Chapter 363 - 168: Top Three (2)

With that, he raised a hand and waved.

Above Inquiry Cliff, the void cracked open, revealing a portal.

Beyond the portal lay the White Jade Square in front of Wenda Hall.

The ten of them stepped out, returning to the front of Wenda Hall.

Upon the square, the Nine Peaks Peak Masters were seated on a high dais, their gazes falling in unison upon the ten of them.

Lie Mountain, seated in the First Peak’s designated spot, glanced at Li Jianfeng and Yu Xiuqi, nodding slightly.

But when his gaze fell upon Liang Cheng, he paused, slightly taken aback.

’The Liang Cheng he sensed was exactly the same as he was three months ago.’

’If anything, his aura seemed even weaker?’

’No, that’s not it.’

Lie Mountain had lived for three hundred years; his perception was incredibly sharp.

He could tell with a single glance that Liang Cheng was deliberately concealing his strength.

The corners of Lie Mountain’s mouth lifted slightly, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

’Good kid.’

The Peak Master of the Seventh Peak also looked toward Liang Cheng, a gloomy glint in his eyes.

Liang Cheng had crippled Gu Tianya, leaving the Seventh Peak with no one in the top ten and thus no chance at Enlightenment.

For now, however, all he could do was grit his teeth and bear it.

Yun Zhonghe’s voice rang out once more:

"The ascent begins."

"The three who reach the highest step will be our top three."

There would be no arena, no duels.

They would simply climb the Heaven-Ascending Stairs before Wenda Hall, relying on the strength they gained during their Enlightenment.

The higher they climbed the Heaven-Ascending Stairs, the greater their power.

The ten disciples stepped forward in unison, making their way toward the Heaven-Ascending Stairs.

Liang Cheng followed behind Li Jianfeng at an unhurried pace.

He fully activated the Turtle Breath Technique, suppressing his aura to its absolute minimum.

Bai Wuchang shot him a look, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

’Three months of Enlightenment, and he made no progress at all?’

Liu Qingli, however, frowned slightly.

Watching Liang Cheng’s back, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

She just couldn’t put her finger on what it was.

Just then—

Li Jianfeng stepped forward, ascending to the first Celestial Tier.

Yu Xiuqi followed close behind, also reaching the first tier.

Liang Cheng ambled up after them.

The first tier.

The second tier.

The third tier.

...

By the time they reached the fifth tier, some were already starting to fall behind.

Bai Wuchang stopped at the fifth tier, his face slightly pale.

The Iron Head Monk also stopped at the fifth tier, sweat beading on his forehead.

Zhou Yuanqing gritted his teeth and managed to reach the Sixth Layer, but his legs were trembling so badly he couldn’t take another step.

Liu Qingli neared the Seventh Layer, her movements still light and graceful.

She glanced back, her gaze falling on Liang Cheng.

Liang Cheng stood on the Sixth Layer, his expression calm, his pace unhurried.

Ahead of him, the frontrunners—Liu Qingli, Li Jianfeng, and Yu Xiuqi—stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to press on.

The ascent continued.

Li Jianfeng took a step, ascending to the Seventh Celestial Tier.

His form was as steady as a mountain.

Liu Qingli followed close behind, also reaching the Seventh Layer, her movements graceful.

The two exchanged a look and continued upward—

To the Eighth Layer!

BOOM!

Sword Intent erupted from Li Jianfeng’s body, sharp and unrivaled!

Liu Qingli’s robes fluttered, her aura as cold as frost!

The two of them set foot on the Eighth Layer at almost the exact same time!

The entire crowd erupted in an uproar!

"Li Jianfeng made it to the Eighth Layer!"

"So did Liu Qingli!"

"The First Peak and the Fourth Peak are going to fight for the top spot this time!"

On the high dais, Lie Mountain, the Peak Master of the First Peak, revealed a smile, while the Fourth Peak’s master nodded in approval.

Yu Xiuqi, standing on the Sixth Layer, looked at the backs of his two seniors, took a deep breath, and strode toward the Seventh Layer!

BOOM!

His Fist Intent was like a mountain, firmly taking root!

He’d made it!

Yu Xiuqi grinned. Though his legs trembled slightly, he ultimately held his ground.

Zhou Yuanqing, still on the Sixth Layer, glanced at Yu Xiuqi, gritted his teeth, and also stepped toward the Seventh Layer!

But as soon as he set foot on the Celestial Tier, he felt a colossal pressure bear down on him. He swayed three times and nearly tumbled over.

He desperately circulated his Cultivation Technique, erupting with Pill Qi, and only then did he barely manage to stabilize himself.

Once steady, he glanced at Yu Xiuqi, a trace of resentment in his eyes.

They had both reached the Seventh Layer, but he had nearly lost his composure. The difference between them was clear.

Now, all eyes fell upon Liang Cheng.

He stood on the Sixth Layer, looking up at Yu Xiuqi and Zhou Yuanqing on the Seventh, his expression tranquil.

Bai Wuchang, standing on the fifth tier, stared at Liang Cheng’s back, a gloating look in his eyes.

"The Sixth Layer... not bad."

"After all, for someone who made no progress in three months of Enlightenment, even reaching the Sixth Layer is a fluke."

His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone present heard him clearly.

Some frowned, others shook their heads.

Liang Cheng paid them no mind.

He simply lifted his foot—

The Seventh Layer!

He took a single step and landed steadily.

His aura flared turbulently, the fluctuations significant, but he firmly crossed the threshold and planted his feet on the Seventh Celestial Tier.

The smile on Bai Wuchang’s face froze.

"How is that possible? He clearly..."

Before he could finish, Liang Cheng gritted his teeth and erupted with power. Pill Qi surged, and he lifted his foot again—

The Eighth Layer!

BOOM!

As that step landed, the entire area fell deathly silent!

The Eighth Layer!

Liang Cheng... he had actually made it to the Eighth Layer, too!

Li Jianfeng turned back, a hint of pleasant surprise in his eyes.

Liu Qingli turned back, a knowing look of understanding in her eyes.

Standing on the Seventh Layer, Yu Xiuqi’s grin grew even wider.

Zhou Yuanqing’s face was ashen.

He had barely managed to reach the Seventh Layer with all his might, nearly embarrassing himself in the process.

And yet Liang Cheng, coming from behind, had gone straight to the Eighth Layer. Though his aura was a bit chaotic, a successful ascent was a success, period.

The gap between them...

Down on the fifth Celestial Tier, Bai Wuchang’s face was beet red, and he was utterly speechless.

On the high dais, the various Peak Masters exchanged glances.

"This kid’s progress is just terrifying."

"Obviously. What did you expect?"

"How could a prodigy who comprehended and condensed three types of True Intent possibly make no progress after three months of Enlightenment?"

The Seventh Peak’s Peak Master remained silent, his face grim. Ever since Gu Tianya was severely injured, the Seventh Peak had no one left in the top ten.

A flicker of a smile appeared in Lie Mountain’s eyes.

’Good kid.’

On the Eighth Celestial Tier, three figures stood side by side.

Li Jianfeng, Liu Qingli, and Liang Cheng.

Li Jianfeng looked at Liang Cheng and grinned.

"Junior Brother, I knew you weren’t that simple."