Chapter 769: Chapter 322: The Sky-reaching Stairway!! (Part 2)

But this time, it was different from before.

The shattered and reformed bones contained traces of golden runes, these runes, extremely obscure and enigmatic, seemed to embody infinite power.

These runes spread across every inch of his bones, and within Xu Ran’s body, these golden runes connected and intertwined, faintly forming an even more mysterious rune.

These golden runes emitted an aura identical to that of the White Jade Stairs.

"Buzz!"

At this moment, a buzzing sound echoed from within Xu Ran, and a faint wave of air spread from his body, touching the shattered Divine Stone, which also emitted a golden glow.

At this time.

Xu Ran’s body had completely regained control, and the pressure that had felt like ocean waves vanished instantly.

"Tap!"

A crisp landing sound suddenly echoed.

It was seen that Xu Ran’s right foot had stepped onto the White Jade Stairs, facing no more obstructions.

The eerie figure witnessed this scene and immediately sighed in relief.

"Finally succeeded!" He instinctively wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, soothing his anxious heart.

He had abandoned his body and cultivation to become a heart, turning into something neither human nor ghost, just to confirm the scene he saw upon falling.

When he saw Xu Ran at that moment, he confirmed that this was the person he had waited for over endless ages.

After expending such tremendous time and effort, and even being identified as having the potential of a Young Divine King, if even the White Jade Stairs couldn’t be passed, the eerie figure could not accept it.

"But, if the first step is already this difficult, the journey ahead will likely take even more time, won’t it?!"

The worry once again appeared on the eerie figure’s face.

The White Jade Stairs, consisted of at least tens of thousands of steps. If every step required so much time, how long would it take to reach the top?

"I’ve waited for so many ages, a bit more time doesn’t matter, as long as Xu Ran successfully ascends to the clouds that’s enough!"

He invested so much time just to ensure Xu Ran’s successful ascent to the clouds, as long as this goal is achieved, regardless of the time spent, it would all be worth it.

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

"Tap!"

...

While the eerie figure was pondering, suddenly, tens of footsteps echoed throughout the Dao Field.

The sound wasn’t loud, but it was very determined, and quite light.

The eerie figure followed the sound and saw a small silhouette on the White Jade Stairs, moving swiftly and effortlessly.

That silhouette was Xu Ran.

"This...this..."

The eerie figure’s eyes widened in shock, his fingers trembling, pointing at Xu Ran who continued to step onto the White Jade Stairs as if witnessing an extraordinary phenomenon.

"This speed, it’s too fast!"

At this moment, Xu Ran’s pace on the White Jade Stairs was as if he was walking on flat ground, the enormous pressure from before seemed as if it never existed.

In an instant, Xu Ran had already stepped onto the ninety-ninth step, just one step away from the hundredth step.

Although Xu Ran’s ground-like footing speed startled the eerie figure, such a scene had never appeared since the Dao Field existed.

However, every hundred steps on the White Jade Stairs was a hurdle, after this hurdle, a broad road awaited, but the pressure on the steps below would exponentially increase.

When Xu Ran first stepped on the initial step, it was so difficult; now, what would the hundredth step be like?

The eerie figure curiously stared at Xu Ran’s back.

At this moment, Xu Ran’s eyes were blazing, staring at the hundredth step ahead, full of anticipation.

The hundredth step in front of him wasn’t a step, but an Illusory Gate, similar to the Seven-Colored Gate entering the Nine-Layered Giant Tower, filled with the Power of Space.

According to the information provided by the eerie figure, when they previously ascended the stairs, such a scene never occurred; the stairs were just stairs, with nothing else appearing.

Now, the appearance of this Illusory Gate made Xu Ran excited yet a bit nervous.

"Tap!"

Moments later, Xu Ran lifted his right foot and gently stepped onto the hundredth step.

At this moment.

In the eerie figure’s eyes, Xu Ran’s right foot once again hovered in mid-air, unable to fully contact the hundredth step, the scene now was identical to stepping onto the first step.

Moreover, the space Xu Ran was in seemed paused, without any movement, not even a tremor in his body.

"What’s happening again?" murmured the eerie figure.

This time since Xu Ran entered the Dao Field, situations haven’t occurred in ages, something too peculiar.

"Could it be, Xu Ran is stuck on this hundredth step again?" the eerie figure speculated.

Besides this reason, no other explanations were possible.

The eerie figure shook his head, "I only hope Xu Ran can pass soon!"

...

At this time.

A bright light appeared before Xu Ran’s eyes, and in a blink, he found himself in a strange space.

Looking around, it was a place similar to a Dueling Arena, surrounded by seats, the space was massive, even larger than the previous valley space.

"Where is this?" Xu Ran murmured.

As soon as he finished speaking, a light appeared before Xu Ran’s eyes, like sunlight hitting his face so that he couldn’t open his eyes.

"After waiting so long, finally, another potential individual has appeared!"

"I wonder if he can pass the test this time!"

"It’s been ages since anyone passed the test, so long since any newcomers came!"

"I wonder how many layers of tests this newcomer can pass?"

"This time’s newcomer is really too young!"

"Is he two years old?"

"Judging by the bone age, not even two years!"

"Though young in age, being selected to enter the test must mean remarkable potential!"

"This child contains a soul-stirring energy within!"

"The energy within this child feels incredibly familiar!"

...

As soon as Xu Ran opened his eyes, he heard discussions all around him, all directed at him.

Regaining his sight, Xu Ran glanced around, just like what he saw initially, surrounded by seats now all filled with people.

However, these individuals emitted various lights, some bright, some dim, some as radiant as sunlight with warm golden rays, gentle and flowing, outlining a blurred yet imposing Soul Body; others were like a deep ocean, with tranquil, swaying halos.

Their forms weren’t clear, as if a thin veil shrouded them, exuding an indescribable sense of realism.

Though each Soul Body was unique, they were all cloaked in a mist, even Xu Ran couldn’t make out their features clearly.

The entire Dueling Arena was buzzing, soul bodies expressing different views, some passionate, some telling a story, and some were deep in thought.

The discussion about Xu Ran continuously fermented among the tens of thousands of Soul Bodies, as if dissecting and interpreting his lifetime anew, trying to analyze from his every action why Xu Ran could be this test’s contender.

As the main character, Xu Ran was utterly bewildered, completely clueless about what was happening.

Why was he here? Why did seats with no creatures suddenly fill with countless Soul Bodies, whose faces couldn’t be discerned? What were the tests they discussed?

While Xu Ran was still in confusion, suddenly, everything before his eyes turned black, making any sight impossible.

"Hmm?"

Xu Ran immediately became vigilant, fully focused, though sight was obscured, his combat instinct in his subconscious allowed him to still sense his surroundings in the darkness.

[Nine-Layered Giant Tower Test Begins]