This time, Li Shuang was the only one in the Soul Gold Altar.
Li Shuang directly chose to begin training from the third layer's Thousand Machine Hammer Array.
During her last attempt to pass, she couldn't endure this layer from beginning to end, so it wasn't a perfect clear.
Li Shuang had a premonition.
To obtain advanced Five-Element Crystals on the sixth layer, she needed to make up for all the imperfections in the earlier layers.
She had to achieve perfect clears on every preceding layer.
Only then could she obtain the advanced Five-Element Crystals.
Li Shuang set a time limit for herself.
The Sect Competition was approaching.
She would train in the Soul Gold Altar until only a month remained before the competition.
During that month, she could also go to the Soul Prison to verify her progress.
Then, she would return to her true body seven days in advance to prepare for the Sect Competition.
Li Shuang planned her schedule tightly.
She quickly dismissed all distractions and resumed the challenge of the third layer.
A month passed.
Li Shuang was engrossed in her cultivation within the Soul Gold Altar.
Clearing all seven layers of the Soul Gold Altar to obtain a single-person Five-Element Crystal was one of the highest secrets within the human race. Yu Jin knew Li Shuang was in the Soul Gold Altar, but others did not.
All of a sudden.
Both humans and demon seeds were frantically searching for Li!
But to no avail.
No matter what they did, they couldn't find a single trace of Li.
This exceptionally talented human prodigy, who had emerged seemingly out of nowhere, had once again completely vanished.
Two months passed.
In the Land of Heavenly Annihilation.
A group of True Demons couldn't help but converse once more.
"Where is Li? Do any of you have news of her?"
"None! All the demon seeds under my command have been dispatched, but we haven't found Li."
"This isn't right. This Li possesses a Supreme Ice Spirit Root, and Xuanwei said her spirit root hadn't fully merged with her soul yet. I have a demon seed with an exceptionally keen sense of smell; if she truly has a Supreme Ice Spirit Root, my subordinate would definitely detect something. Unless...unless she isn't on the Central Continent."
"If not on the Central Continent, then where? Which other continent could cultivate such a talent! Could it be that Xuanwei lied?"
"Impossible. Unless she wants to die."
"Then there's another possibility. She might be in some secret realm, a very high-level secret realm that can shield all detection. We can't leave our true bodies, and our subordinates, those demon seeds, might not be able to find anything."
"Hmph! Can she hide in a secret realm forever? Just wait! She'll come out eventually!"
"Once Li comes out, she's destined for a dead end!"
Suddenly.
In the center of the seven True Demons, a True Demon who had never spoken before slowly began to speak.
"Let's put Li's matter aside for now. How has the intercontinental plan been executed?"
The expressions of the other six True Demons instantly grew solemn.
They bowed to the central True Demon and then began to speak one after another.
"These cultivators on the Central Continent don't know that Mother evolved ten years ago and can now directly place demon seeds on continents other than the Central Continent."
"This is a brilliant move. The cultivators on the Central Continent have long been aware of the existence of demon seeds and are more or less on guard. High-level cultivators even have various secret techniques to detect demon seeds. It's quite risky for demon seeds to develop on the Central Continent."
"But it's different on other continents."
"The other four continents are not very sensitive to demon seeds. Many of their inhabitants don't even know of their existence."
"Our demon seeds are thriving there, developing extremely rapidly!"
"After years of expansion, the plan is nearly ready for harvesting."
The True Demons reported their progress.
The central True Demon nodded with satisfaction: "In that case... let's execute the plan as soon as possible. Remember, I want to make those four continents a realm dominated by demon seeds!"
"Yes!"
All the True Demons responded.
In the Soul Gold Altar.
Li Shuang was still diligently refining her soul.
Under the repeated pounding of the heavy hammers, her soul became increasingly refined.
Li Shuang even felt that although her soul realm still seemed to be at the Soul Transformation stage, even the soul pressure of a Void Refinement stage cultivator might not be able to shake her in the slightest!
This was the benefit of soul refinement!
Eight months after entering the Golden Altar.
Li Shuang finally achieved a perfect clear of the third layer.
Her soul could now perfectly withstand three days and three nights of heavy hammering.
This challenge.
She had perfected it.
Now.
Only one month remained until the Sect Competition.
Li Shuang reluctantly glanced at the fourth layer and then chose to leave the Soul Gold Altar.
She would have preferred to continue cultivating there until she reached completion.
However.
With the Sect Competition imminent, she still had to go back and participate.
With her current strength, at the very least.
In the younger generation's competition, she alone could challenge all the others.
After Li Shuang chose to leave the Soul Gold Altar.
In the Myriad Dharma Mirror, two options appeared.
"1. Choose to teleport directly back to Myriad Dharma City."
"2. Teleport to a suitable training location within the Soul Prison for cultivators."
Li Shuang's eyes lit up slightly.
Oh.
She was just thinking of finding a place to test her current strength.
Now.
She was suddenly given a choice to teleport directly to a place suitable for her cultivation.
Wasn't this an invitation for her to test herself?
Li Shuang didn't plan to delay too long. After she had roughly verified her strength, she would return to Myriad Dharma City as soon as possible, and then, return to reality to prepare for the Sect Competition!
After the Sect Competition, she would continue her refinement in the Soul Gold Altar.
Thinking this.
Li Shuang directly chose the second option.
A flash of light, and her figure instantly vanished from the Soul Gold Altar.
The next moment.
She appeared somewhere in the Soul Prison.
In an instant.
Violent winds whipped through the air like knives.
Li Shuang felt a sharp sting on her face.
She looked up into the fierce wind and saw that she was currently in a massive canyon, where fierce winds were densely packed everywhere, and soul beasts roamed constantly.
Li Shuang only stayed in place for a moment before the strong winds from all directions converged on her, as if to tear her apart.
The soul beasts also sensed the human aura and were rushing towards Li Shuang.
Li Shuang was startled.
Is it this intense right from the start?
At least let her prepare first.
Li Shuang quickly glanced around. Then, her eyes lit up slightly.
Around here, there were many caves.
If she hid in a cave, the strong winds wouldn't be able to enter.
Li Shuang chose a cave and was about to enter.
Suddenly.
A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
There were actually other people here.
Youlan emerged from a cave. She possessed a wind spiritual root, thriving in this windy environment. The spinning wheel in her hand rotated continuously, harvesting the lives of soul beasts.
Youlan also saw Li Shuang, but she merely nodded and didn't say much to Li Shuang.
Since Youlan had no intention of speaking, Li Shuang remained silent and found a nearby cave, carefully observing her surroundings.
In the Land of Heavenly Annihilation.
A roar echoed.
"Found her! Li has been found!"