Chapter 99 Breaking through the cloud-piercing steps as if it were nothing, cleaving through the ninefold barriers with a surging tide (Part 2)

["Defeat the Gatekeeper to obtain the final Legacy of the first stage's trial."]

["Buzz!"]

As the voice faded, the Profound Water Strongman in the center abruptly opened its eyes.

Those were eyes without pupils, containing only deep blue watery light.

The Strongman let out a low roar like muffled thunder, swinging that massive Billowing Battle Halberd with one hand and smashing it down toward your head.

["So fast!"]

Your pupils constricted.

[Surging Waves · Shattering Wave Flash!]

A ripple of water flashed beneath your feet, and your figure instantly shifted more than a dozen yards away.

["Boom!!!"]

The battle halberd smashed heavily into the spot where you had been standing.

A violent shockwave of water elements spread out like a physical force; even with your "Abyssal Shield" raised, the impact sent your blood and Qi churning.

["I can't let him graze me; I must wear him down from a distance."]

You took a deep breath and slammed your hands together in front of you.

With palms pressed tight and index and middle fingers aligned, your fingertips pointed straight at the Profound Water Strongman ahead.

["Multiple · Wave-Piercing Blade!"]

Dozens of water-blue high-pressure jets shot out with ear-piercing sonic booms.

They jetted rapidly from your fingertips, accurately striking the Strongman's joints.

However...

["Clang clang clang clang—"]

The Wave-Piercing Blades struck the Strongman's Overlaid Water Chainmail, leaving only shallow white marks without even breaking through its defense!

["Pure elemental ability attacks are ineffective against him?"]

Your brow furrowed; the defensive power of this Profound Water Strongman was simply unreasonable.

Having missed its strike, the Strongman swung the battle halberd in a sudden horizontal sweep.

A ten-yard-long half-moon water blade tore through the air, blocking all your paths of retreat.

["Since elemental abilities can't break his defense, I'll use my original trade!"]

A sharp light flashed in your eyes as you abandoned the plan to continue wearing him down with Wave-Piercing Blade.

Taking a deep breath, the heavenly river water lotus Origin within your body vibrated slightly.

Water elements in the surrounding air instantly gathered, transforming into a dense, vast white mist.

Visibility within the hall dropped to an extremely low level in an instant.

[Water Moon Mirror Ripples Saber Technique!]

With a thought, several tiny, irregular "Water Mirrors" formed within the mist.

Through the complex refraction of light and mist, four blurry phantom figures were instantly projected around you.

["Go!"]

The four phantoms charged at the Profound Water Strongman from four different tricky angles, wielding illusory long sabers.

The Strongman clearly did not possess high intelligence.

Faced with this soft and treacherous tactic, he let out a roar and swung his battle halberd, frantically hacking at the phantoms.

["Bang! Bang! Bang!"]

The phantoms were easily shredded by the halberd, dissipating into water mist.

But in the next second, new phantoms condensed within the mist, appearing in an endless stream.

["Now."]

In that extremely brief opening when the Strongman's attention was fully diverted and his halberd was raised high—his old strength spent and new strength not yet gathered—

Your true body, hidden in the deepest part of the thick mist, moved.

You lowered your posture and pushed off with your legs, rushing out like a cheetah flying close to the ground.

Your right hand gripped the saber hilt tightly.

The domineering Yuan Qi of the Origin Opening Realm poured into the stainless steel blade.

Unable to withstand this terrifying force, the blade let out a strained wail.

Water-elemental Ability to create illusions and openings, Martial Dao Yuan Qi to deliver the killing blow!

This was your unique combat aesthetic!

In mid-air, you brushed past the massive body of the Profound Water Strongman.

["Battojutsu..."]

["Secret Technique · Surging Waves!!!"]

["Clang—!!!"]

The sound of the saber being drawn rang through the hall like a dragon's roar.

A deep blue saber beam, as surging and powerful as a raging sea, tore through the layers of water mist.

The saber light swept silently across the Profound Water Strongman's throat.

["Thud."]

You landed steadily on the formation diagram behind the Strongman.

And in the air behind you,

That once-invincible Profound Water Strongman suddenly froze.

At the neck of the indestructible Overlaid Water Chainmail, a cut as smooth as a mirror appeared.

The next second,

["Rumble—"]

The massive head rolled off, and the giant body collapsed with a crash, turning into a torrential downpour that showered the entire hall.

["Huff... huff..."]

You were breathing heavily, your clothes completely soaked with sweat and rain.

But your gaze was as sharp as a newly unsheathed divine weapon.

["Buzz—"]

The pouring rain gathered toward the center of the hall.

