Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 592 - 277: Lurking Crisis, The Battle of the Heavenly Ladder_2

Longhuang Island was fraught with danger, and that wasn't just talk. Too many hazards lurked in the shadows, often only revealing themselves after someone had died.

Among the crowd, many cast hesitant glances toward the celestial staircase, wondering who would be next to perish. But they were the minority. The vast majority were mentally prepared. In the cultivation world, who didn't risk their life for a chance at great opportunities?

"If you want to get on the island, this is the only way!"

"I'm going first!"

Without much hesitation, figures began to land on the staircase, climbing upward step by step.

The staircase was extraordinary. As the numerous Cultivators set foot upon it, they felt dragon chants ringing in their ears—a deafening sound that made their hearts tremble, their blood surge, and their legs shake.

This was draconic might. The might of the Dragon Emperor.

The higher they went, the more terrifying it became, enough to shatter the will of the weak-minded. Only those with exceptional fortitude and willpower could persist.

"Aaah! I can't take it anymore—"

Soon, someone screamed, unable to hold on any longer, and rolled off the celestial staircase into the vast ocean below. They were completely drained, their face a deathly pale.

「Below」

The seawater glowed as draconic shadows swam about, continuously devouring those who fell.

"Without the Dragon Emperor's control, the rules here have become more chaotic. This path is not an easy one!" someone lamented.

The Dragon Emperor naturally wouldn't have deliberately troubled those who wished to pay him homage. Even if he exerted his might, it wouldn't have been so severe. But now, the draconic might on this celestial staircase was unnaturally terrifying.

The blond youth snorted coldly. "All the better. Those weakling ants from the Lower Realm don't deserve to set foot on the island anyway."

His tall stature and chiseled face exuded an innate arrogance. He stood with his hands behind his back on the staircase, and his aura surged like a golden sun, instantly kicking up a gale that swept in all directions.

RUMBLE!

Many Cultivators who were already struggling found it impossible to continue and tumbled down one after another. In an instant, the path was strewn with skeletons and flowing with fresh blood.

Seeing this, the corners of the blond youth's mouth lifted slightly. He intensified his efforts, his aura growing even more violent as he charged forward. The Cultivators on either side of his path were swept away, plummeting like dumplings dropped into a pot of boiling water.

"Ah!"

"Pfft—"

The scene devolved into chaos. Many of the Proud Children of the Nine Heavens frowned at the sight, yet for some reason, they seemed hesitant to speak up.

Of course, there were some who were not afraid of him. One such person frowned and rebuked, "Wu Ming, what are you doing?"

The blond youth was causing too much trouble, knocking down many of the young, talented cultivators they had recruited from the major powers.

The blond youth, addressed as Wu Ming, sneered, "Just clearing out some trash! If you've got a problem with it, then catch up and knock me off!"

He laughed arrogantly. The others furrowed their brows, but they were powerless against him.

Wang Xiu narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Who is that?"

Yu Xiaolong replied, "Wu Ming of the Wu Clan."

The Wu Clan was a major family in the Yaoguang Heavenly Realm with an incredibly ancient lineage. In recent years, their power was at its zenith, with rumors that one of their powerhouses was about to break through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm.

"Actually, it's not a rumor. That expert from the Wu Clan has already broken through; it's an open secret in our circles," Yu Xiaolong said. "Wu Ming is his descendant."

Wang Xiu clicked his tongue. "No wonder he's so arrogant."

"Don't be fooled by his recklessness. His strength is nothing to scoff at," Yu Xiaolong continued. "Yi Chen, the one you killed, was already among the top tier of the younger generation, but the gap between him and Wu Ming is still immense."

Yi Chen was, at best, the most outstanding talent the Yi Clan had produced in several decades. Wu Ming, however, was so highly valued by the Wu Clan's old patriarch that the patriarch was personally involved in his training. His talent and aptitude were both exceptional, and his strength was formidable, placing him in a league of his own among his peers. Very few present could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.

「...」

Wang Xiu was also ascending the celestial staircase, accompanied by the Disaster Brood, Yan Ji, and Yu Xiaolong, who had dismounted his phoenix luan to climb on foot. The rules here were terrifying; one wrong move could lead to instant death. If he were seen riding his mount, it could be considered an insult to the Dragon Emperor, and if he were instantly obliterated, who could he possibly complain to?

Wang Xiu maintained a steady but inconspicuous pace. As he climbed, he used the Supreme Sensing Chapter to feel the circulation of the various energies between heaven and earth.

