Chapter 113 One Step One Flight
The third level.
When Ou Yangming arrived at the first step of that level, he was already staggering.
The first level’s pressure was actually next to nothing such that an ordinary person could have easily withstood it. However, after walking the steps to the second level, Ou Yangming could already feel enormous pressure.
It was as though he was fully equipped with pieces of White Slate Equipment that weighed over a hundred kilograms in total, so much so that he could not breathe even if he stood still. If one had to actually walk while bearing the weight of those armaments, it would be a real struggle.
Nonetheless, Ou Yangming was already aware before walking the Testimony Path that it would not be a simple walk, thus he was mentally prepared. Although each step was difficult, he gritted his teeth and managed to endure the process.
It was when he finally took the step onto the third level that the unimaginable and massive pressure suppressed him like a tidal wave.
The third level and the second level were simply worlds apart.
If the second level’s pressure was said to only affect a person’s body surface where only the outside of one’s body had to bear the pressure, the third level was completely different. The third level’s power actually had an effect on both the inside and outside of one’s body.
Not only was one’s body surface experiencing the same pressure, but one’s internal organs were also being gnawed by the strong pressure.
Ou Yangming’s face changed because he suddenly realized why one had to be in Yin Grade to attempt the Testimony Path. It was because a martial artist whose cultivation base was in Force Grade had only tempered his body surface and bone strength. Such a martial artist could surely pass the first two levels by having strong willpower, and could even crawl his way up even if he did not have sufficient power.
That said, on the third level, the pressure was omnipresent.
Especially when gravity began to reflect on the inside one’s body, the feeling became more obvious.
Ou Yangming curled his body a little. His forehead and body were covered in beads of sweat, and each breath he took was like a bellow being squeezed; he sounded like a panting cow.
If Ou Yangming was only a Force Grade cultivator, his internal organs would have ruptured when he took the step, and he would vomit blood until he died.
However, since he had the cultivation base of Yin Grade, the essential Qi released in his body could protect his organs.
The essential Qi in his dantian eventually gushed out to every corner of his body without end. “Crack” sounds were heard coming from his bones, and his body immediately became much lighter.
After exhaling deeply and feeling his essential Qi circulating around his internal organs, Ou Yangming continued to move forward slowly.
Despite that, he had another concern in the next instant; the essential Qi consumed increased by a few times when he moved forward under the internal and external pressure.
He came to a shocking realization that his essential Qi seemed to be unable to support himself in moving forward any longer.
Looking at the path ahead of him, which was not long but felt like it could not be completed, Ou Yangming was distressed.
If someone else was in Ou Yangming place at the moment, perhaps that person would consider giving up already, but Ou Yangming did not have another option.
Instead of panicking, he calmed down to ponder how the previous challengers had done it.
Ou Yangming faintly thought about a problem. Ni Xueming and the others had said that one had to at least be in Yin Grade to attempt the Testimony Path but never mentioned if the cultivation base of Yin Grade Class One was enough to complete the path.
He reached to touch his waist sash, then made his decision after thinking for a while.
Since Ou Yangming would definitely not be able to withstand the whole process, he would have to borrow external force. As he took a deep breath, strong essential Qi flowed into the waist sash.
Next, extremely familiar energy returned to his body. Ou Yangming instantly felt that his body became lighter, and the fact that he was surrounded by such gravity made the feeling of being as light as a falling leaf stand out more.
His powerful mental power burst out right away, and he became one with the Blood Flight Art.
A step forward!
Ou Yangming stepped forward, but the step actually allowed him to pass the entire third level, and he landed on the next flight of stairs.
On the tower’s top level, Ni Jingtong looked at the light in front of him.
The light was the same as the one at the entrance, where they could clearly identify the challenger’s movement on the Testimony Path by observing the changes in the light’s color and gradation.
Ni Jingtong sighed when Ou Yangming stepped on the third level, and suddenly asked, “Xueshu, what was your cultivation base when you attempted the Testimony Path in the
past?”
Ni Xueshu and the four other elders, whose cultivation base was already at the peak of Yang Grade, were surprised when they looked at Ni Jingtong while maintaining the formation.
“I was already in Yang Grade Class One when I walked the path,” Ni Xueshu answered after some thought.
“What about the rest of you?”
The other elders responded, and it turned out that three of them were already in Yang Grade while one of them was already at the peak of Yin Grade Class Five.
