Chapter 978: Ascending to the Fifth Layer Together
Ascending to the third layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar was no easy feat, representing extraordinary potential.
Zhang Ruochen and Sun Dadi appearing on the third layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar naturally caused a huge commotion. Many cultivators were seeing them for the first time and felt quite astonished.
"Are these two also candidates for Divine Son?"
"That youth covered in red monkey fur should be Sun Dadi, the disciple of the Kunzi Heavenly Palace Master. He joined the Blood God Sect half a year ago, and it's said his strength is formidable, second only to Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing."
"Oh, it's Sun Dadi. I've heard of his name. They say he comes from the Spirit Monkey Half-Human clan of the Eastern Sea."
At the same time, Gu Linfeng's background was quickly dug up.
After all, when Gu Linfeng competed for the flag master of the Netherword Heavenly Palace, he had made quite a splash and had some reputation within the sect.
Beneath the "Gu" character war flag, Hai Ming Dharma King's thirteenth disciple, Lan Ye, narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "This brat actually managed to ascend to the third layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar. His potential is quite significant. Even if he doesn't become Divine Son, he will surely become famous and a hot figure in the sect."
Ji Shui had long known that Gu Linfeng had comprehended the *Blood God Diagram*, so she had some mental preparation.
However, when she saw Gu Linfeng ascend to the third layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar, she was still quite surprised. She thought to herself, "Has his destiny really changed?"
The Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden's beautiful eyes looked toward the third layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar, and she was also secretly startled, feeling quite surprised.
"In the past, I underestimated him. This brat's potential far exceeds Bai Yu and Yan Kongming."
All along, the Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden had only thought that Gu Linfeng's talent was slightly superior to Bai Yu and Yan Kongming.
Today, Gu Linfeng's performance made her see him in a new light.
Of course, the Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden did not believe that Gu Linfeng had the strength to compete for Divine Son. She only wanted to recruit Gu Linfeng under her banner as a top-tier enforcer.
She believed that with her beauty and charm, it would not be difficult to win Gu Linfeng over.
At this moment, the youngest Divine Son candidate, Huo Xin, was also on the third layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar.
He was struggling to climb toward the fourth layer, his pace growing slower and slower, with large beads of sweat dripping with every step.
However, at that moment, two figures walked past him and quickly made their way toward the fourth layer.
Huo Xin raised his head and stared at the backs of the two figures ahead, an expression of disbelief on his face.
It was understandable that Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing's potential surpassed his, but how could two random people also surpass him?
At this thought, Huo Xin's blood and Qi churned, his state of mind unstable, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. In the end, he had to retreat to the third layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar.
"Huo Xin's potential is ultimately no match for Wei Longxing and Hai Lingyin. The gap is too obvious."
"Wei Longxing and Hai Lingyin are unparalleled geniuses to begin with. It's impossible for anyone else to reach their level. In any other era, either of them could become Divine Son and lead the Blood God Sect to glory."
Many people felt regret for Huo Xin, while also truly realizing the terror of Wei Longxing and Hai Lingyin.
They were like two great mountains, leaving everyone only able to look up to them.
"Huh! Sun Dadi and Gu Linfeng have actually gone further than Huo Xin. They're already close to the fourth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar," said a middle-aged female cultivator in surprise.
Everyone's eyes were fixed on Sun Dadi and Gu Linfeng.
Sun Dadi and Gu Linfeng had been walking neither too fast nor too slow from start to finish, neither speeding up nor slowing down, appearing quite relaxed.
"If they both ascend to the fourth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar at the same time, that would be truly frightening."
Before the Divine Son competition had even begun, Sun Dadi's name had already spread throughout the Blood God Sect, second only to Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing in fame.
Therefore, it wasn't too surprising that Sun Dadi had such great potential.
However, Gu Linfeng was different.
A month ago, he was virtually unknown in the Blood God Sect, with the vast majority of cultivators never having heard his name.
Who could have imagined that his potential would be so astonishing?
"Our Immortal Nether Sea has finally produced an extraordinary talent."
"Gu Linfeng is the son of the Ninth Uncle Master. By age, I am his senior brother," said a disciple of Hai Ming Dharma King with great pride.
...
Ru Yue and Ru Xin, the two attendants, watched Gu Linfeng approaching the fourth layer of the altar, their hearts racing, unable to calm their excitement.
Back when Hai Ming Dharma King sent them to serve Gu Linfeng, they had felt wronged.
Now, they were filled with regret.
If they had known that Gu Linfeng would achieve such success today, they would have done everything to climb into his bed and offer themselves.
But now, it was too late.
After today, Gu Linfeng would surely become a hot young king in the Blood God Sect, with countless stunning women throwing themselves at him. How could they possibly compete?
In the end, under the gaze of everyone, Zhang Ruochen and Sun Dadi ascended to the fourth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar.
Sun Dadi looked quite spirited. He glanced down at the base of the altar and let out a hearty laugh. "The fourth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar doesn't seem that difficult either."
Sun Dadi looked at Zhang Ruochen and was somewhat surprised.
Even he felt a bit tired after ascending to the fourth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead.
Zhang Ruochen, however, remained calm and composed, without a trace of fatigue.
