As the group climbed the steps, Tian Jingxu saw who had arrived.
On the Righteous Dao's side were the Dragon Spring Sword Sect and Mount Fangcun.
On the Devil Dao's side was the Ultimate Dao Demon Sect.
And on the Outer Dao's side was the Taihua Sect.
Each sect had brought only seven or eight people. Compared with the dozen or more who had entered the Heavenly Emperor's Treasury, their numbers had dwindled. This journey had plainly been far from easy.
The most striking among them was a tall young man.
He wore an old, plain Daoist robe, his long hair hanging loose and untended.
His face was unremarkable, but the weariness in his eyes had given way to a hint of delight and pride.
The disciples of the other sects unconsciously kept their distance, leaving him standing out like a lone crane amid the crowd.
He was Xu Wuji, the man who stood at the top of the Righteous Dragon-Tiger Ranking.
The Dao Dominion Sect disciples grew excited at the sight of him. Gu Yu even smiled and called out, "Brother Wuji!"
The newcomers climbed step by step, each stair shrouded in crushing pressure.
They seemed unsurprised to find Tian Jingxu, Jade Terrace Fairy, and the others already at the top.
Mount Fangcun's group was the most intact. Heavenly Mansion Star Sun Miao led them, with Fu Dongcheng, Yuan Shujian, Qi Ling, and the others following.
Less than half an hour later, Xu Wuji was the first to reach the final step.
His gaze swept over the scholarly Tian Jingxu ahead. His eyes narrowed slightly before he looked away.
Tian Jingxu paid him no mind.
There was old friction between them. Neither acknowledged the other, and each kept to his own side.
Gu Yu hurried forward, his voice bright