Chapter 244: Chapter 233: 99,999 Layers
"The energy suppression is immense."
With a force as mighty as a mountainous star pressing on his shoulders, Wang Xu frowned slightly, gazing at the indistinct Sumeru Palace beyond the clouds. "This is the eighty thousandth step, nearing the summit."
"Slow down a bit." Step by step, Wang Xu moved upward, the cosmic energy within him surging. The Sumeru Celestial Ladder had no time limit, allowing him to slow his pace to the utmost.
Eighty thousand five hundred steps.
Crack!
A crisp sound echoed as Moluo Yue, who was at the forefront, just lifted his foot when a sudden immense force pressed down, crushing it in an instant.
"Damn." Moluo Yue’s face turned pale. Even for someone as strong as him, it was hard to endure. The energy suppression grew increasingly powerful, reaching this point was already a feat. If he continued, he feared he wouldn’t be able to hold on, losing even the chance to retreat. "Better step back a bit and let them go first."
The energy suppression was relentless; even if one could withstand it momentarily, they couldn’t bear it forever. Their internal cosmic energy would eventually be depleted, making it imperative to retreat to where the suppression was manageable to rest briefly.
Moluo Yue retreated a hundred steps before halting, and the figures of the three black-clad individuals behind him also stopped.
"We’ve reached our limit." One of the black-clad men spoke up.
"Same." Another replied, "The energy suppression here is too severe, relentless. I can feel my heart trembling. If I force my way up, I’d be crushed by this energy."
"Let it go. The king’s order was to retrieve the sacred icon; the ranking in the qualification battle doesn’t matter."
"Understood."
"Understood."
The three black-clad men stepped back a few steps to a place where the energy suppression was bearable and sat down, choosing to give up.
"They all gave up."
"There was no choice but to give up. This is the Sumeru Palace. To reach eighty thousand five hundred steps is already incredible. Moving forward would result in their bodies shattering under that terrifying energy, with not even their souls escaping."
"I wanted to see if any of them could reach the Sumeru Palace, but it seems impossible now."
Disciples of the three major forces shook their heads and sighed. They intended to see if the geniuses from various countries could complete the Sumeru Celestial Ladder, but it seemed reaching the Sumeru Palace was impossible.
"It’s not over yet; there’s still one moving forward." Someone noticed Wang Xu’s slow but steady ascent and spoke up.
"Haven’t you seen his pace? It’s already this slow, only at eighty-one thousand steps. He might not even reach eighty thousand five hundred before giving up completely."
That person nodded. Indeed, Wang Xu’s pace was slower than a turtle’s, clearly indicating the heavy energy suppression. He was close to his limit, destined to be eliminated soon.
In front of the steel giant gate, many sovereigns watched the scene, shaking their heads.
"Father, is Wang Xu unable to hold on?" Princess Bing Qing noted Wang Xu’s extremely slow pace, like everyone else, assuming Wang Xu was nearly overwhelmed by the energy suppression.
"No, his steps don’t tremble at all, he’s intentionally slowing down." Tai Long’s Monarch immediately discerned.
"Intentionally slowing down? What is Wang Xu trying to do?" Upon hearing this, Princess Bing Qing’s worries slightly alleviated.
Tai Long’s Monarch shook his head. "I’m not sure either."
Eighty-two thousand steps.
Eighty-three thousand steps.
Eighty-four thousand steps.
Eighty-five thousand steps.
...
Wang Xu’s steps never ceased. Though slow, they were incomparably firm without the slightest tremble.
And so, Wang Xu moved past the three black-clad men, brushed shoulders with Moluo Yue, and walked at the forefront of the Sumeru Celestial Ladder.
The eyes of six hundred Cosmic Martial Artists were fixed entirely on Wang Xu, watching his resolute back, step by step, advance.
Eighty-six thousand steps.
Eighty-seven thousand steps.
...
Ninety thousand steps.
In the astonished gaze of the onlookers, Wang Xu made his way, step by step, reaching the ninety thousandth step.
"His steps have stopped!"
"Ninety thousand steps, he’s already reached ninety thousand steps!"
"Surely he can’t go further; ninety thousand steps mean the energy suppression has reached a terrifying degree."
The disciples of the three major forces held their breath. As Wang Xu passed by the black-clad individuals and Moluo Yue, they all felt they were seeing things. Although his steps seemed unbearably slow, like he could give up at any moment, Wang Xu, with this turtle-like pace, pierced through to the ninety thousandth step like a slowly penetrating long spear.
"An Gu, who is he? Among the list of geniuses from various countries, this cosmic martial artist seems absent." Below, a black-clad man inquired.
"He’s an unknown powerhouse, astonishingly skilled, already reaching the Immortal Chaos Realm, nearly approaching the Demigod Chaos Realm." Another black-clad man replied, "We underestimated him. Didn’t expect such a hidden figure."
Not only them, but all the other six hundred Cosmic Martial Artists were equally astonished.
"Wasn’t this guy the last? I even mocked him, and yet, here he quietly ascends to ninety thousand steps?!"
"Damn, he must’ve taken advantage of us bearing the front to climb to ninety thousand steps!"
"Naive! Do you think energy suppression doesn’t exist? His ability to withstand such tremendous energy suppression and reach ninety thousand steps places him assuredly beyond the Immortal Chaos Realm!"
Six hundred Cosmic Martial Artists chattered incessantly, all having faltered midway, now only observing Wang Xu advancing, feelings of jealousy, envy, awe, and discontent converging on Wang Xu’s back.
