"How is this possible?"
Gu Mingheng turned around and saw Gu Chen, who was radiating murderous intent. His face showed a look of horror!
This kid is a monster! He took a palm strike from me and still managed to climb the mountain unharmed. How did he do that? And his speed is clearly surpassing mine!
No!
Gu Mingheng gritted his teeth, looked up at the mountaintop where Heaven and Earth Palace was located. There were still more than a thousand steps to the top. He was under pressure and did his best. He should be able to reach it within a minute!
Gu Mingheng sped up, but Gu Chen sped up just as fast!
After Gu Chen stepped onto the 20,000 steps again, only a few dozen seconds later, he was already standing in front of Gu Mingheng! Then, Gu Chen stood on the steps in front of Gu Mingheng, looking down at him.
"You!" Gu Mingheng glared angrily.
"You probably think I'd slap you right now?" Gu Chen said calmly, "But that would be too boring."
"Hit me? You dare?" Gu Mingheng was enraged by Gu Chen's arrogant attitude. From childhood to adulthood, he had always been the family's favored genius, the future king! When had he ever been treated like this!
"What wouldn't I dare?" Gu Chen smiled contemptuously and said, "But it would be too boring to just beat you down like this. Come on up, I'll be waiting for you up here!"
With that, Gu Chen didn't look at Gu Mingheng again and leaped up. After a few leaps, the hundreds of steps seemed to shrink inch by inch beneath his feet, and his figure disappeared in an instant, reaching the top of the mountain!
Gu Mingheng was furious. Gu Chen's smile just now was full of contempt! He was the eldest son of the prestigious Gu Family, while Gu Chen was just a discarded pawn. What right did he have to show such a smile?
He took another deep breath and charged forward!
"Am I seeing things?"
Some people below rubbed their eyes, only coming to their senses after the two figures had disappeared into the mountaintop! Even after they came to their senses, their faces still showed disbelief.
Even after being ambushed by Gu Mingheng, Gu Chen still managed to ascend the Road to Heaven. Not only did he ascend, but he also did so even faster than Gu Mingheng!
Absolutely incredible!
As soon as the two ascended, the white jade steps suddenly emitted a faint glow, which then dimmed slightly. Clearly, the formation had changed, or rather, disappeared, turning the steps into ordinary ones.
"Those who wish to be listed among the scions of noble families on the Tiger Ranking can go up and witness the ceremony."
Gu Muyu said something, then leaped into the air, her toes touching the edge of the steps. In a few bounds, she soared to the top of the Heaven and Earth Palace. But whether it was a misperception or not, although Gu Muyu was a renowned Grandmaster Realm martial artist, the people below felt that her speed of ascent seemed... not as fast as Gu Chen's earlier!
However, Gu Mingheng and Gu Chen had already gone up the mountain. Regardless of whether it was a ceremony for Gu Mingheng to ascend the Dragon Ranking, the young masters from the noble families present all felt that there would be a good show to watch, so they all stepped onto the steps and rushed up to the Heaven and Earth Palace.
Heaven and Earth Palace consists of three enormous palaces that almost cover the entire mountaintop. Twenty meters from the exit of the steps leading up the mountain, there is a jade archway over ten meters high, flanked by lifelike stone carvings. Above the archway, a plaque shines brightly in gold, bearing the three large characters "Heaven and Earth Palace".
Not far behind the archway, there was a pond, where several white cranes with thick feathers and long legs stood on the edge, flapping their wings.
After Gu Chen stepped onto the archway, he saw three people standing below it.
When they saw that it wasn't Gu Mingheng who came up, they all looked surprised.
"Who are you?" One of them frowned. He was an old man in a gray robe. After scrutinizing Gu Chen for a moment, a look of surprise appeared in his eyes. "Gu Chen?"
"Esteemed seniors, this junior is Gu Chen." Gu Chen nodded, then respectfully bowed to the elders around him before saying, "If I'm not mistaken, these two seniors should be the ones who appeared on Starfall Cliff, right?"
Elder Ge and Shi Che were even more surprised. They exchanged a glance, wondering how Gu Chen had discovered them.
Another elderly man with white hair chuckled and said, "Talented people emerge in every generation. Young friend Gu Chen, at such a young age, you were able to withstand the pressure of the formation and complete the Road to Heaven. You were even one step faster than Gu Mingheng."
"Elder Liu, this Gu Chen, and Yellow Rock Grass..." Elder Ge hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up.
"It's alright." Elder Liu waved his hand, stopping him from speaking, and then said to Gu Chen, "Young friend Gu, let me introduce myself first. I am Liu Jingce, the Grand Elder of the Heaven and Earth Palace. I am always present whenever the Dragon Ranking changes. This is Ge Chaoqun, everyone calls him Elder Ge, and this is Shi Che. Heaven and Earth Palace is managed by the three of us. I am not usually present to handle affairs, and the operation of the Heaven and Earth Palace is largely thanks to Elder Ge and Shi Che."
"Greetings, Senior Liu! Greetings, Elder Ge! Greetings, Senior Shi Che!" Gu Chen was very tactful and greeted them one by one.
Both Elder Ge and Shi Che nodded at Gu Chen, feeling that Gu Chen was quite different from his arrogant reputation; he was actually quite polite.
"Today is the day the Gu Family announces to the world that Gu Mingheng, a descendant of the Gu Family, has been listed on the honor roll. I wonder why young friend Gu has come to join in the fun?" Elder Liu chuckled.
But at that moment, Gu Mingheng, already up the mountain, was panting heavily. Upon hearing Elder Liu's question, his face contorted with rage, and he roared, "This man is an outcast of my Gu Family in the secular world. He has no right to enter the Heaven and Earth Palace in this trip to the Land of Heaven and Earth. Seniors, please send him down!"
"The abandoned son of the Gu Family?" Elder Liu and the other two were taken aback. They knew Gu Mingheng and knew that he was the one who was truly going to be listed on the Dragon Ranking. He wouldn't speak without reason.
Only Gu Chen remained silent, his face grim and a cold smile playing on his lips. But there was no need for him to lash out now, given that he was in the Heaven and Earth Palace.
"Are you from the Gu Family?" Elder Liu scrutinized Gu Chen again. Elder Ge and Shi Che also looked at Gu Chen. They knew how many people Gu Chen had offended on Starfall Cliff. If he really was from the Gu Family, it might make those people nervous.
Gu Chen hesitated for a moment, but before he could answer, another figure darted down from below.
He is.
Gu Muyu glanced at Gu Chen indifferently, then landed in front of Elder Liu other two.
After Gu Muyu came up, the three elders of the Heaven and Earth Palace bowed to each other, and she returned the bow. Then she glanced at Gu Chen and said, "He is..."