Even though the palace was built at least twenty thousand years ago, it exuded the wear and tear of ages but appeared untouched by time, as if it was just newly constructed.

Even without making contact, everyone could sense the divine aura and spirituality permeating the palace, clearly marking it as an extraordinary object, inscribed with Dao Marks, undoubtedly imbued by an unparalleled master with Will Power.

The group did not see the full view of the palace, only the grand doors of it.

In front of the doors was a staircase paved with White Jade, consisting of nine layers. It emitted an even denser divine aura and spirituality, with Dao Marks faintly visible.

"The good stuff must be inside!"

The group cautiously approached, finally stopping in front of the palace, not daring to set foot on the stairs immediately.

With the Dao Marks on the stairs appearing intermittently, even a fool would know there was an issue. Stepping on them recklessly, who knows what might happen.

The commotion when the underground palace emerged almost caused the Dao Collapse to end prematurely. Those who set this up must have been astonishingly powerful.

"There’s nothing to hesitate about. If we don’t step on it, we’ll just be trapped here!"

Wei Fan looked towards the person speaking, named Yang Peiwen. They had all introduced themselves earlier. Though not a direct descendant of a Martial Saint, he was from a Noble Family of Martial Saints.

In reality, those who could immediately traverse the Dao Collapse Barrier into the Wilderness with Secret Treasures were backed by Martial Saints or Demon Saints. Ordinary Martial Kings had no way to obtain such items.

Yang Peiwen made a valid point. Previously, they found no means of escape.

Unless they wished to be trapped here, they had no choice but to risk stepping on these nine-layer White Jade Steps to enter the palace and seek a way out.

"Let me pave the way for everyone!"

A surge of energy enveloped his body as he strode forward.

Everyone watched him, and as he stepped on it, the Dao Marks on the White Jade Steps fully emerged and emitted a profound wave that enveloped his body.

His body trembled, his legs began to bend, as if he was suddenly burdened with a mountain.

"This seems like the Heaven-Reaching Ladder used by sects to test potential during recruitment. The better the potential, the higher the step one can ascend. There might indeed be opportunities here!" Wu Yinghui breathed a sigh of relief, finding no danger in stepping onto the stairs.

On the White Jade Steps, Yang Peiwen showed excitement: "Brother Wu is right, this is indeed a test of potential, but it feels far superior to those used by the Holy Sects.

When you go up next, watch out for the sudden pressure. I almost got pushed back just now."

Wu Yinghui said: "Brother Yang, you broke through to Martial King at not yet thirty. Let’s see how many steps you can climb!"

"Alright!"

Yang Peiwen stepped onto the second step, his forehead veins bulging, clearly struggling.

He held firm on the third step.

Just as he lifted his leg to the fourth step, the pressure dragged his body down. As he was about to collapse onto the steps, a flash of light passed.

Then Yang Peiwen disappeared from the steps, without a trace.

"He was transported away!" Wu Yinghui exclaimed, shocked by the White Jade Steps’ transportation function.

"I’ll try to contact him!"

Wu Yinghui flipped his hand to take out the Communication Token to contact Yang Peiwen, but after a while, there was no response from Yang Peiwen.

This situation was either because Yang Peiwen was too far away or in a place the communication couldn’t reach.

"He should be fine!"

"Whether or not he’s fine, this is the only way out!"

"Let’s go!"

"If you’re afraid to die, don’t come exploring..."

The remaining Martial Kings saw this and had no hesitation, immediately stepping onto the White Jade Steps one after another.

Some could only climb three steps, while others, like Yang Peiwen, could reach four steps. One named Zhang Shutong gritted his teeth and reached five steps.

No matter how many steps were climbed, once reaching the limit, they were transported away.

"Brother Shutong reportedly broke through to Martial King at twenty-one, his talent truly astonishing!"

Wu Yinghui showed surprise, noting how accurate the step’s detection results were according to his understanding of them.

"Gentlemen, I’ll go first!"

As he spoke, he stepped onto the staircase, moving upwards step by step. Amidst building awe from Wei Fan and Feng Hua, he reached the fifth step before being transported away.

"This guy praised Zhang Shutong for so long, turns out he was talking about himself!"

Wei Fan glanced at Feng Hua, the two stepped onto the White Jade Steps together.

Instantly, a bright light flared, and a wave like Heart Spirit swept over his body. At the same time, he felt a weight pressing on his body from all sides, even enveloping his Primordial Spirit.

This pressure not only targeted the physical body but also oppressed the Primordial Spirit.

"No wonder with their Martial King First Layer cultivation, Wu Yinghui and the others couldn’t complete all nine steps."

Wei Fan had a sudden realization, understanding that the Primordial Spirit is the Martial Artist’s foundation. If suppressed, even extraordinary abilities would be futile.

"Not bad!"

The pressure from the first step wasn’t overwhelming for him, mainly due to his Golden Primordial Spirit resisting the pressure, allowing for greater exertion of Will Power.

The two ascended to the fifth step in one breath, but by then Wei Fan was already feeling discomfort, and Feng Hua’s face was flushed.

Upon reaching the seventh step, Wei Fan felt as if a mountain was pressing on him, with his Primordial Spirit experiencing a stifling sensation.

