Chapter 155

Chapter 155: Ao Lie Becomes a Saint

Nangong Zhandao, clear-minded and undisturbed, reached the summit under the gaze of countless eyes, his demeanor transcendent as he ascended.

He stepped onto the battle platform.

Then, Nangong Zhandao held his sword with both hands, closed his eyes to rest, and stopped paying attention to those still on the Ladder of Ascension.

“Impressive!”

Within the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, the Demon Sage Lu Xu gasped in astonishment. Though his son Lu Ming was on the Hidden Dragon List and possessed the potential of a Great Emperor, he was vastly different when compared to Nangong Zhandao.

Seeing Nangong Zhandao reach the top together made Bu Linglong and the others’ faces turn extremely unpleasant.

They had come from afar, drawn by both the luck of the Yuan Realm and by Nangong Zhandao himself. Yet, now he had surged far ahead, reaching the summit first – a scene that felt like a harsh slap to their faces.

The gap was glaringly obvious.

Not long after, Bu Linglong and the others also reached the summit one after another.

“Nangong Zhandao, climbing the Ladder of Ascension is just one thing; it doesn’t represent true strength. In the upcoming contest, I will show you the might of the Mystic Law Sect.” The black-veiled woman from the Mystic Law Sect spoke, her voice ice-cold and freezing to the bone.

“Count on it.” Nangong Zhandao uttered two words.

Meng Feixian sat down in lotus position, quietly regulating her breathing alone.

“Huff… I’m exhausted.” Qi Wuhen finally scrambled onto the battle platform, panting heavily. He flopped down, sprawling with limbs spread like a boneless creature, looking utterly spent, as if about to breathe his last.

“Stop pretending.” Meng Feixian kicked him, visibly irritated.

“Sister Meng, I really am exhausted.” Qi Wuhen complained.

Meng Feixian couldn’t be bothered to pay him any mind.

Everyone on the platform was at least a late-stage saint realm expert; who couldn’t see through Qi Wuhen’s act?

Qi Wuhen awkwardly chuckled and immediately got to his feet.

“You killed my Taihao Heavenly Sect members. Meng Baiyu also died because of you. Today, I will make you pay with your life.” Bu Linglong’s beautiful face turned frosty, her eyes gleaming with killing intent.

“I ain’t scared of ya.” Qi Wuhen retorted dismissively.

Having gone through trials in the Demon Suppression Cave, he was no longer the Qi Wuhen of before.

Time gradually slipped by. More and more young prodigies passed the trial of the Ladder of Ascension and ascended the battle platform.

However, there were also those who withdrew voluntarily.

The Ladder of Ascension was simply too difficult; few could withstand the trial.

“Old Dragon King, is your little whelp really planning to climb onto the Hidden Dragon Gathering’s battle platform at the Complete God King realm?” Lian Jiuyou chuckled.

“Why not?” Ao Bing sounded defiant, but his tone betrayed his true thoughts.

He did not have confidence in himself either.

Among the talents on the Ladder of Ascension, besides Ji Xinyu, Ao Lie, and Lu Ming, which one was not at the sage level?

Now, six young Saint realm talents had already withdrawn, and Lu Ming had also come down, leaving only Ao Lie and Ji Xinyu struggling to persist.

It could be imagined that they would not be able to hold out much longer.

Ao Bing looked at Ao Lie on the Ladder of Ascension, his gaze heavy—how could he not know Ao Lie’s thoughts?

However, reality was cruel.

"Admirable courage."

The Mystic Law Sect’s Great Emperor stared at Ao Lie and Ji Xinyu, a trace of disdain in his eyes. "But sadly, it’s nothing more than reckless bravery—not worth praising."

"Brother Ao, I’m still with you."

Ji Xinyu grasped Ao Lie’s hand, her gaze firm. "Whether we reach the top or not, our persistence has meaning."

"This is a trial."

Ao Lie’s eyes quivered, and he nodded firmly.

"Let’s do our utmost."

The two silently agreed and continued their climb upward.

At that moment, they were on the fifty-second step, still far from the end.

"Master, these two are just wasting time—drive them down," the Holy Mother Palace’s female emperor grumbled. "Our time is very precious."

"Agreed."

The Mystic Law Sect’s Great Emperor voiced his support.

