The news spread, stirring up the various powerhouses within Xia Feng Academy, especially the true elites within the Heaven-tier Academy. One by one, they became restless, their fighting spirit ignited.
In a certain corner of the academy, the Thirteenth Prince gazed into the distance at the Gravity Tower and smiled faintly. "Ye Chen, I hope you won't disappoint me."
The rumors swirling outside were unknown to Ye Chen, who was currently inside the nine-fold gravity chamber on the ninth floor of the Gravity Tower.
At this moment, he was undergoing arduous cultivation under the terrifying nine-fold gravity.
The nine-fold gravity chamber was about thirty zhang in diameter. Aside from the white floor, the four walls and even the domed ceiling were a deep, pitch-black color.
Only students of the Heaven-tier Academy were qualified to enter and cultivate here. However, under the fearsome nine-fold gravity, even Heaven-tier Academy students bore a tremendous burden and would not choose it lightly. Therefore, only Ye Chen was undergoing bitter cultivation within.
At this very moment, Ye Chen had removed his black robe. He wore only a simple pair of shorts, his upper body bare, revealing a robust physique. His muscles were streamlined and elegant, without a trace of excess fat, flawless.
He assumed a strange posture: his legs bent in place, his entire body slowly leaning forward, his arms twisted behind his back in an extremely awkward manner.
After a moment, he shifted to another strange posture. Another moment later, he moved to an even stranger one.
Continuing like this, within a short span of one hour, Ye Chen had already transitioned through ten postures. Each posture was incredibly strange and rather uncomfortable. Yet, one could faintly perceive that this series of odd postures seemed to form a complete set of movements, coherent and meant to be a whole, merely separated for now.
These eleven postures were precisely the first eleven cultivation diagram postures of the Tyrant Heaven Refining Saint Art.
A series of posture transitions was accompanied by constant trembling of the muscles, flesh, and bones throughout his limbs and body. The terrifying pain of a million needle pricks also appeared, yet there were also streams of warm energy nourishing his physique. It could be described as pain mingled with pleasure.
Under the nine-fold gravity, this sensation became even more pronounced, making it both addictive and unbearable.
However, who was Ye Chen? In his previous life, he was a supreme being who had even endured the pain of being crushed to dust. This level of pain could not shake his iron will.
He persisted. Now, because his Human Yuan Body Art had reached the minor achievement stage, his body had become many times stronger. It was no longer like the initial period when just practicing the first diagram caused backlash and made him cough blood.
At this moment, he maintained the posture of the eleventh diagram motionlessly. His entire body's flesh and blood trembled continuously. The needle-prick sensation and the gentle, warm streams nourished every part of his physique, slowly strengthening it.
Under nine-fold gravity, the strengthening speed was faster. Ye Chen could feel every inch of his flesh and blood improving. Although the speed was slow, he could sense this rate of enhancement.
After maintaining this posture for a full hour, Ye Chen suddenly shifted to another posture—the twelfth diagram's posture. Instantly, the needle-prick sensation intensified. His entire body's muscles felt as if they were about to tear apart. Sweat gushed from his pores, drenching him.
Boom—
Less than half an hour later, a tyrannical backlash blasted Ye Chen away. He spat out a mouthful of blood, panting heavily.
It took nearly another half hour before he slowly sat up. He swallowed specially concocted healing medicinal liquid, gradually recovering from his internal injuries.
Afterwards, he began a new round of bitter cultivation...
In front of the Gravity Tower, two figures suddenly strode forward. One was heroic and upright, the other burly and tall, imposing like a gorilla. Both wore arrogant expressions. Wherever they passed, the surrounding students quickly made way, not daring to obstruct them. Their gazes even held a trace of reverence.
Looking at the academy's ornate robes they wore, edged with eye-catching gold trim, and the badges on their chests featuring a golden "Heaven" character, it was clear—both were elite students of the Heaven-tier Academy, one of the four major academies.
"Esteemed sirs, how may I serve you?" The registration staff, seeing that the arrivals were elite students from the Heaven-tier Academy, dared not neglect them. He hurriedly bowed and inquired about their needs.
The Heaven-tier Academy, as the leader of the four academies, gathered the nation's most top-tier geniuses. Within the entire Xia Feng Academy, they enjoyed considerable privileges.
