Free Web NovelThree suns hung high, and the sky was clear for thousands of miles.
The bone-touching session had ended, but the scene was still noisy, with many who hadn't entered the Sect staying to watch the excitement.
In front of the Disciples who had already entered the Sect were two mountain paths leading to the top of Qingyuan Mountain.
One was used by the Sect members for daily entry and exit.
There was also another, overgrown with weeds, ancient and extraordinary.
This was the famous Ascension Stone Steps.
Legend has it that it was a rare treasure unexpectedly obtained by Qingyuan Sect's Ancestral Master, and it was incomplete, suspected to be an object used by an ancient Sect from a distant age to test its members.
"Those who climb ten steps can enter the Outer Sect."
"Those who climb fifty steps enter the Inner Sect."
"Those who reach eighty steps become True Disciples."
The short, stout Elder stood before the Ascension Stone Steps and said loudly.
"What if we reach the top?" someone confidently asked.
Who else could it be but Wang Hu.
The short, stout Elder's mouth curved slightly, seemingly not for the first time answering this question:
"The Ancestral Master once said that the one who reaches the top will be the Sect Leader's True Disciple of Qingyuan Sect."
"However, throughout the Sect's history, there have been countless Geniuses, but only two or three have been able to achieve it."
"Those were all of top-tier Aptitude. Do not aim too high, and you might actually go higher."
As he spoke, he paused again.
Those words were for most people.
This year, wasn't there a little girl with excellent Aptitude?
"Elder, wouldn't strong individuals, or even those who have practiced martial arts in advance, have an advantage?" another person asked.
The short, stout Elder patiently replied:
"No need to worry, the stone steps will suppress Qi and blood."
After giving everyone a brief explanation, he waved his hand.
"One hour is the limit. Everyone, begin."
As his voice fell, a Disciple inserted a finger-thick long incense stick into a bronze censer.
The timer had started, but everyone looked at each other, and no one wanted to be the first. freёwebnovel.com
"A bunch of cowards! I'll go first!"
Wang Hu strode forward with an arrogant gait and stepped onto the stone steps.
Instantly, he felt that the Qi and blood in his body no longer boiled, unable to provide him with strength beyond ordinary people.
However, he still stepped out proudly.
Ten steps... twenty steps...
At thirty steps, his body began to sway.
At the same time, the faint sound of a tiger's roar came from within his body, resisting the immense pressure.
It also supported him as he stepped past the fiftieth step.
The others all gasped in surprise.
Inner Sect.
With someone testing the waters, the latecomers also followed suit, after all, the incense was still burning, and the wasted time might be enough to climb one more step.
The speed of climbing varied, but no one's expression was relaxed.
The pressure from all directions grew stronger the higher one went, making it almost impossible to breathe.
"That's Lin Jiang, isn't it? He's moving so fast."
"Murong Xiao is even faster!"
"Why are they so relaxed?"
.....
Those discussing were ultimately a minority; most people were exerting all their strength, focusing on climbing.
Until Ying Bing stepped onto it.
Everyone's attention involuntarily shifted to her.
After all, everyone was curious.
How far could this cold and aloof young girl, who was rated as having top-tier bone structure, go?
"A complete set of stone steps can also test one's Heart-Nature."
Feeling a slight pressure, Ying Bing shook her head slightly.
Moreover.
These Ascension Stone Steps were too ancient.
It was likely that in some time, they would lose their effectiveness.
Her ice lotus-like figure rose higher and higher.
Ten steps... twenty steps... thirty steps...
As if walking on flat ground?!
The height had almost no effect on her, and she quickly left everyone else behind.
Everyone couldn't hold back anymore.
This wasn't a question of whether she would reach the top or not.
This was clearly about setting a new record for the fastest ascent!
Her Aptitude was probably among the best in Qingyuan Sect's history, even among those with top-tier Aptitude!
Ying Bing ascended the steps.
Soon, she reached the fifty-fourth step.
"Hmm?"
Wang Hu found that it suddenly became quiet behind him. He looked back and suddenly felt his limbs turn cold.
The young girl's eyes were like snow under frost.
It was as if the cold moon, looking down on all living beings from the clouds, was watching him.
At that moment, he instinctively dared not meet her gaze and moved his feet away.
"The center of attention, indeed."
Li Mo inexplicably sighed.
Some people are outwardly cold but inwardly warm, while others are outwardly warm but inwardly cold.
It was the first time he had seen someone like Ice Cube, who was outwardly as cold as ice and inwardly domineering.
Thinking this, he also moved.
Hiding his abilities?
No such thing.
The higher he climbed, the higher his status would be within the Sect in the future, and the easier it would be to come into contact with those of superior destiny.
He hadn't fleeced enough wool from Ice Cube yet.
Furthermore.
He also wanted to see how far he could go.
His bone-touching result was a C-grade.
He still didn't know what his Aptitude was like after all this time.
What level is an Immortal Body in a martial arts world?
Waiting online, it's urgent.
He took a step up.
Hmm?
"Isn't this just ordinary stone steps?"
Li Mo tilted his head and took three steps at once.
.....
Above the high platform.
"That little girl Ying Bing's personality suits my taste!"
Watching the young girl move like a passing snowstorm, the palace-dressed woman's eyes lit up.
