"Ever since he crippled his own cultivation, Junior Sister Su cared for him meticulously for five whole years, hoping to help him regain his confidence. Unexpectedly, instead of being grateful, he actually attempted to force himself upon Junior Sister Su—it is utterly despicable! If I hadn't happened to pass by at that moment, Junior Sister Su would have fallen victim to his evil clutches!"
"I reported this incident to the Chief Arbiter, and no doubt the Chief Arbiter was filled with righteous indignation, which is why he has targeted this Fang Chen so severely."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire crowd was shocked!
The next instant, everyone glared at Fang Chen with intense fury!
"What! I never expected Fang Chen to be such a vicious person! Senior Sister Su took care of him, yet he actually wanted to violate her."
"Pui! A person like this has no right to be a disciple of our Tianyu Divine Sect!"
"Drive him out of the Tianyu Divine Sect!"
"It's simply sickening."
The crowd hurled harsh abuses at Fang Chen. In their hearts, Senior Brother Luoyun would never lie to them, so this matter had to be true!
A flash of light crossed the Chief Arbiter's eyes as he nodded repeatedly and said, "That's right, that's right! I cannot allow such a person to become an inner sect disciple of our Tianyu Divine Sect!"
"So he turned out to be this kind of person." Far away, Lin Xueyan felt completely disillusioned with Fang Chen. It turned out that when Fang Chen was covered in blood back then, it was because his attempted assault had failed and he had been punished by Luoyun.
Yet despite all the insults raining down from around him, Fang Chen's expression remained calm. He had no intention of explaining himself, knowing full well that no one would believe him.
His gaze remained fixed ahead. Only by making himself strong could all these false accusations naturally crumble away.
However, there was one person who did believe Fang Chen.
And that was Meng Yao.
She simply could not believe that someone who chose to step back and avoid her the very first time he saw her could be a fiend.
Nor could she believe that someone who remained completely calm and unshaken under her allure could be a fiend.
When Fang Chen was treating her injuries, he had countless opportunities to take advantage of her, yet he did nothing of the sort.
During that time, she had practically been entirely at the mercy of her lust-bound physique, and still Fang Chen remained unmoved.
How could a person like that possibly be a fiend?
"Is that so? Where is the proof?" Meng Yao asked coldly.
Luoyun froze. He had made the whole thing up—where on earth was he supposed to find proof?
Even if there were any, how could he possibly produce it? It was glaringly obvious that Meng Yao simply did not believe a word he said.
Fang Chen, standing upon the Heavenly Ladder, was also slightly taken aback. He could hear the trust in Meng Yao's tone.
His frozen heart gave a faint throb. Aside from his master's wife, she was the first person in five years to trust him.
Luoyun said, "How can there be proof for something like this? But I swear that every word I said is the absolute truth!"
"Every word is the truth?"
Meng Yao sneered, pointing a slender finger at Fang Chen. "Then tell me, would someone who can withstand fifty times the pressure of the Heavenly Ladder be a fiend?"
Luoyun was instantly rendered speechless.
The willpower trial of the Heavenly Ladder tested a person's steadfast determination, which included their state of mind.
A fiend's willpower was extremely fragile; after all, how could someone whose mind was constantly consumed by such desires ever become strong? Such a person would struggle immensely even against ordinary pressure, let alone fifty times the amount.
"That's right. Just now, Fang Chen clearly climbed the Heavenly Ladder while enduring pressure dozens of times greater than anyone else's."
"Could there be some kind of misunderstanding?"
"I don't think Fang Chen looks like that kind of person at all."
Several people began voicing their doubts. They weren't truly speaking up for Fang Chen—it was entirely because the person defending Fang Chen was Meng Yao.
Luoyun's expression darkened instantly. Meng Yao was dead set on going against him just to protect an outer sect disciple.
Meng Yao paid no heed to whether his expression was pleasant or not. She looked toward the Chief Arbiter and said coldly, "Today's events will be reported truthfully by me! Not only did you increase the pressure on one particular disciple, but you also eased the pressure for another."
