Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1444 The Struggle at the Higher Layers!

After hours of intense meditation in the heart of the sixth layer, Max gradually opened his eyes. The raging sea of flames continued to surge around him with undiminished fury, but a profound shift had occurred deep within his core.

The golden glow emanating from the Chaos Tree's flame branch had now settled into stability. No longer did the leaves greedily pull in the ambient energy as before.

"The Chaos Tree has ceased absorbing the energy in this place," Max whispered softly, clearly detecting the alteration.

He directed his awareness inward again to verify his insight. The golden threads of flame energy, which had once flooded ceaselessly into the luminous leaves, were now fading. The tree had stopped actively pulling them in. This wasn't outright refusal, but an indication that the energy concentration at this level could no longer fuel additional expansion.

"The power here isn't potent enough anymore to drive more progress," he determined with composure.

No trace of regret showed on his face. Rather, his gaze burned with resolute focus.

"Time to venture even deeper."

He stood up from his cross-legged stance and brushed off his robes with a light touch, even though the flames had long scorched away all traces of dirt. Without a second thought, Max moved ahead and resumed his descent.

The suffocating heat intensified around him, as if reacting to his fresh resolve. The burden grew heavier the instant he entered the seventh layer.

This time, unlike previously, he didn't pause to probe his boundaries step by step. His strides stayed deliberate and focused. He traversed the outer sections of the seventh layer steadily, withstanding the amplified flame laws that assaulted him from all sides.

The atmosphere in this area seemed thicker, nearly tangible, like the flames had taken on a solid form.

He pressed on until arriving at the innermost region of the seventh layer.

The force there differed greatly from what he'd faced in the sixth layer. The flame laws were denser, their framework sharper and infinitely more commanding. The fire didn't just scorch now. It demanded obedience.

Max held his posture firm amid the roaring blaze and softly shut his eyes. He avoided sitting right away. Standing tall instead, he let his senses drink in the surroundings completely. His mind extended outward, following the pulse of the flame laws, analyzing their complex designs and delicate shifts.

"The energy in this spot is excellent, and the flame laws are impressive too," he said in a low voice after a few deep breaths.

A subtle contentment flickered in his eyes.

Wasting no time, Max settled back into a cross-legged pose. His spine stayed rigid as his breaths eased into a calm cadence. Once more, he split his attention along two separate streams.

One stream of his consciousness delved into grasping the seventh layer's flame laws, meticulously honing his insight for the Cosmic Path. The other directed the Chaos Tree to absorb the nearby flame-based energy.

On this occasion, the golden threads appeared thicker and much more vivid. As they streamed into his inner realm, the flame leaves on the Chaos Tree shone with greater intensity than earlier. The branch quivered slightly, as if stirring to a profound harmony.

Yet the absorption didn't happen swiftly. Though the energy was more robust, converting it into genuine sustenance took patience. The flame laws in this layer were far more intricate, requiring thorough understanding. Each strand of insight needed to be captured, secured, and woven in.

As Max sat in quiet contemplation deep in the seventh layer, tensions mounted dramatically in the layers above.

Isabella positioned herself in the ninth layer, her Imperial Bloodline flaring powerfully while she battled the overwhelming might of the flame laws. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she inched ahead one foot at a time. The surrounding flames blazed in white and gold hues, clashing fiercely against her protective aura.

Zain, on the other hand, endured the tenth layer. His face was etched with seriousness as he withstood the crushing force that descended like a crumbling heaven. Every motion demanded tremendous exertion. The flames there weren't something one could simply shrug off. They challenged both resolve and power equally.

In stark contrast to their fierce battles, Max's form in the seventh layer remained serene and still.

Isabella had surged rapidly through the initial portion of the ninth layer, her Imperial Bloodline emitting a constant radiant glow as she cut through the turbulent ocean of fire. Her progress started fluid, with her aura taming the aggressive flame laws that sought to overwhelm her.

With every step, she seemed to etch a trail through the conflagration, creating subtle waves in the scorching atmosphere.

But upon entering the second half of the ninth layer, the genuine challenge of the Path to Eternal Flames unveiled itself starkly.

The weight escalated suddenly, shifting from a constant load to an all-encompassing squeeze that bore down relentlessly. It was like the very void had hardened, squeezing both her flesh and spirit at once. Isabella's pace faltered, her forehead creasing as the unseen force made her advances laborious.

However, the pressure alone wasn't what blocked her way.

Ahead lay innumerable threads of flame laws twisting together in the air, crafting a thick and elaborate wall. The fire no longer raged as wild chaos. It held form. It followed order. These flame laws clustered before her like an interlaced shield, every filament throbbing with dominance. They barred her route on purpose, as if judging her worthiness to continue.

Isabella tried to push onward, but as soon as her aura brushed against that packed mass of laws, it bounced back. Her Imperial Bloodline ignited on reflex, unleashing golden brilliance from her frame as she fought the restraint. Despite this, she couldn't make further headway.

She swiftly grasped the essence of the obstacle facing her.

To proceed, she faced two paths. She could steadily decipher the obstructing flame laws, incorporating them into her own Flame Concept until a harmonious link opened the way. Alternatively, she might try breaking through with sheer force and bloodline might, similar to Zain's approach in the prior layers.

Determination flashed in her eyes as she considered the risks of both choices.