Chapter 19: Could It Be Him?
Boom!
The sixth level!
Everyone present was astounded—Li Jiansan had actually ascended to the sixth level with the cultivation of a mere martial artist!
Even among those gathered here today, few could claim with certainty that they could reach the sixth level. Yet Li Jiansan had done it!
“Hmph, so what if it’s the sixth level? He only just made it, what’s so impressive about that?” Jiang Churan, faced with Li Jiansan’s dazzling display, could only sneer, trying to comfort herself with dismissive words.
Boom, boom!
But on the sixth level, Li Jiansan didn’t pause. In the blink of an eye, he leaped once more, landing on the seventh level.
Now, people were no longer surprised—they were simply stunned into silence.
After all, those who could reach the seventh level were exceedingly rare; in fact, almost everyone who had ever set foot on the seventh level had become a pillar of the Jiang Kingdom.
Boom, boom, boom!
Li Jiansan’s figure moved again, stepping forward.
This time, he directly ascended to the eighth level!
The eighth level!
This time, the crowd was not just surprised, nor merely stupefied—they were shocked.
Li Jiansan had actually reached the eighth level!
In nearly a century, perhaps no one within the Shengjing Sect had ever reached the eighth level.
The eighth level—didn’t it require at least Foundation Establishment cultivation? And what cultivation did Li Jiansan possess?
He was a good-for-nothing who had never practiced cultivation, who possessed no power at all!
Yet he had reached the eighth level.
What about the future?
It was simply inconceivable.
Witnessing the scene atop the arena, even the elders who had remained silent were now watching Li Jiansan with nervous anticipation.
A smattering of applause rang out.
Jiang Churan, having suffered several humiliations, wore a face as dark as thunder!
Was Li Jiansan doing this deliberately to embarrass her?
Her expression grew increasingly ugly.
“With your level of cultivation, this is already your limit. There’s no comparison between us. You must be exhausted by now!” she spat.
“No matter how high you climb, in my eyes it’s all in vain!” After her initial shock, Jiang Churan quickly regained her usual haughty composure.
“So what if you reached the eighth level? In the end, you’ll never be able to cultivate. I doubt you’ll ever break through the first stage of Qi Refinement.”
“As for me, I’ve already entered the Foundation Establishment stage—a level you can only look up to.”
Her meaning was clear: Li Jiansan, who had never cultivated and was feeble, was not in the same league as her, a master who had already stepped into Foundation Establishment.
Boom!
Li Jiansan leaped again, landing on the ninth level!
The ninth level!
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Among the younger generation of the Shengjing Sect, perhaps none had ever reached such a height.
Even Jiang Churan was now truly stunned—her earlier bravado had been mere posturing. Even she might not be able to step onto the ninth level.
Yet Li Jiansan had ascended with apparent ease.
It was simply unbelievable—what had Li Jiansan experienced?
The ninth level!
Li Jiansan stood there, on the ninth level!
A round of applause.
This was a resounding slap in Jiang Churan’s face!
“The ninth level—even a cultivator at Foundation Establishment would find it incredibly difficult to reach.
And now Li Jiansan, with no cultivation whatsoever, stands there with ease. Could he possibly continue onward and reach the tenth level of the Celestial Stairway?”
Some among the crowd voiced their astonishment.
“Without the support of powerful cultivation, it’s impossible for Li Jiansan to reach the tenth level.” This time, it was an elder who spoke, one who had overseen countless tests of the Twelve Steps—he could gauge a person’s abilities at a glance.
“Exactly. If Li Jiansan can reach the tenth level, then pigs might just as well climb trees!” Jiang Churan’s mocking laughter rang out after the elder’s words, quickly drawing others to echo her sentiment.
“With his cultivation, dreaming of the tenth level? He must still be asleep!”
The tenth level? Could Li Jiansan really reach it?
Was it possible?
Many shook their heads instinctively.
Yet just as everyone was certain, swearing up and down that Li Jiansan could never hope to set foot on the tenth step, their jaws dropped in disbelief.
Atop the Celestial Stairway, Li Jiansan moved forward once more. With a thunderous sound, he landed on the tenth level!
The tenth level!
Li Jiansan had actually reached the tenth level!
And he was utterly without cultivation!
How terrifying must his physical strength be?
It was unimaginable!
“By the heavens, Li Jiansan actually made it to the tenth level!”
“How is this possible? Am I seeing things?”
“Could this be a dream?”
All eyes turned to the tenth step, where Li Jiansan’s slender figure, seen from behind, grew ever more shrouded in mystery.
What had Li Jiansan gone through?
“Hmm? Why has he stopped?”
“Just reaching the tenth level is already incredible. If he goes further, can he even be called human?”
“I think he might actually make it to the twelfth step,” some elders speculated.
The grand elder cast a disdainful glance at Li Jiansan. The oppressive force atop the twelfth step was enough to shatter a Foundation Establishment disciple—how could this little Qi Refinement brat survive? He wouldn’t even know how he died.
At that moment, Li Jiansan moved again.
A low hum filled the air.
Standing on the tenth step, Li Jiansan’s clothes flapped wildly in the wind. His thin figure suddenly flickered, transforming into a streak of light darting through the void.
In the blink of an eye, his figure bypassed the eleventh step and came to a halt atop the twelfth!
“What! Am I hallucinating?”
“He… he actually ascended straight to the twelfth step!”
“And he did it all in one breath!”
“Incredible—he’s an absolute genius, a once-in-a-lifetime prodigy!”
Those who had mocked him before now stood frozen, their stunned faces registering shock after shock.
At first, they had believed the seventh step was the upper limit. But then Li Jiansan shattered that belief by reaching the seventh. Moments later, he reached the ninth, overturning their expectations yet again. No sooner had they begun to accept that reality than Li Jiansan ascended the tenth, further astonishing them. And before their emotions could recover, he surged forward to the twelfth step, completely upending their understanding of what was possible.
In but a short time, the young sect master, once rumored to be a wastrel, had left everyone in the arena reeling.
Standing atop the twelfth and final step, a gentle breeze stirred Li Jiansan’s robes.
That lone figure at the summit struck Jiang Churan like a thunderbolt to the heart, as if that proud face had been soundly slapped by the wind—a crisp, resounding blow that echoed between heaven and earth.
“We are destined to be people from different worlds, never able to walk the same path. So there’s no need for you to humiliate yourself here, nor to entertain any foolish hopes. In this life, you’d best resign yourself to being ordinary.”
Jiang Churan’s earlier mockery now seemed pale and feeble.
On the viewing platform, the elders’ expressions froze—clearly, even they had not expected Li Jiansan to truly stand atop the twelfth step.
Within the ranks of the great factions, hearts trembled violently. None had anticipated that Li Jiansan’s strength would prove so fearsome.
Now, as they looked toward Li Jiansan, their eyes burned with a newfound fervor.
Their gazes shifted, landing on Jiang Churan.
Although Li Jiansan had displayed remarkable ability, he still fell short when compared to the Child of Martial Arts. Their true objective remained centered on Jiang Churan.
In the direction of the Chu family, a refined young man narrowed his eyes.
Could it really be him?