433: Ladder to Heaven

Their oblivious attitude and the wary reactions of the surrounding crowd formed an extremely strong contrast and visual impact.

This commotion naturally caught the attention of those top existences above the Heavenly Ladder.

Ancient Freak like Chu Daolin, Qin Wuye, and Xuan Ming, as well as Starry Sky Prodigies who had just joined the battle such as Mo Xingyun, Han Yue, and Shi Potian, all subconsciously slowed their pace.

Some looked back, while others released Divine Thoughts, casting their gaze toward the entrance below.

Their faces showed varying degrees of surprise and inquiry.

"King Realm?"

Xuan Ming raised his thick eyebrows, sensing that the Auras of Xiao Ruobai and the other three were only at the King Realm.

He then looked at the nearly fearful reactions of the surrounding crowd, his deep eyes filled with confusion and intense interest.

"Mere Kings, yet possessing such prestige? Interesting!"

Starry rivers flowed in Mo Xingyun's eyes as he frowned slightly.

"King Realm Peak, but to make so many prodigies of the same generation fearful, they are no ordinary people. This Xuanhuang Ancestral Land truly hides dragons and crouching tigers."

Fairy Han Yue's cold gaze lingered on Ling Xi for a moment, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowing imperceptibly.

From that seemingly weak woman, she felt an extremely obscure dangerous Aura that made even her Divine Soul tremble slightly.

A flash of surprise crossed Chu Daolin's deep eyes, which then turned into a light of joy at finding a worthy opponent.

"Battle Asura? Azure Rakshasa? Their reputations aren't small. To have such a fierce name while only in the King Realm, I'd like to see what makes them so extraordinary."

Qin Wuye licked his lips, his Battle Intent growing even stronger.

The Golden Lion of the Southern Region Demon Clan, its lion eyes burning with Battle Intent, looked at Qilin Son Mo Yu with a flash of instinctive wariness.

But immediately, this wariness was replaced by a deeper pride and a hint of disdain originating from its noble Bloodline.

Its nostrils flared as it let out an almost inaudible cold snort, seemingly despising the other's willingness to become a mount for the Human Race.

Xiao Ruobai seemed oblivious to the gazes coming from all directions, which contained various emotions; he looked up toward the end of the Heavenly Ladder and spoke calmly, his voice clearly reaching the ears of several fellow disciples.

"Let's go, let's not keep our predecessors waiting."

As his voice fell, he took a step forward, landing steadily and firmly on the first step of the Heavenly Ladder.

Fang Hanyu, Ling Xi, Wang Xiaopang, and Qilin Son Mo Yu, who had transformed into human form with a respectful expression, followed closely behind.

The five of them stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder with steady strides, neither showing off nor displaying an alarming Aura, simply ascending step by step as if strolling on an ordinary mountain path.

Ahead, the Starry Sky Prodigies and Ancient Freak were already chasing each other, each displaying their Divine Abilities, turning the climb into a dazzling competition of techniques.

Mo Xingyun transformed into a starry river, Fairy Han Yue paved the way with moonlight, Shi Potian broke laws with brute force, time fragments danced around Chu Daolin's steps, Qin Wuye's Battle Intent tore through the pressure like a rainbow, and everywhere Xuan Ming passed was frozen for a thousand miles.

The Jiang Family Divine King Body's blood and Qi soared to the sky, rising steadily like a golden sun.

Ji Xuanye was surrounded by Imperial Dragon Qi, with bursts of dragon roars; the Golden Lion roared repeatedly, with rolling golden demon clouds.

The former Saint of the Yaoguang Holy Land was protected by starlight, the successor of the Lingxiao Holy Land flowed like water... many famous Holy Land successors, Ancient Sect prodigies, and Imperial Dynasty crown princes were all among them, each displaying their ultimate skills and striving forward.

Xiao Ruobai, Fang Hanyu, Ling Xi, Wang Xiaopang, and Qilin Son Mo Yu moved at a pace that was neither fast nor slow, appearing exceptionally ordinary compared to the surrounding prodigies who displayed various phenomena and staggering Auras.

The pressure and Dao laws washing over them seemed nonexistent, not even fluttering the corners of their clothes.

Qilin Son Mo Yu restrained his Saintly might and followed closely behind, silent and respectful.

As time passed, the trial of the Heavenly Ladder became increasingly severe.

