Anything Shi Yongheng set up naturally would not exceed Shi Yu's limits by too much.
The so-called Three-Thousand Steps merely had somewhat stronger pressure, meant to temper Shi Yu's foundation.
At the one-thousandth, two-thousandth, and three-thousandth steps stood corresponding stone puppet guards, possessing Planetary, Stellar, and Universe Level combat strength.
Within the secret realm, time flowed differently—ten times faster than in the outside world.
Atop the altar stood the final enemy: Shi Yu herself, along with some cultivation resources.
As time passed, Shi Yu's disappearance drew the Extreme Martial Hall's attention. Another genius from the Elite Training Camp, Luo Feng, had also vanished. This prompted Hong to personally investigate the Australia Continent, but he found nothing.
Meanwhile, deep within the secret realm, Shi Yu spent a full seven years before finally passing the Three-Thousand Steps.
In the end, covered in wounds, she defeated an opponent identical to herself.
She also obtained the Nirvana Art, a cultivation technique specifically meant to enhance the human body's genes.
Seven years had passed, and she had already become a Stellar-level martial artist. Her strength had increased by hundreds or even thousands of times.
The little girl from before had now grown into a graceful young woman, radiating a chilling, murderous air. She was no longer the ignorant child she had once been.
"Seven or eight years have passed with the Nirvana Art and all these cultivation resources. The outside world must have changed beyond recognition by now.
"I wonder how worried my brother has been during this time."
Shi Yu stood on the arena, filled with concern. A flash of light swept over her, enveloping her before she vanished from the spot.
When she reappeared, she was already outside that mysterious cave in the Ape Mountain Range.
Then, in a single step, she