Chapter 56

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Chapter 56: A Step Away

"Floating Cloud Sect, halt here." At the grand and imposing mountain gate, a steward disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect stopped Ming He.

Ming He observed them, noting their uniform white robes, one hand gripping a sword and the other clenched at their side, their expressions stern and focused. They were clearly the steward disciples tasked with safeguarding the sect.

"I wish to see Elder Xie Dan Chen," Ming He stated, ignoring their guarded stance and stating her purpose directly.

"Elder Xie is an inner sect elder of our Floating Cloud Sect; do you think just anyone can see him?" one of the steward disciples sneered, his tone laced with disdain.

"He is my Shishu," Ming He replied, her gaze steady. She wondered if Xie Dan Chen had been injured during the confrontation with the demons, which would explain his absence and the reluctance to let others approach. Could it be related to her Master?

"Your aura suggests you are at the peak of the Spirit Guiding stage, yet you lack a disciple token from the Floating Cloud Sect. Claiming Elder Xie as your Shishu is baseless."

"Then I wish to see Chu Yi Qing," Ming He said, frowning. She hadn’t anticipated being barred from the sect.

"She is a true disciple of our Floating Cloud Sect; how could an unknown small cultivator like you expect to meet her so easily?"

"Everyone wishes to see a true disciple like Chu, but we’ve only glimpsed her from afar. You, small cultivator, have lofty expectations."

"Cease your nonsense and leave at once," the steward disciple dismissed her, painting her as naive and opportunistic, someone who thought they could exploit the Floating Cloud Sect’s reputation.

Ming He replied, "…Then I wish to join the Floating Cloud Sect." She relaxed her brow, speaking lightly, "Does the Floating Cloud Sect not accept disciples? I have come to join your sect because of its renown."

"It is not the time for the Floating Cloud Sect to accept disciples," the steward disciple replied seriously, his demeanor shifting.

Though they knew nothing of the blue-clad cultivator, they couldn’t be careless about matters of recruitment, as it concerned the sect’s legacy and the esteemed reputation of the Floating Cloud Sect in the Eastern Region.

"Aside from the fixed recruitment period, is there no other way?" Ming He asked, skeptical.

"Of course there is," another steward disciple glanced at her and explained, "Our Floating Cloud Sect offers the Floating Cloud Ladder and Woodman Lane, aside from the recruitment ceremony held every three years. The former tempers willpower, while the latter hones the body and combat instincts.

Outsiders wishing to join the Floating Cloud Sect must pass the corresponding tests. However, only the most talented cultivators from the Eastern Region can pass these tests, and at your age, your cultivation is hardly sufficient."

"Even if, by some miracle, you manage to pass the tests and join the Floating Cloud Sect, with your current cultivation, you would only be at the lowest level of outer sect disciples, making every step forward a struggle, and the resources you receive would be minimal, so it’s not worth it."

"I would like to hear more, please elaborate on the tests," Ming He ignored his latter remarks, focusing only on what she needed to know.

"To become a disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect, you must pass one of two tests: the Floating Cloud Ladder or Woodman Lane." The steward disciple, seeing her determination, did not dissuade her, knowing that once she began the tests, she would understand their difficulty.

"The Floating Cloud Ladder was created by our sect’s ancestors, primarily to temper willpower and is not closely tied to cultivation. The ladder has nine thousand nine hundred steps, and according to the standard for outer sect disciples, ascending to the thousandth step means you have passed the test and can join the sect."

The steward disciple, noting Ming He’s calm demeanor, added, "Do not think ascending to the thousandth step is easy. Within our sect, if your cultivation has not reached the fifth level of Xuan Wei realm, you cannot ascend."

Though it was said to be unrelated to cultivation, every breakthrough in realm provided a cleansing of the spirit, and thus higher cultivation naturally enhanced mental will.

"Oh, and what about Woodman Lane?" Ming He blinked, unbothered by his tone. Would it be similar to what she had experienced at Liu Yun Sect?

"Woodman Lane is about ten thousand meters long, with a wooden man stationed every hundred meters. Once you enter, the wooden men will attack you, hindering your progress; passing the first ten wooden men means you’ve passed the test," the steward disciple succinctly explained the entry tests for the Floating Cloud Sect.

"Good, thank you for clarifying. I wish to participate in the Woodman Lane test," Ming He declared.

