Chapter 132: Heavenly Bridge

Chapter 132: Heavenly Bridge

This year's batch of new students numbered over a thousand, and many had already attempted to challenge the Heavenly Bridge. However, the vast majority couldn’t even pass the first level, disqualifying them from entering the Heavenly Palace for cultivation.

Only four individuals had managed to clear the first level.

These four were: Yu Tiadi, He Jia, Hu Han Yeli, and Ning Xin'er.

Though Ning Xin'er’s cultivation was slightly inferior to the other three, her exceptional talent allowed her to pass the first level of the Heavenly Bridge, earning her the right to cultivate in the Heavenly Palace for one day.

"Only nine people can enter the Heavenly Palace at a time. Until those inside come out, no one else can enter. They can only queue up and wait for their turn," Ning Xin'er explained.

Soon, Yu Qianqian appeared, her expression dark and weary, her delicate face twisted in anger as if she was in no mood for anyone.

The previous night, she had led her people to confront Xie Mengyao, only to find that Xie Mengyao had secretly met with Ning Xiaochuan by the Spirit Water Lake, leaving Yu Qianqian empty-handed and in a foul mood.

"How coincidental that Her Highness the Princess has also come to challenge the Heavenly Bridge today!" Xie Mengyao had changed into the white robes of an Emperor's Martial Palace disciple, her fair skin glowing, her figure graceful, and her gaze teasing—almost as if she was deliberately provoking Yu Qianqian.

She walked slowly from the end of the ancient street, drawing the attention of many students, all captivated by her stunning beauty.

Yu Qianqian clenched her fingers tightly before relaxing them again, forcing a smile. "You’re here to challenge the Heavenly Bridge too? I’ve heard it’s dangerous—you should be careful."

"No need for Your Highness to worry about me."

Xie Mengyao glanced subtly at Ning Xiaochuan and giggled. "Last night, Young Master Ning and I drank together, but we didn’t get to fully enjoy ourselves. How about after we clear the Heavenly Bridge today, we find a quiet, scenic spot to drink, gaze at the stars and moon, and talk about life?"

Ning Xiaochuan hadn’t expected Xie Mengyao to drag him into this. He smiled faintly and shook his head slightly.

Yu Qianqian, however, grew even more furious. She glared at Ning Xiaochuan. "Last night… you met with her?"

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t deny it and nodded.

"Why?" Yu Qianqian felt utterly defeated. The night before, she had first been humiliated by Xie Mengyao, then tricked into being led away, giving Xie Mengyao the chance to be alone with Ning Xiaochuan.

Failure.

Yu Qianqian, you’re truly pathetic.

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "For the Ice Muscle Grass."

"Just for one stalk of Ice Muscle Grass? You should know I could’ve gotten you ten if you’d asked!" Yu Qianqian felt like crying.

Though she was clever, she was still only sixteen. She wasn’t afraid of losing to Xie Mengyao in a contest—what terrified her was the possibility of Ning Xiaochuan being stolen away. That would be a true, irreversible defeat.

Murong Wushuang laughed. "Your Highness, you can’t say that. How could a single stalk of Ice Muscle Grass sway Brother Chuan? Think about it—late at night, a beautiful woman’s invitation, a man and woman alone together, sparks flying… No man could resist that!"

A cold glint flashed in Yu Qianqian’s eyes as she summoned a Profound Qi Sword in her hand. A sword light shot toward Murong Wushuang, sending him shrieking and fleeing in panic.

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t bother explaining. The more one tried to clarify such matters, the messier they became.

It was clear that Xie Mengyao was deliberately provoking Yu Qianqian.

More and more people gathered by the Heavenly Bridge, including quite a few second-year students.

Jin Quexi and Yue Mingsong also appeared, along with three other members of the Tianli Society. They stood by the Heavenly River, gazing at the mist-shrouded Heavenly Bridge.

They had all come to observe Ning Xiaochuan, curious to see how far he could progress.

"Who is currently attempting the Heavenly Bridge?" Jin Quexi asked.

"Princess Lanfei," Shi Hailiang replied.

A bright light appeared on the Heavenly Bridge, condensing into a radiant pillar that shot upward from the bridge, piercing into the void.

The emergence of the light pillar immediately stirred excitement among all the martial artists gathered nearby.

"Princess Lanfei has passed the first level of the Heavenly Bridge!"

"Another freshman has cleared the first level. I wonder if she can make it past the second?"

"Probably not. So far, only Ming Yang has managed to pass the second level."

"Don’t underestimate Princess Lanfei. She ranks fourth among this year’s freshmen, not much weaker than Ning Xiaochuan. She might just succeed."

"Ning Xiaochuan might not even pass the second level himself."

Before long, the light pillar on the Heavenly Bridge dimmed, and Princess Lanfei retreated from the bridge, clutching a bloody wound.

In the end, she had failed to clear the second level.

Jin Quexi praised, "Impressive. Princess Lanfei’s talent is slightly superior to Yu Tiadi’s."

Though Princess Lanfei had also failed the second level, she had lasted longer than Yu Tiadi, indicating higher innate potential.

The Heavenly Bridge was a comprehensive assessment of a martial artist’s "cultivation" and "talent."

Even if one possessed the cultivation of the Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm, poor talent could still prevent them from passing the first level.

Ning Xin'er, despite only being at the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm, had cleared the first level due to her exceptional talent.

