Gai Bai Tong took another step forward, and at that instant, the seventh heavenly wall rumbled, and a gravity of four thousand times pressed down upon him.
Xu Mu's shoulders instantly sagged.
His legs bent, his back seemed to carry a mountain, his bones and flesh felt as if they would burst, the Great Dao of Gravity pressed down, sweat poured like rain, every inch of his skin was repeatedly squeezed, unevenly.
Every cell in his body vibrated madly, seemingly at its limit. The innate abilities flowing through his limbs and body tried to envelop his cells and flesh, to bear the pressure in his stead, but they were repelled by an invisible force, and the Dao Origin flowing through him instantly scattered.
Streaks of linear golden droplets fell to the ground, like exquisite pearls, bouncing up and down.
"The Dao Origin detached so easily."
Xu Mu raised an eyebrow. This Dao Origin was more intimately connected to his body than his innate abilities.
Even if his skin and flesh were torn away by the gravity, these golden droplets would cling tightly to his bones.
If he could endure this much, how could Gai Bai Tong not?
"Because he only wants to bear it with his physical body; this is the most pure trial."
White light flashed, and Charles's voice was hoarse.
The trials set by Fuxi were for extraordinary individuals. But with his pride, how could he be satisfied with mere passing?
Mere touch could lead to enlightenment of the Great Dao of Space. What difficulty could the Great Dao of Gravity pose?
Well… it was indeed difficult, because he had very little time to manipulate his physical body.
His enlightenment of spatial Dao techniques was largely due to where he lived: the Celestial Palace.
That space was boundless. To reach anywhere, he only needed a thought, which was similar to the Dao of Space, and thus he learned it so quickly.
But the Great Dao of Gravity was something he had to learn from scratch. Naturally, he couldn't rush success; he needed to endure extraordinary pain!
Thump… thump… thump!
Xu Mu's face, initially flushed red, gradually turned pale.
Due to the immense pressure, every beat of his heart became difficult.
It felt as if someone were choking him. If he forced his heart to beat, it risked bursting!
Yet, even so, Gai Bai Tong's expression remained impassive as he slowly straightened his back, then closed his eyes.
He chose to relax his body, and the pressure intensified. His internal organs contorted, his blood and flesh were etched into the Great Dao.
Then, his heart rate became stronger and more powerful with each beat.
Thump… thump!
Like a great bell, shaking the earth and mountains.
…
…
Inside the octagonal palace, the sounds of amazement had long since drowned out all else.
"The Demon Eradication Division, truly worthy of being the number one power under heaven. To cultivate such a young Lord-level异人 (yi ren - extraordinary being/individual), I am truly impressed!"
Someone looked at Xu Mu's retreating back and exclaimed in shock.
He hadn't expected that even trials which they, as Domain Lords, wouldn't dare to attempt lightly, Xu Mu would break through like a raging fire, reaching the seventh heavenly wall.
Although his current state seemed precarious, it was enough to prove his talent!
"His physical body surpasses my imagination."
The man with the largest physique in the hall looked solemn.
Even from this distance, he could hear the man's heartbeat, like muffled thunder. The pervasive blood qi actually stirred his nerves, making him want to fight him.
"So young, and truly at Stage Four?"
The little loli holding a teddy bear opened her mouth wide, her large eyes filled with curiosity.
Though she looked small, it didn't mean she was young. It was just that her awakened innate ability was different, like the tall man beside her.
Who would have imagined that these two were siblings?
"Stage Four is the most terrifying."
The man clenched his fist slightly. Just at Stage Four, he could already subtly threaten his physical body. Once he broke through to Domain Lord, who in the world, besides the one who cultivated physical strength on the World Rankings, could stop him?
"I knew this kid wasn't simple!"
In the rogue cultivator camp, a drunken Daoist in a robe, holding a yellow gourd, shouted loudly:
"This kid dared to curse the Wang family's old ancestor to his face, how could he be an ordinary person."
"Demon Eradication Division, you've struck gold this time. At twenty years old, with such talent, he's already a Lord. This talent surpasses Ji Chang!"
"That's not entirely accurate."
Just as some considered Xu Mu a peerless genius, others raised objections.
