Ch. 781Echelons, Widening the Gap?
Key plot points and events
- Su Yuan encounters two rare Beast Tide obstacles consecutively but clears each almost instantly, demonstrating the overwhelming power of his “Self-Is Power.”
- The competitors begin to separate into four echelons: Su Yuan and Chen Shenxiao lead; Ning Ran Saint follows; Wang Xiuliang and Xiao Yuerou form the next group; the remaining competitors trail behind.
- Su Yuan quickly breaks a nine-shadow formation and defeats a powerful Star Beast, keeping pace with Chen Shenxiao.
- Chen Shenxiao encounters a Beast Tide and destroys more than 1,300 Star Beasts with a single sword strike. He then triggers a second Beast Tide in succession.
- Su Yuan faces a maze illusion, but his heightened perception lets him see through it and dispel it almost immediately. He emerges before Chen Shenxiao and briefly takes the lead.
- Chen Shenxiao catches up, and the two enter the tenth and final obstacle together, with the Floating Mountain Summits visible just beyond it.
Character developments
- Su Yuan continues to display near-effortless strength and exceptional perception. His brief lead over Chen Shenxiao shows that he can gain ground even when his rival’s pace is formidable.
- Chen Shenxiao proves to be a close match for Su Yuan. His single-strike defeat of a huge Beast Tide reveals tremendous power, while his sudden burst of speed suggests he may not yet have been pushing himself fully.
- The observers, including Lei Chengba, shift from astonishment at Su Yuan’s progress to eagerly comparing the two leaders’ chances of winning.
Significant themes
- Power and efficiency: Su Yuan and Chen Shenxiao overcome obstacles that should be difficult with striking speed and minimal effort.
- Luck versus skill: Both leaders repeatedly draw rare Beast Tide obstacles, yet their abilities make these supposed disadvantages almost irrelevant.
- Rivalry and escalation: Su Yuan’s brief lead is immediately challenged by Chen Shenxiao, building suspense as the finish approaches.
Character interactions
- Su Yuan and Chen Shenxiao do not directly converse, but their alternating performances create a competitive exchange: Su Yuan clears obstacles quickly, Chen Shenxiao answers with displays of power, and both ultimately reach the final obstacle together.
- Lei Chengba and the other Transcendence Realm observers watch, comment on the leaders’ progress, and debate who will reach the summit first.