Three suns hang high in the sky, in the realm of Clear Sky.
The bone-palpation ceremony has just ended, yet the venue remains bustling. Many who have not been admitted still linger to watch the spectacle.
In front of the disciples eligible for admission, there are two mountain paths leading to the peak of Qingyuan Mountain.
One is used by the disciples for their daily comings and goings.
The other is overgrown with weeds, ancient and extraordinary.
This is the famous Heavenly Ladder.
It is said to be an unexpected treasure obtained by the founder of the Qingyuan Sect, though incomplete, suspected to be from an ancient sect far in the past, used to test the disciples’ abilities.
“Those who climb ten steps can enter the outer sect.”
“Those who climb fifty steps can enter the inner sect.”
“Those who reach eighty steps become true disciples,” said the short, stout elder standing before the Heavenly Ladder.
“What if someone reaches the top?” someone asked confidently.
Who else but Wang Hu could it be?
The corners of the elder’s mouth lifted slightly, as if he was not unfamiliar with this question:
“The founder said that those who reach the top will become the true disciple of the Qingyuan Sect leader.”
“However, throughout the history of the sect, there have been countless geniuses, and only two or three have managed to do so.”
“All of them were of the highest talent, and while they may not seem ambitious, they end up achieving more.”
He paused for a moment.
These words were meant for the majority.
Isn’t there a young girl with exceptional talent this year?
“Esteemed elder, wouldn’t those who are physically strong, or even those who have practiced martial arts in advance, have an advantage?” someone else asked.
The elder patiently explained:
“Do not worry; the stone steps will suppress bl**d and qi.”
After educating everyone, he waved his hand grandly.
“You have one hour, everyone, begin.”
As soon as the words fell, a disciple inserted a thick incense stick into a bronze incense burner.
Timing had begun, and everyone looked at each other, no one wanting to be the first.
“A bunch of timid people, I’ll go first!”
Wang Hu strode confidently up the stone steps.
Instantly, he felt the bl**d and qi within him no longer surging, unable to provide the usual superhuman strength.
Yet, he still stepped forward proudly.
Ten steps… twenty steps…
At thirty steps, his body began to wobble.
At the same time, a faint tiger roar echoed inside him, resisting immense pressure.
He continued, supporting himself through the fiftieth step.
Others gasped in surprise.
They were now in the inner sect.
With someone breaking the ice, others followed suit, after all, the incense was still burning, and wasting time might mean missing out on climbing another step.
The speed varied, but no one’s expression was relaxed.
Pressure increased from all directions, becoming harder to breathe as they climbed higher.
“Is that Lin Jiang? He’s moving so fast.”
“Murong Xiao is faster!”
“They make it look so easy.”
…
Most people focused intently on climbing, with only a few discussing.
Until Ying Bing stepped up.
Everyone’s attention naturally shifted to her.
After all, everyone was curious.
Could this cold, clear girl with the highest talent rating, make it this far?
“The complete stone steps can also test one’s character.”
Feeling slight pressure, Ying Bing shook her head slightly.
Moreover,
this Heavenly Ladder was too ancient.
It would probably lose its efficacy soon.
Her figure, like an ice lotus, grew taller.
Ten steps… twenty steps… thirty steps…
She seemed to walk on flat ground!
Height made no difference to her; she quickly left others behind.
Everyone couldn’t hold back anymore.
This wasn’t about reaching the top or not.
She was clearly here to set a new record!
Her talent must rank among the best even among the highest grades in Qingyuan Sect history!
Ying Bing ascended step by step.
Soon, she reached the fifty-fourth step.
“Hmm?”
Wang Hu noticed the sudden silence behind him. Turning around, he felt his limbs turn icy.
The girl’s gaze was like frosty snow.
It was as if she was looking down from the clouds, a cold moon observing life below.
For an instant, he instinctively avoided her gaze and moved away.
“What a spectacle.”
Li Mo sighed inexplicably.
Some people are cold outside but warm inside, others are warm outside but cold inside.
Such as Bing Tuozi, whose outward appearance is icy but is actually domineering inside, he had never seen before.
Thinking this, he moved.
Hide one’s abilities?
Not in his case.
The higher you climb, the higher your status in the sect in the future, and the easier it is to access the best talents.
He hadn’t taken enough “wool” from Bing Tuozi yet.
Besides,
he wanted to see how far he could go.
Bone palpation resulted in a third-grade rating.
He had no idea what his talent level was.
What level is a celestial body in the martial world?
He was in a hurry.
Taking a step.
Hmm?
“This isn’t just an ordinary stone step?”
Li Mo tilted his head and took three steps at once.
…
On the high platform,
“I really like that little girl Ying Bing’s personality!”
Watching the girl like a storm passing through, the palace-dressed woman’s eyes sparkled.
Her movements were so large that her already evil-looking figure became even more so.
