Chapter Fifteen: Within Arm’s Reach

For most, the eighty thousand steps of the stone staircase were an insurmountable chasm, but at this moment, standing upon those steps, Luo Hao was seized by the impulse to curse the heavens. “Damn it all, how does anyone survive this?”

His entire body resounded with crackling pops, bones rattling like beans in a roasting pan. The pressure above his head was immense, like the unfathomable might of the heavens themselves—who could ever stand against such force? If not for the pure, potent dragon power shielding him, Luo Hao would have long since been crushed flat against the ground.

“Damn it, there are only twenty thousand steps left! I refuse to believe I can’t make it! I’ve come this far—if need be, I’ll battle the heavens themselves, even if it kills me.” A ruthless determination flashed in his narrowed eyes—an intensity far beyond what should belong to a young man.

Perhaps even Luo Hao himself was unaware that, without realizing it, his temperament had subtly begun to change. In the twenty-first century, he had lived in a society governed by law, where ferocity was bound by rules. But here, on the ancient continent where strength was supreme, that deep-seated fierceness within him had begun to awaken after a night in the Black Mountain.

With a guttural shout, his trembling body straightened with great difficulty, and he began to ascend towards the eighty thousand and first step. That single step was agonizing; it felt as if an invisible giant hand from the sky pressed down, trying to keep him in place.

Luo Hao’s face was flushed crimson, bloodshot lines weaving through his eyes. The pressure above eighty thousand steps was no longer just physical—it was an oppression that reached the soul, a challenge to the very limits of the self.

Below eighty thousand steps, Lin Feng, Jian Lingyun, and the others struggled upward as well. Compared to Luo Hao, their climb was easier; after all, their cultivation stage was two or three levels higher than his. As Lin Feng climbed another step, he unconsciously glanced up into the swirling mists above and murmured, “I wonder how far those others have gotten?”

“They’ve probably almost reached the summit by now. Do you think that fellow from last night will catch up to them?” Jian Lingyun, having just ascended another step, replied.

“I really don’t know,” Lin Feng said. “Their circle is far beyond ours. To enter it would be nearly impossible.” After what had happened the previous night, he dared not speculate about Luo Hao’s chances.

At the unseen end of the clouds, atop the ninety-thousandth step, two indistinct figures were charging toward the supreme hundred-thousandth stone stair. Amidst the dense mist, they stood like two pillars holding up the sky—undaunted by the heavenly pressure, they carved out a realm of their own. Their faces were blurred, their eyes shining like stars, and the battle intent within them seemed to challenge the very heavens. Each step they took was firm and unyielding.

“Haha! Yan Longyuan, this time I will be the first to reach the top. As for you, you’ll have to settle for second place!” One of the figures, voice booming like a bell, spoke with bold confidence.

“Sikong Xuan, that’s exactly what I was about to say. I’ll go on ahead!” the other replied, equally unyielding. As he finished, the sky seemed to tremble, and suddenly, one of the two—previously neck and neck—burst forth like a dragon, shattering the oppressive pressure and surging upward.

“Heavenly Four Symbols Step! Yan Longyuan, I never thought you’d mastered it to this extent. But if you think you can shake me off so easily, Sikong Xuan, you’re mistaken!” In that instant, Sikong Xuan erupted with a violent purple light, an ancient roar echoing from the glow. With that, his figure shot forward as well.

“What was that sound?”

On the stone steps, Luo Hao seemed to hear something faintly from beyond the clouds above the eighty-thousandth step. Instinctively, he raised his head with difficulty. “It seems this group of candidates is truly full of hidden talents. If others can do it, so can I—and I’ll do it even better.” Gritting his teeth against the crushing pressure, he forced himself upward, step by agonizing step.

At the summit of Zhen Tian Peak, Elder Qingyang watched the figures within his jade mirror as they charged toward the hundred-thousandth step, neither yielding an inch. His gaze softened. “I never expected so many outstanding talents in this generation. Perhaps the Tianhai Sect will finally reclaim its former glory from before the great calamity a century ago.”

