The Limits of Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan: Competition and Cultivation"We shouldn't stay here any longer. Let's go to Poseidon Island first."
Dai Yao looked back and saw four women watching him worriedly from below the steps leading to Seagod Island. After Bai Chenxiang agreed, Dai Yao took her and flew to the shore.
"Brother Yao, what's going on? Why are the soul beasts from the Sea of the Sea attacking Xiangxiang?"
Ning Rongrong held Bai Chenxiang's hand and carefully checked for any injuries before she felt relieved and asked with concern.
Just as Dai Yao was about to answer, Dugu Yan interrupted:
"I think it's because of our assessment. Our assessment requires us to come to Poseidon Island and participate in the test of crossing the light of Poseidon. Xiangxiang didn't have such a task, so she was attacked by the sea spirit beast in the sea. It's best for Xiangxiang not to go near the sea in the sea."
Bai Chenxiang's gaze was complicated. She pursed her lips and softly hummed in agreement.
The sudden turn of events left everyone feeling less relaxed than before. After offering a brief word of comfort to Bai Chenxiang, the group arrived at the seemingly endless staircase. Gazing up at the long staircase, Dai Yao raised an eyebrow and smiled:
"Let me go first."
Dai Yao knew the secrets of the Sea God's Light, but he was worried that Dugu Yan and the others might get hurt because they didn't understand it. So he decided to be the first to try crossing the Sea God's Light, so that he could explain the secrets within.
Sure enough, after Dai Yao's several failed attempts, Dugu Yan came to a conclusion, frowning as she said:
"This Sea God's Light is a powerful protective shield that can defend against any form of energy and physical attack. To complete the trial, we can only climb up step by step under the pressure. I just don't know if the Amplification Soul skill can be used. If it can't, then it will be a bit troublesome."
"Dai Yao, don't try it yet, let us try it."
Dai Yao had already completed his mission and had a general understanding of the Light of the Sea God, so he didn't need to worry about getting injured. Therefore, Dai Yao simply stood aside and watched Dugu Yan and the others try.
Zhu Zhuqing, Feng Wutong, and Ning Rongrong all curiously examined the Light of the Sea God. In Feng Wutong's eyes, it seemed as if a raging fire was burning, as if she wanted to climb the steps and know what her limits were.
Dugu Yan raised her eyebrows slightly, glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, then at Feng Wutong, and smiled:
"Wutong, shall we have a competition to see who can climb the highest?"
The Azure Lotus Sect was burdened with numerous administrative affairs, and Dugu Yan had to sacrifice her cultivation time in order to govern the sect. However, she was once a genius girl, quite famous in Heaven Dou City, and very proud of herself.
Now, facing the test of the light of the sea god, which pushes me to my limits, that strong feeling in my heart has surged up again.
The reason I compare myself to Feng Wutong instead of Zhu Zhuqing is because Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Yao have a very close relationship.
She had been by Dai Yao's side since his humble beginnings, so if Dugu Yan were to suggest comparing herself to Zhu Zhuqing, it could easily be misinterpreted as vying for his favor. As a child of a prominent family, she was particularly mindful of such matters and therefore tried her best to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
Feng Wutong raised her beautiful eyes, gathered her fiery red hair into a ponytail, revealing her smooth face, and exuded a heroic and dashing aura.
"good!"
Feng Wutong answered with some excitement.
Dai Yao, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Bai Chenxiang all looked at the two with curiosity, wanting to know which step they could climb.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the two women channeled their soul power and summoned their martial souls. As the sounds of phoenix cries and dragon roars rang out, the two women stepped forward and walked up the steps of the Sea God's Light.
As soon as they entered the range of the Sea God's Light, the two women simultaneously felt an immense pressure, sweeping over them and forcefully compressing their bodies. Startled, they exchanged a glance, both seeing the astonishment in each other's eyes.
Their soul power was circulating faster, and the rate at which it was being consumed also increased significantly.