"Who told you they were wasting time?" Ye Xu said lightly.

"Master, could you possibly think they can pass the trial?" Royal Prince Bao of the Holy Ancestor Dynasty asked Ye Xu, his gaze shifting.

"Success depends on effort."

Ye Xu said solemnly: "The Ladder of Ascension isn’t measured by cultivation level. If it were, why let God King realm cultivators ascend it?"

"It’s just a test, just a trial."

Ao Bing shuddered, and a flicker of hope appeared in his eyes.

If that was the case, didn’t Ao Lie and Ji Xinyu still have a chance?

"Their pace is far too slow. If this continues, we’d probably need to give them several days—it’s all a waste of everyone’s time," the Mystic Law Sect’s Great Emperor said.

"Amitabha."

Then, a white-robed old monk with drooping white eyebrows pressed his palms together in prayer, his face kindly, and said: "All beings have their own fates. I believe we cannot deprive these two young friends of their opportunities based on personal views."

"Old bald donkey, this isn’t your affair—shut your mouth."

The Mystic Law Sect’s Great Emperor spat out angrily.

The white-robed old monk hailed from the Little West Heaven Temple in the Mysterious Realm. Like the Mystic Law Sect, both were major powers in the Mysterious Realm. The Mystic Law Sect was demonic, so it naturally clashed with the Little West Heaven Temple.

Usually, the two great forces never lacked conflicts.

"Do not forget, this is the Hidden Dragon Gathering hosted by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion," the old monk cautioned.

The Mystic Law Sect’s Great Emperor’s eyes narrowed, flickering with apprehension, and he instantly withdrew.

"What a waste of time."

The young man in linen gazed indifferently at the two figures upon the Ladder of Ascension.

The time it took to drink a cup of tea passed, yet Ao Lie and Ji Xinyu had only traversed four steps, still a vast distance from the summit.

Even if they truly could complete the climb, it would likely take several days.

Boom!

Suddenly.

A surge of magical energy rippled across the Ladder of Ascension. Ao Lie’s aura exploded dramatically as divine light swirled around his body. A majestic dragon emerged from within him, coiling around his form.

Ao Lie’s blood surged as a dragon’s roar shook the heavens; his aura climbed frantically.

"Lier…"

Ao Bing trembled with excitement. "The bloodline of the ancestral dragon… His bloodline of the ancestral dragon has finally fully awakened! Heaven blesses the Eastern Sea dragon clan! Heaven blesses the Eastern Sea Dragon Palace!"

The bloodline of the ancestral dragon had always lain dormant within Ao Lie, yet remained incompletely activated.

Until this very moment. Under the immense pressure of the Ladder of Ascension, the ancestral dragon’s bloodline roared back to life in its entirety. Ao Lie’s cultivation surged alongside it, successfully breaking through to the saint level.

"He achieved sainthood…"

Even Lian Jiuyou looked astonished.

Beside him, the Demon Sage Lu Xu, and Lu Xu himself both flushed slightly with embarrassment. They had utterly dismissed Ao Lie; who could have foreseen this unexpected gain?

"It seems Ao Lie is the biggest victor emerging from this trial."

A smile appeared on Lin Qianmo’s face.

With the ancestral dragon’s bloodline fully awakened and ascended to saint realm, Ao Lie would undoubtedly secure a place upon the battle platform.

This transformation was nothing short of a carp leaping through the Dragon Gate — a dramatic ascent.

"The bloodline of the ancestral dragon…"

Royal Prince Bao murmured, his eyes deep and fathomless.

"Master, was all of this within your foresight?" The Empress of the Holy Mother Palace looked toward Ye Xu. She finally understood why Ye Xu had insisted this trial proceed.

Ao Lie, with the ancestral dragon’s bloodline fully awakened and the cultivation of a saint, was now more than capable of conquering the Ladder of Ascension.

"The Master possesses truly remarkable wisdom!"

"Our vision was shallow; only the Master possesses such sharp insight, able to perceive everything clearly."

Everyone hastened to offer flattering praise.

Ye Xu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He had spoken only the objective truth; even he himself could never have envisioned Ao Lie achieving sainthood and awakening the ancestral dragon’s bloodline on the Ladder of Ascension.

