Chapter 90 The Second Day: Double the Terror
Chapter 90 The Second Day: Double the Terror
Chapter 90: Chapter 90 The Second Day: Double the Terror
The Primordial Devouring Beast released another deafening roar behind them.
No one dared to stop running.
The cultivators had already endured an entire day of relentless pursuit, and the announcement from the ancient voice had made one thing painfully clear.
The trial was far from over.
Some independent cultivators had begun to wonder how they would survive another 2 days. Their legs were heavy, their breathing uneven, and their spiritual energy had been consumed and replenished countless times.
Yet they continued running.
They had no other choice.
Suddenly, the golden markings beneath their feet began to shine.
Lin Chen immediately noticed the change.
"The formation is reacting again."
Before anyone could respond, the ancient road trembled violently.
BOOM!
A terrifying aura swept through the passage.
The cultivators felt their hearts tighten as an oppressive presence descended upon them. It was different from the pressure they had experienced throughout the first day.
This aura was heavier, more ancient, and filled with an overwhelming sense of dominance.
Several cultivators nearly stumbled.
"What is that?"
"Another change?"
"Don’t tell me the formation is increasing the pressure again!"
Their questions were answered when a second roar echoed through the golden haze.
ROOOAAAR!
The sound shook the entire passage.
Then, from the golden mist behind them, another enormous silhouette emerged.
It was another beast.
Its body was covered in dark, ancient scales, and its massive limbs struck the stone road with enough force to make the ground tremble. Two curved horns extended from its head, while its enormous eyes glowed with a frightening golden light.
Every movement released waves of oppressive energy.
The moment the cultivators sensed its aura, their expressions changed drastically.
"Half-Step Mahayana Realm!"
Someone screamed in disbelief.
The first beast was already a Peak Tribulation Transcendence Realm existence.
Now a second beast had appeared, and its cultivation had reached the Half-Step Mahayana Realm!
The difference between the two realms was enormous.
Even among the powerful forces gathered inside the ruin, a Half-Step Mahayana Realm beast was a terrifying existence.
The independent cultivators felt their scalps go numb.
"How are we supposed to survive this?"
"We can barely endure the first beast! Now there are 2!"
"Keep running! Don’t look back!"
Panic spread through the passage.
The second beast lowered its enormous head and released another deafening roar before joining the relentless pursuit.
Now, 2 terrifying beasts were chasing the cultivators.
The first remained at Peak Tribulation Transcendence Realm, while the second radiated the frightening aura of a Half-Step Mahayana Realm existence.
The ancient road had become far more terrifying overnight.
However, before the cultivators could fully recover from the shock, the golden markings beneath their feet erupted with dazzling light.
BOOM!
The entire passage trembled.
An invisible force descended upon every participant.
The pressure that had already made running difficult suddenly multiplied by 10 times its previous intensity.
For a brief moment, it felt as though an entire mountain range had been dropped onto the cultivators’ bodies.
Their legs bent.
Their shoulders sank.
Their breathing became painfully difficult.
Several cultivators who had been running steadily the previous moment collapsed immediately.
"What?!"
A young man in black robes fell to his knees. His face turned pale as he desperately tried to push himself upright.
The pressure was simply too overwhelming.
He planted both hands against the stone road and attempted to stand.
His arms trembled.
His legs refused to cooperate.
"No! I haven’t been eliminated yet!"
He struggled again, but his exhausted body could no longer support him.
Golden light enveloped him.
In the next instant, he disappeared from the ancient road.
Another cultivator beside him suffered the same fate.
He had barely managed to take 2 steps after the pressure increased before his legs gave out. He tried to rise, but his body collapsed again.
Golden light flashed.
He vanished.
Within moments, the first wave of eliminations had begun.
---
The pressure was merciless.
Hundreds of cultivators struggled to remain standing, let alone continue running.
Some had sufficient spiritual energy but lacked the physical strength to endure the crushing force. Others possessed strong bodies but found their movements severely restricted.
The 10-times increase had changed everything.
A young cultivator in grey robes gritted his teeth and forced himself forward.
He managed 3 steps.
Then his knees buckled.
He fell heavily onto the road and tried to rise, but his arms shook uncontrollably.
"Move! Move!"
He shouted at himself as though sheer determination could force his body to obey.
Unfortunately, determination alone was not enough.
His strength failed.
Golden light enveloped him, and he disappeared.
Not far away, a woman wearing a blue dress had already consumed a rejuvenation pill.
The medicinal energy spread through her body, restoring some of her stamina.
She immediately attempted to continue running.
However, the pressure remained unchanged.
Her body was still being crushed by the invisible force, and every step required an extraordinary amount of effort.
She stumbled.
She tried to recover her balance.
Then she fell to her knees.
"No... please!"
She attempted to stand one last time.
