Chapter 89 The Breaking Point

Chapter 89: Chapter 89 The Breaking Point

The golden markings were still glowing.

The pressure continued to descend upon the ancient road, growing heavier with every passing moment. The cultivators could feel it pressing against their shoulders, weighing down their limbs, and draining their strength with every step.

Behind them, the Primordial Devouring Beast continued its relentless pursuit.

Its enormous body moved through the golden haze, its terrifying roar echoing across the road. Every time it opened its mouth, waves of frightening energy rolled through the passage.

Yet no matter how quickly the cultivators ran, the distance between them and the beast remained almost unchanged.

Nobody dared turn around for too long.

They could only keep running.

The first wave of eliminations had already demonstrated how dangerous the trial could become. Those who had failed to endure the pressure had been transported outside the ruin, their cultivation reduced by 1 minor level.

However, the pressure showed no sign of stopping.

Instead, it continued to grow.

---

Among the independent cultivators, a young man in blue robes was beginning to lose control of his breathing.

His name was Zhao Ming, and he had entered the ruin hoping to obtain ancient treasures that could improve his cultivation.

He had never expected the first trial to become such a test of endurance.

His legs trembled with every step. Even after consuming a rejuvenation pill, the pressure weighing down his body refused to disappear.

"Damn it! How long is this road?"

He gritted his teeth and forced himself forward.

Ahead of him, several cultivators were still running. Behind him, the terrifying roar of the Primordial Devouring Beast grew louder.

Zhao Ming’s heart pounded.

He tried to increase his speed, but his legs had already reached their limit.

One step.

Another step.

Then his knees buckled.

He stumbled forward and caught himself with his hands before collapsing completely.

"No... I can still run!"

He struggled to stand.

His legs shook violently, but he managed to rise and take another step.

Then another.

However, his body finally gave out.

He collapsed onto the ancient road, unable to move forward any longer.

Golden light immediately enveloped him.

Before he could utter another word, his figure vanished from the passage.

---

Not far away, a middle-aged cultivator named Han Qiu was facing the same predicament.

He had relied on his powerful cultivation to survive many dangerous situations, but the pressure of the ancient road was steadily wearing him down.

His breathing had become ragged, and sweat covered his face.

He took out another pill and swallowed it.

The medicinal energy spread through his body, restoring some of his strength.

For a brief moment, hope returned to his eyes.

However, the pressure remained.

His body grew heavier with every passing second, and his legs gradually lost their strength.

"I refuse to be eliminated here!"

He pushed himself forward, desperately trying to maintain his pace.

But after several more steps, his legs could no longer support him.

He fell to his knees.

He tried to rise once.

Then twice.

Each attempt ended in failure.

When he could no longer force himself forward, golden light appeared around his body.

Han Qiu disappeared from the ancient road.

---

The pressure continued to intensify.

Throughout the passage, cultivators struggled to maintain their pace. Some gritted their teeth and pressed forward, while others desperately consumed pills in an attempt to replenish their strength.

Unfortunately, the pills could restore their stamina and spiritual energy, but they could not remove the mysterious pressure.

One by one, those who reached their limits were eliminated.

A young woman in green robes stumbled repeatedly before finally collapsing. She struggled to rise, but her exhausted body refused to obey. Golden light enveloped her, and she vanished.

A man carrying a long spear managed to keep running for several more moments. However, when his legs finally gave out and he could no longer take another step, he too was enveloped in golden light and transported away.

Another independent cultivator tried to crawl forward after collapsing, desperately hoping that moving even a little would allow him to remain in the trial.

But his strength was completely exhausted.

Golden light flashed, and he disappeared.

The ancient road showed no mercy to those who could no longer continue.

---

Among the successors of the 7 Forbidden Families, the pressure had also become increasingly uncomfortable.

Shi Tianba ran with a grim expression. His Primordial Tyrant Physique gave him extraordinary physical strength, allowing him to withstand the pressure better than many cultivators around him.

Nevertheless, even he could feel the growing weight upon his body.

"This pressure is increasing far too quickly," he muttered.

His gaze shifted briefly toward the golden markings beneath his feet.

They were brighter than before.

Every time their light intensified, the pressure seemed to grow stronger.

Shi Tianba narrowed his eyes but did not stop running.

Beside him, Ji Xueyan maintained a steady pace. Her Supreme Void Spirit Physique helped her control her spiritual energy efficiently, but the pressure was still affecting her movements.

