SFS Chapter 213 The Mysterious Ring
Chapter 213 The Mysterious Ring
In an instant, gasps and groans rose and fell, along with bursts of spiritual light from protective magical artifacts.
The chaotic scene of people scrambling to get ahead froze instantly, as everyone was pinned to the spot by the sudden, terrifying gravity.
Chen Xu, mingling in the crowd, also felt a sudden, heavy force, like that of a bottomless ocean, bearing down on him.
It's as if every inch of skin and every bone is carrying the weight of mountains.
He groaned, and the power of the third level of the "Mysterious Bone True Demon Art" within his body instinctively began to circulate.
The dark blue-black magic patterns beneath his skin were faintly visible, and his muscles bulged, managing to withstand the first wave of impact.
He swayed slightly before regaining his balance, unlike other Core Formation cultivators who were sprawled out in a disheveled state.
Chen Xu felt a chill run down his spine: "This gravity... is far beyond ordinary; each step probably increases exponentially!"
"No wonder it's called the Heavenly Rank; it's a cruel selection process in itself..."
He observed his surroundings discreetly.
Although the Nascent Soul cultivators also felt the pressure, they had profound foundations. Most of them simply stood firmly with solemn expressions and began to try to take steps upward.
The Ning family patriarch stood not far ahead, his face grim.
The stiffness in his left arm seemed even more pronounced under the heavy pressure.
It was surrounded by a layer of pale blue, shimmering light, struggling to counteract gravity, but it was clearly no longer as composed as it had been in its prime.
"Hmph, nothing special!" A burly mid-stage Nascent Soul demonic cultivator sneered.
He seemed to be practicing some kind of body-refining demonic art, his body surface glowing with a bronze luster. He took the initiative and stepped heavily onto the tenth step.
boom!!!
The moment he stepped onto the tenth level, his body suddenly sank, and the jade steps beneath his feet even emitted a faint cracking sound, while his protective magical light fluctuated violently.
But he managed to hold on, though his face was flushed, clearly not at ease.
This move seemed to ignite a fuse, as other Nascent Soul stage monsters also refused to be outdone and used their own methods to climb upwards.
For those who have reached the Core Formation stage, it is much more difficult.
Some resorted to defensive magic to hold on, while others swallowed elixirs to forcibly unleash their potential.
Some people tried to attach themselves to the Nascent Soul cultivators to relieve the pressure by using the force field they spread out.
Screams rang out intermittently; those with insufficient cultivation or unstable foundations were directly crushed by the terrifying gravity, their physical bodies shattering.
Chen Xu took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in his heart.
He did not rush into action, but secretly pushed the "Mysterious Bone True Demon Art" to its limit, hiding the demonic energy under his skin.
At the same time, combined with the flexibility and force-dissipating properties of the "Mysterious Water Dragon-Opening Technique," it's like stabilizing a reef in a raging storm, steadily climbing upwards step by step.
He deliberately controlled his speed, keeping it at an above-average level among Core Formation cultivators, neither too slow to be underestimated nor too outstanding to attract attention.
His gaze remained subtly fixed on the direction of the Ning family patriarch.
The Ning family patriarch was clearly also paying attention to the entire scene, especially those Nascent Soul cultivators with powerful auras.
He paused slightly when his gaze swept over Chen Xu.
Seemingly noticing Chen Xu's unusually calm demeanor under such gravity, they quickly moved away.
After all, the focus on the Heavenly Staircase was on those Nascent Soul stage monsters in front.
The two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators beside him shared the pressure, allowing him to steadily advance.
The higher you go, the more terrifying the gravity becomes.
By the fiftieth step, the pressure had become so great that even some early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were sweating profusely.
Nearly half of the Core Formation cultivators were lost, especially those with slightly unstable foundations or those whose protective magic treasures were of insufficient quality.
They had long been crushed by the terrifying gravity, or turned into a blurry pool of flesh and blood on the steps.
The remaining Core Formation cultivators were all deathly pale, struggling to stay afloat by relying on their most treasured secrets, secret techniques that burned their life essence, or powerful body-refining methods.
Chen Xu mingled among this group of Core Formation cultivators. Although he also felt heavy-hearted, he was far more composed than the other Core Formation cultivators.
"Hmph, a bunch of ants, how dare they lay a finger on the Xuanqiong Jade Marrow?" A cold voice rang out.
There is a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator dressed in a black robe to the left front.
His gaze swept over the Core Formation cultivators struggling below, his eyes filled with cruelty and disdain.
He stomped his foot suddenly, and a visible black ripple spread out from him.
"Taste my soul-shaking waves!"
This impact on the soul caught the Core Formation cultivators, who were already under immense pressure and their minds were tense, completely off guard. Their sea of consciousness felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer.
Immediately, screams and the sound of vomiting blood rose and fell.
