Starting from the second layer, Ling Xuan no longer needed to demonstrate the Gatekeeper's combat strength to Feng Lishuang and the others. He went straight all out.
He unleashed the third layer of the Fire God Absolute Domain Blade at full power and took down the Gatekeeper in a single exchange.
On the third layer, the Gatekeeper also used the third layer of the Fire God Absolute Domain Blade. But Ling Xuan's Law Comprehension was higher, and his moves were more flexible and varied. After only a few exchanges, he easily cut the opponent down.
On the fourth layer, the Gatekeeper used the fourth layer of the Fire God Absolute Domain Blade: Sun Piercing Slash.
Ling Xuan had already broken through and mastered this move in the heat of battle when he challenged the Trial Tower three years ago.
Over the past three years, he had not only fully comprehended the first volume of Space-Time Essays, but had also often sought guidance from the Giant Axe Founder.
With the Giant Axe Founder's vast awareness, even while roaming the Universe Ocean, sparing a sliver of his attention to guide a little Universe Level fellow like Ling Xuan was no trouble at all.
Ling Xuan's swordsmanship had improved rapidly, and his grasp of the fourth layer was far stronger than the Gatekeeper's.
After several more exchanges, he cut his opponent down, and the path to the fifth layer appeared beneath his feet.
Ling Xuan became a streak of crimson lightning, streaking across the sky as he flew straight toward the next layer.
The fourth and fifth layers were both swept by howling gales. They were already at an extreme height, and the Heavenly Bridge on the fifth layer stood far above the sea below. To the naked eye, only the dim, raging winds of the fourth layer could be seen; the sea was nowhere in sight.
"The fifth layer!" Ling Xuan's eyes blazed as he stared at the enormous tornado ahead, which spun ceaselessly and radiated a terrifying aura.
The tornado seemed like a living creature. In a low, hoarse voice, it said, "Choose one: warrior, Controller, or illusionist. Defeat your opponent to enter the sixth layer."
"Warrior!" Ling Xuan answered without hesitation.
As soon as he spoke, a grating metallic scrape came from the center of the tornado.
"Shhk, shhk!" Amid a piercing whistle, a figure shot out of the tornado.
He was a burly man clad in black armor, with battle boots on his feet and an equally dark mask covering his face. He gripped a Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear identical to Ling Xuan's, and faint black mist swirled around him. His presence was fearsome.
"To reach the fifth layer on your first attempt at the Heavenly Bridge as a Universe Level warrior—you've got decent talent," the Black-Armored Man sneered. "But this is about as far as you'll get. Go back and train some more!"
"Big words," Ling Xuan said, his gaze sharpening. He planted his feet in his Flowing Cloud Battle Boots, and crimson flames suddenly surged around him.
He could feel that the aura radiating from his opponent was several times stronger than that of the previous Gatekeepers.
The black-armored man roared and closed in like a phantom, his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear cleaving down with a shrill whistle.
The strike was incredibly fast. The blade tore through the air with a piercing shriek.
Ling Xuan raised his weapon to block. With a thunderous clang, sparks flew, and visible ripples spread through the air where their weapons collided.
The black-armored man used the force of the impact to spin, sweeping his blade across. The three points of his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear traced half a black crescent before him and stabbed viciously toward Ling Xuan's waist and abdomen.
The angle was treacherous. Ling Xuan pulled in his stomach and leaned back, twisting his waist like a drawn bow until his body bent at an impossible angle.
He swung his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear upward from below. As the weapon turned, crimson flames spiraled along its blade and crashed into the black crescent of the black-armored man's attack.
The two forces collided, exploding into a fireball a thousand meters across in the void. The searing shockwave whipped the surrounding gales into swirling vortices, while the roar of the flames made their ears ring.
Seizing the instant before Ling Xuan could recover from his previous move, the black-armored man pressed in.
His wrist flicked, and his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear shot forward like a venomous snake, its three points stabbing almost simultaneously at the vital spots on Ling Xuan's chest.
Ling Xuan's pupils contracted. He spun both arms rapidly, channeling the power of flames throughout his body. His Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear became a wheel of fire, crimson flames coiling around him like a giant serpent and shielding every vital point.
