I Can See Through Everything

Chapter 273

"Brother Wang, Brother Situ, this is unfair. How could you leave us out of such a fun event?"

As Bai Bufan and Situ Jin faced off, several more figures suddenly leapt out from the crowd, landing beside them.

These were also young people with strong auras, each possessing a unique temperament and outstanding appearance. It was clear at a glance that they were disciples from major sects.

Sure enough, upon seeing these individuals, the crowd erupted in another wave of exclamations.

"It's the other members of the Ten Heroes!"

"What's going on? Did they all agree to climb the Heavenly Ladder together today?"

"This is going to be a great show!"

"The Ten Heroes of Zhongzhou, usually ranked without any particular order, are they planning to settle the rankings among themselves this time?"

"This trip wasn't in vain. I never expected to witness such an exciting scene!"

The crowd below buzzed with discussion, their emotions running high.

Even Bai Bufan and Situ Jin, standing on the White Jade Staircase, were momentarily stunned.

"You all came?"

"Of course. With the changes in heaven and earth, the Sacred Mountain, as the center of the world, is bound to be lively. How could we not come?"

"Brother Bai, Brother Situ, isn't it a bit dull for just the two of you to compete? Why not let us join in the fun too?"

"It's rare for all of us to be here today. Why not have a competition together?"

"Indeed. The two ahead of us are already leading. If we don't try harder, we might fall further and further behind."

…

"They're here? I didn't expect all the Ten Heroes to gather. This is the first time they've all been together since the title was established."

Seeing the sudden appearance of these figures, Lin Zhirui was slightly taken aback.

"All of them?" Wei Zian asked in confusion. "But there are only seven people up there. Aren't there still three missing?"

"The Ten Heroes of Zhongzhou originally numbered ten, but half a year ago, one of them had an accident and died, so naturally, he couldn't be here. As for the other two, they broke through to the Precelestial Realm not long ago and have automatically left the list. So, now there are only those seven left," Lin Zhirui explained.

"Breakthrough to the Precelestial Realm?" Lu Qing suddenly looked at him with a strange expression. "Lord Zhirui, could it be that among the Ten Heroes..."

The others also reacted at this moment and all turned to look at him.

Lin Zhirui hesitated for a moment, then smiled wryly. "As expected, I can't hide it from you, Little Friend Lu Qing. Yes, I was once fortunate enough to be considered one of the Ten Heroes."

"Haha, I knew it. With your prowess, Lord Zhirui, how could you not be included?"

Seeing Lin Zhirui's slightly embarrassed expression, Lu Qing couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Zhirui, who had always appeared composed and confident, rarely showed such an expression. As a distinguished disciple of Tianji Tower, this was indeed a rare sight.

"Indeed, Lord Zhirui, your talent surpasses even those above!" Wei Zian also sincerely praised.

"Alright, everyone, stop teasing me." Lin Zhirui's face was slightly flushed as he quickly pointed ahead. "Young Master Bai and the others are about to start climbing the Heavenly Ladder."

Lu Qing and the others turned their heads to look. Sure enough, after a brief conversation, Bai Bufan and the others had already begun to ascend the Heavenly Ladder.

Each step of the White Jade Staircase on the Heavenly Ladder was three feet high.

At first, the seven figures climbed easily, leaping lightly over ten steps at a time, ascending over ten meters in a single bound.

But after they had ascended several dozen meters, their speed visibly slowed.

The height of their leaps also decreased significantly, from initially three or four zhang to just one or two zhang.

Gradually, they could only ascend one step of the jade staircase at a time.

"Lord Zhirui, who do you think will win?" Lu Qing asked.

"It's hard to say." Lin Zhirui shook his head. "These individuals are all outstanding disciples from the major sects. Not only have they laid a solid foundation, but they have also tempered their spiritual power. Moreover, each possesses secret techniques. Until the very last moment, no one can say for sure who will win."

While Bai Bufan and the others were competing, several powerful figures were watching from a high point in the Sacred City, discussing the scene.

"Brother Qiu, who do you think will win this time?" A figure in a blue robe asked with a smile.

"In my opinion, this child Bufan is not bad. Seeing how he is still at ease, I think taking first place shouldn't be difficult," another figure replied.

