Time gradually passed. After a quarter of an hour, Li Xuan and the other five had already ascended to over ninety steps. At this moment, a fine sheen of sweat had appeared on their foreheads.
Clearly, the higher the steps, the stronger the pressure they bore.
"This pressure must be at least at the advanced stage of the Grandmaster Realm, right?" Li Xuan couldn't help but be shocked as he felt the pressure. The Seven Treasures Hall was truly a priceless treasure, its mere pressure enough to suppress even those in the advanced Grandmaster Realm.
Hoo!
Li Xuan exhaled a breath of stale air, took a deep breath, and his eyes brightened again. He then lifted his left foot and stepped onto the steps ahead.
Boom!
As Li Xuan's left foot landed, the peak advanced Grandmaster Realm pressure instantly surged towards him. Seeing this, Li Xuan immediately circulated the full defensive power of his physical body and stood steadily on the steps.
Li Xuan calculated in his mind. He was currently on the ninety-fifth step. He then raised his head and looked at Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan, who were in front of him.
Both Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan were on the ninety-ninth step. Their expressions were grave, and as they looked at the hundredth step ahead, a hint of determination flickered in their eyes.
Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan exchanged a glance, nodded in unison, and then stepped towards the hundredth step.
Creak.
As Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan stepped onto the hundredth step, Li Xuan clearly heard the creaking sounds from within their bodies.
Evidently, the pressure Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan were enduring was extremely powerful. Otherwise, with their advanced Grandmaster Realm strength, they wouldn't react like this.
On the right, seeing Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan step onto the hundredth step first, the other three did not show any weakness. They also took a step and resolutely landed on the hundredth step.
Crack.
As the three steadied themselves, Li Xuan once again heard the sound of bones grinding against each other.
"The difference between the ninety-ninth step and the hundredth step must be a watershed," Li Xuan mused to himself.
Li Xuan glanced at himself, still on the ninety-fifth step, and then took another step, landing on the ninety-sixth step.
This time, Li Xuan did not stop. After stepping onto the ninety-sixth step, he took three consecutive steps and stood on the ninety-ninth step.
At this moment, Li Xuan could already feel how terrifying the powerful pressure surrounding him was. By calculation, it was at least at the advanced Grandmaster Realm level. If Li Xuan's physical body had not broken through to the Supreme Saint Realm, he knew he might not have been able to stand steady on the ninety-ninth step.
However, even with his physical body's full defense activated, Li Xuan felt a sense of powerlessness against this pressure.
Of course, if he activated his bloodline power, Li Xuan was confident he could face the pressure without fear. But doing so would undoubtedly expose him.
Looking at the hundredth step, which seemed no different from the ninety-ninth, Li Xuan fell into deep thought.
The current state of his senior brothers and sisters was enough to prove how strong the pressure on the hundredth step was. If he rashly stepped onto it, he might not be able to bear it.
After all, Su Yueze and the others were all at the peak advanced Grandmaster Realm. Even with such strength, they found it difficult to bear, which showed the immense power.
Thinking of this, Li Xuan frowned slightly, and the spiritual energy within his body began to circulate rapidly.
"The heavenly ladder formed by the Seven Treasures Hall seems incredibly powerful. Look, the five people at the front, Su Yueze and the others, dare not move forward."
"It must be very powerful. Otherwise, with their peak advanced Grandmaster Realm strength, why would they stop here? Although we are watching from here, we cannot know the process inside."
"..."
Seeing Li Xuan and the other five stop on the steps, the crowd began to discuss. Even the sixteen people sitting in the seats of the Seven Sages and Ten Virtues looked towards the six people on the steps.
"Huh? Look, Li Xuan is moving!"
Just then, Li Xuan, who was on the heavenly ladder, suddenly lifted his foot again and stepped onto the hundredth step.
As if sensing something, Su Yueze and the other four on the hundredth step turned to look at Li Xuan. They were clearly surprised by Li Xuan's actions.
After all, Li Xuan was the weakest among the six of them.
And yet, he was now advancing towards the hundredth step again. They had already expended a significant amount of spiritual energy just to stabilize themselves on the hundredth step with their strength.
Boom!
As Li Xuan stepped down, an immense pressure instantly enveloped him. In an instant, Li Xuan felt as if he had fallen into a quagmire, unable to move an inch further.
Seeing this, Li Xuan gritted his teeth tightly, the veins on his forehead faintly visible. His face had become extremely red. Clearly, the current pressure had exceeded Li Xuan's limit.
"Judging by his appearance, Li Xuan might not be able to ascend the hundredth step."
"That's likely. Even those five powerful individuals can only stay on the hundredth step. Although Li Xuan's strength is not weak, his cultivation level is limited."
"Looking at Li Xuan, he seems to be still trying to climb up."
"The chances are slim. He might even be thrown out of the heavenly ladder and lose his chance to compete for the position of Saint Son."
"..."
Watching Li Xuan's predicament, the crowd began to discuss again.
Above Li Xuan, Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan looked at Li Xuan's flushed face with a hint of anxiety in their eyes. However, the immense pressure prevented them from being able to help Li Xuan.
Time passed. For a full five minutes, Li Xuan maintained one foot on the hundredth step, while the other was still on the ninety-ninth step. It was clear that at this watershed, Li Xuan's own cultivation level was severely restricted.
"Drink!"
Feeling the immense pressure, the spiritual energy within Li Xuan churned like the tide. While resisting the pressure, it continuously flowed towards Li Xuan's left foot.
Clearly, Li Xuan had not given up.
