Chapter 21: The Test of the Blue Ladder
The noise in the valley suddenly died down at the command of the Xuanyun Sect's deacon, and thousands of eyes were cast towards the huge stone staircase standing tall among the clouds - the Qingyun Ladder.
This staircase was no ordinary artifact. It was forged by the Xuanyun Sect's founder, who used his immense magical powers to capture the mountain's spirit and stone spirit. It comprised nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, leading directly to the looming Qingyun Peak Square above. The stone steps were simple and unadorned, inscribed with countless intricate and profound runes. At this moment, they emitted a faint azure glow. A heavy, mountainous pressure permeated from above, enveloping the entire entrance area.
The air seemed to be filled with solidified lead, and those with weaker cultivation were breathing rapidly and their faces were pale.
A stern-faced inner disciple of the Xuanyun Sect stood before the ladder. His voice as cold as ice announced the rules: "The Qingyun Ladder tests your perseverance, foundation, and determination! The higher you climb, the better your score! Falling or giving up voluntarily will result in failure. The time limit is three hours! Now—begin!"
As soon as the words fell, there was a brief silence, and then the crowd rushed towards the huge stone staircase like a flood!
“Charge!”
"Seize the initiative!"
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration appeared, and shouts erupted. Most young men and women felt their bodies suddenly sink as they stepped onto the stone steps! The invisible pressure instantly acted upon their bodies and souls, as if burdened with a heavy yoke. For the first few hundred steps, everyone's pace was quite fast, but the gap began to emerge. Those with strong physiques and abundant spiritual power moved with relative ease, while those with weak foundations began to pant.
Ye Li didn't rush to the front. As she followed the crowd onto the first stone step, she felt a surge of pressure. While the initial pressure was bearable, she could clearly sense that it wasn't just physical pressure; it was also a profound shock that penetrated her soul, disrupting the flow of her spiritual energy and her mental clarity.
She adjusted her breathing, slowly circulating the "Youhuan Emperor Scripture." The icy spiritual energy coursing through her meridians spontaneously offset some of the pressure invading her body, minimizing its impact. Her body, reforged through reincarnation and repeatedly tempered by the "Youhuan Emperor Scripture" and medicinal fluids, was far stronger than those of her peers. This physical pressure was, in fact, a perfect tempering for her.
She didn't run like some people, but instead maintained a surprisingly steady pace, climbing steadily. One step, two steps, her steps firm and her rhythm unchanging, as if the ever-increasing pressure didn't exist for her.
Soon, the flow of people began to stratify.
At the forefront were dozens of true geniuses, such as the cool and beautiful girl in blue skirt (Luo Bing), the wild young man with a knife on his back (Shi Feng), the young man in brocade robe holding a folding fan (Lin Yu), etc. They all used their own methods, some with graceful movements, some as powerful as bulls, and their speed was obviously faster than everyone else. They had already climbed over 2,000 steps and their momentum was still undiminished.
The main group in the middle began to show signs of fatigue, their pace slowing noticeably. They were sweating profusely, and each level seemed quite difficult, with panting sounds coming one after another. Ye Xiaodou and even Ye Shi had fallen into this echelon, gritting their teeth and persevering.
However, Ye Li, in an extremely eye-catching way, was firmly in the upper middle position, and was constantly overtaking those who were slowing down in front of her at a constant speed!
Her calmness contrasted sharply with the difficulties surrounding her, making it difficult for her not to attract attention.
"Look at that woman! How come she doesn't seem to be putting any effort into it?"
"Such a steady pace! It hasn't changed since the beginning!"
"Whose genius is this? Why didn't I have any impression of him before?"
"I think her name is Ye Li? Is she the one who flashed green and then turned yellow during the Sky-Viewing Mirror test?"
There were sporadic discussions amidst the panting, and many people looked at her in surprise.
On the high platform, the attention of the Xuanyun Sect elders had already been attracted.
"This girl... is quite interesting." A red-faced elder stroked his beard and said, "Her foundation is so solid, far surpassing her peers. The pressure of this Azure Cloud Ladder doesn't seem to have much effect on her?"
The green-robed elder who had once expressed doubts about Ye Li narrowed his eyes. "It's not that the effect is insignificant, but the way she manages to dissipate the pressure is extremely ingenious, and her physical strength is also extraordinary. Her steps are incredibly steady, and her resolve is also incredibly resolute. She's a promising talent."
Even the white-haired old man in the center, who exuded the deepest aura, nodded slightly. "He has a good character, neither arrogant nor impatient, and knows his limits. If his talent is truly only upper yellow, then this determination and foundation are enough to make up for it."
Ye Li, below, was unaware of the comments from the platform; she was immersed in this unique climb. The pressure sharpened her body, while the mental awe constantly tempered her soul. She could even feel the "Youhuan Emperor Scripture" speeding up slightly, and her spiritual energy becoming more condensed.
When they reached level 5,000, the pressure suddenly increased to a new level! It was as if an invisible hand was pressing down hard!
"Ugh!"
“No!”
Suddenly, screams rang out, and a large number of young men and women were crushed by the suddenly increased pressure like dumplings. They rolled down, or were rescued by the sect disciples waiting on the side, and were eliminated.
The remaining people all felt their bodies shaken violently and their speed dropped sharply. It took great effort to move up each level.
Even the geniuses in the first echelon at the front had noticeably slowed down.
However, Ye Li still maintained that constant speed! As if level 5,000 or level 500 made no difference to her!
This completely attracted the attention of the geniuses in front.