She glanced at the road ahead.

"We cannot afford to waste our strength wondering about the formation," she said calmly. "We need to endure until the trial ends."

Shi Tianba gave a short nod.

The others reached similar conclusions.

Huangfu Lei’s Heavenly Thunder Emperor Physique released faint sparks of lightning as he ran. Feng Yuling’s Ninefold Phoenix Physique helped her maintain her rhythm, while Beiming Yue carefully regulated her breathing.

Sikong Chen and Xiahou Jian also pressed forward without stopping.

None of them had any intention of surrendering to the first trial.

---

The successors of the 8 Forbidden Sects were experiencing their own difficulties.

Shen Feng’s expression remained composed, although the pressure was beginning to affect his movements.

His Myriad Laws Divine Body allowed him to adapt to different forms of energy, but this pressure was unlike ordinary spiritual energy.

It was an oppressive force that seemed to weigh directly upon his physical body.

Mo Chen ran several steps away, his Blood Moon Divine Physique helping him preserve his strength.

"This trial is not as simple as it appears," Mo Chen said.

"None of the trials in an ancient ruin should be underestimated," Shen Feng replied.

Nearby, Huo Zhen let out a low laugh despite the strain on his face.

"Then we simply have to endure."

Zhao Zhaolin, Yan Luo, Zhou Yuchen, Xu Ming, and Han Jingxuan continued running alongside the other successors. Their companions maintained their pace as well, refusing to let the increasing pressure break their determination.

The successors of the 9 Holy Families and 8 Holy Sects were similarly struggling.

Long Aotian’s Azure Dragon Divine Physique helped him maintain his strength. Gu Tianxing relied on his Heavenly Dao Physique to keep his spiritual energy stable, while Jian Wushuang focused on controlling every movement of his body.

Even the strongest among them could not completely ignore the pressure.

However, none of these successors had reached the point where they could no longer run.

For now, they continued forward.

---

The Lin Clan’s group remained near the front of the advancing cultivators.

Lin Qing ran steadily, her Half-Step Body Integration Realm cultivation allowing her to endure the pressure more comfortably than the others.

The remaining 9 youngsters had all reached Peak Void Refining Realm. Although the pressure was growing stronger, their physical foundations and abundant resources allowed them to maintain a stable pace.

Lin Mo glanced at the golden markings beneath his feet.

"They are glowing brighter again."

"I noticed," Lin Yu replied.

Lin Jue studied the markings for a moment before looking ahead.

"The pressure seems to increase whenever their light intensifies."

Lin Chen nodded.

"That is the only pattern we have observed so far. But we still don’t know how the formation works, so don’t make unnecessary assumptions."

Lin Zhen chuckled.

"Then our task is simple. Keep running and let the formation reveal whatever it wants to reveal."

"That sounds like something you would say," Lin Mo replied.

"And yet, I’m still running."

"Unfortunately."

Lin Qing glanced at both of them.

"Can you 2 stop talking and pay attention to the road?"

Lin Mo immediately straightened his expression.

"I’m paying attention."

Lin Zhen nodded solemnly.

"Very carefully."

Lin Qing shook her head and continued forward.

Despite their banter, all 10 youngsters remained alert. None of them was distracted by the treasures that occasionally appeared along the road. Their Ancestor had already provided them with more resources than they could easily use, and they had no intention of risking elimination for something that might not even be real.

Behind them, the Primordial Devouring Beast released another thunderous roar.

Lin Chen briefly glanced over his shoulder.

The beast was still there.

Its enormous silhouette moved through the golden haze, and the distance between it and the cultivators remained strangely consistent.

Lin Chen’s eyes narrowed.

Something about this pursuit is unusual.

However, he did not voice his suspicion.

There was no point in distracting everyone with an uncertain guess. Until they understood the trial, the safest choice was to keep running.

---

The pressure suddenly surged.

BOOM!

A wave of invisible force swept across the ancient road.

Several cultivators cried out as their legs nearly gave way. Those who had been barely maintaining their pace struggled to take another step.

One cultivator in grey robes staggered, his face turning pale.

"How can it suddenly become this heavy?"

He swallowed a pill and attempted to continue.

His right foot moved forward, but his left leg failed to follow.

He stumbled and fell heavily onto the road.

Desperately, he planted his hands against the ground and tried to push himself upright.

"I haven’t reached my limit yet!"

He managed to stand, but his body swayed dangerously.

