"Because only then will the body of the Earth Attribute Puppet turn dark golden!"

The senior brother continued.

"The second time, when the Nine Nether Cold Sand appeared, the Earth Attribute Puppet executed the incantation and could control the Nine Nether Cold Sand, but unlike the first time, it didn’t attach the sand to its body surface, instead, it made it circle around its body, protecting itself!"

As he spoke, the senior brother’s gaze fell upon Xu Ran, full of admiration.

"This newcomer’s previous performance has already proven his extremely fast speed, capable of closing in on the Earth Attribute Puppet before it even reacts. Even if it could barely defend at the beginning, over time, eventually there would be a moment when it fails to protect itself against a close-range attack, thus leading to failure!"

"Given this, why doesn’t the Earth Attribute Puppet attach the Nine Nether Cold Sand to its body surface, so it wouldn’t have to worry about the newcomer coming at it and killing it instantly!"

At this point, the senior brother paused.

"Various reasons indicate that the Nine Nether Cold Sand cannot be attached to the puppet’s body surface because it would also suffer damage!"

"Moreover, this indirectly shows that the Nine Nether Cold Sand is not entirely under the puppet’s control. If one finds a way, it’s possible to reverse control over the Nine Nether Cold Sand!"

The senior brother explained the reasons behind Xu Ran’s actions one by one, leaving everyone gasping in surprise.

"This... this newcomer could think of so many things in such a short time."

"So, those Nine Nether Cold Sands shining with white light in the strong wind are the means for the newcomer to counter the puppet?!"

"A single grain of Nine Nether Cold Sand weighs 500 pounds; thousands of grains, given this newcomer’s Great Success [Innate Saint’s Sacred Body] physique, he could indeed wield it!"

...

After hearing the senior brother’s explanation, the junior sister stood frozen, full of disbelief.

How could she have imagined that Xu Ran could come up with so many things in such a short time and find a way to break through from a hopeless situation?

At the moment, she was speechless, just looking at Xu Ran in the mirror, not knowing what she was thinking.

If Xu Ran were here, he would also be surprised.

The senior brother could instantly see through his intentions and deduce the complete thought process.

No wonder he’s the senior brother of the Nine-Layered Giant Tower!

...

At the same time.

In the dueling arena.

That continual impactful wind against the Nine Nether Cold Sand was slowly diminishing, but the Spiritual Qi erupting from Xu Ran’s body became even more dazzling, although the Spiritual Qi on his right leg had dissipated, at this moment, Xu Ran’s body was surrounded by equally white sand.

That was precisely the Nine Nether Cold Sand.

The Earth Attribute Puppet within the Nine Nether Cold Sand sensed the impact slowly decreasing, knowing Xu Ran had begun to reduce his Power.

Could it be that the trialist was completely exhausted?

The Earth Attribute Puppet thought to itself.

Yet it seemed reasonable; it had been such a long time, with the full force bursting for so long, even with the Great Success [Innate Saint’s Sacred Body], the Spiritual Qi inside should have been depleted.

In the Nine-Layered Giant Tower, other materials cannot be used.

After a while of contemplating, the Earth attribute executed the hand incantation, the Nine Nether Cold Sand in front of it gradually dispersed, revealing a window where Xu Ran’s entire body could be seen.

The moment it saw Xu Ran, suddenly, its small eyes became huge, the yellow light twinkling rapidly, indicative of its great shock!

At this moment.

In its eyes, Xu Ran’s body was surrounded by the Nine Nether Cold Sand, just like those surrounding itself! 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

What was happening?

At this moment, the Earth Attribute Puppet had a thousand questions, but there was no time for exploration.

It understood clearly that if Xu Ran’s body was also surrounded by the Nine Nether Cold Sand, then the sand surrounding itself would become meaningless.

With both being Nine Nether Cold Sand, there wasn’t any concept of one being nobler, sharper, or heavier than the other.

Furthermore, with Xu Ran’s mastery and the Great Success [Innate Saint’s Sacred Body] physique, even if he only had a few thousand grains surrounding him, to break its defense was not an impossible task.

