Upon stepping onto the tenth layer, Yao Lun’s legs trembled, and caught off guard, he nearly collapsed to his knees.

"Huh? What’s happening? Why did the pressure suddenly get so much stronger? How can the tenth layer possibly be this difficult?"

Yao Lun was astonished.

"The Heaven and Earth Laws must have become more perfected. The ones who challenged the tower before clearly had it much easier and gained many benefits. This tenth layer is now almost equivalent to the old nineteenth layer! However, the laws on the floors we’ve already passed no longer constrain us, so we’ll be fine once we adapt."

Xia Xinqin explained.

After Yao Lun was "subdued" by Ye Tianling, she had also breathed a sigh of relief, so she no longer treated Yao Lun so coldly.

"That’s possible? If I’d known, I would’ve come to challenge the tower sooner! I’m screwed this time. If I can’t even reach the twenty-seventh layer, I’ll be completely disgraced."

Yao Lun’s face was a mask of misery, his heart filled with immense regret.

"Don’t worry, just follow me. Never mind the twenty-seventh layer; even the Thirty-Sixth Layer won’t be difficult."

As Ye Tianling spoke, he had already adapted to the environmental changes here and began to press forward once more.

Hearing Ye Tianling’s words, Yao Lun and Xia Xinqin were naturally overjoyed.

If what he said was true, it would be a heaven-defying opportunity. After all, being led by a peerless genius was bound to be far easier than challenging the tower alone.

By the same token, however, the one leading the way would naturally have to endure far greater and more complex pressure.

...

The inside of the Heaven-Reaching Tower’s tenth layer was another chaotic expanse, boundless and without a visible exit.

But upon careful Sensing, one could discover that the changes in the Heaven and Earth Laws were all flowing in a single direction, like ripples spreading forward.

Ye Tianling followed this flow, walking forward, surrounded on all sides by a twilight haze as thick as clouds and mist.

It was like walking through a sea of clouds.

As Ye Tianling forged ahead, the Blood-Colored Crescent Secret Realm between his eyebrows gradually grew warm, as if it were about to be activated once more.

’Just as I thought, the deeper I go, the more distinct this feeling of activation becomes. But the Royal Family’s Celestial Tower is just a tower built by the Great Xia Royal Family. This Heaven-Reaching Tower... originated in the Ancient Era. If it can connect to my Blood-Colored Crescent Secret Realm, then what exactly *is* my Blood Moon Secret Realm?’

Ye Tianling contemplated the nature of Heaven and Earth as he walked.

Many shifting Runes appeared between Heaven and Earth; they were all Ancient Runes.

The transformations of these Ancient Runes were manifold, ranging from simple to complex.

At first, Ye Tianling walked very slowly. His pace was so slow that it made Yao Lun and Xia Xinqin worry whether he could even clear the eighteenth layer.

However, after stepping onto the seventeenth layer, Ye Tianling’s pace gradually picked up.

Eighteenth layer.

It was another blood-colored environment.

A blood mist filled the air, and the rain falling between Heaven and Earth was entirely like blood.

The chill was profound, a cold that pierced to the bone.

When the frigid wind howled through the air, it felt like countless sharp blades scraping against the skin.

"The eighteenth layer is already like this? If I had to face this new trial, I’m afraid I couldn’t even pass it."

Xia Xinqin was already struggling, shivering in the cold wind and bloody rain.

Yao Lun’s face had turned a little pale. Although he was holding on, it was obvious he couldn’t withstand it for long.

VMM—

Ye Tianling casually waved his hand, releasing a wisp of Samadhi True Fire Aura that formed a ripple and spread outward.

Instantly, all the pressure dissipated, and the two of them immediately felt an indescribable warmth.

"So strong!"

Experiencing his power firsthand this time, Xia Xinqin’s heart couldn’t help but tremble.

"Let’s go. It’s fine."

Ye Tianling’s wisp of Samadhi True Fire Aura circulated on its own. Its Devouring nature allowed it to freely consume the blood-colored Energy between Heaven and Earth, to the point that the ripple persisted without breaking.