Her legs refused to move.
Golden light flashed around her body, transporting her outside the ruin.
Several more cultivators were eliminated almost immediately.
Some collapsed before they could take another step. Others managed only a few paces before their bodies gave out.
The road became chaotic.
Cries of alarm echoed through the passage as more cultivators struggled against the sudden increase in pressure.
The 2 beasts continued their pursuit.
Their roars shook the passage, adding to the terror of those who were barely managing to remain upright.
Within a short period, dozens of participants had already been eliminated.
And the pressure showed no sign of weakening.
---
Among the disciples of the various Holy Lands, the situation was equally difficult.
Many had entered the Primordial Sealing Ruin with high expectations, believing that their cultivation and the resources provided by their respective forces would allow them to obtain valuable opportunities.
Now, they were discovering how merciless the first trial could be.
A young disciple of the Heavenly Dao Holy Sect struggled to maintain his pace.
His Heavenly Dao Sect robes were already soaked with sweat, and his breathing had become ragged.
He glanced at the disciple running beside him.
"How are you holding up?"
"Not well," the other disciple replied through clenched teeth. "I can barely lift my legs."
The first disciple swallowed nervously.
He could relate.
The pressure was so heavy that even controlling his breathing required concentration.
He consumed a pill and forced himself to continue.
Several disciples from other Holy Lands were experiencing similar difficulties.
Some managed to maintain their pace through determination and careful control of their spiritual energy. Others gradually fell behind, their bodies unable to withstand the pressure.
A disciple of the Primordial Pill Holy Sect stumbled repeatedly.
He had prepared several pills for emergencies, but the medicinal energy could only replenish his strength. It could not erase the pressure bearing down upon him.
He took another step.
His leg trembled.
He fell.
Desperately, he tried to rise, but his body had reached its limit.
Golden light appeared.
He disappeared from the road.
Another Holy Land disciple collapsed a short distance away. Then another.
The eliminations were no longer limited to ordinary independent cultivators.
Even disciples from prestigious Holy Lands were being forced out of the trial.
The survivors could only grit their teeth and continue running.
Nobody wanted to be the next person to disappear.
---
The successors of the 7 Forbidden Families also felt the terrifying change.
Shi Tianba’s expression had become exceptionally grim.
His Primordial Tyrant Physique gave him remarkable physical strength, but the pressure was so overwhelming that even he could no longer maintain his previous speed.
His footsteps became heavier.
Every movement required more effort.
"This is ridiculous," he muttered.
The cultivator who had entered the ruin with confidence was now concentrating on something as simple as maintaining a steady pace.
Beside him, Ji Xueyan was experiencing similar difficulties.
Her Supreme Void Spirit Physique allowed her to control her spiritual energy efficiently, but it did not make her immune to the pressure.
Her breathing had become more pronounced, and a thin layer of sweat had formed on her forehead.
She glanced at Shi Tianba.
"Don’t waste your strength complaining."
Shi Tianba gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Do I look like I have the strength to complain?"
Ji Xueyan ignored him and continued running.
Behind them, Huangfu Lei’s expression was equally serious. Faint sparks of lightning occasionally appeared around his body as he used his Heavenly Thunder Emperor Physique to maintain his physical performance.
Feng Yuling’s movements had also slowed.
Her Ninefold Phoenix Physique helped her endure the pressure, but she could no longer move with the same ease as before.
Beiming Yue, Sikong Chen, and Xiahou Jian were similarly affected.
None of the 7 Forbidden Family successors had been eliminated, but the difference was obvious.
They were no longer running at their previous speed.
They had to devote more attention to every step, and their expressions reflected the difficulty of the challenge.
The situation was similar among the successors of the 8 Forbidden Sects.
Shen Feng’s Myriad Laws Divine Body helped him adapt to the oppressive environment, but the pressure still affected his movements.
Mo Chen’s expression had lost its earlier casualness. Huo Zhen’s breathing was heavier, while Zhao Zhaolin concentrated on maintaining his balance and pace.
Yan Luo, Zhou Yuchen, Xu Ming, and Han Jingxuan were also forced to slow down.
Their companions were in no better condition.
The successors of the 9 Holy Families and 8 Holy Sects faced the same challenge.
Long Aotian relied on his Azure Dragon Divine Physique to maintain his strength. Gu Tianxing focused on controlling his spiritual energy, while Jian Wushuang carefully regulated his breathing.
Even those who had previously stood out among their peers were finding it difficult to continue.
Nevertheless, all the successors remained inside the trial.
They had not reached the point where their bodies could no longer move.
They were still running, although much more slowly than before.
For the first time since entering the ruin, the strongest young cultivators from the major forces had to devote nearly all their attention to enduring the trial.
---
Meanwhile, the Lin Clan’s 10 youngsters continued running.
