Chapter 86 – Another Dark Horse
Everyone was working hard and climbing with all their strength. Even if they couldn’t be amongst the top 30 disciples, they didn’t want to disgrace themselves either. Especially now that every single disciple from the four big sects were here, after all, no one wanted to be a dead weight. In a sect competition like this, losing to disciples of the same sect was nothing to feel ashamed about, but losing to someone who wasn’t from the same sect, now that was disgraceful.
“Haha, all of you from the Heavenly Sword Sect are scumbags, look at your pathetic faces! I’m sure you will all share last place!”
A disciple from the Black Sect turned around and told a disciple from the Heavenly Sword Sect behind him while laughing out loud in a mocking and ridiculing manner.
“Screw you! Everyone from the Black Sect is a scumbag! This time Li Wu Shuang will be the number one, Little Devil King definitely can’t beat him! Just wait and see!”
Unwilling to show any weakness, the disciple from Heavenly Sword Sect fought back.
“Get lost you Burning Sky Pavilion piece of shit, stop touching me!”
“Fuck you, get out of here stupid Black Sect! If you dare squeeze again, I will kill you!”
“Hehe, junior disciple from Valley of Happiness, let’s interact privately later on!”
…………
The Stairway to Heaven was in turmoil, many people were on the same stone step, pushing and bumping into each other. They were all grinding their teeth, if it wasn’t for the rule saying that fighting was prohibited on the Stairway to Heaven, this place would have already become a battleground.
The competition didn’t allow any physical fights on the Stairway to Heaven, but fighting with words was allowed. Therefore, there were tons of disciples ridiculing the ones next to them. Some of the ruder disciples even went as far as scolding his opponent’s ancestors, showing no care about the image of their own sect.
As for those with real abilities, every single one of them had their mouths shut as they climbed upwards with all their effort. The lead only became wider as time passed, there was a huge gap between the strong Mortal Core warriors and the others.
The most terrifying ones were still the Little Devil King, Li Wu Shuang and the other two. These four were marching forwards like rockets, they had already arrived at the 50th stone step, and were still charging forwards without showing any weakness.
When these four reached the 60th stone step, their posture started changing, and their speed began to slow down. The pressure on the higher stone steps had begun to increase exponentially. Even someone like the Little Devil King couldn’t keep a stable pace under the pressure from Nan Bei Chao and the other three.
At this moment, a young man dressed in white stepped onto the Stairway to Heaven. His expression was calm, and with just a single step, he went up three meters, landing on the third stone step. He then took another three steps and arrived at the 10th stone step. He moved lightly, just like a swallow. In the blink of an eye, he was at the 20th stone step. His face still carried a warm smile, it was as if the pressure on the Stairway to Heaven was just a gentle breeze.
“Look! Who is that young man?! His speed is incredible!”
“There’s really someone who isn’t from the four big sects that dares participate in this competition! But this young man looks like he is someone capable… I wonder how many steps he can climb!”
Many people focused their attention on Jiang Chen. There was basically no one at the bottom of the Stairway to Heaven, therefore the sudden appearance of Jiang Chen was pretty obvious.
Those who bet with Big Yellow and were getting ready to witness Jiang Chen make a fool of himself were startled. Especially those who claimed that Jiang Chen would never make it to the 10th or 20th step. They started to doubt their decision when they saw Jiang Chen’s outstanding performance.
“I never expected that this young man would actually have some skill… It looks like he wasn’t bluffing…”
“It’s as if there’s almost no pressure on the first 20 steps, like it’s pretty normal for him to be there… I guess he will stop at the 40th step!”
Just as those words left his mouth, Jiang Chen calmly jumped into the air and climbed 10 steps with ease, reaching the 30th step. At this point, many disciples of the four big sect had already started climbing with both their hands and feet. However, Jiang Chen could still stand there casually with one arm behind his back, his face not showing any tension.
“Damn it!”
The person who said that Jiang Chen would at most stop at the 40th step almost puked blood. Many people who placed bets with Big Yellow suddenly felt their hearts beating much more rapidly.
Tap~
Jiang Chen started walking again. He reached the 35th step with ease, and his speed was extremely fast, just like a tiger hunting its prey.
“Damn it! Just who is this guy? How can he be so fast?!”
“Where did this guy come from? Is he here to beat us all? He isn’t from any of the four big sects, and I have never seen him before!”
“Don’t tell me that he isn’t even from the four big sects… Move faster brothers, losing to this outsider will be a huge disgrace!”
The sudden appearance of Jiang Chen had caused some turmoil on the Stairway to Heaven. Quite a few people were grinding their teeth while trying to catch up to him. Sadly, the pressure was just too intense, and they were at their limits. They could only watch with their own eyes how Jiang Chen calmly took one step at a time.
Jiang Chen turned around and smiled to a man behind him, then both their faces froze at the same time.
“Damn it, what a small world!”
Jiang Chen really wished he could kick this person’s face and send him flying off the Stairway to Heaven.
“Is it you? Is it really you?”
The man shouted out while pointing his finger at Jiang Chen, he was trembling all over. He was none other than the disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect whom Jiang Chen purposely set free in Origin Mountain.
Jiang Chen never expected he would meet this guy here. That day when he allowed this man to escape, they had left Origin Mountain at the same time, and although they spent some time in Silver Moon City, their speed was not something this guy could compare with. Jiang Chen just arrived yesterday, but this guy despite being slower, managed to enter the competition and most likely arrived before him, which really startled Jiang Chen.
