Chapter 397: Chapter 272: Heavenly Ladder Record, A Prominent Tree in the Forest Will Surely Be Blown Down by the Wind_2

They had also climbed the Heavenly Ladder, so they naturally knew some of the conditions on the Heavenly Ladder.

The White Jade Sky Ladder, the initial steps are relatively easy to climb.

But once the height exceeded a hundred meters, the pressure above the staircase would double, becoming a completely different difficulty.

Like the powerful figures high up in the city, many people in the crowd at the foot of the mountain knew this secret.

So when they saw Bai Bufan and the others leap up to the next level again,

Someone immediately shouted, “The hundredth level!”

As soon as the words fell, they saw Bai Bufan and the others’ figures suddenly sway, barely managing to stabilize.

It was obvious they were somewhat unaccustomed to the suddenly increased pressure on the steps.

“Mr. Zhi Rui, is there any trick to these hundred steps?”

Lu Qing saw this and turned to ask.

“The pressure on the Heavenly Ladder does not increase in a uniform, gradual manner, but instead, every hundred levels, the repressive force is doubled, and with each subsequent level, the pressure increases substantially more than the previous one.

For example, at the first level, the repressive force is one, with each level afterward, it merely increases by a tenth. By the ninety-ninth level,

The repressive force is only about ten or so.

But at the hundredth level, the pressure doubles, becoming twenty.

Thereafter, although it increases by only a tenth with each level, it is based on this twenty.

Thus, Bai Shaohua and the others are now enduring much greater pressure than before.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Lu Qing and his companions suddenly understood.

“Actually, there’s another saying about the Heavenly Ladder.”

Lin Zhirui’s interest was piqued, and he continued.

“What saying?”

“It is said that the first hundred levels of the Heavenly Ladder actually correspond to a martial artist’s Postnatal Realm cultivation.

To reach the hundredth level, one must possess the cultivation of a Martial Arts Grandmaster, which is perfection in the Internal Organ Realm.

To go further, one must refine the Divine Soul Power to withstand the pressure.

There is a saying that, for Postnatal Realm Martial Artists, crossing the hundredth level and continuing to climb,

Each step represents their own potential.

The higher one climbs, the greater their inherent potential is demonstrated.

In the future, when they step into the Innate Realm, the greater their achievements will be.”

“It’s no wonder Bai Shaohua and the others are visibly struggling so much, yet they continue to persevere,” Ma Gu remarked with admiration.

It turned out that while they were chatting, Bai Bufan and his group had climbed more than ten levels.

But at this point, they began to show obvious signs of difficulty.

They could no longer jump up continuously like before; instead, they had to rest and gather their strength before jumping to the next level.

“Some people are falling behind.”

Lu Qing noticed that one person was taking longer to rest and had already fallen two levels behind the others.

Lin Zhirui glanced over, “That’s Qin Yunting from the Xuanxin Sect, a True Disciple. His martial arts style prioritizes agility, which indeed puts him at some disadvantage when climbing the Heavenly Ladder.”

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

Because originally, her purpose for leaving Azure Dragon City was to attend the Xuanxin Sect’s disciple recruitment ceremony.

Hu Zezhi also felt a bit conflicted.

Although she had no relation to Qin Yunting, seeing that a True Disciple from the sect she once yearned for was now lagging behind, she still felt a bit off.

“Mr. Zhi Rui, have you ever climbed the Heavenly Ladder before?”

At that moment, Wei Zian curiously asked.

“Of course, I have,” Lin Zhirui said with a smile, “I grew up in the Holy City since my youth, and climbing the Heavenly Ladder is actually a common contest among the martial artists here. Naturally, I did not shy away from tradition.”

“How high have you climbed?”

Now, even Lu Qing and his companions were curious.

“It’s rather embarrassing to speak of, but before I broke through to the Innate Realm, my highest was only the one hundred and seventy-first level.”

“One hundred and seventy-one, that’s already very high!” Wei Zian exclaimed.

He looked at Bai Bufan and his group on the ladder, who were currently at around the one hundred thirtieth or fortieth level, and already seemed unable to jump any higher.

They needed to rest for a long time before they could barely climb to the next level.

It’s no wonder that, among the Ten Prodigies, Mr. Zhi Rui entered the Innate Realm so much earlier than those few on the ladder.

The difference in their potential is indeed quite substantial.

“Mr. Zhi Rui is truly formidable.”