The pressure doubled, and the Dao laws manifested as swords, sabers, wind, fire, and lightning, constantly harassing them.

Even more, illusions targeting the Dao Heart emerged, questioning the climbers' will and conviction.

People constantly let out muffled groans, their speed decreasing sharply.

Some were pale and sweating profusely, while others screamed as they were blown back by the massive pressure, falling off the Heavenly Ladder and declaring failure.

But more people gritted their teeth, their eyes bloodshot, burning their mana and squeezing their potential just to climb one more step.

Some had bulging muscles and popping veins, as if carrying a mountain, each step making the stairs rumble.

A Holy Land Saint sacrificed a treasure seal to hang above his head, shedding rays of profound light to barely hold on.

Just as this climbing craze continued to ferment, at the foot of Dao Yuan Mountain, streaks of light still broke through the air from time to time.

One after another, many more young prodigies arrived, carrying hearts of pilgrimage and competition, throwing themselves into this path to heaven without hesitation.

Among them, several figures who were not particularly eye-catching but had steady steps and condensed Auras also quietly joined the climbing crowd.

They were Li Xuanfeng, Shen Jinghong, Mu Chenyu, and other Core Disciples of the various Peaks of the Azure Profound Sect.

They did not stand out among the radiant crowd of prodigies ahead, who were often in the King or Saint Realm.

But their eyes were sharp, their Dao foundations solid, and their Auras perfectly harmonious. Walking on the Heavenly Ladder, although they also felt the massive pressure, their steps were steady and their will was as firm as a rock.

After receiving guidance from Gu Changge, they had long since undergone a complete transformation.

Their climbing speed was not fast, but every step they took was incredibly solid.

With calm expressions, their gazes were always fixed on the faintly visible figures of their Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters high above.

They came here only to compete on this peerless stage, where the present and ancient, local and starry sky converged, to temper themselves alongside the world's top prodigies.

On the Heavenly Ladder, Dao laws manifested, and the pressure was like a mountain.

The higher one went, the heavier the pressure became. Ordinary Cultivators needed to circulate their Cultivation Techniques or even sacrifice Magic Treasures to barely resist.

The climb continued.

The three-thousandth step was a clear watershed.

The preliminary screening power of the Dao Repository Heavenly Ladder manifested here.

Below three thousand steps, the pressure could still be resisted with vigorous spiritual power or a powerful Physical Body.

But beyond three thousand steps, a mysterious Dao Rhyme impact began to merge into the pressure. It did not harm the Physical Body but pointed directly at the mana Origin, interfering with the flow of Qi; it tested whether the Cultivator's Dao foundation was solid and harmonious enough.

"Pfft!"

Cultivators constantly reached their limits at over two thousand steps, their faces pale and sweating profusely.

Eventually, they were bounced off by a gentle but irresistible force and sent back to the ground, their faces full of unwillingness and bitterness.

After crossing three thousand steps, the number of Cultivators on the Heavenly Ladder dropped sharply, but those who remained were undoubtedly the elite.

The competition did not weaken but became even more intense.

To fight for a better position, to obtain a better evaluation, and for the sake of the pride in their hearts, the prodigies began to display their strengths and speed forward.

Xiao Ruobai was now standing on the four-thousandth step, looking up.

The figures of Chu Daolin, Mo Xingyun, and others had already turned into small specks of light, disappearing into the mist ahead.

Ji Xuanye, the Golden Lion, and others were also shining brightly, striving upward.

Everyone was fighting hard, their spiritual power fluctuating violently, and the light of Divine Abilities flashing from time to time.

The Divine King Body Jiang Ruofeng's body glowed with golden light, like a human-shaped sun, brutally crashing through the pressure and Dao Rhyme ahead, making steady progress.

Above Ji Xuanye's head, dragon shadows faintly circled, with Imperial Dragon Qi protecting his body. Although his speed was not as rapid as Jiang Ruofeng's, he moved step by step, steadily upward.

The Golden Lion roared repeatedly, the golden demon clouds carrying surging blood Qi.

"Eldest Senior Brother, are we too slow? I see those guys, and that ice-faced fellow, running quite fast."

Wang Xiaopang leaned in and lowered his voice.

"No rush." Fang Hanyu held his ancient sword, his eyes sharp as usual.

"Climbing fast doesn't necessarily mean climbing steadily or climbing high."

Ling Xi did not speak, only moving her lotus steps lightly as they continued to ascend at a constant speed.