At this level, the pressure on me is negligible. Wang Xiu thought to himself. In truth, he only felt a slight weight on his body, which didn't affect his movements at all.

He turned to look at Yu Xiaolong, who was panting slightly but still keeping up without falling behind.

The higher they climbed, the more the pressure multiplied, as if several small mountains were weighing on their shoulders. Everyone's pace grew slower and slower. Even their Spirits felt the immense strain.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Dark figures fell from above, plummeting into the depths.

Wu Ming grew even more frenzied. Coming from behind, he overtook one Cultivator and young prodigy after another, sweeping even more people off the stairs, their screams echoing as they fell.

Wang Xiu looked up and saw Zhang Zhong and his companions among them. Swept by the astral wind swirling around Wu Ming, their faces instantly paled, they lost their footing, and began to tumble down.

"Careful!"

Wang Xiu reacted swiftly, forming a giant hand of Spiritual Energy to catch them.

"Senior Brother Wang Xiu!"

"Junior Brother..."

The green-robed girl, Bi Yuan, was caught by Wang Xiu. Unharmed after the close call, she patted her full chest, her pretty face still etched with lingering fear. "Thank you for saving my life, Senior Brother Wang Xiu!"

Zhang Zhong was also covered in a cold sweat. "Thank you, Junior Brother Wang Xiu. Without you, we likely wouldn't have survived."

Wang Xiu waved his hand. "Think nothing of it. But... you should really reconsider my earlier proposal."

Zhang Zhong fell silent, exchanging a hesitant glance with Bi Yuan and the others. Previously, Wang Xiu had suggested they turn back and avoid Longhuang Island, warning them of its many dangers. But they hadn't been willing to miss such an opportunity. Now, before they had even set foot on the island, his words had already been proven true. This place was indeed fraught with peril. The tip of the iceberg had been revealed, whether it was the strange laws of the world, the unseen dangers, or the pressure from the Proud Children of the Nine Heavens.

The group remained silent.

Wang Xiu didn't wait for their answer, leaving them to make their own choice. After speaking, he continued his steady, even-paced ascent.

Just then, Wu Ming, who had been advancing triumphantly, sensed the commotion behind him and glanced back. Seeing Wang Xiu save the people he had just knocked down, his brow furrowed slightly. His gaze then fell upon Wang Xiu, his expression unreadable.

Yu Xiaolong warned, "Be careful. That man is extremely vengeful. By intervening just now, you've likely made an enemy of him."

Wang Xiu said nothing, continuing to climb at a steady pace.

Whether it was intentional or not, Wu Ming's speed suddenly slowed, allowing Wang Xiu to gradually catch up.

"I've heard of you," Wu Ming suddenly said, looking at Wang Xiu with a smirk that wasn't quite a smile. "Killing Yi Xing, finishing off Yi Chen... Your strength isn't half-bad."

Wang Xiu returned a calm smile. "I'm honored to have left an impression on Young Master Wu."

Wu Ming's smile turned eerie. "But surely you don't think that gives you the right to speak to me as an equal, do you?"

Wang Xiu's brow twitched, but he remained silent.

Wu Ming paused, then broke into a cruel grin. "Daring to save the people I choose to kill... In all my life, I've never seen anyone as arrogant as you."

Hearing this, Wang Xiu chuckled lightly. "Well, now you have."

This time, it was Wu Ming who was stunned. Logically, anyone who heard such words from him should have shown a terrified expression. Ever since he was a child, everyone—regardless of their status or background—had reacted that way. Even his peers from other Ancient Clans dared not be too presumptuous in his presence.

The reason was simple: though many came from Ancient Clans, not many had an old patriarch personally backing them. He happened to be one of the few. And the Wu Clan's patriarch was fiercely protective of his own. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Interesting..." Wu Ming murmured, the smile on his lips growing more cruel as a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "How about a wager? Let's see who can reach Dragon Island first."

Wang Xiu smiled. "Sure. What are the stakes?"

Wu Ming enunciated each word, "The loser has to roll back down!"

As soon as he finished speaking, golden light erupted from his body. His speed surged, and he vanished up the celestial staircase. Immediately, gasps of shock echoed from the crowd.

"He can still sprint?"

"That's Wu Ming for you!"

"How can he treat this level of pressure as if it's nothing?"

Wu Ming moved quickly, the wind howling past his ears, mingling with the crowd's exclamations. A satisfied expression appeared on his face. He greatly enjoyed this sensation.

As he sped onward, he glanced back, eager to see the shock and terror on Wang Xiu's face.

But the sight that met his eyes nearly scared his soul out of his body.