Chapter 441: Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan's Limits—Competition and Cultivation
"This isn't the best place to linger. Let's head back to Seagod Island," Dai Yao suggested, glancing back toward the stairway leading up to the island, where the four women were watching him anxiously. After Bai Chenxiang nodded, he guided her to the shore.
"Brother Yao, what happened? Why did the Sea Within the Sea spirit beasts suddenly attack Xiangxiang?" Ning Rongrong took Bai Chenxiang's hand, inspecting her carefully before, visibly relieved, voicing her concern.
Just as Dai Yao was about to answer, Dugu Yan interjected, "I think it's because of our trial requirements. For our trials, we're required to come to Seagod Island and pass through Seagod's Light, but Xiangxiang's trial doesn't have that requirement, so the Sea Within the Sea spirit beasts sensed her as an outsider and attacked. Xiangxiang, you should probably keep your distance from the Sea Within the Sea."
Bai Chenxiang bit her lip and nodded softly, her gaze downcast with conflicting emotions.
The sudden attack left the group feeling more wary than before. After comforting Bai Chenxiang briefly, they moved to the foot of the seemingly endless staircase leading up Seagod Island. Dai Yao took a deep breath, looked up at the stairs, and grinned. "Let me go first."
Dai Yao understood the secrets of Seagod's Light but wanted to experience it firsthand and ensure Dugu Yan and the others could avoid injury. This way, he could guide them more effectively through the trial.
After Dai Yao made several attempts to ascend and failed, Dugu Yan was able to deduce some important details, frowning thoughtfully. "This Seagod's Light is a powerful barrier that resists all forms of energy and physical force. To pass, you have to climb while enduring increasing pressure. I wonder if soul-boosting skills will even work—if not, this will be very tricky."
"Dai Yao, let us give it a try now," she suggested.
Having gathered enough information, Dai Yao stepped aside to let Dugu Yan and the others attempt their climbs without fear of injury. Zhu Zhuqing, Feng Wutong, and Ning Rongrong examined Seagod's Light with interest. Feng Wutong's gaze burned with determination, eager to measure her limits on the staircase.
Dugu Yan smirked slightly, glancing at Zhu Zhuqing and then Feng Wutong. "Wutong, want to have a little competition and see who can climb higher?"
Given her responsibilities within the Qinglian Sect, Dugu Yan often sacrificed training time. Still, she had once been a famously talented young soul master in Heaven Dou City, and the chance to push her limits rekindled her competitive spirit.
Rather than challenging Zhu Zhuqing, who was extremely close to Dai Yao, she chose Feng Wutong to avoid any appearance of rivalry for his attention, a sensitivity many from prominent families shared.
Feng Wutong lifted her gaze and, with a confident smile, tied back her fiery red hair, revealing her radiant face. She looked strong and determined. "Let's do it!" she replied excitedly.
Dai Yao, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Bai Chenxiang watched with curiosity, eager to see how high they could climb.
Under everyone's watchful gaze, the two women summoned their soul power and martial spirits. With a chorus of phoenix and dragon cries, they took their first steps onto the stairs under the oppressive force of Seagod's Light.
Instantly, a wave of intense pressure descended upon them, squeezing their bodies relentlessly. They exchanged glances, both feeling the sheer intensity of the challenge.
Their soul power surged, and the energy consumption increased significantly. Neither spoke as they continued to ascend.
Moving slowly, they each paused on each step to let their bodies adjust to the pressure before proceeding.
Taking a deep breath, they pushed onward, finally reaching the twentieth step. Dugu Yan calculated that for an ordinary Soul Elder, just standing on this level would require every bit of their strength.
Turning back, Dugu Yan, already slightly winded, gave Feng Wutong a smile. "How are you doing, Wutong?"
Also breathing heavily, Feng Wutong managed a small, determined smile. Meeting Dugu Yan's challenging gaze, she replied, "I'm fine, Yan. I'm not losing to you."
Dugu Yan chuckled, refraining from a retort. Both women turned back to face the remaining steps, knowing the real test lay ahead.
When they reached the thirtieth step, their breathing became labored. At the fortieth step, a thin layer of sweat formed on their brows. By the fiftieth step, both were drenched in sweat, leaving a damp trail behind them. Their soaked clothes clung to their figures, and if not for the fact that Dai Yao was the only man present, he might have rushed forward to shield them from view.
"Yan, still okay?" Feng Wutong panted, bracing herself on her knees as she glanced over at Dugu Yan, who stood on the same step. Even under the pressure, she arched her eyebrows with a teasing smile.
