The Great Ruler (Web Novel)
chapter-997

Outside of the Body-refining Tower.

A light screen floated above the Body-refining Tower. Within it, a bright spot was flickering and racing at daunting speed. Within a few minutes, it was getting close to breaking through the third barrier.

The rest of the surrounding top powers watched, dumbfounded. It took them quite a while to recover from their shock at this sudden change of situation. Astounded exclamations followed.

"What… what's going on? How can Mu Chen be so quick in this short span of time?"

"That speed is scarily fast! He has outrun everyone and gosh! He is reaching the third barrier!"

"Sst... this speed!"

"…"

Incredulous cries burst out everywhere. The top powers from each of the clans were stunned. No one had expected Mu Chen's speed to explode just as he was about to give up.

Numerous people were looking at him with terrified shock on their faces, especially Liu Ching from the Heavenly Roc Clan. Liu Ching's smile froze on her face. Her eyes were staring hard at the light spot that was flickering without stopping. Her expression looked like she could not wait to swallow him up in anger.

"D*mn it, how is this possible?!"

Her heart was in turmoil, and her face turned black. Liu Ching gritted her teeth and said, "This fellow must have used some sort of secret tricks. He can't last for long. If he thinks he can last 'til the third barrier, he's kidding himself!"

However, the gasping sounds started again right after she finished her sentence.

"He made it through the third barrier!"

"That's scary, and he isn't slowing down!"

"Can't the barriers stop him at all?"

The light that had made it through the third barrier on the light screen continued to flicker non-stop. People found it unbelievable that the speed did not slow down. Instead, it got faster!

The atmosphere seemed to have frozen outside of the Body-refining Tower.

Even Liu Ching's little mouth was half-open. She felt like saying something, but words just stuck in her throat, and she could not spit them out. Her eyes were wide-open, and her expression looked extremely funny.

They could not believe their eyes, but they had to accept the cruel fact happening before them.

…

Deep in the third level of the Body-refining Tower.

The surroundings were pitch-dark. Layers of dark thunderclouds filled the entire sky. Flashes of lightning struck like a huge dragon tearing up the sky. The power was so overbearing that even the earth shook.

While the lightning struck, a few figures stood in mid-air. They released powerful spiritual light from their bodies, dissipating all the bolts of lightning that hit them.

Zong Teng, Han Shan, Ink Blade, and the rest stood right in front. They fixed their gazes ahead.

The thunderclouds formed a lofty tower thousands of feet tall. Behind the tower, space was cracked, and light rays could be seen flitting in it like shooting stars.

Zong Teng and the rest narrowed their eyes when they saw the shooting lights. They could feel a liquid was forming within the tower as the storm's lightning flickered.

Streams of pure and violent power exuded from within the tower.

"Is that the Thunder Marrow?"

Greed surged on their faces at once. Thunder Marrow could only be formed when the power of the lightning was condensed to a certain extent. It had a superb effect of meridian cleansing and body detoxification. At the same time, it helped to increase physical strength. Its value was on par with the Blood Spirit Soil.

The group concealed their greedy expressions. Since the Thunder Marrow was situated at the back of the Thunder Cloud Tower, they would need to pass through that tower if they wanted to retrieve the marrow.

That was the barrier to the fourth level.

Once they broke through that barrier, they could enter the fourth level of the Body-refining Tower!

The group stared hard at the point behind the tower. Five hassocks flickering with lightning were waiting for them. Their eyes sparkled when they saw the hassocks. They knew that the hassocks represented the number that could enter the fourth level.

That also meant that almost half of the people would be eliminated from the Thunder Cloud Tower. Such elimination was considered to be cruel.

However, Zong Teng, Han Shan, Ink Blade and some of the others seemed to be calm. Without any words, a sense of confidence gathered around them. Apparently, they had high confidence in themselves. They would definitely be taking one of the five seats.

Shoo! Shoo!

While the gang was waiting for the time to pass, air-rending sounds whistled on and off from afar. Blustering figures gradually came up on the group.

These were the slightly slower supreme talents from the various clans. When they saw the five thunder light hassocks, their eyes narrowed, and their expressions turned solemn.

Obviously, they knew how difficult it was to have one of those hassocks.

Thunderbolts flashed fiercely across the sky. Figures stood in mid-air and then distanced themselves from each other in wariness.

Zong Teng opened his eyes. He took a count, and just as he had expected, there were only nine people who had made it there.

It seemed like Mu Chen from the Nine Netherbird clan had been eliminated.

