Sky-reaching Peak becomes increasingly difficult to ascend the further one climbs.
Upon reaching about a hundred yards from the summit, everyone's pace inevitably slowed down due to the unimaginable, immense pressure, making each finger movement extremely difficult.
At this moment, Zhao Letian finally caught up to Wanyan Zheng, one of the top ten sons.
Previously, those with less pressure and higher cultivation had a certain advantage, but the higher one climbed, the more one had to rely on willpower, especially in this last hundred yards, where those with a stronger Martial Arts Heart climbed faster.
"Kid, making it here means you've tried your hardest, but you must be nearly out of energy by now. This last hundred yards isn't a game you're qualified to compete in."
Wanyan Zheng looked at Zhao Letian, who was now level with him, and said disdainfully with a furrowed brow.
"Slap! Slap! Slap! …"
However, Zhao Letian didn't even glance at him and continued to climb upwards, his pace not only unslowed but even faster, leaving Wanyan Zheng behind in an instant.
"How is this possible?"
Wanyan Zheng's eyes widened in disbelief, feeling the sound of Zhao Letian's climbing like slaps to his face.
"Could it be? Is this kid cheating? How can he climb faster and faster?"
"Yes, I suspect it too, this kid must be cheating. The pressure increases the higher one goes, everyone else slows down, how come he alone speeds up?"
Below, the climbers looked at Zhao Letian with a sense of disbelief and felt deeply disheartened.
They couldn't understand how Zhao Letian could defy common sense and climb faster the higher he went.
Even the Sect Martial Realm elder overseeing the assessment showed a look of astonishment in his eyes, feeling it too incredible.
"Could that kid really be cheating? But the array set up on Sky-reaching Peak by the headmaster himself should prevent any cheating, how could a mere True Martial Fourth Realm ant have the chance to cheat? Whatever, I'll go up and ask."
The Sect Martial Realm elder thought to himself and then directly flew up, unaffected by the array restrictions, quickly approaching Zhao Letian.
"Boy, how can you climb so fast?"
The Sect Martial Realm elder asked with a frown.
Zhao Letian was slightly taken aback and asked with a frown, not expecting to have to answer such a question.
The Sect Martial Realm elder replied in an unequivocal tone.
"Alright, because the pressure is decreasing."
Zhao Letian replied frankly, although he did not know why, the pressure on him was indeed becoming lesser and lesser. Content sourced from * – My Virtual Library Empire.
"Bullshit! How can the pressure decrease?"
The Sect Martial Realm elder couldn't help but curse bluntly, very aware of the function of the array restrictions, and it was impossible for the pressure to decrease as Zhao Letian claimed. He felt Zhao Letian was treating him like an idiot and playing him for a fool.
"If senior doesn't believe, there's nothing I can do, but that's the reality."
Zhao Letian furrowed his brow and said indifferently, continuing to climb upward.
"Stop right there, if you don't clear this up, don't think about climbing an inch further."
The face of the Sect Martial Realm elder darkened, and with a wave of his hand, a massive True Yuan Force converged into a giant hand that reached out to grab Zhao Letian.
"Step back, this person has not cheated, the assessment will continue."
But just at that moment, from beyond the Ninth Heaven, a faint and unpredictable voice suddenly came, as if it contained the great Dao of heaven and earth. It resonated above everyone's Divine Souls, involuntarily evoking a desire to worship this person.
"Yes, your subordinate obeys."
The Sect Martial Realm elder was taken aback, quickly bowed his head respectfully, and then immediately left.
"Is it a King-level Expert?"
Zhao Letian's eyes showed reverence as he looked up at the endless sky above, where clouds lingered—a single sentence had frightened a Sect Martial Realm expert into utter silence. This person's cultivation must be unfathomably deep, and if not King-level, it was not far off.
The people present also heard that voice, and although they still harbored doubts about Zhao Letian, they dared not voice any objections. After all, even the Sect Martial Realm expert presiding over the assessment dared not inquire further, so who were they to question?
Meanwhile, beyond the Ninth Heaven, a black-robed elder and a white-robed elder sat opposite each other on clouds in the void, holding two big jars of wine, drinking together. Their penetrating gaze pierced through the layers of clouds, focusing on Zhao Letian on Sky-reaching Peak below.
"Old Brother, are you sure this kid is truly a defiant destiny?"
The black-robed elder, with disheveled hair and an honest appearance, robust in stature, lifted the wine jar and took a large gulp of strong liquor, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"There's no mistake, the Array on Sky-reaching Peak has awakened and possesses an Array Spirit. It can sense the strength of the Martial Arts Heart in martial artists. Although a normal person's Martial Arts Heart can be strong, it is still suppressed by the Array Spirit. Only a defiant destiny can break through all obstacles, even causing the Array Spirit to feel fear, thus it dared not suppress him."
The white-robed elder, who appeared like a high and mighty immortal, also lifted the wine jar for a sip, his eyes filled with fiery passion as if seeing a rare treasure.
"Is the person of defiant destiny truly as mysterious as the legends say? But I haven't noticed anything special about this kid."
The black-robed elder frowned slightly.
"According to legend, those of defiant destiny are born for Martial Arts. They pursue the supreme Dao without any apprehensions; their Martial Arts Hearts are unbreakable and unwavering. In their entire life, they seek only the highest power. Such people, if they do not die, will definitely grow to be unparalleled experts—not just you and I, but even the old King likely cannot see any clues from him. However, I have a faint feeling that he is blessed with great fortune and might soar to the skies before long."
The white-robed elder spoke slowly.
"If that's the case, then we must definitely take this kid into our academy."
The black-robed elder said with a smile.
"Right, we must not only bring him into the academy but also, I'll need your help later to personally look after him. But remember, do not interfere too much, otherwise it will be counterproductive."
The white-robed elder advised.
"Rest assured, I understand. He must still go through the necessary hardships personally. I won't rashly intervene. But, Old Brother, since the establishment of Gray Wolf Kingdom, we have never encountered a person of defiant destiny . Now that we have finally met one, don't you plan on teaching him personally?"
The black-robed elder nodded.
"Little Brother, as you know, my longevity is dwindling. If I don't try to break through that realm soon, I'll eventually turn to dust. I don't have the heart to mentor the younger generation. This once-in-a-lifetime talent will have to be your beneficiary."
The white-haired elder shook his head and sighed.