After a period of smooth progression, Ji Chen, more than anyone else, had adapted to the gradual increase of that pressure.

He began to quicken his pace on the ladder, striding upwards as if on flat ground, each step falling without the need for adjustment, directly stepping into another.

Such speed in advancement surprised many who were beside and behind him.

"What the hell, how is he speeding up?"

Someone couldn't help but mutter, feeling inexplicably astonished in their heart.

Logically, the further up you go, the stronger the pressure you feel should become, making the speed of advancement inevitably slower.

Yet Ji Chen did the opposite, initially progressing slowly, but the further he went, the faster he became!

In less than the time it takes a candle to burn twice, Ji Chen reached the three hundred zhang mark.

Currently, many of those participating in the trial were struggling painfully here, needing a significant amount of time to adjust their breath with each step forward.

From initially trailing behind everyone else, after Ji Chen quickened his pace, he had already caught up with most.

In fact, as time passed, he gradually left more and more people behind.

"Ji Chen?"

At the four hundred zhang point, several young kings of the Ancient Race, including the Dragon Heir, were sitting here adjusting their breath.

When they felt someone approaching from behind, they couldn't help but open their eyes.

As they looked ahead and saw that it was Ji Chen approaching, they were all stunned.

"How did you get here?" the Demon Heir asked.

Apparently, they had been focused on climbing upward and hadn't paid much attention to the movements of the others.

In their view, someone like Ji Chen should have been at the forefront of the group.

But as it turned out, he had just reached the four hundred zhang position?

"Keep it up, I'll go ahead."

Ji Chen simply smiled, leaving these words behind, and continued stepping upwards. In just a dozen breaths, he had covered a distance of ten zhang.

"This..."

The Dragon Heir couldn't help but be dumbfounded, exchanging glances with the Demon Heir.

"How is this guy moving so fast?"

The Ape Prince couldn't help but complain, "Moving almost a step per breath, isn't that terrifying?"

Reaching the four hundred zhang position, the pressure here was already at its peak.

Even for them, every step required over a dozen breaths to adjust before they could continue upward.

But Ji Chen appeared completely unaffected by the pressure here, taking a step per breath as if walking on level ground, truly unbelievable.

"Brother Ji?"

At the four hundred and fifty zhang mark, Huang Shuying, Gu Hao, and the Divine Body Jiang Yan and others were stationed.

Upon noticing Ji Chen catching up, they all greeted him, astonished at his pace.

"I'll wait for you in front."

Leaving these words behind, Ji Chen continued walking forward.

Watching his seemingly effortless manner, Huang Shuying and the others couldn't help but feel at a loss for words.

Soon, he arrived at the five hundred zhang position.

Ning Bufan, Saintess Qing Ling, and others, including the Hidden Dragon Saint Heir, were stationed here.

He still harbored resentment toward Ji Chen, having been captured as a hostage by him before, enduring no small amount of torment, even being used as a test subject for medicines.

Such grievances were not easily dispelled with a few words.

"Already halfway, just a bit more effort." Ji Chen smiled, leaving these words to them, then continued his upward journey.

"This guy..."

Ning Bufan was speechless, speaking only after a moment, "No wonder he's achieved Body Sanctification, the pressure within the Ancient Ladder hardly affects him."

"At this rate, I'm afraid it won't take long for him to reach the front," the Hidden Dragon Saint Heir couldn't help but say.

Saintess Qing Ling, however, remarked, "Standing out too much isn't always good. If he attracts too much attention today, it might bring some unnecessary trouble when he reaches the Celestial Emperor's Mansion."

This was no empty remark.

The saying 'the bird that sticks its head out gets shot' applies universally, and even in the Celestial Emperor's Mansion, it is no exception.

"Perhaps, but those from other Star Domains look down on us from Daoxuan. If Brother Ji ranks first, it would garner some respect, at least earning some face for us from Daoxuan, wouldn't it?" Ning Bufan said with a smile.

"Who is that?"

"Such a fast pace, could he not feel the pressure within the Heaven-ascending Ancient Ladder?"

By now, many had noticed Ji Chen's presence.

Especially those young talents who had already been eliminated, now wearing expressions of astonishment on their faces.

They had all experienced the dreadful pressure of the Ancient Ladder themselves, feeling despair even at just the two hundred or three hundred zhang positions, unable to proceed further.

Now, however, there was someone walking easily, already beyond five hundred zhang, and showing no signs of slowing down, which was undoubtedly astonishing.

"Haha, it seems Saint Venerable Lu Lin is going to bleed heavily today, one hundred Spirit Crystal Stones, make sure not to renege on that." At the end of the ladder, Saint Venerable Mu Yun laughed.

His words made Saint Venerable Lu Lin's face turn green, feeling an indescribable heartache.

Spirit Crystal Stones are a special wonder of the world, containing powerful energy and spiritual power. Training with them, even one, equals the improvement brought by billions of Spirit Stones.

Even within the Celestial Emperor's Mansion, Spirit Crystal Stones are rare. Each disciple only receives one per month.

In today's gamble, if Ji Chen really reaches the top, Saint Venerable Lu Lin would suffer heavy losses, losing one hundred Spirit Crystal Stones!

This was nearly all of his savings.

"Damn, his body has already achieved sanctification, why didn't you tell me earlier? Isn't this setting the old man up for failure?"

Even someone as esteemed as Saint Venerable Lu Lin couldn't help but curse, angrily scolding.

By now, he clearly realized something was amiss.

"If I had told you earlier, would you have made this bet with me?" Saint Venerable Mu Yun chuckled.

...

And while they were talking, within the Ancient Ladder, Ji Chen moved as if on flat ground, reaching the six hundred zhang point.

Here, the intensity of the pressure made him feel considerable stress, but it was not enough to slow his pace.

"Hoo!"

After exhaling a deep breath, Ji Chen felt as if his body was set ablaze, his spiritual power boiling within.

"Bang!"

At that moment, a dull sound came from within him, as his cultivation broke through at this moment, leaping from the Celestial Essence Realm Seventh Layer to the Eighth Layer!

In fact, besides Ji Chen, many others participating in the trial today also experienced a small realm breakthrough.

With the support of such immense pressure, carrying heavy burdens forward naturally brought them substantial benefits.

And this was the trial effect that Saint Venerable Mu Yun had previously spoken of!

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