhi, and the others were all actively consolidating their respective powers in preparation for the upcoming storm.
They all knew that once Qian Renxue returned, war would inevitably break out once again.
Last time, if it weren't for Bibi Dong's intervention, the Spirit Empire under Qian Renxue's command would have undoubtedly flattened the Star Luo Empire at all costs.
Now that Yan had returned to Qian Renxue's side, the strength of the Spirit Empire had been further enhanced.
Therefore, this time, Qian Renxue would show no mercy.
With some time still left before Qian Renxue's return, Yan ushered in a new chapter on his path to the God Trials the Eighth Trial of the Fire God.
Reentering the Fire God's Secret Realm, as the golden light screen descended, the content of the trial appeared one by one in Yan's mind.
This time, he was to face the Power of the Fire God a flame being condensed from a portion of the Fire God's divine power.
He had to endure for the duration of one incense stick's burning time under this flame being's hands for the trial to be considered passed.
During this trial, Yan was allowed to use any of his powers not limited to fire elements alone.
Yan knew that this trial would not be easy.
But it also ignited his desire to challenge it.
"To have reached this point so quickly I hadn't expected it. But this trial is unlike the previous ones. It's not just a test of your strength but a tempering of your will and conviction. Are you ready?"
"Lord Fire God, I am ready."
"Good. Then let it begin."
As soon as the Fire God's voice fell, the surrounding space began to twist and distort.
Yan stood at the center of the scorching trial field, surrounded by blazing flames. The air was filled with an incredibly oppressive atmosphere.
Before him stood the flame being, three meters tall, its entire body radiating dazzling light.
Its face was obscured by the flames, leaving only a pair of torch-like crimson eyes, coldly staring at Yan.
Facing this flame being that emanated suffocating and powerful pressure, Yan's soul power surged throughout his body.
Golden flames spiraled around him and finally condensed into his brilliant Flame Lord True Form.
Accompanied by the sudden flash of a golden soul ring, his Ninth Soul Skill—Volcanic Devour erupted forth.
Yan knew that this was the most difficult challenge he had faced so far.
Therefore, he held nothing back and unleashed his most powerful soul skill, hoping to test just how terrifying the flame being's divine power truly was.
It was as if a volcano had erupted within Yan's body, torrents of scorching magma gushing from his palms, transforming into countless magma pillars filled with destructive force, shooting toward the flame being.
This million-year-level soul skill was one of his most destructive attacks, enough to shake mountains and incinerate everything.
However, what shocked Yan was that those magma streams, which seemed capable of devouring all things, vanished without a sound the moment they touched the flame being's golden body, as if swallowed by the sea.
The flame being's golden body appeared to be an innate flame barrier, impervious to any fire-based attack.
"What an incredibly strong defense!"
A deep sense of shock surged in Yan's heart. He had never encountered such a powerful opponent before, nor had he imagined that his mighty strike would be rendered so utterly ineffective.
In the instant he was stunned, the flame being moved.
He vanished with a flash, appearing like a ghost right in front of Yan, his crimson, fiery eyes flashing with a cold light.
Next, he swung his fiery fist, which seemed capable of burning everything, and with a deafening roar, he slammed it into Yan's chest.
Yan felt an irresistible force rushing toward him, as if his body were being crushed under a mountain, and all his resistance seemed so futile.
With a dull thud, his body was struck by the furious fiery fist, and he flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the edge of the trial field.
At that moment, it felt like time itself had stopped for Yan.
He lay there, his entire body in unbearable pain.
Yet a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. The pain in his body excited him; he hadn't felt this sensation in a long time.
"Is this... the power of the Fire God? It's truly exhilarating!"
Yan struggled to stand, his gaze fixed on the fire man who still stood firm, his light undiminished, with both awe and a stronger resolve in his eyes.
"Although you already possess considerable strength, before a true deity, you are still insignificant."
The voice of the Fire God echoed in the void, carrying a tone of sternness and urging.
"But it is precisely through such challenges that you can continuously break through yourself and reach higher realms."
As soon as the Fire God's words ended, the fire man dissipated.
"Lord Fire God, the incense time hasn't finished yet."
"Today, you are too weak to continue, you've lost. Come back next time."
The pain Yan experienced in the Fire God's trial realm was real, and it seemed that the Fire God had held back during that last strike.
After leaving the Fire God's realm and returning to the real world, the pain in Yan's body disappeared without a trace.
Yan realized that failure seemed to be the norm in this challenge.
He needed to carefully consider how to overcome the Fire God's power.
Far away, on Sea God Island.
Tang San faced the seventh trial of the Sea God.
Drawing the Sea God's Trident was undoubtedly an important turning point in Tang San's path to becoming a god.
This divine weapon not only contained the Sea God's power but was also the key to inheriting the Sea God's legacy.
For this moment, Tang San had made long preparations, striving to reach his optimal condition, both in terms of physical strength and spiritual training.
On the day the seventh trial began, the entire Sea God Island was enveloped in a solemn and sacred atmosphere.
Tang San stood before the altar of the Sea God's Trident, took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused his mind, gathering all his will and faith into one point.
With a low growl, a tremendous power surged from within him, shooting into the sky, resonating with the Sea God's power.
Driven by this force, the Sea God's Trident, which had seemed immovable, slowly loosened and finally, with Tang San's full strength, it was drawn from its sheath with a loud crash, releasing a brilliant light.
At that moment, the entire Sea God Island seemed to tremble. The Sea God's power surged into Tang San's body like a tidal wave, and his strength underwent a qualitative leap.
With the Sea God's Trident in hand, Tang San not only greatly increased in power but, more importantly, he felt a closer connection to the Sea God.
He knew that he was one step closer to becoming the true inheritor of the Sea God.
Unconsciously, more than three years had passed since he came to Sea God Island for his trials.
During this time, Tang San had always been concerned about the situation on the Douluo Continent.
With the Sea God's divine artifact, he now had even more confidence in himself.
He wanted to return to the Star Luo Empire and also intended to seek out the Azure Sky Blue Python.