Despite the enormous pressure, they could still speak, showing that they hadn't yet reached their true limits.
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes. "Of course I am. Just don't cry when you lose!"
They continued to climb in silence, focusing on pushing through the mounting pressure. Taking a deep breath, Dugu Yan stepped forward. Soul power erupted within her like molten lava, coursing through her body.
When she placed her emerald-green heels on the fifty-first step, her legs quivered slightly under the weight. Realizing she was nearing her normal limits, she no longer held back. A faint dragon phantom manifested behind her, gradually becoming more distinct.
Its mane flowed, its five claws stretched out, and its ruby-red eyes gleamed with both majesty and might.
With her Azure Dragon martial spirit summoned to its fullest, Dugu Yan's body felt significantly lighter. She quickly moved up three more steps, advancing further.
Not to be outdone, Feng Wutong summoned her spirit, her Phoenix form blazing behind her. She had felt she could climb a few more steps before activating her spirit, but out of respect for Dugu Yan, she had chosen to release it earlier.
Once her spirit was fully released, the recovery rate of both women's soul power increased substantially. The surrounding energy gathered toward them, assisting them. To the astonishment of their companions, Dugu Yan and Feng Wutong climbed the sixtieth step.
Dugu Yan took another step forward, but the tremendous force resisted her movement. She could feel her bones creaking under the weight, her legs buckling. Looking sideways, she noticed Feng Wutong beside her, struggling similarly yet showing slightly more resilience.
Gritting her teeth, Dugu Yan summoned all six of her spirit rings. Each ring flared as she felt a renewed lightness, allowing her to keep going.
Feng Wutong, observing Dugu Yan, followed suit by activating her spirit rings. With her powers unleashed, the heat around her rose dramatically, her fiery hair appearing to burst into flame. The additional strength from their spirit abilities extended their endurance, but their pace had significantly slowed.
Below, Dai Yao watched their ascent in amazement. In the original story, Dai Mubai had only managed to reach the thirty-eighth step on his first attempt before the pressure forced him back, and Tang San had only made it to the fifty-fifth step. But Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan had far exceeded those limits on their first try.
It turned out that Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan were currently performing at a higher level than Tang San when he first arrived at Seagod Island in the original story.
Of course, considering Tang San's skills and versatility, the two women would likely struggle to beat him in a head-to-head fight. Still, Dai Yao couldn't help but feel proud of them—their current achievements spoke volumes about their strength!
As the soul rings around them flared one after another, they continued their determined ascent. However, they each only had one or two soul skills that boosted their bodies directly. When these skills ran out, the two of them reached their limit on the seventy-fifth step, unable to progress any further.
They exchanged a look and, in that moment, understood each other's intentions. Without further hesitation, two domains burst forth: Azure Dragon Domain and Vermilion Bird Domain.
These domains provided an extraordinary boost to their bodies, even enhancing their overall power by as much as eighty percent when pushed to their extremes. With their fields activated, the weight on their bodies lifted considerably, granting them the strength to continue upward.
However, they both knew that activating their domains was a final push—an all-or-nothing attempt. Their bodies were already absorbing energy faster than they could replenish it. But there was no reason to hold back now, and they surged forward with renewed speed.
Each step they ascended felt like a giant hammer striking their chests, squeezing the breath out of them. Strands of hair clung to their foreheads, slick with sweat, which pooled and dripped onto the stone stairs. Their soul power surged, moving through their bodies with a strain beyond capacity. The sounds of their bones creaking under pressure grew louder with every step.
By the time they reached the eighty-seventh step, Dugu Yan's temples throbbed visibly. She glanced sideways at Feng Wutong, who was on the same level, gritted her teeth, and, summoning a final burst of strength, took another step forward.
But just as she lifted her foot, her soul power, which had been fueling her ascent, finally gave out. In the next instant, her body halted, and the overwhelming pressure flung her backward like a cannonball, sending her hurtling down the stairs.
"Yan!" Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Bai Chenxiang cried out in alarm, their voices filled with panic.
Standing on the eighty-seventh step, Feng Wutong's expression was equally tense. Yet she knew that any drastic movement could break her fragile balance, leading to the same outcome as Dugu Yan.
In that critical moment, Dai Yao's eight white tiger wings unfurled, and with a single sweep, he launched into the air.
