At the stairway to the ninth floor, Xiang Tian was drenched in sweat. The pressure here was nearly five hundred times stronger; even he found it hard to bear. It was difficult to imagine who had managed to reach the ninth floor before him.
He caught his breath. The eighth floor had been powerful, but it had still been far from his limit.
He stepped forward, and the lights on the ninth floor lit up. The abruptly surging pressure crashed down on him. Gritting his teeth, he did not retreat, because he knew that if he took even one step back, that driving momentum would diminish by a fraction.
Taking another step, Xiang Tian began to pant heavily. Blood started seeping from the corner of his mouth, caused by how fiercely he had clenched his teeth.
News that someone was challenging the ninth floor quickly spread throughout the academy. Many people came flocking over, and even quite a few teachers gathered.
Within the crowd, Qiu Changfeng looked at the lights of the ninth floor, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Xiang Tian truly did not need to push himself this hard. Cultivation level was not all that important to Xiang Tian himself, so why did he have to risk his life for an old bag of bones like him?
The Spirit Pressure Tower staff activated their authority and displayed Xiang Tian's projection above the academy.
Everyone saw Xiang Tian hunched over, bracing himself against the wall as he prepared to take the next step.
Sinan Yao was also among the crowd. Seeing his former opponent, he could not help but feel despondent.
So the identity he had always been so proud of was utterly beneath this person's notice. So the clown had always been himself.
The Lineage had already given him orders: if he encountered Xiang Tian again, he could only curry favor with him and absolutely could not provoke another conflict.
Everyone watched with rapt attention, wanting to see whether Xiang Tian could create another miracle for Changning Immortal Academy!
Bang!
Xiang Tian took another step. The crushing pressure made his footfall thunderous. That single step seemed to land directly upon everyone's heartstrings.
Five hundred times the pressure! They knew their own limits well enough. If it were them, they absolutely would not be able to endure it!
"Come on!"
"Go, Xiang Tian!"
People were already unable to hold back from shouting encouragement for Xiang Tian. More and more were swept up in the fervor and joined in.
At this moment, they no longer feared Xiang Tian. In their eyes, the one struggling atop the tower was merely a student of the Immortal Academy.
"Write a new chapter of history! Believe in yourself!"
Even some teachers joined in.
Inside the tower, Xiang Tian faintly heard those shouts and felt touched.
These guys are actually kind of adorable when you look at them now.
Riding that surge of momentum, Xiang Tian gritted his teeth and charged straight onto the ninth floor!
"Ah, he made it! Xiang Tian is awesome!"
"My God, I actually get to see someone reach the ninth floor of the Spirit Pressure Tower!"
"Xiang Tian is so damn handsome! Holy shit, I like him to death!"
"Why be so rigid about gender? I like him too!"
Outside, jubilation erupted as though they themselves had reached the ninth floor.
Seeing this, Qiu Changfeng and the other teachers were deeply gratified. This was the atmosphere of Changning Immortal Academy. Truly, it was wonderful.
Above the ninth floor, Xiang Tian straightened his back and closed his eyes, beginning to adapt to the place.
When he opened his eyes again, he did not choose to sit cross-legged and cultivate. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the very top floor.
The cheers outside came to an abrupt halt. Everyone stared blankly at the projection, not daring to speak.
Xiang Tian... was he trying to challenge the tenth floor?
"Is writing history by standing at the same height as others really writing history?"
Hearing the earlier cheers, Xiang Tian chuckled softly. Clearly, he was unwilling to stop here.
He had always believed that his potential went far beyond this.
"Xiang Tian moved! My God, he really is going for the tenth floor!"
"A thousand times the pressure! Has he gone mad? The ninth floor is already outstanding enough."
Some people could not understand it at all. They simply could not comprehend why Xiang Tian had decided to challenge the tenth floor!
