Chapter 296 Climbing the Broken Rock Mountain 1

Shattered Rock Mountain is both the greatest trial and the greatest benefit in this secret realm.

Any cultivator who is invited may go up.

However, the reason why Broken Rock Mountain was bestowed upon Cui Yushou was because it had realm restrictions.

Cultivators can enter the secret realm from any level, but only those at the Fusion Realm can truly climb to the top.

Therefore, Zhong Cai was unable to accompany Wu Shaogan during this event.

Wu Shaogan couldn't very well refuse—everyone else had come to the banquet, all the Dou Wang, former Dou Wang, and those comparable to Dou Wang had gone, and if he were the only one not to go, it would be too disrespectful to Cui Yushou.

Therefore, Wu Shaogan had to part ways with Zhong Cai for the time being.

But it's not a big problem.

Zhong Cai solemnly said, "I will always be watching over you."

Wu Shao chuckled dryly and ruffled his hair, saying, "A-Cai, you must keep an eye on me."

·

No matter how high the Broken Rock Mountain was, it wasn't exactly close to where they were now, but with the eyesight of a cultivator who could see through illusions, it was perfectly clear.

Therefore, Zhong Cai could see every move Wu Shaogan made on the Broken Rock Mountain.

Now that she could see it, Zhong Cai naturally felt no anxiety.

Even when Zhong Cai was watching Wu Shaogan, he was still able to remain emotionally stable.

There's nothing wrong with that.

·

The couple exchanged just a few simple words.

Wu Shaogan quickly turned around and leaped into the air. He flashed towards the foot of Shattered Rock Mountain—and he was even considered slow to move, as the other martial arts cultivators had already reached the foot of Shattered Rock Mountain and were about to start climbing!

No matter how reluctant the couple was, this was the only way.

Zhong Cai stared intently at Wu Shaogan's retreating figure, not glancing away from anything else.

Although Wu Shaogan was extremely fast, leaving no afterimage, it was probably because Zhong Cai had a very deep bond with him, their companion treasures were integrated into each other, their cultivation and lives were closely related to each other, they had an extremely tacit understanding, and they grew up together and knew every inch of each other's bodies well... that Zhong Cai's gaze did not lose track of him at all.

Even if he couldn't see clearly, Zhong Cai was 100% certain of where his old man, Wu, was.

When Wu Shaogan arrived at the foot of Broken Rock Mountain and reappeared, Zhong Cai watched him go the whole way, still staring intently at him without blinking.

Zhong Cai stared wide-eyed.

Although deep down he vaguely sensed that something was off about his emotions...

But it's not a big problem.

Anyway, all his emotions are focused on Lao Wu, and as long as Lao Wu is there, that's enough.

Old Wu certainly won't slip away on his own.

If there were any unforeseen circumstances, he and Lao Wu would definitely stay together.

·

Apart from Zhong Cai, the other Danwang (a type of alchemy master) also did not go mountain climbing.

They also knew the rules, and they knew that to go up the mountain, they needed to have a strong enough body—but they were focused on alchemy and hadn't spent much energy on strengthening their bodies. Compared to martial arts cultivators, they were "delicate and weak," so naturally they didn't want to go up and embarrass themselves.

Now, several Dan Kings beckoned Zhong Cai over.

"King Zhong Dan..."

"...Brother Zhong!"

"King Zhong Dan—"

Zhong Cai didn't react at all, keeping her eyes fixed on the Broken Rock Mountain.

Several alchemists glanced over there, then at Zhong Cai, and their lips twitched.

Since this King Zhong Dan's mind is completely focused on his Daoist partner, eliminating all external interference... then they should stop talking and get straight to business.

·

Before long, Zhong Cai was still keeping a close eye on the person.

Suddenly, a convertible carriage appeared beside them. The Dan Kings were already seated and even stopped next to Zhong Cai, patting him on the shoulder.

Zhong Cai finally realized what was happening and began to focus some of her attention on the Pill Kings.

