441: Wang Zhan arrives

Wang Zhan wore a dark azure close-fitting suit, looking travel-worn, with wear and tear on the edges of his clothes from the long journey, and a faint lingering scent of blood.

He also carried a heavy, heart-stopping feeling, like the calm before a storm.

“Who is that?”

“Such an unfamiliar face, but his presence is incredibly profound!”

“Wait! This face, this Aura... could he be that person from the Eastern Domain...”

Among the crowd, Cultivators from the Eastern Domain or those who were well-informed had their pupils suddenly contract, a name almost slipping from their lips.

“Wang Zhan! It's Wang Zhan of the Archaic Royal Family! The Heavenly Azure Sacred Body!”

“He actually made it here?!”

“Arriving only now, isn't it too late?”

Cries of surprise rang out, but quickly subsided.

This was because most people's attention was still drawn to the person above the nine thousand steps high in the sky.

Wang Zhan ignored the clamor. He looked up at the Sky Ladder, which soared into the clouds, and then stepped onto the first rung.

“Boom!”

The pressure descended.

Wang Zhan's figure was as steady as a mountain. His dark azure vital Qi circulated slightly, and the oppressive pressure was naturally neutralized and absorbed.

He did not hesitate at all and began to ascend.

One hundred steps, three hundred steps, five hundred steps... his speed was terrifyingly fast, as if he were climbing an ordinary mountain, not the Sky Ladder.

The low-level pressure and Heart Demon illusions along the way were silently annihilated by his profound and encompassing energy field before they could even approach within three feet of him.

Soon, he stepped onto the two thousandth rung.

The pressure here was already considerable, and many Prodigies were resting and catching their breath.

“Whoosh—!”

A blurry azure afterimage, accompanied by the sound of low wind pressure, flashed past the Prodigies who were struggling to hold on!

“What just went by?!”

“So fast! Who was that?!”

The few people turned back in shock, only seeing a rapidly shrinking dark azure silhouette moving upward at a terrifying, near-constant speed.

It was as if the pressure they endured simply did not exist for that person.

Three thousand steps, four thousand steps... Wang Zhan's speed still did not slow down, and he advanced steadily along the center of the Sky Ladder.

Wherever he passed, the steps faintly emitted a resonant, low hum, as if responding to his Dao.

Wang Zhan's ascent also drew the attention of the Dao Zang Academy's Elders and Deans.

Dao Zang Academy, Mingxin Hall.

The Elders were observing the situation on the Sky Ladder through a massive Water Mirror.

When they saw Wang Zhan steadily climbing at a terrifying, near-constant speed, a Black-Faced Elder couldn't help but let out a soft exclamation, pointing at the figure in the Water Mirror:

“Who is this young man? His climbing speed is so stable and swift? The depth of his Foundation is truly rare!”

An Elder with the hair of a crane and the face of a child stroked his beard and pondered, “Looking at his vast vital Qi, could he be that young fellow from the Archaic Royal Family in the Eastern Domain who possesses the Heavenly Azure Sacred Body, Wang Zhan?”

“I heard he was defeated multiple times by Battle Asura and his Junior Sister. Yet, look at him now: his vital Qi circulates seamlessly and perfectly, and his Dao Rhyme is vast and balanced.

He has actually broken through adversity and been reborn, making his Foundation even stronger than before!!”

The Black-Faced Elder gasped, “Looking at this momentum, the position of True Disciple is likely already within his grasp, and he even has the potential to challenge the nine thousandth rung!”

The Elders exchanged glances, all seeing shock and solemnity in the others' eyes.

Six thousand steps. This was already the limit for many Holy Land Saints and Ancient Sect Successors. Everyone was solemn-faced and sweating profusely.

Suddenly, an invisible force field spread out, slightly diluting the pressure on the few people nearby.

Everyone looked up in astonishment, only to see a dark azure figure steadily walking past them.

The person walked calmly, his vital Qi contained within his body. Only a faint layer of Dao Rhyme radiance, seemingly capable of supporting all creation, flowed around him, easily sweeping away the turbulent Dao Principles rushing toward him.

