Frahem looked at Krune, shocked! Everyone considers Godly Stones treasures. How can he simply give one away this easy?
"This..."
Krune laughed and said.
"Don't worry, this is not like wanting you to owe me anything. Although I have several things that make me stronger than others, I also started my path at the very bottom. I understand very well just how much work you put into reaching this point, probably even more than myself. So just consider it a meeting gift."
Frahem didn't know what to say, but in the end, he just nodded.
"Thank you."
Krune nodded.
"I hope to see your name at the top of the third Light Pillar Ranking. I believe you can definitely do this."
Krune then took another Godly Stone out of his Spatial Ring and continued to cultivate. As for what everyone else was thinking, Krune didn't give a damn!
Twelve days and Six Godly Stones later, Krune's body finally got used to the Godly Energy of this level. It was now time to enter the next one. Krune stood up and walked in towards the Light Pillar. Obviously, everyone noticed this. Krune had been the center of attention in the past few days while using his Godly Stones, so everyone wanted to see how this top ranker would fare in the Will Test.
After pouring his Spiritual Energy into the Light Pillar, Krune was immediately teleported over. At the same time, everyone outside received the images of what was happening inside through Divine Sense. Between all of them, it could be said that only Frahem was hopping for his success.
Inside the test, Krune opened his eyes and looked forward, the same Snowing Path appeared in front of him. At the same time, he heard a voice in his mind.
"The test of Will. You must reach the 8th level if you wish to advance. You may start now."
Krune smiled and began to walk forward. Sure enough, as soon as he gave the first step, the cold energy seeped into his body and soul. Any type of protection seemed to be useless against it.
"Indeed, this is a good test of will. Let's keep going."
Although the cold was there, Krune didn't seem concerned about it. Cold? I'm a wisp, I never cared about the cold! Of course, this test wasn't simply the same as a winter cold. It could also affect Krune, just like everyone else. It was just that Krune paid it no mind.
Krune's plan was pretty simple...
Ignore it! Ignore it all! Pretend that such a thing doesn't even exist.
Although it seemed easy, that was not the case. Several other cultivators and demon beasts also tried to use this method. But in the end, the majority failed.
The reason was quite simple too, it all depended on their willpower! There is a big difference between 'wanting' to ignore something and 'being able' to really do so. However, for Krune, who tempered his Soul with Purple Tribulation Lightning, the cold's discomfort was a joke!
Krune soon finished the Snowing Path and entered the Searing Desert. However, it made no difference whatsoever. In Krune's eyes, be it the Cold or Heat, they are basically the same thing. With stable steps, Krune calmly walked through the desert as if he was strolling around his own garden. The people and beasts outside couldn't see even a hint of discomfort in his expression.
"Just how much of a monster can this guy be?"
"He must be pretending. I don't believe anyone can resist those two realms without feeling anything."
"Well, there had been a few before us who passed it without problems. So I guess it is fine for a top ranker to be this good, no?"
"Indeed. Let's wait and see if he can really make it past the 8th realm."
Krune quickly arrived at the third level, where death energy started to seep inside his body. It wasn't as easy to ignore and the cold and heat levels. Still, it was far from being able to hinder Krune's progress.
Then came the Fourth Level. There, could saw Feifei, Fie, and several other friends of his. Krune had to admit that he felt the urger to stop by to talk with all of them. There was also a lot of food he had never seen before, which increased that urge to stop by. However, he still ignored it all and pressed forward.
Then came the fifth level, the sixth, seventh, and finally eighth! Krune had now granted his green pass to the fourth Dimensional Realm. However, he smiled and continued. He needs Godly Stones, so he will make as far as possible.
Of course, even Krune was finding it somewhat hard to resist the attacks on his will at this point. He understood that he definitely wouldn't make it to the last level. But that isn't a problem. He had checked the willpower test ranking before, the highest placed one walked 5039 meters of the 14th level.
Krune pressed forward.
9th level...
