When Xia Yang stepped forward, everyone's gaze turned to him. Even the prodigies from the Heaven-tier Academy and the four Ancient Talents within the luxurious carriages looked over from afar.
For this was the second strongest person on the Trial Path after Ye Chen—a young and true Martial God.
A twenty-three-year-old Martial God. How young was this Martial God powerhouse? Not just in the present era, but even looking across all ages, he could absolutely be counted among the youngest Martial Gods, almost comparable to those Divine Spirits in their youth. Only the most dazzling, the four Ancient Talents who were bestowed with hopes of surpassing Divine Spirits, had achieved Martial God status at an even younger age. He was a super genius with the talent to become a Divine Spirit.
Countless older generation powerhouses had sighed, lamenting that if not for Ye Chen's overly dazzling prominence, Xia Yang should have been the number one on this Trial Path.
It was a pity that no matter how brilliant Xia Yang was, even as a young Martial God powerhouse—a status achieved by only a handful in the current era at his age—his radiance was quite remarkable.
But compared to Ye Chen, it paled many times over, like a spark of fire facing the bright moon, unable to contend in brilliance.
Because Ye Chen was too prominent, even Divine Spirits paid attention to him. Especially with the series of events that had occurred recently, not only a super Martial God, but even a peak Martial God had fallen at his hands. The splendor of the four Ancient Talents was overshadowed, let alone Xia Yang's.
One thing was undeniable: everyone had to marvel at Xia Yang's strength. He was another rising star of Divine Spirit qualification from the Xia Feng Kingdom besides Ye Chen, and a possessor of divine qualification at that. All this indicated Xia Yang's limitless future. If Ye Chen weren't here, his radiance would surely be a million times more dazzling.
Unfortunately, he had just encountered Ye Chen.
Xia Yang's face was expressionless. His entire body flowed with a clear divine radiance, shimmering brilliantly like a deity descending to the mortal world, inspiring awe.
He strode forward, his demeanor striking and eye-catching. He easily pushed open the first Trial Gate, then the second, the third, and even the fourth. He opened four Trial Gates in succession, all of which seemed effortless, even relaxed.
This not only left many new students, but even many senior students, feeling they couldn't hope to match him.
A Martial God—this was the power of a Martial God, far surpassing the Xiantian realm by who knew how many times. A weight of sixty-four thousand jin required little effort; a single hand could easily push it open. Otherwise, how could one possess the supreme strength to shake mountains?
Swish—
Xia Yang's steps did not stop. The next moment, his figure flashed, arriving before the fifth Trial Gate, which stood a full sixteen zhang tall. Compared to this massive Trial Gate, Xia Yang seemed as small as an ant.
But no one dared to look down on him; instead, they were filled with anticipation.
Could he successfully push open the fifth Trial Gate?
Xia Yang began to get serious. At this moment, a faint, shimmering glow circulated over his body, and a powerful Dao might slowly spread out, sweeping across the heavens and earth.
The Trial Gate weighing over two hundred thousand jin was a test even for a Martial God.
Boom—
Xia Yang made his move, beginning to push the gate. The entire mountain range trembled, the mountain body shaking as never before.
Without a doubt, Xia Yang was truly exerting his strength.
The fifth Trial Gate weighed two hundred and sixteen thousand jin. Both doors were sixteen zhang tall and eight zhang wide. But at this moment, the fifth Trial Gate was slowly, truly being pushed open by Xia Yang, rumbling and groaning.
The scene fell into silent tension as everyone watched Xia Yang intently.
Only some prodigies from the Heaven-tier Academy and the Ancient Talents could watch this calmly. If Xia Yang couldn't push open the fifth Trial Gate like this, even if he were a Martial God, he would absolutely be the weakest Martial God in history, not worth mentioning.
However, it was clear that this was no problem for Xia Yang. As a Martial God realm cultivator, he was many times stronger than any of the Hundred Strong Trialists. Even for him at his peak Xiantian stage, it wouldn't have been a problem, let alone now.
His palms erupted with brilliant light as he exerted force to push the fifth Trial Gate weighing over two hundred thousand jin. Step by step, he advanced, and the stone gate was pushed open.
In the end, the fifth Trial Gate was still pushed open. The two ancient stone doors were completely opened, ancient aura flowing abundantly.
It was finally opened.
