135: Gamblers and Sunk Costs

Ten years of Lifespan for one step on the Ascension Steps?

The Cultivator, who was about to step onto the steps, froze.

Ten years of Lifespan, that was ten years of Lifespan!

He looked up.

The towering Boundless Immortal Mountain, reaching into the clouds, seemed to be right before his eyes.

Only nine steps... so close.

He was surprised to find that this path was truly so close!

It was completely different from the path he had been kicked down from before.

That path not only had no end in sight, but the people along the way were also very, very bad, not letting him push forward.

This path had no struggles, only nine steps!

Everything seemed within reach!

At this moment, the number on the Boundless Immortal Mountain's light screen suddenly jumped from 235 to 237.

In just this short while.

Two more people had ascended the Immortal Mountain.

The onlookers wanted to urge the person on the Ascension Steps in the middle to act quickly, but after glancing at the three Golden Core Perfection Cultivators controlling the scene, they silently dismissed the idea.

Three years ago, someone interfered with the competition, and now they might already be just making up the numbers.

"I'll risk it!"

The Cultivator gritted his teeth.

It was only ten years of Lifespan.

He was seventeen years old by bone age now, and even if he didn't cultivate, he could live to his forties, not to mention he also practiced Body Tempering.

If he could enter one of the Three Great Factions, even as an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple, he would definitely be able to enter the Qi Refining Realm.

After entering the Qi Refining Realm, Lifespan would start at a hundred years.

Using his current ten years to exchange for several decades in the future.

A sure profit!

Thinking this, the Cultivator stepped onto the steps.

The Cultivators who had been hesitating behind him breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the other party seemed to have no changes.

Just as they said, it was merely a tool for assessing Disciples, how could it be so dangerous?

But the Cultivator who stepped onto the first step was almost in tears.

"Ten years of Lifespan for one step, do you wish to exchange? If so, please land your foot; if not, please change paths."

Another ten years... "I'll risk it again!"

...The Cultivators staring at the middle steps saw that the previous Cultivator had ascended five steps at once without any issues.

They became excited.

That Cultivator watched as he surpassed the people on the Ascension Steps beside him in a few strides.

How much time had passed!

"We can go up!"

More and more people chose this middle path.

The cost of the first step?

No big deal, wasn't there someone ahead?

Just follow one path all the way through.

But the next second.

They saw that the first Cultivator, after stepping onto the seventh step, rapidly aged.

In less than a breath.

From a young Body Tempering Realm Cultivator, he quickly turned into a decrepit old man, and then collapsed to one side.

Thud—

The sound of the corpse hitting the ground poured a basin of cold water on this group of people...

"Those who want to take shortcuts are all people with a Luck mentality (sense of luck)."

Jiang Ning murmured to himself, "It's very similar to a gambler. At first, they think they can do it, they can take a gamble, but after investing, the sunk cost gets bigger and bigger.

Even if they want to turn back, they can't."

Having lost so much Lifespan.

Turning back would also mean not being able to ascend the Boundless Immortal Mountain.

For these people, this trip was a huge loss.

Jiang Ning held Shen Jinhuan's hand and asked, "If it were you, which path would you choose?"

Shen Jinhuan said, "If it were me now, I would definitely choose the path on the far right. I can fight my way up.

If I were weak, then I might as well take the path on the far left, after all, to seek immortality and the Dao, one must first survive."

"But..." Shen Jinhuan paused, then smiled and said, "I think that middle path suits me very well.

Giving something, getting something, it's very fair.

It's just that I'm not interested in these 'givings.' If before, someone could give me the ability to destroy the Bixiao Sect at once, and the price was my life.

I think I would consider it."

Jiang Ning's heart tightened.

He gripped Shen Jinhuan's hand tightly.

It was a good thing he came.

Otherwise, the little girl would fall deeper and deeper.

"Don't do things that come with such a great cost."

"But it's very effective, isn't it?"

Shen Jinhuan pointed to a Disciple, "Look, he ascended the Immortal Mountain, and it only took him less than half an incense stick of time."

Jiang Ning looked over.

Indeed, a Disciple had ascended from the middle path.

Jiang Ning: ...Damn it, what kind of demonic Cultivator is this.

His luck was beyond words.

He didn't continue to pay attention to the Ascension Steps.

Jiang Ning looked at the proficiency panel and began to close his eyes to study how to improve the proficiency of "Space Law."

Jiang Ning was still confused about how to increase the proficiency of Law-type skills.

Could he just use Space Law?

Jiang Ning tried to increase proficiency in the manner of a Martial Skill.

He swept his Divine Sense over the people around him.

Finally, he focused his attention on the little fox "dangling" on Shen Jinhuan's shoulder.

He extended two fingers and probed forward.

It was as if he had grasped something between his fingers, and he shook it.

Space Law took effect.

He applied this force to the little fox's tail.

Xiaobai, who was bored on Shen Jinhuan's shoulder, suddenly widened her eyes.

She looked around.

Then she raised her tail.

She said in surprise, "Huanhuan, Huanhuan, did you pull my tail?"

Shen Jinhuan glanced at Xiaobai blankly.

She didn't speak.

She thought Xiaobai was deliberately trying to make conversation.

Seeing that Shen Jinhuan didn't answer, Xiaobai didn't think much of it and lay down to sleep again.

Jiang Ning saw this.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

He checked the proficiency panel.

There was still no reaction from Space Law.

"It seems it's not like Martial Skills, where you can just use them to refresh proficiency. What went wrong?"

Jiang Ning pondered in his mind.

After thinking for a long time, he still couldn't figure it out, so he gave up.

He would deal with it after the Ascension Assembly ended.

However, looking at the very "comfortable" little fox, he felt playful.

Jiang Ning again used Space Law to touch the little fox's tail.

Xiaobai suddenly opened her eyes.

She immediately looked towards her tail.

Wanting to catch the culprit in the act.

But the Disciples behind her were all far away. If someone touched her tail, they wouldn't have a chance to quickly withdraw.

Then there was only one possibility.

Xiaobai said angrily, "Huanhuan, don't touch my tail anymore."

Shen Jinhuan turned her head, almost face to face with Xiaobai on her shoulder.

Their eyes met.

Shen Jinhuan looked at Xiaobai as if she were a patient.

She didn't say a word.

Xiaobai blinked, "It wasn't you?"

Shen Jinhuan turned her head away and stopped talking to Xiaobai.

Jiang Ning held back his laughter.

He watched Xiaobai pretend to nap, preparing to bring the "culprit" to justice.

Jiang Ning reached out and moved again.

Xiaobai's sharp claws appeared, sweeping directly towards her tail.

The sound of wind being cut through the air.

A few strands of white fox fur floated.

This swipe didn't injure the culprit, but it startled the Disciples behind her.

Xiaobai's eyes widened.

She waved her claws, using all her "body language" to describe.

"Revered Master, Huanhuan! It's over, it's over! I'm being targeted by a ghost! That ghost keeps grabbing my tail!"