Chapter 441: The Slow-Paced Stronghold of the Demonic Race
In the vast desert, Ye Feng and his group moved forward at an extremely slow pace. Even Tie Niu, who possessed extraordinary physical strength, showed signs of strain on his face. Yet Ye Feng’s expression remained unchanged.
“A gravity of 1,024 times that of the Demon Realm—who the hell came up with that idea? Making us walk a thousand kilometers just to reach that tower-like structure?” Yi Fan’s complaints weren’t unfounded. Though he was already a true god-level warrior, the gravity of 1,000 times still imposed a heavy burden on him. Apart from Ye Feng, everyone else moved at a snail’s pace under such extreme gravity.
Ye Feng wasn’t without solutions. He could have purchased anti-gravity devices in the Virtual Realm, which were abundant in the First Realm. But he didn’t do so because the current situation was beneficial for their cultivation. Even Ye Feng could feel the immense pressure from over 1,000 times gravity, as if carrying a mountain on his shoulders. If it was hard for him, it was even harder for others like Pearl, whose cultivation level was far lower.
“There’s a tower ahead. If we hold on for these 100 kilometers, we’ll reach it,” Ye Feng said. Within the range of his mental senses, a purple-golden giant tower stood 100 kilometers away. Along the 100-kilometer path to the tower, there were dozens of demonic cultivators at the ultimate stage. They moved forward at an abnormally slow pace—Ye Feng could barely see them take steps, but the heavy footprints behind them proved they were indeed moving, albeit slowly.
Although demonic cultivators were stronger than ordinary human cultivators, they were still at the ultimate stage. Their strength was comparable only to half-god-level humans. Yet under such extreme gravity, even Ye Feng could feel the immense pressure, let alone those at the ultimate stage. With their physical strength, it was already extremely difficult for them to stand firm under gravity over 1,000 times that of their usual habitat, let alone walk. So, their snail-like speed, though visually disconcerting, wasn’t surprising.
“There are some people ahead moving at a snail’s pace. We’ll soon overtake them,” Ye Feng added.
“More people ahead?” Yi Fan and the others looked over in surprise.
“That’s right. The one closest to us is about three kilometers away,” Ye Feng nodded.
“Three kilometers? No wonder I didn’t detect them,” Yi Fan said sheepishly. “Are they those demon race members who entered earlier?”
“Mm, if I’m not mistaken, that’s likely them,” Ye Feng nodded. “They’ve basically all transformed into their true forms.”
“But it’s been over three hundred years now. Why haven’t those demon cultivators entered the tower yet?” As soon as Yi Fan asked this, he immediately realized, “Could it be that those guys still haven’t reached that tower after all this time?”
“You’re right. That’s why they’re still moving, though at a slower pace,” Ye Feng shrugged.
“Impossible. Even if they’re slower than us—we can cover ten kilometers in two hours, they should be able to cover ten kilometers a day. It should take them about ten days to cover a hundred kilometers,” Long Yue said, puzzled.
“He’s only at the Absolute Stage, so his physical strength is much weaker than yours,” Ye Feng shook his head. “You should know that after breaking through the Absolute Stage and reaching the Semi-God realm, your bodies will undergo a slow transformation. This transformation occurs due to a qualitative change in the soul, and it’s facilitated by divine energy. Your physical strength will be at least two levels higher than that of the Absolute Stage. If you find it difficult to walk, imagine how difficult it must be for them.”
“That makes sense,” Long Yue realized after Ye Feng’s explanation. In fact, since starting their cultivation, human souls undergo multiple transformations. The first occurs after forming a Golden Elixir, the second when rising from the Mahayana level to Immortal, and the third when ascending from the Absolute Immortal level to the Divine level. Each transformation represents a qualitative improvement. Such transformations also lead to many other changes, such as changes in divine energy, physical strength, and mental power.
Raising from the Immortal level to the Divine level is usually a long process, as the transformation of the soul is a gradual one that requires sufficient time. This is why the concept of the Semi-Divine level exists. In fact, reaching the Semi-Divine level already means one is a quasi-divine powerhouse. Along with the transformation of the soul come changes in true energy, physical strength, and other aspects. Once this process is complete, a Semi-Divine powerhouse will automatically ascend to the Divine level. Of course, this period also includes the process of forming a divine essence, and it is precisely because of this additional step that it takes much longer for those in the Heavenly Realm to reach the Divine level compared to those in the Cultivation Realm reaching the Immortal level.
Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Ye Feng and the others saw a giant monster not far ahead.
Seeing Ye Feng and the others pass by from behind, the massive monster opened its previously closed eyes and looked at Ye Feng, who deliberately stayed at the back, with confusion on its face.
“How come you’re behind me?” the monster asked, puzzled.
“We entered three hundred and sixty years after you did,” Ye Feng replied. Noticing the monster’s continued confusion, he added, “We came in through the broken part of the Myriad Monsters Ridge.”
“Three hundred and sixty years?” The cultivator was shocked. “Has really that much time passed outside?”
“That’s right!” Ye Feng nodded.
“I thought the timer must have been affected inside,” the giant monster said, shaking its huge head. “Because when I came here a few times before, it only took a hundred years.”
“Hmm, we’re aware of that too,” Ye Feng nodded. “But perhaps the impact on the Myriad Monsters Ridge has affected its cycle.”
“An impact?” The monster knew even less about this.
“That’s right, three hundred and sixty years ago.”
“No wonder. I felt a strong vibration at that time. It was fleeting, and I thought it was just an illusion, so I didn’t pay much attention,” the giant monster explained.
“Could you tell us what exactly this trial is about?” This was what Ye Feng wanted to know the most now.
“Weren’t there people to explain it to you from the start? If not, how did you find the right path?” the monster asked, puzzled.
“We didn’t encounter anyone who explained it. Maybe it’s because we sneaked in through the broken part of the Myriad Monsters Ridge, so we’re not well-received. Or perhaps the ones in charge here are busy with repairs.”
“That’s possible indeed.” The giant beast nodded silently after hearing this. After a brief silence, it spoke again, “This area is a trial ground. About eighty kilometers away from where we are now, there is a purplish-golden tower. That’s where the actual trials take place. Those who fail to enter the tower are considered unqualified. The place with the highest gravity in this desert is right here—1,024 times that of the demon world. But already on the first floor of that tower, the gravity is 2,000 times that. Just the tower’s doors are divided into nine layers, with the lowest layer requiring only true stronglings capable of withstanding 2,000 times gravity to open them. The second layer has 4,000 times gravity, the third layer 8,000 times, and so on—each layer having twice the gravity of the previous one.”
“So the ninth layer has 512,000 times gravity?” Ye Feng frowned slightly. Even with 1,000 times gravity, he already felt it was heavy. With even greater gravity, he doubted he could stay standing. “Do you know what’s on the top floor of the tower?”
“I’m not sure. Someone else has asked that too, but the guy who led us here didn’t say. He just said there would be a pleasant surprise.”
“A pleasant surprise?” Ye Feng curled his lips in frustration. He wasn’t very satisfied with this answer—it was hardly any better than no answer at all. “Never mind. Since we’ve come this far, it would indeed be unsettling not to take a look at that thing…”
“Thanks. Goodbye!” As soon as Ye Feng finished speaking, he exerted all his strength and rushed in the direction of Pearl and the others. In just a few leaps, he disappeared from sight.
“That person is incredibly strong—stronger than everyone I’ve ever met!” The demon cultivator was utterly stunned by what he saw.