Chapter 141: The Fourth Level of the Heavenly Bridge

Chapter 141: The Fourth Level of the Heavenly Bridge

In Emperor's City, it was explicitly forbidden to harm fellow disciples. Although the leader of the Cloud Alliance had forcibly suppressed the matter, it wouldn’t remain hidden for long. Soon, the instructors of Emperor's Martial Palace would become aware of it. By then, not only would they fail to kill Ning Xiaochuan, but they would also face punishment.

Ning Xiaochuan had fled into the Heavenly Bridge, leaving Zhang Linshan feeling anxious. "I can only hope the alliance leader can delay the Law Enforcement Team for another hour," he thought.

Zhang Linshan sat cross-legged by the Heavenly Bridge, quietly waiting for Ning Xiaochuan to be expelled from it.

Upon entering the Heavenly Bridge, Ning Xiaochuan released the Merge, causing the Dragon Scale Divine Armor to revert to the small red dragon, which flapped its wings and flew above his head.

Ning Xiaochuan refined a drop of Martial Venerable's Blood to restore his Blood Qi before continuing his ascent up the Heavenly Bridge.

"I’ve reached the Sixth Level of the Divine Body Realm, absorbed the Blood Qi from the Jian Pavilion, and my Physical Strength has advanced to the Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm. My potential and physique have improved significantly—I should be able to pass the fourth level of the Heavenly Bridge."

Instead of rushing to challenge the trial immediately, Ning Xiaochuan sat down to cultivate on the Heavenly Bridge. Only when nearly an hour had passed did he finally set off to attempt the trial. The longer he delayed, the greater his chances of escaping alive.

With thunderous momentum, he swiftly cleared the first three levels and arrived once more at the fourth level of the Heavenly Bridge, where he encountered the fourth White-robed Figure.

"Less than half a day, and you’ve returned to challenge the Heavenly Bridge again?" Though the White-robed Figure was merely a spiritual entity formed by the bridge, it possessed its own knowledge and memories.

Ning Xiaochuan replied, "You said I’d need the talent of a 'Once-in-Three-Centuries Talent' to pass the fourth level. I’ve come to test whether my talent truly meets that standard."

The White-robed Figure shook its head. "What I said was that when your Martial Arts cultivation was at the Fifth Level of the Divine Body Realm, you’d need the talent of a 'Once-in-Three-Centuries Talent' to pass this trial. But now, your Martial Arts cultivation has reached the Sixth Level of the Divine Body Realm, and your Physical Strength has increased to the Ninth Level. Therefore, you no longer need such exceptional talent to succeed."

"If we must calculate precisely, you now only need the talent of a 'Once-in-Two-Hundred-and-Forty-Years Talent' to pass this trial."

The higher one’s cultivation, the lower the difficulty of the trial.

The White-robed Figure continued, "Of course, my calculation is merely a numerical estimate. Whether you can pass this trial still depends on your combat experience, fighting spirit, Martial Arts Divine Abilities, physical condition, and many other factors that influence the outcome of battle."

"Thank you for the guidance. Let’s begin." Ning Xiaochuan’s expression turned solemn as he condensed a Profound Qi Sword in his hand, its blade wreathed in Lightning.

The White-robed Figure’s aura also shifted dramatically, growing increasingly sharp. Flames erupted from every pore of its body, transforming it into a blazing figure in an instant.

The Five Elements—Fire Elemental Power.

"Whoosh!"

A scorching wave of fire surged forward, and Ning Xiaochuan could clearly see the figure within the heat. Its fist, wrapped in flames and gleaming like forged gold, struck straight at Ning Xiaochuan’s chest.

Ning Xiaochuan’s body transformed into a streak of multicolored light as he dodged sideways. With a swing of his Profound Qi Sword, he unleashed twenty-three streaks of Sword Qi, each flashing like a bolt of lightning.

The white-robed figure raised a flame shield, blocking twenty-three strands of Sword Qi, then transformed it into a massive fireball that hurtled toward Ning Xiaochuan.

