Xu Yang glanced at the passage leading to the Ninth Layer and suppressed the urge to step inside.
He wanted to see what the Tenth Layer and Eleventh Layer were like, but that would draw far too much attention. Clearing the eighth floor was already enough to secure his place on the Heavenly Strategy Wind and Cloud Rankings. There was no need to steal any more of the limelight.
Circulating the Formless Thousand Illusions Art, he made himself look utterly exhausted, then forced a few drops of blood from the corner of his mouth. "I concede!" Xu Yang said calmly.
The next instant, the scenery before him shifted, and he appeared at the entrance to the Battle Tower.
Xu Yang "stumbled" and reached out to brace himself against the Battle Tower.
"Xu Yang's out!"
"Look at him. His lamp's just about run out of oil."
"I was really afraid he'd make it to the Tenth Layer."
"He probably got blasted out the moment he stepped onto the Ninth Layer. That's his limit."
At the sight of Xu Yang emerging, many people breathed sighs of relief. They had been afraid he would keep going.
"Junior Brother Xu, are you all right?"
Sun Tao, who had recovered somewhat, came over to support Xu Yang, concern written on his face.
Xu Yang shook his head. "I'm fine. Just a little drained. The rest are minor injuries. I'll be all right after a short rest."
"Not bad!" Jin Yu looked over with a smile.
Xu Yang's result was now second only to Sun Tao's. Had the Cloud Ascension Rankings still existed, he would have been fifteenth.
People who repeatedly surpassed their standing on the Cloud Ascension Rankings were rare.
He was very pleased with Xu Yang's performance.
Many people looked at Xu Yang