The space of the ninth floor was spectacular, surging with vital energy so dense it nearly became tangible. Clusters of purple clouds floated in the air, forming a rare blessed land coveted by powerhouses outside. Yet the ninth floor was no ordinary place—the pressure here was terrifying, infused with faint rules of heaven and earth.
As soon as Daoling stepped in, his body felt on the verge of being ground to pieces. He swallowed a drop of Life Essence Liquid, and his entire body began to glow. His pores exuded divine light, radiating surging life force. The drop contained such immense energy that it leaked from his mouth and nose.
Daoling's aura surged as he marched inward, deeply wary of the ninth floor. The energy here, born from the hazy天地 (heaven and earth), could erode the body over time. "No wonder the purple-haired lad warned me—this place is inhospitable," he marveled, noting the bloodstains on his body from the rules' erosion. But the Life Essence Liquid's energy repaired his wounds as he moved.
Daoling dared not roam freely. He found a large bluestone, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate. Ordinary people would never dare to practice here, for the hazy rules could grind one to death. But Daoling was different—his mutated physique allowed him to absorb the primal energy and temper his body with it.
The ninth floor was vast, dotted with ancient halls whose walls exuded the aura of eons. Countless peerless prodigies had obtained inheritances here—some found逆天 (heaven-defying) ancient techniques, all emerging as renowned geniuses.
The land was desolate and silent, but in one ancient area, thunder rumbled and metallic clangs echoed, like the sound of forging iron.
Ten days passed as Daoling continuously tempered his body. The life force within him reached its peak, his skin radiating divine light and thick blood energy. Half a month later, the space's energy疯狂 (wildly) converged into him, his absorption accelerating as every muscle throbbed with vitality.
His spirit, energy, and mind surged to a terrifying limit, like a vast ocean blocking his path to breakthrough. "Reached a limit again," Daoling sighed, opening his eyes. A month of cultivation here, fueled by endless energy, had seen his progress skyrocket.
Now, his aura shifted, emerald divine light blooming. He resembled a fountain of life, merging with the surrounding energy—a sign of nearing the Soul Convergence Realm. "The primal energy seems to emanate from ahead. I sense waves as vast as the sea." He looked up to see a fearsome portal through the mist.
Rising, he advanced. The pressure remained daunting, especially the rules that could wound even divine beasts. But Daoling healed swiftly with primal energy—a unique advantage.
After days of停停走走 (stopping and going), he neared the portal, testament to the pressure's intensity. Daoling felt he'd reached his peak, but a breakthrough required机缘（lucky chance）. He suspected his Devouring Heaven Technique had reached its limit, and only his own potential could shatter the枷锁（Chain）.
Ahead stood a golden portal, burning like a sun, radiating恐怖 (terrifying) waves and majestic aura—perhaps the gateway to the tenth floor, the source of the pagoda's energy. Each wisp of essence here carried an endless, renewing rhythm.
"Train!" Daoling clenched his fist, choosing not to enter yet. He aimed to refine this energy and fully temper his body. This tempering was thorough: his five organs glowed like divine wheels, bones shone crystal-clear, even his hair radiated golden light. Bathed in golden glow, he stepped through the portal.
The moment his foot crossed the threshold, Daoling's hair stood on end, cold sweat pouring. He tried to withdraw, but too late. The portal erupted like a sun, unleashing a tidal wave of horror that smashed into him.
"Pu…" He vomited blood, flung backward, body torn apart, bones cracked. Heaven and earth convulsed, rules pressing down to grind him to dust.
Daoling roared, bloodied hair flailing. He swallowed prepared Life Essence Liquid, frantically healing. A moment later, he'd have been erased. Surging energy wrapped his body, mending his wounds—though the ninth floor's rules had penetrated his flesh, he resisted. It took a day to stabilize.
He sat before the tenth-floor portal, absorbing its endless energy. Three days passed before he recovered. "Impossible to enter," he sighed. It was terrifying—only a month of ninth-floor training had saved him.
"What's the origin?" He refused to give up, exploring the ninth floor. He found an ancient hall with rusted bronze doors, marveling at its endurance. Trying to push in, he found it too heavy. "The purple-haired lad said there are inheritances here—must need a specific opportunity."
He found a dry ancient pool, once a Life Spring, and empty药田 (herb gardens). Further in, fewer halls remained, but these were pristine, built from extraordinary ores. "The inheritances here must be terrifying."
Wandering for days, he reached the depths, where five sacred halls stood, shining with golden light. The central hall exuded a familiar aura. To his surprise, the door opened at his touch. "Is this my inheritance?" he wondered, knowing these halls held the most惊天 (earth-shattering) inheritances, coveted by ancient clans yet mostly untouched due to the difficulty.
The hall was empty but filled with majestic aura, like a道场 (cultivation ground) of an ancient sage. The aura resonated with him. Reaching the depths, he found a jade box—its contents taken. "This is a trick! No fortune left."
But he grew puzzled: if the inheritance was taken, why was the hall still closed? "Did the one who took it miss something?" He checked side doors, finding them empty. The main hall should hold the core inheritance.
In the courtyard, among ancient trees, signs of searching were everywhere. He reached a炼丹室 (alchemy chamber), expecting it to be empty. A pill furnace stood in the center. "Too heavy to take?" he guessed, lifting the lid easily. It fell with a clatter, revealing a golden scroll on the ground, each ancient character ablaze with divine light.
"Inheritance!" Daoling rejoiced, reaching out—then froze. A dreadful aura made his hair stand on end, death looming as he burst backward.