Chapter 376: Chapter 270 Ascension! Ascension!! Ascension!!!_2
However, this time.
Gai Songlin was the first to climb Chess Stone Peak, completely sweeping away past humiliations, an absolute dark horse!
"Pan Jue cliff!"
"Gecko Wall-Crawling!"
"Ran right into my trap!"
As soon as Gai Songlin climbed up, he saw twelve arenas arranged in a fan shape before him, twelve large flags fluttering in the wind, with characters inscribed on the flags—
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.
Gai Songlin took the initiative, leaping onto the first ’Zi Character’ arena.
Climbing the cliff!
Racing to the top!
In this battle, Gai Songlin leads!
"The first upset."
"Who’s second?"
"Is it ’Chufeng’ first Situ Fei or ’Hidden Dragon’ second Ban Xianfu?"
Up on the cliff, everyone speculated.
Some guessed it would likely be someone at the top of the ’Hidden Dragon’ or ’Chufeng’ list.
Others speculated it might be someone not so highly ranked.
There were even guesses that the second person might not be on the list at all.
The answer was quickly revealed.
Bam!
Bam!
Bam!
Only hearing the earth shake at the mountainside, a figure ascended step by step, as if a heavenly ladder was beneath his feet, effortlessly climbing to the top. Behind him, at his feet, he left a series of footprints.
Even if the cliff wall was smooth.
Even when climbing straight up.
Those feet moved as if walking on flat ground.
Upon closer inspection, it was revealed that each foot moved like a steel chisel, striking firmly into the rock wall, creating a stairway with raw power.
A pair of bare feet!
Straight up to the sky!
Truly strange, incredibly shocking, much more unbelievable than Gai Songlin being first.
Who is this person—
"It’s Luo Qi!"
"The ’Barefoot Immortal’ Luo Qi!"
"The fourth on the ’Hidden Dragon’ list!"
"It’s him! That makes much more sense! It seems this ’Barefoot Immortal’ is not only fast at running, but climbing too!"
As soon as the second name was revealed, the audience at the cliff top erupted into noise.
Luo Qi paid no attention, scanning his surroundings, seeing twelve arenas, noticing Gai Songlin on the ’Zi Character’ arena, surprised in his heart: "I have great feet, able to go anywhere under the sky, how could this person climb up before me?"
Luo Qi was shocked.
But immediately, his ear twitched, quickly moving his large feet with a speed like ’Shrinking Land to Inches,’ landing on the second ’Chou Character’ arena.
In the next moment.
The third First Ascender arrived!
"Haha!"
"Barefoot Luo Qi, thanks to you!"
A loud laugh preceded the person’s arrival, as soon as the crowd heard it, many knowingly smiled, the laugh sharp and childlike, among over a thousand competitors, there was no one else—
It was the ’Magic Child’!
Tan Dou seized the opportunity, swiftly climbing to the top using Luo Qi’s footprints, laughing as he occupied the third ’Yin Character’ arena.
The first three First Ascenders all hailed from the ’Hidden Dragon List,’ known throughout the Fifteen States.
But then—
"The Buddha is coming!"
"The Daoist is coming!"
"The Scholar is coming!"
The monk, the Daoist, and the Confucian, these three reached the top almost simultaneously, their figures flickering, occupying the fourth, fifth, and sixth arenas respectively.
"Who are they?"
"Who are these three?"
The audience was bewildered, not recognizing them.
Yet a Martial Artist from Shan State exclaimed excitedly: "These are the Yashan Three Monsters!"
In the Fifteen States of Great Yan, there is a division between ’Ancient Nine Provinces’ and ’New Six States.’
In the flourishing Martial Arts, the ’Ancient Nine Provinces’ far surpass the ’New Six States,’ and among the ’New Six States,’ the southernmost Shan State of Great Yan is the worst.
How bad?
So bad that in such a large state, not a single person can make it onto the ’Hidden Dragon’ or ’Chufeng’ two lists.
Even the Traveler Department struggles!
They try to ensure representation from each state on the lists, especially relaxing requirements for lower states, aiming for each to have at least three to five, or even one or two people listed.
But even then, Shan State fails to make the grade.
Too remote!
Too far away!
Too backward!
Among the Fifteen States, Shan State’s presence is too weak.
After the ’Hidden Dragon’ and ’Chufeng’ lists were released, the excitement was for the other Fourteen States, leaving Shan State in solitary desolation.
Even people from Shan State admit it, indeed falling short compared to other states.
Martial Artists from Shan State simply can’t hold their heads up elsewhere.
But unexpectedly—
"The Yashan Three Monsters!"
"These are the three top fighters from Yashan Academy in Shan State, during the Shan State competition they seemed just average, but unexpectedly, the three of them were hiding their true strength, and by joining forces, they actually surpassed all the Heavenly Prides and reached fourth place in unison!"
Shan State danced in wild jubilation!
Everyone was astonished!
