Chapter 86

"Quack, quack, did you see that? I told you he would be first."

The big yellow dog looked smug, while those who had placed bets were fuming, gnashing their teeth, and wishing they could tear the big yellow dog apart.

"Where did this kid come from? How can he be so strong?"

"Hmph! He must have cheated; otherwise, it wouldn't be so easy."

"Don't panic, it's not over yet. The Little Demon King and Li Wushuang will definitely catch up."

...

The people who had placed bets began to look dejected. Some consoled themselves, still hoping that the already panting Little Demon King and Li Wushuang could catch up to Jiang Chen and take him down.

Jiang Chen jumped to the eightieth step, still wearing a smile as if basking in a gentle breeze.

On the Ascending Heaven Stairs, the expressions of Nanbeichao and the other four changed, especially Liang Xiao of the Heavenly Sword Sect, who had initially looked down on Jiang Chen. His face was now full of shock.

"Who is this kid? He actually managed to reach the eightieth step under the combined pressure of the four of us, surpassing the Little Demon King and Li Wushuang."

Liang Xiao said in surprise.

"Interesting, judging by his yuan force fluctuations, he's only at the early stage of the Human Pill Realm. It seems he has some significant secrets."

Baihua Die's posture was alluring, her entire body exuding charm, and her voice was seductive, making people's hearts itch. Her beautiful eyes fell on Jiang Chen, sizing him up with great interest in this suddenly appearing youth.

"Let's release our soul pressure together."

Nanbeichao said coldly, a powerful soul pressure bursting from his body. Soul pressure is different from soul power; it is an intangible manifestation of a cultivator's soul strength, invisible and intangible, directly targeting one's soul.

"That's right, we can't let him reach the ninetieth step, let alone the peak. Otherwise, what face will the four of us have?"

Liang Xiao said.

Liang Xiao's words were met with nods and agreement from the other three. Indeed, the four of them were the outstanding representatives of the young generation in Qizhou. If they couldn't suppress a mere early-stage Human Pill Realm cultivator, what face would they have?

This time, the four of Nanbeichao directly used their soul pressure, concentrating most of the pressure on Jiang Chen. Even so, due to the increased pressure, the Little Demon King and Li Wushuang, along with the other two, could no longer move, stopping at the seventieth step and unable to take another step forward. Those behind them even showed signs of retreating.

Feeling the sudden increase in pressure, a faint smile appeared on Jiang Chen's lips, but he inwardly sneered: "Wanting to suppress this Saint with mere aura and soul pressure is the biggest joke in the world."

With the Dragon Transformation Technique activated, the pressure on Jiang Chen instantly disappeared. As for the soul pressure, he cared even less. With the Great Derivation Soul Cultivation Technique, his soul had already reached the Heaven Pill Realm level. With the help of the Great Derivation Soul Cultivation Technique, all soul pressure was useless against him.

Most importantly, Jiang Chen exuded the aura of a sage, a momentum that harmonized with heaven and earth. Unless it was direct force or yuan force suppression, intangible aura and pressure were meaningless to him.

Even if Jiang Chen did not have the cultivation of a sage, he would not be suppressed by a few mere Heaven Pill Realm cultivators.

"You want to suppress me, so I will definitely ruin your reputation."

Jiang Chen's eyes gleamed. He had this kind of temperament. Originally, he only wanted to take first place, not thinking about reaching the peak. But now that Nanbeichao and the others were targeting him, it completely ignited his fighting spirit.

In cultivation, momentum and fighting spirit are most important. A person's thoughts at a certain moment are also crucial. For example, at this moment, if Jiang Chen had compromised, it would have left a stain on his heart, forming a mental knot that would greatly hinder his future cultivation. To resolve this mental knot, he needed to let his thoughts flow smoothly. Therefore, Jiang Chen had to reach the very top and stand shoulder to shoulder with the four geniuses. In his heart, no one in this world could stand above him; he would not allow it.

He, Jiang Chen, would never look up to anyone, never raise his head to look at others. In the mind of the number one sage, there was only the lofty position, looking down on all beings.

In front of Jiang Chen, even dragons had to coil, and tigers had to lie down. Even if Nanbeichao was a son of destiny, he could not impose his arrogance and lofty position on Jiang Chen.

This was Jiang Chen, reborn, he still intended to walk the path of dominance, looking down on all heroes, comparing himself to the heavens.

"Look quickly, that youth has reached the eightieth step, already drawing the attention of the four geniuses. The four geniuses are about to exert even stronger pressure. I bet he can't withstand it and will be forced to retreat under this pressure."

"Where did this youth come from? He is so formidable."

"He hasn't come down yet. It looks like he is holding his ground against the four geniuses. That's terrifying. Is he really only at the Human Pill Realm? How dare he stand against the four geniuses of Nanbeichao? Isn't that courting death?"

