"Elder Du, don't tell me that Ye Yunfei doesn't even dare to step onto the first stone step! Is this the so-called genius you've been praising nonstop!" Luo Fengyang sneered coldly.
"I said it before, having strong physical strength has little to do with martial arts cultivation talent. This Ye Yunfei has absolutely no right to occupy a spot for entering the Tianying Small World!" Su Deqing also mocked with a cold laugh.
Elder Du's face looked a bit awkward; for a moment, he didn't know how to refute.
Right at this moment, on the competition stage, just as Zhou Tong's roar faded, Ye Yunfei suddenly moved, stepping onto the first stone step.
"Look, Ye Yunfei has started climbing the ladder!" Seeing Ye Yunfei take action, someone immediately shouted in the square. Everyone's gaze was tightly fixed on Ye Yunfei.
Zhou Tong's expression turned somewhat ugly. He was afraid Ye Yunfei would suddenly burst forth.
"This kid has finally started climbing the ladder!" Seeing this, Elder Du couldn't help but feel relieved.
"So it truly is Five Elements power. The Five Elements power distributed across these hundred stone steps gradually increases step by step from the lowest to the highest," Ye Yunfei stood on the first stone step, stopping to carefully sense.
"This Heaven Ascension Ladder is essentially a magic treasure. A treasure used to control the Tianxuan Five Elements Divine Mountain Formation. For me, refining this ladder doesn't require climbing up. Standing on the first stone step is enough." Ye Yunfei began researching the method to refine this stone ladder.
Generally speaking, to refine a magic treasure, one needs to etch their own Soul Power brand into the treasure. Then, through this Soul Power brand, a connection with the treasure can be established, allowing control over it. However, it only works if the Soul Power brand is etched onto the treasure's key hub location. Therefore, refining a treasure involves two steps: first, finding the key hub location of the treasure, and second, etching one's own Soul Power brand onto it.
"Alright, let's begin step one: finding the key hub location of this stone ladder." Standing on the first step, Ye Yunfei took a deep breath and released his Soul Power, letting it seep into the interior of the stone ladder.
"Haha, Ye Yunfei, you trash, you look like you're struggling even to step onto the first stone step. How about it, the pressure's huge, isn't it? Can't even take a step forward? Trash, ant, open your eyes wide and see what true talent looks like!" Seeing Ye Yunfei paused on the first stone step, Zhou Tong couldn't help but roar with laughter. At this moment, he felt immensely relieved, his confidence restored.
After saying that, Zhou Tong continued to climb upward.
"Turns out, I've been overestimating you all along," Ling Tianyu also walked onto the stage at this time, arriving before the Heaven Ascension Ladder. He shot a contemptuous glance at Ye Yunfei and shook his head. Then, he too began climbing.
Ling Tianyu's climbing speed was extremely fast. He strode upward as if feeling no pressure whatsoever! In the blink of an eye, he reached the dozen or so steps. Yet at this time, Ye Yunfei still remained standing motionless on the first step.
"Haha, this is killing me! So Ye Yunfei's martial cultivation talent is this lousy!"
"Exactly, completely beyond my expectations. I thought he was a genius before. Turns out he's a mediocrity!"
"Ye Yunfei, if you can't climb, don't force yourself. Just roll back down. You're an eyesore!"
Watching Ye Yunfei remain motionless on the first step, jeers soon began to erupt around the stage.
Especially the Water Peak disciples, they each shouted mocking, scornful laughter.
"I don't believe it! Senior Brother Ye Yunfei's martial cultivation talent definitely isn't that poor! Senior Brother Ye Yunfei, go for it!" Within the ranks of Jin Peak disciples, A Niu and others who held favorable opinions of Ye Yunfei cheered him on.
Meanwhile, on the high platform east of the square, Luo Fengyang burst into laughter. "Hahaha... Elder Du, this is the genius you admire? I have to say, your judgment really is poor!"
The other Tianyuan Sect high-ups also shook their heads one after another, revealing disappointed expressions.