Her movements were too exaggerated, making her already curvaceous figure even more so.
"Can these two little ones get together?"
Xue Jing stroked his long beard, deep in thought.
In the letter he received, his former Disciple, Li Mo's father, had mentioned wanting Ying Bing to be his future daughter-in-law.
Now it seemed...
This grand-Disciple-in-law might not be so stable.
A C-grade bone structure, it didn't seem like he could become a True Disciple... Hmm?
Xue Jing suddenly saw the young figure moving swiftly on the mountain path.
"Sect Leader Senior Brother, why don't you let me teach that little girl? I can definitely teach her well!"
The palace-dressed woman drunkenly patted her chest and guaranteed.
The high-ranking officials were speechless and spoke up one after another:
"You'd better not. Twelve hours a day, you sleep six hours and are drunk six hours!"
"Junior Sister Shang Wu, please let her go. Don't let a good Genius be led astray by you."
"No, absolutely not! Even if you beat me to death, I will not agree!"
The Elders all had the idea of taking Disciples.
But on this matter, they all agreed: anyone could teach her, as long as she didn't become a Disciple of Elder Shang Wu of the Ninth Peak.
Just at this moment.
Suddenly.
A clear Phoenix cry resounded across the sky.
One could only see.
Ying Bing was already standing at the end of the Ascension Stone Steps.
Crows, magpies, wild geese, eagles... countless birds swept in from all directions, obediently circling around her.
Countless people in the field stood frozen, unsure of what had happened.
But on the viewing platform, Qingyuan Sect's high-ranking officials had a feeling.
Behind Ying Bing, they seemed to see a moon-white bird, its feathers resplendent, its power evident, noble and mysterious.
The Qingyuan Sect Master, who had remained silent, suddenly stood up.
"This girl can condense the form of a hundred birds! Gather the Phoenix God! Manifest the scene of the Great Yin!"
Shangguan Wencang's eyes burned brightly.
........
The other people on the Ascension Stone Steps could not see the phenomenon.
But they also heard the astonishing cry that echoed through the clouds and saw the hundred birds circling.
Wang Hu was even more incredulous.
That fairy-like figure was only Forty steps away from him.
Just as his eyes were filled with naked possessiveness, and he was about to rush up a few more steps.
Step—
Footsteps came from behind him.
Li Mo?
How did he get up here?
"You must have used some trick to fool the Ascension Stone Steps!"
"Still want to stand next to her? Get down!"
Wang Hu's eyes were bloodshot, and his face was grim.
He endured the pressure and was about to grab Li Mo's collar and throw him down.
Li Mo: "?"
The other party's movements were as slow as a turtle in his eyes.
He's like this and still can't calm down?
Li Mo truly had no interest in slapping faces.
"Hehehe, the rules didn't say you couldn't make a move on the stone steps..."
"Oh? What did you say?"
"I said..."
Bang—
Xiao Li delivered a kick to the groin.
There's a kind of pain that hurts just by watching.
The young men who witnessed this scene all felt a chill down their spines.
"Ugh..."
Wang Hu's face instantly turned liver-colored.
The intense pain made him unable to stand steady, especially since he was on the stone steps, enduring immense pressure.
"Ah ah ah..."
The screams and rolling sounds gradually faded away.
"Quick, get out of the way!"
Someone shouted a warning. Fortunately, everyone dodged in time and was not hit by Wang Hu, who was rolling like a gourd.
"It's quiet now."
Li Mo shrugged and continued to walk up.
Just now, an attendant looked at him but didn't say much.
It seemed Wang Hu was right.
There was indeed no rule on the Ascension Stone Steps that prohibited attacking others.
It was just that everyone was not in a competitive relationship, and expending energy to annoy others was completely a self-defeating act, so no one had ever done it.
"That young man smiles brightly, but his methods are truly ruthless."
"No, that's not the point."
"Isn't he C-grade Aptitude?"
Someone suddenly spoke, and everyone else reacted.
Yes, that's not /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ right!
How did he climb to over fifty steps... No, now it's already eighty steps!
His leisurely pace was also effortless.
If Ying Bing's performance brought shock and envy to everyone.
Then for Li Mo, it was pure astonishment.
You call this C-grade?!
"Attendant Han, you didn't misread this kid's bone structure, did you?" The short, stout middle-aged Elder asked, both surprised and uncertain.
The old woman who had just touched Li Mo's bones changed her expression and could only whisper: fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
"Perhaps this old woman is old, and her eyes are dim, so she made a mistake."
As soon as these words came out, the high-ranking officials all pondered.
That attendant had sharp eyes and rich experience.
Could she make a mistake just by touching a bone?
In the time it took for a few words.
Over there.
The figure at the peak had already changed from one to two.
Ying Bing's eyes showed continuous surprise.
Reaching the top?
In her eyes, this was not difficult.
Even with a complete set of Ascension Stone Steps, she had encountered countless people who could reach the top.
But he was not among them!
A gentle breeze blew, and Li Mo's robes fluttered. He smiled and said,
"What a coincidence, you're here too."
Looking down on all the smaller mountains, a sense of expansiveness was ready to burst from his chest.
It was originally a beautiful scene, but a crow, oblivious to the atmosphere, landed with a plop on the young man's head.
