Invisible Pressure

That was a very ordinary road, paved with ordinary bluestone slabs, with neat green grass verges planted on both sides. The road stretched as far as the eye could see, extending all the way to the foot of the distant mountains.

Everyone participating in the Sea Trials was full of confidence. Running was simply too easy for cultivators; most people felt they would definitely pass.

With a command from the white-bearded old man, the Sea Trials officially began.

Those standing at the front of the square were the first to run out, but at this moment, a strange scene occurred. Many of the people who rushed out first suddenly felt their legs go weak and sat directly on the ground, making fools of themselves.

Only a few people with extremely quick reactions managed to forcefully pull themselves up when their legs went weak and continued running forward.

Seeing the first group of people who rushed out suffer a loss, the people behind naturally noticed the strangeness of this road. They circulated all their strength and didn't make a fool of themselves, but most people's speed slowed down significantly after getting on that road, as if they were carrying a thousand pounds of gravity, making it very difficult to run.

As the first few waves of people got on the road, it was finally Luo Zheng's turn.

He slowly walked to the edge of the square and stepped out. The moment he stepped out, he immediately felt an invisible pressure. When he tried to lift his foot again, he felt as if his legs were tied with thousand-pound lead weights, incredibly heavy.

This feeling was very strange.

When Luo Zheng's entire body entered this road, he felt this pressure was almost everywhere. Even his eardrums were bearing this pressure, rumbling.

So that was it. This road looked ordinary, but in reality, it was filled with a powerful pressure.

If he were running on flat ground, with Luo Zheng's strength in the Viscera Refining Realm, his breath would be long and continuous. As long as he had food to replenish his energy, what if he ran for ten days and ten nights?

But running under this thousand-pound pressure was impossible. Under this pressure, his strength would deplete too quickly. He didn't know how long he could last. But he had already lit up two Dragon Scales, and coupled with his special physique, it wasn't impossible for him to achieve a good result.

After smoothing out his breath, Luo Zheng let out a soft shout, erupting all his strength, filling every muscle, completely offsetting that pressure. Then he took strides and ran forward.

Besides Luo Zheng, there were also many people with strong auras who instantly got used to this powerful pressure, advancing with light steps as if carrying no weight, as if this pressure didn't cause them any hindrance.

Of course, most people couldn't do this.

Some Bone Refining Realm cultivators, after rushing forward for a hundred meters, had already exhausted their strength and were lying prostrate on the ground, even lifting their heads was an extremely difficult task.

Some slightly stronger Bone Refining Realm cultivators barely managed to support themselves, their bodies swaying as if they could fall to the ground at any moment.

After Luo Zheng ran seven or eight li, the crowd began to slowly spread out, forming a long line, scattered on the road.

He focused on his steps, regulating his breathing. Only by doing so could his body reach the most balanced state and run a greater distance.

"Brother Luo Zheng!"

A voice sounded behind him. Luo Zheng turned his head and saw a young man wearing a silk satin robe greeting him. It was Mo Can, the young man he had met yesterday. Yesterday, his clothes were tightly wrapped, but today he had changed into lighter clothing.

"Brother Mo Can, hello," Luo Zheng responded with a smile.

Mo Can ran while panting and said, "Brother Luo Zheng's strength is indeed extraordinary. Under such great pressure, you're like you're strolling in a leisurely courtyard."

"You're not bad either. If I'm not mistaken, you're only in the Bone Refining Realm, right? There aren't many people in the Bone Refining Realm who can maintain your speed," Luo Zheng said.

This section of the road was very stressful for those in the Bone Refining Realm, but it was relatively easy for cultivators in the Viscera Refining Realm and Marrow Refining Realm.

That Mo Can could still maintain such speed, there was indeed something to it.

Mo Can's face showed a depressed expression. He raised his hand, and a bracelet appeared on his hand: "Last time I participated in the Sea Trials, I only ran two hundred meters before collapsing. This time, relying on this Heavenly Silk Ring, I offset most of the pressure and was able to reach here."

"Heavenly Silk Ring?" Luo Zheng glanced at the bracelet. It was a reddish-gold bracelet that looked ordinary, yet it could help him resist this pressure.

"This is a High-Grade Profound Artifact, right?" Luo Zheng blinked and asked.

Mo Can chuckled and said, "Yes, for this High-Grade Profound Artifact, it cost me two Square Crystal Stones, almost exhausting my entire fortune."

"Two Square Crystal Stones? How could it be so cheap?" Luo Zheng asked in confusion. If that were the case, he had hundreds of Square Crystal Stones in his Sumeru Ring. Wouldn't he be able to buy dozens of High-Grade Profound Artifacts?

