RUSH... The feeling was indistinct. Shen Haoran tried to grasp it, but there was nothing to hold on to!

’What a pity, I’m still a little off! Looks like I have to go to the next level!’ With a few strides, Shen Haoran instantly arrived at the twenty-seventh step. The people around him stared dumbfounded at his back, as if they had seen a ghost.

Standing on the twenty-seventh step, the change in the surrounding pressure was much greater than before. The intensity here was at least double that of the steps below! ’No wonder so many Martial Artists are stuck here.’

Shen Haoran glanced around and saw that the young Martial Artist from before had already overcome the hurdle of the twenty-seventh step and was now struggling toward the thirtieth. The boy was trembling all over, looking as if he could fall at any moment. But he gritted his teeth and held on for dear life, drenched in sweat. The determination in his eyes reminded Shen Haoran of his own stubborn self from two years ago!

Without pausing on the twenty-seventh step, Shen Haoran strode up beside the youth. After murmuring, "Keep going," he continued straight up!

From the twenty-seventh step onward, the pressure here became more tangible. Shen Haoran could even feel its presence. But in order to seize that glimmer of enlightenment, he didn’t even release his Protective Spiritual Power, allowing the pressure to wash over his body!

As he continued upward, the people around Shen Haoran grew fewer and fewer. Unable to withstand the pressure from above, many Martial Artists had chosen to sit down cross-legged and meditate on the Martial Arts left behind by the Saint. But when they saw Shen Haoran charge straight to the fiftieth step relying purely on his physical body, they all gasped in astonishment.

They had personally experienced the intensity of the pressure on the Chaos Celestial Ladder; it grew stronger the higher one went. Even using their Spiritual Power to resist, they had barely managed to climb into the forties. If they were to retract their Protective Spiritual Power, they would probably be crushed into dust! They all looked at Shen Haoran as if he were a monster. ’Just how powerful is his physical body?!’

"This kid’s constitution is something else!" Chen Yu said from the platform, his eyes narrowed as he watched Shen Haoran.

"Heh. A Martial Artist who wastes time on physical cultivation instead of focusing on their realm won’t get far. Just you wait. In the third stage, success isn’t determined by who has the stronger body," Mu Feng said from the side with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes.

"Why don’t you just watch? Enough with the nonsense!" Elder Huo shot Mu Feng a look before turning his gaze back to the Chaos Celestial Ladder.

"Hmph!" Mu Feng, unwilling to argue further with Elder Huo, simply snorted coldly.

Meanwhile, on the Chaos Celestial Ladder, Shen Haoran had already arrived before the fifty-fourth step.

This was the third watershed on the Chaos Celestial Ladder. At this moment, on the fifty-fourth step, Mu Feiyu and the two genius disciples from Thick Earth Hall and Golden Sun Hall were gathered together, seemingly waiting for Shen Haoran.

When they saw Shen Haoran, their hearts jumped in shock! At this stage, even Mu Feiyu had activated his Protective Spiritual Power, with rings of green ripples parting the surrounding pressure. Even powerhouses like them wouldn’t dare to receive the baptism of this pressure with their physical bodies alone!

"Hmph, took you long enough!" Mu Feiyu said with some annoyance.

At his words, Shen Haoran merely gave him an indifferent glance, ignoring him completely. He then turned his gaze to the steps above. Shen Haoran sensed that the pressure in the third stage had undergone a fundamental change, and he could feel a hint of danger from it.

"Hmph. Don’t you forget our bet. We’ll compete right now and see who climbs higher!" Seeing Shen Haoran ignore him, Mu Feiyu snorted and brought up their wager.

"Whatever," Shen Haoran replied flatly, then sat down cross-legged on the spot. He didn’t want to make any rash moves until he had a clearer understanding of the situation.

Seeing Shen Haoran’s indifferent expression, Mu Feiyu’s face grew as dark as a thundercloud.

"Fine. I just hope you don’t regret this later! Let’s move!" Mu Feiyu wasted no more words and took a step upward.

CRACK... The moment Mu Feiyu’s foot landed on the fifty-fifth step, a crisp cracking sound was heard. The Protective Spiritual Power around his body actually began to fracture!

Seeing this, Shen Haoran was shocked. ’Just how terrifying is the pressure in this third stage? Even the most resilient Wood Attribute Spiritual Power can’t hold up against it!’

Mu Feiyu’s expression changed drastically as well. He immediately focused his mind, and a continuous stream of emerald Spiritual Power surged out to quickly mend the fissure. Nevertheless, the terrifying pressure still made his Protective Spiritual Power groan and creak. Fortunately, Mu Feiyu managed to hold on.

After taking a moment to adapt, Mu Feiyu began to climb. His climbing speed was very slow; he was practically inching along! However, his pace was very steady, which showed that he still had some strength in reserve.

Seeing Mu Feiyu begin to climb, the other two geniuses were not to be outdone and both stepped onto the fifty-fifth step. However, what puzzled Shen Haoran was that these two seemed to be climbing with much more ease than Mu Feiyu.

’What’s going on?’ Shen Haoran thought, surprised. He stood up and took a step forward. The moment his foot landed, a terrifying pressure assaulted him, causing his body to buckle instantly. The Fire Spirit Black Obsidian within him automatically acted to protect its master, enveloping Shen Haoran in black flames and significantly lessening the pressure on him.

Shen Haoran reached out, carefully sensing the pressure. A sudden realization hit him. The essence contained within it... it felt familiar. The feeling reverberated in his mind until, with a sudden flash of insight, his eyes lit up!

’This is Momentum!’ Shen Haoran thought as he carefully sensed the surrounding pressure. He then stepped fully onto the fifty-fifth step and closed his eyes to perceive it more deeply.

’The so-called "Momentum" is the Momentum of Heaven and Earth! It contains the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. After advancing to the Spirit General Tier, one can sense the existence of the Momentum of Heaven and Earth and use it. To think that this Saint’s pressure actually contains the Momentum of Heaven and Earth! No wonder those two Spirit Generals were climbing so much more easily than Mu Feiyu! This is the difference between a Spirit General and a Half-Step Spirit General!’

Wave after wave of pressure washed over Shen Haoran. He felt as if he were in a turbulent sea, experiencing the unending pressure, as an image gradually became clear in his mind.

At this moment, Shen Haoran could almost see how this pressure was formed. Wisps of weak pressure continuously stacked, one on top of the other, until they finally formed this terrifying pressure that even Spirit Generals found difficult to resist!

This repeated stacking allowed this originally weak, almost negligible pressure to become powerful, even granting it world-destroying capabilities!

’Stacking! The stacking of power!’ It was as if a new door had opened for Shen Haoran. He immediately sat down cross-legged in excitement, carefully contemplating the insight he had just gained from the pressure.

Seeing Shen Haoran sit down after taking just one step, Mu Feng sneered from the viewing platform, "Hmph. He can’t even manage the third stage. What right does he have to join one of the Five Great Halls?"

On the Chaos Celestial Ladder, Mu Feiyu glanced back and saw Shen Haoran sitting down. He sneered, "Trash will always be trash. Just wait for your loss!" With that, he gritted his teeth and continued his ascent.

By now, almost all the Martial Artists on the Chaos Celestial Ladder had stopped climbing and sat down to carefully comprehend the Martial Arts. The only one still climbing upward was Mu Feiyu.

By this time, Mu Feiyu had climbed into the seventies. He was drenched in sweat, droplets trickling down his long hair. His eyes were bloodshot; it seemed he was also about to reach his limit.

[Author’s Note: A bit busy today, so here are two Chapters. I’ll make up for it tomorrow!]