Lin Qing remained at the front of their group.
Her Half-Step Body Integration Realm cultivation gave her a considerable advantage, and she had been carefully regulating her breathing since the pressure increased.
The other 9 youngsters, all at Peak Void Refining Realm, followed closely.
Lin Chen maintained his attention on the road ahead. Lin Mo and Lin Zhen had stopped their earlier banter, while Lin Yu and Lin Jue carefully observed the changes in the golden markings.
Their expressions were serious.
They understood that the formation had become much more dangerous.
The appearance of the second beast was not something they could casually dismiss, and the sudden increase in pressure had made the trial considerably more challenging.
Nevertheless, they were still relatively relaxed compared with the other cultivators.
Their movements remained controlled.
Their breathing was steady.
None of them was panicking.
Lin Xuan glanced at the second beast and frowned.
"That one has reached Half-Step Mahayana Realm."
Lin Yuexin nodded.
"I can feel it. Its aura is much stronger than the first beast’s."
Lin Lian glanced at the glowing markings beneath their feet.
"And the pressure has increased by 10 times. The formation is clearly making the trial more difficult."
Lin Haochen looked toward the other cultivators.
"Many of them can barely stand."
Lin Zhen nodded thoughtfully.
"Then we should be careful not to get caught up in the chaos."
"Obviously," Lin Mo replied.
Lin Qing glanced back at them.
"Keep your formation. Don’t become careless just because we can still endure the pressure."
"Understood," Lin Chen answered.
The others nodded.
They continued running together, maintaining their awareness of the beasts and the formation.
Their serious expressions did not mean they were on the verge of collapse.
They were simply taking the trial seriously.
---
A short distance away, Ji Xueyan happened to glance toward the Lin Clan group.
At first, she had been concentrating entirely on her own movements. The pressure was so heavy that she had little attention to spare for anyone else.
However, when she looked toward the Lin Clan youngsters, something caught her attention.
They were still running together.
Their expressions were serious, and they were clearly aware of the danger surrounding them.
Yet none appeared to be struggling as much as the other cultivators.
They weren’t gasping desperately for breath.
Their movements hadn’t become nearly as slow as those of the surrounding participants.
Even after the pressure had increased by 10 times, they seemed unusually composed.
Ji Xueyan’s brows slowly drew together.
Why do I feel like those Lin Clan people are still relaxed?
She observed them for several more moments.
The more she watched, the stranger it seemed.
The Lin Clan youngsters were not displaying the same degree of strain as the other successors, despite facing the same pressure.
Ji Xueyan turned her gaze toward Feng Yuling, who was running nearby.
"Have you noticed something?"
Feng Yuling followed her gaze.
When she saw the Lin Clan group, her eyes narrowed slightly.
She observed Lin Qing, Lin Chen, Lin Mo, and the others for several moments before a thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
Then she spoke.
"Yes, they really are stronger than us. I’m curious to see whether they’ll even break a sweat."
Ji Xueyan fell silent.
She had suspected that the Lin Clan youngsters possessed unusual strength, but their performance was making her reconsider just how powerful they might be.
They had all reached Peak Void Refining Realm, except for Lin Qing, whose cultivation had reached Half-Step Body Integration Realm.
On paper, their cultivation did not make them overwhelmingly superior to every successor present.
Yet their current performance suggested that their physical foundations, resources, or training might be far beyond what their cultivation levels alone could explain.
Ji Xueyan narrowed her eyes.
Who exactly has been training these people?
She remembered the Lin Clan’s appearance at the auction and the rumors surrounding their resources.
The clan had already demonstrated that it possessed treasures that many powerful forces could only dream of obtaining.
Perhaps its younger generation was just as extraordinary.
Feng Yuling continued watching them for a moment longer before turning her attention back to the road.
"Whatever the reason, we shouldn’t underestimate them."
Ji Xueyan nodded.
"Agreed."
They continued running, their expressions serious.
However, both had silently added the Lin Clan youngsters to the list of people they would pay closer attention to.
---
The pressure continued to weigh heavily upon the ancient road.
Although the first wave of eliminations had already removed many cultivators, the difficulty showed no sign of decreasing.
Some participants had managed to endure the initial surge by relying on their physiques and pills.
Unfortunately, the longer they ran, the more difficult it became to maintain their pace.
A cultivator who had initially believed himself capable of enduring the pressure began to stumble repeatedly.
He had managed to keep running for some time, but his legs were now trembling uncontrollably.
He swallowed another pill.
The medicinal energy spread through his body, restoring some of his stamina.
He forced himself forward.
One step.
Then another.
For a brief moment, he believed he might succeed.
Then his knees buckled.
He fell heavily onto the stone road.
"No!"
He tried to stand.
His legs shook.
