427: The choice between life and death, the heart of practicing Taoism!

The steps exuded immense pressure, each level feeling like carrying a small mountain on one's back.

At this moment, numerous Cultivators were densely packed on the steps, climbing with great difficulty, sweat pouring down their bodies, veins bulging, and their bones groaning under the unbearable, terrifying pressure.

The air was thick with the smell of blood and an aura of despair.

"The one thousandth level... I must ascend! I must obtain one-tenth of the Holy Lord's Physical Body Becoming Holy method!!!"

A burly man at Great Perfection of Undergoing Tribulation roared, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the one thousandth level above, appearing utterly insane!

"Dong... dong... dong..."

The burly man walked step by step towards the one thousandth level, finally reaching the nine hundred ninety-ninth level.

At this moment, he was only one step away from the one thousandth level, but his protective spiritual light had long since shattered, and his skin was cracking inch by inch under the immense pressure, seeping blood.

Just one more step forward, and he would obtain a portion of that semi-immortal Cultivation Technique; once he acquired this part of the method, his cultivation path would undoubtedly advance to a higher level!

However, as he looked at the one thousandth level, which was within arm's reach, a hint of hesitation appeared on the burly man's face, a hesitation that even carried a touch of fear.

What was he afraid of?

In this first trial, many Cultivators had already perished, and the vast majority of them had fallen on this one thousandth level!

Through these bloody lessons, the Cultivators here had already learned that at every one thousandth level, the pressure of the Holy Light Body Forging Steps would suddenly increase several times over.

During his climb through the preceding nine hundred ninety levels, the burly man could clearly feel the external pressure gradually increasing.

This gradual increase allowed his body to slowly adapt to the pressure, and at the same time, he could accurately estimate the limit of his Physical Body's endurance!

However, facing the sudden increase in pressure at the one thousandth level, he had no confidence at all.

"Hoo... hooo..."

Heavy breathing escaped his mouth; at this very moment, his heart was a battlefield of two extreme emotions.

Extreme desire and extreme fear!

He intensely desired that method, and as a Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation, if he could step onto the one thousandth level, he would pass the first stage. Since the first stage offered such generous rewards, the second stage would surely have them too!

But he was also extremely afraid; during his climb, almost every time he looked up, he saw Cultivators at his current position unable to withstand the sudden increase in pressure, either turning into a puddle of flesh or exploding on the spot.

"Ah!!!"

Just as the burly man hesitated, a tragic scream came from beside him!

He turned his head to see another Cultivator who had recklessly stepped onto the one thousandth level. Unfortunately, his Physical Body could not withstand the pressure and he exploded on the spot, leaving only a scream.

Most of the Cultivators below who witnessed this scene gasped, sighing... another one fell in the darkness before dawn.

"Hiss... another one died! It's too terrifying!!"

"Hmph! It's just a lack of skill. Once I adapt, I'll definitely rush to the one thousandth level."

"It's easy for you to say. I'm just afraid that when you go up, you'll also end up exploding on the spot!"

"Exploding on the spot? So what? If I don't even have the determination to try, how will I face the various hardships on the cultivation path in the future? Even if I die, I want to die on the one thousandth level!!!"

...

The burly man looked at the deceased Cultivator, then slowly turned back to face the small step before him, which now appeared so towering and terrifying in his eyes.

The burly man closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then suddenly opened them, radiating dazzling light!

"I, Ye Kuangfu, will never retreat at the nine hundred ninety-ninth level!"

As his words fell, he raised his right foot and forcefully stepped onto the one thousandth level of the stairs!

"Ah!!!"

In an instant, the burly man's body suddenly knelt on the steps, the immense pressure directly crushing him so that he couldn't straighten his body at all.

Above his knees, a clear sound of bone cracking rang out, and blood had already begun to seep out.

His face was completely contorted, his hands pressed against the ground, his palms completely abraded to the flesh by the steps, and large torn wounds had begun to appear on his arms.

Blood continuously gushed from these torn wounds, staining the steps around him, then quickly disappearing onto the steps.

"Hoo... hoo hoo..."

Indistinct sounds came from the burly man's mouth, like a silent protest, or perhaps a roar at himself!

The crowd behind the burly man saw this scene and some voices emerged:

"Alas, it seems this person is much better than the previous one; at least he didn't die directly."

"But looking at him, he seems to be barely holding on for now. He can only endure with this last breath; if he lets go, he will likely meet a similar fate of perishing."

"The Holy Lord's Legacy is too difficult. This is only the first stage, and many Cultivators have already died."

"No! Look at him!"

...

In the eyes of the crowd, the burly man's body actually showed signs of slowly rising under this astonishing pressure.

The burly man slowly raised his head, his eyes revealing an incredibly frenzied expression. At this moment, he clenched his teeth tightly, desperately supporting his body with both hands!

"Ha... haha... You can't crush me!!!!"

The moment the last word appeared, the burly man disregarded his shattered right knee, endured the piercing pain, and quickly dragged his left foot up!

His right foot also could not support him at that instant, his entire right leg directly exploded into flesh and blood, and he completely collapsed onto the steps.

But at this very moment, his left foot finally stepped completely onto the one thousandth level, and the pressure of the one thousandth level that had been suppressing him suddenly vanished.

He succeeded!

A golden light flashed, and he finally obtained the method he had longed for, and was teleported to the second stage.

"Hahahahaha..."

After the golden light, the burly man's figure had disappeared, only a hearty laugh still echoed.

Some marveled, some envied.

"What! Another Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation passed the first stage?!"

"Damn it, they're all Cultivators Undergoing Tribulation, why is there such a big difference?"

Some remained silent, their eyes firmly fixed upwards. The success or failure of others could not interfere with their Dao Heart; they had only one goal, and that was to vow to pass the first stage!