Ma Gu and the others also exclaimed in admiration.

“But it’s just one hundred and seventy-one levels, not worth much acclaim,” Lin Zhirui shook his head, “There are many prodigies under heaven, countless of whom are more formidable than I.

Not to mention anything else, among the Ten Prodigies, another who has entered the Innate Realm is much more powerful than I am.

His record on the Heavenly Ladder stands at one hundred and eighty-nine levels.”

“One hundred and eighty-nine!” Wei Zian and the others exclaimed once again.

After Lin Zhirui’s explanations, they already knew that ascending the Heavenly Ladder only got tougher the higher one went.

The difference of a single level closer to the top could represent an immense gap in strength and potential.

And that individual was more than ten levels above Lin Zhirui; their potential was surely far greater.

“Then, Mr. Zhi Rui, according to what you said, the history of ascending the Heavenly Ladder dates back a long way.

So, over the years, which Postnatal Martial Artist has climbed the highest?”

“That would be…” Lin Zhirui thought for a moment before saying, “According to the records of Tianji Building, the highest a Postnatal Realm Martial Artist has climbed should be a warrior named ‘Emperor Feather.’”

“Emperor Feather?”

“Correct, though that was over a thousand years ago. ‘Emperor Feather’ has long since passed away.

It is said that his record on the Heavenly Ascension Ladder was one hundred and ninety-nine levels.”

“One hundred and ninety-nine?!”

Ma Gu and the rest were shocked.

This achievement was a full ten levels higher than the other individual among the Ten Prodigies Lin Zhirui had just mentioned.

“Yes, and that’s probably the highest level a Postnatal Realm Martial Artist can reach.

Because the suppressive force at the two hundredth level is said to be several times stronger than that of the one hundred and ninety-ninth level.

Even a real Innate Realm Expert must be extremely careful to cope with it.

That’s beyond the limit of any Postnatal Realm Martial Artist; no one at that level can withstand that kind of pressure.”

“In other words, that ‘Emperor Feather’ almost symbolizes the limit of potential for Postnatal Realm Martial Artists. I wonder what realm this predecessor reached later on?”

Lu Qing asked with interest.

However, to Lu Qing’s surprise, Lin Zhirui shook his head.

“No, he did not break through to the Innate Realm before he died.”

“Not entered the Innate Realm and died?”

The crowd was shocked.

“How could that be, with the talents of this predecessor, how could he not break through to the Innate?” Wei Zian could not believe it.

It was Lu Qing who spoke thoughtfully, “Could it be…”

“Correct, ‘Emperor Feather’ was assassinated and died, right after he ascended the one hundred and ninety-ninth level of the Heavenly Ladder.”

Lin Zhirui nodded, sighing.

“‘A tall tree catches the wind.’ ‘Emperor Feather’ showed too much potential when he climbed to the one hundred and ninety-ninth level of the Heavenly Ladder.

Without any accidents, had he been allowed to grow successfully, he would surely have become a towering figure in Martial Arts, an unparalleled warrior.

To some ambitious figures, the mere existence of such an unparalleled genius was an error and a threat.

Moreover, ‘Emperor Feather’ originally came from a minor sect, not a strong background.

As such, after climbing the ladder, he was discovered the very next day, murdered in the inn where he was staying.

Even until now, no one knows who was responsible.”

Lu Qing and the others fell silent.

They had not expected that the strongest genius of a thousand years ago would meet such an end.

Especially Ma Gu and Wei Zian, they were even more scared.

To be honest, they had even thought of persuading Lu Qing to try ascending the Heavenly Ladder as well.

After all, in their view, Lu Qing’s strength was unfathomable, comparable to the Innate Realm.

If he were to climb the Heavenly Ladder, he would be sensational, far more dazzling than the few called Ten Prodigies who were struggling to climb above.

But now, hearing Lin Zhirui’s words, they dared not entertain the thought any longer.

Well, speaking of weak backgrounds, weren’t they the typical examples?

Whether it was Ma Gu or Lu Qing, both could be described as independent and unaffiliated.

The only one with a bit of a background was Wei Zian.

But what was the Wei Family in Central State?

If those major sects harbored some kind of intent, suppressing them would be all too easy.

So both of them no longer dared to consider it.

However, Lu Qing could vaguely sense a hint of warning in Lin Zhirui’s words.

He did not point it out but looked ahead, suddenly saying, “They’re about to decide the victor above.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com

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