Chapter 950: Final Step of Metamorphosis and Nirvana

After a minor interlude, everyone was still immersed in the moment.

To be honest, after Wang Biao and the others were stunned, the world truly quieted down. No more complaining about backaches or leg cramps, and even their hearts seemed to have stopped beating. They all felt a sense of emptiness.

Bang!

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed, seemingly out of nowhere.

Only then did everyone's attention turn back to the towering stone steps, where the prematurely aged Yu Feng was still struggling to ascend.

By now, he had reached around the eight hundred and thirtieth layer. His bent back appeared somewhat solitary under the watchful gaze of the crowd, and each heavy step he took seemed extraordinarily difficult.

This time, the disciples who had previously mocked him were silent.

The entire audience couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. They knew that even those stronger than him had been eliminated early, yet he persisted. This kind of resilience and determination was truly rare.

As evening approached, Yu Feng continued to linger on the eight hundred-plus layers, taking a few steps and then resting when he was tired.

During this time, Hong Chen Xue briefly left.

She returned after half an hour and handed a jade slip to Ye Chen.

Ye Chen didn't say anything, directly crushing it. The sealed illusory images within were all absorbed into his divine sea.

It was a peculiar scene, or rather, a stretch of scorched earth, barren and utterly desolate.

On the scorched earth stood a person in a purple robe, his figure indistinct, surrounded by black lightning. His face was indistinguishable, but his murky eyes were terrifying.

"It is confirmed that he and the black-robed individual who descended in Nan Chu came from the same place," Hong Chen Xue transmitted to Ye Chen.

"How did they enter Da Chu, which is isolated from the world?" Ye Chen furrowed his brow.

"We don't know yet."

"Can the Tai Gu Xing Tian array now cover the Bei Chu region?" Ye Chen asked.

"The array patterns are too complex, and the Ren Huang experts are still secretly engraving them. It will take some time for the Tai Gu Xing Tian to cover all of Da Chu."

"Speed it up," Ye Chen said, taking a deep breath.

"Understood." Hong Chen Xue glanced at Yu Feng on the stone steps, then transmitted to Ye Chen again. "Something strange happened in Bei Chu today, related to that purple-robed person."

"Tell me about it." Ye Chen took a light sip of his wine.

"Someone is hunting him." As Hong Chen Xue said this, Ye Chen could clearly sense her excitement.

"It couldn't be Hong Chen, could it?" Ye Chen remarked casually.

"According to Ren Huang's intelligence, it's most likely my master." Hong Chen Xue inhaled sharply, genuinely thrilled. Although she didn't know why her master was pursuing the purple-robed person, just having news of him was good.

"Hong Chen is hunting the purple-robed person," Ye Chen murmured to himself, his discerning eyes flickering with an unreadable light.

"Don't tell Chu Ling Yu about this," he said after a long pause. "I understand that concern better than anyone. I'm not intentionally trying to stop her, but Hong Chen is too dangerous right now. And you—don't do anything foolish."

"I understand." Hong Chen Xue lightly bit her lip and nodded gently.

"Nine hundred layers! He's reached nine hundred layers!" While they were talking, exclamations erupted from all around.

Looking at the towering stone steps, the hunched figure of Yu Feng had arduously stepped onto the nine hundredth layer.

This time, he didn't rest. He took a rough breath and continued to struggle forward. The immense and terrifying pressure had bent his waist, but he persisted.

Keep going!

At the top of the stone steps, Xi Yan couldn't help but shout encouragement down to Yu Feng.

Under the gaze of thousands, Yu Feng pushed forward and climbed another thirty layers, even leaving Ye Chen in shock.

On the nine hundred and forty-fifth layer, Yu Feng finally sat down. His face was pale and devoid of color, sitting there silently like a statue.

Time passed slowly, through the night, deep into the early hours, and into dawn.

Throughout this time, no one left the scene.

Yu Feng kept walking and stopping. Over the night, he had struggled to reach the nine hundred and seventy-seventh layer.

Keep going! Keep going! Keep going!

On the platform, Xi Yan and the others gathered, cheering for Yu Feng. He was only half a zhang away from them, but everyone knew he had reached his limit and could hardly take another step.

Pfft!

Yu Feng spat blood and knelt on the stone steps. Only two layers remained, but for him, it was like an insurmountable chasm.

This time, he rested for a long while—three full hours without moving.

Until the sun rose to its highest point, he took a deep breath and shakily stood up, lifting his feet with great effort.

Bang!

With a bang, he stepped onto the nine hundred and ninety-eighth layer.

For this, he paid a heavy price. The pressure was too intense, causing him to spit blood again, and his bones cracked under the strain. His already murky old eyes grew dim and blurred.

In that instant, everyone in the audience stood up, their eyes fixed on that elderly figure.

In his seat, Ye Chen frowned.

Although he was far away, he could still see Yu Feng's internal condition. If he took that final step, his foundation would likely be destroyed, as the pressure far exceeded his limits.