The reality was indeed as it imagined.

Seeing the familiar Earth Attribute Puppet again, Xu Ran sneered coldly.

Immediately, endless Spiritual Qi roared out from within his body, strands of Golden Spiritual Qi connecting the Nine Nether Cold Sand surrounding him, then, with a wave of his hand, the connected Nine Nether Cold Sand began to move.

Under Xu Ran’s control, the connected Nine Nether Cold Sand gradually formed into a giant white sword in the air.

This giant sword emitted a chilling aura, and the sword’s surface bore slight golden patterns, the hallmark of the Great Success [Innate Saint’s Sacred Body].

This giant sword vibrated continuously, emitting sword cries, rippling like waves toward the Earth Attribute.

The aura emanating from the sword, upon touching the Nine Nether Cold Sand protecting the Earth Attribute Puppet, started to vibrate fiercely, and thousands of Nine Nether Cold Sand grains fell to the ground!

Suddenly, the Earth Attribute Puppet’s body trembled, its eyes jumping with yellow light!

This aura alone made its defenses quake; with so many grains of Nine Nether Cold Sand falling, what would happen if that giant sword struck here?

"Hah!"

Without letting the Earth Attribute Puppet think it through, Xu Ran shouted lowly, his thin arms raised above his head.

The giant sword hovering in the air also started vibrating continuously, buzzing with sword cries.

"Slash!"

Simultaneously, Xu Ran shouted loudly, the giant sword composed of Nine Nether Cold Sand slashed rapidly toward the Earth Attribute.

"Clang!"

In an instant, the giant sword collided with the protective wall around the Earth Attribute Puppet, amidst the clang of metal, countless Nine Nether Cold Sand grains burst out, scattering in all directions.

The places it touched immediately appeared like honeycombs full of holes.

"Boom!"

A moment later, under everyone’s watchful eyes, the Nine Nether Cold Sand giant sword controlled by Xu Ran pierced through the protective wall around the Earth Attribute.

"Wow!"

All at once.

Countless Nine Nether Cold Sand scattered in the air, then fell to the ground.

Moreover, the giant sword that pierced the wall didn’t stop and continued to attack the Earth Attribute Puppet.

Seeing this, the Earth Attribute’s body suddenly erupted with countless yellow breaths, its backgrounds also glowing, countless Earth Attribute Energy infused into the Earth Attribute Puppet, and in an instant, yellow armor appeared on its body, the purest Earth Attribute Energy solely for defense!

The yellow armor appeared, attempting to resist the giant sword composed of Nine Nether Cold Sand.

"Crack!"

But it only blocked for just an instant, the armor shattered, the Earth Attribute Puppet had no more means of obstruction, its entire body retreating backward, the yellow light fading, the background behind it also dimming.

The moment the Earth Attribute Puppet hit the ground.

In the dueling arena.

The Houtu Tripod, Nine Nether Cold Sand, and the broken earth instantly vanished, a green light rose, belonging to the Wood Attribute’s healing ability, the dueling arena restored back to its original state.

Xu Ran’s burst pant leg was also restored.

Xu Ran’s eyes looked at the Earth Attribute Puppet lying on the ground.

At this moment, it could no longer be considered a puppet, but rather a pile of scattered wood, broken, with wisps of frost accompanying.

"If this sand could be used to forge a weapon, it should last very long!"

Xu Ran felt somewhat unsatisfied.

He was very aware of the terror he controlled with that giant sword just now; anything in the world seemed like tofu, easily pierced.

"Perhaps, even the Nine-Layered Giant Tower, upon entry, could not withstand it!"

Xu Ran muttered quietly.

Simultaneously.

The Earth Attribute background glowed again, a pure yellow energy shot at the puppet.

The Earth Attribute Puppet that had just shattered now restored to its initial form.

In no time, a brown puppet reappeared before Xu Ran.

After fully recovering, it returned to the puppet group, as if nothing had just happened!