Beside him, Feng Hua was already drenched in sweat, her body trembling.

"I might have to stop at the eighth step, it’s up to you now."

She spoke with difficulty, knowing she might not make it to the ninth step, let alone the eighth.

"I’ll do my best!" Wei Fan gritted his teeth and said.

He too was nearing his limit and wasn’t confident he could reach the ninth step.

Feng Hua remained silent, suddenly gathering her strength, and stepped onto the eighth step.

Swish!

In a flash of light, she disappeared from Wei Fan’s sight, whether she made it or not, Wei Fan didn’t see clearly.

Under the terrifying pressure, he felt as if carrying several mountains, his Primordial Spirit was unbearably uncomfortable, leaving no extra energy to pay close attention to Feng Hua.

He had attempted to use the Human Emperor Bell to resist the pressure, but it failed to isolate it, as the terrifying pressure still bore down on his Primordial Spirit.

"I’ll go for it!"

He roared inside, his Golden Primordial Spirit suddenly opened its eyes, and his brow emitted a golden light, the manifestation of pushing his Primordial Spirit to the extreme.

Boom!

He stepped onto the eighth step, the overwhelming pressure causing the stairs to seem to tremble.

Tremendous pressure came from all sides, the ninth step was close, yet he felt unable to take that final step.

"I still have potential, the power of the Golden Primordial Spirit isn’t just this!"

He fiercely shook his Primordial Spirit, causing a storm of willpower, trying to unleash more potential from his Golden Primordial Spirit to counter the pressure.

Inside him, the Guangling Martial Arts Manual had been pushed to the extreme, with the Martial King’s Power surging through his meridians like a raging river.

This opportunity was rare, in battle, the opponent was either much stronger or weaker, but this gradual increase in pressure was perfect for squeezing out potential. During his battle with the Black-Scaled Flood Dragon King, he felt an untapped potential, an unfinished feeling.

Though now he was stronger than the Black-Scaled Flood Dragon King, who no longer served as his sharpening stone.

He didn’t rush to step on the ninth step but continued to fight the pressure.

Boom!

Suddenly, a thunderclap seemed to flash through his mind, shattering a certain limit.

At that moment, a warm current surged from the depths of his Primordial Spirit, shaking his spiritual world, as if the unimaginable pressure was bounced away by his willpower, and his body was relieved of a sudden burden.

"It’s now!"

Wei Fan’s eyes shone brightly, seizing the opportunity to step onto the ninth step.

The pressure on him vanished instantly, he wasn’t transmitted away but remained in place.

Unable to hold back, he exhaled deeply, using his power to evaporate the sweat on his body. Finally, forcibly squeezing his Golden Primordial Spirit’s potential, he stepped up, but now his Primordial Spirit was somewhat drained.

He continued to exercises, restoring his body and Primordial Spirit to peak condition, began communicating with the Human Emperor Bell for vigilance while reaching out to push the hall door.

The bronze door was thick and ancient, exuding a sense of time. As his hand touched, it erupted with a force of absorption, madly drawing his power.

Meanwhile, the door began to emit a faint light, seemingly replenished with energy, Dao Marks beginning to emerge.

Wei Fan’s expression changed drastically, a storm of will was unleashed, trying to break the suction.

But unexpectedly, as his willpower rose, the suction became more frightening, no longer drawing his power but his Primordial Spirit’s power. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"No good!"

Boom!

Without hesitation, he immediately connected with the Human Emperor Bell, as a Tiger Roar and Dragon’s Chant sounded on his body, gold light appeared, and the Human Emperor Bell began to manifest outside him.

Crack!

Just as he was about to control the Human Emperor Bell to strike the hall’s door, the suction suddenly vanished, at the same time, the door cracked open slightly.

Relieved, Wei Fan didn’t let the Human Emperor Bell attack.

He reached out to push the bronze door again, this time it opened easily.

As the door opened, under the golden light emitted by the Human Emperor Bell, the first thing that came into sight was a row of armored warriors.

They stood straight, forming a line, holding long spears like they were guarding their master.

Although all were dead, without life, a strong sense of Evil Qi still emanated from them, as if warning all who came here to adhere to the rules.

"Setting up such guards, could it be a Demon Emperor?"

Wei Fan looked closely, and discovered none of the warriors were human. Although their bodies were humanoid, all had heads of Demon Fiends.

Hu Tou, Ox Head, Rat Head, Pig Head, Horse Head...

"Are these Qi Daozhen’s Twelve Zodiac Demon Generals?"

Feng Hua had told him a lot about Qi Daozhen previously, including his Twelve Zodiac Demon Generals. It was said that after Qi Daozhen rose to power, he captured twelve Demon Fiends based on the zodiac to serve him.

The Twelve Zodiac Demon Generals were all formidable, constantly beside Qi Daozhen. After the Dao Collapse, no one saw the Twelve Zodiac Demon Generals again.

Some say they died with Qi Daozhen, while others say the Twelve Zodiac Demon Generals betrayed Qi Daozhen, leading to his death by a powerful Demon Fiend during the eighth transformation of Divine Silkworm Nine Transformations.