470: Climb the ladder to heaven!

The lingering sound of the bell had not faded, and all the races were in an uproar.

Countless streams of light, like a reverse meteor shower, surged towards the Heaven-Ascending Stairway, which was paved with white jade and pierced straight into the sea of clouds.

The scene was grand yet chaotic, with various auras colliding and Laws intertwining, as countless powerhouses vied to go first.

Ye Xuan and his group were not in a hurry to rush to the very front. He led everyone unhurriedly towards the starting point of the stairs, his gaze calmly observing the front.

The seemingly ordinary white jade steps immediately revealed their extraordinary nature the moment the first batch of beings stepped onto them.

Above the steps, an invisible pressure suddenly descended, pressing down on every climber like a mountain.

At the same time, the eyes of the silent stone statue guards on both sides of the steps suddenly lit up with red light, locking onto those who tried to cheat by flying or whose Heart-Nature was impure.

“Ah!”

Screams rang out one after another.

Some weaker individuals, after only a few steps, were crushed to the ground by the immense pressure, spitting blood, their bones broken and tendons snapped, thus losing their qualification.

Even more, those who tried to burst forth with speed to forcefully sprint, or used secret techniques to conceal their figures, immediately drew attacks from the stone statue guards.

A red light flashed, and those who tried to cheat were struck heavily, falling back in disarray, their injuries even more severe.

“This Heaven-Ascending Stairway tests overall strength. Those with weak will, a restless Heart-Nature, or a shallow Foundation will all find it difficult to pass.”

Yue Xuan’s clear and cold voice rang out, directly pointing out the key to everyone.

Ye Xuan nodded. He could feel that this pressure was not merely a suppression of power; it also contained an impact on the Divine Soul and a questioning of the Dao Heart.

Above the steps, illusions vaguely sprouted, stirring Heart Demons.

“Be careful, let’s go.”

Ye Xuan was the first to step onto the first stair.

A heavy pressure instantly acted on their bodies and Souls, as if they were instantly burdened with a mountain, causing everyone’s footsteps to falter.

At the same time, countless faint whispers seemed to ring in their ears, attempting to disturb their minds.

This bit of pressure was nothing to Ye Xuan.

He walked with steady steps, ascending one step at a time.

The Chaos Fire Seed rotated slightly in his Sea of Consciousness, leaving Ye Xuan unaffected.

Tang Linglong, Huo Ling’er, Yue Xuan, Sacred Maiden Shen Lan, Huang Li, and others followed closely behind.

They were all individuals with firm resolve and solid Foundations, so this initial stage of the test posed no great difficulty for them.

Tang Linglong’s Sword Heart was clear and bright, making illusions hard to invade. Huo Ling’er’s Nirvana Heart was fervent, keeping all evil at bay. Yue Xuan had the power of the Tai Yin protecting her body. Sacred Maiden Shen Lan, needless to say, had a special Physique that made her immune to all techniques.

Huang Li and the ten Phoenix elites also displayed powerful Bloodline strength and tenacious will, steadily keeping up.

It was Ya Ya, held by Huo Ling’er, whose small face showed a hint of strain.

Her Physique was frail, and her Bloodline was thin; the pressure of this Heaven-Ascending Stairway was like a heavenly tribulation to her.

Originally, Ye Xuan and the others had not planned to bring Ya Ya, but if they left her behind, she might not survive until tomorrow, so they had no choice but to bring her.

Ye Xuan also had the confidence to protect a little girl.

“Ya Ya, hold on. Circulate the basic breathing technique that big sister taught you.”

Huo Ling’er encouraged her, while also transferring a trace of gentle Nirvana Fire essence to protect Ya Ya’s Heart Meridian.

Ya Ya bit her lip, nodded, and tried hard to move her short legs, following step by step.

Ye Xuan and the others’ steady pace attracted the attention of some climbers around them.

Unlike others who were scrambling frantically, their steps were even, and their auras were stable, making them stand out in this chaotic current.

“Hmph, just for show!”

A young man from the Golden-Winged Great Peng Race, moving extremely fast, swept past Ye Xuan in a flash of golden light, raising a gust of wind. He also snorted coldly, clearly displeased with Ye Xuan’s steady pace.

Ye Xuan did not even glance at him.

The higher they went, the greater the pressure, and the more real the illusions became.

Some saw mountains of treasures, some saw peerless Cultivation Techniques, some saw long-sought enemies, and some saw the most terrifying scenes in their hearts.

People constantly lost their minds, either laughing maniacally, screaming in fear, or attacking the air wildly, ultimately being swept off the steps by the red light of the stone statue guards.

Ye Xuan’s Heart was like a clear mirror, reflecting all Laws; these so-called illusions were not worth mentioning to him.

He could even spare a thought to observe Ya Ya’s condition.

What slightly surprised him was that although Ya Ya walked with difficulty, her small face pale and her forehead soaked with sweat, her eyes were exceptionally clear and firm.

That faint trace of vitality within her body, under the pressure, seemed to have condensed slightly, which actually piqued Ye Xuan’s interest.

“A bit interesting.”

Ye Xuan thought to himself.

By the middle section of the steps, the pressure had already doubled, and the illusions were even more substantial.

At this point, those who could still maintain their speed were truly the elites of various races.

Suddenly, violent energy fluctuations and angry shouts came from ahead.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng youth who had provoked them earlier was now in trouble.

Several powerful Heart Demon illusions had appeared in front of him, battling him.

These Heart Demon illusions were quite strong, and they seemed able to trigger his own fears and weaknesses, making him unable to hold on, already severely injured.

“Get lost!”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng youth roared, flapping his wings, golden light like blades, yet he struggled to completely defeat the illusions.

Ye Xuan and his group happened to pass by the vicinity.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng youth saw Ye Xuan, a flicker of joy in his eyes. He couldn’t help but shout, “Hey! Human Race kid, lend a hand! My race will surely reward you heavily!”

Ye Xuan’s steps did not stop, he did not even look at him, merely uttering two words flatly.

“No help.”

He had no interest in helping someone with such a restless Heart-Nature who had also spoken disrespectfully earlier.

“You!”

The Golden-Winged Great Peng youth was choked with anger. A moment of Divided Soul, and another Heart Demon illusion slashed a deep, bone-visible wound on his back, causing him to scream.

His speed greatly reduced, he was about to be eliminated by the subsequent tests.

Ye Xuan paid him no further mind, leading everyone calmly past this area.

Those few Heart Demon illusions seemed to ignore Ye Xuan and his group, or rather, they instinctively dared not approach the invisible Primordial Chaos Dao domain around Ye Xuan.

After advancing several hundred more steps, the scenery on both sides of the steps began to change.

It was no longer just monotonous white jade steps, but some suspended platforms appeared, with various items placed on them.

Some were treasures emitting enticing light, some were Jade Slips inscribed with profound runes, and some were even fragments of Dao insights directly manifested!

These were temptations, and also tests.

Many climbers, seeing these, their eyes turned red, and they couldn’t help but leave the main steps and rush towards those platforms.

However, once they left the main steps, the pressure and illusion attacks they endured would suddenly increase several times over!

Many people had just obtained treasures, and before they could even rejoice, they were swallowed by even more powerful illusions, their efforts coming to naught.

Ye Xuan’s gaze swept over those platforms, and he shook his head slightly.

These things might be good, but they didn’t catch his eye. His goal was the mountain peak, the secret left behind by Tai Hao.