CH 83.1

The Heavenly Ascending Steps is a mandatory test everyone must go through to begin their cultivation journey. Only those who can finish climbing all 9,999 steps of the Heavenly Ascending Steps are qualified to cultivate.



Three years ago, Bei Ling brought back 25 people. In the end, only five people managed to complete all of the Heavenly Ascending Steps. Among them, one was talented enough to become an inner disciple, while the remaining four could only become outer disciples.



Arriving at the top of the Heavenly Ascending Steps, Luan Qing Xiao nodded at Bei Ling below. Then, Bei Ling arranged for the people she brought back to start climbing the steps.



From the outside, people can’t tell that the stairs are as high as 9,999 steps. However, the moment someone sets foot on the first step, they will enter the Heavenly Ascending Steps’ separate realm. To leave the realm, you can only move forward, backwards or muster up the courage to jump off the stairs.



Standing on the top of the steps, Luan Qing Xiao was only ten meters away from Bei Ling.



Once Bei Ling sent everyone up the stairs, she flew on her bonded weapon up to Luan Qing Xiao's side. She bowed and greeted. "Bei Ling has seen Elder Luan."



Luan Qing Xiao continued, "Steward Xu said you brought back many good seedlings this time. How about it, how many do you think can reach the top?"



Bei Ling smiled, "Steward Xu has a habit of boasting, but he didn't exaggerate this time. This Disciple believes at least eight of the thirty-two people brought back by this Disciple can climb to the top."



"Elder Luan, please take a look." Bei Ling took out a bronze mirror from her sleeve and swiped her hand across it.



As the mist and clouds faded in the frame, the Heavenly Ascending Steps’ separate realm was revealed.



"This Disciple is now showing an image of the hundredth steps in the realm."



Not long after, they saw an agile figure arrive on the hundredth level. Luan Qing Xiao carefully observed his face: his brows were sharp like a sword, even on the hundredth steps, he still looked relaxed.



Without waiting for Luan Qing Xiao's question, Bei Ling exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't expect it to be him!"



"Elder Luan, this person’s name is Ying Yuan Yu and is twenty three this year, who used to be an outer disciple of Bai Ze Zong. After leaving Bai Ze Zong, he came to me and said he wanted to join Shang Qing Palace. He didn’t meet the requirements to join Shang Qing Palace, but this person has such a firm personality that he wouldn’t change his mind once he decided. I remember that Elder Luan said that even if such a person is limited by talent, they’ll still be able to achieve something in the future, so I accepted him. Now it seems he really might be suitable for cultivation." Bei Ling introduced with admiration.



Luan Qing Xiao asked, "Do you know why he withdrew from Bai Ze Zong?"



"This Disciple didn't ask." Bei Ling was taken aback, a little ashamed.



"Elder Luan, will this matter hinder the relationship between Bai Ze Zong and the Shang Qing Palace? If this does, this Disciple is willing to bear the full consequences."



"It’s only an outer disciple, he won’t cause much influence. I only asked this because of curiosity. After all, he has practiced the Bai Ze Zong method for a while. If he joins Shang Qing Palace, he’ll have to start over from the beginning again. "



"Elder Luan really thought it out meticulously. If that Ying Yuan Yu can reach the top, this Disciple will definitely interrogate him in detail."



Soon after Ying Yuan Yu reached the hundredth order, more than a dozen people appeared one by one. Bei Ling introduced these people to Luan Qing Xiao and especially praised one of them, Hui Meng Tong.



"This girl is a sole water spirit root like Elder Luan. This year, she is only twelve years old. Her future prospects are immeasurable."



Luan Qing Xiao nodded, "Switch to step five hundred." Right now, she cares more about the male lead.



If the male lead couldn't finish the steps and had to leave Shang Qing Palace, that would be the best.



It is a pity the male lead was a true cultivation veteran. With the male lead’s strength, it was impossible for him not to reach the top.



At the five hundredth level, Ying Yuan Yu was still in the lead. Hui Meng Tong was indeed as good as Bei Ling said, and soon also passed the five hundredth level.



After six hundred, seven hundred, eight hundred, nine hundred steps, Ying Yuan Yu and Hui Meng Tong’s climbing speed remained the same.



"Now we just have to wait here for them to come up." Bei Ling looked down expectantly.



Luan Qing Xiao's expression was faint and calm.



