Not knowing if it was out of fear or genuine curiosity about the world above, Xu Mu stepped over the body of an ability user who had been pinned down by a sword and then bolted upstairs.
The Wine Immortal Daoist who had followed him could only catch a glimpse of the corner of his clothes, a blur of motion.
"This child!"
The Daoist, mid-yawn, suddenly froze. Then, he quickly gave chase to Xu Mu.
He had originally intended to resolve the troubles here and then take a nap. After all, even the strongest human needed rest.
He hadn't expected his senior brother's treasured disciple to be in such a hurry to ascend, leaving him no time to catch his breath.
"Alas, I can't just ignore him."
"If this old man were to fall asleep and you, young man, were killed by someone else, my senior brother would likely throw me into a furnace and roast me for eighty-one days to refine me into an immortal elixir."
The thought of such a terrifying consequence, and of that ill-tempered but ageless old man, sent a shiver down the Wine Immortal Daoist's spine. He abandoned the remaining two struggling figures and hastily pursued Xu Mu.
"Xu Mu, Xu Mu, wait for me!"
"How can I live without you, Xu Mu!"
Xu Mu turned his head and saw the old man's face contorted in a mixture of crying and laughing. There was a hint of obsession within his persistence.
"Pervert!"
The boy shivered, and his speed on the stairs quickened.
...
As the two 'Kings of Hell' vanished into the first floor, the ability users who had been struggling against the Sky Walls felt a sudden sense of relief.
"Phew, they're finally gone."
Before the fifth Sky Wall, a female cultivator revealed a look of lingering fear. She had been a subordinate of the Wang family, but she had been cautious and hadn't rashly done anything to Xu Mu.
The gun shoots the bird that sticks out; since the ancestor wasn't on this floor, it was understandable for her to be a bit slower.
And it was precisely because of this that she had witnessed the golden dharma image.
There was no way she could make a move now, so she had essentially saved her life.
...
"He's already on the second floor, and you're not going?"
Before the sixth Sky Wall, Yan Yu and Yin Zhongxiu sat side by side, their expressions somewhat contorted, as neither of them had used their abilities.
Perhaps it was the natural frost emanating from the young man, but Yin Zhongxiu's lips had turned pale from the cold. He turned to Yan Yu and asked.
"It can temper the body and allow one to comprehend the Great Dao. Why would I leave such a blessed place?"
"But you clearly didn't come here for that."
Yin Zhongxiu's expression was grave. He didn't know what Yan Yu and Xu Mu knew, but it was certainly more than what people like them, who knew nothing, knew.
"This is a competition for sacred relics. You might have a natural advantage; don't waste your time."
Yan Yu shook his head, thinking that the sacred relics were no longer of concern to them. Everything was with Xu Mu.
"The gravity of the eighth Sky Wall is too immense; I can't pass it."
Upon hearing this, Yin Zhongxiu let out an exasperated laugh.
"Don't play dumb with me!"
"Did you think I didn't see it?"
"You were the one who finally stabbed that divine soul out of Ji Chang's body with a sword. You're already at the third stage!"
Yan Yu's expression remained calm.
"So, even if I can pass these eight Sky Walls, what's the point?"
"The most crucial one is the one in the middle."
"Between extremes, touching the Great Dao and elevating the physical body, that is what we should be doing, just like the multicolored blood that flowed from that fellow's body earlier."
Yan Yu turned his head and calmly spoke these words, a faint starlight flickering in his bright pupils.
Yin Zhongxiu saw the seriousness in Yan Yu's eyes and was momentarily stunned.
"You also want to go there?"
Yan Yu nodded.
"Yes."
Yin Zhongxiu stood up abruptly, his face filled with alarm.
"That won't do!"
"If you die, who will be the next governor!"
Yan Yu raised an eyebrow. What did he mean by 'if you die'?
"If you want me to take your place, you should have confidence in me."
Yan Yu said proudly, then, as if suddenly recalling Xu Mu's tragic state, he raised an eyebrow and added.
"Perhaps I know something he doesn't, and it will be easier for me to pass through this place than for him."
Yin Zhongxiu waved his hands repeatedly.
"That still won't do!"
"Even though I don't know Xu Mu's true capabilities, he clearly comprehended the Great Dao of Gravity long ago, and he could exchange a palm strike with the Wang family's ancestor with just his physical body."
"Such strength is far beyond yours and mine. Even though the gravity is multiplied according to one's strength, hundreds of thousands of times can still crush you!"
Yin Zhongxiu said with a headache. He could understand Yan Yu's feelings.
Ever since he awakened his abilities and recruited this young man into the Demon Extermination Division, he had been a top-tier genius, with no one of his generation able to surpass him.
Now, a night watchman from the countryside had achieved this, and it was normal for him to be momentarily unable to accept it and want to compete.
But he couldn't risk his life!
"Although I haven't comprehended the Great Dao of Gravity, I have gained some insights." Yan Yu stood up and flicked his fingertips. The gravity that the Sky Wall exerted on them immediately lessened considerably.
About... two or three times?
