Xu Qing ascended to the forty-fifth step of the heavenly ladder at an extremely fast speed.
Gradually, his speed gradually slowed down, and he could only climb upwards again one step almost every breath.
When he reached the fiftieth step with a burst of energy, he glanced back and realised that Zhang Ruochen was chasing after him and had already reached the forty-eighth step of the heavenly ladder.
A trace of a treacherous smile appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes as he looked upwards.
The three Sage Sect’s heirs who had already ascended to the 60th step of the Heavenly Stairs looked as if they all sensed something, and almost at the same time, they turned around and met Xu Qing’s gaze, nodding at the same time.
Their actions naturally fell into Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, and in his heart, he said, “There really is something wrong, wanting to join forces against me?”
Zhang Ruochen was not fearful, instead, he was filled with wariness as he fully operated the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture’s technique, frantically absorbing the Holy Dragon’s power from the Dragon Pearl.
Originally, his realm had already reached the peak of the middle stage of the Heavenly Extremity Realm, so it was just the right time to take advantage of the pressure that these people were bringing to him to impact the late stage of the Heavenly Extremity Realm.
As Bu Qianfan had said, what Zhang Ruochen lacked the most right now was the kind of grinding that hovered on the edge of life and death.
Only at the edge of life and death could one’s potential be stimulated, making it easier to break through the realm.
Just as Zhang Ruochen ascended the fiftieth step of the heavenly ladder, originally, the three Sage Sect’s heirs, who had already reached above the sixtieth step, swooped down almost simultaneously and attacked Zhang Ruochen.
“Thousand Hand Vajra.”
Xu Qing, who was standing on Zhang Ruochen’s left side, also immediately struck out, delivering a heavy punch that ruthlessly struck Zhang Ruochen’s head.
Everyone did not expect that such a turn of events would occur, and that the four Sage Sect Heirs would launch an attack at Zhang Ruochen at the same time.
On top of the fifty steps of the Heavenly Staircase, martial artists were under great pressure, their mobility would have been greatly reduced, and trying to dodge their attacks was almost impossible.
If he was hit by them, Zhang Ruochen would probably be crippled even if he didn’t die.
Even those trainees standing below the Pilgrimage Heavenly Staircase pinched a cold sweat for Zhang Ruochen, and it was imaginable that in the next moment, Zhang Ruochen would surely fall down from the top of the Pilgrimage Heavenly Staircase.
It was just that he didn’t know if he could still keep his breath?
Faced with a critical situation, Zhang Ruochen, however, appeared unusually calm, his hands came out in unison, simultaneously striking out ten sword waves, striking out towards the three people attacking from above.
The three Sage Sect’s heirs hurriedly twisted their bodies and were forced to fall back to the top of the Heavenly Stairs.
However, blocking one side did not stop the other.
“Hoo!”
On the left side, a powerful fist wind attacked.
Xu Qing’s heavy punch pierced through the Protective Heavenly Deity and ruthlessly landed on top of Zhang Ruochen’s shoulder, sending Zhang Ruochen flying.
Only, when Xu Qing’s fist landed, a golden light emanated from Zhang Ruochen’s body, forming a halo that blocked the power of the punch.
Therefore, Zhang Ruochen only felt a wave of pain coming from the location of his shoulder, but did not suffer any heavy injuries.
That was the protective power of the Dragon Pearl, blocking Xu Qing’s attack.
“What is this? You people from the three Saint Sectors are going to strike against me as well?”
Zhang Ruochen stared towards the three people standing above him as the anger in his heart was stirred out.
When he fought against the Xu Sage Clan, he could only blame Chang Qi Qi and Duanmu Xing Ling for being too capable of causing trouble, and Zhang Ruochen still felt quite justified.
Now what was going on, all the Saint Valves were going to unite to suppress the trainees of the Heavenly Demon Ridge? And they were going to put him to death?
Even the best-tempered person would have to be furious, and would have to fight to the death.
The one heir of the Shen Sage Sect Valve, standing on top of the fifty-third step of the heavenly ladder, coldly said, “I don’t blame us Sage Sect Valves for joining forces to bully you, I only blame you Heavenly Demon Ridge trainees for being too crazy.”
The Sage Sect Valve’s heir was none other than that big man who had ascended the sixty-sixth step of the heavenly ladder, named Shen Yuntong, also at the peak of the Heavenly Extremity Realm’s Minor Extremity Position, and his strength was on par with Xu Qing’s.