It turned out that the Dan Kings had invited him to ride in the carriage and go to a viewing platform near Broken Rock Mountain to enjoy the view.

The driver was a royal prince dressed in brocade robes. He held a high position in the dynasty and was on good terms with Cui Yushou.

While Cui Yushou and the other Fighting Kings were climbing Broken Rock Mountain, this person took charge of receiving the remaining distinguished guests.

At this moment, the royal prince also said, "King Zhongdan, please come with us to the viewing platform. It would be too dangerous to watch the battle here."

Zhong Cai: "?"

Shouldn't it be that the closer you get, the more dangerous it becomes?

Of course, Zhong Cai wasn't unaware of this possibility. Perhaps it was because of the chaotic impact of the meteorite's descent. If the Dou Wangs failed to deal with the meteorite, it would fall down the mountain and potentially take away a fragile alchemist.

There must be some kind of defensive measures on the Guanshantai platform.

But anyway...

There's nothing wrong with getting up close to admire Old Wu's heroic figure!

So Zhong Cai quickly boarded the car and found a seat.

Despite his impatience, Zhong Cai was a truly polite young man. He naturally nodded to the Dan Kings in greeting, and then quickly focused all his attention on Wu Shaogan.

Seeing Zhong Cai's appearance, none of the Dan Kings tried to talk to him; they simply greeted each other and that was it.

·

The carriage arrived at the viewing platform very quickly.

The princes and noblemen invited everyone to get off the carriage and board the train together.

Many martial arts cultivators responsible for protecting the Pill Kings also came along, though they had previously been accompanying them from outside the carriage.

Now, they all climbed up together and stayed behind to provide protection.

Zhong Cai casually summoned an eighth-level puppet, which followed behind.

Following the invitation of the royal prince, everyone took their seats on the stage.

Zhong Cai followed the crowd and didn't spare any attention, focusing all her attention on Wu Shaogan.

At this moment, the only thing he noticed was that the viewing platform was indeed very close to the Broken Rock Mountain, which was perfect for him to appreciate Old Wu's demeanor.

Zhong Cai could easily take in the entire scene of the broken rock mountain.

Moreover, Zhong Cai could indeed sense that, under the control of the royal prince, a thick defense was quickly formed on the platform, capable of blocking all dangers from the outside world.

It is very safe.

Zhong Cai stared unblinkingly, her motionless posture making her seem like a stone.

The Pill Kings accidentally witnessed this scene... and then quickly turned their heads to watch the mountain climbing.

·

Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, Wu Shaogan immediately felt the immense pressure emanating from the Broken Rock Mountain.

Strangely enough, this pressure was just enough to hold Wu Shaogan down, giving him a feeling that he couldn't resist, yet it seemed to be at Wu Shaogan's limit and wouldn't actually cause him any harm.

Under such pressure, Wu Shaogan couldn't even move his feet.

Wu Shaogan immediately understood that this was also a way to temper one's will.

·

Indeed, this was the case. Not only Wu Shaogan, but all the other fusion cultivators had the same feeling: the pressure was "attacking" everyone to the same degree. Only after truly resisting and breaking through this pressure could the martial arts cultivators begin to climb Shattered Rock Mountain.

·

Zhong Caizheng witnessed this scene.

All the martial arts cultivators who participated in the climb seemed to be under some kind of spell, standing motionless at the foot of the mountain.

This isn't right.

From the time the martial arts cultivators rushed to the foot of the mountain to the time when the Pill Kings arrived at the viewing platform by carriage, a short period of time still passed.

But the mountain climbing hasn't even started yet?

Zhong Cai didn't know anyone else, so he couldn't notice anything, but he could tell Wu Shaogan's reaction just by looking at his back... and now was no exception. He could tell from Wu Shaogan's posture and tense body that Wu Shaogan was struggling.

It seems they are undergoing a test.

After the trials are completed, will these martial arts cultivators be able to climb the mountain at different times?

·

Nearby, several Pill Kings seemed to be deep in thought, and then summoned a few martial arts cultivators who were accompanying them, asking them a few questions in hushed tones.