It was pure fluke — sheer, blind luck.

Yet, he did not refute their praises.

He himself was the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, and that was certainly beyond doubt.

"I said it was a trial,"

Ye Xu laughed and said, "This is his fortune."

"Our Master is wise,"

the crowd continued to flatter him.

On the Ladder of Ascension, Ji Xinyu was also stunned.

Ao Lie had actually broken through.

However, the two people were in different times and spaces, so Ao Lie’s breakthrough couldn’t affect her.

Boom!

The heavenly tribulation was brewing, instantly covering the sky for ten thousand miles.

Ao Lie let out a long cry and actively charged into the heavenly tribulation.

Vaguely, a five-clawed divine dragon could be seen tearing thunderbolts, swallowing the Divine Thunder, wreaking havoc, forcibly tearing apart the clouds of tribulation and refining the power of the heavenly tribulation.

Half an hour later, the clouds and mist dispersed, and peace returned to the world.

Ao Lie descended from the sky. His eyes turned golden, and his entire body was covered in layers of golden dragon scales, emanating an ancient aura as if from primordial times.

He retracted his magic power, the dragon scales vanished, and he returned to human form.

"Another formidable enemy has shown up,"

on the battle platform, a saint-realm mid-stage genius frowned and said.

"He’s only just stepped into the saint level; it’s not a big threat," another person said.

The young man in linen had a cold expression.

He never could have imagined that Ao Lie, whom he had already written off as worthless, would bounce back from rock bottom, leap to become a saint, and now hold the power to fight him.

"How intriguing,"

the young man in linen licked his lips.

"The Yuan Realm really is where fate gathers, to produce a dragon clan whose bloodline of the ancestral dragon has fully revived," Bu Linglong said with a detached gaze.

"If we can draw his blood to refine into a great pill, it would surely be superbly nourishing,"

the tall man from the Holy Sect of Transformation said, his eyes crimson, revealing a bloodthirsty instinct.

"Ao Lie thanks you, senior,"

having broken through to the saint realm, Ao Lie used the void as ground, half-knelt upon it, and expressed his gratitude to Ye Xu.

"Hurry up and ascend the platform,"

Ye Xu smiled in satisfaction and urged him again.

"Uh…"

Ao Lie’s expression froze momentarily; he immediately landed on the stair and gazed affectionately at Ji Xinyu beside him.

"Brother Ao, you go ahead,"

Ji Xinyu smiled brightly. "Don’t lose face for the Yuan Realm."

Leaving behind that single sentence, Ji Xinyu turned and walked away from the Ladder of Ascension.

It wasn’t that she lacked the confidence to challenge it.

But even if she did pass the Ladder of Ascension, what could she do?

Every single person upon the battle platform possessed saint level cultivation.

Her own cultivation was far too weak.

Although she had trained diligently during this period and had reached the late stage of the God King realm, her foundation was still insufficient to rely on the Ladder of Ascension for a breakthrough to saint level.

Therefore, even if she passed the Ladder of Ascension, Ji Xinyu would be unable to participate in the fighting.

It was better to simply save everyone’s time.

"This girl is indeed a fine match for Lie’er," thought Ao Bing as he watched Ji Xinyu, his expression one of contentment – the look of a father-in-law looking at his future daughter-in-law.

He had already decided; once this current matter was resolved, he would send Ao Lie to the Pure Land to propose marriage to Liu Ningmei.

"I definitely won’t," Ao Lie muttered, fists clenched tightly, his gaze burning like fire as he looked towards the few dozen steps that remained.

Swoosh!

Ao Lie continued ascending the ladder.

Having broken through to saint level, his power had surged explosively. His speed now nearly matched Qi Wuhen’s. In merely the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, he had reached the battle platform.

The gazes of many people turned towards him.

"You might make the top ten now," Qi Wuhen chuckled slyly. "But you still can’t compare to me."

"That’s not necessarily true," Ao Lie retorted, full of spirit and confidence.

"Now that everyone is present, cease the idle chatter," Yang Xuanzhan said as he flew lightly onto the battle platform. He produced a bag of holding and stated lightly, "According to the rules, begin the drawing of lots."

"Contestants whose drawn numbers are consecutive shall fight," he continued, "so we can determine the top twenty."