With a roar, Li Xuan's physical strength and all his spiritual energy surged towards his right foot, and he forcefully stepped onto the hundredth step.
Boom!
As Li Xuan stepped forward, a pressure that made his soul tremble instantly descended.
Pfft!
As this pressure struck, Li Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura instantly weakened.
"Li Xuan!"
"Fifth Junior Brother!"
"..."
Seeing Li Xuan spit blood, He Xidong and the others cried out in shock.
"Li Xuan actually stepped onto the hundredth step!"
"My goodness, this Li Xuan is too incredible!"
"I think Li Xuan won't be able to hold on for long and will be ejected. As time passes, his resistance to the pressure will weaken."
"..."
Seeing Li Xuan standing on the hundredth step, the crowd was once again stunned. Although there were differing opinions, most people's gazes towards Li Xuan now carried a hint of admiration.
After all, the unyielding will Li Xuan had displayed had conquered many.
Beside Li Xuan, Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan both wanted to reach out and help him. But as soon as they extended their hands, Li Xuan stopped them and slowly shook his head at them.
"I'm fine. After spitting blood, I actually feel much better." Li Xuan forced a smile as he looked at Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan's worried gazes.
As soon as he finished speaking, the corners of the mouths of the three men not far from Li Xuan twitched slightly. However, they also felt a degree of respect for Li Xuan's willpower.
Even they felt a sense of being unable to hold on against the pressure of the Transformation Realm. However, their strength was infinitely close to the Transformation Realm, so they could still persevere.
But Li Xuan was far weaker than them, and his ability to reach this point was a testament to his perseverance.
Perhaps spurred by Li Xuan, after a brief silence, one of the three men on Li Xuan's right began to move slowly, as if intending to advance further. xxs
"Brother Yushu, you..." Seeing the movement of this figure, the man to Li Xuan's right spoke.
As the man spoke, Zhu Yushu's steps slowed, and he said slowly, "Junior Brother Li Xuan can challenge himself, so why can't we senior brothers? If I fail, I will have no regrets!"
As Zhu Yushu finished speaking, he resumed his steps and unhesitatingly stepped onto the one hundred and first step.
Perhaps truly spurred by Li Xuan, Zhu Yushu's foot landed, and after a few breaths of creaking sounds from within his body, veins also appeared on his forehead.
However, a vast aura also emanated from him. While resisting the terrifying pressure, Zhu Yushu's other foot instantly landed on the one hundred and first step.
Hiss!
Seeing this, Su Yueze and the others wore grim expressions. They had now been surpassed by Zhu Yushu and fallen behind. If they could not reach the same height as him, they would lose their chance to compete for the Saint Son position.
The remaining two men on Li Xuan's right, seeing Zhu Yushu steadily stop on the one hundred and first step, also changed their expressions. After a slight pause, they both stepped forward in unison.
Clearly, they did not want to give up now.
Su Yueze and Chai Jingyuan exchanged a wry smile and took a deep breath. They then slowly extended their left foot and also stepped towards the one hundred and first step.
Boom!
As the man closest to Li Xuan on his right landed his first foot on the one hundred and first step, he was instantly ejected like a cannonball.
Undoubtedly, this man became the first eliminated contestant.
On the other hand, the man on the far right, like Zhu Yushu, also stood on the one hundred and first step.
However, both of their faces were extremely pale, indicating that the pressure on the one hundred and first step had reached its extreme.
"Fifth Junior Brother, if you cannot continue, stay here. Leave the rest to us senior brothers." Su Yueze's expression changed slightly as he saw that the man on the far right was also on the one hundred and first step. He then looked at Li Xuan and said.
"Senior Brother, who was the second person to step up?" Li Xuan asked, a bad premonition in his heart.
Hearing this, Su Yueze lowered his stance slightly and said, "That Zhu Yushu is the direct disciple of Elder Gu Haoqiang of the First Peak. The second person to ascend was Chen Yingjie, the direct disciple of Elder Hu Yulong of the Third Peak. So, we also have to try the one hundred and first step now."
As Su Yueze finished speaking, Li Xuan looked at Chen Yingjie. Clearly, Li Xuan had not expected that Chen Yingjie, with his peak Grandmaster Realm strength, would join the Seventh Peak to compete for the Saint Son position.
Even so, Li Xuan, who already had no good feelings towards the Third Peak, found his gaze towards Chen Yingjie instantly change.
"Fifth Junior Brother, we are starting!"
Seeing that Li Xuan understood, Su Yueze nodded to Chai Jingyuan, then looked back at the heavenly ladder and stepped towards the one hundred and first step with his left foot.
As if bound by a cage, Su Yueze struggled for more than ten breaths before his left foot landed on the one hundred and first step, and he stood firm.
Then, Su Yueze gritted his teeth fiercely, and the vast Wood Element energy within him erupted, rapidly replenishing his consumed spiritual energy. After a three-breath pause, Su Yueze also retracted his right foot and steadily landed on the one hundred and first step.
After stepping onto the one hundred and first step, Su Yueze's face instantly turned pale. Fortunately, Su Yueze cultivated the Wood Element technique, and his body recovered very quickly. After more than a minute, Su Yueze's breathing gradually stabilized.
Seeing this, Li Xuan felt a little relieved. Su Yueze had now also stepped onto the one hundred and first step. As long as Chai Jingyuan could also successfully step up, their chances of winning the Saint Son position would be greatly increased.
Thinking of this, Li Xuan looked towards Chai Jingyuan.