Chapter 507 - 219: Middle Stage (Part 2)
As the saying goes, a tree must reach the heavens to draw a lightning tribulation.
In the days that followed, Chen Qing didn’t rush to challenge the tower. Instead, he continued to consolidate his Cultivation as the sweltering summer heat gradually gave way to a cool breeze.
Meanwhile, the June deadline drew ever closer. News spread that starting next month, the distribution of Contribution Points would change. Instead of a fixed one hundred points per person, the amount would be determined by rank. The higher one’s rank, the more Contribution Points they would receive each month; conversely, those with lower ranks would see their share reduced.
This made the atmosphere on Xu Wang Mountain all the more tense. Everyone knew full well that Contribution Points were equivalent to Cultivation Resources.
Under this pressure, many disciples began to frantically climb the tower. A steady stream of them passed new floors, constantly updating the ranking on the stone stele.
Everyone understood that the rankings didn’t just determine their monthly allowance. A higher rank could attract the attention of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s leadership, potentially leading to them being accepted as a Direct Disciple by a True Essence Realm Elder, just like He Shuang.
However, the most elite disciples remained stuck on the twenty-ninth floor. The thirtieth floor seemed to be an insurmountable chasm, halting the progress of the vast majority.
Just then, explosive news swept through Xu Wang Mountain: Wu Anren had reached the thirtieth floor!
The news instantly sent shockwaves through the Sect.
It caused a considerable stir not just on Xu Wang Mountain, but throughout the entire Inner Sect of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect.
The thirtieth floor was the recognized threshold for becoming a True Successor Candidate!
By reaching the thirtieth floor, Wu Anren had officially declared that he was qualified to contend for a position as a True Disciple!
Before the uproar could even settle, He Shuang, a wielder of Three True Astrals, followed suit. In a single push, she too reached the thirtieth floor!
One right after the other, they both stepped onto the thirtieth floor. They were hailed as the two most dazzling prodigies of the Hundred Sects’ selection, their prominence unmatched for a time.
Upon hearing the news, the first-tier geniuses of Xu Wang Mountain, such as Luo Qianjue, Qiu Qixing, and Shang Lujing, all quietly recomposed themselves and launched repeated attempts to breach the thirtieth floor.
With the June deadline only two days away, Chen Qing finished a set of his Spear Technique in the courtyard. He controlled his Mountain Thunder Momentum with perfect ease, and the faint arcs of lightning lingering on the tip of his Diancang Spear slowly vanished.
He retracted his spear and stood tall, sensing the vast, heavy power of the Five Elements True Astral at the Mid-stage of his Astral Force. ’It’s time to give the Celestial Treasure Tower a try,’ he thought.
He was eager to find out just how far his current strength could take him.
Chen Qing ambled over to the Celestial Treasure Tower. He found the plaza before it was far more crowded than usual, teeming with disciples and buzzing with conversation.
Among the crowd were not only the geniuses from the Hundred Sects chosen for Xu Wang Mountain, but also many Inner Sect Disciples of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, their auras deep and composed.
Moreover, a few of those auras were exceptionally powerful and solid, as conspicuous as candlelight in the dead of night. Even Chen Qing’s heart stirred at the sight.
’These people... they must be the True Successor Candidates from the Inner Sect.’
Chen Qing thought, his gaze sweeping over their figures.
The reason these prodigies had gathered here today was self-evident.
They wanted to see for themselves just how many of the so-called geniuses from the Hundred Sects truly possessed the strength of a True Successor Candidate.
After all, every new candidate meant one more rival competing for a True Disciple position in the future.
"Brother Chen!"
A familiar voice called out.
Chen Qing turned to see Xiao Bieli standing nearby. True Astral flowed around him, and his aura was a great deal more powerful than the last time they’d met. He had clearly broken through to the Early-stage Astral Force.
Xiao Bieli smiled and called out to Chen Qing, his voice tinged with relieved joy.
Chen Qing smiled and clasped his fist. "Congratulations on your breakthrough, Brother Xiao."
Chen Qing wasn’t surprised that Xiao Bieli had broken through to the Astral Force realm.
After all, Xiao Bieli’s aptitude was considerable. He had started with a base of one thousand Contribution Points upon entering Xu Wang Mountain, and with the added reward from his first challenge of the Celestial Treasure Tower, it wouldn’t have been difficult to trade for an Astral Condensing Pill. Besides, he had the experience of a previously failed attempt.
"I’m still a long way from you, Brother Chen," Xiao Bieli said modestly, but he couldn’t hide the elation in his eyes.
Just a few years ago in Yunlin Prefecture, he and Chen Qing had been considered evenly matched. Ever since his defeat, he’d felt that Chen Qing had him completely outclassed.
