They passed through the checkpoint.
Walking along this deserted road, everyone's emotions were still in turmoil.
Even Xu Yuanqing, who was never serious, put away his smile and stood beneath the pass, carefully straightening his clothes.
"The first step of the entrance ceremony."
"Climb the stairs."
"These stairs are called... the Torch Inheritance Road."
Before them stood a stairway reaching toward the heavens. When they reached the top, they would truly be standing atop Demon-Suppressing Pass.
But there was no splendor or grandeur.
They were only ordinary steps, yet every one was stained with blood.
The gray-green stone had been dyed dark red.
It was as though...
The entire Demon-Suppressing Pass used this dark red as its main color.
Even the air was filled with the smell of blood.
It was heavy.
Even the wind could not disperse it.
"Walk slowly."
"Look at the walls."
"Look beneath your feet."
Xu Yuanqing took the lead, standing above them and looking down at the others as he spoke.
Yu Sheng stepped onto the first stair.
It did not feel hard underfoot. Instead, it was slightly slippery.
Yet... very warm.
Words were carved into the wall beside him.
"Li Ze, ascending Demon-Suppressing Pass today. My talent is poor, but... I dare to lead the way for the Human Race."
"Zhao Nian, graduate of Spirit Mind University. Pass Ascension today. No retreat until death."
"Wang Ping..."
"Lü Wu..."
Along just a single step, countless names had already been carved into the wall.
For some reason, looking at the words on the wall, Yu Sheng felt a little calmer inside.
Then came the second step.
The third.
There were more and more words, name after name. Some were neat, some scrawled, and some were even crooked and uneven.
But they shared one thing... it was