Chapter 1636: Power Overwhelms Ninth Rank

In the gray light, the green-skinned alien felt its protective spiritual barrier solidify, instantly rendering it immobile. At that moment, a massive gray hand pressed down.

The alien felt darkness descend from above and the air around it tighten, making it impossible to breathe. Following this, an irresistible force of gravity suddenly pressed down on its shoulders. With a thud, the green-haired alien, unable to resist the immense, mountain-like pressure, felt its muscles loosen and bones soften. Its knees buckled, and it sank to one knee on the ground.

The gray hand, about half a foot above the alien's head, bore down heavily on its protective spiritual barrier, immobilizing it completely. The green-haired alien's face, initially pale, quickly turned a vivid crimson. It was unclear if this was due to overexertion of its cultivation or perhaps embarrassment. The entire third floor instantly fell silent. Both local cultivators and visitors alike stared in awe and shock. Among them, Elder Yan, despite his surprise, showed a hint of joy. In the distance, the alien named Gui's eye twitched, and his gaze towards Han Li turned as cold as ice. The noblewoman Xian Lun's expression, however, changed several times. Although she knew Han Li possessed extraordinary abilities, the sight of him instantly overpowering an opponent two tiers higher than himself was far beyond her expectations, filling her heart with mixed emotions.

Yue Zong was also greatly astonished, gazing at Han Li in a daze, speechless.

As for the woman in palace attire and the others, they were all wide-eyed with disbelief.

Han Li remained oblivious to all this, simply narrowing his eyes as he looked at the green-haired alien on the ground, whose bones were audibly cracking.

After being forced to one knee by the massive glowing hand, the alien stared at Han Li with extreme resentment and humiliated rage. At the same time, its protective spiritual barrier flickered wildly, as if it still intended to force itself to stand. Han Li's lip twitched, and he let out a cold snort. The black palm, which had been raised, suddenly flipped over. Instantly, a dark, unremarkable mountain about ten feet tall mysteriously materialized with a tremor from the massive gray hand that had been pressing on the green-haired alien. It then pressed downwards. With a muffled crash, the mountain not only shattered the green-haired alien's protective spiritual barrier but also completely flattened the kneeling alien onto the ground.

Then, with a tremor, the small mountain expanded to three or four *zhang* (approx. 10-13 meters) in height, pinning the green-haired alien completely beneath it with a rumbling sound, leaving only half of its head visible.

Meanwhile, the seemingly ordinary floorboards trembled violently. A layer of white spiritual light then emanated from the floor and the four walls of the level, while strange talismans surged forth from all directions before vanishing in a flash.

In an instant, the floorboards returned to normal.

This place was clearly equipped with an incredibly profound and massive restriction. Otherwise, the aftermath of the force unleashed during the recent struggle alone would have shattered the entire pavilion many times over. "Now, do I have a third option?" Han Li retracted his arm and calmly asked the alien pinned beneath the black mountain.

Normally, against a peak Refinement Stage cultivator in an open confrontation, Han Li would have needed to exert significant effort, even if he didn't resort to his deadliest trump cards, to defeat the opponent.

However, this particular alien, confident in its powerful physique, chose to face Han Li head-on without evasion in such a confined space. As a result, under Han Li's immense strength combined with the formidable power of his Brahma Sacred Devil Arts, the alien was naturally no match.

When the alien later realized its precarious situation and attempted to flee or activate other treasures, it was already too late. Under Han Li's overwhelming pressure, amplified by the activated Primordial Magnetic Divine Light, it could barely defend itself, let alone do anything else.

Seeing his companion effortlessly subdued by Han Li, the man named Gui in the distance had a fleeting flash of blood-red light across his face before his eyebrows shot up in anger. The bloody aura swirling around his body became exceptionally dense. He slowly stood up, seemingly intending to approach Han Li. Upon witnessing this, the woman in palace attire and her companions had their expressions of surprise and delight suddenly freeze.

For him to approach so nonchalantly after witnessing Han Li's displayed abilities indicated that he undoubtedly had something to rely on. Elder Yan's eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the man named Gui.

Han Li, however, simply turned his head to look at the approaching figure, showing no unusual emotion on his face.

As the man named Gui walked closer step by step, the atmosphere in the pavilion became exceptionally tense.

The other dozen or so individuals, not affiliated with either party, also stared wide-eyed, unblinking, at the potential intense confrontation.

"Fellow cultivators, please put away your treasures. This is Thundercloud Pavilion, where combat is prohibited. If you wish to spar, you may do so in the specially designated arena on a higher floor. Otherwise, all of you will be disqualified from entering the Demonic Gold Mountain Range." A stern, unfamiliar male voice suddenly echoed from the staircase leading to the fourth floor. Han Li's expression shifted upon hearing this, and the man named Gui opposite him also halted. "It's the new Steward Min. Fellow cultivator Han, please stop for now," Elder Yan quickly advised, his eyes flashing.