Dugu Yan plummeted toward Dai Yao, who caught her firmly. To prevent her from taking further damage from the impact, he used his wings to cushion her descent, gliding back several hundred meters before coming to a halt.
"You alright, Yan?" Dai Yao asked, his eyes full of concern.
Dazed from her abrupt exit from Seagod's Light, Dugu Yan blinked at him, her mind finally registering what had happened. A wave of warmth spread through her chest. She reached up with her arms, slender and smooth, to wrap them around his neck and, without hesitation, pressed her fiery lips against his.
The kiss was passionate and intense, with a faint taste of sweat. Dai Yao was momentarily taken aback before responding.
After a moment, their lips parted.
Dugu Yan gazed at him with a mischievous smile, her eyes brimming with affection. "That's your reward for saving me. Let's go back—I'm covered in sweat, and it's so uncomfortable. I need to wash up and wear something more comfortable."
Dai Yao chuckled, accustomed to her teasing by now. Since joining him, she'd freed herself from the lingering poison that had once limited her, and it was as if her true nature had been unleashed. Around him, she seemed to blossom, displaying a lively spirit full of quirks.
When she was acting as Qinglian Sect's deputy leader, she maintained a stately composure. But here on Seagod Island, she was back to her free-spirited self.
With a sweep of his wings, he flew them back to the shore, reaching the group in a matter of seconds.
"How's Yan?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, walking over and looking Dugu Yan up and down with concern.
Ning Rongrong immediately summoned her Ten Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda and sent a healing light over her friend. Under the radiance, Dugu Yan's exhaustion eased. She smiled and said, "I'm fine. With my current physical strength, even if I had fallen to the ground, it wouldn't have been serious. But we should be watching Wutong now. She's reached her limit. Any mistake could lead to the same result I faced."
The group, having relaxed slightly, now felt a renewed sense of tension as they looked up toward Feng Wutong, their expressions showing their concern.
On the eighty-seventh step, Feng Wutong sighed with relief upon seeing Dugu Yan safe. She turned her gaze back toward the long stairway before her, took a deep breath, and stepped forward resolutely.
The eighty-eighth step!
She planted her foot on the eighty-eighth step, officially surpassing Dugu Yan. Yet she didn't stop there, her will driving her upward. On the eighty-ninth step, her movements slowed dramatically, almost becoming snail-like, her body trembling under the strain. She was teetering at her limit.
Sweat formed a small puddle on the step, reflecting her exhausted face. Realizing she could go no further, she began to retreat.
With each step backward, the pressure on her body decreased, and it felt as if her every pore was sighing in relief, reveling in newfound ease. Her speed increased as she neared the bottom ten steps, finally leaping back to the ground.
Free from all restraint, Feng Wutong's legs buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground.
Ning Rongrong's healing light descended in time, and Dai Yao quickly approached her, not helping her up immediately but allowing her to adjust. "Wutong, how are you feeling?" he asked.
Feng Wutong's face was weary, but she managed a faint smile. "I feel fine now, but my soul power is completely drained. I need to recover."
Dugu Yan gazed at Feng Wutong with a hint of dissatisfaction. Feng Wutong had reached the eighty-ninth step, surpassing her by two steps. Knowing she was older by a year, she muttered, "Wutong, you won this time. I must've slacked off after the Soul Master Tournament. Starting today, I'll train harder—I need to catch up to you!"
Feng Wutong returned her gaze, smiling, "Yan, I'm ready whenever you are."
The two of them shared no rivalry, only mutual respect. Both were Dai Yao's wives and had grown to understand each other's determination, their friendly competition spurring them on to train harder together.
They gave the group some insights into their trial experiences before sitting cross-legged, entering a meditative state to restore their soul power.
Dai Yao turned to the other three with a smile. "Zhuqing, Rongrong, Xiangxiang, it's your turn to give it a shot."
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong exchanged smiles and moved forward to begin their ascent. Bai Chenxiang hesitated, asking, "Sect Leader, can I try too, even if it's not part of my trial?"
"Not having a trial doesn't mean you can't try. Seagod's Light is an invaluable opportunity for us. The intense yet non-lethal pressure will greatly benefit your soul power cultivation. Xiangxiang, don't pass it up," Dai Yao encouraged.
"Alright, I'll give it a go," she replied, though still slightly uncertain. She took a deep breath and, imitating Dugu Yan and the others, began her climb.
Watching the group steadily ascend, Dai Yao's eyes gleamed with anticipation. He was curious to discover his own limits—just how many steps could he climb?
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