Ji Xinghuo spent the entire day at the cliff, climbing up and then jumping down dozens of times, releasing the boulder over and over again to test its power and understand its control.
The moment the boulder was released from the Dimension Stomach, he could change its direction of movement.
The most common method was definitely a horizontal release.
When he stood on the ground, the boulder would fly parallel to the ground, dropping to the earth about a hundred meters away. Although the boulder’s speed, due to air resistance during its fall, did not reach 200 meters per second and was somewhat reduced, its power hardly diminished.
If released from the air straight down, the boulder’s power was greatest.
Ji Xinghuo himself didn’t dare stand in the path of the boulder; if hit, even a Legendary Iron Guard would be smashed into a pulp.
About this, he was quite satisfied.
"This is the correct way to use the Dimension Stomach!"
"My biggest trump card!"
Ji Xinghuo also thought about going back to the top of the cliff, releasing the boulder, then accelerating it again, and after several repetitions, allowing the boulder to achieve "terminal velocity." Its lethality would then increase tens or even hundreds of times.
But he was unsuccessful after several attempts.
The boulder fell too swiftly, and he couldn’t keep up with it or retrieve it.
He stayed overnight in a cave at the bottom of the cliff, and upon dawn, Ji Xinghuo packed up and continued on his way atop Qing Hong.
The cliff was less than a hundred kilometers from Sky Falling Cliff.
More than an hour later, Ji Xinghuo climbed over a ridge and was greeted by a vast open grassland.
In the middle lay a tranquil large lake, its blue waters reflecting the cotton-like white clouds in the sky, with several rivers meandering out from the valleys around, glacier meltwater flowing into the lake, and a large river flowing out from the other side of the lake, surging ceaselessly.
Gazing across the lake to the other side, there stood a towering high wall.
That was Sky Falling Cliff!
It looked exactly like a stone table magnified billions of times, standing abruptly amongst the mountains.
The top of Sky Falling Cliff was flat, with cliffs that were vertical drops, falling more than a thousand meters.
"The supernatural craftsmanship of nature!"
exclaimed Ji Xinghuo.
However, as Qing Hong entered the grassland and approached Sky Falling Cliff, looking at the blade-sharp cliffs, he couldn’t help but have a thought: Was this really formed naturally?
If it had been before the Star Gate was opened, there would have been no suspicion.
But in the Star Realm, filled with supernatural powers and even the Star Gods with creator-like might, creating something like Sky Falling Cliff was not impossible.
With such speculation, Sky Falling Cliff was getting closer and closer.
Qing Hong ran along the shore of "Skyfall Lake," crossing several rivers. Sky Falling Cliff appeared larger in view, standing like a kilometer-high giant wall against the horizon, with no end visible to either side.
There were a few tribes along the lake, inhabited by Highlanders, Dan people, and Winged People.
Several roads had also been constructed from stones.
Many Hunting Teams and Mutants of various races traveled the roads. Although they kept a safe distance from each other, they seemed much more at ease than in the wilderness. The closer to Sky Falling Cliff, the denser the population became, gradually forming villages and towns and thriving with activity.
Civilization’s order was returning!
Ji Xinghuo also breathed a sigh of relief, riding Qing Hong at a steady pace through several villages and towns until he finally arrived at the foot of Sky Falling Cliff.
From here, looking up, the sky was half-obscured, quite awe-inspiring.
Around Sky Falling Cliff were set up dozens of lift systems, operating day and night, with protective fortresses built around them, heavily guarded by armed forces.
Anyone was allowed to enter and exit without any fees.
Ji Xinghuo found a deserted place, put Qing Hong away in his pocket, and walked into the fortress alone. He immediately saw the operating lift system; its structure was simple, with a hexagonal platform secured by massive metal chains that lifted the platform to the peak of Sky Falling Cliff as the chains moved.
The lift was powered by steam. Next to the vertical cliff face of Sky Falling Cliff, there was a tall boiler house; from inside came the loud sound of gears turning and chimneys continuously puffing out steam.
The center of the fortress was where the line formed.
Many people were already queuing up, a variety of races, Hunting Teams, merchant caravans, adventure groups, Solo Hunters, all waiting patiently.
No one dared to cause trouble.
The reason was simple: the guards in the fortress were stronger than them.
Especially the four tall figures standing in front of the lift, Ji Xinghuo had noticed them as soon as he entered.
These were four Giants.
Their height exceeded four meters, extremely muscular, and this was while their bodies were somewhat stooped; if they stood upright, they could reach close to five meters. They wore finely crafted armor, with edges of the armor plates over a dozen centimeters thick, covering all vital parts of their bodies with only the front of their heads exposed.
With pale blue eyes, they radiated shrewdness and capability.
Tufts of snow-white hair poked through the gaps in their armor, and both the armor and their massive weapons bore peculiar patterns emitting subtle energy fluctuations.
This signified that all were Superpower Equipment, and of very high quality.
Ji Xinghuo observed silently, recognizing the race of these formidable guards.
The Snow Ape Giants were a branch of the Giants from the Bloody Plateau, like all Giants they were born with immense strength, but the Snow Ape Giants were even stronger than the average Giant, not only possessing agility and swiftness uncharacteristic of their huge bodies but also skilled with Ice Element Abilities.
Any adult Snow Ape Giant was a top-tier Fourth Rank powerhouse, and almost without exception, those who lived to be over a hundred years old ascended to the Fifth Rank, becoming Legendary!