No one could remain calm. All eyes were on the white-robed youth on the Ascending Heaven Stairs, his black hair fluttering in the wind, standing firm under the pressure of the four geniuses.

"What is Brother Jiang Chen doing? He's already first, why is he still climbing?"

Yan Chenyu was puzzled.

"You know nothing. This kid has a natural aura of a superior. He absolutely won't allow anyone to stand above him and suppress him. Otherwise, it would form a mental knot. Jiang Chen must reach the very top and stand shoulder to shoulder with the four geniuses. This way, he might ruin the reputation of the four geniuses and offend them, but he himself will have a clear mind, advancing in cultivation. Cultivation itself is incredibly wondrous, and every wondrous thought is an opportunity, a moment of enlightenment. Relying on this thought, Jiang Chen might directly break through to the middle stage of the Human Pill Realm."

The big yellow dog's eyes flickered, and he became even more impressed with Jiang Chen. Throughout this journey, Jiang Chen had been deeply strategic, wise, and unassuming. Though young, the big yellow dog had long regarded him as a cunning old fox.

Huff...

On the Ascending Heaven Stairs, the combined pressure of the four geniuses had formed a whirlwind, making a huffing sound. Jiang Chen looked up at the four, his lips curling into a proud smile. The pressure seemed like a gentle breeze to him.

Behind him, the Little Demon King and Li Wushuang looked up at Jiang Chen, who was in the vortex of pressure, their hearts churning.

At this moment, whether on the Ascending Heaven Stairs or in the Xuan Yang Square, everyone held their breath, not making a sound. They all wanted to see how this sudden dark horse would challenge the authority of the four geniuses.

Under the watchful eyes of thousands, Jiang Chen finally moved. He leaped, directly jumping ten steps, landing on the ninetieth step.

"What?"

Everyone gasped, looking at Jiang Chen as if they had seen a ghost. Was he even human? That was the combined pressure of the four geniuses, and he could jump ten steps under such pressure. It was too insane.

"Damn it, we were tricked by the big yellow dog. This kid has such insane abilities."

"Big yellow dog, you black-hearted dog, quickly return our human yuan dan."

Those who had placed bets gnashed their teeth in hatred, once again targeting the big yellow dog.

Faced with the almost murderous gazes, the big yellow dog didn't care at all. He raised his proud dog head: "Look at all of you, you're such wimps. It's just a few hundred human yuan dan. Can you be a bit more ambitious? Did I force you to place bets? Who was shouting to bet their life savings? Who was threatening to fight me if they couldn't bet? Where are those idiots now? Stand up and face me."

The big yellow dog scolded with his paws, and the crowd was speechless, unable to respond.

They were so angry, being tricked by a dog, it was too humiliating. But who could they blame?

On the Ascending Heaven Stairs, the expressions of Nanbeichao, Guan Yiyun, and the other four also changed. They had clearly felt Jiang Chen's yuan force fluctuations, confirming he was indeed at the early stage of the Human Pill Realm. At such close range, a mere Human Pill Realm youth could withstand the combined soul pressure of the four of them, which was unbelievable.

And this was far from over.

Jiang Chen moved again, taking another five steps, reaching the ninety-fifth step.

"Combine our soul pressure, I don't believe he can withstand it."

Liang Xiao said coldly.

The four increased their pressure, trying to push Jiang Chen down. Seeing Jiang Chen's momentum, they knew he was aiming for the peak of the Ascending Heaven Stairs. Even reaching the ninety-fifth step, which was just a few steps from the peak, was already a huge loss of face for them. In previous years, this was impossible.

Jiang Chen ignored their grim expressions. He was now filled with satisfaction, the speed of the Dragon Transformation Technique increasing. Once this thought was clear, his cultivation would reach a new level.

Snap!

Jiang Chen took another step, landing on the ninety-sixth step, then the ninety-seventh, ninety-eighth, and finally stopping at the ninety-ninth step. One more step, and he would stand shoulder to shoulder with the four geniuses.

"Heaven, he actually reached the ninety-ninth step. Is he even human?"

"What is he going to do? Is he really going to reach the peak of the Ascending Heaven Stairs? This position has already ruined the reputation of the four geniuses. Does he want to die?"

"Too exciting, too exciting. Today is truly worth it. I thought the first place would be between the Little Demon King and Li Wushuang, but now another dark horse has appeared, so explosive."

Many people gasped in amazement. Jiang Chen's performance was too shocking. In the many years of the Qizhou competition, no one had ever dared to stand at the peak of the Ascending Heaven Stairs. Today, would this dark horse break the record and create a miracle?

The Little Demon King shook his head and smiled, admitting he had misjudged Jiang Chen. That day at the Silver Moon Tower, though he had seen Jiang Chen's extraordinary nature, he hadn't expected him to be so insane.

Nanbeichao, with his fiery red hair, looked at Jiang Chen with eyes like knives and coldly said two words: "Get down."