The lingering embers of Ma Hongjun's God-Bestowed Spirit Ring had yet to fade, and faint fire-attributed Soul Power still drifted on the sea breeze of Sacred Staircase Plaza. Tang San looked at the undisguised yearning in Bai Chenxiang's eyes and smiled. "Xiangxiang, do you want to try the Sea God's Light too? Don't force yourself. Just see how many levels of pressure you can withstand."
Bai Chenxiang's eyes lit up, though she hesitated again. She had only just completed the Yellow-rank First Trial and was merely rank 49. Watching her companions challenge hundreds of steps at a time, she could not help lacking confidence. "Give it a try. We'll stay here with you!" Ning Rongrong stepped forward and patted her shoulder. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda instinctively gave off a pale pink glow. "If you really can't hold on, just say so."
Bai Chenxiang took a deep breath, nodded, and stepped onto the white jade staircase. The moment her foot touched the first step, the pale blue Sea God's Light coiled around her, carrying a gravitational pressure even heavier than that of the Phantom Sea Area. Gritting her teeth, she climbed using the Speed Clan's movement techniques—step 1, step 5, step 10... When she reached the sixteenth step, the pressure suddenly doubled. It was as though a small mountain had been placed on her back. Her legs buckled, and the Sea God's Light carried her straight back to the foot of the stairs.
"Haa..." Bai Chenxiang braced herself against her knees and panted. Looking at the Soul Power marks her companions had once left on the staircase, an inexplicable sense of loss rose within her. She clenched her sleeve, her fingertips faintly cold. Ning Rongrong had told her to give it a try, but sixteen steps was simply far