Fang Lang walked past the honor roll on the fifth level without hesitation.
Even though the immense pressure was still there, he was no longer immobilized. He dragged his legs forward with much difficulty as if his entire body was infused with lead.
He left the fifth floor and ascended to the sixth.
The moment Fang Lang stepped foot on the sixth floor, an enormous surge of spiritual energy shot out from the ultimate spirit crystal. The surge headed for Fang Lang's body. The energy seeped into his skeleton and charged the core in his energy center!
This surge of spiritual energy was of the highest purity, meaning it was absorbed effortlessly!
Within the core, a large portion of spiritual energy started to transform into blade energy. Fang Lang's cultivation as a new first-grade sword master stabilized and his energy began to rise slowly!
'Absorbed Spiritual Energy: 1200 (low-grade spirit crystal)'
Fang Lang narrowed his eyes as he stood on the staircase between the two floors.
Then, he took a deep breath.
Amazing!
This stream of spiritual energy was equivalent to 400 low-grade spirit crystals!
He was thrilled!
'No wonder so many geniuses want to leave their names on the higher floors. Imagine the awarded spiritual energy after passing each level!'
Fang Lang was instantly motivated to go on.
His aspirations stemmed from his faith and the materialistic rewards. There was no other excuse for him to not strive forward!
Bong!
Upon reaching the sixth level, Fang Lang could sense he was one step closer to the phantom on the almighty throne. In the next second, a colossal amount of pressure exuded from the phantom and crushed Fang Lang from above.
Fang Lang felt a massive weight pressing on his waist, almost snapping his spine!
However, the spiritual energy Fang Lang had previously absorbed started boiling inside him, fusing instantly with his flesh. The transformation rate of spiritual energy into blade energy in his energy center had accelerated as well!
Fang Lang's cultivation was heading towards the level of a second-grade sword master!
Fang Lang was exhilarated!
This would save him a lot of hardships. Perhaps he could reach the cultivation level of most geniuses before the Imperial Examination!
Nevertheless, Fang Lang did not expect to catch up with Old Jiang's cultivation grade.
An eighth-grade sword master was just an impossible task.
Fang Lang was drenched in sweat when he reached the sixth level. His pace was painfully slow—sometimes it would take him a quarter of an hour to take one step.
However, he maintained his composure. He could not afford to hurry as he might be swept away by the immense pressure.
The spiritual sense was revolving at high speed!
Fang Lang clenched his jaws and stayed in Triple Binding Mode. The silhouettes of Jiang Linglong, Ni Wen and Liu Bubai appeared around him, accompanying him through the journey ahead!
His core started altering at that moment, latching onto the spiritual energy. Fang Lang's spiritual sense and physical body were also silently transforming under the pressure of the Emperor's spiritual sense.
The almighty phantom sat on the high throne with gold dragon carvings—his eyes were like brilliant stars in the galaxy, overlooking the traveler below who was climbing one mountain after another.
Something was moving beneath the pair of eyes.
…
Outside the Spirit Pagoda, the two officials from the Ministry of Rites watched awkwardly as Fang Lang stepped onto the sixth level, especially the one who kept betting Fang Lang would not go beyond the fifth level.
Mentor Wen and Headmaster Cui were smiling. At last, Fang Lang had defended the honor of Luojiang Academy.
The official took a deep breath and said, "This kid got lucky! Not only did he trigger the appearance of the Emperor's spiritual sense, he also managed to withstand the massive pressure while ascending to the sixth floor. He must've received a generous reward of spiritual energy after passing the fifth level. Those spiritual energies are of the highest purity from the Spirit Pagoda, distilled from multiple runes. They are free from contaminants and side effects, and hence are perfect for accelerating the transformation of spiritual energy into blade energy!"
The smiles on Mentor Wen and Headmaster Cui's faces widened.
Even though they did not benefit directly from this, it was still gratifying to see their student's achievements!
The two officials' expressions looked odd.
Their primary concern was Fang Lang had absorbed too much spiritual energy!
The Spirit Pagoda's spirit crystals were supplied by the Ministry of Rites, but it was not unlimited. They would need to bear the cost of the exceeding amount, which bothered them slightly.
However, Fang Lang showed no signs of stopping. Was he going to ascend to the seventh floor?
"Impossible. He won't make it!" the official who lost the previous bets clenched his fist and mumbled softly.
Mentor Wen tilted his head and asked, "Do you want to… bet on it?"
The official's expression froze.
He harrumphed coldly and turned away, ignoring Mentor Wen's question.
No more bets!
He would just bet with himself in secret!
Anyway, he refused to believe Fang Lang could reach the seventh floor!
Time passed unknowingly, the day had turned into night.
In the blink of an eye, the two days were coming to an end.
On the sixth floor, Fang Lang was still moving at a painfully slow rate. He stopped after every few steps as if he was in deep thought.
This went on for some time. Soon, it was already the second evening. The setting sun painted the sky with an array of brilliant colors. Surprisingly, Fang Lang had inched his way to the honor roll of the sixth level.
The heart of the official who had made the internal bet sank.
…
On the sixth level of the Spirit Pagoda.
Fang Lang stood at the stairway leading to the seventh floor. He stared at the dark, oppressive stairway and turned around to glance at the sixth level's honor roll.