Yin Zhongxiu also sensed this, and his surprise grew.
"Even so, I don't believe you can succeed."
"In fact, even if Xu Mu came back and went through it again, I still think he wouldn't be able to pass."
Yin Zhongxiu's expression was serious. Even though Xu Mu had already passed, he still felt he couldn't.
Hundreds of thousands of times gravity, what a terrifying number, it made one's scalp tingle just thinking about it.
Seeing that Yan Yu didn't retort, Yin Zhongxiu assumed he had been persuaded and his expression slightly softened.
"I comprehended the Dao before the Sky Wall because I was weak and could only stay here. Moreover, I am a martial cultivator, and enhancing my physical body is already my greatest fortune. But you are different; you are a sword cultivator."
Yin Zhongxiu paused and continued.
"Although I don't know everything you know, I believe you know some things."
The words were a bit convoluted, but Yan Yu understood his meaning.
"In this level of competition, every slight advantage can determine victory or defeat. Seizing the sacred relics is the important matter. You really shouldn't waste your time here!"
Yin Zhongxiu earnestly advised, but Yan Yu was not listening at all.
There was nothing he could do; the information gap between them was too vast, and he couldn't explain it to this governor.
"Don't worry, I won't be delayed here for too long."
Yan Yu was silent for a moment, then turned around.
Holding a sword with both hands, he began to walk back. Along the way, he passed many ability users, and the gravity grew weaker.
Just as Xu Mu had done before.
Thus, he stood at the starting point.
"What is he doing?"
"Is he going to do what Xu Mu did too!"
Yan Yu's actions once again drew everyone's attention.
"Another one from the Demon Extermination Division!"
Someone saw the bright red robe and remembered that Xu Mu was also from the Demon Extermination Division, which caused some shock, as the previous successful person was also from the Demon Extermination Division.
Even though there was a successful example, they still weren't optimistic about Yan Yu, considering it was hundreds of thousands of times gravity, a number that ordinary people wouldn't even dare to imagine.
"I don't understand, why would you choose this path when there's a perfectly good one available?"
Beyond the eighth Sky Wall, a cultivator who had barely endured the gravity and managed to pass the test looked at the young man with confusion.
He couldn't comprehend why.
If it was solely for tempering the body, eight thousand times would be sufficient; most people would find it manageable, except for monsters like Xu Mu.
And if it was for comprehending the Dao, hundreds of thousands of times and a few thousand times had the same effect. It all depended on one's comprehension; it wasn't that heavier pressure led to greater enlightenment. Forcefully testing it would only lead to death!
This was the thought of most people. They snickered disdainfully, believing Yan Yu was merely seeking attention and would never succeed.
"Kid, it's not worth paying with your life for the Great Dao of Gravity. Come back quickly."
Someone called out, trying to get Yan Yu to return.
"Yes, Yan Yu, you are still young. If there's a chance in the future, after you've improved your cultivation, you can try again!"
A woman said with concern, she paid close attention to Yan Yu.
But the young man stood there blankly, his feet clad in ice, deaf to the voices of the crowd.
"Wait a moment, let me go first."
A voice, weathered yet not appearing old, sounded from behind him.
Yan Yu raised an eyebrow and turned to see that it was Ji Chang, who had entered at some unknown time.
"Your wounds aren't healed yet, so don't move around recklessly."
Facing the former number one genius on the continent, Yan Yu spoke without hesitation.
The sword wound on his abdomen was inflicted by his own hand, using the Gan Jiang sword.
If it had been anyone else, even though it wasn't a fatal wound, they should have died. But Ji Chang had survived.
However, he had only just survived.
Ji Chang emerged from the shadows, looking withered and pale, still clutching that halberd.
He had actually been conscious the entire time, aware of all the things that the divine soul had done using his body, and he knew that Yan Yu had inflicted his wound. But he had no right to blame him.
"That thing schemed against me," Ji Chang said, his eyes flashing fiercely as he pointed upwards, clearly referring to the demon god.
"So I will definitely kill him myself."
"I've just recovered, I'm impatient, so let me go first."
Ji Chang's expression was serious, and the aura of a Lord realm emanated from him.
He had already broken through, and with his imposing pressure, he wouldn't allow Yan Yu to refuse!
Yan Yu sensed the formidable aura of the other party and lightly tapped his index finger on the sword sheath, producing a faint 'crackling' sound.
"Do you know why my sword is fast?" he asked.
Ji Chang narrowed his eyes. Being in the same city, he naturally knew of Yan Yu's existence. Even he had to admit that the other party's sword was indeed very fast.
But it was still not enough.
"Because in my heart, I only respect my own thoughts and am not swayed by external forces."
"I know I might not be as fast as you for now, so I can only act a step ahead. I'll make the first move."
"If you want to break through, I suggest you go and comprehend gravity before the Sky Wall. Coming up directly will get you killed."
While Yan Yu smiled, he had already taken three steps towards the pit in the center.
Ji Chang was stunned, then shook his head.
So, that was the kind of 'fast' he meant.
...