"Just what is Ye Yunfei doing? Impossible, this can't be his true martial cultivation talent. Ye Yunfei, just keep climbing up!" Elder Du's face was extremely grim, and he felt anxious inside.
"How strange. What is this little guy playing at?" The Secluded Elder, on the other hand, looked at Ye Yunfei with a strange gaze.
Back on the stage, the Core Disciples of the five peaks began to take the field.
"Ye Yunfei, show me your true strength. I'll be waiting for you up there," Xiao Xiaoling, the second-ranked disciple of Jin Peak, said as she passed by Ye Yunfei, her beautiful eyes glancing at him. However, at this moment, Ye Yunfei was fully focused on finding the key hub location of the Heaven Ascension Ladder and didn't pay her any attention.
Next, the talented disciples of each peak began to make their appearances. Their brilliant performances elicited waves of cheers from the square. The ladder-climbing competition seemed to be entering its most exciting phase!
He Houfeng, the number one disciple of Earth Peak, climbed to the eighteenth step in one go, his movements extremely fluid without the slightest pause! Only after the eighteenth step did he begin to feel pressure, his speed slowing slightly, but still much faster than other disciples.
Wu Yan, the number one disciple of Fire Peak, and Xiao Lin, the number one disciple of Wood Peak, also ascended with remarkable speed, drawing attention.
Next, Li Chaofan, the number one disciple of Water Peak, stepped onto the stage!
"I've already notified my family of Yi Chen's death. Next, prepare to bear the wrath of our Imperial City Li Family! Not only you, but all nine branches of your family will be implicated, your entire clan exterminated!" Li Chaofan stopped as he passed Ye Yunfei, staring at him coldly.
"If the Imperial City Li Family dares provoke me, prepare to be annihilated," Ye Yunfei suddenly turned his head towards Li Chaofan and spoke slowly. The chilling, oppressive killing intent contained in his words startled Li Chaofan.
"Trash! How could it be you?! A good-for-nothing who can only climb the first step has the audacity to spout such nonsense?! Before our Li Family, you are nothing but an ant! Just wait, soon you'll know that provoking our Li Family was the biggest mistake of your life!" Li Chaofan became angry out of shame, bellowing in fury.
Then, "Ant! Now open your eyes wide and see clearly what true talent looks like!" Li Chaofan said with a cold laugh, and he began his climb.
Li Chaofan's climbing motions appeared exceptionally suave. With his hands behind his back, he ascended step by step as easily as taking a stroll in a garden. Moreover, he climbed to the twenty-second step in one go without the slightest pause!
Li Chaofan's dazzling performance ignited the atmosphere in the entire square.
"Senior Brother Li is too impressive!"
"He truly deserves to be Water Peak's number one!"
Many disciples shouted at the top of their lungs.
Suddenly, a flash of red appeared on the stage as a girl in red robes materialized onto it. Long Yingying had taken the field!
Immediately, the atmosphere in the entire square quieted for a moment. All the disciples looked at Long Yingying with fearful gazes, not even daring to speak out loud. Because within Tianyuan Sect, Long Yingying was notoriously a big troublemaker!
Rumor had it she had sought out every talented disciple from the five peaks with decent rankings and beaten them all without ever suffering a defeat. Moreover, she had no restraint when attacking and often left people bruised and swollen.
Even Li Chaofan had once been chased by her, fleeing all over the mountains!
"Ye Yunfei, are you sensing something?" Long Yingying came to Ye Yunfei's side and stopped, her beautiful eyes fixed on him as she asked.
"Climb your ladder, don't disturb me," Ye Yunfei replied without even glancing at her.
"Humph, so impressive? Acting mysterious," Long Yingying curled her lip. However, her gaze towards Ye Yunfei was filled with curiosity. "Alright, let me see what you're up to," she said, then began climbing.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
Long Yingying's climbing action was actually a brisk run!
Everyone in the square was dumbfounded.
Is this even allowed?