232: 44th floor

Life in the Training Camp was both fulfilling and boring.

Ten days later.

After falling twice, Xiao Weiqing also stepped onto the 38th-floor plank path of the Heaven-Reaching Tower, catching up to Dongfang Xuan.

Fifteen days later.

Inside the 40th-floor illusion of the Crystal Long Bridge, Xiao Weiqing emerged from the Hundred Silk Bell Array in a strange posture.

"Congratulations, you succeeded."

Guardian No. 4 said.

Over the past half-month, he had witnessed all of Xiao Weiqing's efforts; from his initial stumbling and fumbling to his current ease, every bit of progress was visible to the naked eye.

Xiao Weiqing was equally delighted. It felt like finally defeating a boss after pulling all-nighters for two weeks; at this moment, he felt incredibly relaxed, walking on White Cloud Mountain as if on level ground.

"Old man, how about another round?"

Guardian No. 4 smiled faintly and extended his right hand.

Xiao Weiqing turned slightly serious, crossed several meters in two steps, and pushed out a palm.

Guardian No. 4 flipped his palm, blocking Xiao Weiqing's arm and gently guiding it away. With a push from his left hand, he instantly caused Xiao Weiqing to lose his balance.

But.

Xiao Weiqing was no longer the rookie he was half a month ago. He braked hard with his left foot and swept out with his right leg. However, it still didn't work; Guardian No. 4 stepped back again, dodging just perfectly.

Just like that.

One attacking, one defending.

The two sparred back and forth for several minutes.

Finally, Xiao Weiqing stopped and ceased his attack.

"The older the ginger, the spicier it is."

"Haha... so far, no one has defeated me without using Mental Energy exceeding Rank 40."

Xiao Weiqing asked, "Even Dongfang Hao couldn't?"

"Him?"

Guardian No. 4 fell into memory, his brow furrowed as if recalling some unpleasant scene.

"A brute! He doesn't know the first thing about respecting the elderly and loving the young."

Xiao Weiqing was stunned; he hadn't expected such an answer.

He didn't think much more about it and waved goodbye.

"Old man, goodbye."

Stepping into the next floor... "Hmm, he went up?"

"What went up?"

"Xiao Weiqing has reached the 41st floor."

The people in the square looked toward the Crystal Long Bridge. Sure enough, Xiao Weiqing took a step and ascended to the 41st floor.

"He has some talent, but not much. He's been stuck there for twenty days, hasn't he?"

Someone from the Tianlang Empire spoke up. In his view, being stuck at the 40th floor for over half a month meant his Mental Energy was just so-so.

"Are you okay?"

"Is there something wrong with you, or is it me? Xiao Weiqing has only been Awakened for a year at most, he's not even 19, and his Mental Energy has reached Rank 40. Forget Technique Cultivators, how many Spirit Cultivators can achieve that?"

"You? Or you?"

The one retorting was a veteran Trainee from Great Xia.

No sooner had he spoken.

Someone exclaimed, "Holy crap! He went up again?"

Everyone was startled and turned to look at the youth on the long bridge. That broad back had ascended another step, reaching the 42nd floor.

"Impressive."

This time, the people from the Tianlang Empire also quieted down, speechless.

However.

This wasn't the end.

Under the shocked gazes of the crowd.

Xiao Weiqing didn't seem to stop and lifted his foot again.

"No way..."

"This..."

"He... he really went up! The 43rd floor!"

As Xiao Weiqing stood firmly on the 43rd floor, a chill rose from behind everyone.

However.

Before everyone could snap out of it, half a minute later, Xiao Weiqing moved again, arriving before the 44th floor in two steps.

"Again?"

"He must be crazy."

In a corner of the square, Ruan Dong was also staring at Xiao Weiqing. He had seen with his own eyes Xiao Weiqing ascend three floors in less than three minutes.

What did that even mean?

Even if your Mental Energy Rank was already 43, it would be impossible to ascend three floors in such a short time. Did he think the illusions were just for show?

