Chapter 284: Lan Yu’s Pressure

Hearing Li Yang say he was only in third place, Mute could only give him a thumbs-up. "You’re incredible," he said.

Surpassing Lan Yu and Mixed Void had, until now, been considered a completely impossible goal for everyone.

But at this moment, Li Yang truly had a chance to do it.

As the crowd murmured, Li Yang remained calm, unaffected by his dazzling achievement.

Just as he had said, he was only in third place. With Lan Yu and Mixed Void still ahead of him, he had nothing to be proud of.

’Teacher said he had something to tell me after my strength assessment on the Divine Road was finished. I’ll head back now!’ Li Yang thought in anticipation.

Judging by the Blade Slaughter Sect Master’s mysterious demeanor, whatever he wanted to discuss was likely no small matter.

With that, Li Yang logged out of the Virtual World.

...

On a peak in the Lianyun Mountain Range, Lan Yu sat silently cross-legged on the ground, a fighting spirit still glinting in his eyes.

’The gap between Mixed Void and me is widening. I have to train even harder. Beyond just cultivating, I need to visit those places and seek out opportunities!’

He, Lan Yu, had been number one ever since he began cultivating. Even an Emperor had taken him as a direct disciple, valuing him immensely.

He should have been the top genius from the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall selection across the Three Thousand Star Continent. His teacher had even said that no genius from any other Star Continent could compare to him.

But then, this Mixed Void had appeared out of nowhere.

Before, Mixed Void had been like Li Yang—not recruited by any Emperor Level faction, so very little was known about him.

Yet during the genius selection, this Mixed Void had risen rapidly, even crushing him, the runner-up.

Lan Yu had been trying to catch up ever since, but as time went on, the gap between him and Mixed Void was actually widening!

His sole objective now was to catch up to Mixed Void and surpass him!

"Hmm?"

As he was lost in thought, the watch on his wrist suddenly chimed.

He didn’t follow the Divine Road rankings, only Mixed Void.

If Mixed Void’s ranking changed, he would be notified immediately. He couldn’t care less about any other genius.

For instance, when Li Yang had previously cleared four steps of the Divine Road in a row, it hadn’t fazed him in the slightest.

However, Lan Yu did have friends. From his home Star Continent among the Three Thousand Star Continent, one other genius besides himself had been accepted into the Human Race’s Eternal Saint Hall. The message was from that very genius.

He opened the message and took a look.

"Lan Yu, Li Yang just had his strength assessed on the Divine Road. He passed the sixth and seventh steps, and he lasted for over forty seconds on the eighth step before being eliminated..."

Reading the first half of the message, Lan Yu’s expression remained unchanged.

He himself had gone from the fifth step to the seventh over a five-year period.

Now, after seven years, it was nothing special for Li Yang to pass the seventh step.

Although it was only a difference of one step, the time required for each subsequent step grew longer and longer.

For example, it had taken him one year to pass the sixth step, four years to pass the seventh, and five years to pass the eighth.

And he only managed the eighth step because he’d had a major stroke of luck; otherwise, it likely would have taken him more than ten years.

Lan Yu’s expression remained impassive, but when he read the next sentence, his face shifted slightly.

’Li Yang lasted for over forty seconds on the eighth step?’

Being instantly defeated and lasting for over forty seconds were two completely different concepts.

His own Talent was immense, and he had encountered great opportunities in recent years, yet all things considered, Li Yang’s rate of improvement was actually faster than his!

’How is this possible? How could Li Yang improve so quickly?’ Lan Yu stared at Li Yang’s name, his composure shaken for the first time by a genius other than Mixed Void.

After staring for a dozen seconds, Lan Yu quickly regained his composure.

He was not like Dilunxi, who would be greatly affected by someone catching up to him.

’It seems that besides Mixed Void, I have another rival: Li Yang.’

A glint flashed in Lan Yu’s eyes. For the first time, he was finally treating Li Yang as a rival.

Of course, he was merely a rival worth a bit of attention. In Lan Yu’s mind, it was absolutely impossible for Li Yang to surpass him.

...

While Li Yang’s new ranking sent shockwaves through the other geniuses, he himself had returned to the Blade Slaughter Sect.

"Our junior brother has arrived." "Junior Brother."

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master’s other disciples greeted Li Yang with smiles.

Li Yang smiled and returned their greetings.

As they watched Li Yang enter the palace hall, a clear trace of excitement appeared on his senior brothers’ faces.

"Junior Brother Li Yang is incredible."

"He’s almost caught up to Lan Yu now."

"Exactly! If Lan Yu hadn’t started with such a huge lead, Junior Brother Li Yang would have definitely surpassed him by now!"

"With Talent like this, Junior Brother Li Yang will very likely grow into a powerful existence on par with our Teacher in the future!"

Unaware of his senior brothers’ discussions, Li Yang came before the Blade Slaughter Sect Master.

"Li Yang, come here," the Blade Slaughter Sect Master said with a smile upon seeing him. "Take a look at this."

Once Li Yang approached, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master waved his right hand, and the illusion of a fiery red orb materialized.

The orb was covered in complex, mystical patterns. Even as an illusion, one could sense the profound mysteries contained within it.

"Teacher, this is..." Li Yang couldn’t help but ask.

’Is this red orb what the Blade Slaughter Sect Master wanted to talk about?’

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master smiled. "Li Yang, your comprehension of the Fire Element Law is progressing the fastest, is it not?"

Although Li Yang’s Fire Nether Divine Beast clone had been the last to mature, its speed of comprehending the Fire Element Law was the fastest—twice as fast as even his comprehension of the Space Law!

After ten years, his comprehension of the Fire Element Law had already surpassed that of the Space Law and the Thunder Law.

After a moment, the Blade Slaughter Sect Master smiled and asked, "Would you like to comprehend it even faster?"

"Comprehend the Fire Element Law faster?" Hearing the Blade Slaughter Sect Master’s words, a flicker of excitement appeared in Li Yang’s eyes. "Teacher, can this orb help me comprehend the Fire Element Law more quickly?"

Of course, he wanted to comprehend the laws faster.

Especially the Fire Element Law. If his comprehension sped up, he could quickly become one of the Deities with eternal life!

"Yes."

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master nodded, but instead of elaborating on the orb, he changed the subject. "Li Yang, I wonder, have you ever heard of the Fire Nether Divine Beast?"

"The Fire Nether Divine Beast?"

Hearing this, Li Yang’s expression remained calm, but inside, his heart skipped a beat.

Not only had he heard of it, but one of these Fire Nether Divine Beasts, a being of an extremely high life-form, was his very own clone.

However, Li Yang had no intention of revealing the existence of his clone. He simply nodded and said, "I have."

The Blade Slaughter Sect Master sighed. "The Fire Nether Divine Beast is a natural-born deity, innately capable of mastering the Fire Element Law. In less than a thousand years, it can reach the Divine Realm and gain eternal life. They are the darlings of the Fire Element Law."

Li Yang said nothing, listening quietly to the Blade Slaughter Sect Master.