Chapter 36: Ascension Begins with Each Step—The Mountain Stairway on the Island
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From a distance, the Ascension Island didn’t seem large.
But the moment they landed, they realized—it wasn’t a mere island. It was practically a miniature continent!
Vast forests filled the landscape, towering mountains reached into the clouds, strange birds soared across the sky, and distant howls of unknown beasts echoed in the night.
It was a land of untamed wilderness!
As the last light of the sun faded into the western horizon, night fell and moonlight spread across the land.
The group quickly adjusted to the dim lunar glow.
Song Xingtian led the five Baiyun Sect disciples to the shore, but they did not advance further. Instead, they quietly waited.
Before long, a streak of rainbow light lit the sky. A massive sword, ten zhang long and two zhang wide, streaked through the air with a thunderous roar!
Sword Qi rolled through the air like crashing waves!
A middle-aged man stood proudly at the tip of the flying sword, and seated on its body were eight disciples.
They were from Yuansword Sect, one of the six great Daoist sects of Eastern Continent!
The massive sword descended. The middle-aged man leapt down onto the beach and, with a wave of his hand, the enormous sword shrank and vanished into his storage pouch. The eight disciples followed close behind.
“Hahaha, Song Xingtian! So early to arrive, and only five disciples?” The middle-aged man approached, laughing heartily.
Truly, nothing feels better than finding someone worse off than yourself.
Originally, he thought eight disciples was a pitiful number for Yuansword Sect after twenty years—one of the lowest in centuries.
But to his joy, Baiyun Sect had brought only five!
Immediately, his spirits soared. All his prior gloom and dissatisfaction disappeared.
Song Xingtian’s brow furrowed. He replied coldly, “What, Sun Xichen? Eight disciples is enough for you to gloat? How impressive.”
Sun Xichen grinned wider and raised three fingers. “Not many. Just three more than you! Hahaha!”
Song Xingtian rolled his eyes, annoyed but helpless.
Just then, two more streaks of light appeared—one from the northwest, one from the southeast.
The lights drew closer.
From the southeast, a massive blue basket flew through the sky. A red-robed woman sat cross-legged atop it, dignified and stunningly beautiful. Within the basket were seven disciples—five men and two women.
Medicine King Valley had arrived.
From the northwest, a white jade ruyi scepter, ten zhang long and three zhang wide, glided through the air. At its lotus-shaped tip stood a white-robed man, behind whom sat ten disciples.
They were from Xuanyuan Sect.
Both groups swiftly descended to the beach.
With their arrival, Sun Xichen’s glee dimmed—especially when he saw Xuanyuan Sect had ten disciples. His eyes showed open jealousy.
“Oh? I thought Medicine King Valley had the fewest. Looks like all the sects are short on disciples this time.”
The red-robed woman, Hong Shao, Second Elder of Medicine King Valley, smiled faintly as she collected her flying basket and gazed over the sparse disciple groups.
“You’re not wrong,” said the white-robed man as he stepped down from the jade ruyi. “Our Xuanyuan Sect normally sends at least twenty. This time, only ten. I fear the Ascension Secret Realm is running dry. One day, it might vanish entirely.”
This was Yi Linfeng, Second Elder of Xuanyuan Sect.
“Ten is still a lot,” Hong Shao chuckled. “We only brought seven.”
“Indeed. Ten is already double what some sects brought,” Sun Xichen quipped with thinly veiled sarcasm.
Clearly, there was past friction between Yuansword Sect and Baiyun Sect.
“I wonder how many the Yuhua Sect and Puppet Spirit Sect will bring,” Hong Shao said, looking to the sky. “They sure are late.”
Everyone looked up.
In the darkness, two pinpoints of starlight gleamed closer and closer, eventually becoming two streaks of light.
Yuhua Sect and Puppet Spirit Sect had arrived.
Soon, even Yu Xian could see them with his cultivation.
A ferocious mechanical flood dragon flew in, more than thirty zhang long, with a menacing appearance. At its head sat a small-statured old man with an oversized head—comical in appearance but emanating the unmistakable pressure of Gold Core Perfection.
He was followed by nine disciples, five men and four women.
This was Pang Xiaoshi, Second Elder of Puppet Spirit Sect.
The mechanical dragon wasn’t a real beast—it was a puppet construct, powerful enough to rival late Gold Core experts.
From the other direction came a floating fan-shaped landscape painting, gliding through the air. A handsome young man stood at its front, followed by nine disciples—six men and three women.
He was Zhao Lu, Great Elder of Yuhua Sect.
With this, all six great Daoist sects of the Eastern Continent had arrived!
The elders descended with their disciples gathering behind them.
“Greetings, fellow Daoists. You’re early,” Zhao Lu smiled as he greeted the others. His eyes lit up when he saw Hong Shao. “Oh? Fairy Hong Shao? What a pleasant surprise.”
“You flatter me,” Hong Shao replied with a soft smile. “I’m unworthy of the ‘fairy’ title.”
“Enough small talk,” Pang Xiaoshi said gruffly. “The number of ascension disciples has dropped sharply this year. I suspect something is wrong with the Secret Realm. Fellow Daoists, prepare yourselves.”
The other elders’ expressions turned serious.
The disciples, too, showed various reactions—some nervous, some calm, others confused.