Ni Jingtong laughed and asked, “You’ve all experienced the path, do you think the young fella can make it past the third stage?”
“Impossible,” Ni Xueshu and the other elders answered at the same time after thinking for a while.
Indeed, the third stage was where one would undergo internal and external pressures, by which enormous pressure was inflicted on one’s skin, bones, flesh, and even the organs. Even though a person who had advanced to Yin Grade had essential Qi that could protect his whole body, the consumption rate was so high that it could not possibly be withstood by someone in Yin Grade Class One.
Even if Ou Yangming had spiritual pills with him that allowed him to replenish his essential Qi very quickly, the recovery process could not be faster than the rapid consumption. Therefore, after careful consideration, the elders were unanimous in their conclusion that Ou Yangming could not make it past the third level if he relied only on his power.
“Yes, you’re right, he definitely won’t make it through the third level.” Ni Jingtong added after a pause, “Once he can’t take it anymore, I’ll make a trip down to send him to the fourth level.”
Ni Xueshu asked with a deep voice, “Great Ancestor, since you’re sure that he won’t make it, why…”
“Because I want to see if he has the ability to get out of trouble,” Ni Jingtong replied after keeping quiet for some time.
Ni Xueshu was stunned. “Great Ancestor, that’s impossible.”
“It’s obviously impossible for normal people, but a young fella who was able to kill a Yang Grade martial artist is worth noting…”
“Kill a Yang Grade martial artist? Him?” Ni Xueshu and the rest were startled.
Though Ou Yangming was never in a disadvantageous spot when he exchanged blows with Ni Wangyang earlier, the elders could not believe that he had killed a Yang Grade powerhouse.
It was worth noting that defeating someone and killing someone were two completely different things. Besides, Ni Wangyang was always the one who initiated an attack on Ou Yangming during the battle earlier.
Nevertheless, Ni Jingtong’s face suddenly changed. His anchoring force that was as steady as a mountain seemed to be ineffective at that moment.
“This young fella is truly making me regard him differently now!”
Ni Xueshu and the other elders were in disbelief when they turned to look.
The light for the fourth level changed again, and it could only mean one thing; Ou Yangming had successfully passed the third level to arrive at the fourth flight of stairs.
“H-how did he do it?” Ni Xueshu mumbled, “And he did it really fast…”
After making it to the third level, Ou Yangming actually completed it while the elders conversed. He made it look like the internal and external pressures from that level did not affect him at all as he managed to complete the level at the speed of light.
That was the speed that could be achieved by the elders if they had attempted instead.
Nonetheless, the elders were powerhouses at the peak of Yang Grade.
The Ni family elders looked at each other in confusion.
Ni Jingtong laughed. “The light is a little strange, isn’t it? I’d like to see how far exactly he can go.”
The other elders were rather concerned when they saw the look of anticipation in Ni Jingtong’s eyes. ‘A young man like him is hard to come by, and he’s the key to finding our ancestor’s legacy. Hopefully, Great Ancestor will curb his thought and not ruin the fella.’
Everyone below the tower, including Ni Xueming, was thrilled.
This was because they knew Ou Yangming had passed the third level and was climbing the stairs to the fourth level. It was the only reason the luster changed.
“Didn’t you say he won’t make it? Look…” Ni Yinghong said excitedly.
Ni Xueming and Ni Wangyang smiled bitterly, but no matter how they racked their brains, they could not figure out what exactly Ou Yangming had done to complete the level.
“Ah.” Ni Xueming sighed and expressed helplessly, “Heroes are made from youngsters, I’ve aged indeed.”
Ni Wangyang looked at him snappily and thought, ‘You say that you’re old, but a strong man like me couldn’t even defeat Ou Yangming after a long battle, am I considered old too?’
All of a sudden, someone remarked, “Hey, why is the luster’s color so strange?”
The crowd was surprised. When they turned to look, they realized that the luster’s color was completely different from before as though there was a hint of red.
Countless people from different generations in their clan had attempted the Testimony Path, but according to the records, a peculiar light like this had never appeared before. Everyone had a strange look on their faces, and they looked at each other as they were at a loss.
On the other hand, Ni Yinghong’s eyelids twitched. For some reason, she was unusually worried and was even regretful.
‘If I hadn’t told Ou Yangming about this, and waited until he advanced to the peak of Yin Grade or even to Yang Grade before asking him to attempt this, would things be better?’