Chapter 253: Chapter 254: The Beginning of the Tower Ascent

Forty or fifty layers?

Upon hearing this, the young man was truly stunned.

Not even the strongest disciples would dare claim they could reach the fortieth or fiftieth layer, yet this woman was saying Ye Wushuang could?

’Is she crazy, or just stupid?’

He was only now realizing that compared to Qiu Mo’s boast, Qianling’s words were on a completely different level of arrogance.

Even Ye Rou and Qiu Mo stared at Qianling.

Qianling smiled faintly and glanced at Ye Wushuang.

She chuckled to herself. ’How could everyone forget? This Junior Brother of hers has been slaughtering his way here ever since entering the Earth Palace.’

’The number of people who had died at his hands was anything but small.’

’With all the points he must have gotten from them, even the strongest disciples are likely far behind. She’d find it hard to believe if he *couldn’t* reach forty or fifty layers.’

’She still couldn’t forget how he had charged up Giant Spirit Mountain in a fury.’ She smiled and asked, "Junior Brother Ye, what do you say?"

Ye Wushuang shook his head, his gaze fixed on the eighty-first layer. He murmured, "It’s a shame. I wonder what’s inside the eighty-first layer."

"Heh! This world is full of all sorts of wonders. Some people have mediocre strength, but their arrogance is sky-high. They truly don’t know their own limits."

The words had barely left his lips when several voices, dripping with ridicule and mockery, suddenly rang out from behind.

Ye Wushuang tore his gaze from the eighty-first layer and turned to look at the newcomers.

There were eight of them in total—seven men and one woman. The men were handsome, the woman beautiful, and all of them possessed an extraordinary air.

They were all dressed in identical cyan robes. Embroidered on their chests was the pattern of a ferocious green snake, encircled by intricate markings.

Over the green snake pattern was a large, embroidered character for "Cyan," which seemed to hold a special meaning.

Among the eight, the two young men at the front were the most powerful. Both were at the True Essence Ninth Layer, and their auras concealed a sinister chill, like a ghostly wind that sent a shiver down one’s spine.

It was like facing a coiled viper; a sense of deadly peril slowly began to fester in your heart.

"A Hidden Clan, the Cyan Race!"

The young man from earlier was astonished to see them.

The eight of them approached, wearing mocking smiles.

Qianling explained from the side, "Junior Brother, these people are from the Cyan Race, a Hidden Clan. They revere snakes and practice the Green Snake Dragon Transformation Technique. It’s said that if one masters it, they can transform into a True Dragon."

Ye Wushuang didn’t reply, his gaze fixed on the eight newcomers. ’He was somewhat surprised; their strength was impressive.’

One of the two men at the front sized up Ye Wushuang and sneered. "True Essence Sixth Layer. I really don’t know where you get the confidence to claim you’ll reach the fortieth or fiftieth layer."

Ye Wushuang’s eyes narrowed as he coldly spat out four words: "None of your business."

’None of your business?’

The four words made the expressions of the eight of them freeze.

"Let’s go."

Ye Wushuang called out to Ye Rou and the other two, then turned to leave. ’A bunch of lunatics!’

Seeing this, the group exchanged glances.

"The kid didn’t take the bait. He’s just scared and running away!"

Qing Yang sneered as he watched Ye Wushuang walk away. That was right—their provocation was simply a way to get Ye Wushuang to walk right into a deathtrap so they could take his points.

The eight of them assumed Ye Wushuang had been scared off.

"Let’s go," Qing Yang said, glancing at Ye Wushuang but not giving chase. "We came here to gauge the strength of the other powers, not to stir up unnecessary trouble."

"No way. That brat pissed me off. He thinks he can just walk away? Not a chance."

Next to Qing Yang, Qing Wei let out a cold laugh and started walking forward.

"Qing Wei!"

Qing Yang called out.