However, he didn't speak.

Only under extreme pressure could one's potential be fully unleashed. Taking that step might lead to utter ruin, or it might bring transformation and nirvana.

Pop!

In the void, a faint sound rang out, though subtle, it was caught by everyone.

The sound came from Yu Feng—he had broken through his cultivation at the last moment.

Ah!

Then came his roar, filled with complex emotions, as he had remained silent until now.

Bang!

Finally, he took that step, reaching the nine hundred and ninety-ninth layer, striding forcefully onto the platform. His aged body collapsed there, his weathered face bearing a faint smile.

Xi Yan and the others rushed forward, pouring spiritual liquid and elixirs into his body to stabilize his breath.

Whew!

Only then did the entire audience let out a collective sigh of relief, and people slowly sat back down.

Buzz!

With Yu Feng stepping onto the platform, the towering stone steps dissipated, and a gentle force guided everyone back to the battle stage.

The crowd stood in neat rows, and upon counting, only thirty-six people remained.

This sight evoked sighs and a sense of contemplation.

Just yesterday, over three thousand five hundred disciples had participated in the grand competition, but after one trial, only thirty-six were left. This made those who had been eliminated feel ashamed. They were prodigies, to be sure, but compared to these thirty-six, they fell far short.

"What follows is the true showdown," Dao Xuan Zhen Ren said with a warm smile to the group.

"I've been waiting for this!" Niu Ben twisted his neck fiercely, his blood energy surging, startling Gong Xiao Tian Er beside him so much he nearly wet himself.

"Draw lots!" Dao Xuan Zhen Ren said without further ado, waving out a jade box that floated in midair.

Everyone stepped forward. Since it was a one-on-one duel, drawing the same number meant they were opponents.

"Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, great Dao Jun, please bless me—don't let me draw Xi Yan or Hu Wa," Gong Xiao Tian Er muttered incantations even before drawing.

"Hurry up, you're taking forever," Niu Ben grumbled, kicking him from behind.

"Look at you, always in a rush."

"Grandma, I feel like it, so what? Want a fight?"

The noisy chatter lasted about ten seconds before everyone returned to their spots.

However, after seeing the matchup board, some were joyful and some worried. Those facing Hu Wa or Xi Yan looked utterly dejected, while those up against Gong Xiao Tian Er or Wang Biao and his group were grinning ear to ear.

"Xi Yan, Ouyang Shao Yun, stay. Everyone else, leave the stage," Dao Xuan Zhen Ren announced.

As his words fell, except for Xi Yan and the downcast Ouyang Shao Yun, the others jumped off the battle stage.

Bang!

No sooner had they left than a bang exploded on the stage.

Then, Ouyang Shao Yun from the Ouyang family was sent flying off, looking quite disheveled.

Hee hee hee!

When the crowd turned to look, Xi Yan was already giggling and jumping down, helping Ouyang Shao Yun up.

This... it's over just like that?

Everyone's expressions turned strangely awkward. Many had just taken a sip of tea, and by the time they looked back, the duel was finished, leaving them clueless about how Ouyang Shao Yun had lost.

"This little girl is even more formidable than Ji Ning Shuang in her day!" The older cultivators clicked their tongues.

"The disciple taught by the Heavenly Court Saint Master isn't just for show."

"The Xuan generation is surpassing the Qing generation!"

"Hu Wa, Shangguan Shao Qing, take the stage." Amid the discussions, Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's voice rang out again.

Before he finished, Hu Wa had already stepped onto the battle stage.

On the other side, Shangguan Shao Qing braced himself and walked up. His strength was on par with Ouyang Shao Yun's, and Hu Wa's was on par with Xi Yan's, so the outcome was predictable.

This time, we have to see it clearly!

Learning from the previous farce, the entire audience stared with wide eyes.

Buzz!

As soon as Shangguan Shao Qing got on stage, he summoned his protective true essence, a secret technique similar to innate gang qi, forming armor from true essence that covered his body, along with a shield in his hand.

Hu Wa moved, stepping out and shattering the stage, vanishing like a golden lightning bolt.

Shangguan Shao Qing's expression changed drastically, as his cultivation couldn't track Hu Wa at all.

He couldn't see it, but the spectators could, especially the elders, whose eyes were full of shock. Hu Wa's speed and footwork were already on par with theirs.

Bang!

Another bang, and Shangguan Shao Qing was launched off the stage. Just as he was about to hit the ground, Hu Wa used a gentle force to catch him.

Tsk tsk tsk!

Ending the fight so quickly, the spectators clicked their tongues in amazement. All were from the Xuan generation, but the gap was just too wide!

This scene reminded many of Ye Chen and Ji Ning Shuang from back in the day. In the Qing generation, people like Liu Yi and Zhou Ao were far behind them, just as Shangguan Shao Qing and others were behind Xi Yan and her group now.

But this also confirmed one thing: in this grand competition of the three sects, only Xi Yan could rival Hu Wa, and only Hu Wa could match Xi Yan.