Chapter 1171: Illusion Heart Queen

"Why did everyone stop?"

"What's going on? Why did they stop halfway? That's not supposed to happen."

The spectators stared in confusion at the three cultivators who had been leading the climb. One after another, they came to a halt on the Soul Stairway. Only Ling Feng continued forward, moving like a streak of light. He had already reached more than seven hundred steps.

"Is that guy even human?"

"He's passed seven hundred steps and still going that fast. His spiritual consciousness is terrifying!"

Gasps of disbelief spread through the crowd. At that moment, Ling Feng had become the center of everyone's attention.

When he stepped onto the seven hundred and ninety-ninth step, his body trembled slightly. The immense mental pressure had finally begun to take effect.

"Judging from the pattern so far, the pressure will triple once I reach the eight hundredth step. It's getting difficult even for me."

Ling Feng frowned. Now he understood why Yang Huanzhi and the others had stopped. The stairway itself was a chance for cultivation, a place that refined one's spiritual consciousness.

But Ling Feng wasn't satisfied with stopping halfway. He wanted to push that opportunity to its limit.

He aimed to reach the nine hundred and ninety-ninth step. The benefits gained there would be far greater than what others could achieve on the lower levels.

Of course, the danger would also be many times higher.

"This boy... what is he trying to do? With his perception, he should already understand what the Stairway of the Soul is for. Does he not plan to use the array within it to temper his spiritual consciousness?"

Elder Tian Yi shook his head slowly. Even he would not dare to stay above the eight hundredth step to refine his spiritual consciousness.

And he was a Human Emperor–level expert!

...

Deep inside Heaven's Illusion Palace, in a chamber filled with the scent of incense and veiled with layers of silk, a graceful woman reclined on her bed.

Her eyes were fixed on a glowing barrier before her, which displayed the scene taking place on the Soul Stairway.

"My lady, the young master has gone out to play again," said a maid beside her, giggling as she looked at the image of a purple-robed youth on the screen. The maid herself was already at the sixth level of the Spiritual Sea Realm.

"Let him enjoy himself. He disguises himself every time he goes out, as if that would fool me." The woman sighed softly. "Having such a troublesome little brother truly tests one's patience..."

The Illusion Heart Queen leaned back slightly and continued, "I heard that brat even formed some kind of group. Of all things, he had to start a band of swindlers. Where would I hide my face if people ever find out he's my brother."

"I think the young master is rather adorable," the maid said with a playful smile.

"You silly girl, you've clearly fallen for his smooth words."

The Illusion Heart Queen lightly tapped the maid's forehead. Her attention returned to Ling Feng, who was still climbing without slowing down. "That young man is quite interesting. His must be of extraordinary background to hold a Supreme Black Diamond Card at such a young age. I've never seen him among the Inner Sea geniuses, so he's likely not from the Tianlan Sea Region."

"Maybe he's a disciple from a great clan out on training," Illusion Heart Queen murmured.

"That sounds likely," the maid said. "He doesn't even seem afraid of people from Tianhuang City. He must be from somewhere else. He's talented, rich, and confident... it's just that his cultivation is a little low. Otherwise..."

The maid smiled mischievously. "In all these years, he's the first young man I've seen who could even come close to matching you, my lady."

"You're getting far too bold," the queen said with a faint smile.

"

Heehee

." The maid stuck out her tongue, her expression bright and playful.

Though the Illusion Heart Queen often appeared calm and distant, she was, in truth, gentle and kind. That was the only reason the maid dared to tease her so freely.

The queen gave her a mocking glare. "Still, what is that boy trying to do? Can he not see how the Stairway of the Soul tempers spiritual consciousness? What a pity. Hidden within that stairway is an ancient soul-refining secret art of the Yang family. It seems he won't get the chance to see it."

"There's an ancient soul-refining secret art inside it? My lady, I never knew that!"

"Of course you didn't," the queen replied. "That secret art only reveals its full power when used together with the Hourglass of Time. Unfortunately, even I have only mastered a small part of it. If that boy could help me recover the full technique, I wouldn't mind marrying him on the spot!"

"What a pity then," the maid teased. "He's already near the top of the stairway. With standards like yours, my lady, you might never find a husband."

"You impudent girl. You've clearly spent too much time with that troublemaker Huanzhi. I should send you to Qianjue Island so you'll never see him again."

The Illusion Heart Queen frowned and pretended to look angry. The maid immediately stepped back, pretending to be remorseful. "

Heehee

, I won't say it again!"

She smiled brightly and added, "Even if none of them can comprehend that soul-refining secret art, just cultivating inside the Hourglass of Time for one day would still be a great blessing!"

At that moment, Ling Feng was the one most likely to earn that privilege, though nothing was certain yet. Everyone who passed the stairway had a chance, but only the most outstanding would gain the right to truly use the Hourglass of Time.

The maid admired Ling Feng, but she knew it was too early to judge.

The Illusion Heart Queen stretched slightly and let out a quiet yawn. "Enough. I'll go see for myself. I have a feeling that boy won't give up so easily on the chance hidden within the Soul Stairway."

The maid bowed and closed the luminous barrier.

The queen's eyes slowly shut as if she had entered a deep meditation.

In the next moment, her body shimmered and disappeared. She reappeared high above the Stairway of the Soul, as if she had stepped through space itself.

When the crowd looked up and saw the Illusion Heart Queen descending, they all bowed deeply, as though a divine being had appeared before them.