"Brother Qing Yang, let us have some fun. It’s just one life, after all. Think of it as squashing an ant," the sole woman in their group said with a sweet smile on her beautiful face.

But the venom in her voice made her sweet smile seem terrifying.

Hearing this, Qing Yang said nothing and followed them.

"Stop!"

Before Ye Wushuang could take more than a few steps, Qing Wei’s shout exploded through the crowd.

SWISH!

Many people looked over, just in time to see Qing Wei and his seven companions approach a figure in white robes.

"Ye Wushuang!"

Looking at the figure, many in the crowd who recognized Ye Wushuang wore grim expressions.

"I can’t believe he dared to show his face here." In the Fiery Sun Sect’s group, flames seemed to flicker in Huo Zheng’s eyes. The killing intent he radiated was icy cold.

Beside him, several other disciples at the True Essence Seventh and Eighth Layers were also itching for a fight.

"Huo Zheng, First Senior Brother isn’t here right now. Let’s leave him alone for the time being," the nearby Wenhao cautioned, his Divine Sense sweeping the area. He was worried Dii Qingxue’s people might be close by.

"Hmph!" Hearing this, the group of disciples snorted in displeasure.

As Qing Wei’s voice faded, Ye Wushuang turned back. "Is there something else?" he asked.

"Nothing important. I just want to make a bet with you. What do you say?" Qing Wei replied.

"Not interested."

Ye Wushuang said flatly, his eyes growing colder.

"What, are you scared? You have the guts to boast about reaching the fortieth or fiftieth layer, but you don’t dare to make a simple bet?" Qing Wei taunted.

The fortieth or fiftieth layer?

The crowd that had turned to watch was stunned. ’Ye Wushuang dared to claim he’d reach the fortieth or fiftieth layer?’

"This Ye Wushuang is so arrogant! Not even the strongest disciples can guarantee they’ll get that high, but he dares to make such a claim!"

Several youths in the crowd with white hair and white robes sneered.

These were members of the Illusion Race.

"I’ve seen Ye Wushuang before," one of the Illusion Race youths said with a frown. "His strength is on par with other geniuses, and he’s quite cunning." He had seen Ye Wushuang once before in the Undying Ghost Abyss.

"Beize Peng, no matter how strong Ye Wushuang is, could he possibly be stronger than the strongest disciples?" Beize Xinghui retorted, glancing at Ye Wushuang.

Beize Peng didn’t reply. ’Compared to the strongest disciples, Ye Wushuang was indeed a long way off. How could he possibly compete?’

"Forty or fifty layers... He should be careful not to bite his tongue with such big talk."

Huo Zheng laughed with disdainful mockery.

They weren’t the only ones; nearly everyone else felt the same way.

This reaction surprised the members of the Cyan Race. They clearly hadn’t expected such a minor character to provoke such a strong response from the crowd.

"Do you dare or not?" Qing Wei goaded him, his eyes narrowing.

Ye Wushuang stood his ground, the crowd’s blatant ridicule echoing in his ears. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the members of the Cyan Race.

His three companions were furious. Qiu Mo stepped forward and said coldly, "Aren’t you taking this too far? Just because we didn’t stoop to your level doesn’t mean we’re afraid of you!"

"Not afraid? Then do you dare to make a bet?" several of the Cyan Race members jeered.

At this, Qiu Mo’s eyes grew even colder. He was about to step forward again but was stopped by Ye Wushuang.

Ye Wushuang gave Qiu Mo a look, accompanied by a faint smile, before turning back to ask, "What kind of bet did you have in mind?"

"It’s simple. Forget about forty or fifty layers. As long as you can reach the twentieth layer, our lives are yours. But if you can’t reach it, then your head is ours..."

"You want my life?" Before Qing Wei could finish, Ye Wushuang’s eyes narrowed as he asked, a murderous intent solidifying in his heart. ’He hadn’t even offended them, yet they wanted to kill him right from the start.’