Those martial arts cultivators responded and simply sat closer, quietly explaining to the Pill King they followed.

The royal prince also took on some of the task of explaining things, mainly entertaining the alchemy kings who came to ask him questions...

Zhong Cai sat alone in one place, his expression changing from time to time, but full of confidence in his Daoist partner.

He was certain that, all things being equal, Lao Wu would be the most handsome among them!

·

Wu Shaogan experienced a low point, but with the help of his then-friend, who is now his Daoist partner, he broke free from his shackles. He has undergone a lot of trials and tribulations.

He has faced extremely intense combat training and experienced terrifying pressure tempering. Coupled with his own talent and abilities, his resilience is very strong.

Wu Shaogan was fearless as long as Zhong Cai was by his side, and he ignored all external "pressure".

Now, he quickly adapted to the pressure and resisted it with great force.

A-Cai is looking at him.

This kind of secret realm trial should be flexible and tailored to the individual; otherwise, it wouldn't be used as a tool for many young powerhouses like Dou Wang to "compete" with each other.

Therefore, under the same conditions, he must be the strongest.

A-Cai always believed he was the strongest.

He absolutely cannot let A-Cai down.

·

Perhaps it was because such willpower was too strong that after resisting a period of pressure, Wu Shaogan was unable to be affected by the continuous surge of momentum that followed.

Wu Shaogan stood there expressionless, his black hair moving on its own without wind, a corner of it gently swaying, as if suspended by some invisible force, neither rising nor falling.

Then, he took a step forward.

It was as if invisible glass had shattered, or as if one had stepped into a new world.

The oppressive pressure, which felt like drowning from all directions and was suffocating, suddenly dissipated.

Wu Shaogan suddenly felt a sense of lightness, and then he darted up the Broken Rock Mountain.

·

On the Guanshan Terrace.

Everyone watched with a solemn expression as the former Dou Wangs and others stood in their stances.

Because everyone was sitting close together and had already exchanged some words, some people started whispering to the people next to them.

"It seems to be a selection process every time. If you can't break through the barrier of pressure within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, you will lose your qualification to climb the mountain."

"It seems that although cultivators are allowed to climb freely, if their own abilities are insufficient, they will be eliminated at this stage."

"It was absolutely right of us not to go over there, otherwise it would have been incredibly embarrassing to stand there for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

"I wonder who will be the first to start climbing?"

"He should be the number one Fighting King."

"That's not necessarily true. On several occasions when we climbed the mountain, although the first Dou Wang usually went up first, there was also a time when the second Dou Wang went up first."

"Isn't there anyone else—?"

"This time, a new third-ranked Dou Wang has emerged. His cultivation level is lower than the top two, yet he has managed to reach this position, which shows his extraordinary ability. Moreover, he is practically one of our Pill Ranking members. Perhaps he can even compete for it?"

"Hahaha! That's right. Wu Douwang is the Daoist partner of our Tenth Pill King, so isn't he practically a member of the Pill Ranking? The trials here are the same for everyone and aren't affected by cultivation level, so I think Wu Douwang is indeed a possibility..."

Just then, another Pill King exclaimed in a low voice, "It really was King Wu Dou who came first!"

Upon hearing this, the other Pill Kings all turned their gazes to Wu Shaogan.

They all saw a young man dressed in brocade take a step and then quickly climb up the Broken Rock Mountain.

The young man in brocade seemed to adjust to the mountain environment for a moment before steadily continuing his ascent.

After a few more breaths, Chao Hanxiao, who was ranked first, also took a step and began to climb the mountain.

In the time it takes to breathe again, Weng Yuxian, who was only a little slower than Chao Hanxiao, also started climbing.

Both of them noticed Wu Shaogan.

But they were not slow at all, moving their arms back and forth, climbing upwards at top speed.

·

Zhong Cai did not participate in the discussion among the other Dan Kings, but he was certainly the first to discover that his old man Wu had started climbing the mountain!

