The exact altitude of Mount Everest, whether it is 8848 or 8844, has always been controversial. However, for mountaineers, 8848 is definitely more rewarding, as even a few meters higher is still higher.

The guide assigned to Chen Yang by the Heavenly Ladder was a young man in his early twenties, a Tibetan resident. His dark face and ruddy complexion made it clear at a glance that he was a native Tibetan.

His name is Songtsen Gampo, and he's the kind of person whose eyes squint into slits when he smiles. He's also very cheerful and outgoing.

"Guest, you can choose to let your dog off at any time during the topping-out process. Our emergency measures are very comprehensive. Although we don't have a veterinarian, we can provide basic medical care."

Songtsen Gampo told Chen Yang that he liked the European Emperor the moment he saw him, and with Chen Yang's permission, he played with the European Emperor for a while.

Songtsen Gampo kept two Tibetan mastiffs, which were genuine Tibetan mastiffs, with no particular pedigree, but rather Tibetan mastiffs that herded sheep and fought wolves in Tibet.

Most dogs would be afraid of the Tibetan Mastiff scent on him, but Ouhuang didn't react at all, so he thought Ouhuang was a rare dog that still had a wild streak.

Dogs are more cold-resistant than humans; sled dogs can even live in the Arctic. But it depends on the situation. The summit of Mount Everest isn't just cold; the lack of oxygen due to the high altitude can cause many problems. He didn't think this dog could climb the snow-capped mountain.

However, since Chen Yang insisted, he couldn't say anything.

They started climbing at dawn. Chen Yang was in the last group and the only one who was paired with a guide one-on-one. Although there were groups, the distance between each group was not long.

Because he joined temporarily and brought a dog, the Tianti (a local organization) decided, after discussion, to send Songtsen Gampo as his guide.

Songtsen Gampo was also climbing Mount Everest for the first time, as were many of his guides. However, each guide was specially trained, knew how to handle various problems, and were all locals who were already acclimatized to the high-altitude climate.

The Sky Ladder has supply points at various altitudes, allowing climbers to travel light. The route has also been planned in advance, and dedicated personnel monitor wind direction changes and conduct risk assessments.

When Chen Yang saw the climbing teams on Mount Everest, he was glad he had chosen to join the Heavenly Ladder climb. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to secretly reach the summit recently.

There are too many people, and the summit is under constant surveillance. He doesn't have the ability to silently evade all observations. The summit is only a small area, so evading observation is almost impossible.

They climbed the mountain step by step along the route, and the altitude gradually increased.

Reaching the summit is not something that can be done in a day. Even with a well-established route and supplies, it takes nearly two days, and you often have to set off in the middle of the night when there is no wind.

However, this didn't bother Chen Yang at all; he remained relaxed, which surprised Songtsen Gampo.

“Guest, are you a special forces soldier? You’re very strong,” Songtsen Gampo said.

"Hmm." Chen Yang nodded, not wanting to explain anything.

The European Emperor was also well adapted to the climate of the snow mountain. It had followed Chen Yang through the Four Directions Gate to the back of the Cang'er Snow Mountain and to the summit of the Cang'er Snow Mountain without any problems. It was just a bit cold when it reached the summit, which is why Chen Yang felt comfortable bringing it to climb Mount Everest.

When they reached the halfway point, a strong wind swept up Mount Everest, and it was estimated that it would take four hours for it to stop, so the group had no choice but to set up camp.

The weather here is unpredictable and difficult to forecast, so they can only proceed step by step. There have been instances where the entire team had to retreat even when they were close to the summit. If they encounter weather conditions that prevent them from advancing, they can only retreat and try again a few days later.

At this point, the advantages of organized climbing become apparent; they no longer need to waste time taking unnecessary detours and can set up camp to recover their strength.

When the people behind them saw them setting up camp, they came over to inquire. After learning about the situation, they also chose to set up camp. Surprisingly, quite a few people gathered on the quiet snow-capped mountainside, chatting at an altitude of nearly 7,000 meters, which felt quite nice.

Another memorable scene was everyone eating instant noodles together.

Among them, Master Kang's braised beef noodles and Lao Tan's pickled cabbage beef noodles are the most popular.

However, this group of people were quite civilized; everyone brought trash bags and carried their trash with them when they went down the mountain.

Customers of the Sky Ladder don't need to worry about trash; there will be people to take them down, so they don't need to fret.

If you have the money and decent physical fitness, Sky Ladder can help you climb Mount Everest. Compared to other climbers who climb alone or in small groups, Sky Ladder's clients have it much easier.

About three and a half hours later, they received news that the wind had stopped and they could continue climbing.

During those three and a half hours, everyone ate and drank as they pleased, rested as they needed to, and mustered all their energy to continue. Of course, a few people experienced adverse reactions and were forced to give up, one of whom was a customer of the ladder.

Chen Yang's dog also attracted some attention, but Chen Yang always maintained a "keep away" attitude, so they didn't want to make a fool of themselves.

Chen Yang was paying attention to whether other people were taking pictures of the lucky guy, and he would deliberately avoid other people.

After everyone else had set off, Chen Yangcai and Songtsen Gampo continued on their way.

“Guest, this is the first time I’ve led a group up Mount Everest and met someone like you. It’s easy, but I don’t feel a sense of accomplishment,” Songtsen Gampo said to Chen Yang with a wry smile.

“I can be your guide now,” Chen Yang said.

Songtsen Gampo did indeed have this feeling, and sometimes when they encountered difficult terrain, Chen Yang would lend him a hand.

So far, Chen Yang's dog hasn't shown any signs of discomfort, calmly following them and occasionally standing in the snow gazing into the distance. It looks incredibly handsome, even making Songtsen Gampo consider borrowing Chen Yang's "lucky dog" to breed with his Tibetan Mastiff.

Their altitude has already risen to over 7,000 meters, and some people have already experienced discomfort. However, those who can persevere are doing their best, and no one wants to give up the opportunity to climb to the top of the world.

The ladder will also observe the customer's condition. If they can continue, they will adjust the steps and continue. If they cannot, the customer must come down. There is no room for negotiation. The contract was signed at the time, and the ladder has the right to forcibly take the customer down.

Even if it only happens once, if someone dies, the Sky Ladder organization will find it very difficult to continue operating; they would never do something so self-destructive. Therefore, in the event of an accident, they will bring the client down so that they can climb again when they have the opportunity.

As he drew ever closer to the summit, Chen Yang seemed to feel a faint calling. This was not an illusion; he truly felt it, and this calling carried a sense of intimacy.