It was a masterful defensive technique. The shield of fire collided with the black-armored man's Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear, ringing out in a series of crisp metallic clashes. Each impact sent ripples through the surrounding space.
He defended while attacking. At the instant he blocked, Ling Xuan used the recoil from the weapons' collision to spin halfway through the air.
Riding the momentum of his turn, he thrust the blade straight out toward the black-armored man's neck.
Wherever the blade passed, the scorching flames ignited the air with a series of muffled pops.
The black-armored man had no choice but to pull back and block. Their Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spears collided with a heavy crash, and the resulting energy scattered the howling winds around them, leaving a vacuum.
"Space Rending Moon Slash!" Seeing that he couldn't gain the upper hand at close range, the black-armored man suddenly roared and unleashed the fifth layer of the Fire God Absolute Domain Blade.
Gripping his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear with both hands, he made the blade vibrate violently. Three black, crescent-shaped blades of energy shot out in a fan.
The air tore like rags wherever the blades passed, making a grating hiss. They seemed to form one small black hole after another.
Ling Xuan's expression turned grave, and flames surged three feet higher around him.
He drew a deep breath. The crimson-gold patterns on the Fire God Absolute Domain Blade shone brilliantly as he unleashed the fifth layer of the Fire God Absolute Domain Blade as well.
"Space Rending Moon Slash!"
Nine crimson blades of energy howled forth and collided with the black blades in midair.
In an instant, the resulting energy erupted like a supernova, its blinding light illuminating the entire fifth layer.
Ripples in space surged against one another, forming expanding, distorted vortices. The Heavenly Bridge shook violently, and the ancient runes on its surface flickered beneath the force, as if they might fall away at any moment.
While the black-armored man's strength was spent and he had yet to muster more, Ling Xuan darted forward in a streak of crimson light.
He used the fourth layer of the Flying Dragon in the Sky movement technique, Youlong, transforming into a scarlet dragon that swept past the black-armored man in the blink of an eye. His Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear flashed up and down in his hands.
At times, he moved like a swimming dragon emerging from the sea, thrusting the spear point straight toward his opponent's face; at others, he struck like a fierce tiger descending a mountain, sweeping the weapon across his waist and abdomen.
It was a seamless series of combined attacks. Shadows of the spear swept toward the black-armored man like a storm, each trailing scorching flames that carved long streaks through the void.
The black-armored man roared and swung his weapon, trying to hold him off. But Ling Xuan's attacks grew faster and fiercer, every strike carrying the force to split mountains and shatter stone.
Under the relentless onslaught, gaps gradually appeared in the black-armored man's defense.
Ling Xuan seized his chance and turned the blade. A crimson blade beam infused with powerful Law energy flashed past like lightning.
With a sharp clang, the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear in the black-armored man's hands was knocked away, tracing a black arc through the air.
Fear showed on the disarmed man's face. He tried to retreat, only to find himself surrounded by Ling Xuan's flames.
Before he could react, Ling Xuan unleashed Space Rending Moon Slash again.
This time, the crimson blades of energy transformed into a gigantic red moon. With unstoppable force, it engulfed the black-armored man in an instant.
With an unwilling roar, the black-armored man vanished into the crimson flames, leaving behind only a little black ash. A gust of wind swept it away, and it disappeared without a trace.
The fifth layer, cleared!
The storm subsided, revealing the path to the sixth layer of the Heavenly Bridge. Ling Xuan became a streak of light and quickly flew onward.
By then, Bafen, the Venerable who sent out mass emails, had already spread the news that Ling Xuan had broken through five layers of the Heavenly Bridge in a row.
The powerful warriors who received Bafen's email showed little reaction. Given that Ling Xuan's strength was enough to clear the seventh layer of the Trial Tower, it was only natural that he could reach the seventh layer of the Trial Tower.
What they cared about was whether Ling Xuan would use that ability again as he challenged the Heavenly Bridge. If he didn't, what was his true level now?
If he did, then which layer would be his limit?
Before you continue