Not even a moment after the competition started, screams of terror resounded as fools who did not pay heed to the supreme elders warning exploded like a bag of blood being popped.
The supreme elders and the sect masters did not even flinch upon seeing these fools explode into meat chunks. They have already seen too many people who think they are an exception to everything.
Yu Bing silently watched as countless individuals climb the steps, her expression cold and nonchalant. Although her gaze seemed to be watching masses, her attention was actually in her thoughts, looking as though she was dazed.
'Disappointed?' Senior Yu asked her via Divine Sense.
Yu Bing snapped out of her daze and took a second to analyze the competition. 'The competition has only just started, yet all disciples of the Four Ancient Lands are already two whole levels ahead of everybody with Direct Disciples like Lu Sei and junior apprentice-sister Mei three levels ahead.'
Some people were climbing the staircase step by step, and others were taking large strides, but that was only the masses. The disciples of the Four Ancient Lands, however, was climbing the stairway so fast they seemed to be flying!
For the first four levels, each and every step exists an invisible pressure that bore down on the participants at every step they took, and the strength of the pressure would increase slightly the higher they went.
'This competition is quite disappointing indeed. And this is only just the beginning.' Senior Yu who wished to see a dark horse appear sighed inwardly.
Time passed by extremely quickly when the participants were all focused on climbing the staircase, and in the time it takes to eat a meal, somebody took the first step into the fifth level.
"Look! Lu Sei took the first step onto the fifth level!"
Lu Sei's fan began screaming all their air out of their lungs, and the spectating scene became more lively.
The moment Lu Sei stepped onto the fifth level, near invisible chains appeared around his legs, increasing his weight, and with every step he took, these chains would squeeze themselves tighter.
However, just as these chains appeared on him, Lu Sei mumbled a few words, and the chain on his legs glowed green.
The moment the chains glowed green, Lu Sei's climbing speed increased, and he continued to soar the stairway as though these chains were only for decoration!
"Good…" Lu She nodded with approval as he watched his disciple take first place. With Tian Long and Yu Bing out of the competition, it was only obvious that Lu Sei, the third most talented disciple in the Four Ancient Lands to take first place!
Moments after Lu Sei stepped onto the fifth level, another person stepped onto the fifth level, and that person was Mei Mengzhi!
Mei Mengzhi also looked as though she mumbled a few words the instant the chains bound her.
Moments after she mumbled these words, ice appeared around the chains, turning them into frozen chains!
Woosh! Just like Lu Sei, Mei Mengzhi's speed suddenly doubled, soaring into the sky and leaving everybody else in the dust!
'Junior apprentice-sister Mei has improved a lot since the last time I saw her.' Yu Bing thought to herself.
Exactly a minute after Mei Mengzhi stepped onto the fifth level, another person appeared.
He was a handsome young man in white robes with a head of short, white hair.
"Eh? Isn't that Hu Bei, the direct disciple of Luo Fang? Despite his position as a direct disciple, I don't really hear about him as often as the other direct disciples…"
"He likes to stay low-key, which is why we don't really hear his name often."
Hu Bei, the moment he stepped onto the fifth level, viciously roared, startling everybody.
His roar caused his eyes to change into tiger-like eyes, his aura to go wild like a tiger in the wilderness.
"T-That's…"
The people blew were dumbfounded. Despite still looking like a human, Hu Bei, in their eyes, had turned into an animal— a tiger!
Boom!
Hu Bei jumped as though he wanted to pounce on somebody, and he climbed the steps like a tiger chasing after his prey with that prey being Mei Mengzhi!
Hidden within the countless spectator were Tian Yi and Meng Xiang who currently sat on his shoulders while munching on food. She was given a shoulder ride from Tian Yi so that she would be able to see the competition clearer!
A shoulder ride from the son of the Celestial Emperor! Nearly everybody in Universe would not even dare to imagine touching him, let alone riding his shoulders for it'd be hearsay to ride the son of the Celestial Emperor!
To give another a shoulder ride was essentially allowing the other to stand above them! To be able to give a shoulder ride with his status showed just how little Tian Yi cared about positions and standings.
If those who adored Tian Yi knew of this, their soul would be in danger of shattering from shock and jealousy!
"Ah…" Meng Xiang accidentally dropped some bread crumbs on Tian Yi's head from paying too much attention to the competition. "Sorry, Big Brother…"
She brushed his head with her hands as though she was sweeping food off a table, creating disorder in his neatly tied hair.
Tian Yi chuckled, not minding her actions.
"This competition looks really fun; it makes me want to join in," he mumbled to himself after watching the participants grind their teeth with sweat dripping down their face trying their hardest to ascend this stairway.
The passion and desire being displayed were fierce enough to reach him from the distance— enough to make him feel enthusiasm!
'I left home to experience the world; isn't this exactly what I was looking for? An exciting adventure?!'
The eagerness to compete with others at a similar age grew stronger in Tian Yi's heart, and soon enough, he made his decision.
"Meng Xiang… Do you want to join this competition and climb this stairway with me?" he said to her, and on his face was a wide smile filled with spirit!
He wished to compete with others with a similar age! He wanted to experience what the others were experiencing! Just like the participants climbing the stairway, he too wanted attention!
The thousands of participants and their passion was strong enough to entice Tian Yi, the son of the Celestial Emperor, into wanting to participate in the competition!