"That's funny," Zong Teng muttered to himself and shook his head. He did not want to pay too much attention to the failures. He swept his gaze across the rest of the people and said smilingly, "It's almost time, everyone. Let's enter the Thunder Cloud Tower together, shall we? As for the hassocks, it will be a fair fight for everyone."

Han Shan, Xu Kun, and the rest nodded indifferently from a distance.

Only Ink Blade was frowning as he looked back. He sighed. If Mu Chen was still missing in action, he would be immediately eliminated.

Hearing no other comments from anyone else, Zong Teng stepped out with a smile. Just before he could land on the tower, his expression changed. He turned his head abruptly, looking at the far end with a stupefied expression.

At the same time, Han Shan and Ink Blade narrowed their gazes. They could sense an extremely violent spiritual energy fluctuation coming from behind them.

"How could someone make it at this point?" Sensing the fluctuation, everyone was shocked. They exchanged gazes while feeling slightly stunned.

"It's Mu Chen! He made it on time!"

Han Shan expressionless face twisted slightly. He looked behind and said in a low voice, "That's fast. Isn't he afraid of the thunderbolts here?"

Apparently, he could sense the wild spiritual energy fluctuation making its way there. It looked like he was not afraid of being hit by lightning.

Rumble!

While everyone was feeling shocked, the thunder roared even more behind them. Within a few breaths, everyone saw a golden light strike the gloomy sky and sweep its way in.

The thunderbolts flashed from above and hit the golden figure, but his body only shuddered slightly, and that was it. His high speed remained the same.

Shoo!

As the golden light flickered, it finally appeared outside of the Thunder Cloud Tower. The golden light dissipated, and a juvenile figure appeared before everyone.

Mu Chen stood with the rest when the golden light dispersed. He looked at those figures who were staring hard at him. He smiled and said, "Sorry to keep everyone waiting."

He stepped on the golden light, looking tall. Golden rays seemed to surface from his skin. However, top powers like Zong Teng and Han Shan narrowed their eyes at Mu Chen, who had brought storms with him along the way. Apparently, they sensed a tinge of danger from him.

"This lad seems to have grown stronger?!" Zong Teng did not reveal any expression on his face, but he clenched his fist hard. He felt that the current Mu Chen was slightly different from before.

Han Shan looked at Mu Chen closely before moving his gaze away. "Since everyone is here, let's begin. It will depend on your own strength if you wish to enter the fourth level."

Han Shan moved forward, darted out into a light, and entered the Thunder Cloud Tower without any hesitation. With his hands behind his back, a hostile killing intent burst out vaguely from within, daunting most people.

Shoo! Shoo!

Right after Han Shan, the rest of the people flitted into the tower. However, they all remained a distance away from each other.

Mu Chen also landed in the tower. His eyes flickered. It seemed like a mixed combat mode would be required to make it to the fourth level. Whatever it was, only the last five people would qualify for the next round.

"Half of the people will be eliminated?" muttered Mu Chen, condensing his spiritual light at his fingertips.

While the spiritual light slowly gathered in his hands, Zong Teng squinted from afar. He turned his head and looked in the other direction.

Another black-robed man was also staring at Mu Chen with cold eyes. He was the supreme talent from the Lightning Crow Clan. He had fought with Mu Chen and Nine Nether in the Meteorite Region.

The black-robed man exchanged gazes with Zong Teng, and they seemed to come to an agreement. He gave a cold grin and immediately made his way to Mu Chen.

Ink Blade also noticed that the supreme talent from the Lightning Crow Clan was targeting Mu Chen. He knit his brow and was about to stop him.

Before Ink Blade could take action, someone showed up in front of him. Zong Teng had a vague smile on his face.

"I heard Brother Ink was quite a talent among the younger generation in the Nine Netherbird clan. I hope Brother Ink will be able to give me some pointers today."

Ink Blade stared coldly at Zong Teng, who was blocking his way. The latter must have been stalling him on purpose to give the supreme talent enough time to kill Mu Chen.

"Do you think you can deal with Mu Chen just by stopping me? Don't be so naïve." Ink Blade sneered.

"Oh, really?" Zong Teng gave an enigmatic smile. "What is he when he is only a Grade Six Sovereign, and he has no time to make his array?" said Zong Teng indifferently.

He tilted his head. The black-robed man had already appeared in front of Mu Chen. He gave a smirk. Although Mu Chen had made his way there with his utmost effort, Zong Teng was afraid that he might be the first to be eliminated.

To him, Mu Chen was ludicrous.