“What’s the point of talking so much nonsense with him, let’s waste him first.”The Hei Sacred Sect Valve’s heir said.
The Heir of the Xi Sacred Sect Valve was a rather beautiful looking woman, with a rounded figure, an icy gaze, and ten jade fingers that appeared to be rather long and slender, with each of them being sharp as if they were pointing swords.
There was also a man from the Left Sage Sect Valve.
Together with the Xu Sage Sect Valve, there were a total of four Saint Sect Valves.
The relationship between the four Saint Sect Valves had always been good, and they often intermarried with each other, so it could be said that they all came from the same nostrils.
Their four great Saint Sect Valves combined into a force that had a great deal of influence even in the entire Eastern Domain.
“Strike.”
“Swish!”
The one heir of the Xi Sage Sect Clan transformed into a phantom shadow, and in a flash, twelve beautiful silhouettes appeared on top of the Pilgrimage Heavenly Staircase, almost completely wrapping Zhang Ruochen in the centre as they continuously struck out a fingering technique.
Zhang Ruochen also kept making moves to fend off her attacks.
In the other direction, the heir of the Shen Sheng Sect Valve struck out a palm strike, creating a mountainous aura.
A whistling sound, rang out.
In the centre of Shen Yuntong’s palm, a huge seven-metre-long true qi palm print flew out and struck towards Zhang Ruochen.
Shen Yuntong was born with divine strength, and it was said that at the age of three, he was able to lift a three-thousand kilograms copper cauldron, his physique was incredibly powerful.
When one of his palm imprints struck out, even an iron man would be turned into a discus.
Xu Qing’s gaze, fixed on Left Sacred Sect Valve’s heir, Zuo Feng Bone, said, “Brother Zuo, Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power is powerful, I hope you can suppress him above spiritual power.”
The old ancestor of the Left Sage Sect Valve was a Spiritual Power Saint.
It just so happened that Zuo Feng Bone was also a born genius of spiritual power, and under the cultivation of that one Spiritual Power Saint, at the young age of thirty-four, his spiritual power had already reached the fortieth rank, becoming a Spiritual Power Master.
Although Zuo Feng Bone was already thirty-four years old, he looked as if he was only in his early twenties, very young, with a tall and thin figure, wearing an Alchemist’s robe, he appeared to be in high spirits.
“How old is Zhang Ruochen? Do you think he’s really like what Bu Qianfan said, that his spiritual power has already reached the 40th rank?”
A faint smile appeared on Zuo Feng Bone’s face as he gently shook his head.
Being a spiritual power master, Zuo Feng Bone knew better than anyone else how difficult it was to cultivate spiritual power, to the fortieth rank.
Even if he was a spiritual power genius himself, under the stern teaching of a Spiritual Power Saint, he had suffered a lot before he had achieved what he had today.
Zhang Ruochen was too much younger than him and it was simply impossible for him to cultivate his spiritual power to the fortieth rank.
Xu Qing didn’t dare to be wild in front of Zuo Feng Bone, after all, Zuo Feng Bone’s strength was far above his, so he compensated with a smile and said, “Brother Zuo, in case Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power really reaches the fortieth rank, this time in the Holy Academy’s examination, you won’t look too lonely, and at least you’ll have one more opponent.”
Zuo Feng Bone laughed and said, “It’s just a mere Zhang Ruochen, it’s better for you guys to deal with him first. If you guys can’t suppress him, it won’t be too late for me to step in.”
“That’s fine.”Xu Qing said.
In fact, with the strength of the Sage Sect’s heirs, any one of them was not much weaker than Zhang Ruochen, and with just the two of them joining hands, they were fully confident of defeating Zhang Ruochen.
At this moment, facing the attacks of Shen Yuntong and the Hei Sage Sect Heir, Zhang Ruochen could indeed only passively defend himself, appearing to be stretched to the limit, and if not for the Dragon Pearl protecting his body, he would probably have already been seriously injured.
“Cloud Breaking Finger.”
The Heir of the Xi Sacred Sect Valve, stretched out a slender jade-white finger, and with a quick strike, it was like a white rainbow striking through the sun, rapidly stabbing out and striking at Zhang Ruochen’s brow, wanting to pierce through Zhang Ruochen’s qi sea, and nullify Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation.
