Chapter 612

Chapter 612

I Can See Through Everything

In a direction opposite the Overlord Clan’s position, seventeen or eighteen figures stood quietly at the edge of the battlefield.

Though their presence was low-key, no other faction dared approach them.

Occasionally, someone would glance over, only to quickly avert their gaze in awe.

This was the alliance of the two most powerful factions participating in this venture into the Secret Realm—Dao Xu Temple and Bilu Palace.

“That Batian is more clever than I thought. Coming up with such a strategy—it really doesn’t match his usual clumsy image, does it, Fairy Luo?” a young man in a starry Daoist robe said with a chuckle.

“People of the Overlord Clan act with force, but that doesn’t mean they’re brainless. Otherwise, how would they have held a top-three spot among the Thirty-Six High Clans for tens of thousands of years? Batian is their generation’s Dao Heir. Of course, he’s not as simple as he looks,” replied a veiled woman with a graceful figure and an aura as cold as mist.

“You’re right. Still, he doesn’t seem very grateful, does he? Fairy Luo, what do you think—how far can he climb?” the young man asked again.

“I’m not sure. He’s quite mysterious. Let’s just watch and see,” the veiled woman answered calmly.

Elsewhere, Shen Zangfeng also turned to Batian. “Brother Batian, how many bone joints do you think he’ll climb?”

“At least ten, I’d say. His body is far stronger than ours, and the restrictions on him are fewer. He’ll probably surpass us,” Batian guessed. “But how far exactly, I can’t say for sure.”

“Indeed. Most of our cultivation lies in spell-based Golden Core power. The suppression in this space is too strong for us. His powerful physical body gives him a real advantage,” Shen Zangfeng nodded in agreement.

“If he didn’t have the strength, I wouldn’t have considered partnering with him,” Batian said plainly.

“You’ve got a good eye for timing. But if he climbs to the summit in one breath and seizes the opportunity, what will you do then?” Shen Zangfeng tested.

“What else?” Batian said indifferently. “If he really reaches the summit and obtains the opportunity, it means his strength surpasses even our estimates. In that case, none of us would be his match in this space. He would deserve the fortune.”

“Brother Batian, you certainly see things clearly,” Shen Zangfeng praised.

“Let’s watch for now. Bone Mountain has dozens of segments, and the higher you climb, the more dangerous it becomes. Even we only barely made it to the tenth segment. No matter how strong he is, I doubt he can reach the top. Once he suffers some hardship, he’ll be more open to my offer.”

“I just hope no other factions try to poach him from you when that time comes.”

“As long as you don’t, Brother Shen, I’m not worried about the others. If they want to play dirty, they can come challenge me to a fight. The Overlord Clan fears no one,” Batian said with an unconcerned wave.

Shen Zangfeng smiled and said no more.

Batian didn’t mind. Despite their fraternal words, they weren’t truly close. Their cooperation only existed because both had sworn Soul Oaths.

Trusting each other fully? Even Batian didn’t believe it.

So Shen Zangfeng’s lack of response didn’t surprise him. His gaze returned to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing, under the scrutiny of many powerful cultivators, didn’t immediately rush up the mountain.

He first spent some time carefully observing Bone Mountain, then quietly contemplating.

Only after that did he slowly approach the stairs beneath countless watchful eyes.

“He’s moving! He’s finally going up!”

“Take a guess—how far will he get?”

“Hard to say. When Batian and Shen Zangfeng tried, they couldn’t go past the tenth joint. His physical body is strong, sure, but we don’t know what kind of artifacts he’s got. Can’t judge too soon.”

“I bet he’ll make it past the fifteenth joint. His physical body is incredibly strong. To control it so precisely, his divine soul must be formidable too. Those savage beasts might not be able to harm him.”

As the discussions continued, Lu Qing reached the base of the stairs and took his first step.

The moment his foot landed, his body trembled slightly.

A powerful suppressive force immediately pressed down on him.

A surge of baleful aura also erupted beneath his foot, trying to seep into and corrode his body.

The pressure within this space was already immense, but the pressure on the stairway was several times greater.

And this was just the first step. According to Batian, the higher one climbed, the stronger the pressure would become.

Staring at the winding staircase that spiraled up Bone Mountain, even Lu Qing couldn’t be sure how far he could go.

After assessing the pressure, he found it manageable.

Just as he was about to ask Xiaoli in his arms how she was holding up, she suddenly jumped down onto the stairs.

“Xiaoli?” Lu Qing was startled.

“Ah Qing, I can’t stay on you anymore. A voice keeps warning me in my head—if I want to undergo the trial, I must climb the stairs myself,” Xiaoli said.

“I see.”

Lu Qing was surprised, but it made sense. A trial of the ancient Wu Clan wouldn’t allow shortcuts so easily.

“In that case, we’ll climb together. But if it gets too much, don’t force yourself.”

“Mm!” Xiaoli nodded solemnly.

“What is that? His spirit beast? Is it trying to climb too?”

When Xiaoli jumped out of Lu Qing’s arms, the watching cultivators were taken aback.