Beside the Wang family's old ancestor stood a grim-faced eunuch, who spoke:
"In the Domain of the Grim Night, who doesn't know he was just a humble night watchman before? Gaining a fortuitous encounter to awaken his innate ability is one thing, but to advance so quickly to Stage Two? Are you trying to fool ghosts?!"
He glared at the Demon Eradication Division with displeasure, his words laced with sarcasm:
"I suspect, this 'genius' is merely a facade, his realm forcibly piled up with heavenly treasures and unorthodox methods. Beyond that, he's useless, only capable of brute force!"
"How dare you speak like that!"
Yin Zhongxiu couldn't help but retort. He knew Xu Mu's situation better… no, even though he didn't know everything, he believed that Xu Mu absolutely hadn't achieved his current success through those unorthodox means!
"I also find your words, you eunuch, utterly absurd."
The drunken Daoist shook his head, speaking impolitely, directly calling the eunuch "eunuch."
"Insolence!"
The man exploded in anger and was about to attack, but was stopped by the person beside him.
"Let's hear what he has to say first."
The Wang family's old ancestor waved his hand, feeling a headache coming on.
It seemed his good grandson had left him a monumental problem.
Their Wang family had already enmity with Xu Mu. If he truly reached Stage Four through his own strength, his talent surpassing that of Ji Chang in his youth, then what would his future breakthroughs to Stage Five look like?
By then, the Wang family would likely be on the verge of annihilation.
The Wang family's old ancestor hardened his heart. This person must be eliminated as soon as possible, even if it meant offending the entire Demon Eradication Division!
"To say he used heavenly treasures to forcibly elevate his realm is pure nonsense!"
The drunken Daoist scoffed:
"I heard that when he was at Stage Two, he signed a death contract with someone from the Royal City Wang Family and won with ease. How could he have done that if his realm was artificially inflated?"
The eunuch immediately retorted:
"Of course, it's because when the death contract was signed, he was no longer at Stage Two, but at Stage Three or even Stage Four, hence his victory!"
"Idiot." The old man raised his wine gourd and laughed heartily. "If he was at Stage Three, or even Stage Four, why would the person from the Wang Family sign a death contract with him?"
"To fight to the death across realms, are the people of the Wang Family all fools!"
"Insolence!"
The eunuch was terrified. With a sharp shout, all his vital energy locked onto the Daoist, ready to attack at any moment.
"How am I being insolent? Am I wrong?"
The drunken Daoist's face was flushed. Being targeted by a Lord only made him more brazen.
"It seems that the people from the Wang Family are nothing but complete fools."
"After dealing with the junior, the elder came, but the elder was also incompetent and was stopped by Lord Yao Huo, thus missing the best opportunity to eliminate future trouble."
"Wang family's old ancestor, you are disappointing!"
…
He dared to mock the Wang family's old ancestor publicly, so this time, it wasn't just that one eunuch speaking.
"Arrogant!"
The dozen or so yi ren from the Wang family roared in unison. They all activated their innate abilities, pressing down like an overwhelming tide, the surrounding space seemingly distorted.
Facing such power, the drunken Daoist seemed unfazed, leisurely drinking his wine.
The eunuch who had argued with him earlier was trembling.
This person dared to insult the Wang Family and their ancestor in front of the Wang Family's patriarch, causing him to lose face!
A significant part of this was because he had lost the verbal sparring match. If the patriarch blamed him, his life-sustaining blood coral would break…
Then he would die!
"Spouting nonsense, a mere rogue cultivator, I don't believe anyone would dare to help you at this moment!"
Thinking of this, the eunuch shouted sharply and struck before everyone else, wanting to make a final amends!
Buzz!
A powerful azure innate ability gathered in his palm, which he repeatedly kneaded and compressed into a terrifying energy sphere, like a tiny planet containing infinite mysteries.
"Go drink in hell!"
The other two eunuchs also attacked, using almost the same moves. The compressed spheres, after being thrown, all enlarged, shining like stars, exuding terrifying pressure.
Among the temporarily formed alliance of rogue cultivators, there were Domain Lords, but they dared not confront the Wang Family. Facing the attack of three Lords, they quickly scattered, unwilling to stir up trouble.
