Chapter 167 Another Record Broken! 45 Floors of the Heavenly Ladder!

Lin Canglan knew better than anyone how terrifying the Clone on the 99th floor of the trial tower was.

It was a perfect mirror image capable of replicating all of a challenger's skills and fighting with the optimal solutions; even many Great Grandmaster-level experts from various academies were stuck on this floor, unable to break through for their entire lives.

Not only did Chu Han clear it, but he also set such an astonishing record, which was enough to prove that his true strength was almost catching up to those old fogies of the 8th Rank in the school.

"This boy's future is limitless; he must not be exposed to the outside world's gaze too early." Lin Canglan quickly calmed down, a hint of gravity flashing in his eyes.

Chu Han's talent was too dazzling and would inevitably attract the covetous eyes of various forces, potentially even leading to a fatal disaster.

He immediately picked up a communication jade talisman and sent instructions to several high-level school officials in succession: "The news of Chu Han clearing the 99th floor of the trial tower must be kept strictly confidential by everyone!"

After issuing the orders, Lin Canglan dialed the communication for Zhou Tong, the Vice Dean of the Body Tempering Academy: "Zhou Tong, you should have already received the news of Chu Han clearing the 99th floor, right?"

"Principal, I was just about to report to you!" Zhou Tong's voice carried uncontrollable excitement. "This kid is truly a monster! Our Body Tempering Academy is going to make a huge splash this time!"

"You can make a splash, but the person must be protected," Lin Canglan said in a deep voice.

"I suspect that with Chu Han's temperament, there's a high probability he'll go to challenge the Body Tempering Academy's Heavenly Ladder after clearing the trial tower. Go there immediately and keep an eye on things. Ensure that news of him doesn't leak out, and also see if this kid can give us another surprise."

"Rest assured!" Zhou Tong quickly replied. "I'm heading there now and guarantee the matter will be handled properly!"

Hanging up the communication, Zhou Tong did not dare to be negligent in the slightest and rushed from the Body Tempering Academy's office building toward the area where the Heavenly Ladder was located.

The Heavenly Ladder was located in the heart of the Body Tempering Academy, and its difficulty was not at all inferior to the trial tower.

Just as he arrived at the Heavenly Ladder stone tablet, Zhou Tong saw a familiar figure appear; it was indeed Chu Han, who had just arrived.

At this moment, Chu Han was looking at the stone tablet of the Heavenly Ladder Secret Realm, eager to try.

"You kid, you really are someone who stays silent until you shock everyone with a single feat!" Zhou Tong stepped forward quickly, his face full of a gratified smile.

"You've even broken the record for the 99th floor of the trial tower, and now you're eyeing the Heavenly Ladder. It seems our Heavenly Ladder's highest record won't be held for much longer either."

Chu Han turned around, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Vice Dean Zhou, don't you want a student to break the record? Isn't this a good thing for our Body Tempering Academy and the entire Kyoto Martial Arts University?"

"A good thing! Of course, it's a wonderful thing!" Zhou Tong scolded with a laugh, but his eyes were full of anticipation.

"For so many years, no one had ever challenged the Heavenly Ladder to the 40th floor, but you've already cracked it. Only us two old fogies can reach the 45th floor. If you can break it, I will truly be witnessing history, and it will also be the glory of our Body Tempering Academy!"

As the Vice Dean of the Body Tempering Academy, encountering a peerless Genius like Chu Han made the pride and anticipation in his heart difficult to put into words.

This was not just as simple as a student breaking a record; it was the rise of the path of Body Refining, enough to let the Kyoto Martial Arts University Body Tempering Academy hold its head high throughout the entire Federation.

"Hurry up and go in, kid. I'm a bit impatient to see what kind of miracle you can create." Zhou Tong stepped aside to make way, a fiery light flickering in his eyes.

Chu Han nodded and said no more.

He took a deep breath and entered the Heavenly Ladder Secret Realm.

This time, he still climbed to the 43rd floor in one go.

It was also his previous personal record.

However, after a month of tempering in the Northern Wasteland Mountain Range, his strength was no longer what it used to be, and his physical strength had also been greatly enhanced.

At this moment, the 43rd floor of the Heavenly Ladder could no longer place much pressure on him.

With almost no effort, Chu Han arrived at the 44th floor.

As soon as he stepped onto the stairs, a powerful sense of oppression instantly struck, as if an invisible mountain were pressing down on him, causing his body to sink slightly.

