Chapter 435 - 234: Divine Soul Trial! Jiang Che Ignites the Arena! The Final Trial Begins

"Next, Long Yu’er of Penglai Island!"

As the official announced her name, the graceful, veil-covered figure once again became the center of everyone’s attention.

Long Yu’er’s steps were light, as if she wasn’t climbing the oppressive Divine Soul Celestial Ladder at all.

But rather, taking a leisurely stroll through her own garden.

For the first Tier Thirty, even the hem of her dress didn’t stir.

Tier Forty...

Tier Fifty...

When she surpassed the fifty-fifth tier, the limit for most experts at the Fourth Layer of True Master Realm, her pace finally slowed slightly.

However, her eyes remained clear, showing no sign of confusion.

One step, then another.

Finally, under the watchful gaze of countless eyes, she stood firmly upon the sixty-first tier!

BZZMM—

The entire Celestial Ladder seemed to hum softly, enveloping her in a gentle white light.

"Sixty-one tiers!"

"She crossed the barrier of a Great Realm! This... this is a Divine Soul strength that only an expert at the Fifth Layer of True Master Realm should possess!"

Gasps of astonishment erupted from the crowd.

After all, Long Yu’er’s own Cultivation was only at the Late-stage Fourth Layer of True Master Realm.

To cultivate the Divine Soul of a Fifth Layer expert while only at the Fourth Layer was proof of her absolutely stunning Talent in the dao of the Divine Soul!

Atop the high platform, the eyes of the three Elders from the top-tier Sects also lit up.

This was especially true for Daoist Wu Wei of the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect. He waved his duster lightly and praised, "This girl has a sharp and intricate mind. Her Divine Soul is tenacious and pure—a fine seedling for practicing Arrays and Illusion Techniques. It seems the heritage of Penglai Island is truly extraordinary."

The other two Elders nodded slightly, their estimation of Long Yu’er rising even higher.

Long Yu’er gasped for breath, bowed toward the high platform, and then drifted gracefully off the stage, her elegant posture drawing the gazes of countless young prodigies.

Immediately after.

"Next, Lei Kuang of the Desert Mad Saber Sect!"

The atmosphere crackled with excitement once more upon hearing this name.

In yesterday’s Realm assessment, this Young Sect Leader of the Mad Saber Sect had overwhelmed the competition with his Cultivation at the Peak of the Fourth Layer of True Master Realm, ranking third on the list, second only to those two peerless Demon Fiends!

Everyone was eager to see if this prodigy, known for his ferocity, could continue his glorious performance from yesterday in this round.

Lei Kuang stepped onto the Celestial Ladder, a heavy Nine-Ring Saber on his back, his bare arms corded with muscle, and a defiant look on his face.

"Hmph. Divine Soul pressure? I’ll shatter it!"

He let out a low roar, his aura surging as he practically sprinted up the first Tier Thirty in an incomparably domineering fashion.

However, when he set foot on Tier Forty, his steps suddenly grew heavy.

By the forty-fifth tier, his arrogant face had turned the color of pig’s liver, veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat poured down like rain.

With every step, his body trembled violently as if he were carrying a mountain of immense weight.

Finally, at the fiftieth tier, Lei Kuang let out an indignant roar, unable to advance even a single Half-Step further!

This scene was like a basin of cold water dumped on the expectant crowd.

"Tier Fifty?"

"That... That’s just pathetic, isn’t it?"

"Tier Fifty is just the Entry Level for the Fourth Layer of True Master Realm, and he’s at the Peak of the Fourth Layer! Compared to his Cultivation, his Divine Soul strength is seriously holding him back!"

A sense of disappointment spread through the crowd.

In this world of cultivation, while one’s Realm determined their lower limit, the Divine Soul often determined their upper limit.

Lei Kuang’s performance undoubtedly exposed his greatest weakness.

All brawn and no brains, with a weak and unstable Divine Soul!

On the high platform, the keen interest in the eyes of the three Elders, who had previously been quite intrigued by him, had now faded considerably.

Daoist Wu Wei, who particularly valued Comprehension, shook his head and looked away.

However, seeing the awkwardness of the situation, Elder Su Wuming of the Haotian Sword Sect spoke up coolly, saving some face for Lei Kuang:

"The Desert of the West is a land of swirling sands and hardy people. The Cultivation Techniques of the Mad Saber Sect have always followed a direct path, using overwhelming force to break through finesse. They focus on tempering the physical body and True Qi, so it is understandable that they are somewhat lacking in the dao of the Divine Soul."

"After all, on the battlefield, it’s a fight with real blades and spears. As long as your saber is fast enough and your strength is heavy enough, a slightly weaker Divine Soul doesn’t mean you can’t be formidable."

With this influential figure’s "face-saving" comment, the murmuring below finally died down a bit.

Lei Kuang walked down from the Celestial Ladder with an ugly expression. Hearing the whispers around him, he clenched his fists, his eyes filled with indignation and resentment.

’Hmph, a bunch of smooth-talkers! Just wait until the third round, the combat trial. I’ll show you what a true Saber Technique is!’

He swore viciously to himself.

...

"Next, Xiong Tong of Northic Divine Beast Mountain!"

When the giant, who was built like an iron tower, once again stepped onto the stage, the discussions in the square instantly grew noisy.

With the cautionary tale of Lei Kuang fresh in their minds, and considering Xiong Tong’s visually impactful, wild appearance,

almost everyone subconsciously labeled him as "all brawn, no brain."

"This Xiong Tong may be first in Realm, but look at those muscles. He’s probably on the path of Flesh to Saint."

"Yeah, the dao of the Divine Soul is the most profound and mysterious, often requiring a delicate mind to comprehend. A brute like him, who lives among beasts, I’m afraid..."

"I doubt it’ll go well! He’ll probably be just as bad as Lei Kuang, fifty-something tiers at best!"

Amidst a sea of doubtful chatter, Xiong Tong, expressionless, strode onto the Celestial Ladder.

BOOM!

His steps were still heavy, but to everyone’s astonishment, the terrifying pressure that targeted the Divine Soul seemed to vanish upon reaching him, like a clay ox entering the sea—disappearing without a single ripple!