Chapter 242: Chapter 231 Climbing
On the Sumeru Celestial Ladder, six hundred people swarmed forward.
The first thousand steps posed no pressure at all, and everyone ascended rapidly.
"Is this the rule of the Sumeru Celestial Ladder?" Wang Xu steadily walked upward step by step.
On the Sumeru Celestial Ladder, one must touch the steps for the Cosmic Energy to be released. Conversely, if one tries to fly, the Cosmic Energy in their body will be immediately sealed again.
Everyone had to walk steadily, climbing one step at a time, unable to fly over them.
When the first person stepped over the thousandth step, placing their foot on the thousand and first step, a surge of pressure descended from above, pressing directly on them.
"So heavy!"
"There’s energy suppression."
"Luckily, the energy suppression isn’t strong. Keep going!"
The overwhelming energy suppression caused the Cosmic Martial Artists, who were climbing at high speeds, to pause, and they noticeably slowed down a bit.
The Cosmic Martial Artists who managed to make it here all possessed strength beyond the White Hole Level, with occasionally one or two boasting Invincible White Hole Level strength. For them, while the energy suppression’s effect was minor, it still clearly impeded their climbing speed.
"No pressure at all." However, for Cosmic Martial Artists like Wang Xu, who had reached the Mixed Universe Realm, such energy suppressions were meaningless and completely ineffective.
Wang Xu was in no hurry to rush up in one breath. His pace was steady, blending into the crowd, climbing solidly one step at a time.
In no time, two thousand steps were passed.
Upon reaching the two thousand and first step, as expected, the energy suppression intensified again.
The actions of the Cosmic Martial Artists ahead visibly slowed once more, yet they continued to hold onto the first position, persisting in their ascent.
Moluo Yue, Togu City, Red Owl Elephant, and others, like Wang Xu, chose to keep a low profile, advancing at a normal pace.
Three thousand steps.
Four thousand steps.
Five thousand steps.
...
Ten thousand steps.
The Cosmic Martial Artists in the lead moved notably slower than before.
"Use Cosmic Energy. Relying solely on our bodies, ten thousand steps already have a significant impact on us."
"We’ve reached this point, no one has made a move, proving that the War Prohibition Law will persist till the end. There’s no need to hold back any longer."
"Alright, use the Cosmic Energy!"
After a brief discussion, energy fluctuations spread out as the pressure on them suddenly dissipated.
Using Cosmic Energy versus not using it are two different things entirely. Without Cosmic Energy, these Cosmic Martial Artists’ bodies are just shells, relying solely on brute force to act. But with Cosmic Energy, it’s like they’ve shed a thousand-pound burden, feeling incredibly light.
"Go!"
Without delay, the three leading the charge rushed for higher steps.
In an instant, they left the Cosmic Martial Artists behind them far behind.
The Cosmic Martial Artists behind exchanged glances; like these three, they had also held back, not using Cosmic Energy. Those who survived until now aren’t fools. No one knows when the War Prohibition Law might disappear. Revealing their strength too soon could lead to a quicker demise.
It’s known that this is a qualification battle where cruelty and death are its only tunes.
"They’ve rushed up. National Son, should we charge too?"
"Charge! There’s no other way. Relying on just our bodies, we probably won’t last beyond twenty thousand steps. If the War Prohibition Law disappears, we just need to retreat immediately."
"Alright! Charge!"
After some deliberation, some Cosmic Martial Artists decided to use Cosmic Energy. Instantly, waves of energy fluctuation spread out, and dozens to hundreds of figures surged forward.
"Forget it, charge!"
"We can’t let them take the lead; we’re going up too!"
With the Cosmic Martial Artists setting the pace, those behind couldn’t remain idle. They unleashed their Cosmic Energy and began a rapid ascent.
"Chi Xiao, shall we go?" Togu City asked with a smile.
"No rush, let these rookies try all they want. If they truly reach the Sumeru Palace, I’ll concede," said the Red Owl Elephant.
"You really see them as guinea pigs," Moluo Yue shook his head and laughed.
"They have the potential to be test subjects," Togu City laughed, shifting his gaze, "Moreover, he’s thinking the same as us, observing for now."
Following Togu City’s gaze, the person he was referring to was none other than Wang Xu.
Wang Xu’s steps were even slower than theirs. Everything was unfamiliar to him, and he had no understanding of the situation. The unexpected changes in this qualification battle, first with the Ancient Inheritance, then the Sumeru Palace, who knew what unforeseen changes awaited?
Thus, while hundreds of Cosmic Martial Artists surged ahead in a dense mass, Wang Xu and others lagged behind, moving leisurely, falling far behind.
With Cosmic Energy, the speed of climbing the Celestial Ladder became noticeably faster.
Fifteen thousand steps.
Twenty thousand steps.
Twenty-five thousand steps.
Thirty thousand levels
......
"Tsk tsk... as expected of the geniuses from all nations, not even a thousand years old, yet possessing such powerful strengths."
"What a spectacle, the Sumeru Palace has a hundred thousand levels, though the first ten thousand are simple, without the strength of the strongest White Hole Level, one simply cannot pass. Look at how easily they manage it."
"It will get increasingly difficult afterward. The Sumeru Palace is no easy place. I’ve heard from our senior brothers in the Mixed Universe Extremity that even those at the Initial Mixed Universe Realm can’t pass the first ten thousand levels."
"Oh? If those in the Mixed Universe Realm can’t pass, how are these White Hole Level talents from various nations doing it?"
