Li Shuang no longer paid attention to anyone else.
Hundreds of heavy profound iron hammers were spinning at high speed along peculiar trajectories.
Before the hammers even reached her, Li Shuang felt her soul tremble slightly. Fortunately, she had the Soul Green Lotus, which instantly stabilized her soul.
But what about those whose souls weren't stabilized?
They would probably fall off the golden platform soon.
Judging by everyone's reactions, they didn't seem to fear falling off the golden platform; rather, it was mostly regret and unwillingness.
This indicated that falling off the golden platform was likely not fatal.
However, once one fell, their journey on the golden platform would end.
This immense opportunity would then be forever out of their reach.
In her sea of consciousness, the Soul Green Lotus shimmered with a faint light. Li Shuang's mind was serene, and she instantly unleashed her Sword Domain.
The Sword Domain enveloped the entire golden platform.
The incredibly fast profound iron hammers seemed to slow down.
Li Shuang slightly turned her body, easily dodging the first round of attacks.
However, the profound iron hammers were relentless, and the next hammer was already upon her.
Around her, screams were incessant, and more and more people fell off the golden platform, eliminated from the challenge.
Li Shuang was concentrating on dealing with the situation.
Suddenly, a voice rang out.
"Challenger Youlan has passed the test of the first layer, the Thousand Mechanism Hammer Array!"
Li Shuang's pupils suddenly constricted.
Originally, all the golden platforms were at the same height.
Now, one golden platform suddenly began to rise.
Youlan stood calmly on the golden platform. Her gaze swept around, finally landing on Li Shuang.
She looked at Li Shuang calmly, a hint of mockery seemingly playing on her lips.
The test of the second layer had not yet begun.
After her golden platform ascended, Youlan sat down cross-legged, watching Li Shuang expressionlessly.
She wanted to see just how capable this Li was to earn such special attention from the City Lord.
Being stared at by such a peerless genius, an ordinary person would likely feel immense pressure.
Li Shuang's emotions were detached, so she didn't feel much about it.
She was just curious...
How did this Youlan manage to clear the stage so quickly?
While fending off the profound iron hammers, Li Shuang observed the situations of others.
Most people were busy dodging the hammers. However, a few individuals were remarkably composed.
One woman held a zither. Her feet clearly hadn't moved an inch, but as she plucked the strings, the profound iron hammers seemed to be disturbed, deliberately avoiding her.
One man, with his upper body exposed, his muscles bulging, didn't dodge at all. Whenever a hammer came, he directly met it with his fist, forcefully altering its trajectory!
Another man held a strange compass. The compass floated in the air, with countless shimmering light points on it. Whenever a profound iron hammer approached, he would gently move a light point on the compass. As the light point changed, the hammer's trajectory also changed, directly avoiding him.
Besides these individuals, there were many others who left a deep impression on Li Shuang.
A hint of solemnity flashed in Li Shuang's eyes.
The geniuses of the Central Continent were truly extraordinary.
Just from what she saw, dozens of people hadn't even moved an inch, yet they remained unaffected by the hammer array!
Before long, voices began to ring out one after another.
"Challenger Cang Yin has passed the test of the first layer, the Thousand Mechanism Hammer Array!"
The woman holding the zither calmly ascended to the second layer.
However, her gaze shifted and locked onto Li Shuang again.
Although she wore a veil, Li Shuang inexplicably felt that a smug smile was hidden beneath it.
"Challenger Feng Yu has passed the test of the first layer, the Thousand Mechanism Hammer Array!"
Feng Yu was not near Li Shuang, so Li Shuang couldn't see his specific situation, but she saw a white-robed man's golden platform also rise into the air.
Then, another person began to watch Li Shuang.
"Challenger Yan Lie has passed the test of the first layer, the Thousand Mechanism Hammer Array!"
The body cultivator laughed heartily, and his golden platform also ascended to the second layer.
He looked at Li Shuang with interest and spoke directly: "Oh, the peerless genius personally taught by the City Lord, why are you still stuck on the first layer? Could it be that you're going to use the most ordinary method to clear the stage, just like everyone else?"
Li Shuang: "..."
She only had one feeling right now.
The City Lord's charm was a bit too great!
Because of the City Lord, these people clearly harbored a subtle hostility towards her.
Li Shuang felt a bit speechless and amused at the same time.
The City Lord's protection was truly a double-edged sword.
The Thousand Mechanism Hammer Array opened for one hour.
Ten people reached the second stage.
The Thousand Mechanism Hammer Array opened for three hours.
Thirty people reached the second stage.
The gazes of these thirty people, with remarkable synchronicity, all fell upon Li Shuang.
As for Li Shuang, she had completely gotten used to it.
Ignoring these gazes, Li Shuang thought carefully.
These people had multiple experiences clearing the stages; they knew how to clear them quickly.
Li Shuang had also seen the methods some of them used to clear the stage.
They all seemed to have one thing in common.
That is, they didn't clear the stage by dodging.
Those who ascended to the second layer early had their feet firmly rooted in place, not moving at all.
Some used brute force to resist.
Some used secret techniques to alter trajectories.
Some used zither music to influence the array.
In short, they didn't passively dodge the profound iron hammers; instead, they actively attacked.
So, was this the condition for clearing the stage early?
It couldn't be fully confirmed yet, but based on her previous observations, Li Shuang was at least 80% sure.
Li Shuang couldn't help but ponder.
Stay still and forcefully change the trajectory of the profound iron hammers?
She seemed... capable of doing that too.
Li Shuang's eyes flickered, and five lotus petals suddenly floated before her.
Compared to the geniuses of the Central Continent, her methods were scarcer, and she didn't have as many strange secret techniques.
Her advantage lay in her exceptionally strong soul.
With the Rebirth Art and the Green Lotus, her soul was immensely powerful; even these profound iron hammers couldn't shake it in the slightest!
Li Shuang didn't hesitate, sending the five petals towards the hammers.
The geniuses on the second layer watched this scene, their expressions changing.
Cang Yin smiled and said, "Using the soul manifested as a green lotus to resist the heavy hammers? Interesting."
"She's not afraid of her soul dissipating!" a burly man grumbled.
"Someone taught by the City Lord must have some unique qualities," Feng Yu chuckled.
They no longer had to undergo tests, so this was their most idle time. They chatted casually, their eyes fixed on Li Shuang.
Not caring about the thoughts of these geniuses, the five petals instantly surrounded the profound iron hammer.
Just as the next hammer was about to strike Li Shuang, the power of the five petals was unleashed simultaneously, actually pushing the profound iron hammer upwards.
Li Shuang stood still, and the profound iron hammer swept over her head.
Feng Yu immediately showed a look of regret: "It seems she's about to pass this first stage."
"Sister Youlan, what do you think?" Cang Yin smiled at Youlan.
Youlan snorted coldly. She stopped looking at Li Shuang, simply sat down cross-legged, and began to cultivate directly.