Within the crowd, Qiu Changfeng's expression was conflicted. He regretted it now, regretted asking Xiang Tian for help. But there was no way to stop him anymore. Even if Qiu Changfeng went inside, he would have to endure the pressure of the ninth floor. Whether he could withstand it was uncertain!
"Xiang Tian, you don't need to go any higher!"
He could only shout, hoping Xiang Tian would hear him.
And indeed, Xiang Tian heard him. He paused for a moment, then shook his head.
Since he had come this far, he had to create another legend. A thousand times the pressure—throughout the ages, plenty of people had endured pressure even greater than this. If others could do it, why could he not?
Bang!
He stepped onto the first stair. The instantly doubled pressure nearly crushed him flat. His entire body began to flush red, and Xiang Tian had never experienced such a sensation before—the feeling that his blood was about to burst through his flesh.
He did not want others to think he was merely someone who could summon wind and rain by relying on external power. He wanted to prove that he, too, possessed perseverance and talent!
Nor did he want to disappoint his two older sisters. He wanted them to know that the little brat from back then had grown up and could face the wind and rain on his own.
Bang!
On the second stair, Xiang Tian was pressed down so hard he could not straighten his back.
Bang!
On the third stair, Xiang Tian was already almost crawling on the ground.
Outside, everyone was incomparably shaken. Their expressions turned solemn, and an indescribable reverence rose within their hearts. Xiang Tian seemed different from what they had imagined.
Blood had begun to seep gradually from Xiang Tian's body. His eyes were crimson, as though he had become possessed.
Only the final stair remained. Xiang Tian's gaze was somewhat unfocused; it seemed impossibly far away.
But what did that matter? He understood in his heart that this step was actually very close!
When Xiang Tian's hand gripped the final stair, the thousandfold pressure descended without holding anything back. The agony coursing through his entire arm felt as though it had been crushed to pieces.
This was the first time Xiang Tian had personally experienced pain of this magnitude.
Very good. Xiang Tian became even more excited. This was true cultivation; pleasure would never outweigh pain.
If others learned of this thought, they would certainly think Xiang Tian was a pervert.
He wanted to force himself to the absolute limit, force himself until there was nowhere left to go.
Under everyone's disbelieving gazes, Xiang Tian slowly crawled, dragging himself through a trail of blood as he clawed his way onto the tenth floor!
His entire body was crushed against the ground, unable to move.
This time, no one cheered. They were shocked, but at the same time, they felt it was not worth it for Xiang Tian.
Why did he have to reduce himself to such a state?
"Headmaster, what's wrong?"
A nearby instructor noticed that Qiu Changfeng's old tears were streaming freely and handed him a tissue.
"I'm fine... I'm fine. That kid Xiang Tian, he really is..."
He did not finish speaking, but his heart had been moved beyond measure.
On the ground, Xiang Tian could clearly hear his own heart pounding.
He began trying to lift his waist.
"Come on!"
"You have to get up, Xiang Tian!"
Outside, everyone encouraged Xiang Tian from the depths of their hearts. Their cries of support merged into one, booming like heavenly thunder.
You're all cheering me on like this. If I don't stand up, wouldn't that make me far too disappointing?
Xiang Tian smiled bitterly to himself, yet a new strength rose within him.
"Drip... drip..."
When he stood up, his entire body had become a bloody mess, blood continuously dripping down!
"Xiang Tian, awesome!"
"A legend, a true legend!"
"Hahaha! From now on, I can brag to others that my classmate reached the tenth floor of the Spirit Pressure Tower!"
The entire place erupted. Light shone in everyone's eyes—the yearning for cultivation. Someone had personally shown them the way and taken the first step. They too became filled with confidence in their future path and found a goal to strive toward.
"Hahahaha, good, good! Ah, why can't this tissue wipe my tears dry?!"
Looking at Xiang Tian, Qiu Changfeng's face was full of old tears, yet he still complained that the tissue in his hand could not wipe them away.
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