Chapter 302: Divine Soul Dao Fruit, Nine Netherworld Karmic Fire

"Let's first take a look at Clear Wind's opportunity panel."

With a thought from Zhou Chen, the System panel expanded.

He had long noticed Clear Wind Master; this Daoist Elite Disciple was not simple. To be able to stand firm in the academy, he must have some extraordinary qualities.

Moreover, Clear Wind Master was quite friendly to him and had lent a hand multiple times.

Zhou Chen wasn't intending to intercept Clear Wind's Opportunity; he just wanted to see if there would be any opportunities for cooperation in the future.

[Name: Clear Wind Master]

[Realm: Ninth Layer of the Emperor Realm]

[Fate: Clear Wind Dao Body (Gold), Wind Law Dao Bone (Gold), Turning Misfortune into Blessing (Purple)]

[Recent Opportunity: One week later, within the Sea of Heart Demons trial Secret Realm of Jixia Academy, he will obtain a strand of seven emotions and six desires fire. Using the seven emotions and six desires fire to temper the Divine Soul, he will break through heart barriers and condense a Divine Soul Dao Fruit.]

"seven emotions and six desires fire?"

Zhou Chen's eyes lit up.

This was good stuff!

The seven emotions and six desires fire was rumored to be one of the most mysterious flames in the world, containing the seven emotions and six desires of all living beings.

Using it to temper the Divine Soul would not only significantly increase the strength of the Divine Soul but also allow one to break through heart barriers and condense a Divine Soul Dao Fruit.

Once the Divine Soul Dao Fruit was condensed, the power of Divine Soul attacks would at least double.

Zhou Chen did not hesitate.

Although Clear Wind Master had treated him well, opportunities were always first-come, first-served. Zhou Chen had simply happened to encounter it in advance, so he felt no psychological burden.

Furthermore, he urgently needed to improve his Divine Soul strength now.

Although he had previously absorbed the Soul-Condensing Star Crystal and his Divine Soul had broken through to the Emperor Realm Sixth Layer, he was still far from condensing a Divine Soul Dao Fruit.

If he could obtain the seven emotions and six desires fire, he might be able to condense the Dao Fruit directly.

Having made up his mind, Zhou Chen turned and walked towards the Immortal Cave.

—

Three days later.

Zhou Chen left the Immortal Cave and flew towards the academy's trial Secret Realm area.

According to the guidance of the command medallion, the Sea of Heart Demons was located in the Western Region of the academy and was an extremely dangerous Trial Grounds.

It was filled with illusions that could evoke a Cultivator's deepest obsessions and fears.

Countless Disciples had lost themselves in the Sea of Heart Demons, eventually dying from the collapse of their Divine Soul.

But at the same time, it was also the best place to temper the Divine Soul.

Anyone who could walk out of the Sea of Heart Demons would have their Divine Soul strength greatly increased.

After flying for about half an hour, Zhou Chen arrived at the entrance of the Western Region.

There was a huge stone stele here, with the words "Sea of Heart Demons" carved on it in blood-red characters.

Two guards stood before the stone stele, both at the Emperor Realm Fifth Layer.

"Identity medallion."

A guard reached out.

Zhou Chen handed over the medallion.

The guard's Divine Sense swept over it and he nodded: "Elite Disciple Zhou Chen, you meet the entry requirements."

"However, I must warn you that the Sea of Heart Demons is extremely dangerous. You'd better be mentally prepared before entering."

"If you encounter an unbearable illusion, crush the Life-Saving Jade Talisman immediately, and you will be teleported out."

He handed Zhou Chen a jade talisman.

"Thank you."

Zhou Chen took the jade talisman and stepped into the light portal behind the stone stele.

The scene before him changed.

Zhou Chen appeared above a sea shrouded in mist.

This sea was no ordinary sea, but an ocean condensed from countless Heart Demons.

Various distorted faces would surface on the water from time to time, letting out shrill screams.

"What an eerie place."

Zhou Chen frowned and swept his Divine Sense out.

But as soon as his Divine Sense extended, it was interfered with by a strange power, making it impossible to investigate the distance.