But Chu Han only frowned, then circulated the Yuan Power within his body. His Flame God Body erupted with full force, and crimson scales appeared all over his body, resisting the oppression of this step.

He looked up toward the final floor of the Heavenly Ladder, a firm light flashing in his eyes. Without stopping, he walked steadily toward the 45th-floor step.

"Time to get serious." Chu Han gave a low shout, and the Yuan Power in his body suddenly boiled. A faint blue light instantly covered his entire body, and his muscles bulged, as if containing power that could destroy heaven and earth.

Giant Whale Transformation fully activated!

Surging brute force forcefully pushed through the oppression. His foot stomped heavily on the stone steps, and his figure leaped out like an arrow, landing steadily on the 45th floor.

Just as he regained his footing, a terrifying pressure far exceeding expectations came crashing down!

This pressure not only crushed the Physical Body but also pierced straight through the Sea of Consciousness, distorting the flow of Yuan Power.

Chu Han instantly felt as if his chest were being pressed by a mountain; his breathing stopped, his bones made a piercing "creak," and even standing became exceptionally difficult.

"This pressure has actually exceeded the limit of the 8th Rank Mid-stage!"

He was shocked; this was an intensity he had never endured before.

But there was no fear in Chu Han's eyes; instead, a fiery Battle Intent ignited.

"Nine Transformations of Heavenly Fire - Third Transformation!" A burst of flame energy suddenly erupted from his body. Flame Dragon Yuan Power and Flame Gods Fire perfectly fused under the catalysis of the Heavenly Flame Secret Tome, turning into a fiery barrier that forcefully withstood most of the pressure.

Flames churned around him, complementing the faint blue Giant Whale Qi, like a war god descending, his aura violent to the extreme.

Even so, the pressure on the 45th floor was still terrifying.

Just one minute later, the scales on Chu Han's body began to crack, blood seeped from the crevices, the groaning of his bones became more intense, and every circulation of Yuan Power was accompanied by a tearing pain.

But his gaze remained firm, his teeth clenched, without the slightest retreat.

What he wanted was not simply to reach the top, but to completely conquer this level of pressure and let his body undergo a qualitative transformation.

"Spiritual Domain!" With a thought from Chu Han, the invisible Spiritual Domain instantly expanded. It was not used for attack, but to turn Mental Energy into countless tiny energy threads, permeating every single cell in his body.

Under the stimulation of Mental Energy, the cells began to divide and reorganize frantically. His Physical Body was continuously strengthened under the heavy pressure, and his bone density increased rapidly.

At the same time, he sat cross-legged to perform the cultivation of the sixth layer of the Nine Heavens Body Forging Art. Yuan Power frantically washed through his Meridians and bones, converting the terrifying pressure of the Heavenly Ladder into excellent motivation for tempering his Physical Body.

This was a nearly self-torturing method of cultivation, yet it was also the fastest path to improvement. Under the dual effects of the Spiritual Domain and the body forging art, Chu Han could clearly feel that his body's adaptability to the pressure was rising rapidly, and the originally sluggish Yuan Power was becoming increasingly smooth.

Time passed in suffering, every second feeling as long as a century.

Five minutes later, the pain in Chu Han's body significantly lessened.

The burst scales began to regrow; the new scales were harder and more lustrous. The groaning of his bones gradually disappeared, and the pressure around him seemed to be gradually dissipated by his body, no longer so unbearable.

After twenty minutes, Chu Han slowly stood up.

At this moment, his aura was as steady as a mountain, and the terrifying pressure of the 45th floor was no longer as formidable to him as it had been at the start.

He was pleasantly surprised to find that after the high-pressure tempering, the duration of the Giant Whale Transformation and the Nine Transformations of Heavenly Fire - Third Transformation had been extended by a full twofold, and the Yuan Power consumption had significantly decreased.

More importantly, his Physical Body had completed a fundamental transformation, receiving an all-around enhancement.

"The 45th floor is considered cleared; I can go out now."

Chu Han clenched his fists, feeling the surging power within his body, his eyes filled with excitement.

Outside the Heavenly Ladder, Zhou Tong was already trembling with excitement, his hands tightly clenched into fists, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

When the numbers "45th Floor, Duration 27:43" popped up on the Heavenly Ladder display panel, he could no longer suppress his inner excitement and laughed out loud: "Hahaha, this kid really did it!"