Moluo Yue, Togu City, and the Red Owl Elephant exchanged glances, displaying bitter smiles.
"We were really full of ourselves. His prowess utterly outstrips us; he doesn’t need us clearing the path for him." Moluo Yue commented.
"In just a century, from Initial Chaos Universe Realm to Immortal Chaos Realm, this guy is the real genius." Togu City sighed.
The Red Owl Elephant wanted to say something about Wang Xu’s power indeed surpassing them, substantially so. But his eyes widened suddenly, as if witnessing an unbelievable scene.
"Red Owl, I’ve never seen you with such an expression, what’s..." Togu City started to speak, but following the Red Owl Elephant’s gaze, he too gaped, eyes widened even more, as if seeing a monster.
Not only them, but at the same time, everyone who saw this scene heard a voice in their hearts involuntarily.
"Damn it!"
Right at the ninety thousandth layer of the Celestial Ladder, where Wang Xu had originally lingered, he suddenly started moving, taking one step into two and began sprinting wildly up the ladder!
Wang Xu’s figure was like a swift leopard, rapidly heading towards the summit!
"My eyes must be deceiving me; how could it be... this is the ninety thousandth layer, and he’s running wildly on it?!"
"This can’t be the real Celestial Ladder, right? He’s... simply insane!"
"Could it be there’s no Energy suppression after ninety thousand layers? No way, I must apply to enter the Celestial Ladder now, I want to reach the summit of the Sumeru Palace!"
Seeing this scene, the disciples of the three major forces, the Cosmic Monarchs in the main city square, and even Qing Zhang and two others all involuntarily showed expressions of shock.
Incredible.
Insane.
Impossible.
These were the common words in everyone’s hearts.
But no matter what they thought or didn’t believe, Wang Xu’s figure was crazily speeding up the Celestial Ladder, like an arrow shooting straight towards the Sumeru Palace.
Ninety thousand two hundred layers.
Ninety thousand five hundred layers.
Ninety thousand seven hundred layers.
It wasn’t until the ninety-nine thousandth layer that Wang Xu’s figure finally slowed down, and everyone’s suspended hearts fell heavily to the ground.
Everyone let out a long breath, their eyes still retaining unease that hadn’t faded.
Sizzle—sizzle—
As Wang Xu stepped onto the ninety-nine thousand and first layer, blood splattered out like being crushed, with flesh and blood separating, revealing bones shining with starry light.
Pain surged through him, causing Wang Xu to frown slightly, as his body obviously couldn’t withstand the Energy suppression of the last thousand layers.
Wang Xu gently retracted his foot and looked at the majestic palace shrouded in clouds in the distance, not moving forward.
"Whew, this monster is probably going to give up, right? Ninety-nine thousand layers and he’s already in first position."
"Look at his foot, it’s been completely crushed into powder. Unless he wants to die, there’s no way he can go on."
"There’s only one path left: to give up."
Everyone murmured among themselves.
"It’s over, he can’t go on any further." The Tai Long Monarch’s face was solemn.
"Even if Wang Xu gives up now, he’s already in first place. He should give up, right?" Princess Bing Qing actually sighed in relief upon seeing that Wang Xu couldn’t proceed. She wanted nothing but Wang Xu’s safe return.
"Hopefully." The Tai Long Monarch clearly knew Wang Xu’s character; he wasn’t someone who gave up easily.
"Hoo—"
Wang Xu took a deep breath, exhaling all the pressure in his heart.
His eyes bore a fervent fighting spirit, like a lonely, invincible expert encountering a true match, possessing a nearly insane desire for battle.
Wang Xu let out a clear shout towards the sky, his foot stepping forward abruptly, with surging Energy overwhelming him, causing blood to spurt out wildly.
"Endless Life!"
A shimmering green light arose, repairing Wang Xu’s shattered flesh at an incredible speed. He took another step forward, already stepping onto the last thousand layers.
"Advance!" Wang Xu roared, stepping forward one stride at a time.
The shards of splattered blood and flesh regenerated under the influence of Endless Life, with blood continually splashing and fragments of flesh falling onto the pure white Celestial Ladder, paving a bloody path for Wang Xu.
Ninety-nine thousand one hundred layers
Ninety-nine thousand two hundred layers
Ninety-nine thousand three hundred layers
......
Wang Xu, with an indomitable stance, displayed savage blood and bones, clashing fiercely with the terrifying Energy, as the pain surged like waves within him, but Wang Xu showed no intention of retreating.
Ugh-lom!!
A shadowy life form leaped up from below the Celestial Ladder, its massive figure blocking Wang Xu’s path.
Void Chaos Realm!
"Die!"
Almost instantly, a spiraling, burning flame, with a flickering Silk Thread Blade Net, covered the shadowy life form like an overwhelming net.
The sound of a mournful cry resounded, as the Void Chaos Realm’s shadowy life form was directly reduced to ashes.
Proceed forward.
Wang Xu, gripping the White Jade Long Saber, blood flowing from him, left each step marked by bloody footprints, slowly approaching the Sumeru Palace.
Last three hundred layers.
Last two hundred layers.
Last one hundred layers.
When Wang Xu’s almost crumbled bone foot landed on the ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-ninth step, with a crashing sound, the white clouds surrounding the Sumeru Palace abruptly crumbled and dissipated.
As white as jade, dazzlingly bright, sunlight poured down, illuminating the surroundings with a pure white light.
Wang Xu, succeeded. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian () to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to to read.)