As Duan Rong pressed down his slightly raised left heel, his body trembled as if caught in a violent shiver.
He held his head with both hands, hunching his body, letting out a low, painful growl from his throat.
Taking half a step forward, he placed his right foot on the altar but slowly stepped back, and the trembling of his body gradually ceased.
Although Duan Rong hunched his body, hands clutching his head, his eyes remained clear, with no sign of pain on his face.
At the moment, his divine soul did not feel any stabbing pain.
But since he had decided not to step onto the altar, he needed to complete his act to wrap it up nicely.
Even though Duan Rong retreated to the Tier Eight stone steps, he still held his head and hunched his body, as if enduring unbearable pain.
Not far from the white line, Xiao Yu gazed intently at Duan Rong, her eyes burning with urgency.
If her divine soul were not so weak, and if she were not under the pressure of it, she would have rushed over already.
Just as she was about to move, her vision blurred, almost causing her to faint.
Luckily, Xiao Yu steadied herself, turned her head, and urged Ximen Kankan beside her, "Go check on him quickly!"
Ximen Kankan looked distressed, "I can’t even cross the red line. How do you expect me to reach him on the altar?"
Only then did Xiao Yu realize she had been blinded by worry.
Seeing Xiao Yu’s anxiety, Ximen Kankan comforted her, "It’s fine. It’s not serious. Look, Duan Rong hasn’t fainted yet.
Duan Rong was slowly straightening his back, though his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were full of intense fear.
On the solitary peak to the southeast of the Deep Valley.
The moment Duan Rong pulled back, Chu Qiushan’s keen interest instantly dissipated.
He shook his head slightly, saying, "Seems like I’ve made this trip for nothing today. After one hundred eighty years, still, no second person can step onto this altar!"
Just as Duan Rong retreated that half step, another person on the solitary peak was significantly more affected than the disappointed Chu Qiushan.
This was Yang Sixuan, the Chairman of the Judgement and Rectification Department, standing at the east end of the row of chairs.
Yang Sixuan at the east and Lin Youjian at the west were the least experienced elders in the Elder Hall.
The moment Duan Rong pulled back that half step, the severe glint in Yang Sixuan’s eyes gradually faded.
He too, once, nearly stepped onto the altar like Duan Rong.
But at the last half step, as soon as he lifted his foot, he fainted on the altar.
Thus, watching Duan Rong in the Deep Valley just now seemed like a reflection of his reckless self from years ago.
This was just one aspect.
And another point was, if Duan Rong had succeeded just now, it would mean his divine soul strength might surpass his own.
Three years ago, in the dungeon of the Judgement and Rectification Department, when he used the Soul Illumination Seal on him during an interrogation, Duan Rong’s expression wasn’t immediately blank but appeared confused only a moment later.
Recalling this while Duan Rong was about to step onto the altar, Yang Sixuan felt a shock.
He suddenly thought that Duan Rong might have been acting to deceive him back then.
If so, the case had to be re-investigated. Duan Rong’s deceitful testimony suggested he might be significantly connected with or even a participant in the Shang Xiangyu and Pan Yong case.
Even if Duan Rong stepped onto the altar to become a genius of the sect, as Chairman of the Judgement and Rectification Department, it was his duty to thoroughly investigate major sect cases.
However, Duan Rong not only failed to step onto the altar, he even retreated a half step, his performance not even comparable to his past self.
This meant their divine soul strength during the altar attempt in the Deep Valley was at least equal, or he might still be slightly stronger than Duan Rong.
Over these years, he had been constantly cultivating the Fetal Concealment Scripture. From this perspective, his divine soul in the dungeon three years ago must have been stronger than Duan Rong’s, making it impossible for Duan Rong to resist the Soul Illumination Seal genuinely.
Yet under the Soul Illumination Seal, Duan Rong did not immediately exhibit a blank stare, indicating considerable divine soul strength, which almost allowed him to step onto the altar today.
But even if his divine soul was strong, as long as it was weaker than his, the Soul Illumination Seal would eventually control his soul and extract all secrets within.
As for Duan Rong’s strong divine soul being related to the Fetal Concealment Scripture.
Yang Sixuan immediately dismissed this notion.
Pan Yong had stolen six rare medicinal herbs, all auxiliary to the Fetal Concealment Scripture, which Yang Sixuan was sure was no coincidence.
Pan Yong’s actions must be related to the Fetal Concealment Scripture.
Yang Sixuan speculated that Pan Yong was likely under Shang Xiangyu’s orders. Shang Xiangyu might have obtained part of the Fetal Concealment Scripture or knew someone who did and made a deal involving the auxiliary medicines.
However, Duan Rong had only been with the sect for just over a month. How could Pan Yong give the Fetal Concealment Scripture medicines to a newcomer like Duan Rong?
Moreover, even if Duan Rong had been cultivating the Fetal Concealment Scripture, three years wouldn’t yield significant achievements.
The Fetal Concealment Scripture was incredibly challenging to cultivate. On this point, he was well-versed. Achieving any level took three to four years of arduous effort.
While Yang Sixuan was deeply pondering this, Chu Qiushan suddenly turned, his gaze piercing through the crowd to focus on Yang Sixuan. "Sixuan, I remember you fainted on that altar, didn’t you?"