Below Crimson Firmament Mountain

Crimson Firmament Mountain stood amidst the Cloud Ridge in the Southern Territory. Its main peak towered over a thousand zhang, its body as red as blood, appearing from afar like a colossal sword plunged into the heavens.

Legend had it that a Crimson Firmament True Person of ancient times had shattered the void here, ascending to the heavens. His sword energy had seeped into the mountain stones, remaining undimmed for a hundred years.

Li Xuan stood before the sect gates, gazing upwards.

The stone steps wound like a dragon, leading straight into the depths of the clouds. Ancient pines twisted and coiled on either side, and occasionally white cranes would glide past, their wingbeats stirring up wisps of clouds. The mountain wind was biting, yet it carried a rich spiritual energy, as if cleansing his internal organs with every breath.

This was the aura of a sect.

Unlike the bloody and grim atmosphere of Iron Wall City, this place, though solemn, exuded a detached and cool transcendence.

"Can you still walk?" Yun Qingxuan asked.

She had changed back into her sect's blue robes, her long hair tied up, a crimson sword hanging at her waist, her demeanor even more refined and cool.

Li Xuan tried to take a step.

The wound on his right leg still ached faintly, but the Nine Revolutions Returning Yang Pill was indeed miraculous.

The fractured bones had been initially mended, and the damaged meridians were nourished by the gentle medicinal power, restoring at least thirty percent of his mobility.

"Yes."

The two stepped onto the stone path.

The steps were three zhang wide and one chi high, totaling nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine levels.

This was the Crimson Firmament Sect's first trial for new disciples—the Heaven Ascending Steps.

It seemed like mere mountain climbing, but it was fraught with hidden perils.

As soon as Li Xuan stepped onto the tenth level, his shoulders felt a sudden weight, as if an invisible pressure had descended.

The higher they climbed, the heavier the pressure became. By the hundredth level, it felt like carrying a hundred jin.

Yun Qingxuan's steps were steady and unhurried, clearly accustomed to it.

Li Xuan had heard about this beforehand, so he wasn't surprised.

They ascended in silence.

Along the way, they encountered other climbers.

There was a young man in fine clothes, panting heavily; a burly man in sturdy attire, sweating profusely; and an elder with white hair, staggering along. All were aspiring cultivators seeking to join the sect.

Li Xuan noticed that the higher they went, the fewer people there were.

By the thousandth level, only about ten people remained around him.

The pressure had increased to three hundred jin.

Li Xuan circulated the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique. As his vital energy and blood flowed, the pressure significantly decreased.

This technique was forged in battle and was best suited for enduring heavy loads and pressure.

Yun Qingxuan glanced at him, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

"Your injuries haven't healed, you don't need to push yourself," she said.

"It's fine."

The two continued their ascent.

By the three-thousandth level, the pressure had reached a thousand jin!

Only a youth in black robes, a maiden in purple, and the two of them remained.

The black-robed youth gritted his teeth and persevered, leaving sweat stains on the stone steps with each upward stride.

The purple-clad maiden took out a jade pendant and hung it from her waist. A green light emanated from it, and the pressure immediately lessened.

Li Xuan continued to rely on his physical body to endure.

Although his Blood Fiend Gang Qi was depleted, his foundation of fifty-one Stamina points remained.

A thousand jin of pressure was merely the level of an ordinary Body Tempering Realm seventh-layer cultivator.

The fourth thousandth level.

The fifth thousandth level.

The sixth thousandth level.

The black-robed youth collapsed at the five thousand two hundredth level and was carried away by two disciples in white. The purple-clad maiden's jade pendant shattered at the six thousand eight hundredth level, and she stopped, her face pale.

Only Li Xuan and Yun Qingxuan remained.

At the seven thousandth level, the pressure had reached two thousand jin.

The wound on Li Xuan's right leg split open, blood seeping through the bandages.

He continued without changing his expression.

Yun Qingxuan finally spoke, "The Heaven Ascending Steps test not only the body but also the will. Your injuries are too severe; stopping is not shameful."

Li Xuan shook his head.

He recalled the mountains of corpses beneath Iron Wall City, Wang Meng's resolve as he detonated the incendiary materials, and the three hundred guards who charged at the cavalry with their flesh and blood.

Two thousand jin?

Compared to those, it's too light.

Eighth thousand level.

Pressure: three thousand jin.

Li Xuan's bones let out faint creaks, and his old wounds felt like tearing pain. But his gaze remained calm as he ascended, step by step.

Yun Qingxuan no longer tried to dissuade him.

She simply slowed her pace, walking alongside him.

Ninth thousand level.

Pressure: five thousand jin.

Blood trickled from the corner of Li Xuan's mouth, but his steps didn't falter.

Last nine hundred and ninety-nine levels.

With each level ascended, the pressure increased by a hundred jin.

By the ninth thousand nine hundred level, the pressure had reached ten thousand jin!

Li Xuan's entire body trembled, every muscle screaming, every bone protesting. Yet he continued upward.

Blood seeped from the corners of his eyes, his ear canals, his nostrils.

Blood flowed from all seven orifices.

But he kept walking.

A look of shock finally appeared in Yun Qingxuan's eyes.

She had seen countless geniuses ascend the stairs, but never anyone who could endure ten thousand jin of pressure to reach the summit in such a state.

The final step.

As Li Xuan stepped onto it, he collapsed forward.

Yun Qingxuan reached out and caught him.

