Dragon Blood Saint Emperor

A smile played on Ye Wushuang’s lips. "If you want to bet, then I’ll gladly risk my life to play along."

Qing Wei sneered, "You’re courting death!"

"Ye Wushuang actually dared to take the bet. I hope he doesn’t try to back out later," the crowd muttered amongst themselves.

「At the same time.」

Down by the Divine Communication Tower, some disciples could no longer hold back and stepped onto the Celestial Ladder.

RUMBLE!

These people moved with powerful strides, each shrouded in a halo of light as they climbed upward, their faces filled with excitement.

The first layer!

The second layer!

The third layer!

In less than a quarter of an hour, those people had already reached the fifth layer.

The people below immediately noticed that while some continued upward, another group had slowed their pace.

RUMBLE!

This group paused on the fifth layer. When they tried to step up to the sixth, they were thrown back.

"Impossible! I’m a mighty True Essence Eighth Layer cultivator! How can I only reach the fifth layer?!"

Some of them roared and charged upward again.

BANG!

BANG!

However, it was as if an invisible wall stood between the fifth and sixth layers, flinging them back time and again as they coughed up mouthfuls of blood.

In the end, they could only enter one of the Light Gates on the fifth layer, their faces full of resentment.

Of the first group to charge up, most stopped at the eighth or ninth layer; they couldn’t even make it to the tenth.

"It seems very difficult!" Qiu Mo said, his brow furrowed, standing beside Ye Wushuang.

Ye Rou added, "Yes. On the Divine Communication Tower, you can only rely on points. Brute force won’t get you anywhere."

"The twentieth layer requires at least fourteen or fifteen thousand points. Heh heh. I’m looking forward to taking your head. I’ll get quite a few points for it."

Qing Wei smirked. His intuition told him that Ye Wushuang had a lot of points. As long as he killed him, he’d be able to climb several more layers.

Otherwise, why would he go to such great lengths for someone who was merely at the True Essence Sixth Layer?

Ye Wushuang couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words. He gave a nod to the three beside him and walked toward the Celestial Ladder.

Behind him, Qing Wei and the other members of the Cyan Race followed.

It wasn’t just them. Huo Zheng, Wenhao, and the others from the Fiery Sun Sect, as well as Beizhe Xinghui, Beize Peng, and their group from the Illusion Race, followed as well.

RUMBLE!

As Ye Wushuang reached the Celestial Ladder, the group known as the Strongest Disciples also began their ascent.

They ascended as if on a leisurely stroll, reaching the ninth layer in a flash and effortlessly stepping past the tenth, continuing toward even greater heights.

Among them, Ye Wushuang saw the most conspicuous figure: Pann Wu.

Beside him were Dii Qingxue, Mo Wentian, and the others.

There were also many other familiar faces, like Yang Dingtian, Wudao, Ao Wuchang, and Yuh Yuzhen.

Of course, there were others Ye Wushuang didn’t recognize, but their strength was in no way inferior to the likes of Yang Dingtian.

"They’re worthy of being called the Strongest Disciples. That feat alone is something we could never hope to match."

"Their talent and methods are all top-tier. They’re sure to shine on the Barbarian God Battle Platform. I’m afraid the Strongest Warrior will be born from among them."

The crowd below was abuzz with discussion, all of it filled with praise.

"Hmph, you ignorant fools. The Endless Wilderness has innumerable Hidden Clans and factions. Geniuses are as common as blades of grass. To think a mere handful of ’Strongest Disciples’ could claim the title of Strongest Warrior? What a pipe dream."

A member of the Cyan Race was clearly disdainful.

"Whether they can claim it or not will only be known once the Barbarian God Battle Platform begins. It’s too early to be making such bold claims."

Disciples from factions like the Fiery Sun Sect and Illusion Race retorted, as their own sects’ Strongest Disciples were among that group.

They were certain that on the Barbarian God Battle Platform, one of their own would seize the title of Strongest Warrior!

"Where’s Ye Wushuang!"

