Nine Star Hegemon Body Art c1-2048

by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k

  The slightest increase in karmic luck could completely change a person’s destiny. It could turn danger into safety, disaster to fortune. It was an extremely inconceivable existence.

  It was completely unexpected for the Netherworld Heaven Staircase to be able to increase a person’s karmic luck. This was an absolutely heaven-defying treasure. They were all eager to get started.

  The vice sect master continued, “There are nine hundred and ninety-nine stairs. Between each of the large stairs lie ninety-nine smaller stairs.

  “Now according to the rules, I will explain the rewards for the Netherworld Heaven Staircase. Everyone should listen closely.”

  There were actually more rewards? Everyone was ecstatic. This Netherworld Heaven Staircase was truly worthy of being the final trial.

  “Any disciple who can reach the 333rd, 666th, or 999th step will receive a reward. As for what the reward will be, no one knows in advance, because those rewards are given to you by the Netherworld Heaven Staircase. It is decided by a person’s karmic luck. There are possible good rewards, and there are possible trash rewards. It will be up to your karmic luck.

  “Furthermore, on the 999th step, there is a platform. The final reward is on that platform. As for what the reward is, no one knows. These rewards were set up by the head sect, but I can guarantee that the rewards will surpass your wildest imaginations.”

  Shui Guanzhi and the other experts’ eyes began to shine. They had obviously decided that they had to get that final reward.

  “Alright, it’s time. The Xuantian martial gathering’s final trial begins now!”

  The eager disciples, who had long since been impatient to begin, charged.

  But they had only just stepped onto the Netherworld Heaven Staircase when their expressions changed. They felt like they had entered water, and their footsteps became slow.

  They not only felt physical pressure, but they also felt a pressure on their souls. Furthermore, a kind of lazy, weary feeling filled them, one made them feel like they would rather take a good nap than continue climbing.

  Long Chen also felt this strangeness when he stepped onto the first step. He told his people, “The Xuantian Sea was a trial for your physical bodies, while the Nine Netherworld Path was a trial for your souls. This Netherworld Heaven Staircase combines both aspects and more.

  “It targets a person’s physical body, soul, will, and even the desires deep within their heart. It will cause a feeling of laziness and other negative emotions well up within you. However, that should be nothing to you.

  “Brothers, you’re all warriors who have tempered yourselves through blood and fire. Bring out your hot blood and youthful passion to let everyone see what true experts are!” encouraged Long Chen.

  “Charge!”

  The Dragonblood warriors’ morale skyrocketed, and ignoring the negative emotions the staircase gave them, they rushed up.

  At this time, the vice sect master waved his hand, and the stone stage beneath him and the other experts who had accompanied their disciples here began to rise into the air.

  Sitting on the stage, it was possible to see everything happening on the staircase clearly.

  “I wonder whether anyone will be able to get the final reward this time,” muttered one monastery head.

  That was because in the past, no one had managed to reach the 999th step. And even if someone did manage to reach the 999th step, they wouldn’t necessarily be able to obtain that final reward.

  “There’s a very high chance this time. At the very least, there’s a high chance for five people.” A rare smile appeared on the vice sect master’s face.

  “Five? Isn’t there another person who just advanced to a rank two Celestial?”

  The vice sect master’s expression became odd as his gaze fell on Guo Ran, who was currently waving a large flag and cheering for everyone. He sighed.

  “To tell the truth, in all my years, I have never seen such a weak rank two Celestial. My eyes really have been opened to the world.”

  Everyone else nodded as they looked at Guo Ran. He truly was a marvel among cultivators. Combined with Long Chen, they could be called the Two Great Marvels.

  As they were talking, there were five people advancing at the same speed, far ahead of the others. They had already reached the hundredth stair.

  These five people were Zhao Wuji, Shui Guanzhi, Zhong Wuyan, Yue Qianshan, and Long Chen.

  It was impossible to help others on the staircase. So Long Chen didn’t need to look after the others. He advanced just as quickly as the Four Heavenly Geniuses.

