CHAPTER 97: CHAPTER 58: COMMENCE! TRIAL! EASY ASCENT

The higher they climbed, the more palpable the pressure became, making it hard to endure.

Clearly, for them, the first stone stele marked the limit of their own comprehension.

Then, in front of the second stone stele, a few thousand paused again.

It wasn’t long before.

By the time of the fifth stone stele.

Only a sparse few hundred were left to continue upwards.

With strengths varying widely, some were proficient, while others were only at the First Stage of the Initial Realm.

In fact, this was a good thing; at least it allowed everyone to start on the same footing, without being disadvantaged by lesser strength and missing out on better inheritance.

The five deans saw this scene and couldn’t help but sigh slightly; indeed, it was as expected.

The Sword Stele inheritance truly set a high requirement for comprehension.

"Mr. Lu, I’m going too."

The Ice Fairy noted this, nodded in acknowledgment, and then walked towards the stairs.

Meanwhile, the North Emperor, along with Zhu Qingyu and the others, immediately followed suit.

As did Asura.

And other students from Zhen Dan Academy, began ascending the stairs with high aims, targeting an inheritance from at least the tenth level of the Sword Stele.

So before long, in the vast expanse, aside from a few deans, only less than a dozen remained.

Naturally among them was the Pure Yang Little Celestial Master and that Hui Kong from Jiuhua Mountain.

The two were observing, not moving rashly.

Lu Yuan did the same.

After all, this was also his first time comprehending the Sword Stele inheritance of Ancient Shu Mountain.

And, having merged with the Ancient Bodhi Tree, he unleashed the Innate Spirit, possessing the Spirit of Wisdom, allowing him to perceive even more.

"Mr. Lu, during this Sword Stele inheritance, just do your best." Dean Zheng noted, immediately coming over.

In his eyes, the other party seemed to want to challenge the Pure Yang duo.

Thus, he had not chosen to ascend the stairs.

But this was entirely unnecessary, for comprehension was a thing hard to compare against each other.

"I understand, thank you for the reminder, Dean Zheng." Lu Yuan was briefly startled, soon realizing the misunderstanding, but he had no intention of explaining, merely responding before continuing to sense the Sword Mountain’s stairs.

"Alas."

Dean Zheng sighed, saying nothing more.

For he knew that anyone strong possessed their own pride.

Thus, he returned to the side of the other four deans, observing the comprehension situation.

By this time, some had already passed the tenth Sword Stele, with some even standing beneath the fifteenth.

However, they all looked pale, evidently enduring some pressure, finally stopping there.

Besides, the North Emperor, Asura, and the Ice Fairy.

All had passed the fifteenth Sword Stele.

Appearing untroubled, as if they could continue onwards.

Surprisingly, Zhu Qingyu paralleled them.

This left Dean Zheng a bit delighted.

He had long known that this child’s bloodline was quite good, yet hadn’t expected such fine comprehension, brimming with future potential.

"They’ve moved, the Pure Yang Little Celestial Master and Monk Huikong have moved too." At this moment, Dean Chen spoke.

Everyone turned their heads, perceiving the two in unison, ascending the stairs.

Their speed was swift.

Almost without intending to stop, advancing straight onward, in merely a moment, they had traversed the tenth stone stele, without slowing, proceeding to the twentieth, right behind the Ice Fairy and others.

"Indeed, the surprise of this Sword Stele inheritance lies in them."

"Just curious, who will claim the higher rank?"

The deans were quite pleased upon seeing this.

The purpose of opening the Sword Stele inheritance was in hopes someone could discern a greater inheritance.

When recorded, it would be of great benefit to Zhen Dan Academy.

The higher the level, the better the inheritance represented.

Naturally, they were joyful.

Ultimately, the Ice Fairy paused at the twenty-fifth Sword Stele, sensing the pressure on her soul, her expression slightly pale.

She naturally could have continued upwards, but chose to sit cross-legged instead, needing to conserve enough energy to comprehend the inheritance.

The North Emperor stood before the twenty-sixth Sword Stele, finding enough.

Asura, however, possessed the urge to compete.

Directly ascending to the twenty-eighth Sword Stele.

And as for Zhu Qingyu, actually surpassing by two ranks, reaching the thirtieth level!

Only the Pure Yang Little Celestial Master and Monk Huikong continued forward.

Thus, in this Sword Stele inheritance.

Most rankings were determined.

The largest concentration of Awakened Individuals lingered at the first five Sword Steles, numbering over ten thousand, jointly comprehending the same inheritance.

