"Tread!"
"Seventh Rank!"
As the heavy footsteps fell once more, Xiao Yan remained steadfast, standing on the seventh step leading to the seventh floor of the Obsidian Tower, unwilling to bow his head. His jaw was clenched, and hissing sounds could be heard constantly emanating from between his teeth.
It took Xiao Yan nearly two hours just to climb those seven steps. To Xiao Yan himself, this speed was as slow as a tortoise crawl. But he never thought about what those Nine-Star Dou Di powerhouses would think if they saw this.
Especially the Southern Hall. Five years ago, he also stepped onto these steps, but it took him two days to reach the tenth step. If he saw Xiao Yan's current speed, it would be hard to imagine what the Southern Hall would think.
Most importantly, the Obsidian Tower is drawing ever closer to closing, and the pressure within it is terrifyingly strong, far surpassing the pressure the Southern Hall faced back then!
This time, Xiao Yan stood there catching his breath for a full half hour before finally taking another difficult step.
His body was slightly hunched, and his movements were as slow as an old man's. When Xiao Yan took another step onto the eighth step, his body suddenly sank downwards, and he almost fell down. But in the end, he still managed to stand up with a ferocious expression on his face!
"Drink..."
A hoarse growl escaped his throat. This time, Xiao Yan's movements didn't stop at all. As the pressure above his head descended, he stepped onto the eighth step, his body suddenly bent forward, and one hand slammed hard onto the ground with a bang.
"Sizzle!"
Under this terrifying pressure, Xiao Yan Xiao Yan's black robe was smashed to pieces, revealing his flushed body underneath.
"Puff!"
Heavenly Flames rose, and the eerie white flames rapidly condensed on Xiao Yan's body, transforming into a suit of fire armor. With this, he once again resisted the terrifying pressure above his head!
"Click!"
However, the flame armor only lasted for a short while before a cracking sound suddenly rang out!
"What!"
A sudden shock ran through him. He hadn't expected the pressure to be so terrifying that even the Heavenly Flames armor couldn't withstand it!
Crimson blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. Under this terrifying pressure, Xiao Yan's internal organs were also damaged. If he did not stop, he would likely suffer even more serious injuries!
" Golden Elephant Art, activate!"
With a roar in his heart, domineering golden light instantly condensed on Xiao Yan's body, and the pressure emanating from him also dropped significantly!
"Nine..."
With heavy breathing, Xiao Yan lifted his foot and stepped onto the ninth step!
"Tenth..."
"Pfft!"
As he took the tenth step, the golden light covering Xiao Yan's body quickly dimmed. This time, Xiao Yan's hands landed heavily, his arms trembling violently as he struggled to support his body. His solid muscles hardened like steel at this moment.
His limbs, like pillars supporting the Holding Up the Heavens, forcefully propped up Xiao Yan's body, but this was clearly far from enough. In just a short while, Xiao Yan's body began to sway more and more, looking as if he would collapse at any moment.
"Little one, can you still hold on?"
At this moment, Xiao Xuan's solemn words also resonated in his heart. The latter could no longer hold on. If he stayed here any longer, Xiao Yan would only be severely injured by the pressure here, and that would be really troublesome.
Xiao Xuan was prepared; if Xiao Yan couldn't hold on any longer, he would immediately inscribe an array to temporarily resist the oppressive force within the Obsidian Tower!
"I... can still hold on!"
Not to be outdone, Xiao Yan retorted, then forcefully raised his head, which had been pressed down, and stared intently at the steps ahead. There were still eleven steps left; once he stepped onto them, he would reach the seventh floor!
"Drink!"
With a loud shout, like a dragon's roar accompanied by a phoenix's cry, Xiao Yan's entire body was covered in purple-gold Long Lin as his Dragon-Phoenix Bloodline and Ancient Dragon Phoenix Armor worked together!
At this moment, all the power in Xiao Yan's body was frantically concentrated in his legs. With one step, he seemed to have the strength to support the Holding Up the Heavens, with a hurricane following him. His speed was as fast as a flash of lightning, gone in an instant!
"Tread!"
With one step, he leaped across two steps!
Take three steps in quick succession!
fourth!
fifth!
Twenty-one!
With a roar in his heart, Xiao Yan's foot landed. His face was ferocious, but also carried a hint of fanaticism. His eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at the twenty-first step. His foot was finally about to step onto the twenty-first step, which was also the seventh level, a realm that only experts at the Origin Transformation Realm could enter!
"The seventh floor!"
"Buzz!"
However, just as Xiao Yan's foot landed, an incredibly terrifying pressure suddenly burst forth from the seventh floor, like the Yellow River bursting its banks, howling past!
Xiao Yan's body was struck hard by this powerful pressure, and he was sent flying. The effort that had taken him nearly three hours was reduced to nothing in an instant, and Xiao Yan was back to his starting point!
"Pfft!"
His body slammed violently into the ground, and a mouthful of blood gushed out, spraying everywhere.
With just one strike, Xiao Yan was nearly seriously injured. One can imagine how terrifying the pressure from the seventh level must be!
"Puff..."
As he rolled over, Xiao Yan spat out another mouthful of blood. His flushed face instantly lost all color, and his aura weakened.
"Little guy, you were too impulsive this time. Forcing your way into the seventh level—even an ordinary Origin Transformation Realm wouldn't have that ability! And you actually..."
"Ahem, ancestor, there's no need to worry. I just wanted to know where the limit was. Although I haven't actually reached it yet, I now know."
Upon hearing Xiao Xuan's words, Xiao Yan grinned, looking completely unconcerned, with even a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Although his actions were crazy, he accomplished something that even Nine-Star Dou Di powerhouse had not been able to do.
On the twenty-first step, which is the seventh floor of the Obsidian Tower, there is a footprint, slightly stained with blood...
With a flick of his wrist, several fourth-grade pills appeared in his hand. These pills were rare treasures elsewhere, but in his hands, they were as common as candy.
He swallowed it whole without a second thought, and instantly, the potent medicinal power transformed into a warm current that spread throughout Xiao Yan's body. His previously severe injuries began to heal rapidly at a visible pace. Although the injuries he had sustained were not minor, they were nothing new to Xiao Yan, and he was already used to them.
With the help of the medicine within his body, Xiao Yan recovered from his injuries while retreating towards the first level.
As the pressure within the tower intensified, coupled with his current injuries, Xiao Yan was simply unable to remain on the sixth level any longer.
Although his body still felt heavy, Xiao Yan's movements were undoubtedly much lighter than before, as if the shackles he carried had been removed.
Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Yan's speed had actually increased slightly, but due to the current situation, he was unaware of it.
A short while later, Xiao Yan appeared before the first set of steps. From there, he could see the Southern Hall sitting cross-legged outside the Obsidian Tower. The latter seemed to be waiting for him. The moment Xiao Yan appeared, their eyes met.