On the summit platform, clouds surged like an ocean.

Before them stood a massive stone mountain gate, ten zhang high and six zhang wide. Two ancient seal script characters were carved above the lintel:

Chi Xiao.

The brushstrokes flowed like dragons and snakes, exuding a formidable sword intent.

Three people stood before the gate.

The one in the center was an old man in white robes, his beard and hair completely white, his face gaunt, his eyes as calm and deep as an ancient well.

To his left stood a beautiful middle-aged woman, dressed in opulent purple robes, her features exquisite, her demeanor graceful.

To his right was a burly man in black robes, his face covered in thick flesh, holding a heavy black sword, exuding a fierce aura.

"Qingxuan greets the three elders," Yun Qingxuan said, bowing.

The old man in white robes nodded, his gaze falling on Li Xuan.

"This child is Li Xuan?"

"Yes."

"The Li Xuan who defended Iron Wall City alone and slew Wanyan Lie and Wanyan Xiong?"

"Yes."

The beautiful middle-aged woman chuckled, "He does have some backbone. Reaching the summit under ten thousand jin of pressure is rare even among inner disciples."

The burly man in black robes snorted, "Backbone is useless. Martial arts are about strength. He's so injured, he might not even survive three days."

Li Xuan steadied himself, wiped the blood from his face, and cupped his fists. "Junior Li Xuan greets the three elders."

Neither servile nor overbearing.

A flicker of admiration flashed in the old man in white robes' eyes.

"I am Bai Chen, in charge of the outer sect." He gestured to the woman and the burly man. "This is Elder Ziyue, in charge of the Inner Sect's Medicine Hall. This is Elder Heiyan, in charge of the Disciplinary Hall."

Li Xuan bowed again.

Elder Bai Chen raised his hand, and a gentle force supported Li Xuan.

"Steward Liu sent a message saying you possess the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique and condensed Qi in the Northern Territory battlefield. Is this true?"

"Yes."

"Demonstrate it."

Li Xuan circulated the technique. His Qi was completely depleted at this moment, so he could only manifest it with great effort. A faint blood-red halo appeared on his body.

But the three elders' eyes simultaneously sharpened.

"Indeed, it's Qi energy," Elder Ziyue mused. "To condense Qi in the Body Tempering Realm is a once-in-a-century occurrence. But... why is there a trace of malevolent energy within your Qi?"

Li Xuan's heart stirred slightly.

Although the Wolf Soul imprint had already dissipated, the aura left behind from devouring the Wolf Soul seemed not yet fully refined.

"This junior devoured a Barbarian Wolf Soul in the Northern Territory," he stated truthfully.

"Devouring soul power?" Elder Heiyan frowned. "A sinister method."

"I was fighting for my life on the battlefield, and had no choice," Li Xuan replied.

Elder Bai Chen pondered for a moment. "If soul power enters the body and cannot be refined, it will eventually backlash. Ziyue, does your Pill Hall have a solution?"

Elder Ziyue nodded. "The 'Pure Heart Jade Dew Pill' can cleanse impurities from the spirit and soul, but it requires three hundred Contribution Points."

"We'll put it on your tab for now," Bai Chen said, looking at Li Xuan. "Li Xuan, although you were recommended by Steward Liu, the sect's rules cannot be broken. To enter the inner sect, you must pass three trials."

"What are the three trials?"

"The first trial, the Heaven Ascending Steps, you have already passed," Bai Chen said. "The second trial is testing your roots and physique. The third is a combat assessment."

He paused. "However, your injuries are too severe. You can enter the outer sect first to recuperate. Once your injuries have healed, then you can attempt the inner sect trials."

Li Xuan shook his head. "This junior wishes to attempt the trials now."

Elder Heiyan scoffed. "Kid, being reckless can get you killed."

"This junior knows his limits."

Bai Chen stared at him for three breaths before nodding. "Very well. Ziyue, bring the Spirit Testing Stone."

Elder Ziyue flipped her hand and produced a palm-sized, milky white jade stone, handing it to Li Xuan.

"Grip it tightly and circulate your vital energy and blood."

Li Xuan grasped the jade stone.

A warm sensation spread through his hand.

He circulated the Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique, and his vital energy and blood surged into the stone.

The jade stone suddenly lit up!

First, a red light – representing abundant vital energy and blood, blindingly bright.

Then, a gray light – representing dense malevolent energy, like mist.

Finally, a faint, almost imperceptible golden light appeared!

The three elders' expressions changed simultaneously.

"Diamond Bone Physique?!" Elder Heiyan exclaimed.

Elder Ziyue took a deep breath. "More than that... his vital energy and blood are like mercury, his malevolent energy is solidified, and his bones gleam gold. This is... the Blood Fiend Diamond Body!"

Elder Bai Chen's eyes deepened. "The Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique refined to the third level's perfection, then devouring high-level soul power, and through a fortunate coincidence, forging this unique physique. In a thousand years, only three people in the records have achieved this body."

He looked at Li Xuan. "Those three individuals all became Grandmasters later."

Silence fell over the platform.

Even the mountain wind seemed to have stilled.

Li Xuan released his hand, and the jade stone's light faded.

"This junior was unaware of any unique physique. I merely fought for my life on the battlefield and was lucky to survive."

Elder Bai Chen gave him a deep look.

"Second trial, passed."

He raised his hand and pointed behind the mountain gate.

"Third trial, combat. Your opponent is—"