The Great Ruler (Web Novel)

Crackle!

After the spiritual energy around Mu Chen was gone, the red light shone on him and a wave of heat attacked him from all directions. Mu Chen's skin was burnt immediately, when the red light shone on him. He took a deep breath, as his whole body was in excruciating pain.

"Crap…"

Mu Chen vented. He activated his thoughts and golden light surfaced on his skin. The real dragon symbol on his chest seemed to have come to life and started to squirm about. As it squirmed around, the burns on Mu Chen's body started to heal. Cool air exuded from them and his pain was reduced.

Mu Chen heaved a sigh of relief, when he noticed that the pain had been alleviated. If he did not have such a strong body, he would not have been able to withstand the glare from the strong red light.

I shall see how frightening the first level of the Bod-refining Tower is.

Mu Chen lifted up his head and looked far across the desert with determination. Without a second thought, he stepped off of the stone platform and headed for the desert.

After he had made up his mind, he did not fly through the desert, but chose to walk slowly. He had chosen the toughest path in order to train his body, with the help of the red light.

Swish!

Smoke rose from under his feet, as Mu Chen stepped onto the desert. Every step he took was as though he had stepped on hot molten magma. However, Mu Chen was not bothered by it. He walked deep into the desert under the red light.

Outside the Body-refining Tower.

All of the top powers fixed their gazes on the mottled stone tower. Light gathered on the first level outside the tower, forming a screen. They could not see any human figures, only 10 light spots.

These light spots represented the 10 people who had entered the stone tower. By using these spots, those who were outside the tower could know exactly what was happening in the tower, based on the spiritual energy fluctuation of the individual, as shown on the screen. As such, nine lights spots were currently moving at an astounding speed.

"Zong Teng from the Heavenly Roc Clan is taking the lead…" The people looked at the first light spot and knew that it was Zong Teng from the Heavenly Roc Clan, based on his spiritual energy fluctuation.

"Zong Teng has awakened the Surmount Mortality, which is the bloodline of the Golden-winged Roc. No wonder he is taking the lead…"

"Han Shan, Xu Kun, and the rest are catching up with him…"

"The rest of the geniuses are not weaklings. They may still have the chance to overtake him and get to the second level…"

The top powers were watching the situation in the Body-refining Tower from the outside, as they whispered among themselves.

"Ha, someone is not moving."

Suddenly, a girl laughed and said mockingly, "Judging from the spiritual energy fluctuation, it seems to be the human being that the Nine Netherbird Clan brought in…His spiritual array seems useless in the Body-refining Tower."

The top powers were shocked, then they realized that, as the nine light spots moved toward the second level, far behind them was a light spot that was not moving at all! Some of the top powers looked at one another, then glanced at Nine Nether and Mo Ling, who were behind them.

The human being had an outstanding performance out there, but once he had entered the Body-refining Tower, he had become so useless. He had wasted the chance!

Nine Nether looked coldly at the girl who had sneered at Mu Chen. She was Liu Qing from the Heavenly Roc Clan. She had stopped talking after Zong Huo had been defeated by Mu Chen, but now she had started chattering all over again. She was so detestable.

"Hahaha, Nine Nether, why are you looking at me? This guy has wasted the quota that you have painstakingly won. What a pity!" Liu Qing looked at Nine Nether's face and laughed. She looked pleased, as though she had taken her revenge.

"You don't have to be so cocky. Be careful, or you will be ashamed of yourself later." Nine Nether looked at her and sneered.

Liu Qing said mockingly, "Oh? I am looking forward to it."

Nine Nether glared at her, then looked away. She fixed her gaze on the light spot on the first level and raised her brows.

"Sister Nine Nether, what is Brother Mu Chen doing?" Mo Ling, who was standing beside her, asked softly.

Nine Nether shook her head and smiled wryly. She was puzzled as well. Although the ancient Body-refining Tower was difficult to break into, Mu Chen should not be stuck at the first level, given his current strength. There must be other reasons for it.

Could he have been attacked by the other top powers, and be seriously injured?

