Chapter 869: Breaking Through the Barrier

On the twenty-second floor, atop a colossal peak, Wang Qingshan commanded seven identical azure flying swords to attack a crimson giant elephant, as large as a small mountain. This was a third-rank high-grade demonic beast.

The crimson giant elephant was entirely red, breathing crimson flames from its mouth. Its trunk could extend, striking the ground forcefully and immediately creating a long crack.

Streaks of azure sword energy struck the elephant, leaving only shallow sword marks.

Wang Qingshan frowned slightly. This demonic beast was thick-skinned and tough, so it seemed he would have to activate a sword formation to defeat it.

He chanted a sword incantation, and the seven azure flying swords glowed brightly, emitting a series of crisp sword hums.

A whooshing sound filled the air as countless azure sword energies flew out, overwhelming the crimson giant elephant.

Roar! Roar!

The crimson giant elephant let out a strange roar. Its trunk extended more than ten times its length, fiercely swatting at the incoming azure sword energy.

A thunderous crash echoed!

The sword formation was broken. The crimson giant elephant bled profusely and its aura weakened.

An azure flood dragon, formed from countless azure flying swords, lunged forward and pierced through the crimson giant elephant's body.

"Proceed to the next level."

Wang Qingshan's vision blurred, and he suddenly found himself in a dense black forest. A low buzzing sound filled the air as tens of thousands of black beetles flew out from the forest. Leading them was a three-zhang-large colossal beetle, a third-rank high-grade demonic insect.

Wang Qingshan quickly consumed a drop of Millennial Spirit Milk. He chanted a sword incantation, and his seven azure flying swords multiplied from seven to fourteen, then twenty-eight, then fifty-six, until over a thousand azure flying swords struck the black beetles.

On the twenty-sixth floor, Fairy Ziyue commanded four third-rank puppet beasts to fiercely attack a colossal crimson centipede and a massive white toad. Both were third-rank high-grade demonic beasts.

The four third-rank puppet beasts attacked with great force, wielding long blades and staffs. The crimson centipede and white toad were heavily wounded.

Fairy Ziyue chanted an incantation, and a dazzling purple light flared above her head, transforming into a small purple mirror. It emitted a large swathe of purple mist, enveloping the crimson centipede and instantly rendering it immobile.

The four third-rank puppet beasts swarmed it, smashing the crimson centipede into a bloody pulp. Fairy Ziyue repeated the technique, subsequently slaying the white toad.

"Proceed to the next level."

On the twenty-ninth floor, Gongsun Yang controlled three spirit beasts, launching a furious assault on a black-robed old man and a black-robed woman.

A three-headed crimson flood dragon, a white lion, and a colossal silver centipede, all third-rank high-grade spirit beasts, attacked. The black-robed old man and woman were somewhat flustered by their onslaught.

Roar! Roar!

The three heads of the three-headed flood dragon each spewed a vast expanse of crimson flames, striking the black-robed old man and woman.

The white lion fiercely flapped its wings, and a howling cold wind swept forth, sending hundreds of white ice balls flying.

The silver centipede let out an eerie hiss, and a large swathe of silver lightning bolts shot out.

With two screams, the black-robed old man and woman were engulfed by the crimson flames and silver lightning.

He glanced at the treasures on the jade table and declared, "Proceed to the next level."

On the thirty-first floor, Song Tianyang and Mu Yuehua of Sun Moon Palace were furiously attacking a golden-robed young man with a single golden horn and a white-gowned young woman with a pair of white feathered wings on her back. Both the golden-robed youth and the white-gowned woman were heavily wounded.

Song Tianyang chanted an incantation, and countless golden lights illuminated above his head, transforming into numerous golden orbs that emanated a terrifying heatwave.

Mu Yuehua chanted an incantation, and countless silver lights illuminated above her head, transforming into numerous silver orbs that exuded an bone-chilling coldness.

A whooshing sound filled the air as a dense barrage of golden orbs targeted the golden-robed youth, and a vast number of silver orbs struck the white-gowned young woman.

The golden orbs struck the golden-robed youth, instantly engulfing him in a vast expanse of golden flames, causing him to scream. The white-gowned young woman was hit by the silver orbs and immediately turned into an ice sculpture.

A thunderous crash echoed!

The ice sculpture was sliced in half by a crescent-shaped magical artifact. The white-gowned young woman disintegrated into specks of spiritual light and vanished.

"We'll proceed to the next level."

Their vision blurred, and a red-robed old man with a ruddy complexion appeared before them, accompanied by a thick-bodied crimson python.

"True Monarch Huoya!"

Song Tianyang and Mu Yuehua exchanged glances, then cast spells to attack True Monarch Huoya and the crimson python.

On the thirty-fourth floor, Zhou Yunxiao gazed at the golden-robed youth opposite him, a hint of excitement on his face.

Even though it was just a phantom, Zhou Yunxiao was extremely agitated. He had only met Emperor of Seven Absolutes Blades once, and on that occasion, the Emperor had given him a few pointers, considering him a semi-disciple.

"Master, I apologize for the offense, but your disciple will surely become stronger than you."

Zhou Yunxiao took a deep breath, his fighting spirit soaring.

A red blade qi and a golden blade qi collided, unleashing a powerful wave of energy.

Outside the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, Chen Ang and other Nascent Soul cultivators watched the pagoda intently.

"Someone has reached the thirty-fourth floor again. I wonder if they can pass it," Chen Ang remarked curiously.

"Haha, the new waves push the old! Who knows? If I recall correctly, within the last five millennia, only the Four Seasons Sword Venerable managed to pass the thirty-fifth floor. According to the pagoda guardian puppet, the thirty-sixth floor contains the phantom of True Monarch Azure Dragon. This individual was the patriarch of the Azure Flood Dragon clan, who unified the demonic beasts of the South Sea and invaded humanity. If not for the intervention of several of our human seniors, the South Sea would already be under demonic rule."

"This depends on the challenger's character. Everyone knows that passing the thirty-sixth floor yields rare treasures. The Immortal Suppressing Pagoda doesn't primarily test a cultivator's strength, but rather their greed. Throughout history, countless Core Formation cultivators have died in the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, many of whom were elite disciples from various sects."

Chen Ang smiled and said, "That's true, but how many can truly control themselves when faced with immense temptation? Rumor has it that the thirty-sixth floor holds a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure, though no one has ever witnessed it firsthand. Core Formation cultivators who dare to challenge the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda are generally quite confident. Before I sparred with the Emperor of Seven Absolutes Blades, I was quite confident myself. Among you fellow Daoists present, who here believes they are inferior to others?"

Upon hearing this, the Nascent Soul cultivators present showed various expressions. Indeed! Having reached their current level, they were all very confident in themselves. If they could enter the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, they would also want to pass the thirty-sixth floor; the allure of a Sky-reaching Spirit Treasure was simply too great.

Cultivation, in essence, is a struggle against one's own desires. No matter how high your cultivation level, you will always have desires. Emotionless and desireless cultivators would have long since perished.