Chapter 811: Locked Down, Ascent Begins

"You old hag!"

Wang Dun, seated cross-legged on the square, shouted outright: "Don't you know why my junior brother used a magic treasure?"

"Your Phoenix Clan sent in seven people, each with a clone, forcibly boosting their cultivation to Body Integration—and fourteen Body Integration Stage One bastards attacked my junior brother alone!"

"And you dare accuse my junior brother of using a magic treasure?"

"Which one of you hasn't used a magic treasure?"

Wang Dun's voice was loud and furious.

At these words, countless prodigies and onlookers on the square turned to stare.

Damn, everyone knew the Phoenix Clan was targeting He Pingsheng—but who could've imagined they'd use this method?

Fourteen Body Integration cultivators?

And yet… He Pingsheng is still alive?

Fuck…

This kid's too tough—he's still breathing after that?

Everyone's gaze toward He Pingsheng and the Thirteenth Elder grew subtle.

"Hmph…" The Thirteenth Elder sneered: "I admit some Phoenix Clan disciples broke the rules, but those disciples had personal grudges against He Pingsheng—this has nothing to do with the Phoenix Clan!"

"The Phoenix Clan had no knowledge of it!"

"Moreover, I, the Emperor, have already revoked the eligibility of those rule-breaking disciples for the fifth trial!"

"Hehehe…" Wang Dun chuckled, staring at the Thirteenth Elder: "Thirteenth Elder, dare you swear that the fourteen Body Integration Phoenix disciples who ambushed He Pingsheng acted on personal grudges, and not on the Phoenix Clan's orders?"

"Swear it, and I'll accept it!"

The Thirteenth Elder's face turned as dark as a soot-covered pot.

On the square, countless voices joined in the uproar.

"Wang Dun, stop stirring things up!" The Seventh Elder of the Phoenix Clan rushed forward to defuse the situation, fixing his gaze on He Pingsheng: "He Pingsheng, if you didn't break the rules, swear it; if you did, don't participate in the final trial's ascent!"

"Of course, out of imperial mercy, your Human Realm's team points remain valid!"

"Did you break the rules?"

The Seventh Elder of the Phoenix Clan stared at He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng smiled and said: "Sorry, I never intended to use one!"

"Who could've expected your Phoenix Clan to send so many Body Integration cultivators to attack me?"

"I had no choice but to use a magic treasure to save my life!"

"If this counts as a violation, then yes—I violated the rules!"

There was no other option.

For He Pingsheng, admitting it meant only forfeiting the Heavenly Staircase ascent.

As for the Human Realm's destiny?

Doesn't matter!

My senior brother Wang Dun will handle it!

"Good!" The Seventh Elder of the Phoenix Clan said: "Then I revoke your eligibility for the Stone Platform Heavenly Staircase ascent—you have no objection, I assume?"

"Fine!" He Pingsheng gave up immediately.

Besides, I don't have a Breaker anyway.

Let Senior Brother Wang handle securing the Human Realm's destiny.

"Fuck…" Wang Dun jumped to his feet: "Junior brother… what the hell are you doing?"

"Why give up?"

He Pingsheng gave a bitter smile: Do you think I want to give up?

The Phoenix Clan has lost all shame—they claim their attempt to kill me was just personal grudges?

If I don't swear, they revoke my eligibility—what can I do?

Should I swear falsely?

Even if I neither swear nor admit it, they'll still revoke my eligibility.

What choice do I have?

This isn't something you can fight for.

"Fuck… well, I can't blame you!" Wang Dun fumed: "But… my reward… the big reward…"

"You don't get it!"

"This might grant me a reward never seen before!"

"I'm fucking—"

Wang Dun couldn't explain it, pacing and scratching his head in frustration.

In truth, he had no solution either.

"Forget it," He Pingsheng reached out and patted Wang Dun on the shoulder: "Let fate decide."

"At least you won't die."

"Worst case, you get no reward."

"It's different for me!" He Pingsheng looked deeply troubled: "These bastards won't let me go…"

"For me, I should be thinking how to escape, how to survive—not how to climb!"

At that moment, Jin Gang, the Demon Emperor, stepped forward and waved his hand: "Gentlemen, it's settled—the Heavenly Staircase ascent will proceed in order of overall rankings!"

"It begins in three days!"

"Before it begins, no one may leave this square!"

"You… use this time to adjust your state!"

With that, Jin Gang, the Demon Emperor, left immediately.

The other Demon Emperors also departed one by one.

Boom…

No sooner had the Demon Emperors left than a massive array rose around the square, enveloping all the prodigies within its bounds.

He Pingsheng didn't know what kind of array this was!

His only thought: Run!

If I can't participate in the Heavenly Staircase ascent, why am I still here?

"You all come here!" He Pingsheng waved his hand.

Su Zhen, He Tianya, Zhou Qingmei, and Zhou Qingmei's clone all gathered beside him.

"They're trying to kill me—I'm leaving!"

"But… don't worry!"

"I've already entrusted you to the Great Lun Ming Wang—rest assured, he'll protect you!"

With that, He Pingsheng gathered his magic power and unleashed a powerful punch.

The spatial wormhole technique activated.

Yet, no spatial passage opened.

Huh?

What's going on?

Try again?

Once, twice, three times…

He Pingsheng looked up at Zhou Qingmei: "Qingmei, try it yourself!"

"Mm-hmm…" Zhou Qingmei took a deep breath and punched forward.

The spatial wormhole technique activated.

But like He Pingsheng, no void opened.

"I get it!" Zhou Qingmei said: "This outer array is locking down the space?"

"Not the array!" He Pingsheng shook his head: "This array doesn't suppress spatial rules—it must be someone outside the array who's done something else!"

"Could it be… that bastard Kongkong Demon Emperor?"

He Pingsheng's face turned pitch black.

Locked down!

How the hell am I supposed to leave?

He Pingsheng looked up at the array's energy membrane.

He noticed no one guarded the edge of the barrier.

He walked straight toward it.

The moment he stepped beside the membrane, a Body Integration Phoenix flew to his side.

"Sorry…" the Phoenix said to He Pingsheng: "No one may leave until the Stone Platform Heavenly Staircase trial ends!"

He Pingsheng said: "I've had my eligibility revoked—I'm not participating in the trial—can I still not leave?"

The Phoenix smiled: "No."

Fine.

Again, targeting me.

He Pingsheng exhaled softly, then trudged back to his spot, visibly disgruntled.

Adapt as needed!

In three days!

Boom boom boom...

The great array was directly removed.

He Pingsheng tried again, but still could not open the void passage.

In the distance, the Emperors had already landed in the void.

Jin Gang, the Demon Emperor, said: "Gentlemen, today the ascent of the Heavenly Ladder begins!"