Chapter 543 - 537: Temptation
Chapter 543: Chapter 537: Temptation
Such strong pressure!
Lin You stomped heavily onto the platform of the 101st layer, his eyes filled with shock.
The pressure after crossing the hundredth layer had somehow doubled compared to when he was at a hundred!
The difference of just one layer was worlds apart.
Does that mean that for every hundred layers, the pressure will increase exponentially?
No wonder those people weren’t in a hurry to climb; clearly, they all felt this change and were preparing to gather their power to recover before continuing to ascend.
However.
Will it really be that simple?
Of course not.
Just as most people were on the platform of the hundredth layer, pausing to recover, suddenly brilliant lights lit up on the platform of the two-hundredth layer, manifesting dazzling objects.
Especially in the Tier Ten area, twenty Rule Fragments suddenly appeared, floating quietly above the platform.
The various lords who were in recovery were instantly rejuvenated.
"Rule Fragments!"
"There are actually things even on the two-hundredth layer?"
"And the quantity has doubled!"
"Quick! Let’s hurry up there!"
Though twenty Rule Fragments are not difficult for Tier Ten Lords to acquire, it’s still a considerable sum.
Moreover, the most crucial thing is.
According to this pattern, when it comes to the three hundredth, four hundredth, or even five hundredth layer, the quantity of Rule Fragments might also increase.
That is to say, the sooner one ascends to the upper layers, the more benefits they will gain!
No longer hesitating, the lords of each tier hurriedly got up and began to continue their ascent to the two hundredth layer.
Some lords even exploded with full strength, braving the pressure to dash towards the upper layers, sparking exclamations and drawing many to chase after them.
In a flash.
Driven by interests, all the lords were in chaos, quickening their pace to climb the stairs.
In no time, in the Tier Nine section, an agile lord crossed the 150th layer, heading straight for the 200th layer.
Covered in golden light, it was evident he’d activated some explosive technique, aiming to seize the treasures above at first instance.
But to everyone’s surprise.
Just when that person was about to reach the 200th layer, he suddenly screamed in agony.
As if struck by a heavy blow, the whole person spat blood and flew backward, crashing back onto the platform below, rolling dozens of meters before barely steadying himself.
The pool of blood on the platform was frightening, causing an uproar among the other lords below.
"Such strong pressure! It blasted him off in an instant!"
"Be careful, don’t rush too fast, the pressure gets stronger and stronger."
"The pressure after a hundred layers is twice as strong as the front!"
"And we’re only over a hundred layers in!"
The lords were all shocked, and any last bit of underestimation towards the trial evaporated. They immediately slowed down and adjusted their breathing, fearing ending up like that Tier Nine lord.
Yet, even so.
A small portion began to sweat profusely, trembling and struggling to maintain, their pace slowing significantly.
Conversely, a small group seemed unaffected, leisurely climbing one step after another, pressing straight towards the 200th layer.
Lin You was amidst the Tier Ten climbing team, maintaining a steady pace.
He wasn’t one to relish massacre, nor could he entirely forgo desire like a saint.
So the pressure he felt was neither too strong nor too weak.
The best strategy was to conserve energy, avoid conflict, and seize the chance to reach higher layers.
After all, his Origin Universe produces over two hundred Rule Fragments a day, making it unnecessary to compete with other lords and waste energy.
As the ascent reached higher levels, more began to falter and retreat from the Celestial Ladder.
Meanwhile, those lords who first ascended past the 200th layer began another round of treasure snatching.
"Get out of the way!"
A lord roared furiously, forcing two opponents aside to snatch the treasure.
Yet, in the next second, more lords encircled him, quickly injuring him severely and causing him to be blasted off the platform by the overpowering pressure.
The chaos on the platform was immense, with lords being blasted off and others rushing onto the platform, creating a spectacular scene.
Lin You and a group of lords skirted the battle, continuing their upward ascent.
Meanwhile.
Quite a few had already crossed the 200th layer, showing no intention of stopping.
A group of Tier Ten lords had even surpassed the 250th layer, striding towards the 300th layer relentlessly.
"Such speed! How are they doing it?"
The Tier Ten lord beside Lin You exclaimed in shock, watching the figures pulling farther ahead.
"I find reaching the 200th layer already strenuous, do they not need rest?"
"I recognize a few of them; they’re top kings from the Ten Great Realms and large realms, all with at least eight Divine Formats."
"Eight Divine Formats!?"
"Looks like they’re aiming for the summit."
Though the Celestial Ladder primarily tests more than just power, strong capability still holds an advantage here.
At least it significantly enhances one’s ability to resist pressure, ensuring rapid early-stage climbing without any doubt.
Lin You found himself amidst the crowd, looking in astonishment at the figures way ahead, noticing that the Infinite King and Daqing King, with whom he had crossed paths before, were prominently among them.