The thought flashed in Nine Nether's mind. Other than Zong Teng and the man from the Lightning Crow Clan, the rest of them were not enemies of the Nine Netherbird Clan. Thus, the two people could not have caused Mu Chen to be in such a pathetic state. Moreover, Ink Blade was around.

"Mu Chen…what are you doing?" Nine Nether muttered, as she stared at the stone tower and grabbed her fists.

A red light shone on the borderless orange desert. There was no way to shun away from it.

Clomp! Clomp!

Sounds of footsteps were heard in the quiet desert, as a figure slowly made his way across it.

Swish! Swish!

Sweat flowed down from Mu Chen's face, and before it landed on the ground, it had evaporated. Mu Chen's skin was red, and even his flesh was burning under the high temperatures.

The pain was excruciating, and it made him lose his mind and feel faint. Although it was painful, Mu Chen continued to press forward slowly, refusing to stop.

He felt that, as the red light shone on his flesh, it brought about excruciating pain, but at the same time, his flesh had become stronger. His flesh seemed to have absorbed the piercing red light.

Every time Mu Chen's body absorbed the red light, more power would burst out from his body. Although it looked as though his flesh was badly burnt, his flesh was actually full of great vigor deep within. The red light had inflicted excruciating pain on his body, but once he had accustomed himself to it and was able to bear the pain, his body benefited from it.

"It is truly so…"

Mu Chen's palms seemed to have been skinned. He grabbed them and felt the vigor in his flesh.

After walking in the desert for an hour, he felt badly tortured by the pain, but his flesh had strengthened a lot. This one hour was comparable to when he had encountered the Blood Spirit Soil Fetus that was meant to strengthen the body.

The dragon scales on the real dragon symbol, which was on Mu Chen's chest, became more alive. The real phoenix symbol on his back spread out its wings slightly as well. Most importantly, the slightly opened eyes on the real dragon and real phoenix symbols had widened even more…

Mu Chen curled up his lips, as he noticed the changes. This slight movement caused his body to shiver, making the pain become worse.

However, Mu Chen bore it all. He lifted up his eyes to look in the distance. He was filled with excitement and joy, as he felt that his body had become accustomed to the horrifying red light.

If this continued, he might be able to break through to the second stage of the Dragon-Phoenix Scripture in the Body-refining Tower. Then, his body would reach the level of strength that he had yearned for! Soon, he would not have any problems going through the first level…

Mu Chen licked his dry lips and continued to press on slowly. He allowed the red light to shine on his body. Mu Chen had no idea that, as he was moving slowly on the first level, many people were whispering outside the tower, most of whom were mocking him.

"Hohoho, Nine Nether, I have been waiting for so long, but nothing has surprised me so far. Oh, I am wrong…the guy did not stay put. He has been moving like a snail for some distance…" Liu Qing said. She sounded mean and was laughing happily.

"The Nine Netherbird Clan is indeed powerful, but you have gone overboard and wasted the quota. You have to understand that many of the clans did not even have the chance of getting in."

Liu Qing was mean. It was apparent that she wanted to sow discord among the Nine Netherbird Clan, and she had managed to achieve that, as after she spoke, some of the people started to look at Nine Nether and Mo Ling with animosity.

Nine Nether looked cold and did not say a word. She simply looked at the light spot on the screen that was progressing slowly. She had the feeling that it was unable to catch up with the rest. Nine Nether suddenly froze, as she realized that the light spot had stopped completely.

"Is Mu Chen having difficulty pressing on?"

Mu Chen suddenly stopped moving in the desert. He lifted up his head and looked directly at the red blazing sun with a smile.

"This is the first level. It should be enough…" Mu Chen said to himself. He felt that his body had completely grown accustomed to the red light. The pain had been reduced tremendously. His body had apparently been trained to the optimum of the first level.

"Thank you…"

Mu Chen stretched out his arms and smiled at the sun. Golden light surged on his body, and his skin that had been burnt, recovered rapidly. He then looked in the distance.

The guys must have entered the second level by now.

His next task would be to catch up with the guys who were out in front…