“Is that Wang Zhan?”

An Ancient Sect Successor recognized the newcomer, his pupils contracting sharply.

“How is he so fast?!”

A Holy Land Saint nearby spoke in a dry voice.

They were struggling to take every step here, yet the other person was walking as if on flat ground?

Wang Zhan did not look sideways, nor did he spare them a glance. Step by step, he surpassed them.

He left the others staring blankly at each other, their faces burning, the arrogance they held as contemporary Prodigies utterly shattered.

At six thousand and seven thousand steps, the pressure doubled, and Heart Demon Tribulations and Dao Principle attacks began to manifest.

Wang Zhan's movements were finally no longer so effortless.

The Dao Rhyme radiance around him began to flicker visibly, colliding fiercely with the incoming attacks of various attributes, letting out sounds like muffled thunder.

His steps also became heavy; with every step he took, the staircase emitted a clear tremor.

But he did not stop.

Although his speed had decreased, he maintained a steady, unstoppable rhythm of advancement.

He was like a precise and powerful war chariot, roaring as it crushed all obstacles, moving upward with unwavering determination.

Eight thousand steps!

The True Disciple Platform!

Wang Zhan's figure passed through the barrier and landed firmly on the platform.

At this moment, Li Xuanfeng and the others had also finished meditating and were preparing to continue their ascent.

Wang Zhan's gaze swept over the seven people, pausing slightly on Li Xuanfeng, but he did not linger.

After sensing the dense Dao Rhyme and the stronger overall pressure here, he immediately took another step without hesitation, entering the Hell section beyond the eight thousandth rung!

“He didn't stop to recover? He just went straight up?!” Someone cried out in surprise.

Near the eight thousand three hundredth rung.

Ji Xuanye was meditating and recovering, preparing to ascend further.

Suddenly, he felt an Aura approaching rapidly from his rear side—one that was steady as a mountain, yet carried a fierce, forward-rushing momentum.

He turned his head sharply.

He saw Wang Zhan walking step by step, his surrounding Aura condensed and profound, far exceeding his previous impression.

What made his heart palpitate even more was that the other party was clearly climbing, yet his breathing was incredibly steady, as if he still had reserve strength.

Wang Zhan's gaze briefly met Ji Xuanye's, and he nodded slightly as a greeting.

But his steps did not pause at all; he walked directly past Ji Xuanye toward the higher levels.

Ji Xuanye opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but it ultimately turned into a bitter sigh.

There was a time when he considered himself to be in the same first echelon as Wang Zhan.

Now, it seemed the gap was far greater than he had imagined.

The other party had caught up from behind, but had already left him far in the dust.

Eight thousand six hundred steps.

Xing Lan was sitting cross-legged when he suddenly felt something and opened his eyes.

Wang Zhan happened to be walking past not far in front of him.

He was clearly enduring immense pressure as his dark azure vital Qi and Dao Rhyme fiercely countered the surrounding icy cold and corrosive Dao Principles.

But his back was straight and his steps were firm; the will to advance relentlessly and tread the heavens and earth beneath his feet surged forward.

Above the eight thousand seven hundredth rung, the Dao Principles took physical form, and the attacks were terrifying.

Wang Zhan's progress became exceptionally difficult.

He had no choice but to truly activate the power of his Sacred Body. His dark azure vital Qi burned fiercely, combining with his encompassing Dao Rhyme.

This formed an incomparably solid Battle Armor on his surface, allowing him to forcefully withstand the incoming phantom images of giant Dragons, Karmic Fire Red Lotuses, and Silent Annihilation Cold Tides!

“Boom!” “Bang!” “Crack!”

The sounds of fierce confrontation were incessant.

Cracks continuously appeared on his Battle Armor, only to be repaired rapidly.

Yet, his eyes grew brighter and his Battle Intent soared higher!

This extreme pressure and confrontation was the perfect battlefield to hone the Dao he had newly comprehended!

Step by step, slowly but firmly, he walked upward.