Boom, boom, boom!
In the sky, the constant booming and flickering light resembled countless stars exploding, transforming into brilliant fireworks.
One after another, figures collided with layers of invisible barriers. Some were stopped, while others continued to push through.
As time went on, more and more people were blocked, with only a few able to keep advancing.
Soon, the air was filled with screams of frustration.
"Why is this happening?! I, Huang Shijie, have been stopped five hundred miles away from Beast God Mountain!"
"This can't be true! I don't believe it!"
"My fate is my own... Agh!"
Many were unwilling to accept the truth, feeling crushed after being so self-assured. Many lived in dreams, only to be kicked back into harsh reality.
Reality is cruel.
Meanwhile, a few dazzling figures appeared in the sky, flying from various directions toward Beast God Mountain.
"Prince Qiongqi!"
"Prince Kui Niu!"
"Princess Phantom Butterfly!"
"Princess Jinghong!"
"Rongcang!"
"Ge Hong!"
"Li Yang!"
"Fan Zhongyan!"
Princess Bai Lu recited these names one by one. The first few were descendants of the Ten Kings, while the latter were the peerless geniuses of the Holy Academy.
All these individuals were powerful, well-prepared, and advancing rapidly, showing no signs of slowing down.
"We need to speed up as well."
Princess Bai Lu opened her right hand, revealing a snow-white feather. The feather shimmered with a soft glow, emitting faint flickers of light.
Buzz!
She tossed the feather into the air. It disintegrated into a silvery-white light, enveloping the three of them.
Immediately, the oppressive force surrounding them, which had been bearing down like a tidal wave, receded like the tide.
If earlier, it felt like they were walking under a heavy burden, now... well, it still felt like that, but the weight was significantly lighter.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
With their speed greatly increased, the trio swiftly advanced toward the towering Beast God Mountain.
Those behind them, who had been blocked by the barriers, watched this scene with frustration and madness in their eyes.
"I've lost! Completely lost!"
"I was beaten at the starting line."
"Father, how could you be so foolish?!"
"I'm not willing to accept this! I... Wahhh."
Some people cursed the heavens, expressing their frustration with useless anger, and eventually, they broke down, sobbing.
It was quite pathetic.
But the world never pays attention to the losers, and those who forge ahead will never bother with their cries.
Boom, boom, boom!
Finally, Qin Zi and the others arrived at the foot of Beast God Mountain, only to be struck by an overwhelming force that forced them to land.
Flying was prohibited here!
Climbing out of a crater he had made on impact, Qin Zi looked around and saw a gigantic staircase in front of him, like a waterfall suspended in mid-air.
Descending from that staircase were transparent waves of pressure, flowing down step by step, spreading out like ripples.
"I knew it wouldn't be that easy."
Princess Bai Lu took a deep breath and said solemnly, "This staircase is likely the real test."
Qin Zi tried to sense it.
The pressure flowing down from the staircase felt like a massive dragon lurking in the abyss, giving an overwhelming sense of depth and danger.
While it seemed calm now, there was no telling what kind of terrifying power it could unleash once it stirred.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
At that moment, several more formidable figures arrived. They exchanged glances but said nothing.
Princess Phantom Butterfly, however, sneaked a glance at Jin Zhi, then quickly turned her gaze away, looking guilty.
"Hmm?"
Princess Bai Lu shot a wary look toward the other side but didn't notice anything unusual. Still, she instinctively moved closer to Jin Zhi.
The group remained silent for a long time.
No one made any rash moves, all on guard against each other, fearing a sneak attack.
But waiting indefinitely wasn't a viable plan.
Before long, Prince Kui Niu made the first move. With his tough skin and powerful body, he believed he could take a hit and decided to test the waters first.
Although there was risk involved, if he could gain an advantage, it would increase his chances of seizing the Beast God's Heart later. After all, sometimes victory is determined by the smallest margins.
"Kui Niu's Undying Body!"
He roared to the sky, his body swelling until his upper garments burst apart, revealing his blackish-blue skin beneath.
Immediately, a wild, primal aura radiated from him, as though a prehistoric beast had stepped out of the distant past.
Thud!
He stomped onto the staircase, and instantly, the pressure on the steps surged violently, like calm water suddenly brought to a boil.
Crash!
The impact of the pressure made the torn remnants of his clothing flap wildly in the wind—even though his upper garments had already exploded. At this point, he was shirtless, but let's not get caught up in the details.
"Hmph, mere pressure, what can it do to me?!"
He leaped into the air, soaring tens of meters upward in an arc, crossing dozens of steps at once.
Boom!
But at that moment, the pressure from those steps surged together, crashing into him all at once.
"What?!"
Prince Kui Niu's expression changed drastically. But now, mid-air and unable to fly, he had no way to dodge.
Bang!
He was flung back, plummeting headfirst, flailing his arms like a dog paddling, as he fell to the ground.
At that moment, the world in his eyes seemed to slow down.
He saw everyone else watching him, their mouths slowly curving into exaggerated smirks as they passed by him before he hit the ground.
"Nooo!"
Prince Kui Niu let out a heart-wrenching scream. He knew he had lost his chance.
Thud!
A loud crash echoed as Prince Kui Niu landed headfirst, his head buried in the ground.
This place was suppressed by a mysterious force, making everyone feel as if they were carrying massive mountains on their shoulders, slowing their movements.
By the time Prince Kui Niu pushed himself off the ground, pulling his head free, the others had already climbed far ahead, leaving him behind.
"Ahhh!"
The not-so-bright Prince Kui Niu knelt on the ground, clutching his head and howling, his upper body twisting back and forth like a spinning top.
"Haha, those big oafs are always the ones who suffer. I'm surprised Kui Niu King trusted him with this."
Princess Bai Lu, jumping swiftly up the steps, couldn't help but chuckle.
"Maybe Kui Niu King is the same way?" Jin Zhi suggested.
"Uh..."
Princess Bai Lu froze for a moment before suddenly remembering something. She gasped, "Brother Jin, you're a genius!"
Kui Niu King... was indeed quite simple-minded.
However, when someone possesses terrifying power, even their simplicity becomes dangerous. They might easily stab you to death without any qualms, and think it's perfectly normal.
"Kill!!"
At that moment, on the other side of the staircase, one of the Holy Academy's geniuses, Ge Hong, suddenly attacked Prince Qiongqi.
"Heh, I was expecting this!"
Prince Qiongqi sneered, unleashing a powerful aura as he clashed with Ge Hong.
Another Holy Academy genius, Rongcang, attacked Princess Phantom Butterfly, and an intense battle broke out between them.
The third Holy Academy genius, Fan Zhongyan, charged toward Qin Zi and his companions, but Jin Zhi intercepted him directly.
"Jinghong Soars!"
Princess Jinghong rushed toward Qin Zi and Princess Bai Lu, her entire body radiating dazzling light. Behind her, a pair of white wings spread wide as she crashed toward them with brute force.
Boom, boom, boom!
The power she wielded was terrifying, hard to imagine. For someone who usually appeared gentle, her strength was shockingly violent.
"She's so strong!"
"Impossible!"
Qin Zi and Princess Bai Lu exchanged glances, both showing expressions of shock, as though they were overwhelmed by her power.
The three of them soon became entangled in a fierce battle.
Bang, bang, bang!
The fight was intense, with flashes of light bursting in rapid succession. Nearby, the other battles were just as heated.
"Honghu Devours the Heavens!"
At last, a giant image of a honghu bird appeared above Princess Jinghong, diving down and swallowing both Qin Zi and Princess Bai Lu in one gulp!