When she realized something was amiss, she had activated her spiritual sight. Not only did she perceive the pressure Fang Chen was enduring, but she had also seen that Su Wan'er was only facing ten percent of the normal pressure.
Seeing just that much, how could she fail to understand what was happening?
Hearing this, the Chief Arbiter's face turned instantly ashen!
He was finished!
Chapter 19: The Ancient Sword Demon! Yet the Master of Ten Thousand Realms
She knew very well what kind of status Meng Yao held within the sect, and on top of that, he had indeed committed these acts.
To say the least, his position as an elder was certainly gone, and whether he could even remain in the Tianyu Divine Sect was highly questionable.
He looked pleadingly at Luoyun, hoping Luoyun would help him resolve this trouble.
Yet at this moment, Luoyun's expression was exceptionally grim, and he was completely powerless to help.
Compared to Meng Yao, what did his meager standing within the sect even amount to?
He could only transmit his voice to the Chief Arbiter: "Go back and resign from your position as elder. I will recommend you to my father so you can serve as a guest elder in the Lu family. You won't be mistreated."
Hearing this, the Chief Arbiter fell into absolute despair.
Where could a guest elder of the Lu family ever compare to the comfortable position of an elder in the Tianyu Divine Sect? But having offended Meng Yao, he had no choice but to follow Luoyun's arrangements.
"Now, hand over the token," Meng Yao said coldly.
At this moment, there was not a trace of seductive charm left about her. That bone-chilling coldness, combined with her stunning beauty, made people's hair stand on end.
The Chief Arbiter dared not hesitate, honestly handing the token over to Meng Yao.
Meng Yao took the token and announced in a ringing voice, "I will be overseeing this Seven Peaks Assessment, and I am restoring the exact same suppression force for everyone!"
As she spoke, the token flashed with light.
The next instant, Fang Chen felt the pressure weighing down on him vanish completely! It became incomparably light!
In contrast, Su Wan'er suddenly felt a terrifying force of suppression blanket her entire body!
"Ah!"
A miserable scream rang out instantly. Su Wan'er was sent flying straight off the Heavenly Ladder, crashing heavily to the ground! She spat out several mouthfuls of blood in succession, looking utterly wretched.
As for Luo Ao, he let out a muffled grunt, but managed to endure the suddenly intensified suppression.
Seeing this scene, everyone understood in an instant.
"So the reason Su Wan'er was able to climb so fast was because her suppression was reduced."
"No wonder, I was just saying—Su Wan'er's abilities are quite ordinary, how could she suddenly shoot up like that."
"Exactly, exactly."
"Cheating during the Seven Peaks Assessment, simply shameful."
The crowd looked at Su Wan'er with contempt, filling her with intense pain, shame, and anger.
"Fang Chen!"
She could only keep her head down, grinding her teeth in secret.
It was all this bastard Fang Chen's fault! If he had been eliminated sooner, her cheating would never have been exposed! It was all that mongrel's fault!
Luoyun's expression was similarly dark, but he dared not say anything more, fixing a venomous glare upon Fang Chen instead.
It was all because of this canine mongrel that he had lost a major asset within the sect.
From start to finish, Fang Chen's expression remained thoroughly resolute. He did not rejoice over the eased pressure, but simply continued climbing upward, his speed vastly exceeding what it had been before.
Realizing that this obstacle could not eliminate Fang Chen either, Luo Ao gritted his teeth and pressed on as well!
Even if he couldn't eliminate Fang Chen, he had to be the first to reach the hundredth tier! It could not be that mongrel Fang Chen!
Yet!
Fang Chen climbed the ladder as if taking a leisurely stroll, while Luo Ao found every single step an agonizing struggle.
By the eighty-seventh tier, Fang Chen had overtaken Lin Luo'er, who was in second place.
At the ninety-second tier, he pulled level with Luo Ao.
To his despair, he realized he was simply no match for Fang Chen!