Neither woman spoke, and they continued climbing.
The climb was not fast. The two did not speed up because of their superior strength, but only continued forward after their bodies had adapted to the pressure of each step.
Taking a deep breath, the two withstood the pressure and soon stood on the twentieth step. Dugu Yan calculated that the pressure on the twenty steps would require an ordinary Soul Master to exert all their strength just to stand firm.
Dugu Yan turned around, slightly out of breath, and smiled at Feng Wutong, saying:
"How's Wutong?"
Feng Wutong was also slightly out of breath. Hearing Dugu Yan's voice, she smiled softly, a resolute look appearing on her face. Meeting Dugu Yan's expectant yet slightly provocative gaze, she smiled and said:
"I'm fine, Sister Yan, I won't lose to you."
Dugu Yan smiled gently, not in a hurry to refute. The two looked ahead in tacit agreement and continued on their way.
When they reached the thirtieth step, the two began to breathe heavily; when they reached the fortieth step, a light sheen of sweat appeared on their foreheads; when they reached the fiftieth step, they were panting heavily, sweat pouring down their bodies, leaving a long trail of sweat on the steps, their snow-white bodies barely visible beneath their sweat-soaked clothes.
If Dai Yao hadn't been the only man there, he would have rushed forward to shield the two of them.
"Sister Yan, are you alright?"
Panting, Feng Wutong supported herself on her knees, glanced at Dugu Yan who was on the same step as her, raised her eyebrows with some difficulty, and asked with a smile.
The fact that the two could still speak under such immense pressure clearly indicates that they were far from their limit.
Dugu Yan rolled her eyes at Feng Wutong and said somewhat irritably:
"Of course I can still keep going. Don't cry if you lose later!"
The two fell silent, knowing the real challenge lay ahead. Taking a deep breath, Dugu Yan took the lead, her soul power surging violently like erupting magma.
When the jade-like high heels landed on the fifty-first step, her jade-like legs, which seemed to be filled with lead, began to tremble slightly. Dugu Yan sighed softly. She knew that she had reached her limit under normal circumstances. She would no longer force herself. A phantom of a blue dragon slowly emerged behind her and gradually solidified.
Its mane was flowing, its five claws were outstretched, and its red eyes, like rubies, were majestic and sacred.
When the Azure Dragon Martial Soul was activated to its maximum, Dugu Yan immediately felt her body lighten. She quickly climbed three steps and continued upwards.
Seeing this, Feng Wutong paused, thought for a moment, and then the phantom of the Vermilion Bird appeared behind her and immediately followed. In fact, she felt that she could hold on for a few more steps, but in order to save face for Dugu Yan, she chose to release herself early.
When their martial spirits were activated to their fullest potential, the speed at which both of them recovered their soul power increased dramatically.
The soul energy floating in the air seemed to involuntarily gather around the two of them, allowing them to absorb and use it. Amidst the slightly surprised gazes of the crowd below, the two actually accelerated their pace, reaching the sixtieth step.
Dugu Yan took another step forward, but she could clearly feel an immense force preventing her from continuing to climb. Her bones creaked slightly under the enormous pressure. She turned her head with difficulty and discovered that Feng Wutong, who was on the same level as her, was also nearing her limit.
However, judging from Feng Wutong's appearance, her condition was slightly better than hers.
With a slight grit of her teeth, six spirit rings emerged from beneath her feet. As the rings began to flash, Dugu Yan immediately felt her body become lighter. Despite the pressure, she continued forward.
Seeing this, Feng Wutong also summoned her soul ring. As she used her soul skill, the heat around her increased dramatically, and her long hair seemed to burn like flames. With the use of her soul skill, her body's limit to withstand pressure increased significantly, and the two began to climb forward.
However, the pace was much slower than during the previous climb.
Below the light of the sea god, Dai Yao gazed at the Phoenix Wutong and Dugu Yan climbing ever upwards, his heart filled with astonishment.