"Very well, please pay five hundred middle-grade spirit stones," the steward disciple stated seriously. Meeting Ming He’s puzzled gaze, he explained, "This is a rule of our Floating Cloud Sect. Both the Floating Cloud Ladder and Woodman Lane are costly to maintain; if everyone could simply show up to join and take the test, it would be chaos. Thus, this is a restriction set by the sect. If you cannot accept it, you may leave."

"If I pass the test, will the spirit stones be returned to me?" Ming He asked, concerned.

If the Floating Cloud Sect did not return them, she would be left penniless.

The steward disciple looked at her with a mix of pity and bitterness. "Of course."

"That’s good," Ming He exhaled, feeling the pinch as she counted out five thousand lower-grade spirit stones from her storage ring. The middle-grade spirit stones Qin Chu Yi had given her in Ding Kang City were all spent, and the lower-grade spirit stones she had received as an inherited disciple of Liu Yun Sect were meager.

These five thousand lower-grade spirit stones mostly came from the storage ring of the Bloodhand Butcher.

As Ming He handed over the pouch, she thought about how she needed to take on more tasks like this in the future; who would ever say they had too many spirit stones?

"Alright, Niu San, take her to find the attendant elder to open Woodman Lane," the attendant disciple who had spoken with Ming He shook the pouch filled with spirit stones to confirm it contained exactly fifty thousand lower-grade spirit stones before giving instructions to another attendant disciple.

"Yes, Friend, please come this way." The attendant disciple named Niu San respectfully replied and led Ming He through the twists and turns of the sect until they reached a grand hall.

"Elder," Niu San called as he entered and spoke a few more words. The elder then stood up, swaying slightly as he made his way over. "Please, Friend," he gestured for Ming He to enter the hall, and surprisingly, a smile graced his serious face.

Ming He paused; for a moment, she felt like they might be in greater need of spirit stones than she was, as the way they looked at her felt very familiar, just like when she had seen the storage ring at the waist of the Bloodhand Butcher.

She watched Niu San bounce out of the grand hall, a bit worried they might try to refuse payment, then followed the elder into the hall. Inside, she saw a familiar long corridor that looked strikingly similar to the Woodman Lane in Liu Yun Sect, but perhaps the difficulty would be different.

However, it made sense, since Qin Chu Yi had mentioned that Liu Yun Sect once served as an affiliated sect of Floating Cloud Sect but had severed ties after her Master took over as Sect Master.

"Are you ready, Friend? If you are, you can start now; just go inside," the elder beamed.

Woodman Lane, along with Floating Cloud Ladder, was known as one of the two major secret places in the Floating Cloud Sect. A tablet stood at the entrance, recording the achievements of every challenger, so he didn’t need to bother watching; he could continue with his own affairs.

All he had to do was let a cultivator enter and collect a generous amount of spirit stones. Being such an elder was quite pleasant; he didn’t have to busy himself like inner sect elders and teaching elders do every day. As he laughed, he continued sipping on his drink, looking relaxed and self-satisfied, which made Ming He glance at him a few times.

After a brief moment, she noticed the elder effortlessly entering Woodman Lane. She had seen the tablet at the door and read the countless names inscribed upon it, recognizing them as the rankings of the disciples from Floating Cloud Sect.

Today, she wanted her name to appear there too; after all, the attendant disciple had indicated that cultivation was not the sole indicator of success here.

What about her combat instincts? Were they strong or weak?

Thinking this, Ming He drew her sword and executed a sword technique to block the wooden hand reaching out towards her.

"Clang!" The sword tip struck the wooden man, but it remained unscathed, while the web of her hand felt a slight ache. This wooden man was formidable, but its combat technique seemed weaker than those in the Woodman Lane of Liu Yun Sect.

Combat instincts.

As Ming He pondered over that phrase, she realized that in Liu Yun Sect’s Woodman Lane, she often only had the option to endure attacks, but here, she found herself with the ability to fight back. Was it because her cultivation had improved?

"Clang!"

The sword tip pointed once again at the wooden hand. Ming He planted her foot on the ground and activated "Phantom Steps," her figure gliding like the wind as she maneuvered past several wooden men in the narrow corridor. Her right hand flicked the sword tip, executing a series of techniques from the Liu Yun Sword Art—each technique flowed like clouds, layer upon layer, swallowing the attacks of the wooden men in a continuous motion.