After Princess Lanfei returned from the Heavenly Bridge, royal experts naturally came to receive her.

Next, Yu Qianqian attempted the Heavenly Bridge but failed the first level, sustaining severe injuries instead.

Ning Xiaochuan took out a Blood Toad Pill for her to consume, after which she sat cross-legged to recover.

Truthfully, Yu Qianqian was not weak. She had fought for a long time on the first level, coming very close to success, but ultimately fell short.

Afterward, over a dozen others took their turns attempting the Heavenly Bridge, including some ranked within the top ten freshmen, but all failed.

"Whoosh!"

The light pillar on the Heavenly Bridge rose once more. Following Princess Lanfei, someone had finally succeeded in passing the first level.

Xie Mengyao descended from the bridge, beads of sweat on her forehead but otherwise unharmed. She cast a smiling glance at Yu Qianqian.

She had actually cleared the first level—without a single injury.

Yu Qianqian glared at her fiercely, her dislike for Xie Mengyao growing stronger. This was blatant provocation.

Ning Xiaochuan instructed Ning Xin'er, "Keep an eye on the Princess. Don’t let her get into a fight."

Ning Xin'er could clearly sense the hostility radiating from Yu Qianqian and was well aware of her complicated relationship with her brother. She nodded vigorously in response.

Ning Xiaochuan walked step by step toward the Heavenly Bridge, disappearing into the hazy mist.

"Ning Xiaochuan has finally stepped onto the Heavenly Bridge. I wonder how many levels he can pass?"

"I came here today just for him. Given his cultivation and talent, he should be able to reach the second level. Let’s wait and see."

Xie Mengyao, Princess Lanfei, and others also gazed in the direction of the Heavenly Bridge, eager to see just how great Ning Xiaochuan’s talent and potential truly were.

This was very important to them.

The Heavenly Bridge was an ancient bridge spanning the Profound River, completely shrouded in white mist. No one knew how long it was, nor how many levels it had.

After walking about 100 meters on the Heavenly Bridge, Ning Xiaochuan immediately stopped.

Not far away, strands of mist condensed into a young man dressed in white robes, standing opposite Ning Xiaochuan. His body was indistinguishable from a real person. He said, "Kill me, and you will pass the first level of the Heavenly Bridge, gaining the right to cultivate in the Heavenly Palace for one day. Once our battle begins, I will show no mercy—I may even kill you. Only if I hear you surrender will I stop. The fight begins now."

As soon as the white-robed man finished speaking, he immediately attacked Ning Xiaochuan. Thirty-six metal war swords materialized in front of him, transforming into a Sword Dragon that blasted toward Ning Xiaochuan.

"Ten Thousand Swords Transforming into Rain."

Ning Xiaochuan pointed a finger toward the sky, and a Dark Cloud instantly condensed above, unleashing a Heavy Rain. The water vapor coalesced into a hundred Sword Qi Shadows.

Ning Xiaochuan summoned the hundred Sword Qi Shadows, also shaping them into a Sword Dragon, which he sent crashing toward the white-robed man with overwhelming force.

"Crackle—"

The hundred Sword Qi Shadows shattered the white-robed man’s defenses, tearing his body apart in an instant.

"Whoosh—"

The white-robed man’s body dissolved into countless specks of light, forming a radiant pillar that rose from the Heavenly Bridge.

From within the pillar, the white-robed man’s voice echoed, "Congratulations on passing the first level of the Heavenly Bridge."

"Thank you."

Ning Xiaochuan walked past the pillar and continued advancing along the Heavenly Bridge.

"Ning Xiaochuan is incredibly fast—he cleared the first level in such a short time!" Many people by the Heavenly Bridge exclaimed in astonishment.

"Ming Yang also passed the first level quickly, and his time was even shorter than Ning Xiaochuan’s."

"Next is the second level of the Heavenly Bridge. I wonder if Ning Xiaochuan can make it through."

After walking another 200 meters on the Heavenly Bridge, Ning Xiaochuan encountered another white-robed man.

This white-robed man exuded an immensely powerful aura. Standing atop a green vine with his hands behind his back, he said, "As a newcomer, passing the first level proves you possess extraordinary talent. But getting past me won’t be easy. You already know the rules—let the battle begin."

The white-robed man flicked a finger toward Ning Xiaochuan, and a withered vine as thick as a wrist shot out from his fingertip, lashing toward Ning Xiaochuan like a spiritual whip.

"Snap!"

The air trembled violently from the whip’s force, rippling like water.

Ning Xiaochuan’s body became enveloped in lightning, forming a massive Lightning Ball. Swinging his arm, he conjured a lightning war blade that sliced through the withered vine.

"Lightning Divine Beast!"

Ning Xiaochuan struck out with a palm toward the white-robed figure. A bestial roar erupted from his palm as a ferocious Lightning Giant Beast pounced forth, shredding the vines beneath the opponent.

The white-robed figure landed gracefully on the ground and flicked their sleeves, sending forth thousands of leaves. Each leaf was as hard as forged steel and sharp as a blade’s edge.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Ning Xiaochuan raised his hands, forming a lightning barrier that halted the leaves mid-air.

"Star Shifting!"

His hands began to move in arcs, causing ripples to spread across the lightning barrier like waves on water. With a forceful push, the leaves were sent hurtling back like a torrential downpour.

"Boom!"

The leaves now carried even greater force and speed, each one as sharp as a battle sword, capable of piercing straight through a martial artist’s body.