Instantly, dozens more Core Formation cultivators froze, their protective aura dissipated, and they were completely crushed by the terrifying gravity.
"Old ghost Beihe!! You're courting death!" A Nascent Soul cultivator in a fiery red Daoist robe roared, and a junior he was protecting, who was in the late Core Formation stage, also perished in this wave of impact.
He raised his hand and unleashed a blazing fire tornado, roaring as it hurtled toward the black-robed old demon.
"Heh heh, Huo Yunzi, how dare you challenge me?"
The Old Monster of the Northern River chuckled, flicked his sleeve, and a pale white bone shield swelled in the wind, its surface covered with twisted runes of vengeful spirits, radiating a chilling aura.
The fierce fire dragon crashed into the bone shield, but it was as if it had sunk into the sea.
The raging fire elemental power was quickly devoured and dissipated by the wailing of the vengeful spirits, disappearing without a trace after only creating faint ripples.
"Old ghost! Stop being so arrogant!" Huo Yunzi's beard and hair bristled with anger, clearly not expecting his opponent to so easily withstand his furious attack.
He formed hand seals, and waves of fire surged around him, instantly condensing into nine crimson fireballs the size of heads. These fireballs, carrying temperatures capable of incinerating everything, spun and hurtled towards the Northern River Monster.
At the same time, he exerted force with his feet, resisting the immense pressure, and tried to bypass the bone shield and get close.
"A mere trick!" A green glint flashed in the eyes of the Northern River Monster, and his withered claw-like right hand made a grabbing motion in the air.
The churning gray-green miasma below the platform was drawn by an invisible force, transforming into several dark green venomous dragons that roared as they charged toward the Nine Suns Fireball.
The fireball collided with the venomous dragon, unleashing a pungent toxic smoke and a scorching heatwave.
The shockwave caused several Core Formation cultivators nearby who were unable to dodge in time to cough up blood, break their bones and tendons, and tumble down the steps screaming in agony, instantly crushed into mincemeat by the invisible gravitational field.
The two instantly clashed, with Huo Yunzi unleashing raging flames, each strike carrying the power to scorch mountains and boil seas.
The Northern River Monster is sinister and treacherous, employing a variety of spells such as bone shields, poisonous miasma, and vengeful spirits.
The aftershocks of the spell, under the terrifying pressure of the Xuanqiong Heavenly Rank, not only did not spread or weaken, but were compressed into a more concentrated form, multiplying their destructive power.
Each collision was like a muffled thunderclap, and the violent energy turbulence was like an invisible blade, frantically cutting through space.
"Retreat now!"
"Avoid them!"
"Damn it! Those two lunatics!"
The situation on the steps was completely chaotic.
Nascent Soul cultivators were still able to protect themselves, and they all used their magic treasures or activated their protective spiritual light.
However, the climbing speed was inevitably slowed down.
Core Formation cultivators are like small boats in a stormy sea; a slight misstep could lead to their death and the dissipation of their cultivation.
Chen Xu had already keenly sensed the danger the moment the two made their move.
He was already at the back of the crowd, and at this moment he was pushing the "Mysterious Water Dragon-Opening Technique" to its limit.
A faint, almost imperceptible ripple of water appeared on his body, and his figure glided and weaved through the chaotic figures and the gaps in the raging energy like a fish.
As he moved, he calmly observed the battle situation and his surroundings, his mind racing.
The current battle between the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Northern River Old Monster and Huo Yunzi is the source of chaos.
The area of their battle continued to expand, with the bone shield's vengeful spirits howling, the poisonous miasma transforming into a raging dragon, and the Nine Yang Fireball exploding with a deafening roar.
Each collision generated a shockwave that was compressed and condensed by the celestial gravity, like an invisible scythe of death.
Wherever it swept, weaker Core Formation cultivators were either killed or injured.
Suddenly, a piercing scream rang out from Chen Xu's left front.
In an attempt to dodge a compressed aftershock of flame, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator hastily stumbled upon a wisp of dark green poisonous gas emanating from the Northern River Old Monster's Poisonous Miasma Dragon Transformation.
The poisonous gas instantly corroded his protective aura and penetrated his flesh.
His skin was visibly festering and turning black.
His whole body felt as if his bones had been removed. Under the dual torment of immense pressure and deadly poison, he collapsed and was then crushed into a puddle of black mud bubbling with poison by an invisible gravitational field.
This scene terrified the already panicked Core Formation cultivators nearby, who fled in all directions, causing even greater chaos.
Screams and angry curses filled the air.
Some people even resort to assassination to gain a safer foothold or escape route.
Some tried to hide behind Nascent Soul cultivators for protection, but were mercilessly shaken off and even killed.
"Get out of my way! How dare an ant approach me!"
A hot-tempered early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator roared, and with a flick of his sleeve, a gust of wind blew like a knife.