"Brat! That first place is mine! Stay obediently behind me, or else I will surely kill you!"
Seeing Fang Chen surpass him, Luo Ao shouted with vicious malice.
Fang Chen's pace did not slow down in the slightest. He merely glanced at him coldly, uttered a flat "Idiot," and surged right past him.
Luo Ao's face turned livid, veins bulging across his forehead! The look he directed at Fang Chen was filled with murderous intent!
He swore! No matter what, he would kill Fang Chen!
"You'd better dare to participate in the third trial! As long as you dare to enter, I will execute you on the spot!" he threatened viciously.
Yet Fang Chen paid him no heed whatsoever, and soon stepped onto the hundredth tier.
Meng Yao smiled faintly. "I knew he could do it."
Everyone else also wore looks of sheer disbelief.
"Never imagined Fang Chen's willpower could be this strong."
"Indeed, it's no weaker than some ordinary Houtian Realm cultivators."
Yet just as the crowd broke into exclamations of amazement, Fang Chen did not stop at the hundredth tier, but continued climbing upward!
The crowd stared in a daze—was Fang Chen planning to keep challenging it?
"Has this guy gone mad? Above the hundredth tier is territory only Houtian Realm cultivators dare challenge."
"Does he really think that because it felt somewhat easy before the hundredth tier, he can reach the summit?"
"The suppression force before the hundredth tier and after it are completely different."
Everyone thought Fang Chen had lost his mind. When he stepped onto the one hundred and first tier, he indeed felt a suppression force five times more terrifying than at the hundredth tier.
Yet what did a mere fivefold increase amount to?
After adapting slightly, he continued his ascent upward! His gaze remained unwavering!
One hundred and five!
One hundred and ten!
One hundred and twenty!
When Luo Ao stepped onto the hundredth tier, Fang Chen had already reached the one hundred and twentieth tier! And he was still climbing higher!
Luo Ao felt unwilling to accept this! He refused to believe he could lose to such good-for-nothing trash!
So he didn't stop either! He pushed further up!
Yet when he reached the one hundred and fifteenth tier, he discovered to his despair that he could no longer move a single inch!
He looked up! Fang Chen had already reached the one hundred and fiftieth tier!
The suppression here had reached a full ten times! Yet Fang Chen's pace remained steadfast, entirely unaffected.
Soon! He reached the two hundredth tier!
Seeing this, everyone drew in a sharp breath of cold air!
The suppression at the two hundredth tier was a full twenty times!
Yet Fang Chen still stepped onto it firmly! His body sank slightly under the weight!
Still not enough?
Yet the next moment, Ling Fan's waist straightened once more, and he stepped forward!
Two hundred and tenth tier!
Two hundred and thirtieth tier!
Two hundred and fiftieth tier!
Thirty times suppression!
Yet Fang Chen kept going!
Three hundredth tier!
Forty times suppression!
Yet Fang Chen forged ahead without a backward glance!
Everyone below was completely dumbstruck—the three hundredth tier! In all past generations of outer sect disciples, no one had ever climbed this high!
"Just how strong is this Fang Chen's willpower?!"
"He's at the three hundredth tier and still going up!"
"Is he planning to pierce the heavens?"
"My god! How on earth did he train such willpower?"
Even Meng Yao stared at Fang Chen in utter shock, her alluring eyes flashing with a brilliant light as she became deeply captivated by him.
"How steadfast must his state of mind be to accomplish this?"
"What on earth has he experienced to possess such willpower?"
Recalling the scenes she had shared with Fang Chen, though they hadn't spent long together, every single encounter was deeply etched in her heart!
Perhaps it was due to the two fusions between her lust-bound physique and Fang Chen's sword demon physique.
Or perhaps it was because Fang Chen had chosen to respect her every time he had the chance to take advantage of her.
At this moment, her maiden heart fluttered gently!
"Actually, an engagement isn't such a bad thing after all..."
"Perhaps I should listen to grandfather; marrying him might actually be a wonderful choice."
Such a thought blossomed in her mind.