"Not necessarily. I am more optimistic about Situ Jin. It is said that he has already cultivated the Diamond Body to the peak of the Iron Body. He is only a step away from the Copper Body realm of the Precelestial Realm. You all know that climbing the Heavenly Ladder tests the strength of the physical body the most. I believe he might be the one to endure until the end," another figure said.

"Indeed, those with strong physical bodies do have an advantage in climbing the Heavenly Ladder. But don't forget, the pressure on the Heavenly Ladder is not to be underestimated either. Bai Bufan and the others are all at the peak of the Postnatal Realm. Even if there is some difference in physical strength, it won't be much. So I believe that in the end, it will still come down to their willpower."

"What's the point of arguing? Just watch. The real challenge of the Heavenly Ladder begins after the hundred-meter mark. Who wins or loses will become clear once they pass that point."

"Exactly. The real contest starts after a hundred meters."

Hearing this, the other figures nodded in agreement.

They had also climbed the Heavenly Ladder before, so they were naturally aware of some of its nuances.

The White Jade Heavenly Ladder was relatively easy to climb at the beginning.

But once the height exceeded a hundred meters, the pressure on the steps would double, making it a completely different challenge.

Like the powerful figures in the city, many of those watching at the foot of the mountain were also aware of this secret.

So when they saw Bai Bufan and the others leaping again, ascending to the next step, someone immediately shouted, "The hundredth step!"

As soon as the words were spoken, Bai Bufan and the others suddenly staggered, almost losing their balance.

It was obvious that they were unaccustomed to the sudden increase in pressure on the steps.

"Lord Zhirui, is there something special about this hundredth step?" Lu Qing turned to ask after seeing this.

"The pressure on the Heavenly Ladder doesn't increase gradually; instead, it doubles every hundred steps, and each subsequent step increases the pressure significantly compared to the previous one. For example, on the first step, the pressure is one. Each subsequent step increases by only one-tenth. By the ninety-ninth step, the pressure is about ten. But when they reach the hundredth step, the pressure doubles, becoming twenty. Each subsequent step increases by one-tenth based on this new base of twenty. So the pressure they are under now is much greater than before," Lin Zhirui explained.

"I see."

Lu Qing and the others suddenly understood.

"In fact, there's another saying about the Heavenly Ladder," Lin Zhirui continued, clearly interested.

"What saying?"

"It's said that the first hundred steps of the Heavenly Ladder correspond to a warrior's Postnatal Realm cultivation. To reach the hundredth step, one must have the cultivation of a Martial Grandmaster, meaning the peak of the Internal Organs Realm. To go further, one must have tempered their spiritual power to withstand the pressure. There's a saying that after a Postnatal Realm warrior crosses the hundredth step and continues to climb, each step represents their potential. The higher they climb, the greater their potential. The higher they climb, the greater their potential, and the more significant their future achievements after entering the Precelestial Realm," Lin Zhirui explained.

"So that's how it is. No wonder Young Master Bai and the others, though clearly struggling, continue to persevere," Mago remarked.

As they chatted, Bai Bufan and the others had climbed another dozen steps.

But by this point, they were clearly struggling.

They could no longer leap upward continuously as before. Instead, after each step, they had to rest, gather their strength, and then leap again.

"Someone is falling behind."

Lu Qing noticed that one person was resting longer than the others and had already fallen two steps behind.

Lin Zhirui glanced over. "That's Qin Yunting, a true disciple of the Xuanxin Sect. His martial path emphasizes lightness, which indeed puts him at a disadvantage in climbing the Heavenly Ladder."

Hearing that it was a disciple of the Xuanxin Sect, Lu Qing and the others couldn't help but glance at Hu Zezhi.

After all, her original purpose in leaving Azure Dragon City was to participate in the disciple selection of the Xuanxin Sect.

Hu Zezhi's feelings were mixed. Although she had no direct connection with Qin Yunting, seeing a true disciple of the sect she once aspired to join fall behind, she couldn't help but feel a bit strange.

"Lord Zhirui, have you ever climbed the Heavenly Ladder?" Wei Zian asked curiously.

"Of course." Lin Zhirui smiled. "I grew up in the Sacred City, and climbing the Heavenly Ladder is something that the city's martial artists often compete in

. Naturally, I couldn't avoid it."

"How high did you climb?"

This time, even Lu Qing and the others were curious.

"To be honest, before breaking through to the Precelestial Realm, my highest achievement was the hundred and seventy-first step."

