As the two-year deadline to leave the small world drew near, Fang Hao arrived before the mountain at its center. At this moment, the area was already crowded with many prodigies. Some were here to test how far they could ascend in the limited time remaining. Others had simply come to witness the presence of true elites. When Fang Hao appeared, many glanced at him and immediately burst into laughter. "No way! A sixth-stage Manifestation Realm cultivator is still alive?" "Maybe he's been hiding in some corner this whole time." "What surprises me is that he dares show his face here." To be fair, their reaction wasn't unreasonable. Among the hundred or so cultivators present, every single one was at the Nascent Soul Realm, and even early-stage ones were rare—most were at the third stage and above. Only the presence of a large crowd prevented anyone from taking direct action against Fang Hao. If there had only been three or five people present, they wouldn't have hesitated to eliminate him. After all, even a fly is still meat. "Everyone's gathered here watching the show. How come no one's climbed up?" "Why don't you give it a try?" "Fine! I'll try it myself!" A burly cultivator shouted, face flushed, and dashed toward the summit. This man was at the seventh stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, and the towering mountain before them stretched at least 300,000 feet into the sky. Under normal circumstances, that height would pose no issue to someone at his level—but this mountain was different. The burly man charged too aggressively. When he reached about 30,000 feet, he suddenly felt a powerful force slam into him. It was as if he'd crashed into an invisible wall. Blood spurted from his mouth, and he plummeted straight down. He hit the ground hard, creating a small crater. Fortunately, his physical strength was solid. Though the fall didn't kill him, he was left dazed and unable to stand for a time. (Or perhaps he was feigning unconsciousness from embarrassment, waiting until attention moved elsewhere before quietly slipping away.) Regardless, his fall from just 30,000 feet was undeniable. The crowd was stunned, full of disbelief. "No way… a seventh-stage Nascent Soul got knocked down at just 30,000 feet?" "If that's the case, most of us won't make it halfway up." "Whew… good thing I didn't rush in. That could've been me making a fool of myself." The burly man's failure made everyone wary of attempting the climb. Some time later, five prodigies arrived—each at the ninth stage of the Nascent Soul Realm, just a step away from the Saint Realm. They appeared calm and composed. After scanning the crowd, they launched directly toward the summit without hesitation. "They're from Wushuang City!" "Wushuang City ranks in the top thirty out of all 300-plus cities in the Immortal Dynasty!" "Let's see how far they can go!" "Only elites of this caliber are qualified to challenge the summit." Though powerful, the five from Wushuang City advanced steadily and cautiously, not in a reckless burst. Each one adopted a full-strength stance, ascending the mountain with utmost care. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they reached 30,000 feet, where they instantly felt the pressure double—greatly slowing their speed. After another incense stick's time, they reached 60,000 feet. At this point, their faces grew solemn. They dared not relax. Though their pace slowed again, they continued climbing. Two more quarter-hour intervals passed, and they reached 90,000 feet. The five were drenched in sweat and panting slightly. Looking up, they could sense the summit with their divine senses—but to the naked eye, it still seemed impossibly far. A sense of futility began to creep into their hearts. Exchanging glances, they clenched their teeth and pressed on. Original content can be found at noⅴelfire.net But their ease was gone. It took them nearly an hour to reach 120,000 feet above the ground. From their expressions, it was clear: they were completely exhausted. "We can't go any further." Their faces were filled with fatigue and resignation—but also deep unwillingness. They had never conceded before, yet now they had to admit—they lacked the strength to reach the top. Still, they didn't descend. Instead, they sat where they were and began meditating. When the others at the foot of the mountain detected this through divine sense, they were shocked. "So they've reached their limit?" "Why are they cultivating halfway up the mountain?" "Maybe cultivation is more effective up there?" After a brief silence, whoosh whoosh whoosh—many other prodigies flew up the mountain. They no longer aimed to reach the summit—only to find a place for cultivation. Soon, nearly everyone at the base had begun their climb, Fang Hao included. Each person climbed until they could go no further, then stopped to meditate—just like the Wushuang City elites. Most found their limit around 60,000 feet. The burly man from before had simply rushed too recklessly. Had he paced himself, he probably could've surpassed that mark. What shocked everyone was that Fang Hao, merely at the sixth stage of the Manifestation Realm, reached 30,000 feet—and was still climbing. "This guy's something else! A Manifestation cultivator with that kind of strength?" "Yeah… we definitely underestimated him before." "It's a pity. His cultivation is too low—he probably won't make it past 60,000 feet." Yet Fang Hao kept a steady pace, continuing upward. Before long, he reached 60,000 feet. This left many wide-eyed and even a bit horrified. They, Nascent Soul cultivators, had been bested by a Manifestation Realm junior! Just as they were about to comment, an overwhelming aura surged from the distance. A radiant figure approached. Golden light enveloped him like a blazing sun, radiating a pressure so intense it felt like crashing waves—suffocating and unstoppable. "It's the Fourth Prince!" "What terrifying pressure!" "With his talent and strength, he's definitely making it to the top!" The Fourth Prince reached the mountain's base and shot upward without delay. In a flash, he was at 30,000 feet—then 60,000, then 90,000. He reached 120,000 feet before his speed even slowed. Even then, he climbed rapidly. The spectators were stunned. Now they truly understood the gap between themselves and the apex prodigies. Even the five elites from Wushuang City had to concede. "Hahaha! I'm coming too!" Just then, a hearty laugh rang out as a thickset figure arrived—his climbing speed matching the Fourth Prince's. It was Kaishan Hou, a youth of remarkable talent who had already been granted the title of marquis at a young age. One after another, more legendary prodigies arrived: the elegant Cheng Yunlai riding a cloud, the ethereal Fairy Qingyu, who seemed to have stepped out of a celestial palace… Each one was an awe-inspiring genius, famed throughout the Immortal Dynasty. Their talents and powers were unparalleled. These prodigies didn't just ascend the mountain—they soared far ahead, quickly reaching 150,000 feet. This was the halfway mark of the mountain. But for them, it was merely the starting point. Most of the others hadn't even made it that far. The Fourth Prince stood with hands behind his back, calmly saying: "Since you're all here, why don't we compete? Let's see who reaches the summit first." "I was thinking the same thing!" Kaishan Hou replied with enthusiasm. Cheng Yunlai and Fairy Qingyu nodded in agreement. Thus began a grand contest among the most elite prodigies of the Immortal Dynasty. The hundreds of cultivators below could only bear witness to it. Their expressions were complicated—some stunned, some reflective, many silent. Though each was among the top in their respective cities—admired, envied—they now realized how far beneath the true elites they still were. This immense contrast left them feeling solemn, helpless, and quietly unwilling.