Initially, those wooden men tried to chase her down and intercept her, but after she gained some distance, they stomped their feet in frustration and returned to their previous positions.

So, one wooden man handled a hundred-meter range? Their roles were quite distinctly defined.

Ming He smiled at the next expressionless wooden man advancing towards her, straightening her posture and radiating confidence as she swung the sword, embodying a calm and composed demeanor.

"Woodman Lane of Floating Cloud Sect is nothing to fear!" she chuckled with delight in the dim, empty corridor, only to be kicked out by the twenty-fourth wooden man.

"Bang!"

Ming He flew backward and crashed into the wall of the corridor. The next moment, a flash of spiritual light surrounded her, sending her out of Woodman Lane, thus ending her challenge there.

Rubbing her waist, she stood up expressionlessly. "The little wooden man sure holds a grudge."

Ming He murmured as she caught the elder’s observant gaze, quickly regaining her calm and poised demeanor. "Elder, I passed."

She stated this confidently, noticing the elder’s eyes widen in disbelief. "What do you mean passed? Are you just spouting nonsense…"

He was about to scold Ming He for her honesty when he suddenly saw a ghostly light emanating from the imposing tablet at the hall’s entrance, revealing the inscription "Twenty-Four." This indicated that her challenge ended at the twenty-fourth wooden man, with a combined ranking of two thousand two hundred seventeen, leaving the top position empty, clearly waiting for a name to be filled in.

Ming He smirked, stepped forward, and pointed her finger like a sword, inscribing the name "Ming He" before looking at the elder. "Where are my spirit stones?"

Ming He wasn’t particularly concerned about the ranking. From what she had learned in Ding Kang City, the Floating Cloud Sect had over five thousand outer sect disciples, each of whom had broken through to the Xuan Wei realm. Her earlier expulsion by the wooden man had been due to a momentary lapse in focus, and since she hadn’t exerted her full strength, the ranking held little significance for her. Spirit stones were far more important.

"Two thousand two hundred and seventeen!" The elder’s eyes widened in disbelief. That was the twenty-fourth wooden man in Woodman Lane—just one step shy of meeting the entry standard for inner sect disciples!

Yet, her cultivation was only at the peak of the Spirit Guiding stage; she hadn’t even reached the Xuan Wei realm.

"Elder, where are my spirit stones?" Ming He frowned, suspecting he might renege on his promise. If so, she would have no choice but to seek justice from her Shishu.

"The spirit stones will be returned to you shortly," the elder replied, his expression oddly intrigued as he observed her frown. It seemed she was unaware of her own brilliance—how perfect!

He was determined to bring this prodigy to Fei Lai Peak. At the next Nine Peaks Tournament, it would be Fei Lai Peak that stole the spotlight, not Floating Cloud Peak or Snowfall Peak.

He chuckled softly, his tone softening. "Your name is Ming He, correct? You’ve passed the test. Congratulations on becoming an outer sect disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect. Now, follow me to register your information and collect your disciple token and supplies." He watched her closely, noting her evident concern for the spirit stones, which made him tread carefully.

Ming He eyed him with suspicion, sensing something peculiar about the old man, though she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. She nodded, gripping her black long sword tightly as she followed him through the mist-shrouded courtyards of several grand halls until they reached another hall, its entrance adorned with the bold characters "Miscellaneous Hall."

"Name: Ming He. She has passed the Floating Cloud Sect’s entrance test, halting at the twenty-fourth wooden man in Woodman Lane, with an overall ranking of two thousand two hundred and seventeen. The wooden tablet serves as proof. She will join Fei Lai Peak and be registered," the elder declared to an attendant disciple inside the hall.

"Yes," the attendant disciple replied, his eyes flickering with envy as he glanced at Ming He before preparing to carry out the order.

"Wait." A voice interrupted from outside the hall, and a middle-aged cultivator in dark robes entered. "Ming He is here to seek our Luoheng Peak’s master. How has she ended up in your Fei Lai Peak? Elder Guan, this is unacceptable—poaching disciples from our Luoheng Peak?"

"Elder Ye, don’t spout nonsense! She legitimately passed the Floating Cloud Sect’s entrance test. How can she be considered your Luoheng Peak’s disciple?" Elder Guan retorted, visibly flustered.

"If you don’t believe me, then listen carefully," Elder Ye said with a confident smile. "Little Ming He, do you know Xie Dan Chen?"

