Genius Noble With System
Chapter 209: Moving Ahead Alone

Chapter 209: Moving Ahead Alone

Apollo steadily and calmly stepped onto the tenth platform. As he took that crucial step, the entire Rose Clan watched him with a mix of expectation and anxiety. He was their strongest contender—if he failed, Matheo wouldn’t stand a chance, and their journey would come to an abrupt end.

But their worries proved unnecessary. The moment Apollo set foot on the platform, an icy aura enveloped him, clashing fiercely with the scorching flames that surged to block his path. Yet the flames couldn’t penetrate the icy shield surrounding him. Unfazed and composed, Apollo walked forward, the frost repelling the flames as if they were nothing more than a passing breeze.

He crossed the platform effortlessly, his expression unreadable, as if the opposing elements were beneath his notice. The onlookers from the Rose clan let out a collective sigh of relief, their anxiety melting away.

From the edge of the platform, Matheo clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "If Apollo can do it, so can I." He braced himself, ready to make his move.

Apollo, already fully stepping across the platform, glanced back briefly—just long enough to confirm the resolve in Matheo’s gaze. Then, without a word, he turned forward and continued his ascent, leaving the icy trail behind.

His calm demeanour and the ease with which he stepped onto the tenth platform naturally drew the attention of other participants and spectators from various clans, all eagerly watching the proceedings. Whispers spread quickly among the crowd, marvelling at how effortlessly he overcame the challenge.

"Who is he?" someone muttered in disbelief.

"Isn’t he from the Rose Clan?" Another asked, stunned that a representative from such a minor clan could display such composure and strength.

Many participants, struggling under the platform’s pressure, gritted their teeth in frustration, realizing how far behind they were. Those from larger and more prestigious clans found it particularly difficult to accept Apollo’s smooth progress, their pride bruised by the effortless ascent of someone they had deemed insignificant. Many of the large clans also have lost some geniuses here.

Second Matheo from the Rose clan also took the step, and he wasn’t careless, as before taking a step on the Tenth platform, he was already covered in a metallic aura with powerful law.

Boom

The moment he took a step, the divine extinguishing flames rushed to him, trying to destroy him. But he didn’t falter as the law of metal around him flickered. He didn’t get burned, and he took the flames without losing.

He slowly became steady, finally adjusting to the flames, and joined the rank of true geniuses. This stage can be considered a place where weak representatives are eliminated and only strong representatives remain.

Following it, Marianne anxiously also tried to join them, but the moment she stepped forward, the devastating flames enveloped her like a blanket, and she was about to lose, but suddenly Apollo made a move, and a thin additional icy aura appeared with her wooden aura, establishing her from being eliminated.

Marianne gasped, her heart steadying as the pressure lightened. She glanced at Apollo with a mixture of relief and gratitude, but he gave no acknowledgement, his gaze already fixed on what was ahead, as it seemed these platforms might be more interesting than he thought.

From the edge of the platform, spectators from the Rose Clan erupted in muted cheers and sighs of relief. Their three representatives—Apollo, Matheo, and Marianne—had all crossed the tenth platform. In a trial designed to separate the true geniuses from the pretenders, they had not only survived but shown remarkable resilience.

As Matheo steadied himself, the metallic aura around him flickering like a blade ready to strike, he took a deep breath. "We made it," he whispered under his breath. His usual carefree demeanour was gone, replaced by fierce determination.

Marianne adjusted her stance; the fear that had momentarily gripped her was now replaced by a quiet determination. She knew that without Apollo’s intervention, she might not have made it. But there was no room for self-pity—only resolve to grow stronger.

She glanced at Apollo, who was calmly standing ahead and ready to move ahead.

As the trio from the Rose Clan ascended, the tension among the remaining participants thickened. The flames had claimed many, and the survivors knew that from this point onward, the trial would only become more brutal. Every platform demanded not just strength and endurance but a deep understanding of the laws.

Some stronger participants, like Apollo, helped their clan members, but they could not always receive help from others; they needed to adjust to the current situation and needed to improve their control and understanding.

But that is usually very difficult and needed time, but after they entered the tenth platform something changed, as after entering the tenth platform they all felt a mysterious breath that seemed to let them feel deeply various laws here, and they knew it was an opportunity.

Marianne, knowing this, didn’t try to move ahead as she was barely holding here; instead of trying something stupid, she better stay here and improve her understanding.

Apollo and Matheo understood that, and they moved ahead. And like this, others who barely crossed also did the same.

At the end of the five hundred, almost a hundred were eliminated here, and of the four hundred, less than three hundred dared to move ahead. After this sudden increase in difficulty, let them understand and question: Is it possible for someone to reach the top even for the top ten clan geniuses?

In fact, even for geniuses from the ten great clans, it is difficult to find someone within a hundred years of age to climb to the top. It has been three thousand years since someone at such a young age climbed the top.

But this time is different, as this generation is said to be one of the best in ten thousand years, and many among the top ten clans believe one of their geniuses will reach the top.

"The stars align for this generation," an elder from one of the great clans declared confidently. "This time, someone will reach the summit."

Eyes turned toward the remaining climbers, their hopes pinned on the chosen heirs and geniuses representing the most powerful families.

They continued to move ahead, and just like the previous pattern, the difference between the tenth and eleventh platforms wasn’t large; just the intensity of flames and pressure was further increased with the increased fluctuation of various laws that help in understanding.

With each platform, the divide between the true geniuses and the rest grew wider. The flames burned brighter, and the laws became more complex. Many participants decided to remain on the lower platforms, using the opportunity to deepen their insights rather than risking further humiliation by being eliminated.

As Apollo and Matheo reached the 18th platform, they stopped. Apollo was all right that he didn’t even sweat a drop, but Matheo wasn’t, as he was clearly tired, pale, and sweaty.

"I cannot follow you anymore; that’s it." When he said that to Apollo, he sighed and felt the difference between true geniuses from the great clans, as many have already crossed the eighteenth platform and reached the nineteenth platform. The most surprising thing to him was Apollo, as he still could not see the depth of him like he was bottomless.

His pride has diminished, but his will didn’t break, but he was still determined, even if he knew that it was difficult and might not be possible.

Apollo nodded, and without hesitation, he stepped onto the nineteenth platform, which represented the next level. On this Heavenly path, the difficulty increased after every nine platforms.

The moment he stepped forward, the gravity and spiritual pressure intensified, weighing down on him. But this time, instead of flames, he was assaulted by winds—no ordinary breeze, but yin winds that carried a terrifying cold chill capable of freezing even a saint’s soul.

As Apollo advanced deeper into the platform, the yin winds retaliated, swirling violently around him, each gust colder and more aggressive. But he wasn’t afraid of coldness, even though it was different from usual coldness.

His gaze remained forward, unwavering. But still, he didn’t become careless; with his understanding and control of his ice law and natural resistance, he easily tacked the yin winds and moved ahead like nothing.

The ease with which he handled made him look similar to the strongest of the ten clans, making him seem like the strongest dark horse.

From the eighteenth platform, Matheo watched in awe, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "How strong is he...?"

And with that surprise, Apollo calmly walked ahead without caring about the various eyes on him.

He stepped beyond the nineteenth platform with the same calm demeanour he had displayed since the beginning as if even the heavens themselves could not slow him down.

And so he walked onward, his aura cold yet silent, carrying him toward the twentieth platform and beyond.

He moved ahead calmly and steadily, but now he was faster, without Matheo. On his own, he quickly reached the level of the top talents among the five hundred.

The top fifty people who were now with him have reached the twenty-seventh platform and are going to take the next step.