Chapter 1402: Chapter 1403: Too Hard to Catch up With
Three days later.
Li Xiaobai handled the various affairs within the Villain’s Guild during this time, frequently visiting the mountain peaks to inject the Power of Faith into various statues.
However, he discovered that whether it was the statues of his senior brothers and sisters, or those of Beichen Feng, Xiao Lao Di, Yan Zuzi, and others, none of them showed any reaction.
Such situations usually have two explanations: either the Power of Faith is insufficient, or the person is not yet dead.
To resurrect even just one Li Xiaobai would require accumulating five hundred years’ worth of Power of Faith, let alone anyone else. As for someone not being dead, that’s even simpler—they wouldn’t need resurrecting in the first place.
During these three days, news ran wild throughout the Central Origin Realm. Stories about the mythical figure Li Xiaobai’s impending ascension to the Immortal Gods Realm spread like wildfire, becoming a household topic discussed during leisure times.
A myth from five hundred years ago was now reshaping itself into a brand-new legend. People considered themselves fortunate to live in this era, as they could witness a supreme being breaking the shackles and ascending to the Immortal Gods Realm!
He was pondering the crucial mysteries in his heart, and no one dared disturb him.
“The deaths of Xiao Lao Di and the others were witnessed by me personally—set in stone and beyond dispute. Their inability to resurrect is likely due to a lack of Power of Faith. As for the senior brothers and sisters who were captured, they should logically have been devoured by the Immortal Gods and turned into mere meals, though this wasn’t seen firsthand. As for Ergouzi and his group, as long as they remain inside Ji Wuqing’s belly, the situation shouldn’t be too dire; at worst, they’re simply trapped and not necessarily dead.”
Li Xiaobai thought to himself. He could only confirm the deaths of the Central Origin Realm seniors like Xiao Lao Di. The senior brothers, sisters, and Ji Wuqing were still considered uncertain cases whose fates could only be clarified upon entering the Immortal Gods Realm.
Considering his defensive power at the Transcendent First Layer, he doubted he’d be instantly annihilated this time around.
Arriving at the ancestral shrine, he found a massive purple crystal resting there, within which an elder lay in peace. Back in the day, the defeat of the Immortal Gods owed much to this crystal elder before him.
Inside his body lay unimaginable and terrifying power. For Li Xiaobai to brave the Immortal Gods Realm this time, this elder was an indispensable ally.
Though he didn’t know how to awaken him, it wouldn’t be surprising if the elder saved his life at a crucial moment!
“Senior, I never expected that after five hundred years, I’d need to trouble you to emerge once more. My apologies!”
Li Xiaobai clasped his hands in respect, expressed his gratitude, and then tightened his grip with both arms, hoisting the crystal elder onto his shoulders.
“There are still many puzzles in my heart left unsolved, but those can be dealt with in due time. First, let’s get up there!”
“Everyone, let’s set out!”
Li Xiaobai let out a loud shout, and beneath his feet, a golden battle chariot manifested. Transforming into a beam of light, he headed westward. Within a few breaths, he arrived beneath a staircase exuding a gray aura.
Cultivators had already gathered here in advance, knowing that Li Xiaobai was about to ascend the celestial ladder. They all wished to witness this miraculous moment.
“Master, we are all only at the Saint Realm in cultivation level. Even though Sister Tian Tian and I have ignited the Three Divine Flames, we’re still far from reaching the peak of this world. This checkpoint seems far beyond what we can pass through,”
Ma Niubi said from the rear.
Though he normally acted cocky, at this critical juncture, he was well aware of his limitations. Given their current strength, ascending to the Upper Realm was out of reach.
“No big deal. This staircase can crush masters at Saint Realm cultivation levels. Master will summon an existence beyond Saint Realm to protect you all,”
Li Xiaobai waved dismissively, showing no concern for such matters.
After reaching the Transcendent First Layer, the System Mall had upgraded as well, opening up new sections and categories. Godzilla’s silhouette had vanished, replaced by a familiar figure.
With a thought, a terrifying aura began to flow in the void, as a formless figure materialized from the ether.
