Rest Assured, I Know What I'm Doing
Lin Xia's voice was slightly breathless, yet exceptionally clear.
Xie Yue wiped the sweat from his face, feeling the nearly depleted Soul Power within him being frantically tempered under pressure. He grinned, revealing a smile that was a mixture of exhaustion and excitement.
"It felt like being trampled underfoot by Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for three days and three nights... But, it was exhilarating!"
He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.
"Encore, I can still go for it!"
"Save your energy, you brute!"
Hu Liena couldn't help but scold him, tossing him an absorbent towel.
"Reaching level ten is just the beginning; there's still a long road ahead."
Her gaze swept over the seemingly endless steps above, radiating an even more terrifying pressure, and her expression turned solemn.
Lin Xia looked up at the majestic temple bathed in sacred blue light, feeling the increasingly heavy pressure on the steps.
The Soul Power within his body was like a spring compressed to its limit, struggling but continuously circulating and growing under the protection of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
Each breath felt like swallowing viscous mercury.
"It's really just the beginning."
Lin Xia withdrew her gaze and looked at her companions.
"Everyone has made great progress this past month. From struggling to even make a single step at level five, to now Xie Yue firmly standing at level ten, and Sister Nana also touching the threshold of level ten... This Sea God's Light is an excellent whetstone."
His voice carried a quiet encouragement.
"Hmph, I won't fall behind for long!"
Yan roared from below, straining to straighten his back, the Granite Armor beneath his feet groaning under the strain.
Dugu Yan also took a deep breath, dispelling the poisonous mist, and the green light in her eyes intensified.
"Again!"
After a brief exchange, everyone calmed down again, each circulating their Soul Power to resist the omnipresent, vast, and heavy pressure, like the deep sea.
The sound of sweat dripping, heavy breathing, and the faint hum of Soul Power circulating together constitute the only symphony on this sacred staircase.
Lin Xia closed her eyes and focused her mind to guide the power of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
The connection between this artifact and him seemed to become even stronger under this high-pressure environment. Sisi cool and pure ocean energy seeped into his body, soothing his tired meridians and temporarily suppressing his worries about Bibi Dong.
I Godly Trial how things went with the teacher and Sister Xue'er...?
The thought flashed through my mind, only to be quickly overwhelmed by an even greater pressure.
Right now, he must focus on climbing.
Sweat trickled down his forehead like streams, dripping onto the cold stone steps and instantly evaporating into wisps of white vapor.
Lin Xia slowly opened her eyes, and the pale blue halo of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud receded and merged into her brow.
The Soul Power flowing within his body was more solid and robust than it had been a month ago, flowing heavily like mercury through his widened and resilient meridians.
He clenched his fist slightly, his knuckles making a crisp sound, and a surge of power invigorated him.
His gaze swept over his companion beside him.
Xie Yue sat cross-legged on the fifty-eighth step, his silver hair soaked with sweat and clinging to his pale cheeks.
His aura was calm and collected, the Sharpness of his Moon Blade was restrained, yet with each breath, it subtly countered and resonated with the omnipresent Sea God's Light on the steps.
Level 60 is the limit he can currently reach with his own Soul Power and willpower, but he is not satisfied. Every time he adjusts his breath, he is Stockpile to break through to the next level.
At level 55, Hu Liena's charming eyes now held only focus and resilience.
A pink aura of Soul Power flowed across her body, resisting the pressure while quietly tempering the Martial Soul Origin.
She was only a few steps away from Xie Yue's level, but each step was like an insurmountable chasm, requiring tremendous effort.
At level fifty-two, Yan 'Soul Power surged beneath his granite-like skin, emitting a deep rumble.
He was the most impatient, yet also the most resilient. Time and again, he was forced to kneel on one knee by the terrifying pressure, but time and again he roared and straightened his spine.
Although their progress was not as rapid as Xie Yue's and Lin Xia's, their foundation had been honed to an exceptionally solid level.
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling are around level 47 or 48.
Dugu Yan's poisonous fog was almost useless here. She relied purely on her Soul Power and physical strength to withstand it. The cold aura brought by Medusa's Martial Soul was constantly purified by the Sea God's Light, which instead helped to remove impurities from her Soul Power.
Ye Lingling is the most special case. The healing power of the Nine Heart Begonia is greatly suppressed. She is almost bearing the pressure with the body of a pure support-type Soul Master. However, the speed of Soul Power condensation is not slow at all, and there is even a slight trend of catching up.
Lin Xia withdrew her gaze and looked up at a higher place.
Level 79.
That was the location he reached yesterday with all his might. The terror of double the Sea God's Light meant that after level 50, each level increase was like crossing a new realm.
The icy coldness on his left side and the burning pain on his right side intertwined and tore at him, and even with the buffer of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, he was on the verge of collapse several times.
However, the effects of his practice after retiring were also astonishing.
He could feel that he was just one desperate push away from reaching the 80th level.
That's about it.
Lin Xia stood up and stretched her stiff neck.
Sitting still for a long time under high pressure puts muscles and bones in a state of extreme tension followed by slow relaxation, requiring warm-up before the next climb.
His actions startled the others.
Xie Yue opened his eyes almost simultaneously, his silver eyes sharp as knives, and looked at Lin Xia.
"Are they going to start?"
"Hmm. Let's see if we can reach eighty today."
Lin Xia nodded, her voice calm, yet carrying an undeniable determination.
"Eighty..."
Hu Liena took a light breath, a hint of worry flashing in her purple eyes, but even more so, trust.
"Be careful, Lin Xia. The pressure is doubled, and it'll get even more outrageous as time goes on."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Lin Xia smiled and glanced down.
"As usual, I'll scout ahead first. You all proceed according to your abilities, don't Facade. If you feel you've reached your limit, step back and continue practicing; the results will be just as good."
"Wordy."
Yan snorted, but there was no resentment in his eyes, only eagerness to try.
"Go quickly! Once you've figured it out, I'll also try my luck at getting fifty-five!"
Dugu Yan didn't speak, but simply nodded to Lin Xia.
The halo of the Nine Heart Begonia in Ye Lingling's palm brightened slightly, a silent blessing.
Lin Xia said no more and turned to face the staircase that seemed to lead to the sky.
The golden trident mark between his brows was slightly warm, and the phantom of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud appeared and disappeared above his head.
He took a deep breath, and the air, mixed with the smell of the sea and the divine pressure, rushed into his lungs, instantly igniting the Soul Power throughout his body.
The first step was taken, landing on the sixtieth level.
The familiar, heavy pressure was pressing in from all directions, but after a month of adjustment, it was no longer enough to shake him.
He kept walking, steadily moving upwards.
Sixty-one, sixty-two, sixty-three...
It's not fast, but it's exceptionally stable.
Each step felt like Ingrain in the stone steps, enduring the wash of golden and blue divine light.
Fine ice crystals began to appear on the left side of my body, while the skin on the right side turned slightly red. The tearing sensation of ice and fire gradually became clear.