He took one step.

Then another.

His legs finally collapsed beneath him.

He could no longer rise, much less continue running.

Golden light enveloped his body, transporting him out of the trial.

Nearby, another cultivator struggled to endure the same surge.

She had been maintaining her pace through sheer determination, but the sudden increase in pressure shattered her remaining strength.

She fell to her knees and tried to crawl forward.

Her fingers scraped against the ancient stone, but her body refused to move any farther.

A moment later, golden light appeared around her.

She vanished.

The pressure continued to spread across the road.

Another cultivator collapsed.

Then another.

Some tried to stand repeatedly, refusing to accept their failure. Others consumed every pill they possessed, hoping to find enough strength to continue.

But once their bodies could no longer carry them forward, the trial eliminated them.

Golden light flashed across the ancient passage at intervals, removing those who had reached their limits.

The remaining cultivators could only watch the empty spaces left behind their companions and force themselves to continue running.

Nobody knew when the next surge would arrive.

Nobody knew how much stronger the pressure could become.

And nobody wanted to discover what would happen if they could no longer move.

---

The golden markings beneath the road shone more brightly than ever.

Lin Yu felt the pressure increase again and frowned.

"It’s happening once more."

Lin Chen nodded without slowing down.

"Keep your pace. Don’t waste your strength."

Lin Mo’s expression had finally become serious.

"At this rate, the weaker cultivators won’t last much longer."

"That is why we cannot afford to become careless," Lin Qing replied.

Lin Zhen glanced toward the golden haze.

"At least the beast hasn’t gotten any closer."

"Don’t let that make you relax," Lin Jue warned. "We still don’t know what it is capable of."

The Primordial Devouring Beast roared again, its voice reverberating through the passage.

The sound alone was enough to make several independent cultivators shudder.

The Lin Clan youngsters continued running.

They had no intention of allowing the pressure, the beast, or the mysterious formation to break their resolve.

---

Eventually, the pressure surged once more.

This time, it was far more violent than before.

The ancient road trembled beneath the cultivators’ feet, and the golden markings erupted with dazzling light.

BOOM!

The invisible force descended like a mountain.

Several independent cultivators immediately lost their balance.

A young man who had been running near the center of the group fell flat onto the road. He struggled to rise, but his arms trembled uncontrollably.

He managed to lift his upper body before collapsing again.

Golden light surrounded him.

He disappeared.

A short distance away, 2 cultivators attempted to help one another maintain their pace. One supported the other’s shoulder while both fought against the crushing pressure.

For several moments, they managed to move forward together.

Then the weaker of the 2 collapsed.

His companion tried to pull him upright, but the fallen cultivator could no longer stand.

"Leave me!" the fallen man shouted. "Keep running!"

His companion hesitated before forcing himself to continue.

The fallen cultivator tried one last time to rise.

He failed.

Golden light enveloped him, and he was transported outside the ruin.

The remaining man clenched his teeth and continued running, his expression filled with helplessness.

Elsewhere, a woman in purple robes reached the end of her endurance. She had already consumed several pills, yet her body could no longer withstand the increasing pressure.

She stumbled, fell, and tried desperately to stand.

Her legs refused to support her.

Golden light flashed.

She vanished from the road.

The eliminations continued.

A cultivator who had been running at the rear collapsed and was transported away. Another fell shortly afterward. Two more reached their limits within moments of each other, disappearing in separate flashes of golden light.

The pressure was merciless.

One cultivator after another failed to continue.

Some cursed the ancient ruin. Others desperately called for help, while a few remained silent as they struggled to rise.

But the outcome was the same.

Once they could no longer continue running, golden light enveloped them and removed them from the trial.

By the time the pressure finally stabilized, 15 more cultivators had been eliminated.

Their figures had vanished from the ancient road, leaving the remaining participants to continue their desperate race.

The golden markings dimmed slightly, but they did not return to their original state.

The pressure remained heavy.

And the Primordial Devouring Beast was still pursuing them.

---

Outside the Primordial Sealing Ruin, the elders of the various forces stood near the ancient stone gate.

Their expressions had grown increasingly serious.

The 2 independent cultivators who had been eliminated earlier had already explained the strange trial to them. The elders now knew that the cultivators inside were being forced to run from a terrifying beast, and that anyone who could no longer continue would be transported outside with their cultivation reduced by 1 minor level.

However, they still knew very little about the ancient formation itself.

