Two steps left, only two stone steps remain!
At this moment, Mu Dan and the others stared intently at the two stone steps ahead. Upon seeing Li Xuan and the unfamiliar woman reach the 106th step first, everyone mustered their strength, ready to power through. However, as they stepped onto the 106th, they finally understood why Li Xuan and the woman had stopped.
The gravity suppression multiplier had already reached a hundred and eighty times!
Naturally, the only spiritual masters remaining were the leaders of the eleven sects, Li Xuan, and the unfamiliar woman.
“The world today truly is filled with emerging talents. In the prime of my Sacred Sect’s prosperity, we didn’t seem to have this many disciples reaching this stage,” Qi Bai Yan murmured to himself, his gaze sweeping over Li Xuan and the others with a hint of emotion.
“It’s just that these last two stone steps have a gravity suppression multiplier of two hundred times. These youngsters will need to give it their all to successfully pass this first trial,” Qi Bai Yan chuckled, then continued to observe.
“Miss, shall we continue?” Li Xuan glanced at Mu Dan and the others, then shifted his gaze to the unfamiliar woman and asked.
The woman heard him, looked at the two steps ahead, and then nodded slightly.
*Boom!*
Li Xuan and the woman stepped down, reaching the 107th stone step!
Two beams of spiritual light shot out, instantly entering Li Xuan and the woman. The next moment, the woman’s brow furrowed, and large drops of sweat rolled down her face. Li Xuan was also not faring well. The terrifying gravity suppression made his body taut, as if a mountain weighing ten thousand jun was pressing down on him, making it difficult for him to even lift his head.
“Damn it!”
Seeing that Li Xuan and the woman had once again taken the lead, Jun Bi Li’s eyes flashed with determination. He immediately formed hand seals, and a golden light enveloped his feet from his head downwards. Then, with a single step, he also landed on the 107th step.
By now, Mu Dan and the others were not to be outdone. With only two steps remaining, they were unwilling to give up. Moreover, as leaders of their respective sects, to back down now would undoubtedly be a loss of face for their sects and an admission of inferiority to others.
In an instant, a vibrant array of colorful spiritual lights erupted, clearly indicating that everyone had unleashed their trump cards. Then, under the watchful eyes of the crowd below, all of them simultaneously stepped onto the 107th stone step.
Soon, Jun Bi Li and the other ten took another step. This time, the eleven of them actually reached the 108th stone step, one step ahead of Li Xuan and the woman.
Upon reaching the 108th step, Jun Bi Li immediately felt the gravity suppression disappear. Everyone collapsed to the ground, exhausted. However, their gazes remained fixed on Li Xuan and the woman.
Everything Li Xuan and the woman had displayed thus far was achieved solely through their physical bodies and inherent strength. While they had successfully passed a step ahead, they had ultimately used their trump cards and bursts of power to succeed. Li Xuan and the woman, however, were still persisting on their own.
“This suppression is too strong. With my current physique, I probably can’t hold on. Well, Grandpa said to give up when it’s time to give up.” Just then, the woman spoke, causing Li Xuan and Mu Dan and the others to freeze in surprise. Was this unfamiliar woman about to give up?
Under the watchful eyes of Li Xuan and the others, as soon as the woman finished speaking, a spiritual light flashed across her body, and she stepped directly onto the 108th stone step. She then turned around with ease, looking at Li Xuan and said, “Aren’t you going to use external forces?”
Li Xuan heard her, gave a wry smile, and shook his head. His gaze, sharp as a sword, fixed on the 108th stone step, and he said, “I want to try a little longer.”
As Li Xuan spoke, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes. He raised his left foot simultaneously.
“This guy… he’s quite strong!” The unfamiliar woman pouted upon seeing this, then walked to the side to wait. Mu Dan and the others, on the other hand, exchanged peculiar glances. Was this sword cultivator planning to ascend all 108 steps solely with his physical body?
Qi Bai Yan was also watching Li Xuan with a hint of anticipation. He knew that even he had used external forces to successfully ascend the Ascension Cloud Steps back then. In the history of the Sacred Sect, it seemed only the founding ancestor had managed to descend purely through physical strength.
Perhaps sensing Li Xuan’s intention, the terrifying gravity suppression surged towards Li Xuan with wild abandon. Li Xuan’s raised left foot hung suspended in mid-air, unable to move forward even an inch.
“The path I, Li Xuan, wish to tread, no one can obstruct!” Feeling the shift in the gravity suppression, a mad glint appeared in Li Xuan’s eyes. With a low roar, he moved his left foot forward again.
*Crack!*
A crisp sound emanated from Li Xuan’s body, especially from his left leg, which began to crack. Flesh and blood fell away, revealing bone. Mu Dan and the others were shocked at the sight. This guy was too insane.
Seeing that Li Xuan was truly preparing to rely on his physical body, the unfamiliar woman was deeply moved by his persistence and willpower. A strange emotion gradually appeared in her eyes as she looked at Li Xuan.
“This child’s temperament, endurance, and willpower are so strong. If he grows up, he might become another figure who stirs up storms,” Qi Bai Yan’s expression slightly tightened, a rare seriousness appearing on his face.
“Ah!”
Intense pain struck Li Xuan. Veins bulged on his forehead, and large drops of sweat trickled down, with blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Yet, the madness in Li Xuan’s eyes burned ever brighter.
Seeing this, the unfamiliar woman immediately said, “If you continue to persist, you will die.”
The woman could see that Li Xuan’s thigh was now losing flesh and blood, and even his right leg on the 107th step was beginning to tremble.
“Die? Perhaps,” Li Xuan gave a bitter laugh. Images of his childhood bullying flashed through his mind. Back then, even when beaten by a crowd, he hadn’t let out a sound. In that desperate situation with no one to rely on, he had persevered. What did he have left to lose?
“Born into this world, how can I, Li Xuan, be crushed by mere gravity?”
“I wish to reach the summit, and no one can stop me. Kill gods if gods block my way, kill buddhas if buddhas block my way!”
Li Xuan roared like a lion, and then his left foot heavily stomped onto the 108th stone step. Although his body was now cracking inch by inch, Li Xuan grinned.
The next moment, a terrifying sword energy erupted from within Li Xuan. Under everyone’s astonished gaze, Li Xuan’s eyes slowly closed.
Everyone, including the unfamiliar woman, was stunned. Li Xuan had one foot on the finish line, while the other remained in place. At this moment, Li Xuan had entered a state of enlightenment!
Bu Jing Lei and Kun Peng exchanged glances, their eyes filled with gravity. Beside them, the sword-carrying man watched Li Xuan, a look of dawning comprehension on his face, then waited with excitement.
Qi Bai Yan was also surprised by Li Xuan’s strange action, but then an aura emanating from Li Xuan caused Qi Bai Yan’s expression to change drastically.
“This… this is Sword Intent!”