Chapter 18: Atop the Heavenly Staircase

"This..."
The surrounding crowd, witnessing this scene, could not help but draw a sharp breath.
The Spirit Stone had shattered, meaning that the young man's spiritual energy had already exceeded the ninth grade.
Such talent, if nurtured in the future, would surely lead to remarkable achievements...

The Grand Elder glanced at the others, whose expressions had subtly shifted, then fixed his cold gaze on Li Jian San and spoke with icy contempt:
"Even with such extraordinary talent, your decadence makes you no better than a wasted body—utterly useless!"

Previously, Li Jian San had been considered nothing more than an ordinary, mediocre failure. None had expected that he would possess such formidable gifts.
The Grand Elder had never paid him any mind, but now, with his talent revealed, Li Jian San had begun to threaten his position...

Yet Li Jian San regarded the Grand Elder calmly.
"The monthly trial has not truly begun, has it?"

Li Jian San’s reply stunned the Grand Elder for a moment. Did he truly intend to seize first place?
Even with his remarkable talent, he had only just begun to cultivate. With his current strength, entering the top fifty would be difficult enough.
First place? Impossible.

"Do you intend to continue?"
The Grand Elder snorted coldly.
"Do you realize that the next round is the trial of the Twelve Heavenly Steps? With your abilities, you are hardly qualified. I suggest you abandon your stubbornness, lest you meet your end without knowing how."

Now that Li Jian San had shown his strength, if he were to place in this competition, it would truly force others to reconsider him—something the Grand Elder most wished to avoid.

The Twelve Heavenly Steps tested the physical strength of martial artists.
Twelve flights, each step emanating immense pressure, growing more terrifying with every ascent.
Those who had never trained, or who, like Li Jian San, possessed no cultivation, risked severe injury if they forced themselves through the trial.

The test of the Twelve Heavenly Steps required at least third tier in the Qi Refining stage.
Without that, no one dared attempt it.

"So, you should hurry and get off the stage!"
Seeing Li Jian San still standing upon the platform, the Grand Elder’s brow furrowed once more.

"Ha, get down?"
Li Jian San smiled faintly. It seemed the slap to their faces had not yet been thorough enough...

After some preparation, the Twelve Heavenly Steps now towered upon the arena.
The Grand Elder glanced at Li Jian San, who remained on the stage, but said nothing further.
The pressure atop the steps was immense—it would be a chance for Li Jian San to suffer, perhaps even become crippled.

"Very well, let the trial of the Twelve Heavenly Steps begin."

Li Jian San looked at the twelve flights, but made no haste to ascend.
He closed his eyes slightly, carefully sensing the oppressive force radiating from the stairs.

At this moment, all eyes focused upon Li Jian San.
Curiosity burned in their hearts: how could their young sect master, with no cultivation, possibly pass this trial?

Seeing Li Jian San motionless for so long, a few in the crowd began to grow impatient.

Boom!
Suddenly, Li Jian San stepped forward, ascending the first step.

"He actually took the first step—this fellow does have some grit."

"Listen to yourself; he is the young sect master, after all. But I wager he won’t make it to the second flight, ha ha..."

Those around, seeing Li Jian San take the first step, were not overly surprised.

Jiang Churan merely snorted coldly, unimpressed as she watched Li Jian San step forward. In her eyes, it was nothing but his thick skin and sturdy flesh.

"So what if he made it onto the first step? He certainly won’t reach the second."

But as Jiang Churan spoke, her words abruptly ceased.

For Li Jian San was already standing upon the second flight.

Smack!
Jiang Churan felt as if she had been harshly slapped across the face.

"He actually climbed to the second flight," she said, somewhat surprised.

"He must be forcing himself up. I want to see how much longer he can endure."

Jiang Churan continued her sneering, but Li Jian San felt no pressure at all. He was utterly relaxed, as if basking in sunlight.

This oppressive force was nothing to Li Jian San.

"How can this be? He’s climbed to the third flight—it’s unbelievable!"

Now Jiang Churan was deeply embarrassed. Not only had Li Jian San not been knocked down, he had ascended to the third flight.

Smack, smack!
Once again, Jiang Churan felt herself slapped. Her exquisite face flushed red.

"The third flight—given his strength, that's surely his limit."

Smack, smack, smack!
Very quickly, she was slapped a third time.

This slap was direct and unrestrained.

One moment she confidently declared Li Jian San would go no further than the third flight; the next, he had effortlessly stepped onto the fourth.

And he seemed entirely at ease!

Jiang Churan’s cheeks now burned with pain.

As Li Jian San reached the fourth flight, everyone present was shocked.
Their gazes lost all contempt and disdain.

Was this truly their young sect master? He had actually climbed the fourth flight of the Heavenly Steps.

It was simply inconceivable.

Even Elder Dong, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned.

It was not fear that he had reached the fourth flight, but the way Li Jian San ascended: with ease, as though walking on level ground.

He seemed utterly relaxed.
Li Jian San's face bore an expression of pleasure, as if enjoying a massage atop the stairs.

The oppressive force atop those steps was known to be terrifying.

Yet Li Jian San’s calm and unruffled demeanor suggested he felt nothing at all.

"How is this fellow so relaxed? Could the pressure have vanished?"

"I’ll try!"

One unbeliever rushed up behind Li Jian San and attempted the third flight.

Boom!
Without question, he was violently thrown back, his face turning pale.

This proved the oppressive force on the Twelve Heavenly Steps was real and unchanged.

Li Jian San was truly bearing it—and yet showed no strain whatsoever.

It could only mean that Li Jian San’s physical power far surpassed the force of the fourth flight.

Jiang Churan swept her gaze over the crowd and snorted disdainfully.
"Hmph, do you really think he’s so impressive? This is already his limit."

"It’s said that those who reach the seventh flight have to struggle desperately. As for him, how could he possibly ascend that far?"

In her view, Li Jian San’s achievement meant nothing.
If she herself attempted it, she might easily reach the seventh flight; then Li Jian San’s performance would be trivial.

"Li Jian San is moving again!"

"Could he have strength left to reach the fifth flight?"

A gasp of astonishment immediately drew all eyes back to Li Jian San.

Upon the Twelve Steps, Li Jian San strode forward once more.

He stepped, then stepped again; now he stood upon the fifth flight.

"But what of it? Only by reaching the sixth flight does it mean anything."

Jiang Churan snorted coldly.

Hearing Jiang Churan’s words, Li Jian San lingered a moment on the fifth flight.

"See? With his pathetic strength, reaching the fifth flight is already his limit. He’s only managed this by sheer luck."

Li Jian San turned and smiled quietly at Jiang Churan.

"Stop pretending..."

Jiang Churan sneered, but her words were cut short in the next instant...