Han Li raised an eyebrow, glanced at the green-haired alien pinned beneath the mountain, and chuckled softly before reaching out with a single hand towards the small mountain.

With a soft pop, the black mountain, enveloped in flickering gray light, disintegrated and vanished as if it were mere foam.

The alien, previously pinned to the ground, leaped up, its face flushed crimson. With a low growl, it opened its mouth, and a faint yellow light flickered, indicating an immediate attack on Han Li. Seeing this, Han Li merely sneered without making any discernible movement. "Stop! You are no match for him. Come back!" the man named Gui ordered coldly, his tone commanding. "He only succeeded because I was unprepared! I must…" The green-haired alien, in its rage, seemed unwilling to listen. "What? Do you think my words are incorrect?" the man named Gui's face darkened, and he spoke icily.

The words were not loud, but they made the green-haired alien shiver. Its angry expression vanished, immediately replaced by a look of terror as it hastily declared, "I wouldn't dare!"

After glaring fiercely at Han Li, the green-haired alien truly walked back to its original spot and sat cross-legged on the mat, its face grim. "Since this fellow cultivator insists on keeping Fellow Cultivator Yue, then so be it. From your earlier words, it seems none of you came specifically for the Ganoderma Immortal."

"In that case, we have no conflict. I also don't wish to engage in battle unnecessarily and waste spiritual power. However, next time, if you dare to stand in my way again, it won't be so easily resolved!" the man named Gui said grimly, then also turned and sat down. Hearing the threat, Han Li merely stroked his chin, smiling silently. Only then did the elder and the others nearby truly breathe a sigh of relief. As the woman in palace attire smiled enchantingly at Han Li, about to speak, Steward Min's voice once again came from the staircase:

"Aside from those of the higher clans at eighth and ninth tiers, all others wishing to apply for entry into the Demonic Gold Mountain Range must pass a test. Those who wish to enter the mountain range may now ascend the stairs. Only two individuals may come up at a time!"

Steward Min's words were utterly calm, but they immediately caused a stir among the people gathered there.

After exchanging glances, two individuals immediately rushed up the stairs one after another, disappearing from the stairwell in an instant. These two, one at the Mid-Spirit Transformation stage and the other at the Early Refinement stage, belonged to neither the elder's nor the Gui-named man's faction. A trace of regret flashed across the faces of those who had not reacted quickly enough. In any case, being the first to obtain the Lightning-Averting Umbrella would certainly bring only benefits, not drawbacks.

Now, the remaining individuals could only wait patiently in place. Some focused intently on the movements upstairs, hoping to discern what was happening.

However, it was unclear whether there was a restriction set up upstairs or if the test itself was completely silent. The staircase above remained perfectly quiet; not a single sound emanated from it.

This left some individuals feeling disappointed.

The test duration was neither long nor short; after half an hour, only one person descended.

Everyone's gaze instantly swept over to him.

The person's clothes were tattered, with several faint bloodstains, looking as if they had just been in a struggle.

"Fellow Cultivator Zhu, how was the test? Did you get the Lightning-Averting Umbrella?" an acquaintance among the visitors couldn't help but stand up and ask.

"I passed, yes! But Steward Min strictly instructed not to reveal how the test was conducted, or the Lightning-Averting Umbrella will be reclaimed! Furthermore, regardless of whether one passes or fails, anyone who undergoes the test must immediately leave this place. I won't say more; I must depart now."

The somewhat disheveled man spoke only a few vague words before hurrying downstairs without hesitation.

Hearing this, the questioner found it difficult to press further and could only sit back down with a disgruntled expression.

After another period of waiting, the other person also descended from the fourth floor, looking dejected.

Unlike the previous person, this individual, who had a lower cultivation level, was completely unharmed but wore a look of utter dejection. However, this person did not linger on the third floor and proceeded directly downstairs.

Seeing such a peculiar situation, some individuals suddenly became hesitant, cautiously eyeing others. Clearly, they all harbored the thought of letting someone else go up and try first. "Two more up!" Steward Min's urging voice came from the top of the stairs.

Han Li's gaze swept around, and seeing that no one was moving, he tilted his head slightly, stood up with a smile, and headed straight for the stairwell. However, after taking only a few steps, he heard footsteps behind him; another person was following. "There's no need to rush, fellow cultivator. It wouldn't be too late to go up after a short wait," Han Li said without turning his head, seemingly aware of who was behind him. "Senior, rest assured! I made some inquiries about the test beforehand and came somewhat prepared," a pleasant voice replied from behind him. It was none other than Xian Xian, the noblewoman.