Many had noticed the adorable beast long ago—Lu Qing always carried it, even during the earlier battle outside the ancient tower.

But the creature never showed any unusual power. Its aura was weak.

Everyone assumed it was just a cute pet Lu Qing liked.

No one expected it to leap up the mountain with him.

Even more shocking—when it began hopping up the stairs beside Lu Qing with ease—many cultivators widened their eyes in disbelief.

They had all attempted the stairs before and knew how brutal the suppression was.

Even early-stage Golden Core cultivators could barely move, let alone reach the second segment.

So to see this little, adorable beast climbing so easily—it was unbelievable.

In that moment, they realized the pet Lu Qing held so dearly was anything but ordinary.

It might even be stronger than many Golden Core cultivators present.

“That pet... is something else.”

Fairy Luo’s eyes flickered.

Xiaoli’s sudden movement put all the cultivators on edge.

Step by step, Lu Qing and Xiaoli calmly ascended the stairs under countless gazes.

“Fortunately, with each level, the pressure only increases slightly.”

As he climbed, Lu Qing gauged the pressure.

He quickly realized the added pressure with each step was negligible to him.

That relaxed him considerably.

If each step had brought overwhelming pressure, climbing such a long mountain would have been a terrifying ordeal.

“The baleful aura is stronger than what I experienced refining early-stage Golden Core blood, but it hasn’t reached the level of mid-stage Golden Core. Xiaoli should be able to handle it.”

With that, he continued upward.

Soon, they reached the boundary between the first and second segments of Bone Mountain.

“Xiaoli, according to Batian, each bone joint will double the pressure and baleful aura. Be careful.”

“I understand.”

Seeing her serious expression, Lu Qing nodded and stepped onto the second joint.

At once, the pressure around him surged.

With the accumulation from the previous steps, it had become substantial.

Now it doubled again.

The baleful aura rose accordingly, nearly reaching the level within mid-stage Golden Core blood.

Xiaoli let out a soft grunt, her body trembling slightly.

“Xiaoli, are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s just more pressure. I can still keep going.”

“Good. If it gets to be too much, tell me right away.”

They continued their climb.

Seeing them ascend to the second segment, the cultivators below began speculating again.

This time, though, their focus was on Xiaoli, not Lu Qing.

“What kind of spirit beast is that? It made it to the second segment?”

“Beasts generally have stronger bodies, but weaker souls. How is it resisting the baleful aura?”

“Incredible. That has to be an ancient-bloodline variant—a true rarity.”

“Those with ancient bloodlines are supposed to be royal beasts. They usually cultivate in the demon domain. What’s one doing here?”

“Who knows? But that beast is definitely not ordinary!”

“With someone as mysterious as Lu Qing, maybe he really is connected to the demon domain.”

“Now that you mention it… maybe that’s the truth.”

No one was surprised that Lu Qing could reach the second segment.

They had witnessed his strength already.

But that his pet could do the same—it astonished everyone.

Soon, their speculation centered entirely on Xiaoli.

Second joint. Third. Fourth…

Step by step, Lu Qing and Xiaoli climbed higher.

They finally reached the boundary of the fourth and fifth joints.

Once more, all eyes turned to them.

“They’re here. The fifth joint!”

“That spirit beast… it actually made it to the fifth joint?”

“This is where things change. Not only does pressure increase, but the baleful aura starts to condense into physical form. It won’t just rise from the steps—it’ll surround the whole body.”

“Most mid-stage Golden Core cultivators fail at the fifth joint.”

“Right. Condensed baleful aura can corrode even protective artifacts.”

“Let’s see if that beast can survive this one.”

To the observers, the condensed baleful aura was no problem for Lu Qing.

But for Xiaoli, it might be another story.

Spirit beasts had strong bodies but usually weaker souls.

Everyone wanted to see if Lu Qing’s little beast could handle this.

Some even paid more attention to Xiaoli than Lu Qing now.

“The baleful aura is condensing…”

Now standing on the fifth joint, Lu Qing’s expression turned solemn.

He wasn’t worried for himself—this much baleful aura couldn’t hurt him.

But for Xiaoli…

“Xiaoli?”

“I’m okay. I can handle it.”

Though her voice trembled, it held unwavering determination.

The pressure was immense, and the aura was now attacking from all sides.

Thankfully, Xiaoli’s core was a flawless, precelestial demon core.

She had gained many opportunities by Lu Qing’s side, growing far stronger than ordinary spirit beasts.

This time, she didn’t need to absorb the aura—just fend it off.

It wasn’t easy, but she endured.

“Ah Qing… if we go up one more joint, I might have to use a divine ability,” Xiaoli said.

“No problem. The suppression and baleful aura up here are so intense, no one would dare probe with their divine sense. If you use it, they won’t see the truth.”

With how dense the baleful aura was, using divine sense was asking for madness.

Lu Qing was sure no one below would try.

“She actually resisted the fifth joint’s aura?”

Watching them ascend past the fifth joint, many cultivators below stared, mouths agape.