novelAs Easy As Walking On Flat Ground
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Although the flight of stairs to the fourth floor was heavy as usual, the distance could not stop Ou Yangming anymore.
He progressed forward step by step and was calm even when he felt the enormous pressure inside and outside his body.
This was because he knew he could definitely make it to the fourth level before his essential Qi depleted. Sure enough, just as Ou Yangming had a bit of essential Qi left, he managed to put one foot on the fourth level's stairs.
However, when he stepped with his other foot too, his body suddenly loosened up.
Yes, the flight of stairs still exerted pressure on him due to the gravity, but it seemed lesser than the second level.
This meant that a Force Grade martial artist could also complete this flight of stairs by having strong willpower.
Ou Yangming furrowed his eyebrows a little. He was not afraid of the difficult test, but even if one had thought with one's toes, one would know that each level on the Testimony Path was harder than the last. Why was the fourth level easier instead?
After a moment of hesitation, Ou Yangming tried to take a step forward.
He was extremely cautious that his consciousness had also risen to the maximum point where he could make judgments in advance no matter the changes ahead.
One step, two steps...
Nonetheless, even when he walked carefully through the fourth level as though he was walking on thin ice, and arrived at the top of the flight, he did not feel extra pressure.
Ou Yangming looked behind him in disbelief and in confusion.
'Are the Ni family's powerhouses suddenly making things easier for me? But isn't this too obvious?'
Regardless of the reason, Ou Yangming had completed another level and was only two levels away from his final target.
Even then, he had no idea that he was already qualified to enter the forbidden area after successfully walking past the fourth flight of stairs.
The first three levels of the Testimony Path tested a person's fitness and power. As long as one was at the peak of Yin Grade Class Five and had extraordinary willpower, one could make it to the fourth floor even if one would be exhausted.
That said, everything was completely different from the fourth level onward.
This was because the fourth level tested one's mental power instead of one's physical power.
It was especially impossible for a person without sufficient mental power or the potential to pass the fourth level.
The Ni family had many geniuses each generation, but not all had the mental power or the potential. Therefore, most geniuses failed the fourth level after passing the third level.
On the other hand, not to mention Ou Yangming's potential, his mental power alone had doubled after he absorbed the half-spirit beast's flesh and blood, as well as when he broke through in the dense forest to control the Blood Flight Art. With that, the restriction could be regarded as nothing for him.
If his mental power or its potential was lower than 10 Points, he could not pass this stage regardless, but with 25 Points of mental power...
The point advantage allowed him to get through the stage effortlessly.
Ou Yangming advanced to the fifth level at ease as if he had taken a stroll in the park.
Nevertheless, he was not aware that his freaky performance had caused everyone in the Ni family to be in an uproar.
At the top of the tower, Ni Jingtong and the five most powerful Yang Grade powerhouses looked at each other as though they had just seen a ghost.
"Did he really pass the fourth level?" Ni Jingtong mumbled.
Ni Xueshu and the other elders smiled bitterly because they wanted to know more than Ni Jingtong did. Though they knew very well that the luster would not lie to them, the fact that Ou Yangming passed the fourth level in a flash...
They looked at the great ancestor and thought, 'Can Great Ancestor achieve it too?'
"If I had attempted the fourth level instead, I can easily complete it too." Ni Jingtong scoffed as if he perceived their looks, then said to himself after a pause, 'Maybe I'll be slightly slower than the young fella?' That being said, he did not ponder upon how long exactly it would take for him to pass the level.
'Perhaps Third Brother is the only one in the Ni family who can compete with the young fella in this aspect, ' Ni Jingtong wondered.
"Great Ancestor, given that Ou Yangming actually passed the fourth level so quickly, could his mental power..." Ni Xueshu expressed as he thought. The eyes of the four other elders glowed as well when they thought about the possibility.
Ni Jingtong responded with a bitter smile, "We've seen plenty of people who are gifted with strong mental power, for instance, Yinghong the little girl, who was born with great mental power and is able to use it as she wishes after cultivating for years, but the young fella is one year younger than the little girl, even if he had started cultivating in his mother's womb, it's impossible for him to have such mental power..."
The other elders nodded in agreement. It was understandable for them to think that way because it was recorded in their clan's history that it was impossible for someone of Ou Yangming's age to be born with such massive mental power.
Despite that, they would have never figured that Ou Yangming was truly born with great mental power potential, but had also activated the mysterious Military Fire, comprehended the integration of Heaven and man, had the opportunity to absorb a half-spirit beast's flesh and blood, and forced himself to control the Blood Flight Art.