He swept away the two Core Formation cultivators who tried to approach, their bones breaking and tendons snapping in mid-air. They screamed as they plummeted into the churning energy turbulence below and disappeared.
The pace of the climb was completely disrupted, everyone was on edge, and they were wary of each other and even attacked one another.
They were only trying to find a sliver of hope amidst the aftershocks of the battle between Nascent Soul cultivators and the terrifying gravity.
"I need to find a way to break through..." Chen Xu thought to himself.
Staying put will only make you a bigger target, while retreating means completely losing the right to climb and any possible opportunities.
He brought the principle of water-based force reduction in the "Mysterious Water Dragon-Opening Technique" to its extreme.
The pale blue shimmering ripples on its body flowed endlessly, its form resembling a small boat in a raging storm.
He deliberately moved towards the shaded area closer to the outside of the steps.
It was a little far from the Nascent Soul cultivators and the center of chaos, but the gravity was not reduced at all.
With each step I took on the hard jade steps, I felt my bones groaning.
Boom!!!
A compressed, crimson flame, like a red-hot iron whip, swept across the spot where Chen Xu had just vanished.
The scorching heat charred his clothes on the back, causing a stinging pain on his skin.
"Fellow Daoist! Save me!"
A female cultivator in the mid-stage of Core Formation was caught in the chaotic energy flow, and her protective magic treasure instantly dimmed.
He staggered towards Chen Xu, his eyes filled with desperate pleading.
Chen Xu's eyes were cold, and he showed no hesitation whatsoever.
He touched the step with his toes and slid his body several feet to the side.
The female cultivator lost her balance, screamed, and tumbled down, instantly crushed by the invisible gravitational field below, her voice abruptly cut off.
Chen Xu's heart was as hard as iron, his attention was highly focused, and his divine sense cautiously scanned the area around him.
Just as Chen Xu was struggling to move up about a dozen steps along the edge of the steps, and reached the position close to the seventieth step.
Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of an extremely hidden recessed corner where the steps met the mountain wall to his right.
There, lying quietly, was an inconspicuous black ring.
The ring has a simple and unadorned design, with no hint of any spiritual aura.
If it hadn't happened to be stuck in the crevice of a protruding jade ridge...
It was swept away by the energy turbulence just now, shaking off a thin layer of stone dust covering it, which Chen Xu could never have noticed.
Chen Xu's eyes lit up, and he moved toward that corner seemingly unintentionally.
He deliberately avoided several Core Formation cultivators who were also struggling, choosing a less conspicuous route instead.
Above their heads, the fierce battle between the Northern River Monster and the Fire Cloud Child was in full swing.
Taking advantage of the shockwave from the violent explosion, Chen Xu staggered a few steps to the side and back, seemingly out of control.
With a thud, his back slammed against the cold mountain wall, and he was only half a step away from the gap where the ring was hidden.
Chen Xu groaned, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, his face displaying a perfectly timed expression of pain, as if he had truly been injured by the impact.
He leaned against the mountain wall, breathing heavily, but his peripheral vision was already fixed on the ring.
The ring was completely black, with no patterns or carvings on its surface, and its material was unknown.
"To have survived to this day, and to be so unremarkable... it must be no ordinary item!" Chen Xu thought to himself, his vigilance heightened to the highest level.
The more harmless something seems, the more likely it is to harbor hidden secrets or dangers in a place like the Mysterious Vault Realm.
He dared not use his divine sense to investigate directly, for fear of provoking unknown reactions or attracting the attention of powerful individuals.
Taking advantage of another violent energy collision that erupted above, Chen Xu swiftly and stealthily reached forward with his right hand and took the ring.
Chen Xu felt a little more at ease, and the moment he withdrew his arm, he put the ring into his storage space.
He dared not examine the ring immediately, nor did he dare attempt to refine it.
This place is fraught with danger. The battle between Nascent Soul cultivators above is still raging, and there are other cultivators eyeing the area with predatory intent.
Any fluctuation of spiritual energy could become a target, so he had to wait for an absolutely safe environment.
"This place is dangerous; it is not the time to explore." Chen Xu was alert and immediately composed himself.
He looked up, his gaze piercing through the chaotic energy currents and pervasive dust, locking onto the higher celestial steps.
Above the seventy steps, the gravity became even more terrifying, and the figures of Nascent Soul cultivators became slow and solemn.
The Ning family patriarch and others were still struggling upwards, and there was still a long way to go before reaching the higher point where the chaotic halo flowed.
The battle range between Beihe Laoguai and Huoyunzi seems to be moving upwards, indicating that the two are trying to climb during their fierce fight.
Just then, another unexpected event occurred!
Boom!!!
As you ascend the seventieth step, the stone walls on both sides of the mountain, which are covered with intricate carvings, suddenly shine with a dazzling light.
Thick, phantom-like energy chains materialized out of thin air, crisscrossing above the steps as if they were alive...
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