"They aren't men anymore, yet their tempers are still so volatile."
The drunken Daoist sneered dismissively. Facing the attack, he gracefully lifted his gourd with his right hand, took a big gulp, and simultaneously waved his left hand forward. His sleeve fluttered, as if concealing a world within, with surging clouds.
Splash!
An endless river of water surged forth, its color a murky yellow. It was a river of wine!
Plop!
This river of wine easily blocked the tiny planets. It spanned the air, becoming more turbulent and surging, even reaching the yi ren of the Wang family.
"You've gained the advantage with your words, yet you still relentlessly attack. Does this not tarnish the reputation of the White Cloud Daoist Temple?"
The Wang family's old ancestor snorted coldly and took a step forward. Instantly, heaven and earth trembled. Blood-golden gas surged from his body, colliding with the river of wine. The resulting shockwave caused everyone around to involuntarily retreat.
They were evenly matched.
The drunken Daoist chuckled, flipped his wrist, and pointed the mouth of the wine gourd towards the sky, reabsorbing all the wine rivers.
"After eating too much blood coral, everything tastes fishy."
The Daoist carefully removed anything extraneous from the wine and casually sprinkled it around.
"He's from the White Cloud Daoist Temple!"
Someone exclaimed, as the Wang family's old ancestor had revealed the man's origin with a single word.
As the fourth-ranked power on the Eastern European continent, the White Cloud Daoist Temple was unlike organizations like the Demon Eradication Division with branches across the land. Its main altar, and its only hall, was located in a mountain perpetually shrouded in white clouds within the Hundred Races Alliance.
How many people could fit in one mountain?
No one knew. The overall strength of the White Cloud Daoist Temple remained a mystery. The world only knew that cultivators who descended from the White Cloud Daoist Temple to punish evil and aid the good were never below Stage Four in cultivation.
And this drunkard before him could fight the Wang family's old ancestor to a stalemate, indicating he was certainly a peak Stage Five Domain Lord.
Those rogue cultivators who had abandoned him to avoid disaster now beat their chests and stomped their feet. Who didn't know that the Daoists of the White Cloud Daoist Temple always punished evil and championed good, valuing loyalty and righteousness? They had missed the best opportunity to befriend a great figure!
"Even if I were to kill and set fires now, and commit all sorts of wicked deeds in this world, the reputation of the White Cloud Daoist Temple would not be damaged because of me."
The Daoist clutched his wine gourd and wagged a finger at the Wang family's old ancestor.
In recent years, besides the Demon Eradication Division, which other forces in the world could claim to have killed more demonic beasts and great demons than them?
The Hunter's Alliance also seemed active, but they were essentially a mercenary organization for rogue cultivators, requiring payment.
When their Daoists descended the mountain, they saw injustice and drew their swords, never accepting any silver or gold from the common people. Therefore, the temple's reputation was excellent everywhere.
"Hmph!"
The Wang family's old ancestor said nothing, only turned his head and stared silently at Xu Mu's back.
It was indeed as the smelly Daoist said. He had already missed the best opportunity to kill the other party. Now, with Yao Huo and the others watching intently, it would be difficult for him to act. He could only hope that Xu Mu's talent was not as extraordinary, so that he could rest easy.
"I didn't expect a Domain Lord from the White Cloud Daoist Temple to make a misjudgment."
After the dispute, someone finally couldn't bear it any longer and began to challenge the eight heavenly walls.
It was a burly man with a large saber slung over his shoulder. As he spoke, he stepped before the first heavenly wall.
A gravity of one hundred times pressed down, and his muscles instantly tensed, then rapidly contracted.
He grinned, revealing his gold-inlaid teeth.
This was nothing, no pressure at all.
"Tsk tsk."
The drunken Daoist ignored the man's taunt and shrugged indifferently.
Others might not know the situation, but he did.
Perhaps many people could pass these eight heavenly walls, but most of them would have to rely on their innate abilities or other means of protection.
However, the young man standing before the seventh heavenly wall, silently enduring, did not. Because he saw the droplets of Dao Origin.
