As Xu Ran kept swinging his fists, the vanished golden Spiritual Qi was replenished!

Unexpectedly, even with all his might, Xu Ran still couldn’t break through the defense of this sand!

Not only that, his fists were even injured by the backlash.

"Looks like I need to think of another strategy!"

Xu Ran pondered for a moment, then looked again at the Earth Attribute Puppet.

Positioned behind the Nine Nether Cold Sand, the Earth Attribute Puppet seemed to feel Xu Ran’s gaze. In the middle of the sand that resembled a wall, a hole appeared, and the vanished sand surrounded the puppet.

Though the puppet had only two eyes, those eyes flashing with light revealed its current enjoyment.

That sensation of enjoyment had always been with Xu Ran, even when facing the three puppets before.

But now, that sensation appeared on the puppet, which clearly showed that the Earth Attribute Puppet was absolutely confident in the Nine Nether Cold Sand.

Outside the dueling arena.

"Senior Brother, this newcomer couldn’t even break the defense of the Nine Nether Cold Sand and seems to have hurt his hands a bit due to the backlash. Surely he can’t continue the trial now, right?!"

The Junior Sister was delighted to see Xu Ran stumble for the first time in the trial.

Without waiting for the Senior Brother’s response, the voice of the Second Senior Brother came first.

"This newcomer ought to end his trial here. The Nine Nether Cold Sand is too monstrous, and there’s so much of it! No one has a chance to pass this trial now!"

The Nine Nether Cold Sand is a coveted Earth Attribute material that even beings of their level yearn for. Adding just one grain during forging would make them feel safe, indicating its high defensive power!

Currently, Xu Ran, although his Divine Techniques are invincible, his cultivation is far too weak.

Thus, it’s difficult!

All the Soul Bodies also recognized this point, watching Xu Ran in the mirror, shaking their heads.

They all believed that Xu Ran’s progress was about to come to a complete stop.

"But, even if this newcomer’s trial ends here, he has already surpassed Senior Brother. Senior Brother’s title might have to change hands!" The Second Senior Brother spoke with some schadenfreude.

From Senior Brother’s performance, it could be seen that during his trial, these Five Elements Puppets didn’t use such monstrous Divine Techniques, no Fire Dragon, no Liquid Flame, no Houtu Tripod, no Earth Vein Poison Gas...

These challenges didn’t appear, but Xu Ran encountered them, indicating that Xu Ran’s potential is higher than Senior Brother’s!

The ranking of the Nine-Layered Great Tower is based on potential rather than cultivation!

"What are you talking about?" The Junior Sister immediately retorted upon hearing the badmouthing of Senior Brother, "Senior Brother will always be Senior Brother, so what if this newbie’s trial progress is higher than Senior Brother’s?"

In the Junior Sister’s heart, Senior Brother will always be Senior Brother.

After all, over the long years, Senior Brother has brought immense help not only to her but to all the Soul Bodies present, they have all received Senior Brother’s favors.

With his knowledgeable understanding of astronomy and geography, he quickly discovered everyone’s cultivation shortcomings and improved them!

But rules are rules; even if they were unwilling, as long as Xu Ran enters the Nine-layered Great Tower, he becomes the Senior Brother!

"Junior Sister, rules are rules!" Senior Brother’s cold voice sounded, without any trace of emotion.

"Hmph!" Upon hearing Senior Brother speak thusly, she turned her head, "I’ll only acknowledge him as Senior Brother if he truly clears this trial stage!"

The Second Senior Brother also sighed helplessly.

If Junior Sister said as much, it meant she simply wouldn’t recognize Xu Ran as Senior Brother.

After all, not knowing whether he can break the Nine Nether Cold Sand’s defense, even with Xu Ran having so much Spiritual Qi reserve, and the constraints of Innate Qi released, the Earth Attribute Puppet could simply exhaust him.

"Hehe!" An ambiguous laugh came from the Senior Brother.

"You might really have to call him Senior Brother!" These words weren’t spoken by Senior Brother but silently muttered in his heart.

...

Inside the dueling arena.

The Earth Attribute Puppet at this moment surrounded itself with the Nine Nether Cold Sand, without leaving any openings, to prevent Xu Ran from suddenly attacking.

After all, with Xu Ran’s speed, wanting to suddenly get close and destroy its body wasn’t impossible.

Unlike before with Taotie’s shadow behind, it couldn’t attach the dark golden breath to itself.

This was the Nine Nether Cold Sand, now it could only control it. Attempting to attach it to its surface to form armor would get its body crushed by the sand’s terrifying weight and sharpness.

Thus, it only dared to let the Nine Nether Cold Sand encircle its body, maintaining a distance.

Through the window, Xu Ran stared intently at the Earth Attribute Puppet, then shifted his gaze to the Nine Nether Cold Sand surrounding it.

Suddenly, an inspiration flashed, recalling how the puppet turned dark golden due to Taotie’s shadow before.

"Since this sand is so monstrous, why doesn’t the puppet attach it to its surface, forming an invincible defense, instead of letting it circle around!"

Knowing his speed had already been displayed, he could arrive in an instant. One mistake and the Earth Attribute Puppet’s entire body could be blown apart by him.

It knew this, yet why didn’t it take the safest measure?

After pondering for a while, Xu Ran relaxed his expression, a smile formed.

"Unless it can’t do that!"

Instantly, Xu Ran’s mind seemed clear, understanding everything.

"This sand also harms the puppet itself, for they don’t originate from the puppet or Earth Attribute background but poured out from that Giant Tripod!"

"Being unowned, since the puppet can manipulate them, I can too, just at the cost of some power!"

With clarity, Xu Ran didn’t conceal his excitement, a smile emerged.

The Earth Attribute Puppet through the window witnessed Xu Ran suddenly smiling, its body shivered, an ominous sensation arose.

Promptly, it formed hand gestures, the Nine Nether Cold Sand floating around it started to gather, repairing the previous window.

It didn’t need eyes to observe Xu Ran; the window appeared just to provoke him.

Seeing this, Xu Ran stomped on the ground, the immense force causing cracks.

"Boom!"

This time, Xu Ran decided to attach his full Great Success [Innate Saint’s Sacred Body] power to his right leg.

Suddenly, that slender right leg swelled, bursting his trouser leg, fragments scattered.

The next moment, Xu Ran transformed into a golden lightning bolt again, right leg sweeping across fiercely.

In an instant, sonic booms echoed in the air, powerful impact withdrawing air around the Earth Attribute Puppet, forming a vacuum.

Xu Ran’s right leg, carrying immense power, swept across to generate a fierce cyclone, the Nine Nether Cold Sand resembling a wall, each grain lifted by the storm.

Protected inside, the Earth Attribute Puppet felt the intense external wind, yet remained calm.

Being shielded by the Nine Nether Cold Sand, with Xu Ran’s current cultivation, breaching its defense was impossible; it only needed to exhaust his Spiritual Qi to complete its task!

Outside.

The cyclone generated by Xu Ran’s right leg kept on bombarding the Nine Nether Cold Sand, unknowingly accumulating sand by the thousands.

"Phew!" Xu Ran wiped cold sweat from his forehead, exhaling deeply, "Breaking these sand grains took quite a bit of Spiritual Qi!"

Next moment, his eyes sparkled, filled with determination.

"These sand grains can directly shatter the Earth Attribute defense!"