Zhao Hao struggled to climb the eleventh step. Only one thousand steps to reach the summit—yet he felt weak and overwhelmed. This was supposed to be his 'great chance', but the first hurdle had already stumped him. Was this the posture of an emperor?
Under tremendous pressure, Zhao Hao's eyes were bloodshot, and his veins bulged as if he were a beast trying to break free from its cage. He let out a long, primal roar.
"Cha! Chacha!"
As he struggled, he heard the sound of his muscles and blood vessels cracking under the pressure. The sharp pain made his roar even more piercing. But he took another step, firmly standing on the twelfth ladder.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, you have gained 10,000 experience points.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained 1 Divine Dragon Warrior (soul).]
[Congratulations, you have obtained the low-level yellow rank combat technique 'Hundred Flowers Punch'.]
[Congratulations, you have leveled up to rank 5 of the warrior realm.]
Zhao Hao was overjoyed. At the limit of his endurance, he leveled up! His body glowed as his muscles recombined, his blasted blood vessels repaired, and his aura became stronger. The super-strong pressure eased slightly as he stepped onto the next ladder, allowing him a brief respite.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Hao prepared to continue his climb, sensing that a wave of treasures awaited him.
"Ding…"
"Ding…"
"Ding…"
He ascended the thirteenth, fourteenth, fifteenth steps...
Climbing the Dragon's Spine Ladder
Zhao Hao surged ahead, reaching the sixty-fifth ladder in one breath. This feat shocked the distant onlookers. Climbing the tenth ladder was considered genius. Reaching sixty was beyond comprehension—a super-genius, perhaps even a god-level genius.
Under immense pressure, Zhao Hao's endurance reached its limit again at the sixty-fifth step. His roar grew more desperate as he struggled, his body breaking inch by inch under the strain. Yet, his eyes remained bloodshot, almost bleeding, as he took a final step to the sixty-sixth ladder.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, you have gained 12,000 experience points.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained 2 Divine Dragon Warriors (souls).]
[Congratulations, you have obtained the mid-level yellow rank Pill 'Qi Pill'.]
[Congratulations, you have leveled up to rank 6 of the warrior realm.]
Zhao Hao felt his strength increase exponentially, his blood surged, and the pain vanished. This newfound power invigorated him, and he continued his climb with renewed vigor.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, you have gained 12,000 experience points.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained 2 Divine Dragon Warriors (souls).]
[Congratulations, you have obtained the Intermediate Yellow Tier Combat Skill 'Palm of the Clouds'.]
On and on, he ascended, each step bringing new rewards and strength.
...
In the distance, the crowd watched in awe. Zhao Hao's relentless climb defied their expectations. His perseverance and unyielding spirit made Huang Diewu clench her fists nervously, her admiration growing. Even Wang Hao, shocked by Zhao Hao's progress, couldn't help but notice Mu Jianping's starry-eyed gaze at Zhao Hao.
As Zhao Hao climbed higher, reaching the 70th, 80th, and 90th steps, he envisioned the high-level treasures awaiting him. He wanted to stand on the platform, to see what lay at the top. His determination burned as he continued, from fast running to slow walking to struggling inch by inch, to crawling on the ladder...
The Hundredth step..
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, you have gained 14,000 experience points.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained 3Divine Dragon Warriors (souls).]
[Congratulations, you have obtained the Intermediate Yellow rank Combat Skill 'Qi Wave Palm'.]
He pressed on, reaching the 200th and then the 300th step.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, you have gained 18,000 experience points.]
[Congratulations, you have obtained 5 Divine Dragon Warriors (souls).]
[Congratulations, you have obtained the high-grade yellow rank Pill 'Jade Pill'.]
…..
Zhao Hao reached the 332nd step, screaming and struggling. His relentless climb had earned him numerous rewards, each step a testament to his determination. His cultivation base broke through to the 7th, 8th, and finally the 9th rank of the warrior realm.
He noticed a pattern—the higher he climbed, the better the treasures. Every sixty-sixth step brought increased experience and more Warriors (souls). At the 332nd step, he had accumulated a thousand Shenlong warriors.
These Warriors were heroic souls without bodies, possessing fearless spirits, unyielding wills, and eternal war minds. Summoning a thousand of these souls would form an unyielding army.
Zhao Hao was thrilled. This trip to the Dragon's Spine Ladder was proving invaluable. With eyes set on the higher steps, he felt an even greater fire burn within him. The first three hundred steps were just the beginning. Starting from the 333rd step, he knew he was entering the middle phase of his ascent…