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Chapter 542: 396: Reaching the Top of the Heavenly Ladder, Strolling Leisurely! (Don't dawdle, everyone catch up on updates!)_2

Chapter 542: Chapter 396: Reaching the Top of the Heavenly Ladder, Strolling Leisurely! (Don’t dawdle, everyone catch up on updates!)_2

Fang Hongtai spoke indifferently.

“Thank you, senior, for solving my confusion.”

“Talented individuals, please.”

With a flick of his sleeve, Fang Hongtai placed a three-foot-long Divine Incense at the top of the heavenly ladder. Then, a flame ignited it, and the fragrance began to waft through the air.

As the Divine Incense was lit, the elites of the Hidden Dragon List felt a sense of urgency in their hearts, understanding that the Ascending Immortal Tower didn’t intend to conduct a fearless ranking battle this time.

This ascent of the Heavenly Ladder was set to eliminate the majority of contenders, a prospect none of them desired.

Even if they couldn’t achieve a higher ranking, they had all tried their best. If they were to be eliminated by this Heavenly Ladder, it would truly be a disgrace in the future.

However, those at the front, Chen Yuan, and Zuo Chengzong, remained motionless, and no one dared to make a move rashly from behind.

Eventually, after ten breaths passed and still no one stepped forward, an elite ranked seventeenth on the Hidden Dragon List scoffed and said,

“Wang will give it a try.”

As soon as these words were spoken, he levitated to the front of the Heavenly Ladder and ascended the first step with a calm demeanor. But as soon as he stepped on it, he felt a surge of immense pressure coming his way.

He took a deep breath. Although the pressure was strong, he could still withstand it and subsequently continued to step forward.

The pressure on each of the nine steps of the First Layer increased progressively, but the elite could still bear it. However, when he stepped onto the first step of the Second Layer, cold sweat suddenly broke out on his body.

With goosebumps all over, he continued to grit his teeth and forge ahead, even though his body was moving much slower now.

Others imitated him, and the crowd behind began to move as well, figures ascending the Heavenly Ladder one after another. A terrifying pressure swept over them, and those figures began to move as slowly as a crawling tortoise.

The one who had gone the highest was still the expert who started the challenge. He had already ascended to the steps of the Third Layer, and each step he took was immensely laborious, his body shaking and his face extremely solemn.

It was as if a massive mountain was pressing directly down upon their heads.

Gu He chuckled and glanced at Chen Yuan in front of him before saying lightly,

“Gu will give this Heavenly Ladder a try!”

Indeed, as a direct descendant of the Gu Family, his strength and potential were astonishing. He managed to cross the first twenty steps as easily as if he were reaching into a bag and pulling something out.

When he stepped onto the steps of the Third Layer, his fists clenched slightly, yet his expression remained indifferent.

Yu Qingyan walked up to Chen Yuan, nodded slightly in greeting, and then also began to climb the Heavenly Ladder.

Shangguan Yu, Zhang Xuan, and others didn’t hesitate much either, following the lead of those in front as they began to climb steadily.

Those who still remained on the ground were only six people: Chen Yuan, Zuo Chengzong, Wei Wuya, Xuanming, Dao Xuansheng, and Bai Changqing. They looked indifferently at the others ascending the Heavenly Ladder.

The one reaching the pinnacle of the climb was now Gu He, who had already set foot on the steps of the Seventh Layer. However, his speed had significantly decreased, and with every step, he paused for the time of ten breaths.

The Jianghu martial artists watching were astonished and surprised.

One must know that the elites who made it to the top fifty of the Hidden Dragon List were already among the top figures in the world, yet their climb up the Heavenly Ladder was exceptionally slow.

Some, overwhelmed by the pressure, began to bleed from all seven orifices and could only stop and stand still. Eventually, they rolled down from the Heavenly Ladder, where disciples of the Ascending Immortal Tower helped them to the side.

Some gritted their teeth and persevered, others felt hesitation in their hearts, and there were those who had to take deep breaths and pause with every step they took, their strength and potential laid bare for all to see.

The first ones who couldn’t withstand any longer were not those at the bottom of the Hidden Dragon List, but rather the elites ranked around thirtieth to fortieth, who had climbed to the upper ranks of the list because of their cultivation.

But when it comes to talent alone, it’s hard to say definitively who was superior.

The Divine Incense above had burned away one-fifth of its length, yet no warrior atop the Heavenly Ladder had reached the summit, with Gu He and Yu Qingyan being the highest so far.

Now positioned at the Eighth Layer Heaven Ladder, but at this point, taking even a single step further became incredibly difficult, even Gu He’s body started to tremble uncontrollably.

The second batch consisted of Shangguan Yu, Zhang Xuan, Wei Wuque, and a few other experts within the top fifteen of the Hidden Dragon List, and they had now reached the Sixth Layer Heavenly Ladder.

They too were showing signs of struggle; Chen Yuan felt that of these, Wei Wuque was managing with relative ease. Though his ascent was not swift, it was remarkably steady.

He was not outstanding, nor did he lag behind…

The Heavenly Ladder instantly revealed the true strength and potential of everyone; although no one remained below the Second Layer, from the Third Layer to the Sixth, the majority were amassed.

Their foreheads were drenched with cold sweat, teeth gritted in determination, with some even biting their lips until they bled, their legs shaking uncontrollably….

“Fellow devotees, shall we also make our move?”

When the Divine Incense had burned halfway, Xuanming grew restless and stood up with hands joined, speaking solemnly. This was the first time Chen Yuan had seen him since Mengze Mountain.

The two did not show any animosity toward each other; the man even smiled at Chen Yuan, his eyes devoid of any hostility, as if inhabited by a different soul.

“It is permissible,” responded Bai Changqing as he stepped forward.

“Certainly, there is no objection,” Dao Xuansheng replied with a smile.

Subsequently, the three of them ascended the Heavenly Ladder simultaneously. The first few layers were like a walk in the park; they faced no hindrance, and in just a matter of a few dozen breaths, they surpassed more than half of the climbers.

Being first to climb did not necessarily confer an advantage; their individual strengths had nearly reached the pinnacle of their Realms. Even as the pressure of the Heavenly Ladder increased step by step, they could easily withstand it.