Fang Chen was entirely unaware of the thoughts running through the crowd below. At this moment, he had reached the three hundred and fiftieth tier!
Here, there was a full fifty times suppression!
Substantial suppression materialized visibly across Fang Chen's body! Just as before, he dropped to one knee once again!
"Is he at his limit?"
Seeing this, the crowd actually breathed a sigh of relief. The three hundred and fiftieth tier was already monstrous enough.
Even among inner sect disciples, only those in the late stage of the Houtian Realm or above could climb this high, and Fang Chen was merely—
Meng Yao's heart grew tense as well. "If you can't make it, just give up. You've already done wonderfully."
She chanted inwardly, terrified that Fang Chen would risk his life pushing himself upward.
Fang Chen let out a heavy breath of turbid air. The suppression at this moment reminded him of the humiliation he had just suffered.
Were it not for Meng Yao, he would still be pinned firmly to the ground by this fiftyfold suppression, utterly powerless even to raise his head.
At his limit?
No! If I submit to this pressure! How would that be any different from bowing at Luoyun's feet!
"Ah!"
He let out a furious roar! His body slowly straightened up!
At this moment, his expression grew resolute once more—shaken by no one!
Suddenly! A drop of Sword Demon blood within Fang Chen's dantian erupted violently, merging into his entire body!
His eyes turned scarlet! Monstrous demonic Qi surged within him, as if he had descended completely into a demonic state!
Simultaneously, an ancient, overbearing voice echoed in his mind: "Stand up! I, the Ancient Sword Demon, never submit!"
Boom!
Fang Chen straightened his waist, raised his head! His blood-red eyes burned with steadfast resolve!
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he lifted his foot and stepped upward!
Chapter 20: From This Day On, He Is My Fiancé!
Three hundred and fifty-first tier!
The crowd stood frozen in a daze! Fang Chen had actually withstood the fiftyfold suppression!
"Impossible! How could this trash climb that high?!" Luo Ao roared with a ferocious expression.
Fang Chen, whom he viewed as nothing more than an ant, had no right to be stronger than him! Not even in willpower!
Yet this damn mongrel had actually climbed up there!
Luoyun wore a look of utter astonishment as well. By what right could Fang Chen reach such a place?
But then he glanced at Meng Yao, and a possibility crossed his mind!
Fang Chen was cheating!
That's right! Meng Yao must have reduced the pressure on him, allowing him to reach that height! It had to be!
"Hmph, let's see how I expose you in a moment!" he sneered.
Lin Xueyan also stared in disbelief as Fang Chen reached the three hundred and fifty-first tier, but she quickly recovered her composure, shaking her head as she muttered, "Willpower doesn't equal strength. Talent is the crucial factor for walking further. No matter how hard you try, you can never compare to a genius who has comprehended a Dao Pattern."
Dao Patterns were an existence that drove countless cultivators to despair.
Without a Dao Pattern, one's cultivation would be forever halted at the Zhouyuan Realm, unable to progress any further.
Fang Chen took each arduous step forward!
Three hundred and fifty-two!
Three hundred and fifty-three!
Every single step was agonizingly difficult for him. Until he passed the three hundred and fifty-ninth tier, he could go no further.
Fang Chen raised his hand slightly, signaling that he could only reach this point.
The crowd below remained in dead silence.
The three hundred and fifty-ninth tier might not mean much in the inner sect, but in the outer sect, it was a despair-inducing height!
Meng Yao revealed a joyful smile, her seductive charm blooming unconsciously, leaving people intoxicated and entranced.
Yet right at this moment, a discordant, sarcastic voice rang out: "This person must have cheated, otherwise it's impossible for him to climb so high!"
Everyone turned to look at the speaker—it was none other than Si Chengye.
He hadn't participated in this Seven Peaks Assessment, and his sudden outcry was entirely due to Luoyun's instigation.
The crowd froze, then realized that Fang Chen climbing this high did indeed seem somewhat unbelievable.
"I also think he likely cheated."
