Within the Nether Pagoda.
Sensing the flow of time on the second level, Li Xuan's eyes lit up with excitement. The flow of time on this second level was indeed much slower than on the first.
However, Li Xuan quickly calmed himself. Upon entering the second level, he had already felt that to proceed to the next level, one had to withstand sufficient pressure.
The mere pressure of this second level required Li Xuan to exert thirty percent of his physical strength to resist. How much more terrifying would the pressure on each subsequent level be?
"It seems reaching the top of the pagoda won't be easy," Li Xuan said with a wry smile, shaking his head. Then, his gaze shifted, and he once again walked towards the stairs leading to the third level.
Even if he didn't know how many levels he could ultimately reach, giving up without trying was not Li Xuan's style.
Moreover, on the first and second levels, Li Xuan had not sensed Li Yao's presence. This meant Li Yao was not in the lower levels of the Nether Pagoda.
Li Xuan also noticed that, besides himself, many of the top hundred contestants had already entered the upper levels. He suspected he was probably the only one left on this second level who hadn't figured out the mystery of the Nether Pagoda.
Just as Li Xuan thought, the top hundred contestants on the Nether Ranking were naturally far more aware of the Nether Pagoda's secrets than he was. Furthermore, most of them had entered the Nether Pagoda more than once. Familiarity breeds efficiency, as the saying goes.
Another point Li Xuan was unaware of was that although the Nether Pagoda had the effect of extremely slow time flow, it was only open for this month each year. Therefore, no one would linger unnecessarily. Reaching their limit layer early and commencing cultivation would naturally allow them more practice time.
As for safety, everyone had no concerns. Anyone who entered the Nether Pagoda was automatically protected by it. If a fight erupted, at best, both parties would be expelled from the pagoda. At worst, they would be killed on the spot by the pagoda's power.
This was also why the Grand Elder's family's Combined Realm realm expert dared not make a move upon seeing Li Xuan on the first level.
As time passed, Li Xuan circulated forty percent of his physical strength and ascended to the fifth level of the Nether Pagoda in one go.
What puzzled Li Xuan was that even on this fifth level, he still hadn't sensed Li Yao's presence. This greatly confused him. How could Li Yao, with her strength, withstand such immense pressure?
"Never mind, I'll keep climbing. I wonder which level that girl Yao'er is on. Based on Ming Luo's intelligence, it shouldn't be wrong. Although Yao'er's strength is a bit weaker, she is after all the Saintess of the Nine Nether clan, so she might have other methods to move freely within the Nether Pagoda."
After thinking this, Li Xuan walked towards the stairs to the sixth level once more.
Outside the Nether Pagoda, Envoy Ming Chang and others watched as ten beams of faint light illuminated the seventh level of the Nether Pagoda. Their gazes all fell upon the sixth level.
Those ranked in the top ten of the Nether Ranking had all reached the Combined Realm. Entering the seventh level naturally didn't require too much effort for them; it had been this way every year. However, whether any new contestants would enter the seventh level was something Envoy Ming Chang and the others eagerly anticipated.
"The first ten to enter the seventh level this year are the same as usual. I wonder if this Li Xuan, whom Envoy Ming Chang spoke of, can enter the seventh level. Everyone is currently on the fifth and sixth levels. If they can't enter the next level within half an hour, the pressure will increase."
As the faint light of the seventh level lit up, an old man with a handlebar mustache withdrew his gaze and said to Envoy Ming Chang.
Envoy Ming Chang nodded slightly and replied, "We'll wait for half an hour. If anyone enters the seventh level, it's likely to be that Li Xuan. The other top hundred contestants likely don't have the strength to withstand the pressure of the seventh level."
Upon hearing this, Ming Yuan Ji and the others were once again shocked. Envoy Ming Chang's words reaffirmed Li Xuan's potential.
It was important to remember that becoming one of the top hundred contestants on the Nether Ranking meant possessing excellent strength and talent.
Yet, to receive such affirmation from Envoy Ming Chang among all these individuals, just how terrifying was Li Xuan's talent? However, recalling the 'Tendency of Heaven and Earth' that Envoy Ming Chang had mentioned earlier, Ming Yuan Ji and the other four fell silent.
The Tendency of Heaven and Earth was akin to the rules of heaven and earth. Within the Nether Realm, even they felt awe towards the rules of heaven and earth. To be able to utilize them for one's own purposes, such comprehension alone was enough to leave them far behind.
"What terrifying pressure! This power, it's likely the pressure of a mid-stage peak Combined Realm expert!" Li Xuan, having just ascended to the sixth level, felt surges of terrifying pressure pressing in from all directions. Reacting to this, Li Xuan immediately circulated his spiritual energy to resist.
After steadying himself, he began to sense his surroundings. However, upon doing so, Li Xuan felt a sense of regret. On this sixth level, besides the presence of the top hundred contestants, there was still no trace of Li Yao.
"Could it be that Yao'er is really at the top of the pagoda?" Li Xuan shook his head with a wry smile, then his gaze shifted towards the stairs to the seventh level. As Li Xuan walked towards the stairs to the seventh level, the top hundred contestants who had arrived on the sixth level earlier all opened their eyes.
"He actually wants to enter the seventh level?"
"With the strength of a mid-stage Creation Realm expert, he wants to enter the seventh level to cultivate? Is he trying to court death?"
"The seventh level has always been for those in the Combined Realm to enter. This youngster, though he defeated Ming He Tai and Ming He Yue, it's probably still difficult for him to enter the seventh level."
"Insufficient strength but aspiring to enter the seventh level, he'll likely be crushed into a meat patty by the pressure instantly. I initially thought this kid was decent, but now it seems he's just a short-lived ghost."
"..."
Seeing this, everyone on the sixth level shook their heads. The pressure on the seventh level was incredibly terrifying. Among those present were many at the peak of the Creation Realm, and even they dared not venture there.
Li Xuan, a mid-stage Creation Realm expert, aspiring to enter the seventh level? Wasn't that a fool's dream?
The murmurs of the crowd naturally reached Li Xuan's ears. Li Xuan simply offered a wry smile in response, but his gaze towards the stairs to the seventh level became even more resolute.
His purpose for coming here was to find Li Yao. If it were just for cultivation, Li Xuan wouldn't be so reckless. But in life, shouldn't one have a moment of madness?
With that thought, Li Xuan's expression turned resolute, and he stepped onto the stairs to the seventh level.
The next moment, the physical strength of the Myriad Phenomena Realm was instantly unleashed.
As streams of spiritual light surged, Li Xuan exerted all his strength in an instant.
Boom!
The moment Li Xuan's foot landed on the stairs, a terrifying pressure surged towards him.
Hum.
With a hum, Li Xuan's figure instantly vanished.
"What! He, he succeeded!" Seeing this, everyone stood up in shock.
At this moment, the ten individuals on the seventh level, upon hearing the hum, all opened their eyes. Their gazes immediately fell upon Li Xuan.
"Someone else can actually enter the seventh level. It seems our pace needs to quicken." someone said.
"We ten have been on this seventh level for several years. It's time for new blood to join. It's just unexpected that this time, it's a mid-stage Creation Realm expert who has entered."
At this moment, Li Xuan paid no heed to the gazes of the others, but a look of excitement flickered in his eyes. Because upon entering this seventh level, that familiar aura instantly appeared within Li Xuan's senses.
"Yao'er, brother has finally found you."