  This proved without a doubt that Long Chen’s power matched theirs. Many people who had been unconvinced before finally had to shut their mouths.

  Long Chen might have defeated Shui Guanzhi previously, but many people thought he had just been lucky, and that Shui Guanzhi had simply been careless.

  Then, the Four Heavenly Geniuses had made huge gains in the Xuantian Sea and the Nine Netherworld Path, while it seemed Long Chen hadn’t gained anything at all.

  Due to that, many people thought Long Chen had lost the qualifications to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Four Heavenly Geniuses.

  But now, the five of them were advancing at the same speed, and they seemed to be competing with each other. All of them refused to lose, so it clearly showed his strength.

  The five of them had rapidly reached the hundredth stair. Long Chen immediately felt the pressure double, but they continued rushing forward without a pause. Obviously, they had already begun to compete to see who was the strongest.

  Behind Long Chen was a mass of Celestials. They had reached the eightieth step, but the difference was already clear.

  Meng Qi and Tang Wan-er were holding hands as they rapidly advanced, they were at the frontmost of the rank one Celestials. They seemed just like fairies who had descended on the world, and they were the most beautiful scene on the Netherworld Heaven Staircase.

  Behind the Celestials were the ordinary disciples, with the Dragonblood warriors at the front. As for the ‘genius’ Guo Ran, he was actually shamelessly hiding amongst them.

  However, to express his grand and noble character, he waved a banner back and forth, cheering everyone on. That righteous act of his made it seem like he had sacrificed his chance to compete for first place with the other top experts in order to help raise everyone’s morale.

  The people behind the Dragonblood warriors were clearly slower. They were like a flock of sheep, and they ended up forming a twisting dragon on the staircase.

  At this time, it was possible to tell a person’s overall ability. Many people had no problem with the pressure to their physical bodies and souls, but their wills were clearly a fatal weak point.

  The person in the last place had only reached the sixth step. As he looked up at the endless staircase, a bewildered and lost expression appeared in his eyes.

  The monastery heads didn’t feel any shock or anger at that scene.

  That was because they knew just how bizarre the Netherworld Heaven Staircase was. They had also once climbed it, so they knew what agony these disciples were going through.

  Once you were tired, once you were weary to the bone, or perhaps once your confidence lagged, negative emotions would erupt within you. A voice would tell you to give up, that you couldn’t hold on for much longer, so why must you force yourself?

  It would entice you, seduce you, tell you that this staircase wasn’t as magical as you once thought. Karmic luck? That was just nonsense, a story to trick people.

  That voice didn’t come from outside, but from within. It came from the lazy part of a person’s heart.

  Every person had a lazy side. If your will wasn’t strong enough, you wouldn’t be able to suppress it. On the Netherworld Heaven Staircase, your will was constantly tested, and it would make it far too easy to give in.

  This was something unrelated to talent. So each time the Netherworld Heaven Staircase was activated, a few extremely talented dis
ciples would end up falling behind some disciples with a rather average talent. That was because their superior talent made their will less steady.

  BOOM!

  Suddenly, the staircase trembled slightly. Everyone was startled, and hastily looking up, they saw five people had already reached the 333rd stair.

  When Long Chen and the others arrived at the 333rd stair, their shoulders sank slightly as a powerful pressure collapsed on them.

  This pressure didn’t just target their bodies, but also their minds. It made them feel extremely weary. Long Chen felt that impact especially.

  But he ignored it. This kind of weariness was just a feeling, or perhaps it could be called a misperception. You couldn’t be confused by it. If you were, it would give birth to negative emotions, and then it would be even harder to suppress it.

  Each space beside the five of them trembled, and a ball of light appeared.

  Those balls of light were only a foot wide. They were like small whirlpools, and it was impossible to see what was inside them.

  “Those are your rewards. Reach into the light and pull out what you were given!” said the vice sect master.

