As the crowd dispersed, Dean Bruce was surprised to find that nearly eighty percent of the people had chosen to challenge the ninth layer!
Even within the Alchemist Guild, some members had come to stand behind Dean Bruce and his group.
Seeing this, Nelson Paprik couldn't help but sigh, "It seems that the young people's drive is indeed stronger."
A member of the Alchemist Guild smiled and said, "Elder, you hope for our success too, right? Since you've led teams here multiple times, could you give us a hint?"
As soon as he spoke, the gazes of Dean Bruce and the others turned to Nelson Paprik, with only Madrid Haru and a few others seeming unconcerned.
Nelson Paprik shook his head, saying, "It's not that I can't give you hints, but each time we enter, the mechanisms we encounter are different."
Pausing for a moment, Nelson Paprik looked up at the massive golden statue and said softly, "The last time, the guardian of the eighth layer was a giant scorpion; the time before that, it was a dog-headed creature!"
"The only advice I can give you is to be cautious. It seems that passing the eighth layer has little to do with strength..."
Upon hearing this, everyone except Dean Bruce frowned, completely puzzled by the statement.
If it wasn't related to strength.
Then what was it related to?
"Never mind, you all go ahead. Just a few of you stay here to keep me company. Since it's come to this, we won't bother sparring. Let's take turns cultivating instead!"
The slow, leisurely words immediately brought smiles to the faces of those who stayed behind, while Nelson Paprik fixed his gaze on the individuals aiming to challenge the ninth layer. Unfortunately, their minds had already been completely captivated, prompting him to let out a low sigh.
He had a foreboding feeling that, despite having many leaders present, a significant number of people attempting to reach the ninth layer would not survive!
Madrid Haru said softly, "Since a choice has been made, there's no point in hesitating. Let's move forward and see what effects this statue has!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the robust young men from the War God Temple charged ahead. Dean Bruce also waved his hand lightly, sending forth a gust of wind to rouse Prolo Hawthorne and the others.
"Whoosh!"
At the same time, yellow sand began to coalesce in the air, and figures emerged. The number of these sandy figures increased as more people approached the gigantic statue.
Dean Bruce fixed his eyes intently on the sandy figures, comparing them to the individuals charging forward. He soon felt that, as two of the leaders drew near, the aura of the condensed sandy figures noticeably weakened!
Noticing this, Dean Bruce couldn't help but smile. If the strength of the sandy figures had an upper limit, then there was a possibility of clearing the challenge through attribute dominance.
Madrid Haru, Elrosa Goethe, and others were also observing the battlefield, occasionally giving commands.
However, no matter how good the commands were, the magic power possessed by the condensed sandy figures was simply superior to that of those who entered their range. Direct confrontation was proving difficult, and they were being pushed back steadily.
Only the members of the War God Temple, with their weaker magic but strong physiques, could manage to hold their ground.
Fortunately, the number of sandy figures was fixed; as soon as someone was forced back, the corresponding sandy figure would dissipate. This prevented the situation where multiple sandy figures would surround a single person.
Just as Dean Bruce was preparing to signal Prolo Hawthorne and the others to enter once more and take advantage of the situation, Carol Lane suddenly appeared beside him and exclaimed, "Mr. Dean, you're truly full of surprises! It seems that every time I encounter you, you have a different identity that astonishes me."
"I didn't expect that you are still the honorary elder of the Magic Guild. When this Secret Realm adventure ends, when will you come to visit us at the Temple of Wisdom?"
Carol Lane smiled and added, "Lina has been talking about you for quite some time."
With similar strength, Prolo Hawthorne and his companions were human, equipped with intelligence, which meant they wouldn't necessarily be at a disadvantage!
[They won't die, but when defeated, they will split and their strength will diminish.]
Dean Bruce narrowed his eyes, contemplating how to break the deadlock.
Simply continuing to attack wouldn't work; while their strength had decreased, a sufficient number could still be quite terrifying!
What could they do to withstand their offensive and reach the massive sculpture?
Meanwhile, the others began to adopt the strategy of Prolo Hawthorne and his group, suppressing their auras to manifest weaker sandy figures before launching their attacks.
In an instant, the number of sandy figures doubled, intensifying the battle across the field.
Previously, the few sandy figures had been too powerful for them to resist; they had been pushed back every time they entered.
Now, with the increased numbers but reduced attack power, they had a chance to defend themselves.
In fact, through their combined efforts, they gradually began to close in on the massive sculpture.
However, as more sandy figures were defeated and their numbers multiplied, the speed of their advance began to slow.
Dean Bruce and Madrid Haru did not rush into the fray; upon seeing this, their expressions turned grave.
It shouldn't be this simple!
The final mechanism in this Secret Realm should be intricately layered, shouldn't it?
How could they possibly perceive a single point and find a way to pass through?
But on the battlefield, as the sandy figures continued to split, they became increasingly disadvantaged.
The so-called numerical advantage, under rigid movement patterns, surprisingly didn't manifest at all!
Seeing the excitement and enthusiasm of the crowd, Dean Bruce felt reluctant to call a halt; instead, he remained focused, sensing his surroundings and preparing for any potential threats.
Madrid Haru and Elosa Gode also chose to stay close, but they didn't enter the range.
They couldn't be sure whether the strength of the figures formed from the sand had an upper limit. If there were no limits, then several sandy figures of similar or even greater strength would be a devastating blow.
It's important to remember that the stronger you are, even a slight increase in rank can lead to significant changes. Those levels of sandy figures might be beyond their ability to resist, posing a disaster for the younger ones!
At this moment, all Dean Bruce and his companions could do was wait and watch how the battlefield would develop and evolve.
The young people, oblivious to Dean Bruce's concerns, continued to push forward with excitement, drawing closer to the massive sculpture.
Buzz—
Just as they approached within fifty feet of the gigantic sculpture, it seemed to come alive, suddenly extending its hand and thrusting a trident skyward!
With a whoosh—
The sound of shifting sands grew louder, and in an instant, the entire space was filled with a golden glow!