194: dead end

No sooner said than done!

The three of them directly left messages for Shen Xi and the others via a sound transmission flower, then left the Tower of the Heavens.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

“Oh my, Shen Xi has already reached the Eighth Level?”

The Martial Artists who were still competing for spots to enter the Tower of the Heavens all stopped what they were doing.

They looked at the Tower to the Heavens Stone Tablet with shocked expressions.

Shen Xi’s name appeared at the position representing the Eighth Level.

This meant that he had already passed the trials of the first seven levels and arrived at the Eighth Level.

“How much time has passed? Less than two hours, right? And Shen Xi has already reached the Eighth Level?”

“Can it get any more outrageous?!”

“Everyone else is still on the Sixth Level, but Shen Xi has already reached the Eighth Level; there’s a complete disparity in strength.”

“I suddenly don’t want to enter the Tower of the Heavens anymore. With Shen Xi there, no matter how hard we try, it’s destined to be in vain.”

“Are you sure you’re not going in? It’s a deal!”

“Scram!”

The discussions were endless.

Everyone was stunned by Shen Xi’s astonishing performance.

His strength had created a complete disparity.

The most direct manifestation was that while everyone else’s names were still in the middle and lower sections of the stone tablet, Shen Xi’s name was already close to the top, just one step away from the summit.

Was this Shen Xi’s true combat power?

For countless Martial Artists, being able to pass three levels was already cause for celebration. Was the Tower of the Heavens, which was as difficult as ascending to the heavens for them, as simple as eating and drinking for Shen Xi, allowing him to push through all the way?

How could Shen Xi be such a Prodigy?

“Hehe, everyone, I’ll be taking my leave first.”

It wasn't until someone let out a strange laugh that everyone snapped out of their shock.

A young man had, unnoticed, secretly made his way to the entrance while everyone was surprised.

As his voice fell, the young man slipped into the entrance, snatching a spot.

“You brat!”

“Damn it, I was careless and didn’t dodge.”

“Someone stole a spot.”

“But it’s fine, he’s just in the Later Heaven Transformation Realm; he won’t last long before being teleported out.”

Witnessing the entrance close again, everyone could only console themselves with regret.

Then, they turned their gaze back to the Tower to the Heavens Stone Tablet.

Could Shen Xi pass the Eighth Level?

If he could step into the Ninth Level, his achievement would be the best in history.

After all, since the founding of the Chasing Wind Secret Realm, the number of Martial Artists who have reached the Ninth Level is truly few and far between.

Moreover, no one has ever managed to reach the Ninth Level in such a short amount of time; the fastest took until the third day.

As long as Shen Xi could clear the Eighth Level within two days, he would set a brand new record.

Shen Xi was making history!

Because of this, as everyone watched the entrance close again, their attention was fixed on the Tower to the Heavens Stone Tablet. They held a sense of anticipation, wanting to witness history.

Could Shen Xi really do it?

This was everyone’s shared thought... Eighth Level.

“This is a scam!”

Shen Xi frowned tightly and stopped in his tracks.

He realized that heading towards the source of the pressure was a massive trap.

He had been walking for a full ten minutes, but still couldn't find the source of the pressure. Furthermore, his Origin Qi consumption rate was increasing, and now only seventy percent remained.

Ten minutes, without fighting, just moving forward, consumed thirty percent of his Origin Qi. This was clearly abnormal.

This starry sky was consuming Shen Xi’s Origin Qi in various unseen and intangible ways.

“Buzz!”

The buzzing sound rang out again.

However, this time, the pressure appeared from behind Shen Xi.

This further confirmed Shen Xi’s guess.

Searching for the source of the pressure was a huge trap.

The location where the pressure appeared was not fixed at all, and once a Martial Artist wanted to find the source, as long as he moved, his Origin Qi would be continuously consumed.

Until it was completely depleted!

“This starry sky is trying every possible way to consume my Origin Qi. This means that it can’t threaten me for now, but once my Origin Qi is exhausted, danger will appear.”

Shen Xi quickly made a judgment.

Everything has a logical pattern.

This starry sky was using every method to exhaust his Origin Qi, which must have a purpose.

This meant that this starry sky could not threaten Shen Xi for the time being, but once his Origin Qi was depleted, that might no longer be the case.

Conserving Origin Qi was the top priority now.

Then, it was about finding a way to pass the level.

Thinking of this, Shen Xi no longer acted rashly.

He sat down where he was, floating in the starry sky. Then, he took out a Medicinal Pill from his spatial ring and immediately consumed it.

His Origin Qi was recovering rapidly.

“Buzz!”

The next second, the buzzing sound appeared again.

The familiar pressure surged forth. The only difference was that this time, the pressure’s power had clearly increased significantly.

Shen Xi had no choice but to activate his Origin Qi to resist it.

It wasn’t until the pressure disappeared that Shen Xi belatedly realized that the Origin Qi he consumed to withstand the threat brought by this pressure was exactly the same as the Origin Qi recovered from taking the Medicinal Pill.

This also meant that his Medicinal Pill was used in vain.

“Is this a coincidence?”

Shen Xi had a premonition that this was definitely not a coincidence.

To confirm his guess, he once again took out a Medicinal Pill with a better Origin Qi recovery effect.

As soon as he consumed it, the buzzing sound rang out again.

An even more powerful pressure swept over him!

At this moment, Shen Xi could be one hundred percent certain that this was absolutely not a coincidence.

Both consecutive instances of pressure appeared because he tried to recover his Origin Qi.

This also meant that he couldn’t recover Origin Qi through external means; no matter how much he recovered, it would be consumed by the pressure.

“This is completely leaving no way out!”

Shen Xi felt a bit helpless.

His Origin Qi was continuously being consumed; even if he stood still, wisps of Origin Qi were still being depleted.

And he couldn't recover it. This starry sky wouldn't give him a chance to recover his Origin Qi.

He had already reached a dead end; no matter what he did, it seemed impossible to succeed.

Could he only give up on challenging the tower?

Shen Xi was unwilling!

He wouldn’t easily admit defeat!

His eyes, which were initially confused, became incredibly resolute.

If he gave up after just a small setback, then he might as well stop Cultivating the Martial Dao and go home to be a carefree wealthy old man.

Shen Xi was unwilling to accept such a fate.

One must know, this was just a trial, not a life-threatening danger. If he couldn’t even persevere through this, then how would he face powerful enemies later on?

Kneel and beg for mercy?

Or give up struggling?

Shen Xi’s heart became increasingly clear and increasingly firm.

No matter how difficult the trial of the Eighth Level was, he would absolutely not give up until the very last moment.