1035 Kulas
"Congratulations on passing the second trial, Master." Tian'er appeared before him shortly after he returned to the Stairway to Heaven.
Yuan turned to look at her with a serious expression on his face, "Tian'er, I have some questions for you before I continue the trial. Why did the Perfect Tempering Ginseng affect my body even though that shouldn't be possible?"
Tian'er tilted her head and spoke in a calm voice, "Why shouldn't it be possible?"
"I mean… I get that I can learn techniques while inside the Stairway to Heaven, but the treasures affecting my actual body doesn't make any sense. Everything should be a simulation, so it shouldn't be possible to actually affect my body."
A profound smile appeared on Tian'er's small face as she spoke, "While it's true that the trials are all simulations created by the Stairway to Heaven… The treasures are actually real. The Stairway to Heaven is more than it appears. It's not only a bridge that connects the Nine Heavens, it's also a vault full of treasures stored by the previous Masters."
Yuan's body trembled in shock after hearing Tian'er's words.
"The Stairway to Heaven… is a treasure vault…?" he muttered in a dazed voice.
"That's right. However, only the Master has access to these treasures, hence why nobody is aware of it." Tian'er continued.
Yuan fell to his knees after learning the truth and coming to a realization.
'I could've acquired so many priceless treasures at the Colossal Tower, but I wasted such a chance because I assumed the treasures were fake! What a blunder!' he cried inwardly.
"Wait! Even if I didn't acquire the treasures during the trial, the treasure should still exist somewhere in the Stairway to Heaven, right?!" Yuan suddenly asked Tian'er.
She nodded and said, "If you wish to have access to the vault, you'll need to continue climbing the Stairway to Heaven, as this place is also a training device for you."
"I understand. Thank you for the explanation."
Yuan climbed the staircase shortly after, ascending to the third trial.
"This appears to be your final trial, Master." Tian'er said to him.
'Is this going to be a continuation of the previous trial? Or is it going to be something entirely different?' Yuan closed his eyes and wondered to himself as the scenery began to change.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing on a platform. However, the platform looked different than the last one he saw. It was much smaller, and he couldn't see any giants around him.
Yuan quickly noticed a figure standing in front of him. This person was a young man with long blonde hair that shone like gold under the sunlight, and he was a head shorter than Yuan, but he emanated an aura that was far superior.
Yuan ignored this person for now to look at his surroundings, and he was immediately surprised by the scenery, as he appeared to be surrounded by clouds.
'Where am I? What kind of trial is this?' Yuan wondered to himself.
Ding!
<You have started your third trial in the Stairway to Heaven>
<Defeat 'Kulas'>
<Defeat 'Kulas' three times for a special reward>
'Kulas?' Yuan raised an eyebrow upon seeing this familiar name.
After realizing the situation, he turned to look at the young man standing not far away from him.
"Giant Emperor Kulas?!"
Yuan didn't recognize him immediately because he looked much younger than the Giant Emperor Kulas from the previous trial, not to mention his size.
"Who the hell are you calling the Giant Emperor? Stop daydreaming and fight me already, Tian Yang!" Kulas shouted while pointing his fingers at Yuan.
Yuan's eyes widened with shock.
'What is going on? Why does he look human? I thought Giant Emperor Kulas was born a giant! Is this the Stairway to Heaven messing with me, or is there something I am missing here?'
Kulas spoke again, "Remember! No weapons or treasures! This is how a real man should fight— with their bare hands!"
"What's wrong, Tian Yang? You don't look so good. I have been waiting for this moment— the day that I will finally defeat you! Ahaha!" Kulas laughed out loud.
16:06
He showed Yuan his fists and his arms that were bulging with muscle and veins.
Yuan tossed aside all his questions temporarily and held his fists in front of him.
"Here I come!" Kulas suddenly dashed towards him.
Whoosh!
Kulas swung his fist at Yuan at lightning speed.
'What?!'
The speed of Kulas' strike was so fast that Yuan could only see a blurred arm for a split second before feeling intense pain in his body, as Kulas' fist had struck him directly in his body.
When Kulas struck Yuan's body, it felt like someone had shot a cannon ball at him. If it wasn't for his perfect physique and enhanced body, Kulas' strike would've made a hole in his body.
After being struck, Yuan immediately retreated to gain some distance.
'Shit! It hurts!' Yuan nearly fell to his knees from the pain.
"What's wrong, Tian Yang? You don't look so good. I have been waiting for this moment— the day that I will finally defeat you! Ahaha!" Kulas laughed out loud.
Yuan showed a bittersweet smile, 'Even with the perfect physique, this trial won't be easy…'
"Here I come again!" Kulas warned him before rushing at him again.
'I can't react to his strikes, so I can only endure them!'
Yuan activated the Golden Mountain Body Refinement and discarded all thoughts of avoiding, only focusing on attacking back.
Whoosh!
Yuan gritted his teeth and prepared for the strike.
The moment Kulas' fist landed on his body, Yuan struck back with his own fist.
Kulas' eyes widened with surprise after feeling the strength behind Yuan's strike.
"Not bad! Let's see how long you can last!" Kulas shouted as he threw a second punch, then a third, and a fourth.
Yuan would tank all of Kulas' strikes with his bare body before retaliating with his own attack, and over the next few hours, the two of them would continue exchanging blows in such a manner, almost as though they were participating in the Tournament of Strength.
Dual Cultivation Prequel