Chapter 99: Thin and Long Mountain
Chapter 99: Thin and Long Mountain
In the arena, there were three hundred and sixty disciples standing with their hands behind them. As for other disciples, they had moved to the watching area of the arena. The head elder stood up from his seat and held a talisman in his hand.
Then, he turned his head at the disciples in the ground and spoke.
"Today, we have finally got our three hundred and sixty disciples who are eligible to advance to the next round. For those who have lost, you can contact the elders. Some of you have immeasurable talent while some do not. So, we still want to support those who have performed well."
"So, we have decided to let the elder sponsor a certain disciple or a group of a disciple. Now, let's talk about the second stage. This time the second stage will be a lot different. We have found that many disciples fear to challenge someone strong and try to defeat weak."
"So, we have decided to make this fair with a new challenge. But before that, everyone please move to the corner of the ground."
Clap! Clap!
After he clapped a few times, the ground beneath them shook. Most of the disciples had already followed his words and moved to the corners. At this moment, the ground beneath them was burst open by a strange triangular rock.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
There were only three hundred and sixty disciples. The peak triangular rock slowly rose to the sky, followed by a bigger circular body.
'Hmm! Is there a stone giant inside?' Seeing this process, Qin couldn't help but ask himself.
Unfortunately, this was simply a tall and thin mountain. Every disciple was shocked by this mountain. It was thin but taller than many mountains that they have seen. It was more like a pagoda but without any entrance to enter.
"Ahem!" The head elder cleared his throat and attracted the attention of every disciple in the arena.
"This is Trial Mountain. It is almost five hundred feet tall. There was a staircase that will lead you to the top of the mountain and only those who can reach the top will proceed to the next level."
"But, there is a twist. There are two things that will gain your attention while climbing. One is good for you another is bad for you. And, if you fall down the mountain, you will be disqualified. It doesn't matter if it is on your own or because of your fellow disciple."
Hearing his words, everyone suddenly clenched their fists. They immediately understood the hidden meaning behind his words.
If you want, you can take action while climbing and throw your opponent out. This is a very cowardly move but there are many disciples with grudges and hatred against each other.
"Now, let the second stage begin!" With the order from the head elder, everyone rushed towards the tower except for a few. These disciples knew it wasn't the race against time. Because elders won't be idiots to place such trial in the second stage
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
And, the next second, dozens of disciples hit their chin on the ground. Seeing this, other disciples instantly halted their pace and looked at each other. They turned their head at the elders but got no response from them.
It was clear that elders wanted them to face this on their own. But, nobody wanted to go first and test it. They waited till those disciples who were smacked on the ground got up.
"Damn! These steps have higher gravity...."
"My legs are giving up! Damn, I need to use my qi."
"Yeah! Use your qi, it might just work."
The disciples gritted their teeth with pain and erupts their qi. When they erupted their qi, the pressure on them decreased by a lot. But, it was still hard to climb up. They had to lift their foot and step on each stair.
"Damn! Go away, let me climb!" Suddenly, one disciple released his immense qi and shouted while pushing other disciples to the side. It didn't take him long before he climbed to the first position.
"Let's go! Don't let him take a lead."
"Yeah, we were the ones who tested this place."
Bang! Splash!
"Oh my god!"
Suddenly, the disciple that was in the first position lifted his foot on a certain stair and his upper body smashed on the ground with the force that splatted his blood around. The other disciples near him screamed with fear and terror.
The disciples that were behind realized the distance. The disciple on the first position had climbed above the first-floor height of the mountain.
"Damn! The gravity increases as we climb higher. This is suicide. Why did the elders choose such a difficult trial?" One of the disciples shouted with frustration and unwillingness in his eyes.
But, suddenly, a young man with a spear behind his back patted his shoulder and said "To disqualify the weak like you!"
Saying so, he puts his foot on the stair and walked ahead without even turning back. The pressure on the stair felt nothing to him and more importantly, he wasn't even using his qi. Slowly, another person followed in his footsteps without using qi.
One by one, more and more disciples walked ahead of him. Finally, another person patted his shoulder and said "Brother, don't feel bad! You are not a genius, so what? You can still work hard. But, unfortunately, you can't win this competition."
The person who comforted him was none other than Qin. After comforting him, Qin walked ahead.
"He is right, brother. Don't give up! Talent is not everything. You can still work hard." Guan Xing also patted his shoulder and walked ahead.
"Best of luck, brother!" Guo Min raised both of his thumbs and followed Qin and Guan Xing.
The disciple who got pitied by them tilts his head and looked at them with a dumbfounded gaze. But soon, more disciples followed them and slowly he lost sight of them.
"Brother Qin, how long do you think I can go?" Guo Min curiously asked because he didn't feel any pressure. But, he knew he wasn't strong as them.
"Hmm! Let's see if your talent has some work here as well. It will be hard but don't worry, Guan Xing and I will help you if you truly can't go up." Qin rubbed his chin and answered while walking with a calm expression.
But, after walking for a certain time, they come in front of a strange altar.
[Touch the altar and get your reward1]
When they saw those words, every disciple started touching the altar. The disciple with the spear got a manual. He kept it inside his spatial ring and walked ahead. Other disciples also followed his action.
"True Flame Spirit Fruit!"
"Spirit Rank Weapon!"
"Oh my god! Is this enlightenment incense?"
But after saying that out loud, the man holding Enlightenment Incense got sharp eyes from others.
What do you need to reach Qi Condensation Realm?
Elemental qi! And, how to condense elements?
By comprehending the element.
This was like a lucky charm to every disciple in the mountain. Even the man with a spear halted his footstep for a while. He turned back and stared at the Enlightenment Incense. He shook his head and walked ahead.
"Give me that Incense!"
"You are not worthy to hold it."
"Move aside, that belongs to me!"
"Which motherfucker do you think you are to claim it?"
"Heh! I am your mother fucker. Now, give that me too!"
"Fucking bitch! I'll kill you."
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
In an instant, the battle erupted in the middle of the mountain. But, a few seconds later, all of them fell to the ground with blood coming out of their head.
"Idiot!"
"Super idiots!"
"Who gave birth to these kinds of idiots?"
"I guess when god was planning to give the brain, he forgot to add them."
"Maybe the god added them but found they were too bad to inherit brain so he sent them without giving them brain."
"I guess so! Don't tell me they forgot that they are constantly pulled down by gravity? Even the ten-year-old child would know that."
"Hmm! Brother Lan, why did you take a ten-year-old child's example? You could have gone with five years old."
"That's why you are my sidekick and I am your boss. Do you think the five-year-old kid can climb the mountain?"
"But Brother Lan, how can a ten-year-old kid climb a mountain?"
"Hmm! How do I say this? Ahh! Think of a person who has started cultivating from the age of ten, a genius who has a handsome face. If you can't think of that person, just think of me since I am that genius with the handsome face."
"Wait, Brother Lan, doesn't that mean you were stuck in the Qi Gathering Realm for six years?"
At this moment, many people halted their steps and glanced at a young man wearing a green robe and had a massive saber behind his back. This man was tall and slender but one could sense an immense pressure emitting out of him.
This young man was called Lan Ming.
"Hehe! I am indeed stuck in the Qi Gathering Realm for six years but that doesn't change the fact that I started my cultivation at the age of ten. Don't you think?"
The young and chubby man next to him had confusion in his eyes. But, he still nodded his head and spoke "I guess you are right."
Hearing his words, everyone else except for the few disciples were speechless thinking.
'Just how innocent this guy is?'