Now, using his accumulated Contribution Points, he had finally acquired an Astral Condensing Pill and successfully overcome the great hurdle of the Astral Force realm.
The frustration that had been pent up inside him for so long finally eased, and he felt he had at last closed the gap between himself and Chen Qing.
Chen Qing simply smiled without saying more and walked over to Shen Xiuyong, Qiao Hongyun, Shang Lujing, and the others.
Shen Xiuyong gave a slight nod. "You’re here."
Shang Lujing and the others also nodded.
Chen Qing greeted each of them before turning his gaze to the massive Celestial Treasure Stele, scanning the rankings of Xu Wang Mountain’s new disciples.
He saw that his own name had already dropped to thirty-ninth place.
Zhuo Xiaoyun was in twenty-eighth place!
Wang Bo was in sixty-third place!
Qiao Hongyun was in sixty-ninth place!
Shen Xiuyong was in seventy-fourth place.
Currently, besides Wu Anren and He Shuang, who were perched high on the thirtieth floor, a surprising nine people from the first tier were stuck on the twenty-ninth floor.
Familiar names like Luo Qianjue, Qiu Qixing, Shang Lujing, and Tian Pingning were all among them.
’The gap is becoming more and more obvious.’
A sense of clarity washed over Chen Qing as he looked at the latest rankings.
This nearly white-hot competition was gradually making it clear who truly had the potential to be a True Successor Candidate, and who might one day compete for the supreme position of True Disciple.
Just then, the entrance to the Celestial Treasure Tower flashed. A somewhat weary figure emerged, instantly drawing everyone’s gaze.
It was Qiu Qixing of the Four Seas Sect, one of the top geniuses from the Hundred Sects selection.
His face was a little pale as he shook his head, an expression of frustration and resignation crossing his features.
His final result was the twenty-ninth floor, putting him at fourth place.
Qiu Qixing had reached the twenty-ninth floor yesterday. After a failed attempt to breach the thirtieth, he had rested for a day before trying again, only to fail once more.
Clearly, the gap between the twenty-ninth and thirtieth floors was significant and couldn’t be overcome with a short burst of effort.
Almost immediately after, another formidable figure emerged: Luo Qianjue of the Celestial Blade Sect.
His blank expression revealed that he, too, had failed to reach the thirtieth floor.
The thirtieth floor was not that simple!
Seeing this, the surrounding crowd understood perfectly.
It seemed the only true True Successor Candidates on Xu Wang Mountain were still Wu Anren and He Shuang.
Qiu Qixing and Luo Qianjue were powerful, and might even be considered half-candidates, but they had ultimately failed to cross that threshold.
The chatter in the plaza grew louder as gazes shifted between the top geniuses and the cloud-piercing Celestial Treasure Tower.
In the distance, an elderly man in a Dark Gold Cloud Patterned Brocade Robe stood stroking his beard. His eyes, filled with satisfaction, were fixed on Wu Anren’s name at the very top of the Celestial Treasure Stele.
Beside him stood a young woman with a cool, aloof demeanor. Her expensive clothes made it clear she was also of high status.
"This Wu Anren truly has not disappointed me. The thirtieth floor... the makings of a True Successor Candidate. He has lived up to his reputation," the old man said, his low voice tinged with a hard-to-detect satisfaction.
This man was none other than Hou’en, an Elder of the thousand-year-old Noble Family, the Nanzhao Huo Family.
The young woman beside him pondered for a long while before asking softly, "Eighth Elder, do you think... Wu Anren can really become a True Disciple in the future?"
"Hard to say!"
Hou’en’s smile vanished, his expression turning grave. He mulled it over for a moment before speaking slowly, "He is progressing, but so are those who already hold the rank of True Disciple. They enjoy the Sect’s most premium resources and inheritances; their progress may be even faster."
"But has anyone ever become a True Disciple without climbing over the corpses of countless other geniuses? Take Lu Chenming, for example. He’s been unmovable in the tenth position for six years. That alone should tell you how perilous and difficult it is."
His tone shifted, a glint returning to his eye. "However, Wu Anren has, at the very least, earned this chance. The vast majority of people here can’t even get their foot in the door."
The young woman nodded thoughtfully.
It was just as Hou’en had said. Being a True Successor Candidate was like having a ticket to the main event—a ticket that most people could never hope to obtain.
Simply having that chance made him worthy of their efforts to win him over.
’A True Successor Candidate like him... who’s to say he won’t soar to the heavens one day and truly join the ranks of the True Disciples...’
Hou’en’s gaze deepened, and he secretly felt a pang of regret. ’It’s a shame about He Shuang. Elder Gong snatched her up as a disciple first, so she’s already marked. Otherwise... my Huo Family might have put up a fight for her.’
.....