On the nineteenth layer, the gravity between Heaven and Earth multiplied several times over.

The auras of ancient Dao Marks were now visible everywhere.

Remnants of Force Qi, raging Sword Intent, and murderous saber intent permeated this stretch of Heaven and Earth.

In this desolate ancient environment, bleak Dao Marks were scattered all around.

’It’s like an Ancient Battlefield... Was this formed by the convergence of shattered Secret Realms from the Ancient Era? Or was this place originally a continuation of space from the Ancient Era, gathered into this Heaven-Reaching Tower?’

Ye Tianling observed for a long time, not making a move for a full half an hour.

Since he did not move, Xia Xinqin and Yao Lun could only wait in silence.

"Let’s go. There’s nothing here worth Cultivating; it’s meaningless. It’s all just low-level, broken Dao Marks. The Ancient Runes are chaotic as well. This is a place of chaos that unsettles the mind. Don’t let your thoughts run wild; we’ll just pass through." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Ye Tianling said.

With that, he continued onward.

This time, his pace was even faster.

Ye Tianling led Xia Xinqin and Yao Lun, and they soon stepped onto the twenty-second layer.

Upon reaching the twenty-second layer, both Yao Lun’s and Xia Xinqin’s minds were instantly thrown into turmoil, their eyes becoming vacant.

"Wake up!"

Ye Tianling let out a sharp cry. He then released his Samadhi True Fire Aura again, enveloped them with his Soul Talent, and after securing the aura, he continued forward.

Yao Lun and Xia Xinqin came to their senses again, both of them now completely in awe of Ye Tianling’s methods.

They followed silently, their eyes filled with genuine respect.

Twenty-fifth layer.

Twenty-sixth layer.

Soon, another wave of chaotic turbulence swept over them.

Twenty-seventh layer.

Ye Tianling entered a land of true Chaos.

It was like a mass grave.

The chaos here was even more terrifying. Resentful thoughts festered, and all kinds of ferocious Evil Spirits roamed between Heaven and Earth.

Each one was tangibly real—baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, some with eyes glowing green, some with hollow pupils bursting with bloody light, others with faces too gruesome to look at, all of them limitlessly savage.

The chaotic environment, the gloomy atmosphere, and the desolate, mottled, chaotic Ancient Qi raging all around caused Xia Xinqin and Yao Lun, who had just stepped in, to become completely dazed.

"Is this all? Not much of a challenge."

Ye Tianling’s gaze turned cold as Samadhi True Fire ignited in his eyes. Instantly, in the areas around his body illuminated by the firelight, innumerable ferocious Evil Spirits shrieked and fell back, quickly disappearing without a trace.

At this moment, the Xuanyuan Celestial Evil Sword also flew out on its own, circling around Ye Tianling and his two companions.

Karmic Fire ignited upon the Xuanyuan Celestial Evil Sword.

The moment the Karmic Fire emerged, the vast and ferocious Energy of this realm flew toward it of its own accord to be incinerated.

The Xuanyuan Celestial Evil Sword was drinking blood, and it was evolving!

Between Ye Tianling’s eyebrows, the Blood-Colored Crescent Secret Realm settled further, as if it were about to awaken an even more terrifying legacy.

As they journeyed onward, Yao Lun and Xia Xinqin dared not say a word, only following along in a state of utter shock.

This was supposed to be a tower challenge!

But how did this look like a tower challenge for Ye Tianling? He was even more relaxed and at ease than someone taking a stroll through the void!

This was the twenty-seventh layer!

One can only imagine the shock in their hearts.

Ye Tianling’s expression was calm as he traveled through the twenty-seventh layer, but he did not see any Destiny Totem.

He tried activating his Soul Talent several times, but while his Sensing became clearer, he was still unable to find any trace of a Destiny Totem.

The Samadhi True Fire continued to guard Xia Xinqin and Yao Lun.

Meanwhile, the Karmic Fire was still frenziedly devouring the ferocious Dark Energy between Heaven and Earth, as if without end.

The Xuanyuan Celestial Evil Sword, in turn, was accumulating power at an extremely rapid pace.