Ninety-nine bolts!
The same ninety-nine heavenly thunderbolts!
Ye Zhiqiu's heavenly tribulation was identical in number to Chen Yunxuan's, and no one found anything unusual about it.
Atop Mount Taihua
At this moment, Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu exchanged glances, momentarily unsure of what to do next.
"Is it really over just like this?"
"Mount Taihua's summit actually has no oppressive aura at all. Had I known, I would've stayed below to cultivate a little longer," Chen Yunxuan said helplessly.
"I didn’t expect this either. I thought the summit’s pressure would be even stronger, but… there’s nothing. Does this mean we’ve completed the Earth Ranking’s trial?" Ye Zhiqiu was equally puzzled.
"Not sure. Let’s wait."
"However, Li Qiye and the others have the oppressive aura to aid their cultivation. They’ll probably catch up to us soon."
"Without the pressure, our cultivation speed will revert to normal. Improving our strength won’t be so easy now."
"Well, let’s do our best. They shouldn’t reach the summit too quickly."
With nothing else to do, Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu could only continue cultivating atop Mount Taihua.
As time passed, three months later, Li Qiye finally ascended the summit and faced his own heavenly tribulation.
Half a year later, Gu Xian'er and Gu Fengyao reached the peak simultaneously.
"Five heavenly tribulations have appeared—it must be Chen Yunxuan and the other four, right?"
"It seems they’ve all made it to the summit."
"Tsk, the Earth Ranking has fifty spots. Do the remaining forty-five even stand a chance?"
"They should. Those still inside must have improved their cultivation significantly by now."
"Let’s hope so."
After so much time had passed, the initial excitement and anticipation had long faded. The only reason people remained was their unwillingness to leave without seeing the final outcome after such a long wait.
"Old man, what are you staring at again?"
In a distant mountain village, an elderly man kept his gaze fixed on Mount Taihua.
"Thunder’s striking over there again."
"Isn’t that normal? It’s been thundering for nearly a year now."
"Ah, tell the kids in our family never to go there—getting struck by lightning is no joke."
"Fine, fine. They wouldn’t go that far anyway. Who knows what’s happening over there? Must’ve done something terrible to deserve so much lightning."
"By the way, that Li boy from the east end of the village said he’d go check out the commotion half a year ago. Has he come back yet?"
"Oh right! It’s been over six months. Did he get struck by lightning too?"
"Ah, that Li boy was a good lad. What a shame."
The relentless heavenly tribulations atop Mount Taihua had become a topic of widespread discussion.
However, most ordinary folk, unaware of cultivation, could only gossip idly.
Those with real knowledge understood—this was the work of cultivators undergoing tribulation at the summit.
"Fifty people!"
"Exactly fifty!"
When the fiftieth person arrived at the summit, the barrier surrounding Mount Taihua vanished.
"Is it over?"
"Has the Earth Ranking trial ended just like that?"
"Seriously? The so-called Earth Ranking competition was just about reaching the summit?"
"Damn it! I thought there’d be a fight. How anticlimactic!"
"Anticlimactic? Scaling Mount Taihua took over three years—how is that anticlimactic?"
"It was incredibly difficult. Too many were eliminated, and only the strongest could reach the summit."
"I wonder how powerful those at the summit are now."
"The barrier’s gone. Should we go up and see?"
Go up?
In the past, the moment the barrier disappeared, people would’ve rushed up immediately.
But now, after witnessing Mount Taihua endure endless heavenly tribulations, fear had taken root.
Meanwhile, atop the summit, Chen Yunxuan and the others exchanged uncertain glances.
"My cultivation has reached the fifth level of the Immortal Realm, so why am I only ranked eighth?"
"Eighth? I was already at the first level of the Immortal Realm when I entered the barrier, and now I’ve reached the sixth level. Yet I’m only one rank above you—seventh!"
"Oh, so we’re ranking ourselves now? Just because you arrived earlier doesn’t mean you’re actually seventh or eighth, does it?"
"Exactly! The Earth Ranking never said the first to reach the summit would be first place. If that were the case, I—"
"You what? Do you think you could’ve been the first?"
"Hmph! All I know is I’m no weaker than any of you."
Every person standing here was a prodigy from their respective factions, hailed as geniuses. None were willing to admit inferiority, and the tension was palpable.
Especially toward Chen Yunxuan’s group—many had been dissatisfied since the testing monument and had waited for the Earth Ranking to prove themselves.
But no one expected the trial to be so unconventional.
"Seems like… some are targeting us?"
"Implying we arrived early but aren’t actually strong?" Chen Yunxuan remarked with a faint smile.
"That’s the vibe I’m getting too," Ye Zhiqiu agreed.
"Fight or not?" Li Qiye’s question was brief and direct.
"Forty-five opponents. Nine each?" Gu Xian'er suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Gu Fengyao nodded.
Their words instantly darkened the expressions of the others. Such arrogance!
Nine each? They were being utterly dismissed!
"Uh, I’m not fighting!"
"I’m from the Luo Divine Palace."
"Me neither. I’m from the Gu Family—Young Mistress, how could you forget your own people?"
"Ahem… I fought Ye Zhiqiu before and lost. Count me out."
"Eh, I’m not here to fight. You guys go ahead."
In moments, over half had withdrawn. Some knew they stood no chance against Chen Yunxuan’s group, while others were aligned with them from the start.
The remaining opponents wilted under the realization.
What was the point now?
Those who refused to fight Chen Yunxuan’s group didn’t say they wouldn’t fight the others. If a battle broke out, they’d side with Chen Yunxuan, leaving no hope of victory.
"So… no fight?"
"The Earth Ranking—"
Before the words could finish, a dazzling golden light erupted across the sky, startling everyone.
The Earth Ranking… had finalized!