“Elder, who are those two? They’re so fast, they’ll reach the summit in no time,” Su Yao asked in awe. At her side, Su Yu and Han Linger’s beautiful eyes were likewise full of astonishment. They, too, had passed this trial by climbing the hundred thousand steps to join Tianhai Sect, but they had never possessed such terrifying speed.

“Yan Longyuan, Sikong Xuan—both are fine disciples,” Qingyang replied calmly, his tone as ethereal as drifting clouds, yet the words sent waves through the hearts of the three women. As the stern and unyielding head of the sect’s feared Hall of Discipline, Elder Qingyang rarely praised anyone. To receive such words from him was a rare and extraordinary honor.

“Sikong Xuan, I never thought your Heavenly Thunder King Physique had reached such a level,” Yan Longyuan said mid-surge, eyeing the purple lightning that even made his own heart tremble.

“And your Heavenly Four Symbols Step is no easy feat either. Let’s see who reaches the summit first!” With a shake, Sikong Xuan unleashed even more overwhelming lightning, shattering the invisible pressure around him.

“I have no idea how many are still ahead of me. If this keeps up, dreaming of the top three is pure fantasy. I have no choice but to risk it all.” A flash of resolve crossed Luo Hao’s eyes—his mind was made up.

At once, the spiritual energy on the steps began to tremble. The golden dragon force enveloping Luo Hao erupted with a sound like a raging tsunami. The golden power surged skyward, forming a colossal golden tiger a hundred feet tall. Its eyes opened, and its terrifying ferocity swept across the void, sending golden ripples through the air.

“Tiger Descends the Mountain!”

Luo Hao’s blood-soaked hair whipped wildly as his blood boiled. With a roar, his golden fists blazed with dazzling light—one punch, and the golden tiger seemed to come alive, bellowing in silent dominance. As if stepping on the stars themselves, it charged through the void.

Boom!

The space before Luo Hao shattered like a mirror in an instant. The terrifying force of his punch, embodied in the rampaging golden tiger, smashed through everything in its path, even temporarily pushing back the pressure that had felt as oppressive as the heavens themselves.

“Go!”

Panting slightly, Luo Hao knew this could only hold the pressure at bay for a moment. With a shout, he surged upward, breaking through step after step like an unstoppable force.

Behind him, Jian Lingyun, Lin Feng, and the others—just having reached the eighty-thousandth step—were left gaping in astonishment. “He’s a monster! To force back that pressure by sheer force of will...”

“Dongfang Ming, I didn’t expect you to have some skill—you’re already at the ninety-thousandth step.” As Luo Hao charged past ninety thousand, he caught a glimpse of Dongfang Ming—the one he had fought at the foot of Zhen Tian Peak—not pausing for a moment, knowing that any delay would allow the pressure to return in full force.

“It’s him.” Dongfang Ming saw a golden flash streak by and recognized Luo Hao within it, his teeth clenched in fury, yet he could only watch helplessly as Luo Hao disappeared into the mist.

“Not good, the pressure’s returning!” Luo Hao shouted as the last of his dragon power surged out, the sound of dragon roars filling the air. His silhouette accelerated, slicing through the wind. At the same time, Elder Qingyang saw the golden streak racing upward in his jade mirror and nodded approvingly.

“Ninety-five thousand.”

“Ninety-seven thousand.”

...

“Ninety-nine thousand.”

When Luo Hao reached the ninety-nine thousandth step, the raging golden dragon power suddenly dissipated. All at once, the pressure surged in from every direction like an overwhelming flood, fierce and unstoppable. Luo Hao felt he was about to be ground to dust.

Just then, Dongfang Ming and several others climbing above the ninety-thousandth step heard a blood-curdling scream from above: “Help me!”

The wailing cry, as chilling as a winter wind, sent involuntary shivers down their spines.