Chapter 690: Climbing up the stairs
Chapter 690: Climbing up the stairs
Translator: Radiant Translations Editor: Radiant Translations
Xue Ying glanced at the silver-haired old man behind him before entering the vast hall directly.
"Guest Elder Flying Snow?" Paragon Emperor Xu chuckled, "I've long heard of the great fame Guest Elder Flying Snow has, but never would I have thought that Guest Elder Flying Snow could enter the Ancient Shrine soundlessly, and even lift this stone door up. Truly admirable."
Paragon Emperor Xu who was quite confident previously, felt paralyzed after seeing that scene of Xue Ying lifting the stone door.
He understood that this stage four World Deity, 'Guest Elder Flying Snow', had a strength far beyond his.
"Guest Elder Flying Snow's strength is so formidable. I wonder where have you come from, and what opportunity have you experienced? Or is it that Guest Elder Flying Snow is originally from the outside cosmos?" Paragon Emperor Xu said.
"Outside cosmos?" Xue Ying turned back and frowned at Paragon Emperor Xu, "There is a cosmos outside this world?"
Paragon Emperor Xu was suspicious.
A stage four World Deity having such strength was too unusual! That's when he thought of the vast cosmos spoken in the legends that were located outside this world. However, judging from the reaction of this 'Guest Elder Flying Snow', it seemed that he did not know of the cosmos? Was it honestly ignorance or simply deception?
"Hu."
As Xue Ying spoke, he was simultaneously moving onwards. Soon, he arrived at the foot of the stairs.
Even though the white heatwave was rushing towards him at this moment, that layer of black armor which condensed on his body blocked off the heat efficiently.
"Guest Elder Flying Snow, the stairs aren't that easy to climb." Paragon Emperor Xu said from afar. At the same time, he took a step and turned into a streamer, rushing into the inner hall. Being an apex Paragon, he cultivated various absolute arts. Thus, it was easy for him to withstand the pressure. After entering the inner hall, he watched on as Xue Ying began climbing the stairs without stopping him.
...
Xue Ying looked at that Black Gourd located at the highest part of the stairs: 'Placed at the center and highest section of this hall, it seems that just the slightest of aura from this Black Gourd has created such huge disturbance. It is much more terrifying than any other treasures I've seen in my life. Even Rulers could not release an aura that reaches this extent.'
'Such a valuable treasure. Regardless of the reason why the ancient star map is pointing me here for, it'll be worth my time as long as I got that treasure.' Xue Ying could deduce that this Black Gourd should be worth more than all the treasures he had gotten so far. It should be beyond the 'Temporal Temple' which belonged to the Temporal Island Lord.
With his current combat power after cultivating the Myriad Devil True Body, he could still resist against Rulers.
But this Black Gourd was causing him to feel fear deep in his heart. It had transcended beyond the levels of treasures depicted by their cosmos.
"Dong."
Xue Ying took a step on the stairs.
The moment he stepped on it, it felt like stepping on his soul. His soul was rumbling. Xue Ying had never thought that this would happen. He could not help trembling from the aftereffects.
'Heart like a blade.'
Xue Ying's Cultivation Heart Realm had reached the second level. He soon adapted to it and took the second step onto the second flight of stairs.
"Dong!"
The moment he went onto the second flight, his soul suffered from a similar terrifying shockwave. It was stronger than previously, though he was prepared this time and could adapt quickly to it.
'It seems that acquiring this Black Gourd isn't easy.' Xue Ying looked at the highest section. The stairs had an unseen undulation which Xue Ying vaguely understood that he had to move step by step. If he were to extend his hand to grab that Black Gourd, he might either be forced out or suffer from a greater punishment.
The undulation within the stairs belonged to a level that surpassed his current realm. It made Xue Ying obedient.
This kind of trial left behind deliberately by a senior must be completed according to his rules! Otherwise, the consequences would be dire.
"Teacher." A voice sounded.
"Xiu."
Another figure tunneled into the Ancient Shrine– a handsome silver-haired teenager. He rushed towards Paragon Emperor Xu, though it was clear that he was trembling lightly. Entering the 'inner hall' of the Ancient Shrine required all his strength.