  Seeing that Long Chen and the others had received a reward, the disciples that were bitterly climbing were filled with anticipation. Just what would their rewards be?

  “Since no one else wants to, let me go first.” Yue Qianshan reached into his ball of light and pulled out a certain item.

  Chapter 731 Weapon Forging Diagram

  Yue Qianshan pulled his hand out of the ball of light. He pulled out a nine-ring pill.

  “A Barrier Breaking Pill!”

  The was a nine-ring Barrier Breaking Pill that was extremely precious, and could allow a Xiantian expert to advance a minor realm.

  Regretfully, it was useless to Yue Qianshan, who had reached the ninth Heavenstage. The next level for him was Sea Expansion, and that was not a minor realm increase.

  However, this pill was still extremely valuable. Even if Yue Qianshan couldn’t use it, he could give it to others.

  “Let’s take a look at mine!”

  Zhao Wuji also took action. He pulled out a set of mirror armor that looked not bad.

  “Trash.” Zhao Wuji cursed. This armor might be useful to others, but it was useless to him.

  Shui Guanzhi pulled out a yellow talisman. The talisman released an extremely dense water energy fluctuation.

  Shui Guanzhi was delighted, and before the others could examine it carefully, he put it away.

  Everyone’s hearts shook. Perhaps Shui Guanzhi had truly gained a treasure. Zhong Wuyan also pulled something out, but her luck was rather lacking. She gained a weapon, but it was an extremely specialized weapon: a hook. Few people ever used such a thing.

  Although it was an Enchanted item, it was the lowest possible level. Its value wasn’t very high.

  Enchanted items were used by Sea Expansion experts. The runes on them could be activated to release massive power.

  They were categorized into low, middle, and high grade by the material they were made of and the runes carved onto them. A low grade Enchanted item disappointed Zhong Wuyan.

  Now the only one left was Long Chen. He also reached in and pulled something out.

  “Damnit.”

  Looking at what he had obtained, he couldn’t help but curse. He had obtained a pair of boots, and they were actually shabby. They had clearly been worn.

  Everyone was stunned for a moment. Even the vice sect master and the others couldn’t believe their eyes.

  “Long Chen’s luck really is heaven-defying,” sighed the vice sect master.

  The vice sect master knew that the Netherworld Heaven Staircase’s rewards were divided into different levels. On the 333rd stair, the treasures were split into three grades, high, medium, and low. But there was also a fourth possible reward: trash.

  The probabilities for the 333rd stair were: five percent high grade, thirty percent medium grade, sixty-three percent low grade, and two percent trash.

  Other than the medium grade treasure Shui Guanzhi had gotten, the others had all obtained low grade treasures. But Long Chen had obtained a pair of shabby boots. That was just trash.

  “It truly is heaven-defying. But doesn’t it seem like all their luck isn’t very good?” sighed someone.

  Their luck truly was lacking. It was just that when compared to Long Chen, the others’ luck could count as not bad.

  “Haha, shabby boots really are a perfect match for a bumpkin,” sneered Shui Guanzhi.

  Long Chen furiously threw the boots at Shui Guanzhi’s face. Shui Guanzhi dodged, smiling coldly. He was just about to say something when his expression changed.

  He hadn’t expected Long Chen to have put so much thought into this attack. He had thrown the boots with one in front and one behind, the back one aimed for the spot he would dodge. It almost struck him.

  Although he just narrowly managed to dodge it, the boot flew right past his nose. He even smelled the disgusting scent from it.

  “Bastard!”

  Shui Guanzhi was about to attack in fury when the lights beside them disappeared and Zhong Wuyan took the initiative to charge forward. The rest of them were startled and hastily followed.

  Shui Guanzhi had no choice but to suppress his fury. This was more important. This would decide who was number one.

  Not long after the five of them had rushed off, Meng Qi and Tang Wan-er arrived. Balls of light appeared beside them.

  Meng Qi reached in and pulled out a jade tablet. Three large words were written on it: Soul Drawing Art!

