Chapter 173: Shock After Shock_1

"Don't worry, when have you ever seen me do something without being sure of it?"

Seeing the worried expressions on everyone's faces, Qin Xiao smiled slightly.

It was just over a thousand steps, right?

He was still confident.

Of course, this confidence was not blind but was based on his own strength.

He had gone through over a decade of Tempest Body Refinement, and on top of that, his Soul Power had now reached the Ninety-Fourth Level.

Indeed, during the nearly one-year-long healing process, there was payoff at the very last moment.

After being well-fed, his mysterious Martial Soul released a massive amount of pure power, and after absorbing that power, Qin Xiao's cultivation level gained a tremendous boost.

If he fought against Yu Yuanzhen again, Qin Xiao believed he definitely wouldn't end up as bedraggled as he had the last time.

"Then be careful, and if it really doesn't work out, just come back. There's still a year left before the next assessment," Ning Rongrong said, still looking very worried.

Qin Xiao smiled and shook his head.

Beside him, Zhu Zhuqing said softly, "Rongrong, let's step aside. I believe Your Highness will definitely be able to complete the assessment safely."

Saying this, she placed her hands on Ning Rongrong's shoulders and moved her two steps to the side.

Qin Xiao walked through the crowd, leaped, and landed on the island, right in front of the first step.

He looked up.

Wow, it was impossible to see the top.

...

"Look, Qin Xiao has arrived at the steps; it seems there are no surprises. His second assessment is also to climb the steps and feel the pressure of the Sea God's Light," said a voice from another direction outside the island.

Seven figures in black robes peeked out to watch from the shadows.

"Sea Horse, keep your voice down. This guy has the cultivation level of a Titled Douluo; even though he hasn't officially stepped onto the stairs yet, if you're too loud, he can still hear us talking," another person said in a hushed tone.

"Got it, boss," Sea Horse Douluo replied without turning his head.

There was no doubt these people were the Seven Sacred Pillar Protectors of Sea God's Island.

They had guessed that Qin Xiao was likely to attempt the second assessment when they saw him and his group heading this way, and out of curiosity, they had followed. As it turned out, their guess was correct.

"Boss, Qin Xiao has started; wow, his pace is pretty fast. Two steps at a time—is he showing off?" Sea Horse Douluo suddenly exclaimed, pointing ahead.

But no one responded to him.

Because the other Sea Pillar Guardians beside him were also wide-eyed, closely watching Qin Xiao's progress.

Qin Xiao walked faster and faster, eventually breaking into a run.

His stride increased from the previous two steps to four or five, and eventually, onlookers struggled to discern how many steps he took in one go.

He was unstoppable.

Twenty, forty, sixty, eighty, one hundred...

In a matter of about ten breaths, Qin Xiao had already reached the hundredth step.

Everyone: "...."

Whether it was Zhu Zhuqing and her companions or the numerous Titled Douluo Level Pillar Protectors observing in secret, everyone was speechless.

"Your Highness, are you really serious about completing the assessment? A hundred steps, just like that?"

Dugu Yan couldn't help but be sarcastic.

She had spent several months to climb just 108 steps, and that process was utterly tormenting. But Qin Xiao?

She felt Qin Xiao wasn't taking this so-called test seriously at all, or rather, so far, this 'test' seemed to be no challenge for him.

"This kid is simply defying the heavens."

"Really, you can't compare with others. I think it took me five months to break through."

"Five months? That was rather quick. I took a full eight months..."

"Sorry, I've let everyone down. It took me nine and a half months, and I was about to give up, but then, unexpectedly, I had an unusually good run and luckily passed..."

"Stop talking about him, it seems even the Great Priest didn't achieve this back in the day, right?"

"..."

The many Pillar Protectors were full of admiration.

"Gentlemen, have you considered what your cultivation levels were back then? He's already a Titled Douluo. If you were to take on this challenge now, would you be inferior to him?" Sea Horse Douluo feeling rather lucid.

However, Sea Dragon Douluo's following words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Sea Horse Douluo's head.

"Hey, Sea Horse, at first glance, what you say seems to make sense, but upon closer inspection, doesn't it seem like you're forcing an argument?" Sea Dragon Douluo said with furrowed brows, plaintively.

"Boss, what's wrong with my statement?" Sea Horse Douluo still held a great deal of respect for Sea Dragon Douluo, the leader of the Seven Sacred Pillar Protectors.

"Back when we came here to challenge, weren't we all just teenagers? But who had the cultivation level of a Titled Douluo at that age?"

"Ah... well..." Sea Horse Douluo was dumbfounded; when he thought about himself at the age of eighteen or nineteen, he was barely a Soul Ancestor, right?

"What's 'ah well'? Sea Horse, it's not difficult to admit someone is outstanding, is it?" I asked Sea Dragon Douluo sternly.

Sea Horse Douluo felt at a loss for words, "No, it's not difficult. Qin Xiao is truly amazing..."

Sea Dragon Douluo nodded, "It's good that you recognize this."

When they turned their attention back to Qin Xiao, both Sea Dragon Douluo and Sea Horse Douluo were taken aback, "He's reached the three hundredth step already? This kid is fast."

But when Qin Xiao reached the four hundredth step, everyone clearly noticed Qin Xiao slowed down significantly and reverted to two steps at a time.