"Not good! This cloud bridge isn't fully walkable. The clouds can gather and disperse at any time—one moment it can support infinite weight, the next it turns into nothing but mist. It won't hold you. Once you're on it, you can't stop—only move forward constantly. If you're unlucky and step onto a cloud that disperses, you'll fall straight down into the abyss!"
An Eastern cultivator shouted in alarm.
Earlier, when he saw a Western cultivator fall, he instinctively halted his steps, hesitating on the bridge to carefully investigate. But he instantly felt something off—what had felt like solid ground beneath his feet began to soften rapidly, turning into something mushy and unsupported. Just like the Western cultivator, he fell instantly, vanishing into the chasm below.
He only had time to let out one shout.
"Run! No way back now—we have to find solid footing on the bridge. Otherwise, it's over. This is a test of perception and luck!" Zhu Yuanzhang urged, slapping his Flamefire Dragon Pig, his sharp gaze scanning ahead as he dashed forward. He could already sense the dangers of the cloud bridge. He noticed that signs of instability could sometimes be seen just before the clouds dispersed—but whether you could avoid them depended entirely on your reaction time and coordination with your mount.
Zhu Yuanzhang's reflexes were incredibly sharp.
He'd herded cows and raised pigs when he was young—his reaction speed was excellent. Now as a cultivator, his observational skills were even more acute, and with a bit of good luck, he could often spot signs of the bridge shifting just in time.
Though, once he started running, his posture on the bridge became... rather eye-catching.
The red rump of the pig swayed left and right under Zhu Yuanzhang's command.
🎵 "Neck twist, booty shake, let's all get in shape~" 🎵
The Flying Cloud Bridge was indeed terrifying.
But since they had already arrived here, almost no one turned back. Even if it meant death, they pressed on—none wanted to leave with regrets. Those with sharp instincts could usually dodge danger just in time and keep sprinting forward, while others less perceptive fell one after another into the abyss. The result was obvious—certain death.
At the cliff's edge—
Hongye rode her Explosive Ape, accompanied by a young cultivator.
The youth had a roguish aura about him, riding a winged serpent that hovered in midair.
The two of them were watching Yi Tianxing vanish into the distance ahead on the cloud bridge.
"Fellow Daoist Hongye, is that the one you mentioned? I heard from others who crossed paths with him that his name is Yi Tianxing, and he's not to be trifled with. That dog of his? Pure trouble—a hound of misfortune. Anyone who messes with it gets unlucky." the youth said with a blink.
"Fellow Daoist Sikong, with your skills, do you even need to get close? That dog won't be a problem if you don't touch it. If we can get our hands on that item, we split it fifty-fifty. That thing is a peerless treasure—a sacred wine of the mortal world."
Hongye's eyes gleamed with desire as she smiled.
"For the sake of that sacred wine, I, Sikong, will make a move—even if it means offending Fellow Daoist Yi," Sikong said with a gleam in his eyes. His Adam's apple bobbed as if he could already taste it.
"Besides, this isn't as dangerous as it looks. I've heard the Western cultivators are furious over Yi Tianxing killing so many of their own. Some of their elites are preparing to ambush him—and they're going to act soon. When that happens, we can strike during the chaos, maybe even frame it on the Westerners."
Hongye's eyes twinkled with confidence.
After their discussion, the two of them charged onto the cloud bridge. Dangerous though it was, it clearly couldn't stop them. Of course, their crossing wasn't exactly graceful.
Once again, the Flying Cloud Bridge eliminated a large number of competitors.
"Birdbrain, fly faster! We're taking first place!" the Green Emperor shouted, standing on the back of his Golden Roc mount.
Screeeech!!
The Golden Roc let out a long cry. Were it not for the ongoing tournament, it might have already thrown Green Emperor off in fury.
"Greenie, focus! This martial arts tournament is a huge opportunity for you. You've eaten those buns made from that jinxed ghost's meat—your body has completely merged with misfortune and bad luck. Your green fur is the embodiment of that power. The more green fur you have, the stronger your power. I think your growth is directly tied to calamity energy. You might encounter even more opportunities ahead."
