From the Metropolis to the Strongest in the Cosmos

Time flew by, and the competition between Li Yang and Lan Yu continued to attract everyone’s attention.

Instead of fading with time, the competition grew even more intense, with more and more people placing bets on the outcome.

”Dulun Emperor has been going to the Lianyun Mountain Range frequently lately, personally coaching Lan Yu.”

”Haha, Dulun Emperor is obsessed with his reputation. If Lan Yu loses, wouldn’t that be a huge embarrassment for him?”

”Do you think those two geniuses, Li Yang and Lan Yu, are feeling the pressure?”

”I don’t know if they’re feeling the pressure, but Lan Yu has been going to the Path of Deities frequently. His rate of progress is clearly much faster than before. At this rate, I estimate he’ll be able to pass the ninth step in ten years at most. As for Li Yang, he doesn’t go to the steps on the Path of Deities, so who knows what his situation is?”

”Let’s just wait and see. We’ll probably find out how strong they are soon enough.”

...

As time went on, the conclusion of Li Yang and Lan Yu’s competition drew ever closer.

Would Lan Yu maintain his second-place position, keeping Li Yang down?

Or would Li Yang, the genius who had been catching up from behind, make a great leap forward and surpass Lan Yu completely?

Amidst this anticipation, five more years passed in the blink of an eye!

...

At the summit of the Lianyun Mountain Range, Li Yang gripped a battle saber. With a swing of the blade, he unleashed a powerful technique.

The technique flickered with the Fire Element Law, the Space Law, and the Thunder Law Profound Skill, emitting a terrifyingly powerful aura.

Soon, he completed the entire set of blade techniques.

’The four hundred and fiftieth attack.’ A faint smile touched Li Yang’s lips.

’It took a whole month, but I’ve finally mastered this attack!’

He had spent sixteen years on the one thousand attacks of Yuan Wu and had already mastered nearly half of them! Such a rate of progress was, of course, absolutely astonishing!

With a wave of his right hand, he put away the Yuan Wu secret manual and other items before him.

”No. 6, any news lately?”

He had been focused entirely on his cultivation, so he had instructed No. 6 not to disturb him unless the news was important.

”Master.”

Virtual Assistant No. 6 appeared and said quickly, ”Ten minutes ago, Mute sent you a message. It says that Lan Yu went to test his strength on the Path of Deities again. He lasted four minutes on the ninth step before being eliminated.”

’He lasted for four minutes?’ Li Yang thought to himself.

’To be able to hold on for that long... it seems Lan Yu will definitely pass the ninth step in three years at most.’

Despite this thought, Li Yang felt no pressure. On the contrary, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

’Lan Yu, it looks like this time, I’m going to pull ahead for good.’

Mastering the four hundred and fiftieth attack meant Li Yang had finally reached his target strength!

With a smile still on his lips, Li Yang made a decision. ’Enter the space of the steps on the Path of Deities!’

SWISH!

His consciousness shifted, and Li Yang found himself in a vast space. Within it, a series of steps materialized, hazy and indistinct.

These steps on the Path of Deities were the ultimate benchmark for the geniuses of the Human Race!

Want to prove you have more Talent than others? Fine. Pass more steps! Actions speak louder than words!

”Look, it’s Li Yang.”

”Ten minutes ago, Lan Yu was here testing his strength. Now Li Yang has come too.”

Because Lan Yu had just tested his strength, a few other geniuses had also come to test their own, so there were still some people in the space.

When they saw Li Yang, looks of astonishment instantly appeared on their faces.

They wouldn’t have been this surprised even if Lan Yu himself had shown up to test his strength.

Li Yang was completely different from Lan Yu. Lan Yu came to test his strength often, but Li Yang was another story. He rarely came, but nearly every time he did, he passed another step on the Path of Deities!

”Li Yang is here... could he be about to pass the ninth step of the Path of Deities?”

”That’s impossible, isn’t it?”

The geniuses whispered among themselves.

By now, it wasn’t just the powerful experts; even these geniuses knew about the race between Li Yang and Lan Yu to see who would be the first to pass the ninth step.

’It’s pretty crowded.’

Li Yang glanced at the crowd, then walked straight to the steps of the Path of Deities. With a flicker of his form, he vanished.

As soon as Li Yang vanished, news that he had entered the space of the Path of Deities’ steps to test his strength spread like wildfire.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Just a few seconds later, figures began appearing in the space one after another. In the blink of an eye, several thousand had gathered.

”Li Yang is here to challenge the steps on the Path of Deities!”

”He’s not actually going to pass the ninth step, is he? It hasn’t been that long!”

”If he passes, Li Yang will have truly pulled ahead of Lan Yu.”

The crowd of geniuses erupted in discussion as they appeared.

SWISH!

Amid the murmurs of discussion, yet another genius appeared.

”It’s Lan Yu.”

”Lan Yu came too?”

Upon seeing him, the crowd of geniuses couldn’t help but turn to look.

This was the genius who had once shaken them all, and even now, he felt impossibly far ahead.

Lan Yu paid no mind to the crowd’s stares; his own gaze was fixed on the steps of the Path of Deities.

A closer look would reveal that his fists were clenched tightly.

’It’s only been five years… Li Yang, are you really about to pass?’

For the past five years, he had trained frantically, trying to pass the ninth step before Li Yang, but his last attempt had still ended in failure.

He had heard the news of Li Yang’s test just a moment ago and couldn’t stop himself from coming here immediately.

Lan Yu clenched his fists. If Li Yang failed, their race for the ninth step would continue. But if Li Yang succeeded, he would truly be ahead!

...

The many geniuses watched with bated breath.

And high above the space of the steps, one consciousness after another began to appear.

”It’s been five years. That Li Yang kid has finally made his move. Looks like he’s planning to pass the ninth step in one go.”

”Desert, just because Li Yang is here for the test doesn’t guarantee he’ll pass.”

”Haha, Huo Lu, still talking tough? That kid Li Yang would never have come here if he wasn’t confident. Just get ready to admit defeat and hand over that treasure of yours.”

”It’s only been five years. I refuse to believe Li Yang can succeed.”

One after another, the consciousnesses descended, all of them focused on Li Yang.

In that moment, an untold number of eyes were gathered here, all set in motion by Li Yang.

...

Unaware that he had suddenly attracted the attention of so many geniuses and experts, Li Yang appeared within the space of the ninth step.

Within the space of the ninth step was a three-headed demon beast resembling a flood dragon. Its entire body was wreathed in flames, setting the entire space ablaze.

It was like a world made of fire!

Five years ago, when Li Yang had fought this three-headed Flame Demon Beast, he had been killed in just two attacks.

Back then, the demon beast’s strength had been five times his own; Li Yang had been utterly powerless to resist.

But now, he felt no fear in his heart.