“The Yanluo Curse on Chi Miao has existed for countless lifetimes. Though it rendered her a mediocrity in each life and cut her life short, it also tempered her soul to an exceptionally robust state, making her so accustomed to it that she could hardly feel the heart-wrenching, bone-gnawing pain.”
“The Heavenly Ladder is a divine artifact from ancient times. The moment she stepped onto it, the torment of the Yanluo Curse was suppressed. No matter how much the Heavenly Ladder strained her, even a thousand steps could not compare to the agony of the curse.”
“So that’s why she feels so refreshed after all this?”
The other elders were utterly dumbfounded.
“Is that even possible?”
He Wanban nodded. “To put it simply, it’s like she’s been brutally beaten with a stick every moment of her life, and today she suddenly got slapped instead. Compared to the stick, isn’t the slap a relief?”
Elder Yan pondered for a moment. “So… she actually enjoyed being slapped?”
He Wanban: “Well… you could say that.”
The elders fell silent.
Though the analogy was crude, it was strikingly accurate.
“She’s already reached the 170th step.”
“What?!”
After a female elder reminded them, everyone hurriedly looked.
It was true…
By now, Chi Miao had climbed to the 170th step—a truly terrifying achievement, as evidenced by Jin Shengfei, who was at the half-step Foundation Establishment stage beside her.
Jin Shengfei’s veins bulged all over his body, his sweat soaking through his robes.
His eyes were wide with strain, and he was even crawling on all fours up the Heavenly Ladder.
Of all the climbers on the Heavenly Ladder, the others had already stopped. The highest among them had reached only the 150th step, which was considered the best result in recent years.
But the two still climbing were exceptionally formidable.
Jin Shengfei’s performance was understandable, but why was Chi Miao so monstrous?!
“She’s only at the early stage of Qi Refining, right? Why does she still seem so relaxed?”
“This is terrifying… She might even break Ying WuHuo’s record!”
“Her talent… it’s truly freakish. Who would have thought such a dark horse would emerge? She hasn’t even begun formal cultivation, yet she’s already this powerful. In the future… her potential is limitless.”
Jin Shengfei’s climbing speed grew slower and slower. Every step he took now was excruciating, the pain doubling with each move.
His vision blurred, and sweat poured uncontrollably.
“I must climb… I must reach the top!”
The pressure on him was already immense, and seeing Chi Miao ascend so effortlessly fueled his stubborn determination.
He had to push himself to climb higher, at least to the 200th step, to prove that he too could be considered a top-tier genius!
His family had been merchants for generations, amassing immense wealth. Every year, they spent fortunes hiring powerful experts for protection—a staggering cost.
He was the only one in his lineage to possess an immortal root, and the entire family had pinned their hopes on him, investing vast resources to ensure he could one day uphold the family’s legacy!
If he failed to become a top-tier genius, he would never be able to intimidate others or safeguard his family in the future.
He was the hope of the entire Jin family of Jiangling!
190!
191!
He gritted his teeth.
But how could the final ten steps to the 200th tier be easy?
Each step here had thwarted countless aspirants!
195!
“Ah!”
Suddenly, Jin Shengfei’s body erupted in blood!
“Pfft—!”
Pain—every cell, every pore of his body screamed in agony.
He stared at the final five steps, his vision gradually blurring.
He couldn’t tell if it was blood or tears.
He wanted to keep climbing upward, but his legs had no strength left, limp as cotton.
Was this where it would end?
Just then, a girl’s clear voice rang out.
“Jin Shengfei, can you still go up?”
Startled back to awareness, he saw… Chi Miao in red robes, her eyes serious as she extended a hand toward him.
Gritting his teeth, he said, “Yes!”
Chi Miao continued, “Are you sure? Every step upward now brings lethal pressure, but if you want to go, I’ll pull you along.”
How could Jin Shengfei not know?
He looked at the steps above.
Yes, he could give up right here, with just five steps left.
But reaching two hundred steps before Foundation Establishment would prove he possessed talent rivaling a peerless genius like Ying WuHuo.
He would become his family’s pride!
And… even if not for his family, he didn’t want to give up here.
Chi Miao could go further—he wouldn’t admit defeat either.
“I can do it! Pull me up!”
“I must reach the two hundredth step!”
At that moment, Chi Miao grasped his hand and pulled him upward.
One hundred ninety-six…
With each step, he felt excruciating pain.
But his heart held only gratitude and excitement.
Their actions horrified the onlookers above.
“This is treating life like a child’s game!”
Yet…
Their hearts held both anguish and admiration.
A female elder smiled. “The fearless recklessness of youth is truly the most beautiful moment in this world.”
“With their talent and temperament, these two will either die young or… become great figures in their own right.”
Everyone agreed on this point.
Cultivation wasn’t child’s play—everything had to be fought for.
Fight for resources, fight for treasures, fight for people.
Without ambition, without contention… why even cultivate?
Better to find a man and marry early.
What about men?
Men could find other men to marry too—it’s not like they only have fronts without backs.
One hundred ninety-nine!
Two hundred!
The moment he stepped onto the two hundredth step, Jin Shengfei burst out in triumphant cheers.
“I did it! I did it!”
Amid his laughter, something suddenly caught in his throat.
It was blood, gushing out instantly.
Chi Miao: “Calm down.”
Calm down?
How could he calm down? He laughed heartily.
Lying on the two hundredth step, he gasped for breath.
“You go on.”
He closed his eyes, waiting for a while without any response.
When he looked…
Chi Miao had long since left.
Jin Shengfei: “…”
Though it made sense, why so heartless, huh!
“To think Jin Shengfei actually reached two hundred steps… His talent now stands on the same level as Ying WuHuo.”
“This era truly produces geniuses frequently…”
“Most importantly, Chi Miao—how far can she go?”
Now, everyone’s attention focused entirely on Chi Miao.
Just as He Wanban had said, having endured the Yanluo Curse for so long, the pressure of the Heavenly Stairs meant nothing to her.
But… how far could she reach, and what glorious record would she set?
Everyone held their breath.
At that moment.
Chi Miao, halfway up the stairs, suddenly shouted:
“Jin Shengfei—!”
Jin Shengfei, who had just closed his eyes moments before, snapped them open and looked up.
There, Chi Miao stood out strikingly in her red robes on the golden Ascension Steps.
In no time, she had reached the 299th step.
Her speed was simply too fast…
The young girl paused, then smiled:
“Didn’t you say you’d give me one high-grade spirit stone for each step starting from the 300th step?”
“Now, watch closely!”
Due to the immense pressure earlier, Jin Shengfei had completely forgotten about this agreement.
Now reminded by the young girl, he suddenly felt a sense of foreboding…
One step!
Chi Miao ascended to the 300th step!