His eyes were very bright, as if they were burning with a raging fire, and they were also filled with joy that was hard to express.

Old Wu was the first to climb the mountain!

Old Wu is number one!

He knew that the top two on the list could only suppress Lao Wu because of their higher cultivation levels. Once Lao Wu broke through one or two more minor cultivation levels, he might be able to overthrow those two young powerhouses at the peak of fusion and rise in the rankings when he was in the mid-to-late stage of fusion!

Although it's not possible right now...

But Lao Wu surpassed the top two on the list and was the first to climb the mountain!

The fact that Lao Wu was able to get ahead of them at this moment proves that Lao Wu's potential has reached a higher level!

Old Wu just needs to speed up his advancement in cultivation level.

No one will underestimate Old Wu!

·

That is indeed the case.

Who would underestimate Wu Shaogan, who suddenly appeared at number three on the list? Especially since he is the youngest on the entire Sky List.

Even for outstanding martial arts cultivators, it usually takes more than forty years to make it onto the list, and several more years to reach the top ten—Wu Shaogan managed to do so several years earlier.

Now, because of Wu Shaogan's demonstrated abilities, they have a clearer understanding that Wu Shaogan is indeed a strong contender for the top two spots on the Sky Ranking.

At least in terms of willpower, they are definitely superior.

This is hard to believe...

It's unclear how Wu Shaogan honed his skills, but his talent was clearly evident.

Even though he hasn't sparred with the Fighting Kings yet.

However, the few abilities Wu Shaogan occasionally revealed, just the tip of the iceberg, seemed to make him even more mysterious, allowing people to vaguely glimpse his unfathomable strength...

·

Several tiny figures were rapidly climbing the rocky mountain.

All martial arts practitioners climbed using both hands and feet, like monkeys. Their arms were taut, and their palms gripped the nearby protruding rocks firmly. Each step had to be taken on a very stable rock in order to ascend as quickly as possible.

Wu Shaogan exerted force with his fingers and pushed off with his feet, rising several feet into the air.

Then he raised his other arm and grabbed another rock, while his other hands and feet also exerted force.

He remembered clearly that during that rather long period of time, roughly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he climbed nearly a hundred feet high.

The mountain was tens of thousands of feet high, and the distance Wu Shaogan had climbed was nothing compared to what he had come up to; he was still far from there.

Under normal circumstances, let alone a hundred feet, it might not even take that long to climb to the top of the mountain!

but……

From the moment Wu Shaogan began to climb, he suddenly felt an extremely terrifying gravity descend upon him, pressing down on him.

At first it wasn't too heavy, but with each step Wu Shaogan climbed, the gravity would increase, adding to his burden.

In this situation, even if one could use movement techniques, one would inevitably become very clumsy under this gravity. It would be better to simply manipulate one's flexible limbs and drag the heavy body upward.

One zhang, ten zhang, twenty zhang, fifty zhang, one hundred zhang...

When passing through these levels, the gravity will increase dramatically compared to before.

If the numerous martial arts practitioners are not careful, they might suddenly lose control of their hands and feet and fall down the mountain because the increase in gravity is too sudden and they cannot adapt immediately.

—You can climb back up after falling, but it will inevitably waste more time and greatly affect your climbing performance. Moreover, if the final results are similar between those who succeed on the first try and those who succeed after multiple attempts, the one who succeeds on the first try will be given priority as the reward.

The difference in rewards isn't actually the most important thing...

All the former Dou Wangs and others were able to reach the summit smoothly, but a few people were careless and fell off the cliff halfway. Even if they were not seriously injured, they would lose face when facing their peers.

They might even be ridiculed for years to come.

·

Wu Shaogan, on the other hand, has been steadily progressing.

The changes in gravity did not seem to have any effect on him, and his climbing speed remained unchanged each time.

He was like a rigid machine, executing each movement with such precision that it was just right without any waste.

