The so-called gravity suppression was a matter of the strength of the suction from the stone steps. Generally, without special formations, gravity did not have a significant impact on people. However, if gravity were doubled, walking would naturally be incredibly difficult. Li Xuan and the others' first trial was precisely this gravity, increased severalfold.
Li Xuan withdrew his gaze and continued to advance. Above him, many spirit masters could no longer withstand the gravity on the stone steps, and quite a few had already been kicked flying.
In the blink of an eye, in less than ten minutes, nearly a thousand spirit masters had been eliminated from the competition.
After landing, these individuals looked at the remaining people on the stone steps with complex expressions before sitting down to recuperate and wait.
Soon, after half an hour had passed, nearly five thousand people had been eliminated. The remaining spirit masters were all around the eightieth step. Li Xuan, walking unhurriedly on the seventy-fifth step, paused and looked up, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes.
The gravity suppression at this point was already thirty times that of normal gravity, yet only half of the spirit masters who had entered the ruins had been eliminated. The Central Region's ability to suppress the other four regions for so many years was not without reason.
"At this rate, I fear the ninety steps ahead will eliminate another large group. Those who can ultimately reach the hundred steps will likely not exceed twenty people." Li Xuan withdrew his gaze and continued walking. Even with Liu Xuan's formidable physique, he was feeling a considerable pressure. Of course, it was merely some pressure, nothing more.
"I never imagined that so many of us would have less than a hundred people still persisting. If the first trial is already this terrifying, the second and third trials will likely be even more arduous."
"Who could have predicted it? With my initial stage of the Martial King realm cultivation, I could only endure up to the sixty-fifth step. The gravity suppression above is too terrifying."
"The people on the steps are now divided into three tiers. The first tier is almost entirely composed of disciples from the Twelve Sects."
"Look, the last person seems to be that sword cultivator? Strange, this person can fight against Bu Jing Lei, so they shouldn't be in the third tier."
"..."
The eliminated individuals watched the spirit masters on the steps and discussed amongst themselves.
Above the steps, Qi Bai Yan's figure slowly appeared. Seeing that there were still nearly two thousand people on the steps, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
*Buzz!*
When someone stepped onto the ninetieth step, a humming sound suddenly rang out. The next moment, Li Xuan's brows furrowed. The gravity suppression on these steps seemed to have strengthened.
Not only Li Xuan felt it; the other spirit masters also had drastic changes in their expressions, hurriedly circulating their spiritual energy to resist. However, with the sudden increase in gravity, many spirit masters were immediately unable to resist and were shaken off the steps.
"Could it be that whenever someone enters the next stage, all the gravity increases?" Li Xuan glanced at the figure at the forefront and thought to himself, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Because the current leader was Peony from the Hundred Flowers Sect!
To be able to stand out from the crowd as a woman, this Peony had considerable potential. Li Xuan thought for a moment and directly increased his speed. Since stepping onto new steps would increase the gravity multiplier, his slow climb was undoubtedly the most disadvantageous.
"Look, that sword cultivator's speed has actually increased!" someone in the crowd exclaimed in shock. After the previously eliminated spirit masters recovered, everyone understood that the gravity suppression multiplier in the world had increased. Under these circumstances, Li Xuan was actually becoming faster instead of slower.
"I knew it. This person could fight against Bu Jing Lei of the Heavenly Thunder Sect, so their strength and potential must not be inferior. Earlier, this person must have been conserving their strength. Now that someone has reached the higher steps and the gravity has intensified, this person likely realized this and is thus speeding up."
Someone in the crowd analyzed, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Soon, Li Xuan directly surpassed the second tier and entered the first tier's ranks. Although it was only the last position, it still caused the pupils of many spirit masters in the second tier to contract.
Is this guy a monster? He can still increase his speed at this point. However, everyone quickly dismissed their thoughts and desperately resisted the gravity suppression on the stone steps, struggling to move upwards.
*Buzz!*
When Peony stepped onto the hundredth step, a spiritual light rapidly swept down from above. The next moment, over a hundred figures were directly flung away.