Hearing Luo Zheng's words, Mo Can added, "You misunderstood. This Heavenly Silk Ring of mine is rented. Two Square Crystal Stones are just the rent. After passing the Sea Trials with the Heavenly Silk Ring, I have to return it."

Luo Zheng was speechless. He didn't expect these family disciples from the Imperial City to come up with such methods to pass the Sea Trials. There were even people renting out Profound Artifacts. Luo Zheng asked again, "Using the power of a magical treasure to help oneself pass the Sea Trials, doesn't this count as cheating?"

The Azure Cloud Sect held the Sea Trials to filter out those with poor strength, but with the use of magical treasures, the Sea Trials seemed very unfair.

Mo Can smiled and said, "Brother Luo Zheng doesn't know the rules of the Azure Cloud Sect. In fact, with such a large sect as the Azure Cloud Sect and so many disciples, how could there be only thousands of geniuses? They generally don't pay attention to these people participating in the Sea Trials. They always turn a blind eye to these trivial matters. After all, we aren't even outer disciples. Let alone using one or two Profound Artifacts, even if we fight here, as long as no one dies, generally no one will care."

Hearing Mo Can's words, Luo Zheng understood. The extremely strict sect rules of the Azure Cloud Sect were probably only for the sect disciples, and this Sea Trials was just a screening. Regardless of the mix of fish and shrimp, and the mud and sand, they would just do a rough screening first.

After Mo Can finished speaking, he started panting heavily again. Relying on the Heavenly Silk Ring to offset most of the pressure, he was still struggling a bit.

"You should stop talking and focus on maintaining your running rhythm," Luo Zheng reminded him.

Mo Can nodded, gritted his teeth, and moved his steps even harder. That kind face also showed a fierce expression; he was starting to push himself.

Up until now, Luo Zheng had been running very easily. After getting used to that pressure, he could even completely ignore it.

The people on the entire road became more and more scattered. Luo Zheng looked around and saw that in this section of the road, there were only him and Mo Can.

But Luo Zheng noticed that in the distance, a strong man was advancing rapidly. That man was as strong as an ox, his strides were large, and his running speed was extremely fast.

Before long, the strong man quickly approached Mo Can. However, the moment he surpassed Mo Can, the strong man fiercely slammed his shoulder into Mo Can.

Mo Can was already struggling a bit, focusing on maintaining his pace, burying his head and running wildly with a fierce determination.

This collision came too suddenly, and besides, Mo Can didn't even notice anyone next to him. He was immediately knocked down to the side of the road with a scream.

"What are you doing?" Luo Zheng shouted. Mo Can and that strong man should have no grudges, yet this strong man actually knocked Mo Can down, which was clearly too much. Before Luo Zheng's voice faded, the strong man's speed actually increased by another three points, and he slammed towards Luo Zheng.

Seeing the strong man's fierce momentum, Luo Zheng's expression changed, and he quietly circulated all his strength.

A cold smile appeared on the strong man's face. According to the information, this kid named Luo Zheng should only be in the Viscera Refining Realm. And he was in the Marrow Refining Realm, a realm apart. He had a great advantage in both strength and physique. This kid, not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, actually didn't dodge or evade? With this collision, wouldn't this kid be smashed to pieces?

Thinking of this, the strong man's strength suddenly increased by fifty percent. But when the strong man collided with Luo Zheng's body, his expression suddenly changed. He had thought that with such a fierce collision, this kid would be like a sandbag, directly knocked flying, his bones broken, and his life extinguished.

But at this moment, he felt as if he had crashed into a mountain. Not only did the kid not budge, but he suddenly exerted force and crashed back into him!

A violent rebound force bounced back from Luo Zheng's body. The burly man grunted and retreated seven or eight steps, his face full of shock, as if he had seen a ghost. How could this kid's body be so hard? It didn't feel like a human body at all, as if it were cast from steel and iron.

Luo Zheng paid no attention to the burly man's confusion. Just now, when he was hit, a warm current flowed from his shoulder, making his body incredibly comfortable. But seeing Mo Can nearby, he asked coldly, "I have no grievance with you, why did you hit me?"

The burly man took out a purple pill from his chest, swallowed it in one gulp, and smiled, "You have no grievance with me, but someone wants you to fail the Sea Trials!"

"Who is it?" Luo Zheng asked coldly.

The burly man didn't answer, but sneered as he ran, "I advise you to give up early. You are destined to fail these Sea Trials, otherwise, this path will be your funeral!"

Looking at the burly man's rapidly receding back, Luo Zheng's expression became serious.

This outcome was not difficult to guess, and he quickly figured out what was going on.

Luo Zheng didn't know anyone in the Imperial City. The only person who would do this was likely Luo Peiran. Thinking that Luo Peiran would resort to such a trick to prevent him from entering the Azure Cloud Sect, his face gradually turned cold.