Everyone felt a sense of relief, with many feeling emotional. This fifth Trial Gate, which had left many new students helpless, ultimately could not block Xia Yang's steps and was successfully opened.
But upon careful thought, it seemed only natural. As a Martial God, one could shake small mountains, let alone a force of two hundred thousand jin.
A shower of brilliant, sparkling light rain drifted out, sprinkling onto Xia Yang, actually causing his aura to tremble and grow noticeably stronger.
Everyone's eyes narrowed. Pushing open the Trial Gate actually came with such benefits?
They could sense that the light rain was a form of power, very potent. Although only a small amount, after absorbing it, Xia Yang had clearly grown stronger by a noticeable margin—not to be underestimated.
The Trial Elder, unfazed, said, "This is a reward from the Trial Gate for the strong. The further back the Trial Gate you push open, the richer the reward."
Xia Yang fully absorbed this light rain. His aura rose by a noticeable degree—not a lot, but he received a kind of nourishment, his gaze becoming even sharper and more piercing.
Ye Chen's gaze was profound as he watched all this, murmuring to himself, "So there are rewards like this. This Trial Gate is indeed not simple."
Although separated by a distance, he could completely sense the extraordinary nature of this light rain. It made his Primordial Spirit feel a kind of longing, a resonance. It was a power related to the Primordial Spirit, many times rarer than ordinary heaven and earth energy.
Tap, tap, tap—
A series of light, unhurried footsteps sounded. Everyone's eyes narrowed because Xia Yang's steps did not stop. He strode forward, ascending to a higher position—the sixth Trial Gate.
Xia Yang actually intended to challenge the sixth Trial Gate.
The sixth Trial Gate weighed over eight hundred thousand jin. Moreover, once pushed open, one would obtain a month of cultivation time in the Holy Land.
Without a doubt, this was a benefit that would make almost everyone's hearts stir, even those prodigies from the Heaven-tier Academy valued it greatly, even coveted it.
It was worth knowing that cultivating there for one day was equivalent to cultivating elsewhere for ten days to half a month or more. It was truly worthy of the name "Holy Land."
Xia Yang quickly stepped forward, his demeanor still striking. He moved with the stride of a dragon and tiger, advancing boldly. After ascending a hundred zhang of steps, he finally arrived before the sixth Trial Gate.
At this moment, even his expression turned solemn because he felt the true heaviness of the sixth Trial Gate. It was not ordinary weight; there was an ancient Dao charm flowing within. It didn't feel like a stone gate but more like a mountain range—immovable.
"Hey!"
Xia Yang shouted loudly. At this moment, his entire body shone with boundless, surging divine radiance. He was already mobilizing his true Martial God power. Heaven and earth energy rolled and flowed, all being absorbed by him as if a deity from the heavenly realm had descended to the mortal world to strike, directly pushing against the sixth Trial Gate.
Rumble—
This stretch of heaven and earth began to tremble, shaking because of this strike.
Everyone focused intently, including the several Martial God Elders. Even that Supreme Elder in the Heavenly God realm now had eyes shining brilliantly, flickering with a special light as he watched all this, showing a hint of appreciation.
From within several luxurious carriages, substantial gazes shot out, intently observing all this.
Xia Yang exerted himself with a long roar, pushing the Trial Gate with all his might. He furrowed his sword-like brows, a rare change of expression on his face. Because the heaviness of the sixth Trial Gate far exceeded his imagination; it was not ordinary heaviness, and it felt like more than just a mere eight hundred thousand jin.
It was worth knowing that upon reaching the Martial God realm, one could shake mountains, far surpassing a mere eight hundred thousand jin. But now he felt as if he were pushing a real great mountain. He could shake it, but truly pushing it open was very difficult.
Indeed, this Trial Gate left behind from prehistoric times was extraordinary.
"Open for me!"
Xia Yang shouted, divine power rolling and flowing. Rumbling sounds shook the void. Many people felt an intense sense of pressure. That power shocked everyone, shook the void, and struck long against the sixth Trial Gate.
Everyone saw Xia Yang transform into a being of light, divine power boiling as he exerted all his strength to push open the sixth Trial Gate. The gap between the two stone doors grew larger and larger.
Boom—
Finally, after everything, the sixth Trial Gate was ultimately pushed open. All became empty, leaving everyone stunned.
