The Great Ruler (Web Novel)

A gale swirled up in the borderless, deserted frozen land, and cold blue waves covered all its corners. The coldness in the gale made the area look like a piece of dead land.

Under such harsh conditions, even a Grade Seven Sovereign would be in a perilous state if he stayed for too long.

A thin figure walked across the land against the gale and the cold blue waves. He moved slowly, and every step he took seemed as though it had taken a lot of energy. Although the speed was slow, he looked determined and would not be stopped by the gale.

He was none other than Mu Chen, who was taking the opportunity to train up his physical body at the second level of the Body-refining Tower.

Swish.

As the strong wind with the cold blue waves swept past Mu Chen's body, his skin cracked deep and blood appeared. However, the blood did not flow out, and a faint blue color appeared on his flesh.

Mu Chen's body shivered, but he ignored the pain from the tears in his flesh. When the wounds tore apart, the cold blue waves flowed in and wherever they passed, the flesh would be almost frozen, and excruciating pain followed.

The pain was different from that of the red light. His flesh seemed to be pricked by multiple needles, and it was so painful that he felt like taking his flesh off.

Mu Chen suddenly stopped moving. He had stopped shivering and felt more relaxed now.

When the pain became unbearable, the prickly cold waves started to disappear. He started to get his senses back in his numbed flesh. Mu Chen could feel that his flesh had become stronger than before.

When Mu Chen noticed the changes in his flesh, he heaved a sigh of relief and smiled bitterly. The cultivation of the physical body was extremely tough. The pain that he had to go through was much more than the cultivation of the spiritual energy. No wonder many people would rather choose to cultivate the spiritual energy.

However, it was great to feel his body getting stronger.

Mu Chen consoled himself and immediately pressed on…

He moved slowly on the deserted frozen land and wounds started to appear again on his body.

He was determined like an ascetic monk, training himself up under pain and suffering.

…

As Mu Chen moved slowly toward the second level of the Body-refining Tower, the atmosphere outside the tower was weird, and he was the cause of it.

On the screen, the light spot that represented Mu Chen had fallen behind the rest again.

The top powers were bewildered by it. They would have mocked him, but after Mu Chen had turned the tables earlier, they dared not belittle him again.

Even Liu Qing dared not sneer at him. Although she was not broad-minded, she was not dumb. She had been slapped in the face by Mu Chen earlier, and she did not want to experience it again. She would be stupid to do so.

She looked curiously at the light spot that was lagging behind and was tempted to say something, but she swallowed her words. She simply stared at Nine Nether and cursed Mu Chen. He must have gone back to square one. When Zong Teng entered the third level, she would take her revenge by embarrassing Nine Nether.

"Sister Nine Nether, Brother Mu Chen…"

Mo Ling was baffled. Mu Chen had been on a roller-coaster, and this made them anxious. Although she knew that Mu Chen had a lot of means, she was worried that he might be back to square one. If this happened, everyone would laugh at them.

Nine Nether shook her head and looked calm. She said, "Just wait and see. He must have his reasons for doing this."

She knew Mu Chen well. She had seen how he had grown from a weak youth to one who had caught up with her, and even… surpassed her.

She was confident that the Body-refining Tower could not stop him.

Time passed by. The top powers were not watching the light spots at the forefront, but they were looking at the light spot that was moving slowly behind.

It was apparent that they were waiting eagerly to see if Mu Chen would surprise them again.

They would soon find out whether he had been lucky or had depended on his ability earlier.

Someone suddenly said in a low voice, "The first group is getting nearer to the barrier on the second level…"

The crowd was shocked and shifted their gazes to the light spots at the forefront. The light spots were about to reach the barrier. If they could get through it, they would enter the third level.

"Mu Chen doesn't seem to be taking any action." Those who were watching Mu Chen saw that he was still moving slowly.

Their eyes started to flicker, and they questioned whether Mu Chen had used some special means earlier. Whatever he had used seemed to have lost its effect.

Liu Qing heaved a sigh of relief and gave Nine Nether a mocking look.

However, Nine Nether ignored her and remained expressionless. She simply looked calmly at the scene.

"Han Shan, Xu Kun, Zong Teng, Ink Blade, and the rest are going into the barrier," someone shouted. The light spots at the forefront dashed into the barrier but soon, they slowed down as they seemed to have met some obstructions.

The top powers watched the light spots closely. One of them would be the first to enter the third level.

As for the dark horse, Mu Chen, he had lost his luster. He was still way behind, looking dim.

After an hour, all the geniuses had entered the barrier on the second level except Mu Chen. He was almost down on all fours as he was about to reach the end of the second level.

Suddenly, someone shouted and broke the silence outside the Tower. "Zong Teng and the rest have entered the third level!"

Everyone lifted up their heads and saw the light spots entering the third level of the Body-refining Tower almost at the same time.

"Brother Zong Teng has entered the third level!"

Liu Qing was so excited that her face looked a little twisted. She quickly shifted her gaze to look at the second level. The light spot did not seem to be moving.

Liu Qing looked mockingly at Nine Nether and said, "Nine Nether, it looks like you will not have the last laugh!" She finally vented her grievances.

Nine Nether remained calm at her smug look and ignored her. She simply fixed her gaze on the light spot at the second level.

Mo Ling, who was beside her, stared at Liu Qing. She found Liu Qing noisy and loathsome like a crow.

"You are still hopeful, aren't you?"

Liu Qing snorted when she saw that Nine Nether was looking at the second level. After the Body-refining Tower had ended, Nine Nether would suffer a heavy blow.

This guy has used some unknown means to enter the first level. He shall remain at the second level.

What a joke. How can a human being compare himself with the geniuses of the Heavenly Roc Clan?

Many top powers outside the Body-refining Tower looked at the last light spot with different emotions. Some found it a pity. The dark horse had been short-lived.

…

Mu Chen was unaware that the people were talking about him outside the Body-refining Tower. He stood on a hill in the frozen land, which was the only hill on the second level. He found this out by chance as he was walking over. When he was climbing up the mountain, he was a little afraid, as the cold blue waves were the densest in this area, and the strong, chilly wind was extremely violent.

If his physical body had not been strong, his flesh would have been torn and frozen when he reached the peak…

After he had gone through the immense torture, Mu Chen saw that the hill would be a better place for him to train up his body. He had chosen to stop moving to the end of the second level and sat cross-legged on the peak.

Swish! Swish!

As the strong wind blew past Mu Chen, it cut his body and inflicted serious injuries on him. However, Mu Chen's body simply shivered, and he bore the pain. He then lifted up his head and looked afar.

He could sense that Zong Teng, Han Shan, and the rest had reached the third level.

However, he was not anxious. He believed that after he had gotten used to the conditions on the hill, his physical body would be greatly enhanced. This would help him get closer to the second stage of Dragon-Phoenix Body.

It would be then that he would start moving again.

This was an accumulation.

"I shall let you… go first… see you later."

The cold strong wind whizzed past Mu Chen, and he simply smiled as he sat cross-legged on the peak.