This was a specific benefit bestowed by the academy upon these elite geniuses, something students from the other three tiered academies could not match.
Faced with the registration staff's respectful inquiry, the two paid no heed, speaking as if no one else was present. The registration staff harbored no complaints, quietly waiting on the side.
The burly, tall man spoke, his voice deep and resonant, addressing the heroic youth beside him: "Young Master Xia, are you also entering the eight-fold gravity chamber to cultivate this time?"
Young Master Xia shook his head. "No. Although I've basically adapted to seven-fold gravity, the pressure of eight-fold is no joke. I'm not like you, Li Hu, who cultivates both internally and externally. Eight-fold gravity is still a bit high for me currently, not very suitable. I'll stick with seven-fold for now."
Li Hu grunted in acknowledgment. "Then I'll choose eight-fold. Seven-fold doesn't have much effect for me anymore. Eight-fold is much more effective."
Young Master Xia said, "Indeed. But I suggest you try the nine-fold gravity chamber. Your body cultivation is also quite good, able to withstand higher gravity. That place might offer better training assistance for you."
Li Hu was not only a Xiantian expert but also had cultivated his physical body to a certain degree. Otherwise, he wouldn't have developed such a burly, tall physique. Just his iron-tower-like, imposing frame was enough to inspire awe in others.
Even within the entire Xia Feng Academy, Li Hu's physical body cultivation was among the top few.
However, Li Hu gave a bitter smile. "Young Master Xia, please don't make fun of me. Eight-fold gravity is manageable for me, but once it reaches nine-fold, that's absolutely impossible. Nine-fold gravity... even among the other elites of the Heaven-tier Academy, probably only those few can handle it."
Nine-fold gravity represented the limit of the Gravity Tower. Not everyone could withstand it. Reaching the Xiantian realm wasn't enough; the crucial factor was the body's endurance capacity.
Although Li Hu's physique was strong, facing the highest-level nine-fold gravity chamber still seemed somewhat strenuous for him.
On the spot, Young Master Xia and Li Hu handed their Heaven-tier Academy student tokens to the registration desk. The staff registered their identities with great respect, saying respectfully, "Esteemed sirs, there are currently vacant rooms in the seven and eight-fold gravity chambers. You may choose to enter for cultivation."
The two took back their student tokens and turned to leave. Suddenly, Young Master Xia's expression changed. His footsteps halted abruptly. He quickly returned to the registration desk, his expression serious. "I ask you, did you just say there are vacant rooms on the seventh and eighth floors?"
The registration staff, seeing Young Master Xia's strange expression, felt somewhat puzzled but remained very respectful. "Reporting to the esteemed sir, both floors have vacant rooms."
"Then what about the ninth floor?" Young Master Xia asked a key question. This was what he cared about most. The staff hadn't mentioned the ninth floor having a vacant room, clearly indicating someone was already cultivating in the ninth-floor gravity chamber.
Could it be one of those few?
The registration staff shook his head. "I'm sorry, it's already occupied."
"Occupied?" Although Young Master Xia had his suspicions, he was still somewhat surprised. So, one of those few freaks from the Heaven-tier Academy had taken it for cultivation? He hadn't expected them to come to the Gravity Tower for training.
Those freaks had always been elusive, rarely seen. It was quite rare for them to appear.
A flicker of interest suddenly arose in his heart. Young Master Xia said to Li Hu, "Li Hu, come with me. Let's see which freak has come to the nine-fold gravity chamber. Those freaks haven't shown themselves for a long time."
"Alright," Li Hu agreed immediately, following Young Master Xia towards the gravity chambers. But at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared before them, wearing only simple, plain clothing, drenched in sweat from head to toe, his clothes completely soaked.
This was a handsome youth with clear, delicate features. Between his brows, there seemed to be a faint, curved crescent moon, making him quite eye-catching.
This person was none other than Ye Chen.
Seeing Ye Chen's appearance, Young Master Xia's brow furrowed slightly, a flash of disdain in his eyes. Li Hu snorted coldly, "Kid, get out of the way. Don't block our path."
Because Ye Chen's appearance happened to block the path of the two.