Lin Xun felt somewhat pained when he walked out of the Great Affairs Hall.

It turned out that using the second method to attack the rankings cost a thousand points. It was no wonder that almost no one would opt for this solo method.

A thousand points was an astronomical sum that most students could only dream about.

Fortunately, after paying a thousand points, Lin Xun still had roughly five thousand points, which were enough for the Sky Stairs Assessment.

Since it was getting late, Lin Xun decided to return to his accommodation. He was planning to head for Sky Stairs Mountain tomorrow.

Sky Stairs Mountain was a restricted zone in Qinglu Academy. Only students who possessed five thousand points were qualified to enter.

It was rumored that Sky Stairs Mountain was a mysterious place that contained traces of the almighty dao. Anyone who managed to climb to the top of the Sky Stairs would become capable of wielding the great imago power!

The word ‘Sky’ represented the ‘Heaven Ascension’ stage. It was common knowledge that only a Heaven Ascension expert could wield imago power.

Late at night, Lin Xun silently meditated in his room.

His cultivation had already reached an unprecedented pinnacle of perfection and flawlessness in the Spirit Sea stage. Moreover, because of the rebirth of his Origin Aeth Artery, his already incomparably solid foundations had grown increasingly strong like an immeasurable abyss.

Other cultivators would be stupefied if they knew. In the Spirit Sea stage, it was practically impossible to find someone like Lin Xun with such abnormally tempered foundations.

In his spirit cultivation, Lin Xun had reached the perfect ‘Star Cycle’ stage. His mind-sea was occupied by a cluster of stars and filled with dream-like starlight that illuminated his spirit.

The next level, ‘Moon Phases,’ belonged to a more profound level of spirit cultivation. The crux of this stage lay in the tempering of the ‘Moon-Soul’.

Only after achieving the state of ‘timeless sole shining full moon’ would this cultivation stage be considered to have attained perfection.

Lin Xun planned to begin cultivating the ‘Moon Phases’ after breaking through to the Heaven Ascension stage. It was because his spirit power had already reached its limit in the Spirit Sea stage, and it was very difficult to further develop due to the restraining influence of his physique and cultivation.

What surprised Lin Xun the most, however, was the recent transformation of his physique. In the Dao Spirit Stone Tablet, he experienced multiple cycles of destruction and rebirth that repeatedly increased the quality of his physique.

In addition, the Heavenly Water Sacred Bead had been fully integrated into his physique as well!

In fact, Lin Xun suspected that he was now capable of killing a Spirit Sea cultivator with the raw power of a single punch!

“My cultivation, spirit, and physique have reached a perfect state. As the saying goes, one becomes two, two becomes three, and three becomes infinity. When I advance to the Heaven Ascension stage, my perfect cultivation will push me to a level that far surpasses all other cultivators!”

Comprehension suddenly dawned upon Lin Xun.

The Heaven Ascension stage was a greater cultivation realm that was completely different from the Spirit Sea stage. Only after reaching it would a practitioner be called a ‘great cultivator’ by others!

It was because only Heaven Ascension experts could begin to learn and wield imago power, allowing them to control the elements, shape the terrain, summon rain and clouds, burn mountains, and boil the sea with a flick of the wrist!

There were numerous ways to interpret the Heaven Ascension stage. Some people said that reaching this stage would allow the cultivator to pry into the ‘reason’ and ‘logic’ of the world.[1]

Others said that the Heaven Ascension stage represented a transformation in a person’s cultivation which was similar to creating a new world in the body where one would establish the roots of one’s dao, giving a cultivator the qualifications to seek eternal life.

No matter the interpretation, the Heaven Ascension stage was undoubtedly a greater cultivation stage that was filled with mystery and wonder. Since time immemorial, fewer than one in ten thousand cultivators even had any hope of reaching this stage!

It was just too darn difficult!

This was because the Heaven Ascension stage required one to comprehend the will of the world’s dao. Without talent and luck, there was no way to master such power even within a lifetime.

For the Forbidden City’s great factions, Heaven Ascension experts were indispensable, heavyweight existences who could exert unignorable pressure and influence.

In Mind Cleansing Peak, Third Old Zhu and Lin Zhong fulfilled this role. Without them, Mind Cleansing Peak’s situation would be far more dire.

This showed the importance of a Heaven Ascension expert.

Lin Xun was currently only a single step away from this cultivation stage. However, taking this step was far more difficult than reaching the sky!

It was not something that could be achieved by mere training in isolation as it also required a certain combination of luck and patience.

From what Lin Xun knew, numerous talented cultivators had failed to reach the Heaven Ascension stage despite trying their whole lives. Moreover, it was not because their foundations weren’t strong enough, but because they lacked an opportunity to seek out this breakthrough!

Lin Xun was currently in the same situation and was waiting for his breakthrough opportunity.

……

The next morning.

Sky Stairs Mountain.

The mountain was located deep in Qinglu Academy and was a restricted area that was usually void of any people.

The morning mist swirled as a figure walked through. He was dressed in moon-white clothes, and his long black hair was casually tied behind his head, displaying his handsome and friendly face. His deep black eyes shone brightly, giving him an ethereal aura.

