With each iteration, the pain increased but surprisingly, Luke was able to manage it.
He continued refining steadily, reaching the 40th iteration the limit typically associated with red-tier talents and even pushed beyond, reaching the 49th without much difficulty.
However, when he attempted the 50th iteration, the pain became unbearable.
It felt as though he couldn't even breathe, as if someone were dissecting his brain while simultaneously piercing his heart with an arrow.
But with the foundation of his previous experiences, he gritted his teeth and endured, successfully completing the iteration.
Afterward, he clearly felt a transformation a qualitative and quantitative change in his Soul.
His Qi capacity had significantly increased, and his soul had become stronger.
After that, surprisingly, the pain did not increase with each iteration.
Nor did the time it took change, even as he advanced all the way to the 99th refinement.
But when he finally completed the 99th iteration, a strong instinct told him that attempting one more could be life-threatening.
Still, he had come so far his soul had been refined ninety-nine times, a feat several times greater than any of his peers could imagine.
Yet, the words that had echoed in his mind for years returned to him: "A hundred refinements. A soul vast and indestructible." Muttering the phrase like a vow, he made up his mind.
He would complete the final iteration.
To prepare himself, he meditated for three days, calming his mind and strengthening his will.
Now nine years old, Luke began the final refinement.
As he scanned his soul with deep focus, he was surprised there wasn't even a single weak point left to exploit.
He pondered the situation for a while, then inspiration struck.
Instead of targeting weak spots, he would attack every inch of his soul at once.
From the inside, he shaped the Qi into countless drills, boring outward. Simultaneously, he gathered Qi outside the soul, forming matching drills that drilled inward.
As the refinement began, a pain far beyond anything he had ever felt exploded through him like the suffering of all 99 past iterations multiplied a hundredfold.
His breath grew shallow, weaker and weaker, and a terrifying sense of déjà vu overwhelmed him… It was the same feeling he had when he died in his past world.
In his mind DEATH!!!!
In the Raindal Castle, Wilson and Sarah sat in the quiet chamber, both wearing grave expressions.
"My Lord… our son has been in that room for six years now," Sarah said, her voice filled with worry.
"That's already double the time most cultivators take to break through to the Soul Refinement Realm. I fear for his health."
Wilson gently took her hand and replied, "Don't worry, dear. He's our son he's strong. Nothing will happen to him. Besides, we can't enter that room recklessly. If we disturb him during a critical moment, it could be fatal."
Sarah nodded reluctantly, her eyes still clouded with concern.
"He told us it might take longer," Wilson continued calmly.
"And he has rations to last ten years. All we can do now… is trust him and wait."