Everything added up—the huge opportunity and his hard work between life and deathwas what made Ou Yangming's achievement.
Ni Xueshu's eyes suddenly lit up as he said, "Great Ancestor, Ou Yangming probably borrowed external force during the third level. Did he do the same for the fourth level?"
"The light obviously had a hint of red when the fella passed the third level, so he probably employed a magical trick of inciting his Qi and blood or something of that sort. On the opposite, the luster was pure and flawless when he passed the fourth level. Not only did he not use any external power, but he also passed the stage in the easiest way, " Ni Jingtong shook his head as he answered.
Ni Xueshu and the rest were completely speechless, but they could not figure out the theory behind it no matter what.
"Hehe..." Ni Jingtong laughed out loud."It's fine, the stronger the young fella is, the higher the possibility of him finding our ancestor's legacy. I'd like to see how outstanding his performance will be for the fifth level."
The other elders were less worried. Over a thousand years, there were only three people from the Ni family who had actually made it through the fifth level to arrive at the highest level. Among those men, the third great ancestor was the only one who was still alive.
In spite of Ou Yangming's stunning performance before this, he could forget about finishing the fifth level.
Nonetheless, a thought lingered in the elders' minds and resonated deep within their hearts.
'Is this young fella really not able to make it through the fifth level?'
X XXX
Outside the tall tower, cheers filled the air.
Just as the light at the entrance changed when Ou Yangming made it to the fifth level, whether it was Ni Yunhong and his younger sister or the elders who were guarding the tower, they could not help but smile brightly.
It was because they knew that since Ou Yangming passed the fourth level and was at the fifth level, at the very least, he was qualified to enter the forbidden area notwithstanding his final outcome on the Testimony Path.
This was a huge matter—the most important matter-for everyone in the Ni family.
Finding their ancestor's legacy had been the biggest issue that weighed heavily on their minds for over a thousand years, so much so that it had become an inner obstruction for them. The Ni family was willing to do anything to fulfill their wish.
It was similar to how Ou Yangming was willing to save Old Craftsman at all costs.
"No!" Ni Xueming suddenly regained his senses after being immersed in elation, and his face changed as he commented, "It's too fast..."
"Grandfather Xueming, what are you saying?" Ni Yunhong was rather unhappy.
Ni Xueming was not optimistic about Ou Yangming from the start, thus Ni Yunhong had conflicting thoughts with him.
After shaking his head, Ni Xueming turned to say, "Wangyang, they've never attempted the Testimony Path, and we can't explain to them due to the clan's law. On the other hand, not only have you walked the path, but you've also watched it a few times. What do you think?"
Ni Wangyang pondered for a long time before he exhaled deeply."Yes, it's too fast..."
"Twelfth Uncle, what exactly are you talking about?" Ni Yinghong's eyes wandered about as she pouted her lips playfully.
"I've told you everything I can, and I can't tell you things that I can't disclose even if you ask." Ni Wangyang smiled bitterly and said after a pause, "If you really want to know the exact situation, it's best that you cultivate hard enough to arrive at Yang Grade or the peak of Yin Grade as soon as possible, then you'll find out after walking the Testimony Path."
Ni Yunhong and his younger sister stopped questioning because they knew it could only mean one thing if even Ni Wangyang's lips were sealed. The answer would do the siblings more harm than good, which was why the elders kept it a secret.
"Hmph, it's fine even if you don't tell us, as if I care!" Ni Yinghong pouted her lips disdainfully and said, "Grandfather Xueming, Twelfth Uncle, my brother said that he'll definitely make it to the fifth floor, didn't he?"
Ni Xueming and Ni Wangyang looked at each other. Since the fact was already in front of them, what else could they say?
"What's the obstacle at the fifth level?" Ni Yinghong suddenly mumbled. While she did not know the Testimony Path's specific situation, it was a given that the six levels in the tower represented six obstacles.
Ni Xueming responded, "Little girl, you don't have to lure us anymore because... We don't know either."
"That's right, we've always guarded at the bottom, and we've never made it to the fifth level, so we really don't know what's up there, but..." Ni Wangyang laughed brightly, then looked at Ni Yinghong with anticipation."If you're able to walk the Testimony Path in the future, you'll probably make it to the fifth level to see the view up there."
Ni Xueming and a few elders nearby nodded slowly with envious looks.
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