Indeed, they were strong figures with nine Divine Fragments.
Seeing those people leave them far behind, he didn’t linger and stepped onto the 201st step.
"Boom!"
As soon as his foot landed, an overwhelming pressure surged forth, instantly doubling what it had been at the 200th step.
Some Kings who stepped up were shocked and quickly retracted their feet.
However, Lin You merely paused for a moment and then steadily stepped onto the platform, heading for the next step.
Just like that, he climbed step by step, until the leading group reached the 300th step, when the platform finally lit up with a large area of light.
As Lin You had guessed, there appeared thirty Rule Fragments.
Some Lords, unable to resist the temptation, immediately broke away from the group and rushed towards those Rule Fragments, starting fierce fights for them.
But most of them remained rational and did not join the battle.
Instead, they stayed at the edge of the platform for a short rest, slowly recovering the Power of Rule within themselves.
There was no other way.
The higher the level, the stronger the pressure.
Many people had no choice but to mobilize the Power of Rule to augment themselves, to withstand the pressure from all directions.
When Lin You reached the platform.
There were already no less than a hundred Tier Ten Lords at the 300th step, and the number was still increasing.
Yet none of them were in a hurry.
Because after the 300th step, having made it through a third of the Celestial Ladder, the pressure to be faced would increase exponentially.
If they wanted to rest and recover their energy, they could only do so now; otherwise, the consumption would only grow greater later on.
So, the Lords gathered more and more on the platform, and not a single person was eager to continue upwards.
However.
At this moment.
A prompt suddenly sounded in the minds of all the Lords.
[Attention Lords, the required number of people has been reached in the Land of Trial, and the first round of rewards is now refreshing.]
As the voice fell, there was a loud "boom", and the entire Celestial Ladder quivered slightly.
Then rays of light illuminated, and treasures that had been snatched clean on the first three levels were refreshed again, appearing on the platform.
Not only that.
Even at the middle of the Celestial Ladder, on the platforms of the 400th and 500th steps, energy emerged, bursting into dazzling light.
At the 400th step, 40 Rule Fragments appeared, scattered all over.
Immediately afterwards.
In the eyes of all the shocked Tier Ten Lords, the energy atop the 500th step rapidly gathered, forming a constantly shape-shifting Seven-Colored Crystal, quietly floating at the center of the platform.
"A Divine Fragment!"
"There is actually a Divine Fragment!"
"Charge!"
All Tier Ten Lords jolted, immediately reacting, and almost without hesitation, they got up and dashed towards the 500th step.
Even Lin You in the crowd was incredibly shocked, having not expected a Divine Fragment to appear on the Celestial Ladder, especially right at the halfway point.
No matter how calculated he was, he couldn’t resist such a temptation, and he instantly leapt up, transforming into a shadow as he raced to the higher levels.
At the same time, he consecutively activated the Four-leaf Clover Protection and Rapid Shadow skills, pushing his speed to the extreme.
Other Lords were not to be outdone, applying their skills, roaring as they madly climbed the steps.
It should be known.
Under such intense pressure, the power consumption of the Rules is terrifying.
Even Lords with nine Divine Fragments experienced visible consumption, their power rapidly waning.
Gradually, some soon couldn’t hold on and slowed down.
Especially after crossing the 400th step threshold, those old Kings with eight or nine Divine Fragments found themselves slowing, their brows furrowing.
Above the 400th step, the pressure quadrupled from the start.
Even with their formidable strength, they had no choice but to slow down, as the speed contest turned into a test of endurance, climbing step by step.
Lin You followed closely behind, ascending to over 400 steps and finally feeling that terrifying pressure from all around, nearly suffocating him.
In terms of Enhancement Skills, each type of Lord was quite similar, given the limitations of Species Skills.
The only difference was the boost from Attributes and Racial Talents.
In this state, where summoning species was impossible.
The Humanoid Type’s extra equipment bonus, the Humanoid Type’s all-attribute boost, the Plant Type’s Constitution Recovery boost, and the Angel Type’s Magic Effect Enhancement immediately displayed their inherent advantages, directly enhancing the Lord’s power.
In addition, Lin You had extra skills from Royal Species.
This was his advantage!
Seeing the 500th platform drawing nearer, he no longer held back, unleashing his Barbaric Roar, transforming into a shadow that streaked past the other Kings, rushing straight to the platform.
"Not good! Stop him quickly!"
The other Kings obviously didn’t expect Lin You to suddenly emerge and possess such a formidable burst technique, immediately roaring as they surrounded him, trying to block his path.
In an instant.
A barrage of attacks ensued, transforming into a surging tide directed at Lin You.
Some people accelerated, rushing towards the platform!