At the very center of the island stood five mountains. Ji Nanhong told Chen Guan that locals referred to these as the Celestial Ladder Mountains.
To see the heavenly ladder, one may glimpse the first peak but not the second, see the second but miss the third. Only by reaching the summit of the fourth peak could one behold the fifth and highest summit.
Those seeking the Eternal Heaven must climb this celestial ladder, for the Great Black Heaven Demon Statue resided atop the fifth peak of these mountains.
The first four peaks hosted various Mystical Spirits, though they seed recently cleared when Chen Guan and Ji Nanhong arrived. Only occasional wandering spirits appeared, which Ji Nanhong swiftly eliminated without wasting ti.
Upon reaching the fourth peak's summit, Chen Guan spotted a towering demonic statue over ten ters tall on the opposite mountain. Like so colossus, it brandished six arms with terrifying combat prowess, driving back nearly a hundred attackers who couldn't maintain footing on the summit. None could reach the top.
"The Great Black Heaven Demon Statue has entered its second phase. That Wang Lian has so skill after all." Ji Nanhong paused instead of imdiately advancing to the fifth peak.
The journey between peaks required descending and ascending again. Even with their mountain-traversing Ghost-Headed Sheep mounts, it would take nearly an hour.
Chen Guan studied the demon statue closely. Its obsidian-black body resembled so hellish asura with six arms, making humans and their pets appear like chicks before it.
Cultivators' arrows barely scratched its surface, which the statue ignored completely. Blades and weapons proved equally ineffective, their strikes re tickles.
Yet each movent from the demon statue carried earth-shattering power. Boulders taller than a man shattered under single palm strikes - a terrifying strength no human of equivalent level could match.
The Mystical Spirit's physical superiority manifested perfectly in this statue. At level 10, its strength dwarfed humans by tenfold. Such disparities in power, speed and intelligence existed across all spirit levels.
A First Awakening level 10 spirit might surpass a Second Awakening level 15 human in raw strength - an innate advantage humans couldn't bridge, where physical differences between peers remained minor.
The human cultivators here stood no chance against the demon statue head-on. Fortunately, its speed proved relatively slow, allowing them to harass it from the flanks.
Like so wrathful deity, the statue swept across the summit, preventing anyone from establishing footing. Only one figure danced across the mountaintop, engaging it directly while others provided supporting attacks.
This person moved with crane-like grace, sohow borrowing air currents to briefly soar - an astonishing feat. With just a sword, their evasive maneuvers frustrated even the demon statue.
"Indeed extraordinary for one wielding the Purple-Green Dual Qi Profound Skill." Ji Nanhong frowned slightly.
Earlier she hadn't rushed, confident that none on the island except herself could restrain the demon statue. She remained the key to slaying it.
But Qin Ziyu's current performance matched her own capabilities.
"Strange. Qin Ziyu's level seems to have jumped significantly - he must be level 10 now? How'd he advance so quickly? That defies reason." Chen Guan instantly recognized the swordsman as Qin Ziyu, baffled by his rapid progression. His speed, strength and stamina had clearly improved dramatically.
They'd separated rely ten hours ago. As a level 7 cultivator, Qin Ziyu's advancent should have slowed to perhaps one level per ten days. Yet now he leveled up like so cheat code.
Ji Nanhong watched Qin Ziyu's battle across the peaks. "He must have gained benefits from slaying the other three Legendary-grade Mystical Spirits. Nothing else explains such rapid growth, even with the Purple-Green Dual Qi Profound Skill."
"Observe his footwork - distinctively different. Unless I'm mistaken, that's a secret technique from another Legendary spirit, the Peacock King. And that life-protecting Buddhist pendant around his neck originates from yet another Legendary guardian spirit..." Her sharp eyes discerned many details.
"So Wang Lian distributed nearly all spoils from those three Legendary spirits to Qin Ziyu? Why would she trust him so completely?" Chen Guan frowned.
Qin Ziyu and Wang Lian's relationship bordered on hostile - certainly not close enough for such unconditional support. Yet here he fought with total commitnt, single-handedly restraining the demon statue for Wang Lian's benefit. Chen Guan couldn't fathom what leverage she held over him.
"Can they actually kill the demon statue?" Lacking knowledge of its full power, Chen Guan turned to Ji Nanhong. He'd scanned the area but found no trace of The Epang Scripture.
"Uncertain. While in its second form, this isn't the statue's ultimate state. Only when it opens the third eye on its forehead does it reach full power. In that final form, the Great Black Heaven Demon Statue becos invincible among First Awakening beings - no number of First Awakening cultivators could defeat it."
She paused before continuing: "There's only one way to defeat it. During the brief mont when the third eye begins opening but before the full transformation completes, one must strike that half-opened eye with ranged attacks to cripple it and prevent the final transformation. But that window lasts re instants - nearly impossible to exploit. Once the eye fully opens and transformation completes, attacking it becos useless. To my knowledge, no one on this island possesses such capability. Qin Ziyu, while strong, lacks the required specialized skills."
"Damn it, we need to hurry!" Chen Guan urged his Ghost-Headed Sheep mount toward the fifth peak.
"You think they can exploit that weakness?" Ji Nanhong followed while guiding her own mount.
"That Wang Lian specializes in hidden weapons - her flying dagger technique is formidable, but her acupoint-striking needle technique is deadlier. Those nearly imperceptible needles can strike pressure points unseen. She ca prepared - the demon statue may actually fall this ti. We must reach them before it's too late to contest Wang Lian." Chen Guan explained while navigating treacherous mountain paths.
These so-called paths were rely faint trails along cliff faces, so sections barely foot-wide with occasional gaps requiring leaps. Though the Ghost-Headed Sheep excelled at mountain travel, Chen Guan found the ride more terrifying than any rollercoaster.
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