All the Soul Bodies agreed with Second Senior Brother’s words.

To them, First Senior Brother was nothing short of a legend. During the Ancient Times, Spiritual Qi was abundant, and even a dog could grow into a Great Demon in such an environment.

But in that era, Great Demons didn’t even count as cannon fodder. One can only imagine how terrifying the competition was during the Ancient Times.

It was because of this that the Ancient Times were filled with Great Powers competing for the Spiritual Qi of the world. Additionally, the Innate Saint’s Sacred Body monopolized an entire region.

In such circumstances, as the Ancient Times were coming to an end, transitioning to the Ancient Era, Heaven and Earth collapsed, Spiritual Qi leaked, and countless ancient Great Powers fell during that time.

The Ancient Era was an era that cultivators did not wish to recall. In that time, cultivators lacked sufficient Spiritual Qi, a complete Cultivation System, and any method to assist in enhancing their cultivation.

Cultivators of that era were worse off than people in the Great Mountain now.

However, in such a broken environment, First Senior Brother, relying on a talent that even the Heavenly Dao envied, managed to prove the peak of the Dao amidst the leakage of Spiritual Qi and lack of resources, gaining the favor of the Nine-Layered Giant Tower, entered the trials, and successfully defeated the then First Senior Brother, now Second Senior Brother, becoming the First Senior Brother of all geniuses in the Nine-Layered Giant Tower.

It is this person, who even the Heavenly Dao envied, who said his talent was inferior to Xu Ran’s.

One can imagine how much First Senior Brother approves of the newcomer Xu Ran, even though he is less than two years old.

At the same time.

All the Soul Bodies curiously stared at First Senior Brother, as did Second Senior Brother and Junior Sister, all wanting to know what happened after completely shattering those stones.

"Watch carefully, and you will know what will happen next!"

First Senior Brother’s icy voice came out, indicating he did not wish to reveal what would happen next.

"First Senior Brother, are you saying that this newcomer can pass this test?"

Junior Sister was somewhat surprised and found it unbelievable due to First Senior Brother’s evaluation.

It’s important to know.

First Senior Brother is like starting in Hell, forcibly seizing Heaven’s fortune from the Heavenly Dao, a supreme prodigy. Since becoming the First Senior Brother of the Nine-Layered Giant Tower, it’s never been heard that he has given a newcomer such a high evaluation.

Even if he favors someone, it would likely be after a trial when they receive benefits from the Nine-Layered Giant Tower, that he might say such a thing.

Anyone favored by First Senior Brother invariably becomes a Great Power within the Nine-Layered Giant Tower.

Although Junior Sister really didn’t want to admit it, she had unconditional trust in First Senior Brother’s words, even if this time the newcomer was just a baby under two years old.

With First Senior Brother’s words, all Soul Bodies paid even more attention to Xu Ran’s trial progress, focusing all their attention on the mirror in the center of the Dueling Arena.

...

At the same time.

Within a grey valley, silence reigned, not even the sound of wind could be heard. Everything in the valley seemed to have been cleared away, so much so that even Xu Ran’s faint breathing seemed like thunder.

"This valley is a bit too quiet!"

Xu Ran glanced around, mentally noting the entire scene of the valley without finding anything peculiar; everything seemed very ordinary.

But he knew that the more ordinary a place was, the more likely it hid a massive crisis. It was a trial of the Nine-Layered Giant Tower, and while the first cuckoo test posed no threat to Xu Ran,

this trial was one that even that strange person outside had never entered.

According to that person, they were considered a supreme prodigy of their time, possibly even a leader among prodigies.

Such a person had not undertaken the Nine-Layered Giant Tower’s trials, so one can only imagine how high the requirements and danger level must be.

"Huff!"

Xu Ran exhaled deeply, calming his breath, standing still and watching the only passage within this valley.

Similarly, massive stones were piled up on either side of this passage, each one significantly larger than Xu Ran’s body.

The environment he was in now was like being in a dried-up riverbed.

Moreover, apart from the passage in front of Xu Ran, there were no other paths to take in this valley.

"It seems that only by going deeper into this one passage can I find the living things in this valley!"

His gaze turned to the several-hundred-meter-high peak at the end of the passage.

"Perhaps the living things in the valley are inside that towering peak!"

Xu Ran had never been one to shy away from trouble or be indecisive. Once he thought the end might be the only path, he started walking towards that end.

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

...

Xu Ran walked through the passage, the pebbles under his feet crunching with each step, creating the only sound in the silent valley.

"Are there too many stones and pebbles here?"

Xu Ran walked while observing the valley’s environment.

Although he had already taken a look at the entire valley at the beginning, as he walked along the path, a sense of unease continually emerged in his heart.

This unease grew more intense the longer he walked down the passage. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Buzz!"

"Buzz!"

"Buzz!"

"Buzz!"

...

Suddenly, a buzzing sound abruptly came from behind Xu Ran, and the unease in his heart peaked as the sound resonated.