But this was not difficult to explain. The Heavenly Sword Sect had different branches all over the Qi Province, and as a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, no matter where he went, he would be able receive support. The simplest form of support, would be a flying demon beast.
“Chang Lin, do you know this guy?”
A disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect asked.
“Not only do I know this guy, senior disciple Liang Dong and Chen Shuang were killed by him! He and that big yellow dog are friends!”
This man was Chang Ling. When he saw Jiang Chen’s face, he immediately told the other disciples about him while grinding his teeth. He had long forgotten the embarrassing moment where he kneeled down and pissed his pants in front of Jiang Chen that day in Origin Mountain.
“What? That’s him? Such a daring guy, how dare he participate in today’s competition?! Today, we’ll chop him into pieces!”
Jiang Chen’s identity was instantly exposed, he immediately started attracted hateful gazes from all Heavenly Sword Sect disciples.
Sigh…
Jiang Chen shook his head and let out a sigh while thinking that today was a bad day. But, he wasn’t really afraid. Today was different, it was a competition between the four big sects; this was not a place where the Heavenly Sword Sect can do as they please.
Jiang Chen gave the group of Heavenly Sword Sect disciples his middle finger, then he turned around and continued climbing.
“Fuck, how does this guy dare despise our Heavenly Sword Sect?! Kill him! We have to kill him!”
“He is really daring, some nobody actually dares to disrespect the Heavenly Sword Sect and kill its disciples? No matter where he goes, he’s going to end up in a dead end!”
“Haha, your Heavenly Sword Sect is finished! Even some nobody can despise you!”
“I agree, that young man is pretty good! I kind of like him!”
The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were boiling in anger, whereas the disciples of the Black Sect were joyously laughing and finding it satisfying. The enemy of your enemy could be a friend, the disciples of the Black Sect now found Jiang Chen really pleasing to their eyes.
At the moment, the Little Devil King and the others had just passed the 70th step. At this point, even they were sweating all over. Every step further required great effort and time. The pressure from the four Heavenly Core geniuses was making them tremble.
It was true that their potential and talent were not any less than those four on the top. There was still a possibility of catching up one day, maybe even surpassing them, but their current cultivation was still weaker.
Tap~
The Little Devil King and Li Wu Shuang climbed up another step at the same time, but currently, Yi Qing Zi and Ling Ao were both slower. The difference was now clear.
Swoosh swoosh……
Right at this moment, the four of them felt wind blowing from their backs. They couldn’t help but turn around to take a look. What they saw was a young man dressed in white coming up towards them with speed as swift as wind. His speed was extremely great, and it looked as if he was immune to the pressure.
With the blink of an eye, Jiang Chen arrived in front of the Little Devil King Han Yan. He smiled as he cupped his fist respectfully towards Han Yan, “Brother Han, long time no see!”
“Elder brother you’re strong, may I know your name?”
Han Yan asked breathlessly. When he saw Jiang Chen being so calm, he felt inferior for the first time. Although he had long ago noticed Jiang Chen’s outstanding performance, he had never expected it would be this far beyond his imagination. When he was helping Jiang Chen that day, it was actually just in the heat of the moment, and he never asked for Jiang Chen’s name. Only now, when he saw Jiang Chen chasing up from behind, did he truly pay attention to Jiang Chen and ask for his name.
“Jiang Chen.”
Jiang Chen patted Han Yan’s shoulder and said, “Keep climbing brother Han, I’ll go up first.”
After saying these words, Jiang Chen turned around and continued jumping forwards. The pressure had no effect on him.
“How could this be possible?”
Li Wu Shuang’s eyes were wide open, and his face was one of disbelief.
“Who is this guy? His Yuan energy wave is only at the Early Mortal Core realm, how can he resist the pressure?”
“He is not from the four big sects, and he actually surpassed us!”
Even Yi Qing Zi and Ling Ao were startled.
“Hmph! Li Wu Shuang, there is always someone stronger! Put away that arrogant face, don’t make people hate you.”
Han Yan let out a cold snort as he rudely told Li Wu Shuang.
“Just a little Early Mortal Core warrior! He must have been cheating in order to get this far! If I could meet him on the fighting stage in the second round, I would easily be able to crush him with my toe!”
Li Wu Shuang once again covered his face with arrogance.
“Just keep climbing if you’re so great.”
Han Yan sneered. He turned around and continued forwards. Only then did he see that Jiang Chen had just casually jumped onto the 80th step. He felt depressed and almost wanted to knock his head into the stone step. He couldn’t help but say, “What a freak!”
“Look! That newcomer is number one now! He really surpassed the Little Devil King and Li Wu Shuang, and he is still climbing with great speed!”
“Heavens, is this for real?! Who is this young man, and how could he be so fast?!”
“Yet another dark horse has appeared! During the inner circle competition, there was a dark horse, and I never expected to see another one today! He isn’t even from any of the four big sects either!”
Many people were shouting in surprise. All of a sudden, Jiang Chen had become the center of attention. Who would have thought that another dark horse would appear in the outer circle competition? and this dark horse was even more badass than Nan Bei Chao. Nan Bei Chao was a genius disciple from the four big sects, but this young man in front of everyone had never been seen anywhere before this.