"This is an unexpected development," one elder remarked. "The ruin has never behaved this way in any record I’ve read."

"Neither have I heard of an ancient trial that forcibly transports participants outside while lowering their cultivation," another elder replied.

A third elder looked toward the sealed entrance.

"We have already sent messages to our clan heads and sect masters. They should be arriving soon."

"They had better hurry," someone said. "If this trial continues changing, we need to understand what is happening before the situation becomes worse."

Before anyone could respond, golden light suddenly appeared near the entrance.

The elders immediately turned toward it.

Ten figures materialized on the ground.

They were the first 10 cultivators eliminated by the increasing pressure.

All 10 looked pale and exhausted. Their robes were damp with sweat, and several struggled to steady their breathing. They had clearly been pushed to their limits before the formation transported them out.

One elder stepped forward.

"What happened inside? Why did you come out earlier than the others?"

A young cultivator swallowed before answering.

"We were forced to run along an ancient road while a terrifying beast chased us. Then the road began releasing an oppressive pressure. It kept getting stronger until we could no longer continue."

Another cultivator quickly added, "The moment we could no longer run, golden light appeared and transported us here."

An elder’s expression changed.

"And your cultivation?"

The first cultivator checked his condition before answering bitterly.

"It has fallen by 1 minor level."

The surrounding elders exchanged looks.

"So the reports were true," one of them murmured.

"Did the beast attack you?" another elder asked.

"No," the young man replied. "It kept chasing us, but the pressure was what forced us out."

"How far did you get? Did you see anything else along the road?"

The cultivators shared what they remembered, explaining the glowing markings and the sudden increase in pressure. They also confirmed that the treasures appearing along the road seemed to be traps, as other participants had disappeared after stopping to collect them.

The elders listened carefully, asking several more questions in an attempt to understand the trial.

Unfortunately, the 10 cultivators could provide no further answers.

"You have already been eliminated," an elder finally said. "Remain outside the ruin and recover. Do not attempt to enter again."

The cultivators bowed their heads.

They had lost their chance to continue the trial, and their cultivation had regressed. There was little they could do except accept the outcome.

After thanking the elders for their assistance, they left the area to recover.

The elders watched them depart before turning back toward the entrance.

"The pressure is clearly part of the trial," one elder said. "But why would the formation keep increasing it?"

"Perhaps the purpose is to test their endurance," another replied. "If so, the participants still inside will face an increasingly difficult challenge."

"Or there may be another purpose we have yet to discover."

Their discussion continued.

Then another flash of golden light appeared.

Fifteen figures materialized near the entrance.

Unlike the first 10, these cultivators had only just been eliminated. Their faces were pale, their bodies drenched in sweat, and several could barely remain standing without support.

The elders immediately moved forward to assist them.

"What happened this time?" one elder demanded.

A young man shook his head weakly.

"The pressure became much stronger. We tried to keep running, but eventually our bodies could no longer endure it."

Another cultivator clenched his fists.

"I tried to stand up again, but I couldn’t move my legs. Then the golden light appeared."

An elder checked their cultivation levels and discovered that each had lost 1 minor level.

His expression darkened.

"This trial is getting harder."

Nobody disagreed.

The first 10 eliminations had already been alarming. Now another 15 cultivators had appeared outside, all eliminated by the same mysterious pressure.

And the trial was far from over.

---

Inside the ancient road, the surviving cultivators continued running.

The golden haze stretched endlessly ahead of them, while the Primordial Devouring Beast followed at its terrifying, unchanging distance.

Some cultivators had begun to show clear signs of exhaustion. Others continued consuming pills to replenish their strength, desperately hoping to endure until the trial ended.

The successors of the major forces remained among the surviving participants, although even they understood that the pressure was becoming increasingly dangerous.

The Lin Clan’s 10 youngsters continued forward together.

Lin Chen kept his attention on the road ahead, while Lin Qing maintained a steady pace. Lin Mo and Lin Zhen had stopped their earlier banter, and the others remained alert to every change in the formation.

The golden markings beneath their feet suddenly brightened.

Everyone felt the pressure shift.

Then the ancient voice echoed throughout the passage.

"You have all been running for 1 day, yet the trial has only just begun."

The announcement sent a wave of unease through the surviving cultivators.

One day had already passed.

Two days remained.

And the trial had only just begun.

The Primordial Devouring Beast released another deafening roar behind them.

No one dared to stop running.