Yi Tianxing's eyes glimmered as he glanced at Green Emperor.
If Greenie grew stronger, it would be a huge asset. While he seemed like a double-edged sword, used properly, he could achieve what ordinary cultivators couldn't.
They were already bound by contract—his fate was tied to Yi Tianxing's. Helping Greenie grow was helping himself.
"Master, this emperor is already nearly invincible! I can feel it—I'm close to escaping the fate of being a bald dog!" Green Emperor grinned, full of hope.
Unfortunately, the Flying Cloud Bridge gave him no such opportunity. Even after rolling across it twice, he felt no sign of fur growth. Clearly, not every place was helpful.
But more calamities lay ahead. Those might benefit him.
He just had to survive to reach them. If he died early, all opportunities were lost. So now, Green Emperor was more motivated than anyone for Yi Tianxing to win, to reach the final and claim victory.
He couldn't accept only having fur on his legs.
His goal was... to be fully furred.
"This stage was a breeze. We've gained some distance," Yi Tianxing muttered, seeing the land on the other side appear in view.
He passed over the bridge effortlessly. Another trial—cleared.
"Forward!"
As they sped across the bridge and onto a new grassy plain—
Whoosh!!
Suddenly, as the Golden Roc flapped its wings, pushing forward, a silver divine light suddenly appeared ahead.
From that light, a mystical ancient gate coalesced out of thin air.
"What the hell is that?!"
The ancient gate materialized directly in the middle of the racetrack, right in Yi Tianxing's path. Its sudden appearance was jarring. Yi Tianxing instantly suspected it to be some kind of trap or mechanism in the course and grew vigilant.
He didn't crash into it right away.
But before he could investigate further, the gate flashed with divine light—
Several figures emerged from within.
"Kill!!"
A white-haired cultivator stepped out, unleashing a terrifying Sword Intent.
He was a Western cultivator, exuding a wild yet ethereal aura. His weapon was a slender rapier, vastly different from traditional Western broadswords. He slashed forward—a single stroke.
The sword's intent raged like a storm, hurtling toward Yi Tianxing at terrifying speed.
It felt as if Yi Tianxing had been thrust into a storm. The sword light was faster than thought, and its intent invaded the mind—a storm of domination, meant to shatter will and force surrender.
This was the terrifying power of true sword intent—it could corrode the soul and collapse the spirit.
If one hadn't grasped a Martial Dao True Intent, resisting it would be almost impossible.
It was the kind of strike that could kill you before you even realized what happened.
"So fierce… Another swordsman with true intent! That gate—this is clearly a targeted ambush. The Western cultivators are behind this. Do they really think I'm so easy to kill?" Yi Tianxing growled.
He could feel the raging sword intent invade his soul.
But the moment it entered his body—
Spear Intent burst forth.
The Will of the Spear exploded from within, instantly purging the invading sword intent.
"Kill!!"
As the storm-like sword light roared closer, brushing Yi Tianxing's hair with its force, he raised his bronze war spear and thrust it forward—no hesitation, no mercy.
Within that strike lay a will:
My spear moves forward, unstoppable.
My spear pierces all—shatters all.
My spear is the weapon that shall crush my foes.
He moved with the air of invincibility.
The Jade-Shattering Spear Intent flared, nine white jade stars glimmering on the spearhead, making the weapon blindingly radiant. Its aura was ruthless—if I fall, you fall with me.
He struck.
Invincible with my spear.
He thrust.
Life or death—choose one.
Clang!!
Spear and sword collided—Intent against Intent.
The clash of Jade-Shattering Spear Intent and Storm Sword Intent was like two meteors colliding.
A tremendous explosion echoed.
The sword light shattered. The rapier was knocked aside.
This wasn't just a contest of intent, but of power—true energy and physical strength. Yi Tianxing's brutal physique gave him the edge. At the moment of impact, he completely overpowered the sword and sent his spear straight toward the white-haired cultivator's chest.