Sun Dadi thought about how Zhang Ruochen had comprehended the *Blood God Diagram* and cultivated ten blood spiritual veins, and he immediately understood.
"A figure like Boss Gu only appears once in a thousand years," Sun Dadi thought to himself.
"Do you want to try ascending to the fifth layer?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"Of course. If we don't ascend to the fifth layer, people will think we're inferior to Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing."
Sun Dadi clearly hadn't used all his strength yet. Together with Zhang Ruochen, they charged toward the fifth layer.
Upon reaching the fourth layer, even Sun Dadi felt immense pressure. His pace slowed, and every step was planted firmly.
Zhang Ruochen didn't speed up either, maintaining the same pace as Sun Dadi.
"They actually want to climb the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar? Are they trying to challenge Wei Longxing and Hai Lingyin head-on?"
Only by reaching the same level could Divine Son candidates be considered to be in direct competition.
The cultivators of the Immortal Nether Sea were all in an uproar, waving war flags and shouting Gu Linfeng's name, cheering him on.
"If Junior Brother Gu ascends to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar, his potential will be on par with Wei Longxing."
"Uncle Master Gu has really brought honor to our Immortal Nether Sea. Among the disciples of the four great Dharma Kings, only Uncle Master Gu has gone the farthest and climbed the highest."
Ji Shui's expression was tense. She had a premonition that that brat Gu Linfeng might actually be able to ascend to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar.
He had already comprehended the *Blood God Diagram*. What couldn't he do?
A supporter of Wei Longxing said, "Gu Linfeng and Sun Dadi are slowing down more and more, climbing with difficulty. They might not be able to ascend to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar."
Hearing this, the crowd calmed down and continued to watch, eager to see if Gu Linfeng and Sun Dadi could create a miracle.
As Zhang Ruochen and Sun Dadi got closer and closer to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar, even Wei Longxing and Hai Lingyin became a bit nervous.
After all, every additional Divine Son candidate who ascended would increase the competition.
When there were only three steps left to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar, Sun Dadi's entire body was trembling, sweat pouring like rain, and his legs shaking uncontrollably.
"Roar!"
Sun Dadi let out a loud roar, and three-colored flames erupted from his body, as if he had turned into a cloud of fire, stimulating his potential.
His speed increased, and he surged upward, taking three steps in a row, finally ascending to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar.
"Haha! I made it!"
Sun Dadi was ecstatic and looked back at Zhang Ruochen.
He saw that Zhang Ruochen was still calm and composed, taking steady steps as he too ascended to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar.
"Boom."
A deafening uproar erupted from below the Blood God Sacrificial Altar.
Since the Middle Ages, the Blood God Sect had never seen a spectacle of four Divine Son candidates ascending to the fifth layer of the altar at the same time. All disciples were excited.
"Gu Linfeng and Sun Dadi actually ascended to the fifth layer of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar?"
The Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden couldn't help but clench her ten snow-white jade fingers, her mood quite complicated. Especially when her gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen, she felt a sense of being unable to see through him.
It wasn't just the Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden; Ji Shui and Lan Ye felt the same way.
Lan Ye's eyelids slightly contracted. "How could Gu Linfeng's potential compare to Wei Longxing and Hai Lingyin? There's definitely something wrong with this brat. Tenth Senior Sister, you've been with him for the past month. Have you noticed anything off?"
Ji Shui had indeed noticed some irregularities, but with the Divine Son competition imminent, she hadn't conducted a harsh investigation of Gu Linfeng.
Of course, it was also possible that the *Blood God Diagram* had changed Gu Linfeng.
Ji Shui didn't dare to reveal anything about the *Blood God Diagram*, so she didn't answer Lan Ye. She only said lightly, "This brat is far stronger than we imagined. I wonder just how strong he really is."
A mere fourth-rank Half-Saint gave Ji Shui a feeling of unfathomable depth.
At the top of the Blood God Sacrificial Altar, the saints of the Blood God Sect were also quite surprised.
Four Divine Son candidates ascending to the fifth layer of the altar at the same time was a sign of great prosperity.
A hundred years from now, the Blood God Sect would surely usher in a golden age.
"Congratulations to Palace Master Xie for taking on such a fine disciple, and congratulations to Hai Ming Dharma King for teaching such an outstanding grand-disciple."
The other saint-level figures of the Blood God Sect also offered their congratulations to the Kunzi Heavenly Palace Master and Hai Ming Dharma King.
Everyone had witnessed the potential of Sun Dadi and Gu Linfeng. Once they grew up, they would become titans of the Blood God Sect.
Hai Ming Dharma King smiled and responded to the saints.
However, no one knew that deep in his heart, some shadows were forming.
Gu Linfeng's performance had completely exceeded Hai Ming Dharma King's expectations.
Clearly, before the Divine Son competition, Gu Linfeng had been hiding things from him.
"He actually managed to fool me. His scheming runs deep. Was everything before just an act?" Hai Ming Dharma King's gaze fixed on Zhang Ruochen, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
Hai Ming Dharma King did indeed hope that Gu Linfeng would become Divine Son.
But he realized that he had never truly seen through Gu Linfeng, and this feeling made him very displeased.
(One more chapter to follow.) (To be continued.)