  “This girl’s luck truly is good. That Soul Drawing Art is an extremely high-level soul art. It’s practically a priceless treasure!” praised the vice sect master.

  Meng Qi was absolutely delighted. Inserting her divine sense into the jade tablet, she found there was an extremely profound magical art recorded inside it. That was precisely what she needed.

  Within the Xuantian Dao Sect, there were very few high-level soul arts, and many of them hadn’t been suitable for her to train in. This Soul Drawing Art was actually a combined cultivation technique and an offensive magical art. She had an urge to immediately start studying it.

  Compared to Meng Qi, Tang Wan-er’s luck wasn’t so good. She obtained a soft armor, but from the shape, it was made for a man. She could only put it away and see if anyone else needed it.

  Meng Qi and Tang Wan-er continued on. The other Celestials also arrived. But most of them didn’t obtain anything extraordinary.

  After them were the Dragonblood warriors. They possessed the strongest wills, and they arrived without the slightest hesitation. That had only one thought, and that was to follow Long Chen’s footsteps.

  As for the great genius who had been waving his banner and cheering for everyone, he was now all cheered out. People had had to drag him here.

  “Stop pulling me! Just continue onward. I’ll rest here for a bit and catch up to you later,” said Guo Ran weakly.

  Guo Ran felt like lead had been poured into his body. Each step was tiring. He was exhausted as if he had just experienced an immense life and death battle. All he wanted to do was to collapse and sleep.

  “I can’t. Boss said that you had to at least reach the 333rd stair, or it would be too embarrassing,” said one Dragonblood warrior. He was practically dragging a limp Guo Ran.

  This made the monastery heads speechless. He truly was history’s weakest rank two Celestial.

  It was with great difficulty that Guo Ran allowed himself to be dragged up to the 333rd stair. He wearily stretched his hand into the ball of light beside him. But when he saw the tome he had pulled out, his eyes popped wide open. In fact, his eyes almost popped all the way out.

  “Weapon Forging Diagram!”

  The seemingly half-dead Guo Ran instantly revived. Those negative emotions were flung aside by him.

  This was a secret tome regarding forging arts, and there were detailed explanations about forging. There were
both foundational principles as well as designs for high-level weapons. This was what Guo Ran had always longed for.

  Although he had obtained the Ethereal Crafting Secret Record, a practically divine text that had been written in immortal characters about forging, the principles recorded in it were too advanced. He was only able to comprehend less than one percent of it.

  Although he had obtained as many secret tomes as possible about forging arts, those things were too rare. Even the thirty-sixth supermonastery hadn’t possessed very many.

  Furthermore, those secret tomes were too low-grade. They hadn’t been of much assistance to him at all. Now, this Weapon Forging Diagram made up for his deficit.

  “What are you all doing? How can you act so lazy! You can’t even overcome this little hardship?!" Guo Ran seemed like a completely different person. He said, “I was only testing you just now. Did you really think I couldn’t continue any longer? I was giving you a display about what not to do! What are you just standing there for? Hurry up! Don’t you see boss has already climbed so high that we can’t even see him? Look, Gu Yang’s so far that his butt is growing smaller and smaller! We’ve already been thrown into the distance. But brothers, don’t worry, charge with me! No obstacles will block us from following boss! We’ll let this world see our hot blood and youth…”

  Whether it was the disciples on the Netherworld Heaven Staircase or the experts spectating, they were all speechless. Looking at the revived Guo Ran, some of them even believed his nonsense…

  Crash. Another disciple collapsed on the ground. Currently, hundreds of disciples had collapsed on the Netherworld Heaven Staircase.

  They felt too tired. They didn’t even have the energy to lift a finger. All they wanted to do was sleep.

  “How regretful. If only they had reached the 333rd stair, they would have obtained even more benefits,” sighed a monastery head.

  This final trial’s benefits were hard to imagine. Even if you were just sleeping, the Netherworld Heaven Staircase would allow them to enter a special state that would be extremely helpful to their future advancements.