The sixth floor's guardian!

"Qingxue, the sixth floor's guardian is a trial for each individual."

Xu Xuan drew a deep breath as he looked at Yun Qingxue before him, his gaze turning exceptionally serious.

Yun Qingxue could well be called the only person who had reached this floor at merely the Heavenly Mansion Realm.

As for everyone else, every single person who made it here was at least at the fifth level of the Heavenly Mansion Realm, without exception!

Looking at the unfamiliar inner disciples around him, Xu Xuan had no intention of paying them any attention.

But just then, a tall, thin man walked over.

"Miss, I am Gao Gang, ranked third among the inner disciples!"

The man extended his hand with a chuckle, flashing what he considered an exceptionally handsome smile.

Yun Qingxue glanced up at him and said calmly, "Do I know you?"

Gao Gang visibly froze, then recovered and gave another radiant smile. "What are you saying, miss? We didn't know each other before, but from this moment onward, we do."

"I'm ranked third among the inner disciples, and once I leave here, I'm confident I can rise to second, or even first!"

Gao Gang spoke with great pride. After all, when he first entered, he had only been at the sixth level of the Heavenly Mansion Realm. But he had gained quite a few opportunities here, advancing straight from the sixth level to the eighth, and even had hopes of reaching the ninth!

That was the source of his confidence!

In just a few days, he had broken through two levels.

Yun Qingxue frowned. Though the man before her was reasonably good-looking, everything he said oozed sleaze.

She instinctively took two steps back, unconsciously tightening her grip on Xu Xuan's hand!

This made Gao Gang turn his gaze toward Xu Xuan.

He had arrived here before them and genuinely knew nothing about what had happened earlier.

Had he known that the man before him could defeat a Core Disciple of the Purple Mansion Realm, he probably would not have thought this way.

"Who are you?"

Gao Gang frowned at Xu Xuan, a dangerous glint showing in his eyes.

"I advise you to let go of her. Otherwise, I, Gao Gang, will take your life!"

There was a threatening edge to Gao Gang's voice. "I know a few core disciples, too. If you don't mind having a little heart-to-heart with them, then do as you please."

Xu Xuan found it rather amusing. Had someone really just threatened him out of nowhere?

Xu Xuan folded his arms across his chest, a hint of amusement on his face.

"Really? So by your logic, I have to do whatever you say?"

"Threaten me? Does a crooked melon like you even have the right?"

Gao Gang's expression darkened. In front of so many inner disciples, he had actually been insulted as a crooked melon?

"If I don't teach you a proper lesson today, you won't know how many eyes Lord Ma has!"

Gao Gang was utterly enraged. He rolled up his sleeves and drew a massive, broad-bladed saber.

With a cold sneer, he charged at Xu Xuan!

"Boy, this floor is as far as you'll get!"

Some spectators simply watched with their arms folded. Those who did not know the truth expected little of Xu Xuan, while those who did looked at Gao Gang as though he were a clown.

He wasn't even afraid of core disciples. Why would he fear a mere inner disciple like you?

"Don't worry. One divine ability is all I need to deal with a crooked melon like this."

Despite the nervousness in Yun Qingxue's eyes, there was barely a ripple in Xu Xuan's gaze.

"Idiot!"

Muttering the insult, Xu Xuan showed him no indulgence. The third eye on his forehead suddenly appeared.

Then heavenly fire surged into view, filling the air.

Feeling the temperature around them suddenly turn scorching, everyone instinctively looked up. At some unknown moment, endless heavenly fire had appeared above their heads.

The heavenly fire stirred with a slight movement of Xu Xuan's finger.

"Annihilate!"

With a gentle downward sweep of his finger, the heavenly fire overhead immediately rained down as though it cost nothing.

Blast after blast of heavenly fire mercilessly smashed into Gao Gang before him!

The smile on Gao Gang's face froze. As though something had occurred to him, he opened his mouth to beg for mercy, but how could that heavenly fire possibly be taken back?

And so, without even getting close enough to touch Xu Xuan, he was eliminated outright.

"Th-this is over already?"

The inner disciples watching without knowing the truth were utterly dumbfounded.

They had expected a completely one-sided crushing, and that was indeed what they got.

The only difference was that Gao Gang was the one being crushed.

At that moment, every inner disciple present looked at Xu Xuan with apprehension, silently committing his appearance to memory.

Whatever happened, they must never offend him!

He had dealt with the third-ranked inner disciple in a single move. Just how powerful must he truly be?

He was probably no weaker than someone truly at the Purple Mansion Realm-a monstrous prodigy!

Looking at the twenty-odd inner disciples left around him, Xu Xuan could not help but sigh.

He had never expected that merely reaching the end of the sixth floor would leave only twenty-odd people.

Out of more than ten thousand people, only twenty-odd had made it this far.

There might be even fewer who reached the seventh floor.

The elimination rate was simply too high.

Before all the disciples, Xu Xuan took Yun Qingxue by the hand and walked to the sixth floor's trial entrance.

The moment the two stepped inside, they were assigned to different spaces.

Gazing at the vast starry expanse around him, Xu Xuan was somewhat dazed. Still, he felt this was merely an illusion; after all, he had been drawn into an illusion at the very beginning.

"Boy, aren't you afraid?"

Just then, a rather surprised voice rang out, and a man dressed in plain cloth appeared in the center of the vast starry expanse.

"Why should I be?"

Xu Xuan found it a little amusing. In his eyes, this was nothing more than an illusion, so there was no need to be afraid.

"This is a genuine expanse of stars, boy. You're the first person to arrive here and remain so unruffled."

The old man spoke approvingly. Who knew what he would think if he learned that Xu Xuan regarded this place as nothing more than an illusion?

Xu Xuan inwardly cursed the old man for putting on airs, but outwardly, he merely gave a slight, indifferent shake of his head.

"So, what is this trial?"

"Three basic tests. Those at or above the Heavenly Mansion Realm can pass; those below it will certainly be eliminated."

The old man smiled. "Of course, the second is whether you can touch me here."

"As for the third, do you see that door above? Fly up there, and you can enter the seventh floor."

It sounded exceedingly simple, yet hidden intricacies lurked in every part of it.

Xu Xuan was somewhat bewildered, wondering whether all three weren't just basic requirements.

Of course, the Heavenly Abode Realm requirement alone was enough to eliminate Yun Qingxue.

Fortunately, even if she failed here, she would not be in any danger, so there was no need for him to worry too much.