They had clearly detached intentionally, which was why he admired Xu Mu, even to the point of awe.
…
Xu Mu had been enduring the trial of the heavenly walls for a long time. It didn't seem that difficult.
Soon, the second person entered, carrying a saber, followed by the third and fourth… almost everyone began to step into it eagerly.
Those with strong physical bodies, like the man with the saber on his shoulder, also reached the sixth heavenly wall like Xu Mu before stopping.
But then, he immediately stepped into the seventh heavenly wall, bearing the gravity, standing shoulder to shoulder with Xu Mu, revealing his signature gold teeth:
"Kid, you've been standing here for half a year, haven't you?"
"If you can't do it, retreat. You're still young, no one will look down on you!"
The man circulated his innate ability, enveloping his internal organs.
This gravity of four thousand times was nothing to him, even a bit easy. Thus, the eight thousand times of the eighth heavenly wall would also be manageable.
The man thought this, and reached out to pat Xu Mu's shoulder, but his hand suddenly missed.
Then he saw the young man silently shift a step to the side.
He still had the strength to move?
The man was surprised, but didn't think too much of it, and strode towards the eighth heavenly wall.
Rumble!
The pressure of eight thousand times descended, the Great Dao bearing down. The man's expression instantly stiffened. Cracking sounds emanated from his bones, and even the gold in his teeth shattered under the pressure. His legs bent, and he fell to the ground, his bones hitting the hard diamond with a heavy thud, cracking instantly.
"Oh!!!"
A pleasure that shot from the base of his tail to the crown of his head surged through the man. He let out a tragic cry, and a gush of red flowed from behind him.
Then, he held nothing back and unleashed his domain.
Although it was only one meter, it was enough to resist the gravity.
The saber-wielding man fled the eighth heavenly wall in a sorry state, his body instantly feeling light.
He collapsed at the foot of the stairs, covered in blood, breathing heavily.
"Damn it, almost died."
The man cursed as he took the large saber off his shoulder. Due to the Great Dao of Gravity, his shoulder blades were almost broken by the saber's back.
"Kuáng Dāo (Mad Saber), no one thinks you're mute if you don't speak. How dare you laugh at me for this?"
The drunken Daoist stood before the first heavenly wall, drinking and pointing at the man, laughing heartily.
A Domain Lord who specialized in physical combat was almost killed by a piece of rock. How embarrassing!
"That was an accident. Come and try if you dare!"
The man, code-named Mad Saber, got up angrily and walked up the stairs, giving the Daoist the middle finger with a fierce look.
"I'm not in a hurry, but someone has already surpassed you."
The drunken Daoist shook his head and leisurely walked towards the second heavenly wall.
And the person he mentioned, who was faster than Mad Saber, was none other than Yao Huo, a World Ranked expert from the Demon Eradication Division.
His hands behind his back, his heavenly and earthly manifestation three feet above his head, he crossed the first seven heavenly walls as if on flat ground. Only at the eighth did his body waver.
"This is cheating!"
Mad Saber's expression turned ugly. He no longer watched and quickly ran up the stairs to the second floor.
His strength was not top-tier. If he wanted to contend for the Holy Relics, he had to seize every moment.
"Don't rush, I can wait for you."
Yao Huo stood before the eighth heavenly wall, not in a hurry to leave, but stood beside Xu Mu, silently guarding him.
At this moment, Gai Bai Tong silently opened his eyes.
After such a long time of flesh and blood being squeezed, and resisting the Great Dao of Gravity, he had finally adapted somewhat.
Xu Mu's body no longer trembled. He began to enjoy the feeling of being squeezed from all directions. Every beat of his heart, every drop of heavy blood flowing, made him feel incredibly invigorated.
"Nothing can enter and leave my body at will, not even the Great Dao. You must leave something behind."
Gai Bai Tong murmured in his heart. He used no innate abilities, relying solely on his physical body to resist the heavenly walls. His goal was to further strengthen this already formidable physical body.
Under the immense pressure of the heavenly walls, he could feel his body constantly adapting. With every breath, every cell in his body vibrated in sync with the ethereal Great Dao, carrying a surging power, wondrous and boundless.
And thus, he attained enlightenment.
…