The surrounding pressure is indeed terrifyingly intense; if it were solely the heaven and earth essence and qi, even if there were more, it could not form such an oppressive force.

Li Chen is quite aware that this is likely a method devised by beings of this grade for self-protection.

Without such protective measures, this ancient tree likely wouldn’t have remained here for so long, waiting for someone to claim it.

It’s important to know that within this little secret realm, there are many strong primitive creatures, but even those natives cannot approach this ancient tree. The fact that the tree remains here after so many years shows that its self-defense measures are truly astonishing.

Li Chen can even faintly sense that, despite being experts in the Soul Realm, easily approaching this tree under such terrifying pressure would be impossible.

At the very least, he doesn’t think a cultivator at the Immortal Venerable Level could reach his current position, and even those at the Immortal Emperor Level would risk their bodies collapsing just by relying on cultivation here.

These individuals don’t possess the rebirth method of an Indestructible Body; if they’re killed, they’re truly dead.

Standing in this position, Li Chen noticed that his surroundings weren’t completely empty.

There were several dried bloodstains and remnants on the ground not far away, with remnants still emitting refined light.

It’s evident that these remnants have been dead for many years, yet they were undoubtedly extremely powerful beings in their lifetimes.

Using domain power, Li Chen summoned two rings from two nearby remnants into his hand.

Seeing this, many of the strong cultivators behind him expressed envy.

They had discovered these remnants as well, but their strength prevented them from reaching that distance, so those rings inevitably remained out of their reach.

One could imagine that beings capable of reaching that location must possess astonishing power and substantial wealth, yet all this no longer concerns them.

Putting away the two rings, Li Chen didn’t inspect them since he merely collected them incidentally. At present, he must complete the final journey.

Once Li Chen was fifty steps from the ancient tree, his domain began to falter, emitting ’crackling’ sounds as if it were on the verge of shattering.

Li Chen chose not to forcefully hold up the domain; if it shattered, it would cause him significant harm, which would be detrimental in the current circumstances.

"Selflessness—Transform into Gang!"

Retracting the domain, it instantly transformed into a layer of light blue aura, clung to Li Chen’s body.

Third layer Gang Qi!

Blood Gang, Body Gang, and now Domain Transform into Gang; presently, Li Chen possesses three layers of Gang Qi.

If word of this spread, it would surely shock many people.

Gang Qi, something cultivators regard as the toughest construct they can train, now encircles Li Chen’s body in three full layers!

Besides Gang Qi, laws began to surge around Li Chen, opposing the terrifying pressure.

"Only forty steps more!"

Advancing another ten steps, even Li Chen’s Gang Qi emitted crackling sounds, seeming ready to shatter at any moment.

Yet, his expression remained unchanged as he stepped forward another ten steps.

"Boom-crack!"

With a thunderous roar, Li Chen’s Gang Qi didn’t shatter, but his entire body abruptly exploded within the Gang Qi, transforming into a mist of blood.

"Even... the Indestructible Body can’t withstand it? Just what level of pressure does the last hundred steps reach?" someone couldn’t help but lament.

"Indeed a pity," said another, regretting that even with Li Chen’s formidable strength and the Indestructible Body, he still ended as a mist of blood on the final steps, implying the ancient tree is beyond their grasp.

At least, if even Li Chen can’t claim the tree, none among them can acquire it.

"Huh?"

As the others felt regret, a voice from the Purgatory Demon Lord, who had walked a thousand steps, suddenly said, "No, he’s not dead."

"What?"

Following the Purgatory Demon Lord’s voice, everyone looked forward, and upon seeing Li Chen’s state, many couldn’t help but gasp.

Indeed, Li Chen wasn’t dead, at least not while Gang Qi still surrounded him. The blood mist enveloped by Gang Qi swiftly coalesced again into Li Chen’s form.

Upon reforming his body, Li Chen’s complexion was extremely pale; for him, reconstructing his body equated to having ’died’ once.

Even though his consciousness remained intact, even while his body dissolved into blood mist, at least his Divine Soul wouldn’t perish.

Yet, that sensation was undoubtedly unpleasant.

This time, Li Chen rested a while instead of recklessly advancing, throwing Pills into his mouth as though they cost nothing.

Watching Li Chen seated in meditation, nobody dared disturb him; at this juncture, they felt neither envy nor jealousy, only curiosity about whether Li Chen could succeed.

After all, in this cultivation-suppressing environment, perhaps only someone like Li Chen has the qualification to reach that position.

If anyone is likely to succeed, it must be him.

After a long respite, when Li Chen’s complexion regained its vitality, he stood with eyes gleaming with determination.

"This time, I will succeed!"

"Rumble!!"

Suddenly, a fiercely blazing aura erupted from Li Chen’s body.

"What is he planning?"

"Is he unable to advance further, leading him to act against the ancient tree from afar?"

Within Li Chen, a violent vital essence surged forth, transforming into boundless power within him under the Law of Blood.

"Five Elements Foundation!"

With a spread of his five fingers, the Power of the Five Elements formed tier upon tier of Dao Foundation under Li Chen’s feet.

"Light-Darkness Canopy!"

Laws of Light and Darkness surged, transforming into a massive black-and-white umbrella suddenly extending over Li Chen’s head.

"Wind-Thunder Armor!"

The forces of wind and thunder surged layer upon layer, eventually materializing into a wind-thunder battle armor draped on Li Chen.

"Finally..."

At this point, Li Chen’s gaze burned brightly, looking at the final distance to the ancient tree with peculiar light in his eyes.

"Gate of Space-Time!"

Ultimately, Li Chen stepped forth, crossing dozens of steps in an instant, directly arriving beneath the ancient tree!

Simultaneously, terrifying pressure roared toward Li Chen, supremely protected by countless laws like armor.