Amidst the verbal sparring, Ye Wushuang had already arrived at the foot of the steps, a hint of excitement in his voice. "Let’s go up."

With that, Ye Wushuang was the first to step onto the ladder, followed by Ye Rou, Qianling, and Qiu Mo.

The people from the Cyan Race, Fiery Sun Sect, and Illusion Race followed close behind.

"Let’s go see how Ye Wushuang plans to take his own head," some others said, following them up as well.

"Ye Wushuang, I hope you don’t die too quickly. Your life belongs to our senior brother," Huo Zheng said with a sneer, easily catching up to Ye Wushuang’s side.

"You just want our lives, don’t you? Well, here’s your chance. Why don’t you make a bet, too? If you win, I’ll naturally offer up my head," Ye Wushuang said with a grin.

"It seems you’re determined to die. We’ll bet all our lives against yours. If you win, we’ll kill ourselves. If you lose, you’ll kill yourself and hand over what our senior brother needs," Huo Zheng said coldly.

"I can agree to that," Ye Wushuang replied nonchalantly.

"How could I be left out of a bet like this?" Beizhe Xinghui of the Illusion Race also appeared beside them.

"You want to bet, too?" A corner of Ye Wushuang’s mouth lifted.

"Climbing the tower is dull, and I’m bored. Let’s add a little fun," Beizhe Xinghui said.

"’Add a little fun?’"

A thought flashed through Ye Wushuang’s mind. He said, "That can be arranged. I’ve heard your Illusion Race possesses Illusion Techniques."

"You want our Illusion Techniques? Fine, but only if you win. If you lose, you’ll hand over whatever you got from the Demon Hall," Beizhe Xinghui stated.

"The twentieth layer is the mark!"

Ye Wushuang said coolly, then strode upward.

The group kept pace with him, cold smiles on their faces, as if they were looking at a fat sheep ready for slaughter.

Faced with all these bets, Qianling wasn’t worried at all. In fact, she was rather looking forward to it.

Unaware of the details, Ye Rou and Qiu Mo were somewhat worried. But when they saw Ye Wushuang’s completely unruffled expression, they somehow felt their anxieties ease.

With one hand clasped behind his back, Ye Wushuang ascended with ease.

One layer! Two layers! Three layers! ...

He didn’t stop until he reached the fourteenth layer.

Beside him, the group had also followed along with ease.

"I thought you’d last a bit longer. What’s this? You’re already stopping at the fourteenth layer?" Qing Wei said with a laugh, looking at the halted Ye Wushuang.

But Ye Wushuang didn’t answer him. Instead, his gaze fell upon a familiar figure to the side—Ye Cheng!

Ye Cheng noticed Ye Wushuang as well. A mix of emotions—hatred, resentment, and more—flashed across his face before he turned and stepped into a Light Gate.

Ye Wushuang’s gaze flickered for a moment. He quickly looked away, glanced up at the seemingly endless Celestial Ladder, and continued forward.

This made the others frown, but they didn’t think much of it. Further up, each layer would consume over a thousand points, a cost incomparable to the lower levels.

RUMBLE!

RUMBLE!

As Ye Wushuang continued to climb, some of the people who had followed them were forced to stop.

They didn’t even have the right to be spectators, left far behind. The feeling of having brought this humiliation upon themselves was palpable.

The eighteenth layer!

The nineteenth layer!

Upon reaching the nineteenth layer, Qing Wei, Qing Yang, Huo Zheng, Beizhe Minghui, and the others slowed their pace. Seeing Ye Wushuang still ascending with ease, their expressions darkened.

It was obvious their points were running low.

It wasn’t just them; Ye Rou, Qianling, and Qiu Mo were also nearing their limit.

Of course, one thing puzzled them. The fortuitous encounters they’d had and the points they’d obtained shouldn’t have been enough to get them this far.

Yet here they were, a fact that surprised even themselves.

"Just one more step!"

Looking back at the grim-faced crowd behind him, Ye Wushuang gave a cold smile and stepped toward the twentieth layer.

But in the next moment, his expression suddenly changed, and his foot froze in place.