Besides, as a Technique Cultivator who had been Awakened for less than a year, for your Mental Energy to Breakthrough to Rank 43—is that reasonable?

Is that freaking reasonable?!

Just then.

Ruan Dong's pupils dilated, and goosebumps broke out all over his body.

"Floor 44!"

Ruan Dong was dumbstruck, frozen on the spot.

A light breeze blew past.

Everyone in the square fell silent; it was incredibly quiet.

Until Xiao Weiqing slowly walked down the Crystal Long Bridge.

"Why are you all looking at me like that?"

Xiao Weiqing touched his face, somewhat puzzled, but he ignored them and walked straight out of the Boundary within a Boundary.

One minute later.

A massive roar erupted in the square.

"What the hell did I just see? A newcomer reached the 44th floor of the Crystal Long Bridge, and he's only been in the Training Camp for a month."

"Nothing to say, freaking awesome!"

"Sigh, I finally understand the saying 'there are always mountains beyond mountains and people beyond people.' To think that I, a Rank 5 Spirit Cultivator who has been Awakened for two years, only have Rank 43 Mental Energy. How embarrassing."

"Brother, if you're embarrassed, I should just kill myself. I'm only Rank 40, and I've been stuck at the Rank 40 trial for three months."

Liu Mo had also witnessed everything.

After a long while.

He slowly came to his senses and murmured, "This little brother of mine is truly a monster!"

...Lingyun Pavilion.

Su Yunfei looked at Xiao Weiqing with a resentful expression.

"What's with that face?"

"Xiao Weiqing, this isn't right."

"What?"

"Reaching the 44th floor of the Crystal Long Bridge... you're making me feel like a piece of trash." Su Yunfei slumped onto his chair.

Xiao Weiqing was silent for a moment, considering Su Yunfei's words, then said slowly:

"Is it possible that your 'trashiness' has nothing to do with me?"

Su Yunfei: "?"

"You... stand up! Let's duel!"

"A duel to determine superiority, and also to decide life and death!!"

Su Yunfei glared at Xiao Weiqing like an enraged goose.

"A duel?"

"Su Yunfei, who are you dueling?"

Dongfang Xuan returned to Lingyun Pavilion with his spear on his back and spoke.

"In this Training Camp, is there anyone else who can match your strength?"

Su Yunfei turned his head stiffly.

"F*ck!"

"Both of you, come at me together. I want to see blood today."

Dongfang Xuan walked over to Su Yunfei and pressed him down with one hand. "Take a break. You've been Cultivating all day; you're exhausted."

"I say, Xiao Weiqing, you're making a bigger and bigger scene."

Xiao Weiqing shrugged. "It wasn't my intention."

Dongfang Xuan shook his head helplessly, then added, "Your Mental Energy Combat Power has increased by 40, and the Heaven-Reaching Pillar by 10. What about your Innate Skill? Have you tested it yet?"

"Are you confident about breaking through 5,600 points by the end of the month?"

"We'll see at the end of the month."

May 29th.

Morning.

Early in the morning, Su Yunfei was lying in the courtyard, motionless.

"What's wrong with him?"

Xiao Weiqing asked Dongfang Xuan.

He went to the Crystal Long Bridge again yesterday.

"Did he fail the Hundred Silk Bell Array again?"

Dongfang Xuan nodded.

"If he didn't pass, he didn't pass. I was stuck there for over half a month myself."

Su Yunfei kept his eyes closed and said irritably, "Is that the same?"

"Do you think I don't know?"

"You could pass but chose not to, while I want to pass but can't."

"Sigh, my total Combat Power only increased by 260 this month."

Xiao Weiqing smiled. "That's not bad. This increase is even more than Dongfang Xuan's."

"Xiao Weiqing, if you don't know how to comfort people, just don't talk, okay?"

Su Yunfei wanted to curse. His total Combat Power last month was less than 4,000, and this month it would be at most 4,200. It was mainly his basic Combat Power that increased, and he hadn't broken through much else. He felt like there was no hope left in his life.