"Right! The pressure he's bearing definitely isn't fifty times!"
"Exactly, how could an outer sect disciple possibly climb that high?!"
Discussions broke out among the crowd as they began to question Fang Chen.
Meng Yao's smile vanished instantly, her expression turning icy as she gazed at Luoyun.
Without needing to guess, this was definitely Luoyun's doing.
Seeing Meng Yao look over, Luoyun flashed a smile as well and said, "Senior Sister Meng, this fellow crippled his own cultivation five years ago and is nothing more trash. How could piece of trash climb this high? I ask Senior Sister Meng to thoroughly investigate this."
He sneered inwardly: Didn't you want to handle things impartially earlier? Let's see how you handle things impartially now that your favoritism toward Fang Chen has been exposed!
He was already certain in his mind that Meng Yao had reduced the pressure for Fang Chen; otherwise, even if Fang Chen could handle everything below the three hundred and fiftieth tier, going any higher was utterly impossible!
Yet what he failed to notice was that beneath Meng Yao's icy gaze, there was also a hint of mockery.
Luoyun continued, "Senior Sister Meng, the Heavenly Ladder is a supreme treasure, and the token is the same. It can record the exact multiple of pressure a person withstands upon it. Please display it so everyone's minds can be put at ease."
He sneered inwardly, wanting to see if she dared!
"Very well."
Yet he never expected Meng Yao to agree immediately.
The corners of Meng Yao's lips curled upward into a seductive smile. "Since everyone has doubts, I'll let everyone see."
With those words, she raised the token in her hand!
Instantly, the pressure Fang Chen endured from the first tier all the way to the three hundred and fifty-ninth tier was perfectly presented before everyone's eyes!
When the crowd looked, they were struck with awe once again.
From the very first tier, Fang Chen had shouldered a full tenfold suppression, which steadily increased all the way to fifty times!
However, after the Chief Arbiter was caught intentionally increasing Fang Chen's pressure, Meng Yao had intervened, restoring Fang Chen's suppression to the same level as everyone else's.
Yet as he continued climbing higher, the multiplier of the suppression had steadily risen alongside him!
Right up until the three hundred and fifty-ninth tier! A full fifty-two times suppression force, at which point it finally ended.
"Impossible!"
Luoyun's eyes bulged wide! He hadn't expected Fang Chen to actually endure that level of suppression all the way up there!
It was impossible! How could that trash pull that off?!
"Any further objections?"
Meng Yao's voice echoed in everyone's mind!
The crowd fell silent. Si Chengye was so frightened that he shrank back into the crowd, not daring to meet Meng Yao's gaze.
Meng Yao continued, "This is his true willpower! Don't assume that because you can't do it, others can't either! Do you really think you're geniuses? This continent is vast! There are plenty of people far more talented than you. You look down on others as trash, but in the eyes of others, you aren't even trash."
Though her words seemed addressed to everyone present, the crowd understood clearly that Meng Yao was using veiled language to mock a certain someone.
Luoyun's face shifted between green and red, veins bulging as his expression twisted into a ferocious scowl.
Especially upon feeling the strange, sideways glances from those around him, he wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
He hadn't expected Meng Yao to show him such zero face and humiliate him so thoroughly.
"There is one more matter."
Meng Yao spoke again, and the moment she opened her mouth, everyone's gaze snapped back to her.
They saw Meng Yao looking toward Fang Chen with softened eyes as she smiled and said, "My grandfather and Fang Chen's master arranged a marriage pact when we were young."
As soon as these words were spoken, gasps echoed across the entire plaza!
Fang Chen was also slightly stunned. Was there such a thing?
Then he remembered that when he returned Lin Xueyan's marriage pact back then, there had seemed to be other envelopes beneath it, but he hadn't been in the mood to look at them at the time.
Meng Yao continued, "I now announce that my engagement to Fang Chen will proceed as originally agreed! From this day on, Fang Chen is my fiancé! Whoever dares to humiliate him again is making an enemy of me!"