He collapsed again.
Golden light enveloped him, and he disappeared.
Nearby, another cultivator had been running steadily until the pressure overwhelmed him.
He fell to one knee, then struggled to rise.
He managed to stand, but after taking 2 unsteady steps, his legs gave out once more.
This time, he could not get back up.
Golden light flashed around his body.
He was eliminated.
More cultivators began to fall as the minutes passed.
Some had been struggling from the beginning. Others had initially maintained a respectable pace but gradually exhausted their strength.
A few tried to encourage themselves by focusing on the distance ahead.
Others desperately consumed their remaining pills.
But the pressure continued to bear down on them.
The 2 beasts remained behind the cultivators, their roars echoing through the passage.
Every sound reminded the participants that stopping was not an option.
Yet their bodies were reaching their limits.
One by one, more cultivators were eliminated.
The golden light appeared so frequently that the survivors could barely go long without witnessing another participant disappear.
Among them were independent cultivators and disciples from various Holy Lands.
Some had entered the ruin believing they were sufficiently talented to compete for its treasures. Now, they were discovering that talent alone could not guarantee survival in the trial.
The road had become a brutal test of endurance.
---
The successors of the major forces continued forward.
Their pace had slowed, and their expressions had become increasingly grave, but none of them had collapsed.
Shi Tianba kept his attention fixed on the road ahead.
Ji Xueyan carefully controlled her breathing.
Feng Yuling concentrated on maintaining her rhythm.
The successors of the Forbidden Sects continued beside them, while those from the Holy Families and Holy Sects endured the same oppressive force.
Even the strongest among them had to work harder with every passing moment.
The Lin Clan youngsters were still running together.
Their expressions remained serious, but their composure had not broken.
Lin Chen noticed another flash of golden light in the distance.
Another cultivator had been eliminated.
He glanced at the markings beneath his feet.
"They haven’t stopped glowing."
Lin Yu nodded.
"And the pressure hasn’t weakened."
Lin Qing looked ahead.
"Then we continue. Stay alert."
The others followed her instructions.
None of them knew how much more difficult the formation could become.
They only knew that the trial was still in progress, and the 2 beasts had not stopped pursuing them.
---
Eventually, the golden markings illuminated the entire ancient road once more.
The pressure surged.
Several cultivators cried out as their bodies were suddenly forced downward.
Some fell immediately, unable to withstand the additional force.
Others struggled to remain upright, their legs shaking as they attempted to take another step.
A disciple from one of the Holy Lands fell to his knees.
He tried to stand, but his body refused to obey.
Golden light surrounded him.
He disappeared.
A nearby independent cultivator managed to remain standing for several moments longer. However, after taking a few unsteady steps, he collapsed and was eliminated as well.
The pressure continued to overwhelm those who had already been struggling.
More golden flashes appeared across the road.
Some cultivators disappeared almost immediately after the surge. Others fought desperately to keep moving before finally reaching their limits.
The surviving participants watched in alarm.
They had entered the ruin hoping to obtain opportunities that could change their futures.
Now, many were being forced out before they could even understand the true purpose of the trials.
The 2 beasts continued their relentless pursuit.
The first beast’s enormous silhouette remained visible through the golden haze, while the second beast’s terrifying aura pressed against the cultivators from behind.
Neither slowed down.
Neither showed any sign of exhaustion.
The cultivators could only keep running.
---
After the latest wave of eliminations, the ancient voice finally echoed throughout the passage.
"100 participants have been eliminated since the beginning of the 2nd day."
Its emotionless announcement spread across the road.
Some cultivators felt their hearts sink.
One hundred.
An entire hundred participants had already been removed from the trial during the second day.
And that number did not include those who had been eliminated on the first day.
The remaining cultivators exchanged uneasy glances before returning their attention to the road ahead.
The announcement had confirmed what they already feared.
The second day was far more brutal than the first.
The golden markings continued to glow beneath their feet.
The pressure remained heavy.
Behind them, the 2 beasts released simultaneous roars that shook the ancient passage.
Lin Chen’s expression grew more serious.
Lin Qing glanced briefly at the others, confirming that all 10 remained together.
Ji Xueyan and Feng Yuling continued running among the other successors, both still aware of the unusual composure displayed by the Lin Clan youngsters.
The successors of the Forbidden Families, Forbidden Sects, Holy Families, and Holy Sects pressed forward at a slower pace than before.
The Holy Land disciples struggled to maintain their movements.
And throughout the ancient road, hundreds of surviving cultivators continued fighting against the crushing pressure.
The first day had tested their perseverance.
The second day was testing how much they could endure.
Yet the ancient voice had already warned them that the trial had only just begun.
The 2 beasts continued their pursuit.
The golden markings remained illuminated.
And the cultivators still had a long road ahead of them.