Ruan Xiyan had no time to dodge, or perhaps she simply didn't have the strength to dodge.
The sharp claws pierced her fair neck, and she felt a spurt of hot blood spray onto her face.
She could clearly sense that the life force around her was rapidly disappearing, and everything in front of her was becoming blurry.
Is this what death feels like?
Ruan Xiyan could no longer hold on and collapsed helplessly onto the ice.
The blood stained the ice beneath them, like blooming blood lotuses.
The moment Ruan Xiyan fell, the frantically attacking ice sculptures of monsters around her vanished instantly.
On the steps leading to the heavens, Ruan Xiyan, who was sitting cross-legged, suddenly opened her eyes.
His chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath.
It took Ruan Xiyan a while to recover from her near-death experience.
She glanced around; she had emerged from that space.
She checked her internal condition and found that not only was there nothing wrong with her body, but her strength had become even more solid and powerful.
Furthermore, the chill contained within its power is even stronger.
Ruan Xiyan narrowed her eyes slightly; this space was indeed a good place for people to hone their skills.
While improving their skills, they can also hone their willpower and gain more practical experience.
There aren't always so many Warcraft ice sculptures available to serve as free sparring partners.
Thinking of this, Ruan Xiyan had a thought and re-entered that space.
As she stepped onto the ice, the magical ice sculptures reappeared.
Meanwhile, Ruan Xiyan was engaged in endless battles and fights, which greatly worried many people who were unaware of what was going on.
The elder guard paced back and forth at the bottom of the steps to heaven, clapping his hands and saying, "Twelve hours have passed already, why hasn't that little girl come down yet!"
Although the young girl had spent a long time cultivating on the steps to heaven before, she had never stayed for more than ten hours at a time like this.
Moreover, the eighty steps above were obscured by white mist, and not a single person could be seen, so no one knew what was happening.
The elder guard had no choice but to inform Yu Huaiting.
Yu Qiqi happened to be with Yu Huaiting at the time, and as soon as she heard it was about Ruan Xiyan, she immediately came over.
"Elder, are you saying that Sister Yan has been up there for more than ten hours?"
The elder guard replied, "Yes, young master."
Yu Qiqi looked worriedly in the direction of the Heavenly Staircase. "It's been so long, will Sister Yan be alright? Father, I'll go up and check on her."
As Yu Qiqi spoke, she walked forward, but was immediately stopped by Yu Huaiting, who grabbed her by the collar.
"Where are you going! How could you possibly climb the eighty-story staircase to heaven?" Yu Huaiting said irritably.
Yu Qiqi's entire face scrunched up. "Father, what should we do?"
“Even I can’t climb eighty steps. All we can do now is wait.” Yu Huaiting looked at Yu Qiqi’s worried eyes.
He patted her on the shoulder and comforted her, "This towering staircase is a sacred cultivation ground of our Ice Feather Palace; there's no danger there."
"Moreover, the first Palace Master Jing once climbed the eightieth floor of the Heavenly Staircase and left behind information that the Heavenly Staircase has a total of one hundred floors."
"The Palace Master Jing was fine when he went up there, so I'm sure Young Friend Ruan will be fine too."
Yu Qiqi clenched her fists secretly and nodded vigorously, "That's right, Sister Yan is so amazing, she'll definitely be fine."
Ruan Xiyan was completely oblivious to the passage of time amidst the endless carnage.
She killed the ice sculptures of magical beasts time and time again, starting with a hundred, then a thousand, and then ten thousand.
As Ruan Xiyan was engrossed in her work, a surge of breakthrough power suddenly emanated from her body.
On the brink of life and death, they experienced the extreme again and again, unleashing their inner potential.
She gained a new understanding of everything around her, and a new understanding and awareness of death.
The change in her state of mind allowed Ruan Xiyan to advance her strength to the sixth level of the Creation Realm.
She slowly opened her eyes, stood up from the steps, and the oppressive aura around her seemed to lessen.
However, Ruan Xiyan knew very well that the pressure had never changed from beginning to end; the only thing that had changed was her strength—her ability to withstand the pressure had become stronger.
Looking at the remaining time on her bracelet, Ruan Xiyan exclaimed in surprise, "Twenty hours have already passed!"
She didn't feel much during the battle, but once the fight stopped, Ruan Xiyan felt the hunger in her stomach.
She stretched and went down the steps.
That's all for today, we'll continue tomorrow.
When Ruan Xiyan left the steps leading to the heavens, she unexpectedly saw Yu Qiqi standing there.
"Qiqi, what are you doing here?" Ruan Xiyan then looked at Yu Huaiting beside her and asked, "The Palace Master is here too. Has something happened?"
Yu Qiqi stepped forward, took Ruan Xiyan's hand, and looked her up and down. "Sister Yan, are you alright?"
“You’ve been up there for so long, I thought something had happened to you, I was so worried about you.”
Seeing Yu Qiqi's furrowed brow, Ruan Xiyan gently rubbed her head. "I'm fine, I'm sorry for making you and the Palace Master worry."
Yu Huaiting looked at Ruan Xiyan and said, "It's good that you're alright. Qiqi was almost crying with worry."
"However, the eightyth floor of the Heavenly Staircase is not a place I can set foot on, so I can only watch helplessly and cannot help. Please forgive me, young friend Ruan."
"You're too kind, Palace Master."
"In that case, you two continue your conversation. I'll head back now." Before leaving, Yu Huaiting went to see the guard elder one last time.
He instructed him that if there were any news about Ruan Xiyan at the Heavenly Staircase in the future, he must notify him immediately.
With this little girl's talent, he really wanted to see if she could one day reach the top of the Heavenly Staircase and create a miracle.
Yu Qiqi knew that Ruan Xiyan must be hungry after staying on the steps to heaven for so long, so she thoughtfully took her to eat.
As they walked, Ruan Xiyan told her about the situation at the top of the Heavenly Steps.
"Sister Yan, you are amazing! Since the founding of Ice Feather Palace, you are the first person to reach the 80th floor, apart from the first palace master."
"I have spent quite a bit of time in the inner sect, and I have cultivated at the Heavenly Staircase countless times."
“But I’m only at the sixtieth step right now.” Yu Qiqi said, her head drooping.
She felt that the gap between her and Sister Yan was widening.
"Don't be discouraged. Your talent is already exceptional. I am not afraid of the cold on the steps to heaven because of my unique physique."
"That's why you can keep moving forward without being limited by time," Ruan Xiyan comforted her.
"Yes, Sister Yan, I will definitely work hard to become stronger." Yu Qiqi's eyes shone brightly.
Hearing Ruan Xiyan's words, he instantly perked up again.
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