The sixth Trial Gate, weighing over eight hundred thousand jin, had actually been pushed open. This was truly unbelievable.
Because it was too heavy, already beyond what ordinary people could achieve. The strongest among these outstanding new students hadn't even truly pushed open the fifth Trial Gate, let alone the sixth.
Even in the entire history of Tian Du Academy, not many had truly pushed open the sixth Trial Gate. They could be counted on one's fingers—less than a hundred people, each a true heaven's pride.
But who would have thought it would ultimately be truly pushed open? This was somewhat unbelievable.
Several Trial Elders nodded in admiration, and even that Supreme Elder, Elder Ouyang, nodded secretly. Being able to push open the sixth Trial Gate proved he was fully qualified to enter the Heaven-tier Academy and could rank among the top tier.
Large swathes of brilliant, dazzling light rain showered down, all bathing Xia Yang, causing his aura to climb once again, stronger than before, his presence awe-inspiring.
Xia Yang greedily devoured sheet after sheet of light rain. After a moment, his aura underwent another climb, becoming even stronger.
This made many people quite envious. The benefits of the Trial Gate were truly extraordinary. Even a Martial God realm powerhouse could gain such an enhancement. If given to a Xiantian realm cultivator to absorb, couldn't they directly raise their realm?
Only Old Yan sneered, "Truly somewhat similar to the Heaven and Earth Gate, but this light rain is far inferior in comparison. The benefits of the Heaven and Earth Gate are much stronger, hehe..."
Ye Chen seemed thoughtful. The eightfold Heaven and Earth Gate...
Under the watchful eyes of all, Xia Yang's steps did not stop. Tap, tap, tap—he once again strode forward, actually actively ascending toward the location of the seventh Trial Gate.
This scene caused many people's expressions to change slightly. Could it be that Xia Yang really intended to push open the seventh Trial Gate?
The crowd eagerly anticipated this scene.
Xia Yang strode upward. And at this moment, numerous gazes had already fallen upon him. Even powerful auras emerged, including those of academy instructors and elders.
They all wanted to see just how far Xia Yang could go.
Could he truly push open the seventh Trial Gate?
Although many felt it unlikely, since he had pushed open the sixth Trial Gate, perhaps there really was a sliver of hope.
Xia Yang tapped his way up the steps, arriving in the blink of an eye before the seventh Trial Gate. Facing this Trial Gate standing a full sixty-four zhang tall, his figure seemed even more minuscule in comparison.
But Xia Yang feared nothing. At this moment, the aura throughout his body surged explosively in an instant, like an ancient ferocious beast awakening. Martial God might emerged, causing many to pale.
But at this moment, Ye Chen shook his head with a light sigh. From within the four carriages, similar sighs were heard. Even the Trial Elders were the same, giving a light sigh as if the outcome was already predetermined.
Xia Yang pushed against the seventh Trial Gate. Divine light surged throughout his body, all impacting this sixty-four zhang tall Trial Gate.
That entire area was directly submerged in brilliant, dazzling radiance, like rolling, surging ocean waves.
But unfortunately, no matter how hard he tried to push the gate, in the end, he only managed to push it open a crack before being unable to succeed further.
It was too heavy, weighing three million jin. Moreover, the seventh Trial Gate was no ordinary Trial Gate; it flowed with a special Dao charm that could greatly suppress magical power. Only physical strength remained unweakened.
Xia Yang, this young Martial God, was ultimately blocked before the seventh Trial Gate, unable to advance further, ending in a disappointing conclusion, causing many to sigh lightly.
Was there truly no one among the younger generation of the current era who could push open the seventh?
People thought of the Ancient Talents, thought of Ye Chen, and also thought of that most monstrous person in the Heaven-tier Academy. Perhaps they all had the qualifications to do it, but none had appeared.
"Can't even push open the seventh Trial Gate, yet dares to claim to be a possessor of divine qualification. This so-called qualification is nothing more than this."
Suddenly, a disdainful voice rang in everyone's ears. From a distant parked carriage, an incomparably powerful aura erupted. A powerful figure shot into the sky, descending before the Trial Gate.
His body was entwined with strand after strand of ancient True Dragon aura, roaring and chanting. His entire person's aura was supremely powerful, like a mountain, like a range, standing imposingly before the Trial Gate.
Long Gu'ao, the Ancient Talent from the Tenglong Empire.