There were more than a dozen names on the honor roll.
Fang Lang was astonished. He had first-hand experience of how tough it was to reach this point under the pressure of the Emperor's spiritual sense!
If he had not stayed in the Triple Binding Mode, he would not be able to climb up to the sixth floor.
Yet so many people had left their names on this floor!
How great were they!
Fang Lang briefly glanced through.
'Nanyuan Academy, Luo Qiuqiu was here.'
'Donglu Academy, Lin Yun was here.'
'Beijiang Academy, Song Qingyun, signing off.'
…
Fang Lang raised his eyebrow unexpectedly when he saw the familiar names.
The late Lin Yun, and his neighbor in Gatherings of Swords, Song Qingyun.
They were all such geniuses!
Fang Lang suddenly felt he was inadequate and unworthy to compete with them.
Initially, he thought of leaving his name on the sixth floor, but he dismissed the thought immediately when he saw Lin Yun's name.
'No, it's not auspicious to leave my name on the same page as Lin Yun! I must go to the seventh level! I have to!'
A weird obsession took over Fang Lang and motivated him to climb to the seventh floor!
His spiritual sense was on the verge of exploding. Every inch of his skin turned blood-red!
Bong!
He struggled to put his foot down—sweat was pouring down his face.
Fang Lang finally reached the seventh floor. Instantly, he received the rewards in the form of spiritual energy. Fang Lang felt as if he achieved sublimation.
Boom!
Another enormous surge of spiritual energy drove into his energy center, intensifying his core. Within the core, about one-tenth of the spiritual energy was transformed into blade energy.
Second-grade sword master!
In addition, Fang Lang felt every muscle fiber in his body shake—every cell in his body was roaring!
His physical body was also evolving into a martial arts master!
With these cultivation advancements, Fang Lang could sense the weakening of the pressure caused by the Emperor's phantom.
Even though the difference was minute, it allowed Fang Lang to take a few steps forward on the seventh floor.
…
On the practice grounds of Luojiang Academy, a dead silence permeated. The setting sun was like a burning flame.
Both the officials were breathing heavily and speechless, especially the one who kept losing his own bets. He swore he would never make another bet in his life ever again.
Suddenly, the other official's eyes fluttered. "It's been two days, we should let the students out."
The eyes of the official who was fed up with betting lit up.
"Finally!" he yelled excitedly.
Then, he started another wager in his mind.
There was no doubt Fang Lang was remarkable, but the official bet the boy would not leave his name on the honor roll of the seventh floor!
He was confident he would not lose this time!
Why? Time was running out!
Mentor Wen and Headmaster Cui looked regretfully at Fang Lang who was merely a few steps away from the honor roll.
It was very unfortunate.
The official held the talisman and flew towards the entrance of the Spirit Pagoda—his robe billowed in the air.
He reached out eagerly to open the gates.
However, the moment his fingers touched the gate, a thunderous voice echoed from within the Spirit Pagoda as if it was bellowed from the heavens.
"Stand down!"
The official was stunned!
Blood sprayed out of his nose as he stumbled a few steps backward. He crouched down on the floor with both hands on his forehead and said in a trembling voice, "Yes… Your Majesty."
…
Fang Lang felt a little nauseous. The summit was right in front of him. He raised his leaden legs and walked with much difficulty. He would need to climb over the peak of this mountain in order to see the scenic landscapes that he had never experienced before.
After an unknown period of time, his robes were completely soaked with sweat.
With trembling hands, he grabbed the writing brush beside the honor roll of the seventh floor.
He raised his hand as if he was about to reach for the stars.
He had to brave through storms for every stroke he wrote.
Fang Lang was here.
…
On the fourth floor of the Spirit Pagoda, Liu Bubai, Ni Wen and the other top students of Luojiang Academy stopped cultivating. They gathered together and watched the stairway towards the fifth floor with an odd expression.
"How long has it been?"
"Two days," Liu Bubai answered.
"Why hasn't Lang'zi been struck down yet?"
Right, Liu Bubai fell off the fifth floor after he was struck by Chao Xiaojian's spiritual sense.
"Is it possible… that he's still ascending?" Ni Wen bit her lips and said.
Nonetheless, it was taking too long. Withstanding that amount of pressure continuously for two days, will Fang Lang's spiritual sense… collapse?
Ni Wen could not understand the reason behind Fang Lang's determination.
Several students squinted and said from a distance, "It's been two days, which floor is he at?"
One of them even said enviously, "He probably stayed on the fifth floor and refused to come down. Sadly, it's pointless to stay there as he won't receive any rewards if he didn't leave his name on the honor roll. He'll just make a fool of himself."
However, the moment this guy finished talking, the entire pagoda jerked.
Suddenly, a booming voice resonated from the tip of the Spirit Pagoda like a morning bell that announced the time to the whole world.
"Year 276 of the Tang Dynasty, Fang Lang from Luojiang Academy left his name on the seventh level. Only two have achieved this in the past two centuries. Congratulations." The voice reverberated through the entire practice grounds, academy… and even Luojiang City!
Instantly, the whole world fell silent.
Everyone was quiet. The ethereal clouds floated across the sunset-tinted sky.
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