"Youngster."
"You're still putting up a futile struggle!"
The old man growled.
The White Flowers on his forehead bloomed fully at that moment. As they bloomed, the thousands upon thousands of shoes arranged on the stairs disintegrated into ash almost instantly.
The pure, crystalline Jade Steps also began to lose their luster.
Mottled patches appeared.
Even jade aged!
Even the jade began to age, deteriorate, and crumble into decay!
"You can't stop this!"
The old man's cold voice carried a hint of mockery. "Why do you think the Immortal Island chose me to guide you?"
"You're stronger than Huang Tian."
"But only by so much."
"You're all equally arrogant, and you'll all meet the same end..."
"No."
"That's not right."
"Your end will be even worse than his!"
The young man before him had actually forced him to use every trick he had. It filled him with fear as well as anger.
He was terrified.
Terrified that the Immortal Island would be dissatisfied with him because of this.
That it would abandon him!
So.
He had to make Jiang Qiao pay a sufficient price. He had to prove his worth!
Although the Immortal Island had never answered his prayers.
He believed.
The Immortal Island's will had always been watching him!
Boom!
The instant the extraordinary Jade Steps began to age, Jiang Qiao sensed his own body beginning to age and wither at an astonishing rate, inside and out.
The power of the blooming White Flowers was far more terrifying than when they had been contracting.
Perhaps thirty seconds.
Perhaps a minute.
His body would die, his consciousness would dissipate, and his supernatural power would collapse.
And yet...
Though Jiang Qiao looked grave.
There was no trace of fear on his face.
On the contrary.
Killing intent seethed in his eyes.