Ye Gong ascended the thirty-third step.
Bang!
The moment his Flying Cloud Boots touched it, an incredibly terrifying torrent of energy surged from the step, like a monstrous wave, intent on throwing Ye Gong back.
Ye Gong’s robes fluttered wildly in the wind. Gritting his teeth, the special ability within his body erupted like a tide, colliding with the torrent from the steps.
After a brief stalemate, he actually managed to push the torrent back!
"He's moving up!"
Outside the arena, countless hearts trembled.
The third round of the competition had just begun, and Ye Gong had already reached the thirty-third step, leaving the other contestants far behind.
"Only those two from the Jiang family can catch up to him, but they're still a bit short."
Someone sighed as they spoke. On the Sacred Ladder, at the thirty-second step, Jiang Zheye and Jiang Taixu stood side by side. The former was expressionless, while Jiang Taixu looked somewhat pale, clearly a notch weaker than Jiang Zheye.
"He's moving again!"
With a cry of surprise, onlookers saw Ye Gong and Jiang Zheye on the Sacred Ladder simultaneously take a step upwards. Amidst a dazzling storm of light and energy, both stabilized themselves.
Below, Jiang Taixu’s facial muscles twitched violently as he roared and took a step forward, confronting the monstrous wave of the thirty-third step.
"Not good!"
The crowd exclaimed. In that instant, Jiang Taixu’s body began to shake violently. He stumbled backward, but with a roar, he managed to pull himself back.
"That was close!"
The crowd watched Jiang Taixu on the Sacred Ladder, his face flushed and panting, and felt a sense of lingering fear for him.
Just barely, Jiang Taixu had avoided being pushed off by the force, and might have suffered severe injuries. Although his existing points were enough for him to advance, injuries were secondary to the embarrassment.
A genius of the Jiang family should not stop at the thirty-third step, especially when Ye Gong had ascended with what seemed like a casual step.
"In the path of cultivation, competition and the desire to surpass others are good; they can accelerate a cultivator's progress. However, if one cannot assess their own strength and blindly pursues, it can lead to grave consequences."
From the Ye family's direction, an elder chuckled and said loudly to the person beside him.
"The Ancestor is correct," the man replied, bowing. But everyone knew that the Ye family ancestor’s words were not directed at him but at the Jiang family.
"Hmph, he's merely relying on his higher realm." The Jiang family ancestor’s face darkened. He didn't want to lose face, but the Ye family ancestor showed no inclination to let him off the hook, continuing with a smile, "Whether a realm is high or low isn't always important. Your other prodigy from the Jiang family is performing quite well, although always trailing behind our Ye Gong."
The Ye family ancestor stroked his beard with satisfaction and added, "So, if you ask me, your Jiang family should stop wasting resources on that Jiang Taixu. This child is impetuous and lacks stability; he will suffer greatly in the future."
The Jiang family ancestor's face turned grim. "The affairs of my Jiang family are none of your concern, old scoundrel."
"Besides, Taixu is only making mistakes because he was injured in the previous round, and it was a minor mistake. Unlike some people who always believe they control the situation, yet they actually push their allies into a pit!"
"Say that again!" The Qi family ancestor slammed the table and roared at the Jiang family ancestor, pointing at him.
"What if I say it twice? Qi Huanzong, think for yourself, am I not speaking the truth?" A smile flickered across the Jiang family ancestor's aged face as he spoke with feigned lightness. "Ye Geng, that old fellow, trapped you, causing your Qi family to lose a seat at the Ten Thousand Clans Assembly. You know better than anyone the price of that."
Hearing this, Qi Huanzong's white hair, which hung by his temples, began to stir as if in a wind. A heart-palpitating ripple emanated from his body, clearly indicating he was enraged by the Jiang family ancestor's words.
However, it was unclear whom he was angry with.
The Ye family ancestor, Ye Geng, his expression changed. He coughed twice and quickly sent a telepathic message to the Qi family ancestor: "Huanzong, I will compensate your Qi family for this loss. And Jiang Shu is sharp-tongued; do not let him sow discord between you."
"You don't need to remind me." The Qi family ancestor slowly unclenched his fist, the surging energy in his body dissipated, and his white hair settled.
"Jiang Shu, I will definitely avenge Qi Ye's grievance." Qi Huanzong looked at the Jiang family ancestor coldly and said, "I advise you to quickly go back and offer incense, and pray that your clansmen do not encounter my nephew at the Ten Thousand Clans Assembly."
"Otherwise, their fate will be dire."
The Jiang family ancestor's gaze narrowed initially, then he let out a disdainful laugh. "It is better that your nephew does not encounter my Jiang family."
"And no matter how strong your nephew is, he is merely comparable to Zheye. My Jiang family has a three-stage physical cultivator this time. How many punches can your nephew withstand if he meets them?"
"Hmph, we shall see!" Knowing he couldn't win the argument, the Qi family ancestor flicked his sleeve and returned to the airship.
