437: True teachings

It wasn't just him.

On the platform, Shi Potian, Ji Xuanye, Xing Lan, and the others, who had just barely stabilized their auras, followed the Golden Lion's stunned gaze and saw those five figures that had already walked ahead of them, the distance between them still slowly widening.

Just when did these five surpass them?

He hadn't noticed at all!

Ji Xuanye's expression shifted erratically, his hand gripping his sword hilt turning slightly white.

He stared fixedly at those retreating figures, especially Xiao Ruobai's figure, which was as calm as an abyss.

This silent surpassing was more heart-shaking than any flamboyant display of power.

The entire 8,000th-step platform fell into a bizarre silence.

Everyone's eyes were focused on those five fading figures, their faces filled with extreme shock and disbelief.

It turned out that while they were struggling desperately to charge toward the 8,000th step, these five had already quietly completed their traversal and had even set out on a higher journey!

This silent gap was more impactful than any words.

Xiao Ruobai seemed completely oblivious to the shocked gazes from below.

He continued to walk steadily, leading the four people behind him step by step, firmly heading deeper into the Heavenly Stairway.

The dead silence on the platform lasted for several breaths.

Not until the invisible pressure brought by those five figures slowly receded like a tide as they moved further away did the stagnant air on the platform seem to flow again.

"Cough..."

A suppressed cough broke the silence; it was Ji Xuanye, who couldn't help but spit out another small mouthful of stale blood.

This cough seemed to be a signal, forcibly pulling everyone's minds back from that state of extreme shock and disbelief.

Shi Potian exhaled a heavy breath, the muscles on his rugged face twitching a few times before finally turning into an extremely complex low curse: "Damn it..."

He stopped looking upward and instead abruptly closed his eyes, putting all his effort into guiding the dense Dao Rhyme on the platform to repair the dozens of terrifying, bone-deep cracks on his body.

With every bit repaired, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, but the turmoil in his heart was difficult to calm.

The other Prodigies who had successfully reached the top—the Former Saint of Yaoguang, the Lingxiao Successor, Xing Lan, and others—also recovered from their shock one after another.

No one spoke; there were only the rustling sounds of rapid movement and the faint glow of Medicinal Pills dissolving.

They all knew very well that shock, resentment, or even fear were all meaningless.

The only thing they could do now was to seize the precious Dao Rhyme and healing environment provided by this 8,000th-step platform, which far surpassed what was below, to recover their strength at the fastest speed and stabilize the Foundation improvement brought by just obtaining the True Disciple qualification.

Then, continue upward.

Everyone closed their eyes and focused entirely on regulating their breathing.

Time passed slowly in this heavy silence.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

Seven brilliant rays of rosy light suddenly erupted from seven different positions on the edge of the 8,000th-step platform without any warning!

The rosy light soared into the sky, and the Dao Rhyme resonated!

The light lasted for several breaths before slowly receding and dissipating.

As the light faded, the figures within were revealed.

Seven people.

"Someone else has come up?!"

"Is it those seven mysterious Prodigies?!"

"They all made it up? And so quickly?!"

On the Heavenly Stairway, all the Prodigies were startled by this new development and looked over abruptly!

As the rosy light faded, seven figures, clearly marked by hardships and injuries but with backs as straight as pines, appeared clearly at the edge of the platform.

It was exactly the seven people including Li Xuanfeng, Shen Jinghong, and Mu Chenyu!

Their faces were pale, and their auras fluctuated violently; clearly, the final stretch of the chasm had cost them a hard-fought battle and significant exhaustion.

But, no one fell, and no one groaned.

Almost the moment they stepped onto the platform, each of the seven quickly found an empty spot and immediately sat cross-legged to begin regulating their breathing.

Their condition was clearly much better than when the second-tier Prodigies had first reached the top.

On the platform, everyone stared blankly at these seven newcomers.

Shi Potian subconsciously made a comparison; when he had reached the top, half of his body was nearly shattered, and he had collapsed on the ground, almost fainting.

But these seven only had minor injuries. He opened his mouth to say something but found his throat a bit dry.

Ji Xuanye's expression became extremely vivid; shock, confusion, wariness, and a hint of annoyance at being caught up by latecomers... many emotions flashed through his eyes.

He recognized more than one of them; they were all people with some reputation in the Eastern Region, but they definitely shouldn't be here, much less appear in this manner!

Xing Lan's gaze swept rapidly over the seven, lingering for a moment on Li Xuanfeng in particular.

His internal assessment was completely overturned; the Foundations of these seven and the state they displayed now far exceeded all his previous calculations!

After a brief period of shock and silence, an even heavier pressure silently permeated everyone's hearts.

Ahead of them were the five "great mountains" who had long since vanished from sight and the powerhouses of the first tier who had taken a step ahead.

Now, seven more competitors of unknown status and depth had appeared out of thin air beside them.

This shocking scene was also captured by all the Cultivators still climbing the Heavenly Stairway below, as well as by the countless gazes closely watching from the Dao Yuan Mountain square.

After a brief dead silence, a tsunami-like roar of voices crashed through everything!

"They're up! They all made it up!"

"Seven! Those seven strangers have all become True Disciples!"

"Including those before them, the number of True Disciples who have reached the 8,000th step this term is nearly thirty! Thirty people!"

"A Golden Age! This is a true Golden Age! Prodigies are like rain, and True Disciples are like grass!"

Countless Cultivators were so excited their faces flushed red, and they shouted until their voices were hoarse.

Representatives of various forces were dumbfounded, their intelligence Jade Slips creaking as they gripped them.

Dao Zang Academy, Mingxin Hall.

This was the main viewing platform for this Great Competition.

At this moment, however, the hall was in a near-disorderly state of boiling excitement.

The Elders and deacons of the various halls, who were usually transcendent and dignified, had mostly lost their composure.

Floating before them were dozens of giant Water Mirrors, reflecting scenes from various sections of the Heavenly Stairway, especially the 8,000th-step platform where the rosy light was fading and figures were milling about.

"Twenty-eight! A full twenty-eight people have reached the 8,000th step!"

The voice of a white-bearded Elder responsible for recording trembled, and the jade pen in his hand shook slightly with excitement, leaving a crooked mark on the record scroll.

He counted repeatedly, unable to believe his eyes.

Another red-faced Elder waved his arms excitedly, his spittle nearly splashing onto his colleague's face.

"The last time the Heavenly Stairway opened, only nine people reached it!!"

An old woman responsible for monitoring Dao Rhyme fluctuations had eyes shining with divine light as she pointed at several Water Mirrors, her brows furrowed.

"However, there are no records or information at all regarding these seven who climbed up later; it's as if they appeared out of thin air.

"Moreover, each of their Foundations has rosy light as solid as iron, and their life Origins are as vigorous as Dragons. With such Aptitude, one wonders if they come from the same sect or if each has their own Legacy?"