Once the system released the saved-up EXP and SP, as well as converted huge amounts of Qi stones, Soul crystals, and some grade-8 materials, Ace quickly felt rejuvenated as his exhausted Qi began to recover. fr𝐰ebnov𝐞𝐥.𝐜o𝗺

However, using the Sword of Mortal Heart not only drained his martial and Soul Qis but also put a huge strain on him mentally. Although he had never used this technique twice, he felt that he couldn’t use it a third time without getting blacked out.

He didn’t want to waste any time, so he quickly used his movement ability to make his way towards the path ahead, which was now completely empty. But he didn’t dare to celebrate because sparks of nine-colored lightning had already begun to appear, and they were slowly becoming potent as if desperately trying to return to normal.

On the other hand, the sword phantom behind him greedily absorbed those small nine-colored lightning sparks as if trying to undergo another change, and Ace was now really wondering just what kind of changes appeared after the sword cores entered the sword heart.

Ace left this to later, and for now, he fully focused on the path ahead. His speed was lightning-fast, but despite that, he still didn’t see the end of this path. He didn’t know at what distance the Sword of Mortal Heart had annihilated the lightning pillars and the phantoms of fallen aspirants, but it was ridiculously large. Even after traveling for over a 5000-meter distance, he could still feel the lingering aura of the Sword of Mortal Heart.

Suddenly, his expression morphed into one of utter disbelief. A new section of the path emerged, a vision straight out of someone’s worst nightmares.

The once translucent crystal road abruptly ended, replaced by a seemingly endless sea of burning lava. The molten rock churned and bubbled, its surface dancing with towering flames of an ethereal golden white.

The heat was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Even at a distance, it felt as if his very soul was being seared, a primal fear taking hold. He could sense a complete lack of any physical defense against this inferno.

A chilling voice resonated in his mind at that moment.

“This is the intermediate section of the Ascension Primordial Path of Doom, the Path of Cinderfall of Doubt. Here, your soul and host will be tested. You’ll experience more pain the further you go, and you’ll start to doubt yourself and want to give up.

“But the moment you did, you’ll really succumb to the Cinderfall of Doubt’s flames and become part of it just like others before you. Only those with unbreakable willpower and the will to move power no matter the pain or hardship can pass through this place.

“Moreover, because of your Heavenly Punishment, even the slightest flicker of fear, the faintest whisper of doubt, and you will be consumed by the flames. Only with unwavering resolve host will be able to pass.

“Most importantly, remember never to turn back while you’re in the Cinderfall of Doubt; no matter what, continue to move forward, or everything will be over! This is all the system can help you with!”

Ace felt a cold chill running down his spine when he heard about the Cinderfall of Doubt’s explanation from the system. He gulped as he stared at the endless sea of burning lava, the golden white flames licking hungrily at the air.

Even without taking a step in that Cinderfall of Doubt, the heat was an oppressive force, threatening to melt him from the inside out. Fear threatened to take root in his heart, but he slammed it down. He had come too far to give up because of some damn pain.

“Just to be clear, I just need to move forward without caring about those flames burning me and not to turn around?” Ace asked, still finding this ludicrous.

“Yes, nothing will work here. This is a true test of the Primordial Ascension Path. No matter what happens, you just need to move forward without giving in to your pain and desires. If you were able to pass the Cinderfall of Doubt, your final reward from the Primordial Ascension Path would be even greater!”

Ace cocked an eyebrow when he heard about this reward, “Even I can get a reward from Heavenly Punishment?”

“This is the Primordial Ascension Path. Although its difficulty has increased to maximum because of the Heavenly Punishment, it can’t fully interfere or change its functions. The Primordial Ascension Path is fair. The more difficult it is to clear, the higher your reward will be. Heaven can’t interfere with it!

“System can tell you this that the final reward is the key to fully dissolving the seal on your bloodline!”

Ace’s eyes narrowed as he wasn’t expecting this at all, and he finally understood why the system told him that the seal on his bloodline would be removed once he cleared the final heavenly punishment.

“So, it’s always been like this, huh?” Ace sighed as his eyes turned deadly cold.

When he thought about his sealed bloodline and his missing parent, he could find nothing about their whereabouts in the mortal sky heaven except superficial information about the White Crown.

Now, he was finally close to knowing about his lineage, and he won’t give up no matter what, not to mention he still has Eva and Alina, as well as his house members’ lives, bound with him, so he can’t die for both his and their sake.

After adjusting his state of mind, he stepped into the Cinderfall of Doubt, the sea of flames. Unexpectedly, Ace thought that he would start to drown in the lava, but nothing like that happened.

‘Was that an illusion?’

Ace didn’t have time to wonder as he suddenly felt an inferno suddenly explode in his soul, and he almost lost consciousness because of the fiery pain. Ace clenched his teeth and endured and took a step forward while trying to ignore the burning sensation of his soul and body.

Even he could tell that his Qi was completely useless here and the sword phantom behind him also vanished the moment he stepped into the Cinderfall of Doubt. This was truly the test of his willpower.

But soon, Ace understood why this section of the Primordial Ascension Path was called the Cinderfall of Doubt, as indistinctive whispers began to ring in his mind, together with pain!