In the original novel, Dai Mubai was forced back by the light of the Sea God when he first climbed the thirty-eighth step; Tang San also chose to give up when he climbed the fifty-fifth step. But the distance that Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan have climbed on their first attempt far exceeds that of Dai Mubai and even surpasses Tang San's limit.
In other words, Feng Wutong and Dugu Yan are now even more powerful than Tang San was when he first arrived at Seagod Island in the original story.
Of course, given Tang San's abilities, the two women would most likely lose to him in a direct confrontation. But that doesn't diminish Dai Yao's pride in them! The level they've reached so far already proves their strength!
As one soul ring after another lit up, the two women continued to climb upwards with determination. However, they only had one or two soul skills that could amplify their bodies. When they used up these soul skills, they reached their limit on the seventy-fifth floor and could no longer make any progress!
The two women exchanged a glance and both understood each other's intentions.
Without further hesitation, two distinct domains, one blue and one red, poured forth! Azure Dragon Domain! Vermilion Bird Domain!
The two domains provided an incredibly powerful boost, reaching up to 80% when pushed to their limits! After using the domains, the two immediately felt much lighter. With the power of their domains, they now had the means to climb even higher!
Both knew that using their domains was their last stand; the rate at which they absorbed soul power could no longer compensate for its depletion. In this final gamble, there was no need to conserve any energy; they pressed forward swiftly!
With each step they ascended, they felt as if a giant hammer had struck their chests, causing them to catch their breath. Their hair, soaked with sweat, clung tightly to their foreheads, and the sweat dripped onto the ground. Their soul power surged wildly, exceeding their limits, and the mournful cries of their bones grew ever clearer.
As Dugu Yan climbed to the eighty-seventh step, the veins on her forehead began to throb. She glanced at Feng Wutong, who was also on the eighty-seventh step, gritted her teeth, and mustered a burst of strength to take another step upward.
However, the moment she took that step, her soul power could no longer support the use of her many soul skills. The next moment, her body paused for a moment, and under immense pressure, she fell downwards like a cannonball!
"Sister Yan!"
Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Bai Chenxiang called out anxiously at the same time.
Standing on the eighty-seventh step, Feng Wutong's eyes also showed anxiety, but there was nothing she could do. She was already standing on an increasingly slender balance beam; if she made any drastic changes and broke the balance within her body, her fate would be the same as Dugu Yan's.
Just then, the White Tiger's Eight Wings were released instantly, and with a gentle wave, it rose into the air.
Dugu Yan fell into Dai Yao's arms like a cannonball. Dai Yao tried his best to dissipate the force to prevent Dugu Yan from being injured again. Holding Dugu Yan in his arms, he slowly flapped his eight wings on his back and retreated hundreds of meters before he was able to dissipate the force on Dugu Yan's body.
"Are you alright, Yan Yan?"
After stopping, Dai Yao asked with concern.
Still dazed from being struck by the light of the sea god, Dugu Yan realized what had happened when she saw Dai Yao. A warmth filled her heart, and she immediately reached out, her arms as delicate as lotus roots, to encircle Dai Yao's neck. Her fiery red lips pressed deeply onto Dai Yao's.
The pure passion, mixed with the faint astringent taste of sweat, made Dai Yao pause for a moment before responding.
A moment later, their lips parted.
Dugu Yan looked at Dai Yao, who was so close to her, with a smile, her beautiful eyes full of tenderness, and said:
"This is your reward for saving your sister. Okay, let's hurry back. We're all sweaty and feel terrible. After washing up, I need to wear some looser clothes."
Dai Yao clicked his tongue; he was already used to Dugu Yan's teasing. Ever since being with Dai Yao and clearing the toxins from her body, Dugu Yan had felt like she was letting her true nature shine through, always behaving in a quirky and mischievous way when she was with him.