The Yashan Three Monsters’ reputation was previously unknown, but this time, they’ve made a name for themselves, needing no wait until the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ concludes, the trio’s fame will surely spread throughout the Fifteen States.
Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, the stage is too grand!
As long as you have the capability, you are sure to stand out!
...
"Six have climbed up!"
"Only half the seats are left!"
"No, no, no! That’s not how it’s calculated! Look, the ’Yashan Three Monsters’ climbed up to the fourth arena together, as they are all from the same academy and team, even if all three reached the top first, they only occupy one arena."
"Ah, I nearly forgot, that means eight seats are still left."
Six people were first to climb.
Occupying four seats.
As more arenas were continuously occupied, the audience grew increasingly eager to see who would climb next, especially viewers from various states and academies like the Jian Province Governor Ni Mengtong, like Taikang Academy’s Shao Yancong, they too were nervous, all hoping: "Professor Yan’s Qinggong is impressive, the ’Hidden Dragon List’ ranking doesn’t count, Gai Songlin at the bottom still made it first to the top, the unlisted ’Yashan Three Monsters’ climbed by teamwork, with Professor Yan’s Qinggong skills, he might win a spot!"
Shao Yancong trusted Yan Chuan.
But Ni Mengtong was more rational: "Amidst the many Heavenly Prides at Chess Stone Peak, it’s not just the famous ones on the ’Hidden Dragon’ and ’Chufeng’ lists, there are also dark horses like the ’Yashan Three Monsters,’ Yan Chuan is impressive in Jian Province, but if he’s aiming for a spot among the Twelve First Ascenders, it’s way too hard!"
Ni Mengtong shook his head.
From Gai Songlin to Luo Qi, from the ’Magic Child’ to the ’Yashan Three Monsters,’ one by one, who wasn’t silently climbing, who didn’t quietly make it to the top?
Only Yan Chuan.
With his Lion Roar, diligently giving martial arts lectures, he lost a lot of time.
Although he stopped making noise now, his previous voice only reached five hundred feet, still far from the top.
"Not hoping for it anymore!"
Ni Mengtong thought to himself.
Next—
’Chufeng’ third ’Three Heavenly Swords’ Lu Yuru!
’Chufeng’ seventh ’Cold Plum Fairy’ Ying He!
’Hidden Dragon’ ninth ’Little Vajra’ Ying Jifeng!
Out-of-list Genius ’Iron Fire Judge’ Peng Fannian!
Out-of-list Genius ’Sai Shang Qi Pa’ Hu Fenglan!
As these five successively reached the top, twelve arenas now occupied five more seats, leaving just three remaining.
By this point.
The possibility of Yan Chuan being among the first ascent grew smaller, almost vanishing.
Ni Mengtong had already given up hope.
Even Shao Yancong began to smile wryly, reconsidering if he wasn’t overthinking it.
In the sky.
Among the many grandmasters, Tian Jing and Jiang Bianliu showed smiles: "Together, they surpassed others! Yan Chuan and the other’s Qinggong skills when singled out are already top-notch on the ’Human List.’ If they had teamed up earlier, neither Gai Songlin nor Luo Qi could match their speed!"
Qian Lingyi also laughed, "The ’Yashan Three Monsters’ individually have not bad Qinggong, but without teaming up, they couldn’t have reached the top, winning through a collaborative effort. They know each other well as fellow students, able to trust one another, that’s not surprising. However, Yan Chuan, Ding Xiang, and Situ Fei came from different Three States, and didn’t know each other before this, yet they could team up, showing complete trust, which is truly rare."
Why could the ’Yashan Three Monsters’ be the first to reach the top?
Solely because the three of them fully trusted each other, cooperated completely, often overcoming obstacles difficult for one person, but much easier with three joining forces. For example, Yan Chuan and Ding Xiang, Situ Fei’s first challenge, would have been tough to conquer for Yan Chuan alone. But by joining forces with Ding Xiang and Situ Fei, they easily broke through.
Cooperation makes things easier.
But cooperation itself is hard.
Why can Yan Chuan, Ding Xiang, and Situ Fei cooperate?
Of course, it’s due to their character!
Situ Fei risked her life to save Ding Xiang, giving up the advantage of first ascent without hesitation, her character is solid.
Yan Chuan is also not lacking, risking himself to save Wang Zhengyi, the ’Hidden Dragon List’ describes Yan Chuan’s respectful and righteous deeds at the Martial Arts Hall, showcasing a noble character, truly reminiscent of an ancient hero.
Based on their past character, and with Ding Xiang as a bridge, there was a foundation for cooperation.
This type of cooperation is hard to come by.
Among the first-tier, besides the ’Yashan Three Monsters,’ only Yan Chuan and his group.
Thus, they could overtake and catch up continuously.
They were fast.
But unfortunately.
They teamed up too late, delayed too much in the early stages, and despite gaining momentum later, continuously catching up, they still lagged behind the first group of competitors.
The Innate Grandmasters who oversaw everything from above could clearly count how many were still ahead of Yan Chuan and his friends—
...