As the stone giant was the only living entity in this valley aside from Xu Ran, Xu Ran was very familiar with its aura.

Ever since it reformed into the stone giant, the aura emitted from it was more than twice as strong as that of the previous ten stone giants combined.

Especially when that aura wave from the stone giant reached Xu Ran, the sensation was extremely pronounced.

However, for Xu Ran, even this level did not pose any threat to him. His expression remained calm despite the mysterious feeling that never dissipated.

"Roar!"

The stone giant ahead, seeing the disdainful expression on Xu Ran’s face, felt as if it was being belittled and let out a loud roar.

The wave of aura rushing towards Xu Ran disappeared in an instant as a gust of wind swept over, returning to the stone giant.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

...

Afterward, the stone giant continuously stomped with its feet made of rocks, and for a while, the entire valley shook violently. The fragments on the ground floated up, then fell, floated, and fell again...

Each time it stomped, these stone fragments would float in the air and then fall to the ground.

"Hmm?"

The keen Xu Ran immediately sensed something was wrong.

"This stone giant is absorbing the power of the earth?"

Xu Ran’s eyes fixed on the stone giant, noticing it did nothing else. He then closed his eyes, and strands of golden aura emanated from his body, rooting themselves into the ground like tendrils.

After entering the ground, the tips of these golden tendrils spread out like octopus tentacles in all directions.

This was Xu Ran using the aura of Great Success’s [Innate Saint’s Sacred Body] to sense the power within this land.

Although the power of the earth is endless, due to the Great Success’s [Innate Saint’s Sacred Body], Xu Ran himself became increasingly sensitive to aura perception, allowing him to sense the decrease in power in some parts of the earth.

The earth is interconnected, and even if the power of one place decreases, the power from other places can quickly replenish it.

Before long, the golden tendrils, after entering the ground and sensing the power emanating from the earth, filled up again, as if the previous power had never been absorbed.

Xu Ran understood that this was the other part of the earth replenishing power to the valley.

Even though the power of the earth is infinite, the power that the stone giant’s body can contain is certainly not limitless.

Before long.

The constantly increasing aura of the stone giant began to slow down gradually until finally, the stone giant’s aura no longer increased.

"Is it over?"

Xu Ran mumbled, feeling that the stone giant’s aura was no longer growing.

Even so, Xu Ran still felt no pressure.

At this moment, on the face of the stone giant, which originally had no features, gray light flickered in its eye sockets.

As the stone giant stopped absorbing the earth’s power, the stone fragments attached to its body fell off, making a dull sound. Its already fierce gray eyes became even more intense, glaring at Xu Ran like two hot masses of lava.

It was clear that this stone giant still remembered the scene of being smashed to pieces by Xu Ran’s punches.

Bear in mind, during this Nine-Layered Giant Tower trial, it was always supposed to be the one killing others, not the other way around.

Moreover, its most proud defense was forcibly shattered by this little brat in front of it.

This stark contrast made even the stone giant extremely furious.

...

At this point.

In the dueling arena.

The soul bodies saw the stone giant being smashed to pieces by Xu Ran, and then witnessed the fragments of ten stone giants merging into a single enormous stone giant, fifty zhang tall.

Moreover, the constantly ascending defensive aura allowed every soul body in the dueling arena to feel the violence within.

Even with the prior warning from the second senior brother, seeing it in person left their eyes filled with countless astonishments.

"The combination of ten stone giants into a single giant may seem like a reduction in number, but just the defense of this one stone giant seems several times stronger than that of the ten stone giants combined!!"

"And not only that, this stone giant can also absorb the earth’s power to replenish itself!"

"It hasn’t been long, yet its already surging defense has skyrocketed again. Even if this newcomer has a violently strong physique, they can’t withstand such continuous battles, can they?"

"You must know, this stone giant is only resurrecting for the second time—who knows if there will be a third or a fourth?"

...

The words of the soul bodies continued to echo in the dueling arena. Each one of these soul bodies was a once-in-a-generation prodigy. Although their potential might not be as high as Xu Ran’s, their judgment of the situation was still very accurate.

The second senior brother had previously stated that these shattered stone giants would continuously reform and grow stronger. Who knows how many times this process will repeat.

Bear in mind, even he hadn’t passed this trial—only the eldest senior brother had successfully cleared it.

Even with the prior example, the soul bodies in the dueling arena were still skeptical about Xu Ran’s chances of successfully passing this stage.