"What's going on?!"
"This…"
Jin Zhi, Princess Bai Lu, and even Princess Jinghong, who was still crawling down the steps, were all shocked.
The others, however, after a brief moment of surprise, burst into laughter, gloating at the sight.
"Hahaha!"
"There's another challenge! The pressure at the summit is the strongest. He can't even get the Beast God's Heart!"
"He can't even stand up, let alone move a finger, haha!"
"He'll be crushed to death right there and dry up like a sun-dried toad!"
The geniuses of the Holy Academy were naturally delighted by this turn of events, as their goal was to prevent anyone from taking the Beast God's Heart.
Prince Kui Niu, Prince Qiongqi, and Princess Phantom Butterfly, on the other hand, had adopted a sour grapes mentality—since they couldn't get it themselves, they were happy to see Qin Zi fail as well.
"Bai Lu, what should we do? The pressure up there is so intense! If it continues to press down, Junior Brother Qin might really be crushed to death!" Jin Zhi said anxiously.
"I… I didn't expect this… I thought reaching the summit would be enough," Princess Bai Lu responded, full of guilt.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Princess Jinghong let out a scream as the pressure on the higher steps, like water being spilled from a basin, rushed down and blew up her skirt.
Although she quickly tried to cover her rear, she failed, and to everyone's shock, she wasn't wearing anything underneath!
However, at this time and place, there were no "gentlemen" present, so no one paid much attention to this scene.
All eyes were on the summit!
"Him!!"
"He's… he's moving!"
"That's impossible!!"
Prince Qiongqi and the others shouted in disbelief as they saw Qin Zi, like a rigid puppet, slowly pushing himself up from the ground, his joints cracking audibly under the strain.
And on his back…
A layer of transparent pressure was slowly being lifted, expanding outward in all directions like the body of a flood dragon rising from the river, with water cascading off its sides.
"Mere pressure… how could it stop me?!" Qin Zi growled, slowly standing up. His arched back seemed as if it were holding up the entire sky and earth.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Brilliant halos erupted from his body, ten in total, endlessly providing him with boundless strength.
"A Divine Body! He has a Tenfold Divine Body!"
"Gasp…"
"We underestimated him!"
Everyone present was shocked. After all, the Divine Body was regarded as the most perfect physique across the Nine Heavens Realm.
It was flawless, which is why it was called a Divine Body.
Although physique alone didn't guarantee ultimate success, in terms of innate talent, the Divine Body was unparalleled.
It's like when people say, "What good is being handsome?" But if given a choice, who wouldn't want to be a little more handsome?
Thud! Thud! Thud!
At this moment, Qin Zi stood upright and, with heavy steps, began walking toward the altar.
Each step caused the ground to shake.
"The Beast God's Heart is mine!"
Gritting his teeth, Qin Zi's muscles trembled violently. Cracks even began to appear on the surface of his skin.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of excruciating effort, he reached the altar, standing before the Beast God's Heart.
Buzz!
With everyone watching intently, Qin Zi stretched out his hands and grasped the watermelon-sized Beast God's Heart.
At that moment, a sense of peace washed over him, and an unprecedented feeling of fulfillment filled his entire being. A smile of contentment spread across his face.
That smile was so genuine, so pure, like that of a farmer who had finally reaped the rewards of his hard work…
"Huh?!"
But the next moment, his smile froze.
He looked down at the Beast God's Heart in his hands and realized that it seemed to be connected to the altar. He couldn't lift it.
"Get up!"
Taking a deep breath, Qin Zi steadied his feet and pulled with all his might. The entire Beast God Mountain trembled, but still, it wouldn't budge.
"This… Hahaha, he can't lift it!"
"The trial set by the Five Great Kings… No one can pass it! No one can take the Beast God's Heart!"
"We may have failed, but so did he! In the end, we're not that different—we're on the same level."
"Yeah, we're not inferior to a Divine Body!"
The group, including Prince Qiongqi, began to feel a sense of relief. Having been deeply shaken earlier, they now clung to this newfound sense of equality.
But not everyone has such consolation.
For instance…
At that moment, Qin Zi's eyes burned with an intense fire—a flame of absolute determination, bordering on madness.
"The Beast God's Heart is the only thing that can save my father. I must obtain it. No one can stop me!!!"
He threw his head back and roared, his black hair turning golden, his body radiating golden flames.
"Rise!!!"
The ground beneath him cracked open, with fissures spreading like vines, snaking across the entire Beast God Mountain.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!!!
The three Dao Bones within his body fully awakened at that moment, releasing ancient and sacred light that engulfed the entire mountain.
To everyone watching, Qin Zi's body vanished, replaced by three brilliant golden suns, radiating immense divine power.
Crack!
A deafening cracking sound echoed, as if the pillar holding up the sky had been snapped.
Then, the light subsided.
Everyone looked up and saw Qin Zi standing on the altar, holding the Beast God's Heart high above his head, like a divine figure repairing the heavens.
"Junior Brother Qin did it! He succeeded!"
Princess Bai Lu shouted in joy.
"Mm." Jin Zhi smiled, trying to remain composed, though it was clear he was just as happy.
"How… how is this possible?"
"This can't be…"
Meanwhile, Princess Phantom Butterfly and the others looked as though they'd been struck by lightning. Their bodies went limp, and their spirits seemed utterly crushed.
They had lost. Completely.
They were now as exposed as Princess Jinghong had been. The difference being, Jinghong's exposure had been voluntary, a part of her unique personality. But for them, it was pure helplessness.
"Junior Brother Qin, come down quickly!" Princess Bai Lu called out excitedly. Her heart soared with joy—once she handed the Beast God's Heart to her father, she could officially be with Jin Zhi, fulfilling her greatest wish.
However…
Qin Zi, standing atop the altar, did not descend. Instead, he looked at her with a complicated expression and said, "Sister Bai Lu, thank you for everything you've done for me. I truly believe you deserve to be with Brother Jin. I would love for you to be my sister-in-law, but… I can't give you the Beast God's Heart."
Gasp!!
Everyone was stunned.
"What! He wants to keep the Beast God's Heart for himself?! Wasn't he supposed to be helping Princess Bai Lu?"
"He's gone mad! Completely mad!"
"Does he really think that just because he has it, it's his? This is something preordained by the Five Great Kings!"
"He won't make it out of the Holy Academy alive!"
The Holy Academy's geniuses cried out in disbelief, while Princess Phantom Butterfly, Prince Qiongqi, and the others sneered.
How foolish—he was digging his own grave!
After a brief moment of shock, Princess Bai Lu regained her composure. She took a deep breath and asked in a serious tone, "What do you need the Beast God's Heart for?"
Qin Zi was silent for a moment.
Then, with a heavy voice, he said:
"My father has suffered a fatal Dao injury. He's on the brink of death. The Beast God's Heart is the only thing that can save him… This is my duty as a son. I know I've betrayed your trust and that of Brother Jin… and I'm truly sorry."
Princess Bai Lu looked at Qin Zi.
Her face showed a complex mix of emotions—disappointment, anger, regret. Finally, she coldly asked:
"Do you think… you can escape?"
Qin Zi took a deep breath, stowed away the Beast God's Heart, and forced a smile. "To be honest… I can."
Crack!
With that, he crushed a jade talisman filled with mysterious runes, his face showing a hint of helplessness and regret.
But in the next moment…
Nothing happened.