After hearing what Qian Renxue said, Yan finally realized that she had already begun the God Trials.
Yan knew that what Qian Renxue had received was the Angel Nine Trials. In order to help her complete the trials as quickly as possible, Qian Daoliu was even willing to sacrifice his life.
Everyone has their own destiny, and not every fate can be changed through early intervention.
"If I'm not mistaken, what you received should be the Angel Nine Trials."
"How do you know that?"
Qian Renxue was somewhat surprised.
Yan smiled and said:
"With your talent, obtaining the Nine Trials is only natural. To be honest, I'm also undertaking the Trials of the God of Fire, and I'm about to enter the seventh trial."
"So you had already started your God Trials? Your previous closed-door cultivation was for the trials?"
"That's right."
"If I'm not wrong, you also received the Nine Trials. What have you been through in the past year or so?"
"I was just about to tell you."
Then, Yan told Qian Renxue everything that had happened to him since he left Spirit City over the past year.
After listening, Qian Renxue was even more shocked. She hadn't expected that Yan had encountered Bibi Dong and even defeated her. He had also killed a million-year-old soul beast alone in the seas near Seagod Island and had reached a terrifying level of rank ninety-eight, even acquiring a million-year soul ring.
"Your experiences over the past year have been truly incredible. Your growth is astonishing. I can't believe that woman was actually defeated by you."
When Bibi Dong was mentioned, a trace of anger flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes. She was still dissatisfied about Bibi Dong's interference in the war between the two empires.
But at the same time, she also felt a bit relieved.
She had been worried that during her Angel God Trials, she and her grandfather wouldn't be able to control the external situation, and Bibi Dong would seize the opportunity to act recklessly.
She hadn't expected that Bibi Dong had already been defeated by Yan.
At this moment, Yan had already obtained the divine weapon of the God of Fire, had one foot into the divine realm, and was far stronger than before.
Bibi Dong would no longer be a match for him unless that woman achieved godhood before he did.
In addition, Qian Renxue hadn't expected that Tang San and the others were also undertaking the God Trials on Seagod Island.
"The information you've brought back is very important. No wonder the Star Luo Empire is so desperate to cling on they've been waiting for those people to return."
"Yeah. Tang San received the Seagod Nine Trials. If he completes all of them, he'll become the next Seagod."
"He also received Nine Trials, and he already has two hundred-thousand-year soul rings. It seems he really is a threat. However, you might become a god before he does."
Qian Renxue had complete faith in Yan, believing that no one could catch up with the pace of his growth.
Even though Tang San had received the Seagod Nine Trials, he still had nearly a twenty-level gap in soul power compared to Yan.
Qian Renxue believed that Yan would be the first among the three of them to acquire a god position.
"After hearing everything you said, I'm even more at ease entrusting the empire to you."
Yan nodded.
"Although I'm also undergoing the God Trials, I don't need to stay in the Fire God Realm all the time. Within the scope of my abilities, I'll definitely help you oversee the Spirit Empire. Go without worries. I wish you a smooth completion of the trials and to become the Angel God soon."
"Mm, you too."
After properly handling the handover of the empire, Qian Renxue returned to Spirit City and officially began the Angel God Trials.
When Bibi Dong learned that Yan had returned to Spirit City and was in charge of overseeing the Spirit Empire for Qian Renxue, she was furious.
"Yan actually came back! Did he not tell Qian Renxue about our battle? Why are Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu acting as if nothing happened?"
"Qian Daoliu, so what if Qian Renxue inherits the position of the Douluo Hall Master? Once I become a god, I'll destroy your Qian Clan and Spirit Hall just the same! Hahaha..."
Bibi Dong didn't know just how powerful Yan had become over the past year.
Although Qian Renxue was no longer in Spirit City, she had already arranged everything. The three Worships Douluo—Lion Douluo, Demon Subduing Douluo, and Thousand Jun Douluo were all stationed there with Yan.
Thus, Bibi Dong didn't dare act rashly.
Moreover, she also needed to focus and strive to complete the Rakshasa God Trials as soon as possible and didn't have the energy to split the Spirit Hall anymore.
Qian Renxue's departure didn't affect the Spirit Empire's situation everything continued to proceed steadily.
That day, Yan once again entered the Fire God Realm to challenge the seventh trial.
As the golden light curtain descended, the specific content of the Fire God's seventh trial appeared in Yan's mind.
Fire God Seventh Trial: Break Through the Self.
He needed to defeat a person who was exactly the same as himself within thirty-six hours.
That person possessed all of Yan's strength and all of his soul skills.
During the trial, any power he possessed could be used not limited to fire elements.
Unlike previous trials, the difficulty of this one was clearly increased.
If he failed to defeat himself within the three-day trial period, he would have to wait at least seven days before being allowed to attempt the trial again, and the difficulty would increase accordingly on the next attempt.
The more times the trial was attempted, the harder it would become.
Therefore, this level had to be cleared in the shortest time possible.
It seemed difficult, but in Yan's heart surged an unprecedented desire to challenge.
Defeating an opponent with equal, or even identical, strength was not only a test of his combat skills but also an extreme challenge to his inner will and strategies.
"Only by surpassing oneself can one reach a higher realm."
Yan adjusted himself to his best state, preparing to face off against himself.
As a spatial fluctuation occurred, Yan arrived at a thousand-meter-wide trial arena.
A figure identical to Yan slowly appeared opposite him. Even the aura and gaze were exactly the same, as if it was Yan's mirror image.
The mirror image curved his lips into a faint smile, as if he had already foreseen the result of the battle.
But Yan knew, this was merely another reflection of his own inner self.
"Come on, let me see where your limit lies!"
Yan let out a low shout, launching the first attack. His figure flickered like a ghost, and fire elements condensed around him into a sharp flaming blade, slashing straight toward the mirror image.
The mirror image was not to be outdone, using the exact same technique, the same force, and almost at the same time duplicated the attack. Their strikes collided, erupting in a deafening boom.
Flames scattered in all directions, yet neither of them took a step back.
Clearly, this battle would be a prolonged war.
As time passed, Yan gradually realized that he had underestimated it.
The mirror image possessed all his soul skills, and was extremely strong in both offense and defense. Defeating it completely was not an easy task.
After enduring a bitter fight for three days and nights, Yan still did not prevail.
The first challenge of the seventh trial ended in failure.
The mirror image, who was exactly the same as himself, was the strongest opponent Yan had encountered to date.
Although he didn't pass the trial, his combat skills had invisibly improved.
Next time he challenged it again, the mirror image's overall strength would increase by five percent, meaning Yan would face an opponent even stronger than himself.