Ultimately, it condensed into an ancient Jade Slip emitting a deep blue light, which slowly drifted down before you.

At the same time, that grand voice rang out once more.

["First stage trial, complete."]

["You have obtained the complete Legacy of the first volume of the 'Profound Water Secret Treasury'."]

["Ahead lies the second stage trial; the danger level will increase significantly."]

["Please choose: Continue forward, or exit to recuperate (current step progress will be preserved)?"]

At the deepest part of the hall, a flight of stairs emitting an even gloomier light slowly emerged.

From the end of the stairs, the faint, heart-palpitating roar of a Vicious Beast could be heard.

Standing there, holding the Jade Slip, you fell into deep thought.

After passing eight levels of high-intensity trials, your nerves were stretched to the limit.

More importantly, the Legacy from the first stage was truly too vast and complex.

From basic defense and purification to advanced freezing variations and movement techniques.

Though you had gained a preliminary understanding of them all, you were still far from mastering them and turning them into instinct.

If you rashly stepped into the second stage where the danger level increased significantly,

The risk would be too great if you couldn't fully utilize your combat power.

You had to first thoroughly digest these gains and solidify your strength before continuing forward.

Furthermore...

You knew nothing about the time flow inside this Heavenly Ladder.

There was no day or night here; you had no idea how much time had passed in the outside world.

The "sweet dew" that fell punctually every day was a very precious strategic resource for improving one's foundation.

The progress on the Heavenly Ladder was already saved, and the Legacy could be pursued at any time.

But if you accidentally spent too much time here and missed the daily fixed amount of sweet dew Opportunity outside,

That would be a truly massive loss.

["The foundation from the first stage is enough for me to digest for a while."]

Looking at the complete set of magnificent water-elemental secret arts in your mind, you smiled with satisfaction.

["Exit."]

You decisively made your choice to the Void Realm.

["Buzz—"]

A wave of spatial energy, much gentler than before, enveloped you.

The grand water-blue palace, the ancient formation diagram, and the deep stairs all dissipated like bubbles.

A strong sense of weightlessness hit you.

When you opened your eyes again,

The lonely, oppressive Aura of the ancient Secret Realm was gone without a trace.

In its place was the familiar breeze of the Grotto-Heaven and the surrounding, deliberately lowered noise of human voices.

["Tap."]

Your feet landed steadily before the white jade steps at the entrance of the Heavenly Ladder.

["Swish—"]

["President Xu is out!"]

["President Xu succeeded!?"]

At this moment, the eyes of everyone on the outskirts of the camp instantly focused on you.

The crowd that had been whispering fell into a sudden, deathly silence, like ducks being grabbed by the neck.

The two iron balls Chen Chen had been spinning in his hand dropped to the ground with a "clack," making a crisp sound against the stones.

Zhao Li, Zhou Hua, and Li Li from the Mutual Aid Society, as well as those previously anxious members of the vanguard team,

Everyone stared wide-eyed, fixedly at you.

Because you were the only person in so many days to walk down from the Heavenly Ladder alive!

There was no blue-purple corpse, no tragic state of drowning.

Not only were you completely unharmed,

But even... anyone with a bit of discernment could see that the Aura about you had changed.

["He seems to... have become stronger again?!"]

It was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea, making one's heart skip a beat just by looking at him.

["Xu... Brother Xu?!"]

Chen Chen swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly, even adding a hint of awe to his address that he hadn't noticed himself.

["You're out already?"]

Your brow twitched slightly; ignoring his incoherence, you asked casually:

["How long was I in there?"]

["Huh?"] Chen Chen froze for a moment, subconsciously checking the sky.

Zhou Hua from the Mutual Aid Society quickly stepped forward.

Zhao Li had been stunned for a moment and failed to react, feeling somewhat annoyed now.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Zhou Hua answered respectfully:

["President Xu, you were only in there for less than four hours!"]

["Four hours?"]

Your heart jolted slightly.

Inside the Heavenly Ladder, you had not only comprehended a vast amount of Legacy but also experienced consecutive bloody battles across nine levels.

Practicing with the clones made it feel as though at least several days and nights had passed.

Yet only four hours had passed in the outside world?

The sun hadn't even fully reached its zenith!

["Is the Legacy Secret Realm of the Heavenly Ladder a Grotto-Heaven within a Grotto-Heaven?"]

["The time flow is actually even faster than in this Xuan Shui Cave Heaven."]

You took a deep breath.

Turning your head to look at the reverent gazes of the crowd, you said softly,

["The first stage of the Legacy—I have obtained it."]