Chapter 149 Reaching the Summit

Ye Fan activated Nine Heavens Thunder Movement, his figure transforming into a bolt of lightning as he charged straight towards the 700th step.

The sudden scene stunned everyone present. Ye Feng's eyes nearly bulged out of his head, completely unable to believe what he was seeing.

"He still has strength left at this point?!" Ye Feng thought, his Face a mask of shock.

Relying on the power of Nine Heavens Thunder Movement, Ye Fan surged towards the 700th step in one breath. Although his speed was astonishingly fast, the pressure far exceeded what outsiders could imagine.

If not for the characteristic of merging his body with lightning, he would have long been crushed into pieces by the pressure from all directions.

620th step, 640th step, 666th step... 700th step!

Ye Fan charged up to the 700th step in one go, but he showed no intention of stopping. He actually continued sprinting towards the 800th step.

With the golden armor immortal robe and Vajra Indestructible Body Divine Art operating at full power, Ye Fan's figure resembled a golden thunderbolt shooting straight into the sky.

720th step, 740th step, 760th step... Reaching the 800th step, Ye Fan still showed no intention of stopping!

Seeing this, Ye Feng was so enraged that his heart felt attacked. He swayed, nearly falling from the Heaven Rank, before his figure vanished. He had clearly been judged to have failed the trial.

Upon reaching the 800th step, Ye Fan felt as if a great mountain were pressing down on him. Even transformed into lightning, he couldn't completely withstand this force.

The glow of the golden armor immortal robe grew extremely dim. The skin all over his body cracked inch by inch, his blood having long since soaked through his robes. He looked as if he might shatter into pieces at any moment.

Enduring excruciating pain, Ye Fan charged up to the 900th step. Just as everyone thought it was over, he transformed into a hundred-zhang-long Divine Dragon and soared into the sky!

"Divine Dragon Roaring Heaven Art!"

Summoning his last breath, Ye Fan flew towards the end of the Heaven Rank. Witnessing this scene, the onlookers seemed petrified, their eyes wide with disbelief at what they were seeing.

These Prodigies from the Central Continent searched their memories but couldn't recall anyone ever reaching the 900th step, let alone attempting to charge the 1,000th step.

But Ye Fan's existence defied common sense. Transforming into a Dragon, roaming the Universe, he stubbornly withstood the sky-collapsing force and completed the final sprint.

This time, even the usually aloof Fairy Han Yue was stunned. Her beautiful eyes were filled with shock, clearly unable to believe what she was witnessing.

"On the day the Ascension Assembly begins, this person's name will resound throughout the world," Fairy Han Yue thought silently.

Under the incredulous gazes of the crowd, Ye Fan successfully charged to the end of the thousand-step Heaven Rank.

The moment he reached his destination, the omnipresent pressure abruptly vanished.

Already at the end of his rope, Ye Fan could no longer hold on. He collapsed on the steps, gasping for breath in great heaves. Looking at the azure sky in the distance, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"The view from up high is truly beautiful."

Ye Fan had originally intended to give up at the 600th step. But at the final moment, a competitive spirit arose within him. He wanted to see just how far he could go. He never expected that a surge ofPassion would carry him all the way to the end.

Seeing this unprecedented view before him, Ye Fan suddenly understood why so many people fought tooth and nail to rise to the top. It turns out the scenery from the heights really is different.

In the next second, an intangible force drilled into Ye Fan's body. Not only did it completely repair his injuries, it also restored his nearly depleted spiritual power.

At the same time, all the Cultivators who had qualified in the second round of assessment experienced the same situation.

It seemed the trial Formation had taken effect, intending for them to undergo the third and final trial in their best condition.

With Ye Fan's help, all the Disciples of the Nine Great Sects had reached the passing mark, retaining their qualification to participate in the final trial.

Without a doubt, they would all receive some rewards. Ye Fan had also, in an intangible way, earned a huge favor.

Soon, the thousand-step Heaven Rank vanished. Ye Fan was teleported back before the trial Formation.

You Tan paid no heed to the crowd. In full view of everyone, she threw herself into Ye Fan's embrace, scolding him for acting recklessly again.

Although Murong Wan didn't say much, the joy in her eyes overflowed.

The three of them openly displayed their affection, making many onlookers feel so sour their teeth almost ached.

Especially those Prodigies from the Central Continent; each looked like a frost-beaten eggplant or a defeated rooster.

They had thought they could regain some Face in the second assessment. Who would have thought they would lose even more of it?

"Sect Head, Revered Master, I have returned. I have not disgraced my mission," Ye Fan said, cupping his hands in salute.

Qing Mingzi nodded with satisfaction, his smile so wide his eyes were almost invisible.

In contrast, a complex look flashed in Su Ningxue's beautiful eyes. It was unclear what she was thinking.

The Sect Heads of various factions stepped forward one after another, thanking Ye Fan for protecting their Disciples. Otherwise, they certainly wouldn't have reached the passing line.

"You honor me too much, esteemed Sect Heads. Our Southwest's Nine Great Sects share the same breath and branches; we should advance and retreat together."

"Furthermore, without the protection and help of all the Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers, I, Ye Fan, might not have been able to reach the end."

Ye Fan's words gave ample Face to the various major Sects. The Sect Heads understood in their hearts, and any previous reservations they had about him completely vanished.

Watching Ye Fan being the center of attention like this, Ye Feng on his side nearly coughed up blood in anger.

He couldn't believe a mere native from the Southwest had reached the end of the thousand steps. Even more unbelievable was that he had been used as a stepping stone by Ye Fan twice. His expression was unspeakably ugly.

If not for the final trial offering a chance to regain Face, Ye Feng would have probably slunk back to the Central Continent long ago.

If the first round tested Aptitude, and the second tested willpower and cultivation, then the third round was the simplest and most understandable: combat prowess.

The trial Formation would arrange for the dozens of qualifiers to engage in one-on-one battles. After each round of duels, opponents would be re-selected, determining the final victor through a single-elimination format.

Of course, losing your first duel didn't matter, as the trial Formation's evaluation was based on the total score from all three rounds. This also gave weaker Cultivators a chance.

The next second, Ye Fan and the others were teleported to a new trial ground. Looking around, it greatly resembled a vast Martial Arts Practice Field.

At the same time, all trial participants appeared in different Martial Arts Practice Fields. Before each stood their first-round opponent. But when Ye Fan saw his, he found himself both amused and exasperated.

"Senior Brother Ye Fan, why is it you?!"

The Qingyun Sect Disciple before him was almost in tears. He never expected to be so unlucky as to encounter Ye Fan in the very first round.

If he had met one of those guys from the Central Continent, even knowing he was no match, he would have fought with all his might. But facing Ye Fan, he had no desire to fight at all.

"I concede. Senior Brother Ye Fan, you must take first place. Let those Central Continent fellows know the might of our Nine Great Sects."

Ye Fan nodded, indicating he would do his best. He achieved victory in the first duel without shedding a drop of blood, waiting for his next opponent to appear.

Although Ye Fan won easily, Murong Wan and You Tan were not so fortunate.

Both were assigned opponents who were Prodigies from the Central Continent. Even though they were the weakest opponents available, it still plunged them into a bitter struggle. Who would win or lose remained unknown.