Chapter 658 Rapid Improvement
Ever since Vaan had ascended to the 490th Mountain Step, he had long drawn the attention of everyone around the Black Mountain. Even the elderly warriors from the 495th Mountain Step and beyond were no exception.
After all, anyone who could practice under the gravitational pressure of the 490th to 530th Mountain Steps was considered a top powerhouse in the entire Great Ratholos Empire.
As such, while the ordinary observing warriors at the foot of the mountain were full of shock and disbelief, these elderly warriors' reactions to Vaan's ascension were milder. Rather, they were mostly amazed than shocked.
However, that amazement quickly turned into shock when Vaan reached the 540th Mountain Step.
Nevertheless, Vaan didn't stop there, and their expressions became more colorful – from shock to greater shock and from greater shock to dumbfounded. They didn't know what to think or feel when Vaan overcame the pressure of the 570th Mountain Step, which even Emperor Varan struggled to endure.
When Vaan ascended to the 600th Mountain Step, all their conflicting and bewildering emotions turned into worship and awe.
Regardless of whether Vaan had used his capabilities or relied on external assistance to reach the 600th Mountain Step, he had undoubtedly created an unprecedented legend in the Great Ratholos Empire.
"I must be dreaming… That young man has ascended to a height that even the mighty Sea Emperor could not reach…"
"How is that even possible…? Does that mean his strength is even greater than His Imperial Majesty and the Sea Emperor?"
"That's… impossible! No one can surpass His Imperial Majesty and the Sea Emperor. That kid just has monstrous talent and potential… Yes, that must be it!"
"Monstrous talent and potential? Are you kidding me? Sheer talent and potential can't make up for such a huge gap in body refinement. This kid's internal organs must be made of tempered tungsten or something…"
It didn't take for the entire Black Mountain to erupt into heated discussions as everyone speculated Vaan's background and true ability.
Regardless of the warriors' envy and awe, not a single person could take their eyes off Vaan's ascending figure.
Most of the younger warriors even hoped he could reach the very top of the Black Mountain and create an unsurpassable legend that would be remembered for thousands of years.
To the younger warriors, just reaching the 450th Mountain Step was already a distant goal. Thus, they wouldn't even dare compare themselves to Vaan.
It was simply exciting to bear witness to the birth of a legend.
…
The 667th Mountain Step… the absolute peak of the Black Mountain…
No one could imagine the terrifying gravitational pressure it possessed. However, everyone believed it wasn't something a Transcendent-rank Body Refiner could bear.
When Vaan ascended to the peak, everyone at the foot of the Black Mountain cheered with excitement.
Of course, Vaan himself was unconcerned with other people.
Even with Vaan's current physical attributes, he found it exceedingly difficult to endure the gravitational pressure of the Black Mountain. It was as if all of the Black Mountain's gravitational force had been channeled into a single point, bearing down on Vaan.
The gravity was so immense that even Demigods would be brought to their knees.
However, it was just the kind of pressure Vaan needed to temper his body as he perceived the laws, killing two birds with one stone.
Nevertheless, without using any supportive skills to alleviate the pressure, Vaan's body started breaking apart; his skin cracked, his blood vessels burst, and his organs ruptured—only to be restored by his inhuman regenerative ability.
Under the constant cycle of destruction and recreation of his body, Vaan experienced drastic improvements.
Ding!
<Your comprehension of the Law of Space has increased by 0.1%>
<Your comprehension of the Law of Earth has increased by 0.4%>
<Your affinity to the earth has been raised by 1%>
<Your physical body has been tempered by gravity>
<Your pain tolerance has improved>
…
…
Vaan continued to receive strings of notifications from the system as he endured the torturous, self-mutilating meditation, which burdened both his body and mind.
The pain felt like his entire being was submerged inside a giant cauldron of life-threatening flames, refining his body and soul. He didn't get a single chance of respite. The slightest relaxation could prove fatal.
Ding!
<Your body's overall defensive attributes have reached the Early-level Transcendent Rank>
<Your soul has become slightly more condensed and one step closer to divine>
…
As Vaan's body underwent rapid improvement, his soul and comprehension of the laws continued to improve.
However, compared to his comprehension of the laws, the progress in his soul improvement seemed incomparably slower. Given the current rate of improvement, even if he comprehended 10% of the Law of Space, it still wouldn't be enough to form his Divine Soul.
Vaan's eyes suddenly flashed with enlightenment.
'Understanding the power of laws could indeed achieve the Divine Soul. However, it isn't an absolute prerequisite to reaching the divine,' Vaan understood.
As his comprehension of the Law of Space improved, Vaan gained a deeper understanding of the divine way.
The power of laws could allow him to become a Divine Being, but it wasn't the only path to forging the Divine Soul. If anything, the power of laws was more supplementary in augmenting one's combat prowess than promoting one's level of existence.
'I'll be making a grave mistake if I take the power of laws as the answer to reaching the divine,' Vaan thought.
He felt that achieving the divine through the power of laws was an inferior path.
If he became one with the Law of Space, he could indeed become a mighty Divine Being with a lifespan as long as the sun and moon. However, that would be his limit – at the level of the laws.
How could someone who wished to be supreme settle for the same level as the heavenly laws?
His ambition lay above the heavenly laws!
'I can comprehend the Law of Space to the absolute peak, but I must never tie my existence to it or any other law. That would lower the upper limit of my growth.'
Vaan felt certain in the truth of his conclusion because of the Nihility Law, the Law of Nothingness. His 0.3% comprehension of the Nihility Law had never slipped his mind.
In fact, it had grabbed much of his attention.
The Nihility Law also contained the power of a law. However, its power should be above all other heavenly laws. After all, it's the most primal law, even more ancient than the universe itself.
As for anything above the Nihility Law? Vaan did not know.
However, what he did know was that he couldn't rashly enter the divine no matter how much he desired power.
'There must be a suitable divine soul path for me, one that doesn't require fusing with the heavenly laws...'
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