Boom!

Boom!

Ning Xiaochuan continuously executed Rainbow Teleportation while slashing out with his Profound Qi Sword, repelling the fireball again and again. The sparks scattering from the fireball scorched his clothes full of holes, and the force of the impacts numbed his arms. If not for his Ninth Level of the Divine Body Realm physique, a single strike from the fireball would have crushed his body.

"Break!"

Ning Xiaochuan summoned a bow with lightning, nocking the Profound Qi Sword as an arrow and firing it. The fireball was pierced through, and the white-robed figure stumbled out in disarray, the Profound Qi Sword embedded in his body.

Yet, the white-robed figure did not die. Instead, his fighting spirit grew fiercer, his power sharper. With both hands, he conjured a Vermilion Bird formed of flames, over ten meters long, its wings spread wide, its body as large as a house.

Ning Xiaochuan, in turn, summoned the Lightning Divine Beast, also ten meters tall, its claws bared and its visage ferocious, its eyes as large as basins, like twin thunder orbs.

The Flame Vermilion Bird and the Lightning Divine Beast clashed, filling the sky with raining fire and surging lightning.

Ning Xiaochuan activated Rainbow Teleportation, instantly appearing before the white-robed figure. Before the latter could react, Ning Xiaochuan seized the hilt of the sword still lodged in his body and channeled a surge of Sword Qi through his arm.

Crack!

The white-robed figure's body shattered into pieces.

With his death, the Flame Vermilion Bird soaring in the sky dissipated into wisps of smoke. The corpse of the white-robed figure dissolved into motes of light, coalescing into a radiant pillar that rose from the Heavenly Bridge, piercing the heavens.

"Congratulations. You have passed the fourth level of the Heavenly Bridge, achieving the best record among new students in three hundred years."

Ning Xiaochuan withdrew the power of the Lightning Divine Beast into his body and proceeded toward the fifth level of the Heavenly Bridge.

When the radiant pillar from the fourth level rose, the entire student body of Emperor's City was shaken. Instructors from the Emperor's Martial Palace rushed to the foot of the Heavenly Bridge.

"Who is challenging the Heavenly Bridge?" an elderly instructor asked.

"Ning Xiaochuan," Nie Hai, the vice president of the Tianli Society, answered, bowing respectfully to the instructor.

Soon, figures of Deputy Headmaster rank arrived in person. Upon learning that a new student had cleared the fourth level of the Heavenly Bridge, they were utterly astounded.

At this moment, no one wore a more unpleasant expression than Zhang Linshan.

He had expected Ning Xiaochuan to be expelled from the Heavenly Bridge, but instead, not only had Ning Xiaochuan not been expelled, he had even conquered the fourth level.

Now, with the instructors and Deputy Headmasters of the Emperor's Martial Palace gathered here, killing Ning Xiaochuan had become impossible.

Yet, a venomous scheme of using another's hand to commit murder surfaced in Zhang Linshan's mind.

"Reporting to the Deputy Headmaster, Ning Xiaochuan has slain dozens of students within Emperor's City. His methods are ruthless, his actions cruel, completely disregarding the laws of the academy. Such an arrogant rogue deserves the punishment of a thousand cuts!" Zhang Linshan declared to the Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy.

Ning Xin'er retorted, "Nonsense! It was all of you who conspired to kill my brother, and now you dare shift the blame onto him!"

Nie Hai coldly glared at Zhang Linshan and said, "Zhang Linshan, you’re spouting lies with your eyes wide open, twisting right and wrong. You’re utterly disgracing the Imperial City's Ten Outstanding Youths. Sharing the same title as someone like you makes me sick."

Although the Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy was Ming Yang’s master and harbored a strong dislike for Ning Xiaochuan, he was still clear-headed about today’s events. He couldn’t possibly punish Ning Xiaochuan over this matter, or it would undoubtedly invite widespread criticism.

