Chapter 8
This talent, in a small place like Ziyang Prefecture, was still somewhat acceptable.
In Ying Bing's eyes, Wang Hu's second-tier status and Li Mo's third-tier status were essentially no different.
Both were stubborn stones; why bother distinguishing which one was smoother?
Wang Hu was rooted to the spot, his face flushing red.
He could only turn to Li Mo again:
"Ha ha, we’re from the same hometown. Now that I’m on the rise, how could I forget you?"
"That’s not right. There’s a difference between the inner and outer sects. It won’t be easy for me to come down."
"And who knows, in a little while, I might just become a true disciple."
"Meeting you is less convenient than meeting Miss Ying, right?"
His smile was wicked.
Having secured the support of an inner sect steward, the young and arrogant Wang Hu felt his ego swelling to the skies.
A few other boys and girls from Ning'an County wore frustrated expressions but couldn’t vent their anger. Wang Hu had already been insufferably arrogant back in the county, and now he had soared to new heights.
They had initially looked down on Li Mo, but now, in comparison to Wang Hu, they found the former somewhat endearing.
"…Ah, right, right, right."
Li Mo's Tianming Shenyan (Heavenly Fate Divine Eye) had never been turned off.
Ever since Wang Hu had his root bones tested, the originally blue Tianming had begun to show a hint of black.
Just as he was flaunting his power, the black deepened further.
Even the evaluation had changed to: "Stubborn and self-willed, unaware that he is being used as a test subject by the inner sect steward, his future is bleak."
He didn’t like to argue with a second-rate person, and he was even less inclined to waste time on a half-dead one.
Another act of disregard.
"You!"
Wang Hu felt a lump in his throat, a surge of unnameable anger rising within him.
However, the short, stout elder seemed to have noticed the commotion.
He withdrew his gaze from Li Mo and Ying Bing, a cold smile forming in his heart:
"There's plenty of time ahead."
"After all, there’s a world of difference between the outer sect and the true disciples; they can’t be compared."
---
**Chapter 7: Ascending to the Summit**
Three suns hung high in the sky, the clear blue stretching endlessly.
The bone-testing session had ended, but the scene remained lively, with many who hadn’t entered the sect sticking around to watch the spectacle.
Before the disciples who had entered the sect were two paths leading to the summit of Qingyuan Mountain.
One was the usual path for disciples to come and go.
The other was overgrown with wild grass, ancient and extraordinary.
This was the famed Stairway to Heaven.
Legend had it that this was a treasure accidentally obtained by the founder of Qingyuan Sect, incomplete and suspected to be from an ancient sect long ago, used to test the disciples.
"Those who climb ten steps may enter the outer sect."
"Those who climb fifty steps may enter the inner sect."
"Those who reach eighty steps are true disciples."
The short, stout elder stood before the Stairway to Heaven, speaking loudly.
"What if someone reaches the top?" someone confidently asked.
Who else could it be but Wang Hu?
The elder’s lips curled slightly, as if he had answered this question many times before:
"The founder once said, those who reach the top are the true disciples of Qingyuan Sect."
"However, looking back through the sect's history, countless prodigies have come and gone, yet only two or three have ever achieved it."
"All of them had top-tier qualifications; don’t aim too high, or you might end up going lower."
He paused for a moment.
Those words were meant for most of the crowd.
This year, wasn’t there a remarkably talented young girl?
"Elder, what about those who are strong and have even trained in martial arts beforehand? Don’t they have an advantage?" another person asked.
The stout elder patiently replied:
"Don’t worry, the stone steps will suppress your vital energy."
After explaining, he waved his hand grandly.
"You have one hour; let’s begin."
As his words fell, a disciple inserted a thick incense stick into the bronze incense burner.
The timer started, but everyone looked at each other, no one daring to take the lead.
"A bunch of timid mice, I’ll go first!"
Wang Hu strode up the stone steps with an air of indifference.
In an instant, he felt the vital energy within him calm down, no longer providing him with extraordinary strength.
Yet he still stepped forward proudly.
Ten steps… twenty steps…
By the time he reached thirty steps, his body began to sway.