When he served as acting sect leader of the Qinglian Sect, he became much more dignified, but upon arriving at Seagod Island, his old ways resurfaced.
With a flap of its eight wings, it swept towards the shore, returning to its original position in just a few breaths.
"How is Sister Yan?"
Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward, looked Dugu Yan up and down, and asked with some concern.
Ning Rongrong didn't wait idly either. She summoned the Ten Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, and as the amplifying light fell upon her, Dugu Yan's feeling of exhaustion immediately lessened considerably. Dugu Yan smiled and said:
"I'm fine. My body is so good that even if I fall directly to the ground, I'll be fine. What I need to pay attention to now is Wutong. At that height, she's already nearing her physical limit. If she's not careful, that could be my fate."
The tension that had eased everyone's mind immediately tightened again. They looked up at the phoenix tree on the steps, making no attempt to hide their worry.
Upon seeing that Dugu Yan was safe and sound on the eighty-seventh step, Feng Wutong breathed a sigh of relief. Turning around, she looked at the long staircase ahead, took a deep breath, and resolutely stepped forward!
Level 88!
Feng Wutong stepped onto the eighty-eighth step, officially surpassing Dugu Yan, but she didn't stop and continued forward. When she reached the eighty-ninth step and started towards the ninetieth step, her movements were extremely slow, like a snail, and her body trembled uncontrollably.
She was on the verge of her limit.
Sweat formed a small puddle on the steps, reflecting Feng Wutong's exhausted face. Without further hesitation, she began to slowly back away.
With each step back, the pressure on her body lessened, as if every pore was breathing freely and moaning with pleasure. When she reached the last ten steps, she retreated at lightning speed, leaping up and landing on the ground.
After the pressure subsided, Feng Wutong felt completely relaxed and collapsed to the ground.
Ning Rongrong's treatment was completed in time, and Dai Yao quickly stepped forward. He didn't immediately pull Feng Wutong up, but waited for Feng Wutong to adjust her breathing on her own before asking:
"Wutong, how are you feeling?"
With a strained smile, Feng Wutong said, her face etched with exhaustion:
"I feel very relaxed now, but my soul power is exhausted, and I need to recover quickly."
Dugu Yan looked at Feng Wutong with some resentment. Feng Wutong had climbed to the eighty-ninth step, while she had fallen at the eighty-seventh. She had lost to Feng Wutong. Keep in mind, she was a year older than Feng Wutong. She said with some bitterness:
"Wutong, you've won this time. It seems I've slacked off a lot since the Soul Master Competition. From today onwards, I'll train hard and try to catch up with you!"
Feng Wutong smiled slightly, met Dugu Yan's gaze, and said:
"Sister Yan, I'm always ready to accompany you."
There was no conflict between them; on the contrary, they appreciated each other. Both were Dai Yao's wives, and having spent time together, they knew each other's competitive nature. Therefore, they regarded each other as rivals, which helped to better promote each other's cultivation.
Immediately afterward, the two shared some insights from the trials with everyone, then sat cross-legged and entered a meditative state to recover their soul power.
Dai Yao turned around, looked at the other three, and smiled:
"Zhuqing, Rongrong, Xiangxiang, you guys go up and give it a try too."
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both smiled and agreed, then arrived before the Light of the Sea God and began their climb. Bai Chenxiang asked somewhat hesitantly:
"Sect Master, can I still try even though I haven't taken the test?"
"No test doesn't mean we can't try. The Light of the Sea God is an opportunity for us. Under immense but not life-threatening pressure, it is extremely beneficial to improving our soul power. Xiangxiang, don't give up."
Dai Yao said solemnly.
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
Bai Chenxiang hesitated for a moment, but finally agreed. Imitating Dugu Yan and the others, she began to climb.
Watching the group of people climbing upwards, Dai Yao's eyes flickered. He also wanted to know his own limits—how many steps could he climb? (End of Chapter)