"The bondage of rules. Many Lands of Trial are like this; if the Trial Taker’s realm is low, the requirements naturally decrease."
"I see."
The disciples of the three major forces watched the broadcasted scenes and engaged in excited discussions.
Among the watching Cosmic Martial Artists, those with lower realms were at Star Level, while those with higher realms were in the Mixed Universe Realm, all astonished by the talents of various nations climbing the Sumeru Palace.
Although they were selected from tens of thousands of candidates by the Cosmic Alliance as geniuses, they could not ascend to that height within a thousand years from their birth.
Geniuses, only the talents from these qualification battles of all nations are truly deemed gifted and prodigious.
......
"Father, why is Wang Xu falling so far behind? He won’t be eliminated, will he?" Princess Bing Qing pouted.
Her gaze remained fixed on Wang Xu, never leaving him for a moment. However, most of the Cosmic Martial Artists had already dashed ahead, surpassing the milestone of ten thousand levels, while Wang Xu was still slowly progressing at six thousand levels, causing Princess Bing Qing to worry.
"This boy... he’s cultivating." Tai Long Sovereign shook his head and smiled.
"Cultivating?" Both Su Long and Ba Donghe were surprised. Entering a cultivation state during the trial, well, it seems he’s not taking the trial seriously.
Moreover, a Cosmic Martial Artist is at their weakest during cultivation, with strength less than one ten-thousandth of their full power, yet Wang Xu is climbing step by step with such compromised strength.
Not only were Tai Long Sovereign and others focused on Wang Xu, but the three figures in the sky were equally attentive.
"He actually entered a cultivation state, Qing Zhang, your disciple is truly peculiar," said the woman in red. "In just under a thousand years, he reached the invincible White Hole Level and ranks second. Qing Zhang, is this really the disciple you intend to abandon?"
"Old Qing, if you’re unwilling to have him, why not just give him to me? Our Cosmic Alliance would welcome him with open arms," the silver-haired person grinned.
Qing Zhang remained expressionless and silent, his gaze complex as he looked at Wang Xu’s sturdy back.
......
"Is he cultivating?" Togu City watched Wang Xu like he was staring at a monster, "Yes, he’s cultivating. He’s entering cultivation at a time like this, truly a strange person."
"What’s so strange about it? I can enter a cultivation state too," Red Owl Elephant said, closing his eyes and letting his whole aura recede, entering a cultivation state without halting his steps, continuing to walk forward.
"All weirdos," Togu City said helplessly.
While the outside world was abuzz with opinions, pointing fingers at Wang Xu’s bizarre actions, he was immersed in his own cultivation state, shutting off all senses, allowing only a sliver of consciousness to move his body forward.
With his current strength, so-called energy suppression posed no threat to him. Even with his strength reduced to one ten-thousandth, he could easily handle it.
Therefore, he didn’t hesitate to enter the cultivation phase, pondering the "Formless Sacred Image" in his mind.
He continued forward while cultivating, relentlessly moving ahead.
Forty thousand levels.
Forty-five thousand levels.
Fifty thousand levels.
"I can’t go on, I need a break."
"The energy suppression is terrifyingly intense. If I take another step forward, I’m really afraid the horrifying energy suppression will crush me to dust!"
"Already at fifty thousand levels, half still remains. I must continue climbing!"
Among the hundreds of Cosmic Martial Artists, only less than a hundred managed to reach fifty thousand levels. Those reaching this point were stronger than the White Hole Level or higher, while weaker Cosmic Martial Artists remained at forty or even thirty thousand levels, watching the Celestial Ladder of Sumeru longingly yet helplessly.
The energy suppression grew stronger with each step, leaving many Cosmic Martial Artists’ bodies struggling, unable to rely on Cosmic Energy within them to support their powerful bodies against the energy suppression, forcing them to stop.
However, some Cosmic Martial Artists were not exceptionally strong individually but possessed ancient inheritances or artifacts capable of withstanding the energy suppression, continuing forward amid others’ envious gazes.
"The energy suppression has intensified." When reaching forty thousand levels, Wang Xu had to exit his cultivation state; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to continue forward with his cultivation strength.
At present, only one hundred and three Cosmic Martial Artists continued ascending.
The Cosmic Martial Artists ahead of Wang Xu felt immense pressure, their speed slowing to an absolute crawl, unable to dash ahead elegantly as before.
Wang Xu, trailing behind, continued his leisurely pace. Although slower, he was still decidedly faster than the sluggish Cosmic Martial Artists ahead, catching up in just a few hours.
"Damn, the last one is about to catch up with us, hurry up!"
"Ha... ha... ha, don’t talk nonsense, we can’t move anymore. If we go further, the energy suppression will increase; we’ll be squashed into mincemeat!"
"I can’t continue, I quit! This Sumeru Celestial Ladder is too difficult."
In an instant, sixty-nine Cosmic Martial Artists dropped out, panting heavily, gazing resentfully at the path ahead, and pounding the ground angrily.
Moluo Yue, Togu City, and Red Owl Elephant passed by them slowly, feeling no pressure, while the other Cosmic Martial Artists sighed in resignation.
Fifty thousand and one level.
Wang Xu was the last one. The moment he placed his foot forward, a profound life aura emanated from both sides of the Sumeru Celestial Ladder! (To be continued. If you enjoyed this work, feel free to visit Qidian () to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets as your support is my largest motivation. Mobile users, please visit to read.)