As gravity continued to increase, it also tempered his body, trying to crush and injure him, even to the point of knocking him down. However, despite the fact that Wu Shaogan's body was indeed being tempered, he was still able to maintain his original speed, which remained unchanged.

·

Zhong Cai stared at the old man intently, observing him closely.

Everyone who looked at Wu Shaogan thought he was charismatic and had an extraordinary demeanor. His movements were unhurried and very composed.

But Zhong Cai noticed after taking a few glances...

Old Wu's reactions were not static, and his steps were not entirely unimpeded...

Zhong Cai observed that every short while, after a short or long stretch of a specific distance, Lao Wu's body would stiffen almost imperceptibly for a moment before continuing his steady climb.

It's just that Lao Wu adapted quickly.

Zhong Cai's eyes were filled with tenderness and pity.

Old Wu, you've worked hard.

Old Wu has really suffered a lot...

Old Wu is still very handsome... but if it would be easier for him, it wouldn't matter if he wasn't so handsome.

Zhong Cai's pounding heart kept reminding him.

I'm very worried.

When will the meteorite arrive?

What if Lao Wu is focused on the pressure he experiences while climbing a mountain, and a meteor suddenly falls, leaving him no time to react?

What if Lao Wu accidentally falls down!

Zhong Cai was getting a little anxious.

A meteorite might strike suddenly!

He should have asked more detailed questions beforehand, and should have asked when the meteorite fell.

but……

Zhong Cai paused again.

If Cui Yushou, as the host, could explain these things clearly, he would surely take the initiative to remind them. Otherwise, wouldn't he be embarrassing them and creating a rift between them?

Since it wasn't mentioned, perhaps the timing of the meteorite's fall is uncertain?

Moreover, even if Cui Yushou didn't say anything, his senior brothers and sisters from the War God Hall would always remind him.

They didn't say much, probably because they themselves weren't sure either... even though they had probably participated in activities at Shattered Rock Mountain before.

Zhong Cai let out a breath.

At this moment, he paid even closer attention to his old man, Wu.

·

Other alchemy masters and martial arts cultivators were also paying close attention.

They all knew that an even grander event would be coming soon!

·

Before they knew it, the martial arts cultivators on the Broken Stone Mountain had already climbed over a thousand feet high.

The meteor still hasn't arrived.

However, no martial arts cultivator at the foot of the mountain failed the test of pressure and lost their qualification. Although the martial arts cultivators climbing the mountain had different expressions and different speeds, none of them fell off the mountain due to gravity.

Everyone is still doing well.

However, at this point, there was a noticeable difference in the height of the climb.

Wu Shaogan climbed the highest.

He has now reached a height of 1,700 zhang.

Chao Hanxiao and Weng Yuxian followed closely behind.

Chao Hanxiao climbed to 1,670 or 1680 zhang, only 20 or 30 zhang shorter than Wu Shaogan. This shows that his steps were very steady and his speed was just as fast.

Weng Yuxian was about four or five zhang shorter than Chao Hanxiao—this distance was really nothing. If Weng Yuxian hadn't been a breath slower than him when climbing the mountain, he wouldn't have fallen behind by this much.

If they continue upwards, even the slightest oversight by Chao Hanxiao could cause them to switch places.

Wu Shaogan was the same.

A distance of twenty or thirty zhang... there's not much time that can be delayed.

Wu Shaogan cannot afford to make the slightest mistake, otherwise he will be pulled down from the top position.

·

Apart from these three, the other numerous former Dou Wangs and Dou Wangs were all ranked below 1,600 zhang.

The top ten Fighting Kings are all between 1,500 and 1,600 feet tall.

The first three are all fault-level faults.

This undoubtedly proves the correctness of the Sky Ranking's tiered system.

·

Shattered Rock Mountain is a secret place. In fact, every time someone climbs it, all the rocks will be rearranged.

Even if martial arts practitioners come to climb the mountain every year, the mountain landscape they can "see" will be completely different each time.

No matter how many times martial arts practitioners climb mountains, it will never serve as experience for the next time.