By now, Jian Chen had already lost all ability to protect himself. Whether it was cladding himself with the Laws of the Sword or the Chaotic Body, all of it had become pointless, as the Laws of Fire and the Laws of Destruction here had already reached a point where they could destroy everything he tried instantly.
Even if he was equipped with God Tier armour, it would be useless.
The Bridge of Life and Death was a test the Anatta Grand Exalt set up. It contained the will of a Grand Exalt and the laws he set down. It varied in strength depending on the person, so it was absolutely impossible to cheat.
By now, the recovery rate of his Chaotic Body had already fallen far behind the rate at which he was injured.
“The more time I take, the more disadvantageous it’ll be for me. If I want to make it through the Bridge of Life and Death successfully, I have to move quickly, or I’ll probably die here today,” Jian Chen thought. Having come so far, he struggled to maintain his original composure. The intense pain twisted his face. His body began to convulse as even his legs trembled slightly on the Bridge of Life and Death.
He was currently enduring inhumane, painful torture. It would be no exaggeration to call this pain the most brutal torture in the world.
In the next moment, Jian Chen let out a deep growl and began advancing rapidly. He covered twenty steps in a single breath.
By now, he had already completed seventy steps of the hundred steps of the Bridge of Life and Death.
However, it had come at a tremendous price as well. One half of his body had already been charred black. Even the flow of his Chaotic Force was affected. On the other half of his body, there was not a single intact part anymore.
However, Jian Chen did not stop. He spasmed violently as his steps became even more difficult. He gritted his teeth so hard that they creaked. He did everything he could to continue towards the end of the Bridge of Life and Death.
During this time, he had tried to fend off the damage through the laws he had comprehended. He had even tried using the Ultimate Way of the Sword to weaken the Bridge of Life and Death’s threat.
Unfortunately, regardless of what he tried, it all ended in failure.
The laws from the Bridge of Life and Death had far surpassed his cultivation. Even if he unleashed the Laws of the Sword at full strength, it would shatter before it had even condensed or taken shape.
Very soon, Jian Chen reached the seventy-fifth step. By now, his body was already swaying around violently as if he was about to lose his footing and collapse.
His Chaotic Body had already reached the limit of what it could endure. At this moment, even the powerful regeneration of the Chaotic Body seemed powerless. He wanted to heal himself with Radiant Saint Force, but he could not even condense it successfully here.
“Jian Chen, your talent and battle prowess are far too great, so the difficulty you face on the Bridge of Life and Death has far surpassed your cultivation. You’ve already reached your limit. Given your current state, you cannot make it to the end of the Bridge of Life and Death successfully.” The artifact spirit of the Heavenly Palace of Bisheng suddenly appeared. He seemed to be able to move through the bridge freely, where the Laws of Fire and the Laws of Destruction could not affect him.
He gazed at Jian Chen in pity and sighed gently. “Once you enter the Bridge of Life and Death, there is no return. This was the rule that master set down personally. Throughout all these years, this rule has never been broken.”
“However, in consideration of your relationship with the ninth majesty, I’ve already pleaded for mercy with master. Master has agreed to my request in consideration of the ninth majesty. As a result, we’re making an unprecedented exception this time, where you can return if you want to.”
“Jian Chen, if you give up right now, you can avoid death.”
“It’s all because of the ninth majesty that you’ve earned such a special opportunity. Do not let it slip by.”
The artifact spirit persuaded Jian Chen sincerely, wanting to make him give up on advancing forwards.
“No, I-I will never back down- I will make it all the way- I must do it-” Jian Chen said hoarsely. When he stopped on the seventy-fifth step, his entire body shook violently, but his gaze remained as determined as before. His will had not wavered at all.
In the next moment, his organs began to burn. It was not just his organs. Even his vital energies and the source of his life turned into a ball of roaring flames, roaring away violently.
He paid the price of destroying himself in exchange for great power. He used this power to continue onwards, taking the seventy-sixth and seventy-seventh steps.
Eighty steps…
Eighty-five steps…
Finally, he stopped on the eighty-eighth step. He was only twelve steps away from his final goal. Success was within arm’s reach.
However, Jian Chen had used up all of his strength as well. He collapsed on the ground immediately. His injuries could not be described as severe anymore, as he was truly pacing around on the brink of death right now. He was close to taking his last breath. He did not even have the strength to stand up anymore.
“Jian Chen, why must you do this? You can’t reach the end given your current state. If you continue onwards, only death lies ahead. You should just give up and treasure the opportunity that has only come because of the ninth majesty.” The artifact spirit appeared above Jian Chen and tried to convince him earnestly.
“No- I can still hang on. I must make it all the way-” Jian Chen let out a hoarse growl. In his head, he could not help but recall the numerous dangers he had faced, with fairy Hao Yue helping him again and again to save him.
These actions of saving him became his greatest source of willpower. It turned into an unrelenting thought, supporting him along the way and allowing him to advance valiantly on the Bridge of Life and Death.
The path before him was the only way to save fairy Hao Yue. If he gave up, if he gave way here, then that would be equivalent to fairy Hao Yue dying.
As a result, he could not, he definitely could not, shrink back!
“Sigh, even if you actually make it, master might not necessarily agree to your request. Throughout history, there have been a handful of people who’ve made it across the Bridge of Life and Death successfully, but most of these people have returned in disappointment. As a result, you really don’t know if master will agree to your request. Jian Chen, you better just give up now,” the artifact spirit continued.
However, the reply he received was a deep growl from Jian Chen. Using all the strength in him, he forcefully climbed up a step, reaching the eighty-ninth step.
The artifact spirit sighed and shook his head gently at this sight. His figure vanished from the Bridge of life and Death. When he appeared again, he was already on the highest floor of the Heavenly Palace of Bisheng.
The Anatta Grand Exalt sat in the air before the artifact spirit, wrapped in the light of the ways. His figure was illusionary and hazy.
The artifact spirit bowed politely towards the Anatta Grand Exalt. “Master, I’ve already tried my best to change his mind, but Jian Chen refuses to give up no matter what I say. Given his determination, he will probably rather die on the bridge than back down willingly.”
“Hmph, then let him continue. I’d like to see just how capable he is,” said the Anatta Grand Exalt. His voice was extremely cold.
“Yes, master!” The artifact spirit bowed deeply before vanishing.
With the artifact spirit’s departure, the scene on the Bridge of Life and Death suddenly appeared in the Anatta Grand Exalt’s cold, emotionless eyes. He said coldly, “You still haven’t reached your limit? Then show me if you’re actually willing to die here just so she has a chance of surviving.” With that, the supreme will of a Grand Exalt spread instantly. In the next moment, both the Laws of Fire and the Laws of Destruction on the Bridge of Life and Death suddenly strengthened.
The difficulty of the Bridge of Life and Death instantly reached a whole new level.