Watching Sikong Jing disappear, Gongsun Chi froze on the spot...
"What's going on? What Absolute Heart Emperor?"
He was completely bewildered, utterly unaware of what had happened outside. How had an Absolute Heart Emperor suddenly appeared?
Eighth Layer...
As the strongest in Demon-Control Mountain, Sikong Jing needed no trial. What he wanted now was to enter the Ninth Layer.
"Gongsun Chi can't die either. When I enter the Ninth Layer, he must step into the Eighth Layer."
"That way, Absolute Heart Emperor can be blocked in the Seventh Layer..."
"But that depends on whether I can enter the Ninth Layer."
As mentioned before, only those in the Emperor Realm could enter the Ninth Layer. He was at the peak of the Ninth Calamity Realm; whether he could get in remained unknown. And if he could not...
Once Gongsun Chi descended into the Eighth Layer, Sikong Jing could only be thrown out.
Just as he had experienced before...
When Yue Xi entered the Eighth Layer back then, neither he nor Cheng Yin could enter it. They had to wait for the outcome of Yue Xi's trial.
So once Gongsun Chi came down, if Sikong Jing could not enter the Ninth Layer, he could only return to the Seventh Layer or leave Demon-Control Mountain outright...
And neither option was acceptable to Sikong Jing.
"If I truly can't enter the Ninth Layer, then I'll find a way to destroy Demon-Control Mountain."
The instant this thought crossed Sikong Jing's mind... Bzzzz!
The Snow-Tempered Sword flashed into view. Within it was now the New New New Snow-Tempered Sword Spirit. It stared at Sikong Jing and said, "You are qualified to enter the Ninth Layer. I shall now... open it for you!"
Just as Sikong Jing had expected, the Ninth Layer was indeed now open