Xing Peng did not heed Xing Qingcheng's shout to stop; he continued calmly towards the stairs to the fourth level. As soon as he stepped on the first stair, Xing Peng felt a tremendous pressure enveloping him, involuntarily causing his brows to furrow. This pressure made him feel threatened.

  "Xing Peng, I told you to stop! Did you hear me?" Xing Qingcheng's face was ashen as he glared at Xing Peng. If looks could kill, Xing Peng would have been dead many times over.

  "What on earth are you trying to do? Don't you realize how annoying you are?" Xing Peng turned around again, looking at Xing Qingcheng with irritation.

  "You... you dare to call me annoying! Xing Peng, you're too arrogant! Though you are the foremost among this generation now, don't forget, you're only the first among those under twenty. To people of our age group, you have no right to be arrogant..." Xing Qingcheng looked at Xing Peng with a dark expression, a cold glint in his eyes.

  Although the Xing family holds clan trials whenever the White Tiger Academy recruits, allowing all clan members to participate, there are restrictions; only those under the age of twenty can join. This is because the basic admission criterion of the White Tiger Academy is being under the age of twenty. If not for this, the Xing family's clan trials would be much more spectacular than they are now.

  "So, I have no right to be arrogant? When have you ever seen me being arrogant? Is ignoring you now considered arrogance?" Xing Peng shrugged indifferently.

  "By seniority, I am your elder brother. Don't you think you should greet me when you see me?" Xing Qingcheng said.

  "Fine, here's your greeting. Happy now, big brother? I've shown my respects..." Xing Peng casually saluted Xing Qingcheng with his hands, then turned around again, ignoring Xing Qingcheng.

  "Xing Peng!" Xing Qingcheng's face turned crimson with rage, erupting into a hysterical roar. Xing Peng's behavior did not make him feel any better. The casual salute was not at all like paying respect to an elder brother; it was an outright provocation.

  Listening to Xing Qingcheng's roar, Xing Peng did not pay him any more attention this time. Instead, he activated his Profound Qi and stepped onto the second stair.

  "Boom!" Although Xing Peng was covered in Profound Qi, he still felt an overwhelming pressure as he stepped onto the second stair, as if Mount Tai was pressing down on him, giving him a sensation of being crushed, which unnaturally changed his complexion.

  As Xing Peng stepped onto the second stair, dozens of people had already gathered behind him. Not everyone could ascend to the third level of the Xing Family Martial Tower, but there were quite a few people there now. Some who were practicing in the training rooms came out after hearing Xing Qingcheng's roar. Seeing Xing Peng heading to the fourth level, they were all surprised.

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  "Eh, isn't that Xing Peng? Why is he going up to the fourth level?"

  "Is Xing Peng overestimating himself? Although he has become the strongest of their generation, one needs at least the late Earth Level strength to go to the fourth level. How long has Xing Peng been practicing? Does he have that strength?"

  "How many stairs do you think Xing Peng can climb? I bet he can only climb up to five stairs."

  "What five stairs? It would be impressive if he could climb one more!"

  The people around were discussing animatedly, not very optimistic about Xing Peng's actions.

  Although Xing Peng had gained supreme honor and admiration from many in his generation, to those who were too old to participate in the trials, they did not acknowledge him much. Many didn't even bother to watch the trial competition on the day.

  Hearing their discussions, Xing Peng coldly smiled to himself. Five stairs? Impossible. He, Xing Peng, never does things without assurance.

  "Whish! Whish! Whish!" Almost as soon as he thought about it, he rapidly took three steps forward, and at the same time, a surge of sword Qi burst forth from him, slicing through the pressing force and charging towards the stairs, reaching the peak in the blink of an eye and then entering the fourth level.

  "Uh..."

  Those who witnessed this scene were dumbfounded, their mouths agape as if they had seen a ghost.

  Although they hadn't had much contact with Xing Peng, who didn't know that just over a month ago, Xing Peng couldn't practice martial arts? Yet, in just over a month, he had stormed into the fourth level of the Martial Tower.

  That was a level meant for Heaven Level martial artists.

  As for Xing Qingcheng, his liver-colored face turned deathly pale upon witnessing this scene, and as his complexion changed, his back was drenched in cold sweat. His scolding of Xing Peng wasn't to converse with him but seeing such a junior recklessly attempting to enter the fourth level annoyed him, hence his treatment of Xing Peng.

  He thought, even if Xing Peng had won the first place in the trials, his strength must be much less compared to his. If Xing Qingcheng hadn't just turned over twenty this year, how could he let Xing Peng shine so brightly on the day of the trial?

  But unexpectedly, Xing Peng managed to enter the fourth level so surprisingly, leaving him shocked and frightened. Thankfully, the Martial Tower prohibits fighting, or else he might have tried to handle Xing Peng himself, which would have been humiliating for him, Xing Qingcheng.

  "How strong is Xing Peng to be able to break into the fourth level?"

  Just as Xing Peng entered the fourth level, the old man dozing off on the first floor of the Martial Tower suddenly raised his head, a look of surprise in his eyes.

  "This kid is interesting. I must have misjudged him before!"

  ...

  On the fourth level of the Martial Tower, there were about a dozen orbs floating in the air, colorful and beautiful. The moment Xing Peng arrived on the fourth level, these orbs caught his attention.

  From these orbs, Xing Peng could clearly feel an aura belonging to Heaven Level or higher warriors, suggesting that obtaining secret manuals from these orbs wouldn't be easy.

  Approaching the orbs, a sudden pressure enveloped Xing Peng, stronger than the pressure he felt stepping on the stairs, causing him to frantically circulate his Profound Qi within his body.