CHAPTER 512 BREAKING THE RECORD

'Oh, my God! I can't believe fifteen days have gone by!' All of the disciples shared this thought when

they discovered that both Ricky and Soar didn't come out of the Enlightening Pond after fifteen days

had passed.

They threw secret glances at Louie, eager to see the expression flickering on his face at that moment.

Fifteen days ago, he was so certain and made a bold statement that Ricky and Soar wouldn't be able

to stay in the Enlightening Pond for fifteen days, but he was proven wrong as both guys had evidently

exceeded his expectations.

Sensing the attention directed to him, Louie cast his head low, feeling the hot rush of shame creep into

him. Flustered and embarrassed, he avoided everyone's gazes and wished for the ground to open up

and swallow him whole. He knew he was wrong and shouldn't have said those arrogant words.

The disciples around him let out a small smile. They found his reaction so amusing that they had to bite

their lips to stifle the laughter building in their chest.

Once their laughter subsided, they turned their focus on Ricky and Soar and wondered about their

outcome. Everyone wanted to know the same thing: Now that they had broken the fifteen-day record,

what level could the two have reached in the end?

It was easy to think that Ricky definitely broke the record initially established by Jasper. He was strong

and capable, and they had no doubts that he could keep staying in the Pond for at least twenty-one

days or more.

They had no misgivings about Ricky. What they were more curious to find out was how long could Soar

stay in the pond.

"I'm telling you that Soar can definitely stay in there for seventeen days," a warrior declared, his voice

teeming with confidence.

"Just seventeen days? Soar is powerful and strong. I bet he can stay there for eighteen days!" a

second voice added in a more confident tone.

"You are too confident about him! But I think he can only stay there for sixteen days," another voice

rebutted. The water in the Enlightening Pond was good for improving a warrior's cultivation base, but

there was a terrible risk. The longer a warrior would stay in the pond, the more and higher pain he

would feel. In other words, if you wanted to acquire immense benefits in the pond, you must bear the

corresponding increasing pain. Most of the warriors who tried had been forced to get out and escape

as the pain increased to the point that they could no longer bear it. In fact, a warrior almost lost his life

due to the tremendous pain. He would have died if he hadn't been saved in time.

As he listened to their debates, Louie clenched his fists and kept his mouth shut, finally learning from

his mistake. He couldn't afford to lose face again by having another wrong prediction. He seemed deep

in thought, thinking of possible ways he could use to kill Ricky and Soar so that he wouldn't have to be

humiliated in public again.

"Sir, how long do you think Soar can stay in the Enlightening Pond?" the Skyward Sword Spiritual King

and the Array-shattering Spiritual King asked slowly. Having heard the heated discussion of the

warriors, they found themselves becoming a little curious about the answer.

"Soar is talented. Not only is he among the first-class geniuses, but he also ranks at the top. I believe

he could stay there for eighteen days," the Heavenly Ape Demi-spiritual Emperor responded in a

smooth and calm voice.

"Sir, as for Ricky, can you take a guess?" the two spiritual kings asked again, their faces brimming with

curiosity.

"One speculation is enough. I don't want to give many speculations and be proven incorrect. It will ruin

my reputation," the Heavenly Ape Demi-spiritual Emperor said to the spiritual kings and shook his

head.

It was not to say that he did not want to indulge them and take a guess. Ricky was simply always so

unpredictable, always so difficult to understand and follow. He was not confident enough to give a

prediction about Ricky's improvement, knowing that there was a chance that the lad could prove him

wrong. Somehow, the Heavenly Ape Demi-spiritual Emperor even had a strong feeling that he could be

wrong about Soar's days in the pond, too.

When the eighteenth day finally arrived, the warriors were waiting and anticipating his return, but Soar

did not show any hint that he would be coming out from the pond soon.

Shocked at the turn of events, the warriors fell silent before bursting into another hot debate.

"Is Soar going to break Jasper's record too?" some of the disciples couldn't help but ask, wonder and

disbelief etched on their faces. Jasper's record was twenty-one days. There were only three days left

for Soar to break his record.

As Soar continued to stay in the pond without any signs of wanting to come out, they started to harbor

more questions. 'How could he endure so much pain in the pond? Where is he getting all his strength?'

they thought, unable to believe that he was able to surpass their expectations.

"No, it is impossible. Soar should be a first-class genius. There is a fundamental difference between a

first-class genius and a peerless genius. Besides, these three days are very crucial. Insisting on staying

in the pond for another day means that he will suffer more and more pain and his cultivation base will

improve significantly!"

"It will become even more severe from now on. The more days he stays in the pond, the more

difficulties and pain he will have to endure." The hot discussion among the warriors went on and on like

this, each trading their opinions back and forth.

"It merely proves that my instinct is right. Fortunately, I didn't have speculation about Ricky; otherwise,

it would surely ruin my reputation," the Heavenly Ape Demi-spiritual Emperor said in a quiet self-

deprecating tone.

However, despite the self-deprecation, excitement flared even more in his chest. If it was possible, he

hoped to exchange all his reputation for a more talented Soar.