“Can these two kids be together?”
…
Xue Jing stroked his long beard, deep in thought.
In the letter sent, his former disciple, Li Mo’s father, mentioned wanting Ying Bing to be his daughter-in-law.
From this perspective…
This future daughter-in-law might not be stable.
A third-grade bone structure doesn’t seem like it could become a true disciple… Hmm?
Xue Jing suddenly saw the young man running briskly up the mountain.
“Senior Brother, why don’t you give that girl to me? I’m sure I can teach her well!”
The drunken palace-dressed woman patted her chest in assurance.
The high-ranking officials couldn’t bear to look, speaking up one after another:
“You can’t be serious. You spend twelve hours a day, six sleeping and six drunk!”
“Sister Shang Wu, please let him be. Don’t ruin such a genius.”
“No, absolutely not! Even if you k*ll me, I won’t agree!”
The elders all had the desire to take on disciples.
And on this matter, they were consistent—anyone would do, as long as it’s not under the ninth peak elder Shang Wu.
Just then.
Suddenly.
A clear phoenix cry echoed across the sky.
Only to see,
Ying Bing stood at the end of the Heavenly Ladder.
Crows, magpies, geese, eagles… countless birds swarmed from all directions, obediently circling around her.
Countless people in the venue stood frozen, unsure of what had happened.
On the viewing platform, the high-ranking officials of the Qingyuan Sect sensed something.
Behind Ying Bing, they seemed to see a white bird with splendid feathers, its presence majestic and mysterious.
The silent Qingyuan Sect patriarch suddenly stood up.
“This girl can condense the form of a hundred birds! Gather phoenix spirits! Display the scene of Taiyin!”
Shang Wencang’s eyes shone brightly.
……..
The others on the Heavenly Ladder couldn’t see anything unusual.
But they heard the startling cry echoing through the clouds and saw the birds circling around.
Wang Hu was incredulous.
That fairy-like silhouette was only forty steps away.
Just as he was filled with n*ked possessiveness and prepared to climb a few more steps,
tap—
Footsteps came from behind.
Li Mo?
How did he get up here?
“You must have used some trick to deceive the Heavenly Ladder!”
“Think you can stand next to her? Get down!”
Wang Hu’s eyes were bloodshot, his face dark.
Struggling against the pressure, he tried to grab Li Mo’s collar to throw him down.
Li Mo: “?”
The other’s movements seemed slow as a turtle in his eyes.
Why didn’t he stop?
He, Li Mo, really had no interest in getting slapped in the face.
“Hehehe, the rules didn’t say you can’t fight on the stone steps…”
“Oh? What did you say?”
“I said…”
Bam—
Little Li executed a sweeping kick.
There’s a kind of pain that hurts just to watch.
Seeing this, the boy felt a chill.
“Mm…”
Wang Hu’s face instantly turned purple.
Intense pain made it hard for him to stand, especially on the stone steps where he was under tremendous pressure.
“Aaaah…”
Screams and rolling sounds gradually faded away.
“Get out of the way!”
Someone shouted a warning, fortunately, everyone dodged in time, avoiding being hit by Wang Hu rolling like a barrel.
“Calm now.”
Li Mo shrugged and continued climbing.
He had been watched, but no one said much.
It seems Wang Hu was right.
There was no rule prohibiting attacking others on the Heavenly Ladder.
But since they weren’t in direct competition, wasting energy to bother others was a lose-lose situation, so no one had done it before.
“That guy looks sunny when he smiles, but he’s really ruthless.”
“No, that’s not the point.”
“Isn’t he supposed to be a third-grade talent?”
Someone suddenly spoke up, and everyone realized.
Yes, that’s not right!
How did he climb to over fifty steps… no, now it’s eighty!
His casual pace was still effortless.
If Ying Bing’s performance shocked and envied everyone,
Li Mo’s was completely bewildering.
You call this a third-grade talent?!
“Head Elder Han, did you make a mistake when you checked this kid’s bone structure?” the short, stout middle-aged elder asked with doubt.
The old woman who had just palpated Li Mo’s bones changed her expression and could only whisper:
“Perhaps I’m getting old, my eyesight is failing.”
Hearing this, the high-ranking officials all fell silent.
That head elder had sharp eyes and extensive experience.
How could he make a mistake in bone palpation?
In a few sentences.
Over there.
The figure on the summit had changed from one to two.
Ying Bing’s eyes flickered with different emotions.
Reach the summit?
To her, it wasn’t difficult.
Even with the complete Heavenly Ladder, she had encountered countless people who could reach the top.
But not him!
A gentle breeze blew, Li Mo’s robe fluttered, and he smiled:
“Good, you’ve come too.”
Looking at the mountains below, a sense of vastness welled up in his chest.
It was a beautiful moment, but an uncaring crow ruined it.
It landed on the young man’s head.