"It seems I can only take it one step at a time."

Zhou Chen circulated the Great Void Eight Desolations Formless Scripture, sensing the spatial fluctuations around him.

Suddenly, the scene before him changed again.

He appeared in a familiar setting—his home from his previous life.

In the living room, his parents were sitting on the sofa watching TV, everything exactly as it was in his memory.

"Xiao Chen, you're back? Look at you, wearing so little again."

His mother turned her head, a gentle smile on her face.

Zhou Chen's heart jolted.

This was… his mother from his previous life?

"Xiao Chen, come over and eat."

His father also spoke, his voice kind.

Zhou Chen stood in place, unmoving.

He knew this was an illusion.

His parents from his previous life were long gone; this was just an obsession evoked by the Sea of Heart Demons.

"Just an illusion."

Zhou Chen closed his eyes and circulated the Great Void Eight Desolations Formless Scripture.

Great Void power flowed through his body, clearing the stray thoughts from his heart.

When he opened his eyes again, his parents' figures had vanished, and the surroundings returned to the mist-shrouded sea.

Zhou Chen continued forward.

But soon, a second illusion appeared.

This time, Bei Nianyu appeared.

She was lying in a pool of blood, her body covered in wounds, looking at Zhou Chen with hollow eyes.

"Zhou Chen… why didn't you come to save me…"

Her voice was weak and filled with despair.

Zhou Chen felt a pang of pain in his heart.

Although he knew it was an illusion, seeing Bei Nianyu injured still made him feel distressed.

"This is just an illusion."

Zhou Chen took a deep breath and suppressed his emotions.

The next moment, Bei Nianyu's figure turned into black mist and dissipated.

"As expected, it was fake."

Zhou Chen withdrew his hand and continued forward.

The third illusion was Xi Linger.

She was being besieged by countless demonic Cultivators, covered in blood, yet still fighting desperately.

"Zhou Chen… run… don't worry about me…"

Her eyes were full of tragic determination.

Zhou Chen did not stop.

He knew these were all illusions created by the Sea of Heart Demons, designed to trap him in obsession and make him unable to extricate himself.

"I won't let these become reality."

Zhou Chen clenched his fists: "I will become stronger, strong enough to protect everyone."

A flash of determination crossed his eyes as he strode forward.

Illusions appeared and vanished before him one by one.

There were friends from his previous life, enemies from this life, and various fears and obsessions.

But Zhou Chen's Dao Heart was stable, and he easily saw through all the falsehoods.

After walking for about two hours, Zhou Chen finally reached the Core Area of the Sea of Heart Demons.

The mist here was denser, and the sense of pressure was stronger.

But at the same time, Zhou Chen also sensed a special aura of fire.

"The seven emotions and six desires fire is just ahead!"

He quickened his pace and rushed towards the direction of the fire aura.

Soon, he saw his target.

It was a ball of fire suspended in mid-air, its whole body showing seven colors, each representing an emotion.

Red was anger, blue was sadness, green was envy, yellow was fear…

The seven emotions and six desires were all within it.

"Found it!"

Zhou Chen's eyes lit up, and he was about to reach out and grab it.

Suddenly, a giant hand of fire attacked from the side!

"Get lost!"

A familiar voice rang out.

Zhou Chen turned his head sharply and saw Jiang Yan walking out of the mist.

He was radiating a scorching fire aura, and his cultivation had reached the Peak of the Emperor Realm Eighth Layer, just one step away from the Ninth Layer of the Emperor Realm!

Moreover, his Law of fire seemed even purer and more powerful than before.

"Jiang Yan?"

Zhou Chen frowned.

Jiang Yan sneered: "The seven emotions and six desires fire is mine. If you're smart, leave now, and I'll spare your life, understand?"

Jiang Yan's strength had subtly improved quite a bit over the past few days, so he was full of confidence, feeling that Zhou Chen was nothing more than a local chicken or a clay dog.

Zhou Chen said indifferently: "Get lost, or die."

"You're looking for death!"

Jiang Yan shouted angrily and attacked directly.

Flame Phoenix True Form!