At the same time, a faint roar of a tiger echoed within him, resisting the immense pressure.
It also supported him as he stepped past the fiftieth step.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
He had entered the inner sect.
With someone testing the waters, others quickly followed suit; after all, the incense was still burning, and the time wasted might have been enough to climb another step.
The pace of climbing varied, but no one wore a relaxed expression.
The pressure from all directions grew heavier the higher they climbed, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
"Is that Lin Jiang? He’s moving so fast!"
"Mu Rong Xiao is even faster!"
"They make it look so easy."
...
The murmurs were few; most were focused, determined to climb.
Until Ying Bing stepped onto the stairs.
All attention naturally shifted to her.
After all, everyone was curious.
How far could this cool girl, rated with top-tier root bones, go?
"The complete stone steps can also test one’s character."
Feeling a slight pressure, Ying Bing shook her head slightly.
Moreover, these Stairway to Heaven steps were ancient.
They might lose their effectiveness after some time.
Her figure, like an ice lotus, rose higher and higher.
Ten steps… twenty steps… thirty steps…
As if walking on flat ground?!
The height seemed to have no effect on her, quickly leaving everyone else behind.
The crowd could no longer contain themselves.
This wasn’t just about reaching the top.
This was clearly about breaking the record for the fastest ascent!
Her qualifications were likely among the best in Qingyuan Sect’s history!
Ying Bing continued to ascend.
Soon, she reached the fifty-fourth step.
"Hmm?"
Wang Hu suddenly noticed the silence behind him; he turned around and felt a chill run down his spine.
The girl’s gaze was as cold as snow under frost.
It was as if she were the cold moon hanging in the clouds, looking down upon the world.
In that moment, he instinctively dared not meet her eyes and shifted his feet away.
"All eyes are on her."
Li Mo couldn’t help but sigh.
Some people are cold on the outside but warm on the inside, while others are warm on the outside but cold on the inside.
But someone like Ying Bing, who was icy on the outside and domineering on the inside, was a first for him.
Thinking this, he moved as well.
Hiding his talents?
Not a chance.
The higher he climbed, the higher his status in the sect would be, and he would have more opportunities to interact with those of exceptional fate.
He hadn’t yet fully taken advantage of Ying Bing’s talents.
Besides.
He also wanted to see how far he could go.
He had tested his bones and found himself at a third-tier level.
He had spent half a day wondering about his qualifications.
What level was the Immortal Body in the martial world?
Waiting online, quite anxious.
He stepped up.
Huh?
"This is just an ordinary stone step, isn’t it?"
Li Mo tilted his head and leaped up three steps at once.
...
On the high platform.
"That little girl Ying Bing’s personality is just to my taste!"
Watching the girl move like a snowstorm, the woman in palace attire’s eyes sparkled.
Her exaggerated movements made her already alluring figure even more captivating.
"Can these two kids end up together?"
Xue Jing stroked his long beard, deep in thought.
In the letters he had received, his former disciple, who was also Li Mo’s father, had mentioned wanting Ying Bing to be his future daughter-in-law.
Now it seemed...
This potential daughter-in-law might not be so stable after all.
With a third-tier root bone, she didn’t seem likely to become a true disciple... Hmm?
Xue Jing suddenly spotted the figure of the young man moving swiftly along the mountain path.
"Master, why not let that little girl be entrusted to me? I’m sure I can teach her well!"
The woman in palace attire drunkenly patted her chest in assurance.
The high-ranking officials couldn’t bear to watch and spoke up:
"Come on, you sleep six hours and spend the other six hours drunk!"
"Shang Wu, just let her be; don’t ruin a good talent."
"No way, absolutely not! Even if you beat me to death, I won’t agree!"
The elders were all considering taking her as a disciple.
But on this matter, they all agreed: whoever taught her was fine, but she absolutely could not be taken under the wing of Elder Shang Wu from the Ninth Peak.
Just then.
Suddenly.
A clear, melodious phoenix cry echoed through the sky.
And there stood Ying Bing at the end of the Stairway to Heaven.
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