Bei Ling glanced at Luan Qing Xiao, and felt that she was really making a big fuss out of nothing. Sure enough, only figures like Elder Luan who aren't affected by external influences and cultivate rigorously could pass their tribulation.



Although Ying Yuan Yu has a strong mentality, his physical fitness cannot be improved in such a short time. Even if he concocts or takes some pills to strengthen his body, making his way up all 9,999 steps was no easy task.



Moreover, there was a little girl next to him, chasing him. As long as he stopped for a bit, he would be in danger of being overtaken, so Ying Yuan Yu could only grit his teeth and continued climbing without rest.



After ascending to the last step, Ying Yuan Yu fell directly to the ground, panting. His face was deathly pale.



Although Hui Meng Tong, who was closely following him, had a drained  complexion, she managed to stabilize her figure and gain her footing.



Bei Ling gave the junior brother behind her a signal, and the junior brother immediately gave each of them a pill to relieve their fatigue.



Bei Ling smiled, "Congratulations, you guys have passed the test."



Once the two took the pill, their complexion improved significantly. Ying Yuan Yu got up from the ground, furrowing his brows as he brushed the dust off his body. When he was done organizing his messy clothes, he gave Bei Ling a salute. "Thank you, Senior Sister Bei."



Even if Luan Qing Xiao didn’t speak, just her standing by the side was an existence not to be ignored. Ying Yuan Yu met Luan Qing Xiao many times when he was still Bai Li Yuan Yu. At that time, he was pursuing the Dao road with all his heart. Although he recognized what the light in Luan Qing Xiao's eyes meant when she looked at him, he didn’t take it to heart.



Ying Yuan Yu's eyes flashed. He was hesitant whether to disclose he was Bai Li Yuan Yu, so Luan Qing Xiao would be interested in him and watch over him more.



While Yuan Yu Ying was debating, Hui Meng Tong walked up to Luan Qing Xiao with bright eyes, "Immortal Elder, can I take you as my mistress?"



Luan Qing Xiao's stoic eyebrows were dyed with surprise. "Why do you want to take me as your mistress?"



"Because Immortal Elder looks the strongest, I want to have the strongest person as my mistress."



Bei Ling came over, "Elder Luan, this..."



Luan Qing Xiao said, "It's okay, I won't break the rules."



"Hui Meng Tong, the Shang Qing Palace has its rules. With your strength, you can enter the Inner Sect to become an inner disciple. If you want to take someone as a master, you can only make the decision after gaining approval from the five elders of the main mountains and the palace lord of the Shang Qing palace. If you still want me as your mistress, then I will accept you."



Hui Meng Tong resolutely announced, "Immortal Elder, Meng Tong has already settled on you. Whether I have met the people you mentioned or not, I will choose to take you as my mistress."



The time flow inside the separate realm inside the Heavenly Ascending Steps is slower than that outside. Ten hours inside equals to one hour outside.



After waiting for a while longer, a few more people exited the realm. Finally, Luan Qing Xiao announced. "That’s enough. Accept Ying Yuan Yu and Hui Meng Tong as inner disciples, and the others as outer disciples. The people behind didn’t pass because they’re over the time limit. Send them back to their original places."



Making the necessary arrangements, Luan Qing Xiao left the Heavenly Ascending Steps and returned to Fan Chun Hall.



The male lead has already appeared and will become extremely powerful in the future. She must hurry up and cultivate until she can at least beat the male lead.



In the evening, Luan Qing Xiao still went to the back mountain to warm Nie Zhen'er up by embracing her. Snifting the Jia Leng fragrance with her nose, she hugged Luan Qing Xiao carefully, and said softly. "Before you leave in the morning, can you please wake me up? I thought I was dreaming when I woke up and didn’t see you."



The sun had already come out when Luan Qing Xiao left. Waking her up would definitely expose herself, of course it was impossible to agree to her request.



Nie Zhen'er, who couldn’t get a response, whispered to herself. “I’m really bored in these back mountains. Here, there’s no one to talk to. There’s not even a squirrel. I can’t see any living creatures at all. If you hadn’t visited me at night, I wouldn’t have had to resist the urge to escape a long time ago."



"... … "



"I know that Mistress had me face and self-reflect in the back mountain for a month for my good. But I really suffered a lot from going down the mountain this time: I didn’t hear the story I wanted to hear and got lost in the woods for an entire day. If it weren’t for Mistress coming to save me, I definitely would have been dragged away by a wild wolf."