Prepare… for what?
The six elders exchanged glances and replied in unison, “No problem.”
“Then let’s go.”
Pang Xiaoshi turned and strode forward into the forest, his disciples following.
The other elders followed suit, leading their disciples into the woods.
They had all arrived. Whatever danger lay ahead, the disciples would have to enter!
Yu Xian followed behind Song Xingtian, his face calm but his heart solemn.
Something didn’t feel right.
This Ascension Conference… the so-called great fortune might come with far more danger.
But he had no path of retreat.
So he cleared his mind.
Since he had come—he would simply be cautious.
The six groups moved quickly. After about one incense stick’s time, they reached the base of a towering mountain.
From its foot stretched a colossal staircase—ten zhang wide—leading upward through the clouds. Tens of thousands of steps, unending.
It seemed this mountain had once been used for divine worship.
Yu Xian raised his head to gaze upward, unable to see the peak.
The elders halted.
Pang Xiaoshi spoke first, “Take out your Ascension Tokens. Hold them in hand and begin climbing. The steps will guide you.”
The other elders, including Song Xingtian, echoed, “Hold your tokens and climb.”
The disciples swiftly pulled out their glowing Ascension Tokens and began ascending the steps.
Forty-eight in total, they spread out along the staircase—some fast, some slow.
The six elders silently watched.
Yu Xian gripped his token and began to ascend—steady, calm, and alert.
The token glowed faintly, both guiding and protecting.
His peripheral vision caught the expressions of others—some nervous, some cold, some unreadable, some excited.
Then suddenly—
One person took a step… and vanished!
All forty-seven remaining froze.
They were watching one another closely—no one missed that.
“He’s not gone—he’s been drawn into the Ascension Secret Realm! Keep climbing! The sooner you go, the sooner you gain fortune!”
Pang Xiaoshi’s voice echoed from below.
Everyone’s hearts stirred.
Sooner meant greater fortune?
Immediately, their pace quickened—scrambling upward, hoping to be next.
“The one who went first—he’s ours again,” Yi Linfeng smiled.
The first to be drawn in had been a Xuanyuan Sect disciple.
First to ascend always meant greatest talent—that was common knowledge.
Others looked indifferent, but dissatisfaction flickered in their eyes.
The crowd rushed up. Even Yu Xian picked up speed—but he didn’t go all-out.
Many above him had already begun using spiritual arts to sprint or fly up the steps.
As expected—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two more disappeared—the fastest two.
Yu Xian’s gaze sharpened.
Those who hadn’t used arts were stunned for a moment.
Then—boom!
Everyone erupted in spirit energy, soaring upward in a frenzy!
Even Yu Xian’s heart burned with desire.
But he quickly suppressed it.
Though he carried many spirit stones, he preferred to conserve energy.
What if the Secret Realm had no spiritual energy to replenish?
Better to be cautious!
So he ran faster—but only using physical strength.
Whoosh…
Whoosh…
One after another vanished before him.
Yu Xian unknowingly climbed several hundred steps.
Using only flesh and blood, his body burned and trembled.
Those who flew with arts had already gone thousands of steps—with ease.
Sweating and panting, Yu Xian wiped his brow—only to notice something odd.
His sweat… had gray smudges in it.
Gray dirt?
But as a cultivator, his body should’ve been cleansed long ago.
Every day, his body was bathed in spiritual energy—even soaking in hot water wouldn’t produce grime.
He touched his forehead again—more gray smudges amid the sweat.
Impurities…
Yu Xian recognized it instantly!
In the past, when taking violent Bloodburst Pills, his body expelled similar impurities as it strengthened.
But now, he hadn’t seen any for a long time. His body had adapted to the medicine.
He had planned to refine Tier 3 Body Tempering Pills later.
But now…
This staircase—it was purifying his body!
Was this a stairway… or an ascension trial?
His fingers trembled, sweat dripping. Yu Xian took a deep breath—and began climbing again.
Before, he climbed to conserve energy.
Now—he climbed with purpose!
He hoped the token wouldn’t draw him in too soon!
At the mountain base, the six elders watched their disciples vanish one by one.
Song Xingtian’s face was dark.
Everyone else was rushing up and vanishing quickly.
Only one person was still climbing slowly!
Even if Yu Xian was running hard, he looked sluggish compared to those flying.
“This low-grade wood root waste… what is he doing?”
“Does he not even know basic flying arts?”
Song Xingtian clenched his jaw. I should never have let this disgrace come along.
Yu Xian was now drenched in sweat. Impurities streamed from his body with every step.
Eventually, no one remained in his field of vision.
Everyone ahead had already been drawn in.
Exhaustion, pain, soreness, weakness—
His whole body ached and screamed.
He had climbed over a thousand steps, using only brute strength!
He was at his limit…
It was time to use spirit arts.
That’s what his mind said.
But his mouth shouted: “NO! I can still go!”
With a roar, Yu Xian forced his body forward—every fiber of his being straining.
His pores no longer sweated—they bled.
Blood mixed with black filth, expelled from deep in his flesh and marrow!
The blood hissed as it hit the stone steps—sizzling like acid.
The steps beneath him lit up with radiant light.
With a roar, Yu Xian took one final step—
And vanished.
