Chapter 132: Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage
Upon hearing the origin of the surname Wu, even the Qi Emperor, known for his composure, nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Is this true?"
"It is true, but according to the records, the members of this clan had sharp horns on their heads and were covered in demonic scales. Yet, this Wu Zisi appears no different from a human, so I cannot be sure whether he is related to the Black Fiend Clan."
The Qi Emperor nodded, pondering for a moment before speaking slowly:
"Let's keep this matter quiet for now. Whether or not he is a demon, now is not the time to turn against him."
He had just received the talisman recharging method that Lu An offered and had secretly instructed that it be deployed among the border troops. However, given the vast territory of the Qi Kingdom, this task would not be completed overnight.
He needed time, and so did the Qi Kingdom. Once the talisman recharging method was fully implemented and every soldier was equipped with offensive and support talismans, the Qi army's combat power would reach unprecedented levels. If war broke out with the other two kingdoms, they would be in for a huge shock.
As the two conversed, Lu An had already risen again and continued to climb the steps. This time, he cultivated for over an hour, allowing the growing extreme true intent within his body to offset the terrifying pressure.
The steps beyond the hundredth level were extraordinary, greatly enhancing the marrow-washing and meridian-cleansing effects. Although he thought his body was already free of impurities, a thick layer of them was now seeping out once more. It seemed that every hundred steps increased the cleansing effects significantly.
Thus, he continued cultivating the Carefree Extreme Intent Technique, enhancing his extreme true intent while steadily climbing upward. When his true intent was insufficient to sustain him, he would pause to cultivate further before continuing onward.
Though not as fast as before, he progressed steadily, leaving a clear footprint with each step.
One hundred and ten steps, one hundred and fifty steps, one hundred and seventy steps.
Finally, he caught sight of the sparse figures ahead—those who had entered the competition earlier. These people had nearly exhausted their strength upon reaching this point, unwilling to waste the opportunity before them, but found it difficult to take another step forward.
Lu An paid them no mind, calmly passing by until he slowed his pace next to someone.
Kong Qing was gritting his teeth, the crushing pressure causing his blood to boil, feeling as if his veins were on the verge of bursting. The green water mink around his neck could no longer endure the pressure and had hidden in its spirit beast pouch.
But Kong Qing was unwilling to give up; he refused to be teleported out. The two-hundredth step was just ahead, and he yearned for another cultivation reinforcement.
However, reality dealt him a fatal blow—he couldn't move. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't take another step forward.
Just then, a figure appeared beside him.
He struggled to raise his head, and upon recognizing the person's face, his expression became one of shock.
"Lu An, you, you..."
He knew Lu An had been the last to enter the Water Sky Secret Realm, yet now Lu An had caught up, which was disheartening for him. But the real blow was yet to come.
Lu An glanced at him indifferently, then continued walking upwards as if taking a leisurely stroll. It was as though Kong Qing were merely an insignificant passerby, worthy of just a single glance.
Thoughts swirled through Kong Qing's mind, and his tightly strained nerves finally gave way. He flipped his hand to take out a token and teleported out in a streak of light.
Lu An, unaware of Kong Qing's thoughts, had no time to care. Although they had some ties before, he had drawn a line between them ever since Kong Qing had backed down that day.
From then on, the two had no further connection.
Thus, Lu An continued his steady climb upwards.
It took him a full day and night to reach the one hundred ninety-ninth step. Remembering the crushing pressure he endured when he first stepped onto the one hundredth step, he did not rush to take the next step. Instead, he sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate.
At such a high position, the pressure of the two-hundredth step would certainly be greatly intensified. However, the speed at which he cultivated the Carefree Extreme Intent Technique had also multiplied several times under this pressure. Now, each cycle increased the extreme true intent within his body as much as several days of secluded cultivation.
Therefore, he intended to cultivate until his extreme true intent could fully withstand the pressure before stepping onto the two-hundredth step. By then, it would likely be much easier.
Two hours later, Lu An stood up and, without hesitation, stepped onto the next level.
A terrifying pressure surged forward, its intensity multiplied several times, yet Lu An's body remained unmoved.
Without any setbacks or surprises, he stood on the two-hundredth step in a calm and ordinary manner. This time, he was not crushed to the ground; he could even move.
The beam of light from the sky shone down on him once more, signaling that the time had come. He immediately activated his technique, wildly absorbing the spiritual energy around him.
The spiritual energy was meant to flow into his body, and with Lu An's active absorption, a vortex of spiritual energy began to form in his dantian without him realizing it.
Suddenly, a powerful wind swept through, causing the nearby contestants to stagger. These individuals were already at their limits, and in this moment of distraction, several of them could no longer hold on, vanishing in streaks of light.
The audience below noticed the strange phenomenon, and many exclaimed in surprise.
"Look! It's that person from Yongning County! He's breaking through!"
"Oh my gosh, he's actually stepped onto the two-hundredth level."
"The Qing Shan Rankings have changed! The Qing Shan Rankings have changed! Look at the last name, it's Lu An! He's called Lu An!"
On the Qing Shan Rankings, the last line of information shifted.
Rank 100: Lu An, 200 levels.
Seeing this scene, the Master of the Qi Pavilion beneath the Qi Tian Platform finally smiled and lifted his head. The previously strange gazes had turned into expressions of astonishment.
Achieving a position in the top hundred among over a thousand competitors was already an impressive feat.
In contrast to those who were merely spectators, the Qi Emperor and Chongwen both wore expressions of disbelief.
"To reach the two-hundredth level solely with your physical body, Brother Chongwen, this junior of yours is truly remarkable."
Chongwen smiled bitterly and shook his head. He had initially thought it was already good for Lu An to surpass his own record. He never expected such a huge surprise.
Moreover, from the looks of Lu An, it seemed he still had strength left. He couldn't help but wonder where Lu An's true limit lay.
"Your Majesty, look at the quota for comprehending the Dao Monument…"
The Qi Emperor laughed twice, teasingly saying, "As expected of the Qingfeng lineage, even before the first hurdle is determined, you're already thinking about the Dao Monument."
Chongwen paid no heed to his sarcasm and replied, "Since ancient times, the Water Sky Dharma Assembly has determined the quota for comprehending the Dao Monument based on whether one catches your eye, not on rankings."
"Otherwise, if an accident occurs, it would just benefit people from other countries."
The Qi Emperor did not argue with him, nor did he express his agreement. He simply smiled, waiting to see what else he would say.
Chongwen felt helpless, knowing that this line of reasoning wouldn't work with the Qi Emperor. He could only shake his head in resignation.
"Ah, it's all because my cultivation is insufficient. If I had a title like the top cultivator of the Qi Kingdom, wouldn't it be easy to comprehend the Dao Monument without such trouble?"
He thought to himself. However, he wasn't worried; the Qi Emperor was just joking. With Lu An's performance, he would secure a quota for the Dao Monument even without further discussion.
Just as he pondered this, a sudden uproar erupted from below.
"He broke through! He broke through!"
"Mid-Foundation Establishment!"