"Sir, maybe Soar is going to become a peerless genius?" the Skyward Sword Spiritual King and the

Array-shattering Spiritual King asked, the startled look on their faces clear as the day.

"I'm afraid I don't know as well. If he can stay in there for twenty days, it will prove that he has the

qualifications needed to be a peerless genius," the Heavenly Ape Demi-spiritual Emperor responded,

seemingly deep in thought.

Soon, the nineteen days arrived under the hopeful and anticipatory eyes of the warriors. Just as they

were guessing how many more days Soar could endure, they saw him jump out of the pond.

Witnessing that, every audience, including the Heavenly Ape Demi-spiritual Emperor, sighed in

disappointment, their shoulders sagging slightly. If only Soar stayed inside and hung on for one more

day, he could become a peerless genius. What a great pity!

Nevertheless, they were still very excited and happy at the outcome because Soar's performance

managed to surpass their expectations, showing that he really was a determined and strong man.

"Soar, if I'm not mistaken, you came out of the pond on purpose!" Ricky asked Soar directly through

their telepathic connection when he woke up from his body refining state.

At that very moment, whether it was in terms of enlightening power or the degree of body refinement,

Ricky ultimately reached the limit meant for a demi-immortal.

Ricky, however, didn't walk out of the pond like Soar. Unlike Soar, he had other plans in his mind.

"Ricky, I am a Great Dragon. I'd better keep a low profile. If I become a peerless genius, those forces

will no doubt make a large amount of effort to investigate my identity. I can't begin to imagine what they

will do once they find out that I am a Great Dragon. They've always been suspicious of my identity. I This belongs to : ©.

have to be careful," Soar responded calmly through the telepathic connection as well.

"All right, I understand. You did the right thing," Ricky responded, nodding his head.

"However, Ricky, you have to show your talent, so that the Oriental College will give greater importance

to you. Those forces will hesitate to attack our Misty South Palace in the Snow Land until they dispose

of you," Soar added, his eyes taking a serious look.

"I know that, or I would not have given all my effort to beat Pearl and show what I'm made of," Ricky

replied.

"Well then, Ricky, how long do you want to stay in the Enlightening Pond?" Soar asked, his brows

furrowing in question.

He didn't ask how long Ricky could stay but instead asked how long he wanted to stay, because he

knew that Ricky had the Chaotic Fire Zone. With the help of his special zone, Soar had no doubts in his

heart that Ricky could stay in the pond for as long as he liked.

"I am planning to make a breakthrough and become an innate spiritual king with the help of the

mystical water in the Enlightening Pond," Ricky answered, his voice filled with certainty.

Soar nodded in agreement. "Yes. I agree that it's high time for you to become an innate spiritual king as

well. As things stand at the moment, the geniuses of the Oriental College have a better and more

powerful cultivation base than you. It's your only weakness against them, but once you significantly

improve and heighten your cultivation base, I'm positive that the Oriental College will stand no chance

against you," Soar said jokingly.

"Soar, go away now! I need to prepare for the breakthrough and you're distracting me," Ricky said at

once. Once their telepathic connection receded, he began his cultivation in seclusion.

At that moment, Ricky reached the maximum limit as a demi-immortal. Every aspect of his strength that

was related to martial arts, like his enlightening power and his physical strength, increased in power

hundredfold. No demi-immortal before him had reached this kind of level in the past. With this kind of

newly-gained strength, he really should make a breakthrough now.

Meanwhile, outside the pond, everyone's attention was on Ricky as they, with great expectations,

hoped for him to break Jasper's record. The air was thick with pressure as their anticipation rose with

every hour that passed.

Soon, twenty-one days passed by in a blur.

'Oh, my God! As expected! Ricky has broken Jasper's record!' all of the disciples waiting for him said

inwardly as they saw no signs of Ricky coming out from the Enlightening Pond. They sucked in a deep

breath, equal parts shocked and excited for such an achievement.

The Heavenly Ape Demi-spiritual Emperor and the two spiritual kings were likewise thrilled. A wide

stretch of a smile occupied their faces as they looked on, joy and pride dancing beneath their eyes.

Ricky did break Jasper's record! This was exactly what they had expected, and he did not disappoint

every single one of them!

Now more than ever, they were eager to know Ricky's new record.

After being repeatedly thrown off-guard by Ricky's insurmountable achievements, they gradually

became quiet. Yet, the moment they realized that Ricky didn't get out of the pond even after twenty-five

days had gone by, they found it difficult to remain indifferent to such a high achievement.

One by one, incredulity and disbelief took over their minds as they began to question how it was

possible for him to continuously endure the searing and numbing pain brought by the water in the pond.

"Unbelievable! How is this possible? I can't believe he has stayed there for twenty-five days!" When

they saw that Ricky remained unfazed and was likely to keep staying in the pond, more outbursts filled

their minds.

Someone blurted out, arms flailing wildly, "Just how long is he going to stay in there?"

Bang! Bang! Just as all the warriors were swimming in shock and doubts, rolls of ear-splitting thunder

tore throughout the secret land, hushing everyone into awed silence.