However, she did not know that Zhang Ruochen’s Qi Sea was guarded by the Shadow of the Gods, not to mention her, even a Fish Dragon Realm martial artist would not be able to break through it.
“Wow!”
A greenish-coloured radiance emanated from Zhang Ruochen’s brow, shocking that one of the Hei Sheng Clan’s heirs back.
Even so, that strike just now had caused Zhang Ruochen considerable trauma, and the true qi in his body became incomparably chaotic, constantly impacting Zhang Ruochen’s meridians.
“Since that’s the case, let’s start impacting the late stage of the Heavenly Extremity Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen was palming against Shen Yuntong, who was born with divine strength, while running his gong methods to impact the realm, when a fist force came from behind him.
Someone else was attacking him.
“Zhang Ruochen, die!”
Zi Han Sha stood on top of the forty-eighth step of the Heavenly Stairs, revolving his true qi, gathering his strength, and from behind, he struck a fist towards the back of Zhang Ruochen’s head’s position.
Although Zi Han Sha’s natural talent was not as good as those Sage Sect’s heirs, his cultivation was also quite profound, reaching the Heavenly Extremity Realm’s Small Extremity Position.
If he were to fight alone, Zhang Ruochen would not fear him at all. However, right now, Zhang Ruochen was fighting with the three Sage Sect’s heirs, but he was sneaking in from behind, which was considered to be the best time to catch him.
“Scram!”
Zhang Ruochen roared, forcibly twisting his body and striking out eighty-one palm imprints in a row, striking out nine moves of “Nine Stacks of Elephant Power”, all of which struck Zi Hansha’s body, piercing through the defences of Zi Hansha’s body protection treasures.
The palm imprints were like raindrops, landing on Zi Han Sha’s chest.
“Boom! Boom! Boom ……”
Zi Han Sha’s five viscera and six bowels all looked like they had been shattered, his chest directly collapsed, and like a kite with broken strings, he flew backwards.
With a bang, Zi Han Sha crashed down from above the Pilgrimage Heavenly Staircase, ruthlessly falling to the ground, his entire body covered in blood.
Having suffered such a heavy blow, it was obvious that he would not be able to get up from the ground again, and he did not know if he would still be able to participate in the second round of the Holy Academy Examination.
Although he had sent the Purple Cold Sand flying out, Zhang Ruochen was also attacked by Shen Yuntong, Xu Qing, and the Hei Sacred Sect Valve’s heir, and his back was struck by more than twenty slaps from them, which pierced through the Dragon Pearl’s defences, shocking Zhang Ruochen’s entire body with blood and Qi, and his body flopped downwards to land on top of the forty-fourth step of the Heavenly Staircase.
“Pfft!”
Zhang Ruochen half-kneeled on the ground, his palms propped up on the ground as a mouthful of blood was spat out, staining the heavenly ladder red.
“The people from the Xu Sheng Sect Clan are too shameless, knowing that they couldn’t win against Zhang Ruochen, they even joined forces with other Saint Clans to deal with Zhang Ruochen.”
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen was injured, Huang Yichen’s heart was incomparably angry, and with two quick steps, she quickly ascended the fortieth step of the heavenly ladder, ready to go and help Zhang Ruochen.
“Senior Sister Huang, that’s an encounter between the Sage Sect Valve and the trainees of the Sky Demon Ridge, I hope you won’t intervene.”A talented cadet from the Sage Sect of the Hei walked out and stopped Huang Yichen.
“You get out of the way.”Huang Smokey said in a deep voice.
The one genius trainee from the Xi Sacred Sect Valve said blandly, “I’m only reminding you for your own good. If I really want to fight, I’m not afraid of you.”
At the same time, there were other experts who stood out and stopped Luo Shuihan, Duanmu Xingling, Si Xingkong, and the others. Among these people, there were both people from Half-Saint clans and experts from Saint sects.
Although, their strength was a bit weaker than the first line heirs of those Saint Sect Valves, they were better in numbers.
In a matter of moments, the Pilgrimage Heavenly Staircase turned into a battlefield, and the situation was quite unfavourable for the trainees of the Heavenly Demon Ridge.
At the same time, it was also an encounter between the disciples of the Saint Sect and the disciples of the Cold Sect, except that the disparity in power was extremely great, and the disciples of the Saint Sect had the absolute advantage.