10th level...
11th level...
Finally, he arrived at the 12th level. This was a pain-inducing realm. It looked like a battlefield, and the warriors here would always attack your body. Swords, maces, spears, arrows, you name it. Once an injury appeared, it was instantly healed, though.
This was also the level where Frahem failed last time. Krune had to give his all to resist this place until the end. Fortunately, he still passed it.
However, what Krune didn't know is that Frahem could have gone further. But because he knew that his will would not be strong enough to reach the top, Frahem gave up middle way. Of course, no one other than Frahem knew it.
Frahem couldn't help but smile after seeing Krune passing that level.
"Looking at your state, the thirteenth level should still be possible. I wonder if you can make it through the 14th, though."
Frahem was right. Krune really managed to pass the 13th level and enter the same realm as the first placed person.
The 14th level was a suffering one. One's mind would be purposely affected by the formation. Then it would show scenes of one's family members, friends, or whatever they regarded as important in their lives being lost several times over. As much as everyone knows that it was all an illusion, the formation inside forced your mind to believe it was happening.
However, something that no one expected happened. The first scene was of Krune's family being killed by a demon beast. Krune was supposed to try to resist it and move forward... or at least, that is what everyone was thinking.
But Krune ignored this logic completely! First of all, he didn't want to resist! Krune immediately destroyed the demon beast. After Fie and Feifei were saved, Krune looked at them with a smile as their bodies began to disappear until they were finally gone.
Right after, Krune looked at the sky and snorted before saying.
"So what if it is just an illusion? Anyone who dares to touch my family, death! I am more than happy enough to fail here if that means I can stop it."
Everyone was taken aback by those words. Some thought that Krune was an idiot, it was evident that he could have made much further, but he stopped because of such a bullshit reason. Others nodded vigorously and agreed with his point of view, they too considered their family member important enough to do the same thing. There were also those who were neutral and preferred to not say anything.
A few seconds later, Krune's body disappeared from the 14th level and was teleported over to the fourth Dimensional Realm. He ended this Light Pillar in the 4th position, having walked just 10 meters before failing in this realm.
Frahem looked as Krune disappeared and couldn't help but sigh.
"I wonder if I would have done the same if I had a family."
Frahem is an orphan, and he is not married either. In fact, he had never cared about love before. All his mind was in the path of cultivation. That being said, he didn't have an answer to that question.
Frahem then put those thoughts away and regained his concentration. His objective hasn't changed, reach the 18th level of the willpower test!
Krune quickly appeared on the fourth level. Immediately, the higher level of Godly Energy assaulted his body mercilessly. In the end, Light Spirit was right. If he hadn't gotten used to the third level Godly Energy first, he definitely would have a hard time resist the fourth. Perhaps, his Wisp Core would have really broken apart.
Heavin then spread his Mental Energy and pointed in a different direction.
"There seems to be a good place to hide for the time being in the direction. You still have another two Godly Stones, right? Let's stay there while you use those last two."
Krune nodded and followed Heavin's directions. Soon, he noticed that there was an enormous cliff. Heavin then pointed at a specific point between the rocks.
"You should be able to see the cave behind those rocks with your Mental Energy already, right?"
Krune nodded.
"Yes. Let's go over."
Suddenly, Light Spirit Warned them.
"Don't go, there is a much stronger demon beast inside already. I just felt his Divine Sense.
Krune immediately stopped, turned around, and left without even looking back. For Light Spirt to say that this Demon Beast is much stronger, then it meant that he had no chance against it.
The demon beast also noticed Krune leaving as soon as he arrived.
'Hum? Did he notice my presence? How?'
But just as the demon beast was about to pursue, Krune disappeared from his Divine Sense.
"What?!"
The demon beasts then exploded forward and quickly arrived where it felt Krune's presence for the last time.
"How is that possible?!"
Obviously, it was Krune's Tribulation Lightning Layer! By the time the demon beast arrived, Krune was long gone already.