"Xie Dan Chen is my Shishu," Ming He replied calmly, her gaze steady as she observed the two men.

"Then it’s settled," Elder Ye declared with a laugh. "She is the niece of our Luoheng Peak’s master, so naturally, she belongs to Luoheng Peak."

"Nonsense! She wasn’t even a disciple of the Floating Cloud Sect before. How could she possibly be Xie Dan Chen’s niece?" Elder Guan grew increasingly agitated before a realization dawned on him, his expression shifting. "She’s…his disciple?"

"Yes," Elder Ye confirmed quietly after a brief pause.

"She’s actually…" Elder Guan’s expression turned pensive. "No wonder she’s so remarkable. Fine, I concede." With a wave of his sleeve, he turned and left.

Elder Ye watched him go, his expression thoughtful. "Continue the registration. Change Fei Lai Peak to Luoheng Peak; everything else remains the same," he instructed the attendant disciple.

"Hold on." Before the attendant could respond, another figure entered the hall. "Elder Ye, I believe Ming He should not be admitted to the Floating Cloud Sect," the newcomer stated firmly.

"What do you mean, Elder Zheng?" Elder Ye’s face darkened, his tone sharp with anger.

"My meaning is simple," Elder Zheng replied, his voice resolute. "Qu Lingyun’s disciple has no place in the Floating Cloud Sect."

"She passed the entrance test established by the Floating Cloud Sect, so she is entitled to join us. This is the rule set by our ancestors. What is the issue?" Elder Ye countered, refusing to back down.

"There is no issue with the rule itself, but Qu Lingyun’s disciple should not fall under its jurisdiction," Elder Zheng retorted coldly, his expression unyielding.

"Moreover, whether she truly passed our Floating Cloud Sect’s entrance test is debatable. The Woodman Lane of our sect is not significantly different from that of the Liu Yun Sect. Her success may stem from familiarity rather than innate talent," he argued, implying that, in some respects, the Liu Yun Sect’s Woodman Lane was even more challenging.

"I maintain that Ming He should not enter the Floating Cloud Sect, and the Sect Master agrees. Are you prepared to defy the Sect Master’s orders, Elder Ye?" Elder Zheng smiled confidently, his tone brimming with assurance.

"You—" Elder Ye’s frustration boiled over. "The Sect Master is clearly being pressured by you all. Otherwise, how could he possibly…" reject the disciple of Brother Qu?

"You are utterly unreasonable," Elder Ye snapped, slamming the table in frustration. He turned to the attendant disciple. "What are you waiting for? Record it immediately!"

"You will not record it!" Elder Zheng interjected coldly.

The attendant disciple stood frozen, caught between the two inner sect elders, utterly at a loss. Ming He couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him, sensing the weight of his predicament.

"Enough! It’s unseemly for elders to bicker like this in the grand hall of the Floating Cloud Sect," Ming He observed as another inner sect elder approached. "I propose a solution that might satisfy both parties. Would you care to hear it?"

"Master Xu," greeted Elder Ye and Elder Zheng, their expressions turning solemn as they bowed respectfully to the approaching middle-aged cultivator.

Master Xu.

Ming He studied him with interest. Cultivators were rarely unattractive, and Master Xu was no exception. His stern demeanor and rigid posture made him the epitome of discipline and precision.

She was aware that the Floating Cloud Sect comprised nine peaks. Her Shishu, Xie Dan Chen, presided over Luoheng Peak. Thus, Master Xu, as one of the peak masters, held a position of high esteem, second only to the Sect Master in both rank and cultivation.

"Since the Woodman Lane of the Floating Cloud Sect closely resembles that of the Liu Yun Sect, why not have Ming He retake the Floating Cloud Ladder, adhering to our standard entry test?" Master Xu suggested.

"If she succeeds, she naturally earns her place in the Floating Cloud Sect. If not…" He left the sentence unfinished, but the implication was clear. Failure would mean departure.

"What do you both think?"

"Out of the question!" Elder Zheng protested vehemently. "As Qu Lingyun’s disciple, who knows what secret techniques she’s been taught? The entry test would be a mere formality for her."

"Then what do you propose, Elder Zheng?" Elder Ye asked, maintaining his composure despite his rising anger.

"Unless she ascends to the twenty-five hundredth step of the Floating Cloud Ladder!" Elder Zheng’s smile was laced with cunning. "Only then will Chiyu Peak permit her entry into the Floating Cloud Sect."