"That Mu Xu is also no match for Ye Gong." Ye Geng looked at Xu Mu, who was the only one meditating on the ground in the Pure Void Realm, and a condescending smile appeared. "Despite both experiencing a major battle, my grandson Ye Gong, severely injured, is still far ahead on the Sacred Ladder. In contrast, this outsider from your Jiang family, what is a physical cultivator capable of, merely meditating here."
The Jiang family ancestor's face instantly froze, as he had no idea how to retort.
Everyone could see that since the start of the third round, Xu Mu had not moved an inch, remaining in the same spot, meditating with his eyes closed, seemingly healing his injuries. But in the previous round, he hadn't seemed seriously hurt!
The crowd was puzzled but helpless, as they didn't know that Xu Mu was preparing for after leaving the realm. He valued his own life more than the inconsequential wins and losses here, so he was recovering as much strength as possible.
"Why the hurry, senior? The third round has just begun." Jiang Sheng's father, Jiang Li, stepped forward and said, "When young friend Mu Xu finishes resting, he will naturally catch up to Ye Gong."
"Haha, truly ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth. How can a mere physical cultivator be compared to a sword cultivator?" Ye Geng glanced disdainfully at Jiang Li and said.
Jiang Li did not retort much, merely looking at the figure of Xu Mu meditating quietly within the realm and smiling, he said, "Then please, senior, wait and see!"
...
Within the Pure Void Realm.
More than two hours had passed in the third round of the competition.
Ye Gong had reached the eighty-fourth step, only fifteen steps away from the summit. However, anyone could see that he seemed to be nearing his limit.
At this moment, Ye Gong was drenched in sweat, and his sword trembled from excessive force.
He looked up, a hint of unwillingness in his eyes.
Because he knew this Sacred Ladder was not the true one, but a pseudo-Sacred Ladder. The real Sacred Ladder trial would appear at the Ten Thousand Clans Assembly.
What he found unbearable was that even on this pseudo-Sacred Ladder, he couldn't reach the top, and even ninety steps seemed impossibly far.
Although this was already the best record in their sector for many years, Ye Gong still felt humiliated. To be stopped here as a three-stage cultivator invited ridicule!
Boom!
Ye Gong gritted his teeth, swung his right arm forward, and slashed out with his sword. He then immediately took a step upwards. An incredibly terrifying force boomed out, slicing the wave of energy into countless fragments, and he himself successfully ascended to the eighty-fifth step of the Sacred Ladder.
Those below looked up, their faces etched with astonishment. They hadn't expected Ye Gong to have the strength to ascend further. Behind him, Jiang Zheye had long since stopped at the eighty-second step, remaining there without moving for a long time!
"No, he's not done yet!"
With a cry, the crowd saw Ye Gong, after just reaching the eighty-fifth step, not stop.
He held his sword, his surrounding fierce sword energy pressing towards the steps above. The accompanying violent waves couldn't stop his progress.
The next moment, Ye Gong stood on the ninety-sixth step.
The crowd was stunned and about to express their amazement when they noticed Ye Gong moving again.
"Drink!"
Ye Gong roared, channeling all the strength in his body, climbing upwards with near-madness. His sword slashed out countless sword energies, the fabric of his trousers torn open by the special ability, pieces flying in the air.
Thump!
Ye Gong ferociously landed on the eighty-seventh step, leaning forward, without looking up, continuing to stride upwards, like a possessed demon.
But in reality, the eighty-eighth step couldn't stop him, and he quickly stabilized on the eighty-ninth step.
On the final, ninetieth step, Ye Gong was pressed down, his whole body bleeding, his face purple, his entire body trembling, mere inches away from being pushed off the Sacred Ladder by the energy.
But he still held his ground.
The pressure on the Sacred Ladder vanished. Ye Gong looked up, his vision blurred, and slowly knelt on the step.
"This is where it ends," he thought.
"So strong."
Everyone below, their expressions numb, gazed at Ye Gong's kneeling figure on the ninetieth step. They couldn't believe he had reached the ninetieth step, far surpassing the record of eighty-three steps created by that person from the Wang family in previous years.
Jiang Zheye remained silent. He had given his all but could only reach eighty-four steps. His realm was insufficient; any further would have resulted in him being flung off.
Below him was Jiang Taixu. Jiang Taixu had stopped at the seventy-first step, much further behind Ye Gong.
"The gap in realms is significant. Perhaps only a three-stage cultivator can contend with him." Jiang Zheye mused internally, then suddenly seemed to recall something. He abruptly turned his head, searching the various steps of the Sacred Ladder for Xu Mu's figure.
But he was nowhere to be found.
Then, Jiang Zheye spotted Xu Mu on the ground.
At this point, the majority of special ability users had reached their limits and could go no further. All that remained was to wait for the competition to end, so they too, noticed the figure at the very bottom.
They remembered that besides Ye Gong, there was another three-stage special ability user here.
That outsider from the Jiang family, who had led the charge against the Ghost King, captured Sky Vault Peak, and even the formidable Ye Gong had to flee under the overwhelming circumstances!
But why was he not moving?