"A hundred and seventy-one? That's already very high!" Wei Zian exclaimed.

He looked at Bai Bufan and the others on the Heavenly Ladder, who were currently only on the one hundred and thirtieth or fortieth step and were already struggling. They had to rest for a long time before they could barely climb one more step.

No wonder, despite being one of the Ten Heroes, Lord Zhirui had entered the Precelestial Realm so much earlier than those on the ladder. The difference in their potential was indeed significant.

"Lord Zhirui, you're truly impressive."

Mago and the others were equally amazed.

"It's only the hundred and seventy-first step, nothing much to boast about." Lin Zhirui shook his head. "There are countless geniuses in the world, many far stronger than me. For example, one of the Ten Heroes who has already stepped into the Precelestial Realm is much stronger than I am. His record on the Heavenly Ladder is the hundred and eighty-ninth step."

"A hundred and eighty-nine!" Wei Zian and the others exclaimed again.

After Lin Zhirui's detailed explanation, they all understood that climbing the Heavenly Ladder became increasingly difficult as one progressed. Even a one-step difference could represent a massive gap in strength and potential.

And this individual had surpassed Lin Zhirui by more than ten steps, indicating that his potential was far greater.

"Lord Zhirui, according to you, the history of climbing the Heavenly Ladder is long. So over the years, who has been the highest climber among the Postnatal Realm warriors?" Lu Qing asked, his interest piqued.

"Hmm..." Lin Zhirui thought for a moment before replying, "According to the records of Tianji Tower, the highest climber among Postnatal Realm warriors should be a martial artist named 'Di Yu.'"

"Di Yu?"

"Yes, but this was over a thousand years ago, and Di Yu has long since passed away. It is said that his record on the Heavenly Ladder was the hundred and ninety-ninth step."

"A hundred and ninety-nine?!"

Mago and the others immediately cried out in surprise.

This achievement was ten full steps higher than the one Lin Zhirui had just mentioned about the other member of the Ten Heroes.

"Indeed, and this is probably the highest a Postnatal Realm warrior can achieve. It is said that the pressure at the two hundredth step is several times greater than that of the hundred and ninety-ninth step. Even true Precelestial Realm experts must be extremely cautious to handle it. That level of pressure is beyond the limits of any Postnatal Realm warrior."

"So Di Yu represents the ultimate potential of a Postnatal Realm warrior. What level did this predecessor eventually reach?" Lu Qing asked with interest.

However, to his surprise, Lin Zhirui shook his head.

"No, he died before breaking through to the Precelestial Realm."

"He died before stepping into the Precelestial Realm?"

Everyone was shocked.

"How could that be? With such talent, how could he fail to break through?" Wei Zian couldn't believe it.

But Lu Qing, deep in thought, seemed to have a realization. "Could it be..."

"Yes, Di Yu was assassinated the day after he climbed the hundred and ninety-ninth step," Lin Zhirui nodded, sighing.

"The tall tree among the forest is destined to be felled by the wind. Di Yu's potential was too great, and if he had continued to grow, he would have become an unparalleled martial titan, invincible in his time. To certain ambitious individuals, such a genius was a threat simply by existing. Moreover, Di Yu came from a small sect with little backing. So the day after he climbed the ladder, he was found murdered in the inn where he was staying. To this day, no one knows who was behind it."@@novelbin@@

Lu Qing and the others fell silent.

They hadn't expected such a tragic end for the greatest genius of over a thousand years ago.

Especially Mago and Wei Zian, who felt a chill run down their spines.

In truth, they had been considering encouraging Lu Qing to try climbing the Heavenly Ladder himself, believing that with his deep and unfathomable strength, comparable to the Precelestial Realm, he would surely shine brighter than the so-called Ten Heroes currently struggling on the ladder.

But after hearing Lin Zhirui's words, they no longer dared to entertain such thoughts.

After all, they were the most typical examples of having a weak background. Whether it was Mago or Lu Qing, they were both without sect or faction.

The only one with some background was Wei Zian, but even the Wei family was insignificant in Zhongzhou. If those major sects had any designs, it would be all too easy to deal with them.

So the two no longer dared to think about it.

However, Lu Qing vaguely sensed that there was a hint of warning in Lin Zhirui's words.

He didn't point it out but instead looked ahead and suddenly said, "They are about to determine the winner."

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