"Hmph! Playing tricks!" The wild young man, Shi Feng, glanced back and saw that Ye Li had unknowingly caught up to their second echelon. He snorted coldly, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. He stomped his foot, a khaki glow emanating from his body, and forcibly increased his speed, as if trying not to be caught up by the others behind him.
The young man Lin Yu with the folding fan also noticed Ye Li. A hint of surprise and calculation flashed in his eyes. He shook the fan and chuckled: "Interesting." His speed was not slow, and his movements seemed quite light.
The cold and beautiful girl Luo Bing just glanced back indifferently, her eyes still cold, no emotion showing, and she continued to climb up at her own pace.
The real trouble came from a few narrow-minded, self-righteous children from aristocratic families. They felt ashamed when they saw that a little-known woman with a "mere" talent for adultery had surpassed them, becoming on par with them and even threatening to surpass them.
When Ye Li was about to overtake a young man in gorgeous clothes with an arrogant look, a sinister look flashed in the young man's eyes. He deliberately took a step to the side, just blocking Ye Li. At the same time, he secretly mobilized his spiritual power to form a disturbance, trying to interfere with Ye Li's steps, making her look embarrassed or even fall!
"Get out of the way! Don't block my way!" He growled like a villain.
Ye Li's eyes flashed coldly! She had long sensed the opponent's malicious intent. The moment the disturbance reached her, she misstepped slightly, the exquisiteness of her Shadow Step on full display! She didn't force her way in, but like a slippery fish, she used the edge of the opponent's spiritual power disturbance to instantly bypass the opponent's obstruction with an incredibly tiny arc. She even cleverly borrowed a little force, increasing her speed slightly and easily surpassing him!
The young man in fancy clothes saw his target disappear in a flash, and the disturbance he created was like a drop in the ocean, which made his breath stagnate. He almost lost his pace and stumbled, looking quite embarrassed.
"You!" He was shocked and angry, his face flushed red.
Ye Li didn't even turn her head, as if she just brushed away a speck of dust and continued her steady and continuous climb.
This scene, witnessed by the other disciples struggling to climb, was even more horrified. They knew the young man in the ornate attire, a man who had reached the pinnacle of the Spiritual Awakening Realm. How could he be left behind so easily?
Next, more and more people who didn't believe in evil tried to trip him up secretly, either by squeezing him intentionally or by attacking him with spiritual power.
But Ye Li always managed to easily resolve these attacks with the most ingenious and energy-saving methods, sometimes even taking advantage of her opponent's tactics to move forward with even less effort. Her agility and control of power were fully demonstrated and tempered under the intense pressure.
After reaching level 7,000, the pressure doubled again! It was like a real mountain pressing down on one's shoulders!
The geniuses in the first echelon also moved as slowly as turtles, relying entirely on their profound cultivation and willpower to hold on.
Shi Feng's muscles bulged, veins popping, and he growled as he inched upwards. Lin Yu had already put away his folding fan, sweat on his forehead, and a forced smile. Luo Bing's body was brimming with cold energy, and with every step he took, a faint frost lingered on the stone steps, his face turning slightly pale.
Ye Li finally slowed down her pace for the first time, but she was still faster than most people ahead of her! Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her breathing became slightly heavier, but her eyes remained clear and calm, and her pace showed no sign of panic.
She began to surpass those first-tier talents who were previously out of her reach one by one!
When he passed Lin Yu, the other party's eyes were full of disbelief and a hint of gloom.
When he passed Shi Feng, the other party let out an unwilling roar, but was unable to accelerate.
Finally, she was on par with Luo Bing, who was emitting a cold aura!
Luo Bing glanced sideways at her, and for the first time, a distinct emotion flickered in her cold eyes—a hint of surprise and a strong fighting spirit. She seemed to want to speed up, but her pressure had reached its limit. In the end, she could only watch as Ye Li, at a slightly faster speed than her, steadily surpassed her step by step!
Eight thousand level! Eight thousand five hundred level! Nine thousand level!
There are fewer and fewer stone steps ahead, and there are less than a hundred people still climbing!
Everyone's eyes were focused on the gray figure in the front, which was still moving slowly but steadily!
On the platform, the elders were already moved.
"This girl... is extraordinary!" exclaimed the red-faced elder.
The green-robed elder's eyes were blazing. "This determination, this foundation, this resilience... Yellow talent? I now have my doubts!"
The white-haired old man also showed a rare smile on his face: "It seems that my Xuanyun Sect has really picked up a treasure this time."
Finally, under the gazes of countless shocked, complicated, and unbelievable eyes, Ye Li stepped onto the 9,999th stone step!
The powerful pressure disappeared in an instant, and his whole body felt lighter.
She stood steadily on the huge square at the top of Qingyun Peak, breathing slightly and her face flushed, but her posture was still as straight as a pine tree.
She is the first person to reach the top!
There were already many sect stewards and disciples waiting in the square, and they were all looking at her as if she were a monster.
Ye Li slowly calmed his breathing and glanced at the crowd below who were still struggling to climb. He saw Su Wanyun's stubborn figure, Ye Shi's gritted teeth and persistence, and the shocked and unwilling eyes of those geniuses.
She looked away, her eyes calm and composed.
The ladder to the sky is just the beginning.
She sat cross-legged, closed her eyes and regulated her breathing, waiting for the subsequent test, as if the shocking performance just now was just a trivial matter.
However, what she didn't know was that the name "Ye Li" had exploded like a thunderclap at the top of Qingyun Peak and in the hearts of all witnesses!
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