Everyone's expressions changed drastically. The gravity suppression at this point had reached eighty times!
Peony was also not feeling well. The terrifying gravity suppression made her legs feel as if they were filled with lead, making it difficult to lift. Although the one hundred and first step was right before her, Peony could only watch helplessly. Peony turned to look at Jun Bi Li and the others who were also standing on the hundredth step. Seeing that everyone's situation seemed to be the same, Peony inexplicably felt a slight sense of relief.
Five minutes later, out of over ten thousand people who had ascended the steps, only twenty-three remained.
Among the twenty-three, the leaders of each of the Eleven Sects were present. Besides these eleven, there were four rogue cultivators and six prodigies from first-rate forces. And besides Li Xuan, a woman of unknown origin looked at Li Xuan, seemingly deep in thought.
"You don't seem to have used your full strength." The woman glanced at Li Xuan and spoke in a voice like a white oriole.
As soon as the woman spoke, everyone, including Peony, turned their gaze towards Li Xuan, who was standing on the ninety-ninth step.
At this moment, except for Li Xuan and the woman, everyone else was standing on the hundredth step. Although it was only one step difference, the gravity suppression was the same. While they were surprised that Li Xuan could persist until now, what shocked them more was the stranger woman's words.
He hasn't used his full strength yet!
Could it be that this sword cultivator's potential is even greater than theirs!
Qing Zhu below also heard the stranger woman's words, her eyes filled with shock. Although she had initially looked down on Li Xuan, Li Xuan was still on the steps now, so Qing Zhu had to admit that Li Xuan was indeed stronger than her. However, she found it hard to believe that he hadn't used his full strength.
What a joke! My senior sister and the others are currently on the hundredth step and haven't ascended further. Would a sword cultivator who appeared out of nowhere be stronger than them?
"Senior brother, do you think he used his full power?" Wang Rong, standing beside Feng Hao, asked in a low voice.
Feng Hao was silent for a moment before finally shaking his head, "I don't know. But he can contend with Bu Jing Lei, and he's currently only on the ninety-ninth step. Perhaps he is indeed holding back a little."
Feng Hao knew that those who were still on the steps at this point were considered top prodigies in the outside world. As for that woman, although she looked unfamiliar, she was also on the ninety-ninth step. Her insight would naturally be sharper than theirs.
"Doesn't the young lady also not use her full strength?" Li Xuan ignored the gazes of Peony and the others, merely looking at the woman with a hint of surprise and smiling.
Li Xuan had indeed not used his full strength. Instead, as the gravity multiplier increased, Li Xuan discovered that his physical body seemed to be improving under this suppression. Therefore, Li Xuan controlled his power and cultivated his physical body under this gravity suppression. However, he hadn't expected to be seen through by this stranger woman.
"Does young sir have any intention of ascending together?" The woman thought for a moment, then looked at Li Xuan and asked.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then let out a hearty laugh, "Since the young lady invites, how can I refuse? Young lady, please!"
As soon as Li Xuan finished speaking, he directly stepped onto the hundredth step. Before Peony and the others could react, Li Xuan and the woman both stepped onto the hundred and first step!
*Boom!*
As the two of them stepped onto the stone steps together, the gravity suppression multiplier increased again. This time, it rose to a hundred and sixty times!
Although the gravity multiplier doubled, Li Xuan and the woman seemed completely unaffected and continued to stride forward.
Under the shocked gazes of Peony and the others, the footsteps of the woman and Li Xuan simultaneously landed on the one hundred and sixth step!
"We are disciples of the Twelve Sects, and moreover, the leaders of this competition. If we are surpassed by two outsiders of unknown origin, it will surely be a laughing matter when word gets out. Everyone, for the honor of our sects, you should unleash whatever trump cards you have."
Jun Bi Li finished speaking, his expression turning serious as a golden light flashed from him, and he took a step upwards.
Soon, after a moment of thought, Peony and the others also began to act.