This wasn’t Godzilla. The figure was not some massive beast, but a humanoid-sized suit of armor glowing with a blue glow. Its terrifyingly beast-like mask emitted a greenish hue with sharp fangs, while its entire frame presented an ash-gray tone accented with a metallic silver light.
The interior of the armor was completely hollow—there was no living being inside—but it moved autonomously, wielding a longsword that shared the same dead-gray coloration. Its material was unidentifiable, though its sharpness and indestructibility could be clearly sensed.
[Temporary Worker Experience Card: Summon a temporary worker with strength equivalent to the Transcendent Third Layer (one-time consumable)]
[Note: Just for a taste!]
This was the reward the System had gifted upon Li Xiaobai’s advancement to the Transcendent First Layer. Though it was merely an experience card, it was sufficient to handle the current situation.
[Temporary Worker: Summon a temporary worker with strength equivalent to the Transcendent Third Layer. Duration: Two hours (Price: 10,000 Rare Earth).]
[Note: Purely offensive, the king of the realm!]
The conditions for exchanging for real temporary workers mirrored those for summoning Godzilla earlier. They could only last for two hours and required resource materials that were foreign to Li Xiaobai—Rare Earth. This resource was presumably exclusive to the Immortal Gods Realm and unavailable in the Central Origin Realm.
By this logic, it seemed even the finest-grade Immortal Stones he possessed would be of little use.
“What is this?”
The onlookers were stunned. Such a sentient armor was something they had never seen before. Not only them—even those closest to Li Xiaobai who had been by his side all along had never encountered this sight!
“Not important; its strength is sufficient to protect you all. Follow behind it, and it will clear the path forward!”
Li Xiaobai said as he assessed the new ally before him. While it was just a temporary worker summoned using an experience card, its aura was intense, terrifying, and refined.
Although called a temporary worker, it seemed oddly familiar to him. The armor was bizarrely reminiscent of a Gundam, only shaped instead into a swordsman’s form, radiating a piercing edge.
Turning around, Li Xiaobai left behind two clones to assist in guarding the Central Origin Realm, and led a group of disciples into the gray staircase, disappearing from sight.
Below, the gathered cultivators could only watch as the group strode magnificently into the stairway, after which no further sounds emerged.
“Senior Li has truly entered!”
“Do you think he’ll succeed?”
“Ridiculous. Would he dare go in if he weren’t confident? And he’s even brought a hundred disciples along on this journey. I imagine he must be one hundred percent prepared!”
“That path is reportedly a trial for cultivators. They likely have to endure a brutal battle to achieve their goals!”
“How can we confirm they’ve truly entered and survived? Should we investigate?”
The gathered cultivators stared at the heavens above. The group had entered the stairway and fallen silent. How could they discern whether Li Xiaobai had perished inside or successfully ascended?
No one dared venture closer to investigate. The gray, mysterious region had claimed the lives of countless strong experts. No living being dared approach—they could only stand there silently, gazing upward.
What they didn’t know was that the situation atop the gray staircase was entirely different from what they had imagined.
Under the temporary worker’s protection, the hundred Saint Realm disciples felt no pressure as they followed from behind. Leading at the front, Li Xiaobai bore the brunt of the oppression, carrying the massive purple crystal elder on his shoulder as he struggled forward through the gray aura, cutting quite the absurd figure.
“Master is truly awe-inspiring—such a vast power, resisting the majority of the pressure single-handedly. It’s completely unattainable for us!”
Fu Tiantian looked at the figure ahead and couldn’t help but marvel.
The disciples behind her nodded in unanimous agreement, feeling that Li Xiaobai was utterly terrifying.
At the front.
Step by step, Li Xiaobai advanced, visibly laboring under the weight. The oppressive forces on the staircase were far more daunting than he had imagined. However, with the appearance of the crystal elder, much of this energy was absorbed into the crystal, significantly reducing the pressure on his surroundings.
“Senior is truly incredible—such a vast power to resist the majority of pressure single-handedly. Absolutely unattainable!”