Further up, the numbers decreased sequentially, with Zhu Qingyu at the thirtieth, not one of the Five Great Venerables.

This took many by surprise.

"So it is."

At this moment, Lu Yuan gazed at the Sword Mountain’s stairs.

From his earlier observation and perception, he comprehended the mysteries of this location.

Simply put, the entire Sword Mountain was suppressed by a mysterious force, appearing at each stone stele to exert an influence on the soul, akin to testing comprehension; if unmet, it would reject and harm oneself.

As for the source of that force, it was intricately tied to the heavens and earth, quite wondrous.

By now, he had grasped the general situation.

"Testing comprehension, is it?"

Lu Yuan smiled, saying nothing more.

Then slowly paced forward, finally beginning his ascent.

Now, nearly everyone within, aside from those comprehending the inheritance, paid attention to Pure Yang and Hui Kong.

The two had surpassed the thirtieth Sword Stele and were still ascending.

Of course, they didn’t find it easy, appearing somewhat pale, while that power within the Sword Mountain kept stimulating their souls.

Yet to outsiders, this was already quite astonishing.

All five deans wore smiles.

"Indeed, bloodline prowess doesn’t denote comprehension; these two disciples of Taoism and Buddhism outstrip me greatly in this aspect." The Ice Fairy watched ahead, shaking her head lightly, opting not to comprehend directly, choosing to first acclimate a bit.

Thus, she could also observe others.

Just not expecting.

That student from Zhen Dan Academy named Zhu Qingyu had actually reached the thirtieth Sword Stele.

The North Emperor and Asura also noticed, reluctantly shaking their heads.

Always unpleasant being surpassed by others.

But understandable.

A person couldn’t possibly excel in both bloodline and comprehension, always at the pinnacle, right? That’d be too demoralizing.

Some Awakened Individuals wore bitter expressions, indeed finding themselves weak in comparison.

Especially Qin Lan, sitting before the seventh Sword Stele, quite helpless.

Knowing that Qingyu surpassed her.

Yet never imagining being that much stronger.

"Hm?"

But then, she suddenly sensed a familiar presence passing nearby.

She promptly turned and was instantly surprised to see Lu Yuan.

"It’s the Human Emperor, has the Human Emperor begun too?"

"Truly worthy of being one of the Five Great Venerables, someone who crushed the Southern Emperor, catching up just like that."

"He moves quickly, reaching the tenth level, I wonder what his limit will be."

"Should be close to the North Emperor and others, right?"

"Indeed, the process is too arduous."

Finally.

Present, everyone noticed Lu Yuan.

Realizing his rapid ascent, surpassing the tenth level in no time.

But found it unsurprising, considering he was a newly crowned of the Five Great Venerables.

Surpassing their comprehension was expected.

Dean Zheng and others glanced, but weren’t too focused; instead, they continued watching Pure Yang and Hui Kong, eager to see whose comprehension was higher.

And at this moment.

Ascending Sword Mountain, Lu Yuan.

Also felt the mysterious force appear.

Stimulating his soul and spirit.

Especially the higher he climbed, the more potent the force became, pressing down on him.

Yet with a slight shift of his mind, that feeling vanished entirely, not even necessitating the use of the God of Wisdom within his mind.

Thus, Lu Yuan’s ascent was quite relaxed, stepping with firm steps.

Soon, standing before the Ice Fairy.

Giving a slight smile.

Without hesitation, continued upwards.

"How... how is he so at ease?"

The Ice Fairy was dumbfounded, not quite understanding.

She could perceive that his expression hadn’t changed at all at this twenty-fifth level.

Then.

She saw Lu Yuan bypass the North Emperor and Asura.

The process seemed like a leisurely climb, his face unchanging.

Hiss~

Dean Zheng noticed, his expression altered.

This guy seemed to be aiming for the thirtieth level.

Involuntarily, he recalled the guarantee made when inviting the other party to Ancient Shu Mountain.

No matter what was comprehended, there was no need to submit it to Zhen Dan Academy...

Alas, what a loss!

But luckily.

Qingyu too had reached the thirtieth level, right?

It didn’t matter, it didn’t matter.

But soon.

Dean Zheng was thoroughly bewildered, unable to help but stare agape.

Because just a few minutes later, Lu Yuan stood next to the thirtieth Sword Stele, threw a slight smile towards Zhu Qingyu, then took another step, reaching the thirty-first level before long....

And from the look of it.

The other seemed to be far from exhausted, capable of going further!