Xue Ying glanced afar. That handsome silver-haired teenager should be the other Paragon from the Xu Empire, 'Paragon Sword Emperor'. He was famous for being tyrannical, though his strength was lower by an entire level as compared to Paragon Emperor Xu, and was someone at the average Paragon level.
"He is Guest Elder Flying Snow?" Paragon Sword Emperor felt surprised as he looked at that black-robed teenager on the stairs.
"Mn." Paragon Emperor Xu nodded as he looked upwards, "He is very formidable, and has lifted up the stone door. After stepping on the stairs, I thought he would fall from it the next instance, yet he was able to reach the second step."
"Lifted up the stone door? Both Teacher and Golden Fire Palace Master couldn't do so yet that guest elder has done it?" Paragon Emperor Xu did not dare believe it.
"If not him, then who?" Paragon Emperor Xu nonchalantly answered.
And in the distant, Xue Ying was taking his steps slowly and steadily. Every single time he took another step up, he would pause for a moment to get over the soul attack.
"He has already walked up more than half the stairs, yet he is continuing." Paragon Sword Emperor's expression had slightly changed, "Teacher, did you not say that it is even harder to walk up the stairs than lifting the stone door?"
"He should not be able to reach the end." Paragon Emperor Xu softly said, "Very soon, he'll be forced out by the void of the Black Gourd."
Indeed.
The terrifying power emitted by the Black Gourd had caused the surrounding void to distort. The outer areas contained only the white fog.
Xue Ying was moving up step by step, moving closer and closer to the Black Gourd. He finally entered that distorted void.
"Hong~" A terrifying power charged onto his body.
Xue Ying who had long prepared himself mentally, felt his legs stuck rooted. He was enduring it. This powerful shockwave hit his body, bringing an even hotter blaze towards him. Furthermore, he had taken the next step, causing a stronger soul attack to assault him. But with the 'Extreme Annihilation Mysterious Body armor', it had dissipated much of the incoming force. With the overwhelming strength of the Myriad Devil True Body, Xue Ying could still withstand against such vile environment.
'The closer it is to the Black Gourd, the more threatening it will be. Most apex Paragons would not dare to get close to it.' Xue Ying was dumbstruck. This power from the gourd was too frightful. It was comparable to some items spoken in the legends.
He took another step.
Xue Ying continued moving forward.
...
Paragon Emperor Xu was gawking at him. The moment he noticed Xue Ying continuing upwards despite suffering from the distorted void shockwave, his expression shifted. If this maintained, he would reach the end. By then, he would be taking that Black Gourd for himself. Would this be what the legends said? That the one who owned the Black Gourd would conquer the entire world and could even enter the bigger cosmos?
"I can't let him get it." Paragon Emperor Xu waved his hand.
"Hu."
Large amounts of white silk strands flew out from his hand. They moved swiftly to engulf the distant Xue Ying.
"Mn?" Xue Ying who stood on the step had a slight change in his expression as he saw the incoming white silk strands.
"Break." He immediately unsheathed his sword to form a vortex.
The vortex tore apart the many white silk strands.
And those silk strands began tangling the vortex which influenced the divine sword.
Xue Ying stood there not daring to advance. With an apex Paragon attacking him, he was not confident of stabilizing himself on a higher step; he would fall.
"Worldless." Paragon Emperor Xu's eyes were sparkling silver.
"Hua hua hua."
Countless white silk strands suddenly produced black holes. It was dark within. Those black holes generated a heaven-shattering swallowing force on Xue Ying. Currently, Xue Ying was steadily resisting against the void shockwave attack by that Black Gourd. All of a sudden, he was experiencing an additional swallowing force. As a result, he could no longer stand firm on the step and was forced to stumble out of it.
Just after stumbling out of the stairs, Xue Ying immediately turned around and slashed his divine sword furiously. A dazzling sword stream began acting rampant in its direction. It besieged the faraway black hole. That black hole fluctuated, yet it remained there albeit with a weaker swallowing force.
Xue Ying descended on the ground of the hall, staring at the Black Gourd which was located high up the stairs before turning to Paragon Emperor Xu who had a cold expression: "Are you thinking of obstructing me?"
"You aren't qualified to get that Black Gourd." Paragon Emperor Xu coldly retorted.
He had occupied this place for an extended period.
That Black Gourd should be his! None should think about snatching it away.
"It seems I have to chase you away first." A cold light flashed in Xue Ying's eyes.