My Crazy Upgrade System

Just as many people were preparing to leave, the sound of a door opening came from the smallest gate, drawing everyone’s attention. After that tiny door opened, a familiar figure slowly walked out. When everyone saw who it was, they were utterly stunned.

It was none other than Yi Tianyun, the man everyone thought was dead for sure! He had emerged from the most mysterious door, looking completely unscathed. Nothing seemed wrong with him at all; it was as if he’d just taken a casual stroll through a corridor.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded. The gate reputed to be a path to certain death had actually been passed by Yi Tianyun. They couldn’t believe their eyes.

Hua Xiyin’s beautiful eyes were wide with shock, her gaze locked on Yi Tianyun, unable to look away. It wasn’t just her; everyone else was the same, profoundly shaken. The path to certain death had been cleared just like that. Was this really happening?

"Yi! Yi!!" Xu Fei shot up from the ground and ran excitedly to Yi Tianyun’s side. "I knew you’d make it out, Yi! They didn’t believe you, but I knew you’d do it!"

Xu Fei was so excited he nearly threw his arms around him.

"Is that so? What they think has nothing to do with me." Yi Tianyun gave a calm smile and glanced around. Many of the others who had entered had already come out successfully, quite a bit faster than him.

’I don’t know how difficult the other paths were, but I spent a lot of time paving the way with those blue stones. It’s only natural I’d be slower. Most of the others probably just fought their way through, which would save a lot of time. But I had to slowly lay a path. Of course I was going to be slow.’

"Th-this is impossible! No one can get through that passage! How could he have done it!" Wang Menglong yelled, pointing at Yi Tianyun after snapping out of his stupor.

"Exactly! What’s going on? Wasn’t it supposed to be a death trap? How could anyone pass through? Were the stories just rumors all along?"

"It’s probably just a rumor. That brat hangs out with Xu Fei, what kind of skill could he possibly have? The path was probably just overhyped; maybe it isn’t actually that dangerous."

"Does that mean we missed out on an opportunity?"

Many of the Cultivators who had already passed their own trials were filled with regret, thinking it a great shame they hadn’t chosen that supposedly dangerous path.

Hua Xiyin also found it hard to believe. She wondered if there was something different about the path, or if the rumors had just been exaggerated. ’Maybe it’s just an ordinary path after all.’ After all, Yi Tianyun didn’t exude the aura of a powerful expert.

"What’s all the noise about? If you think it’s no big deal, why don’t you go give it a try?" Xu Fei said with a wave of his hand, daring them to try it themselves.

The words had barely left his mouth when many of them obediently fell silent. It was one thing to talk big, but they didn’t actually dare to test the path themselves. What if it really was as difficult as the legends claimed? Wouldn’t that be suicide?

"Try? We would, but it’s impossible now. Everyone only gets one chance. How do you expect us to try?" Wang Menglong snorted.

This trial could only be attempted once; a second entry was impossible. Success and failure rested on this single attempt. Failure meant death inside. Success meant receiving the reward corresponding to the chosen path. Even after growing stronger, one could not return to attempt the trial again.

"Don’t waste your breath on them. Let’s go." Yi Tianyun waved his hand, indicating that Xu Fei shouldn’t bother arguing. It was pointless.

"Yes, Yi!" Xu Fei nodded, no longer bothering with the others.

Yi Tianyun started walking forward, paying no mind to anyone else. When Hua Xiyin looked his way, he merely spared her a glance before looking away and continuing on.

Before him was the giant dragon’s mouth, which housed a passage leading into the unknown depths.

"That brat is pretty arrogant!" Wang Menglong sneered. "I’d like to see what kind of reward he gets for clearing that path!"

With that, he followed them. Hua Xiyin and her group did the same. They had been about to enter anyway; if not for Yi Tianyun’s sudden appearance, they would have already been inside exploring.

After stepping into the dragon’s mouth, they found themselves on the wide path they had seen from the outside. They followed it inward, finding no traps along the way. The journey was perfectly safe. There were no decorations, only hard, bare walls on either side. Beyond that, there was nothing.

After they had walked for some distance, two new passages appeared on the sides, but Yi Tianyun ignored them and kept walking straight ahead.

Xu Fei was about to say something, but when he saw Yi Tianyun continue onward, he simply followed suit. As they crossed a certain point, the air above them shimmered as if they had passed through a curtain of light.

Wang Menglong and his companions glanced at the side passages with a frown, but they still followed Yi Tianyun forward. ’Normally, the best things are deeper inside, not near the entrance.’

As they all tried to pass through, a few of them slammed into what felt like a wall and were thrown backward.

"What’s going on? We can’t get through?"

Those few tried to approach again, but it was as if they were pressed against an invisible wall, completely unable to pass. This stunned many of the others. After a moment of thought, they realized that those who were blocked had all cleared the Human Level gates. A thought suddenly struck them: ’Does the level of the gate you cleared determine how far you can go?’

The answer came soon enough. When Yi Tianyun reached another fork with two passages, he turned to Xu Fei and said, "You can explore from here. Make the most of this opportunity. Once you’re done, wait for me outside."

"Take the path on the left. It will be to your benefit," he added, sending the message directly into Xu Fei’s mind instead of speaking it aloud.

"Yes!" Xu Fei stopped in his tracks. He pretended to look left and right, as if weighing his options, before thoughtfully choosing the left path and heading inside.

Yi Tianyun continued forward, passing through another curtain of light. Wang Menglong and his group followed, but this time, all those who had cleared the Earth Level trials were unable to proceed. Just like the previous Cultivators, they were completely stuck.

Now they understood. Your progress really was determined by the trial you passed. This meant that Yi Tianyun could venture into the deepest area, while they were barred from reaching the very end and claiming the best Treasure!

In the end, only the three of them remained. They continued walking until they reached another fork with two passages. Once again, Yi Tianyun walked straight ahead, passing effortlessly through the invisible barrier.

Wang Menglong followed close behind, only to slam hard into an invisible wall that sent him reeling backward. In that instant, the gap between them was laid bare. Yi Tianyun could go where they could not!