"Preposterous!" Elder Ye’s anger flared. "Twenty-five hundred steps? Could even your inner sect disciples achieve that? You’re deliberately setting her up to fail!"

"Certainly. My disciple, Mu Qian, has done so," Elder Zheng replied with a smug expression.

"And what of Mu Qian’s cultivation level compared to Ming He’s?"

"Enough! My stance is clear. If Ming He cannot reach the twenty-five hundredth step, she cannot join the Floating Cloud Sect. Surely, a disciple of Qu Lingyun can manage that much?" Elder Zheng’s tone was firm, his expression unyielding.

"You—" Elder Ye shot a furious glance at Master Xu, who remained silent, tacitly endorsing Elder Zheng’s proposal.

"Senior Ye, I wish to attempt it," Ming He interjected softly, breaking the tension.

The conflict stemmed solely from her being Qu Lingyun’s disciple. What history did her Master share with the Floating Cloud Sect?

Ming He pushed her curiosity aside. The Floating Cloud Ladder intrigued her; even if she failed, she had nothing to lose by trying.

"Ming He, you—" Elder Ye’s voice was tinged with melancholy. Twenty-five hundred steps were daunting; how could she possibly succeed? Yet, he had no alternative.

Many who harbored prejudices against Brother Qu remained in the sect, while his supporters were away on the battlefield of the heavens. The current peak master was in seclusion—sigh!

He sighed deeply. "Very well, give it a try." If she failed, they would have to await the peak master’s return.

At the Floating Cloud Ladder, Ming He followed Elder Ye through much of the Floating Cloud Sect until they reached a stairway veiled in mist, its peak obscured. Her curiosity was piqued; the Floating Cloud Ladder was a trial of willpower. How would hers fare?

Her expression darkened slightly; it was neither exceptionally strong nor weak.

Ignoring Elder Ye’s sorrowful gaze and the presence of Elder Zheng and Master Xu, Ming He stepped onto the ladder, her footing firm.

The environment was peculiar, with an unseen gravitational force pressing down, attempting to hinder her progress and bend her posture. Yet, it was only the first step, and the pressure was minimal.

Testing willpower.

Ming He repeated the phrase in her mind as she ascended, employing the Phantom Steps she had learned from the Liu Yun Sect. Her movements were swift and fluid, propelling her past several hundred steps. She soon reached the one thousandth step, the standard for entry tests in the Floating Cloud Sect.

"How is she so swift?" Elder Zheng murmured in astonishment.

At this pace, she might indeed reach the twenty-five hundredth step.

Qu Lingyun’s disciple was unexpectedly formidable! How could the ninth prefecture of the Eastern Region produce such a prodigy?

A thought crossed his mind, and he surreptitiously channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into his palm.

At the one thousand and first step.

Ming He felt the weight double, but it was still bearable. Her willpower held firm.

She took pride in her resilience and pressed on. Upon reaching the two thousandth step, she paused briefly, feeling the strain for the first time.

The gravitational force and pressure on the Floating Cloud Ladder increased exponentially with each step. What would it be like at the summit? She wondered.

Two thousand four hundred steps.

Ming He gasped, finally feeling the toll. Her blue attire was soaked with sweat, her dark hair clinging to her forehead. She wiped the sweat with her sleeve and glanced back at the distant figures and structures below before continuing.

One hundred steps remained; it wasn’t far.

Fifty steps!

Forty steps!

Ten steps!

Three steps!

Ming He adjusted her breathing, a trickle of blood at her lips. Just one more step; she could do it!

"Haah…"

She inhaled deeply, straightened her back, and slowly lifted her right foot. She was about to place it on the twenty-five hundredth step when a surge of spiritual energy, slicing through the mist, struck her.

"Poof!"

Ming He coughed up blood, her vision blurring. When it cleared, she found herself back at the first step of the Floating Cloud Ladder.

"Two thousand four hundred ninety steps; she fell short by just one step and cannot enter the sect," Elder Zheng announced with glee.

"One step away; what a pity," Master Xu added, his eyes flickering with regret. He genuinely felt it was a loss; the blue-clad cultivator possessed remarkable talent, but she was Qu Lingyun’s disciple.

"Ha!" Ming He scoffed, her gaze sharp as a blade directed at Elder Zheng, her heart seething with anger. "Can’t handle the competition?!"