Seeing the Deputy Headmaster hesitate, Zhang Linshan pressed on, "Deputy Headmaster, Ning Xiaochuan is a member of the Demon Sect and practices the Blood Devouring Demon Art. After consuming human blood, he has gone mad, slaughtering his fellow disciples. This demon must be executed, or the Emperor's Martial Palace will soon fall under the Demon Sect’s control."

"What? Ning Xiaochuan practices the Blood Devouring Demon Art?" The Deputy Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy finally found a reason to punish Ning Xiaochuan, his face twisting with fury.

A cold smirk crept onto Zhang Linshan’s face. "Someone, bring forth the remains of the warriors whose blood Ning Xiaochuan devoured. Let the Deputy Headmaster verify whether they were truly victims of the Blood Devouring Demon Art."

A disciple of the Cloud Alliance hurried back, stammering, "The bodies of those devoured by the Blood Devouring Demon Art... they’ve all disappeared."

"What?" Zhang Linshan’s expression darkened.

The sound of footsteps echoed as Yu Qianqian arrived from the end of the ancient street. Dressed in pristine academy robes, her figure was slender and elegant, exuding a noble and transcendent aura. "I always believed the Imperial City's Ten Outstanding Youths were upright and honorable men, true talents of the younger generation. Yet, it seems there are scoundrels among them who frame others without evidence. How disappointing."

Walking beside her was a middle-aged man in his fifties, tall and burly, radiating an imposing and domineering presence. Behind Yu Qianqian followed three academy instructors and over a dozen second and third-year students, all formidable martial artists.

Zhang Linshan stared at Yu Qianqian and sneered. "Princess, I suspect it was you who destroyed the bodies of those devoured by the Blood Devouring Demon Art, trying to erase the evidence and absolve Ning Xiaochuan of his crimes."

Yu Qianqian replied, "Zhang Linshan, if you slander me like this again, don’t think I won’t punish you on the spot."

Outside the Emperor's Ruins, Zhang Linshan wouldn’t dare challenge Yu Qianqian, but within the ruins, he showed no fear. He retorted coldly, "Everyone knows you were once Ning Xiaochuan’s fiancée. It’s only natural you’d side with him."

Yu Qianqian countered, "Since you know about my past engagement with Ning Xiaochuan, you should also know why it was called off. Tell me—why would I help a man who cast me aside for another woman?"

"This..." Zhang Linshan faltered.

The burly man standing beside Yu Qianqian boomed like thunder, "Zhang Linshan, do you truly believe the Cloud Alliance’s plot to kill Ning Xiaochuan can be hidden from everyone? Do you take the academy’s headmasters for fools?"

The burly man's voice carried the force of a violent thunderclap. To others, it merely sounded slightly louder, but to Zhang Linshan, it was as if Heavenly Thunder itself had shaken the earth.

"Boom—"

Zhang Linshan felt his eardrums nearly shatter, staggering back two steps before bowing respectfully to the man. "Reporting to Deputy Headmaster Hun Shi, Ning Xiaochuan has indeed practiced the Blood Devouring Demon Art. Though the physical evidence has been destroyed, I have witnesses!"

Zhang Linshan never expected Yu Qianqian to summon Deputy Headmaster Hun Shi. This Deputy Headmaster was also from the Diamond Martial Academy, a figure of immense cultivation, infamous as the "Chaos Demon King." If not for his explosive temper, his martial prowess would have already made him the Headmaster of the Diamond Martial Academy.

Most importantly, this Deputy Headmaster Hun Shi was the eldest disciple of the Great Golden Roc King.

Though both were Deputy Headmasters of the Diamond Martial Academy, in terms of martial cultivation, Deputy Headmaster Hun Shi far surpassed Deputy Headmaster Yan—Ming Yang’s master.

"Witnesses? What witnesses? Where are they? If there are witnesses, step forward now!" Deputy Headmaster Hun Shi roared, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like the Thunder God himself, sending many warriors shrinking back in fear.

This Deputy Headmaster Hun Shi looked even fiercer than the Demon Sect’s most ruthless figures.