It was naturally Lin Xun.

The wilderness around him was silent with only the morning mist curling around the many mountains. Sky Stairs Mountain could be seen in the distance, and it was where the Sky Stairs Assessment would be held.

“Young man, this is a restricted area. Do not come any closer.”

A hut appeared in the distance. An old man with unkempt hair and an unshaven beard was preparing a meal in front of the hut.

As the stove burned menacingly, a fragrance spread from the meat cooking within that would make anyone’s fingers twitch in anticipation.

The old man did not raise his head when he sensed Lin Xun's approach. Instead, he gave a warning as he continued to watch the meat in the wok while tapping his mouth in impatience.

“Elder, I’m here to climb the Sky Stairs,” Lin Xun replied as he observed the old man. The old man was dirty and sloppy and did not give off a strong presence that usually indicated a powerful reclusive expert.

However, Lin Xun did not dare to underestimate the old man. Someone who was stationed at Sky Stairs Mountain was definitely no ordinary individual.

“Oh, over the past several hundred years, quite a number of students have come to climb the Sky Stairs, but none have succeeded. Young man, I advise you to leave and not waste your points.”

The old man suddenly chuckled, “If it were the past, five thousand points could buy you the best cut of heaven-grade monster-beast meat. It’s a pity that such an existence is very difficult to find nowadays.”

Lin Xun was taken aback. A heaven-grade monster-beast? That’s a terrifying existence that can compare to a Heaven Ascension or even a Cyclic Derivation expert!

Has this old man eaten the prime meat of a heaven-grade monster-beast before?

Lin Xun soon cast aside these thoughts and solemnly said, “Elder, I must climb the Sky Stairs.”

The old man seemed annoyed as he waved his hand and said, “What a bullheaded child. Fine, I won’t stop you. Hand over your identity token.”

Lin Xun handed over his identity token before continuing on his way.

“Perfect Spirit Sea stage? Heh, what a pity. Without the ‘supreme’ qualifications of this stage, he is destined to return in failure.”

The old man glanced at Lin Xun’s back as he shook his head in disapproval. He soon took out some utensils and began feasting on the meat in the wok.

“Eh? Another one?”

The old man was taken aback. He frowned and stared into distant mist as an immortal and transcendent-like man dressed in snow-white clothes gracefully emerged.

Gu Yunting!

“Are you also here to climb the Sky Stairs?”

The old man continued to gorge as he asked, clearly enjoying his meal.

Gu Yinting nodded. He handed over his identity token before continuing on his way, not saying a single word from start to end.

“What’s going on today?”

The old man frowned. He soon shook his head and continued to eat as if even the sky collapsing was less important than the meat in his bowl.

Sky Stairs Mountain was a lonely peak shaped like a giant halberd piercing into the clouds. The barren and rocky peak gave off an unshakable aura.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

A small stone path could be seen at the foot of the mountain that stretched to the peak. It was so steep that it nearly resembled a ladder.

This was the Sky Stairs.

Rumor said every step was branded with traces of the dao and filled with unfathomable power. Walking up these steps was more frightening than climbing a mountain of blades or plunging into a sea of fire.

Since time immemorial, only a tiny handful of people have managed to reach the top. It was just far too difficult, and even Spirit Sea cultivators would face great difficulty climbing the stairs.

However, those who succeeded in climbing to the top would receive unimaginable benefits.

Lin Xun took a deep breath and stepped forward without any hesitation.

He knew that each step was filled with danger, and a single slip could easily result in being mercilessly eliminated.

However, it was a trial that Lin Xun needed to overcome.

Pah!

When his foot landed on the first step, the scenery before his eyes abruptly changed, and a raging sea of fire appeared.

Ferocious fiery creatures seemed to dance within the flames, giving off terrifying auras that sought to burn everything.

“The brand of fire!”

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed. He could tell that this was produced by the fire imago power that had been branded into the Sky Stairs. Although it was not real, the power was incomparably terrifying.

Swoosh!

Without giving Lin Xun any more time to think, a ferocious bird spread its wings, splashing giant waves of fire. It soared toward him, accompanied by scorching heat that could incinerate space itself, and was filled with the power of destruction.

The test had begun!

Lin Xun did not back down and instead boldly advanced. He circulated his cultivation, causing him to shine radiantly like an azure sun as he rose into the air and punched.

Rumble~

Fist-force instantly smashed into the bird, turning it into droplets of light that quickly vanished.

However, more beasts charged out from the sea of fire. Torrential flames raged from their bodies as they released piercing cries and swarmed toward Lin Xun.

“Excellent!”

Lin Xun’s black hair danced around him as he circulated the Nine Heavenshaking Destructions Art and began brawling in the sea of fire. It resembled a horrifying scene from a fire hell where flames rose all around as ferocious beasts attacked, filling the entire place with the power of burning destruction.

Meanwhile, Gu Yunting arrived at the foot of Sky Stairs Mountain. He could not help but frown a little when he saw Lin Xun on the first step

Soon after, he also approached and stepped onto the Sky Stairs!

1. The word ‘heaven’ can also be interpreted as a short form of ‘world’ while ‘ascension’ can be interpreted as ‘prying into the secrets of something’ ?