When he reached level 500, he comforted himself, thinking: maybe Han Xuanji won't be able to hold on for the next level.
When he reached level 1000, he told himself, "Almost there, almost there, it's definitely almost over."
By the time he reached level two thousand, he had given up thinking.
Han Xuanji wasn't just a little stronger than him; she was far, far stronger.
It's not the difference between level 100 and level 200, but the difference between several hundred and level 2000.
He even began to wonder if, when he mocked Han Xuanji, he had appeared like a clown in the eyes of others.
"What? Brother Hun Hao, are you still not Qi Ingestion?"
Wang Lin's voice rang out again, still in a lukewarm tone, still with that smug expression.
Hun Hao suddenly turned his head, staring at Wang Lin, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, but he couldn't utter a single word.
He didn't want to admit it, but he couldn't refute it.
Looking at his expression, Wang Lin chuckled softly, his tone finally becoming more serious:
" Hun Hao, I only made the bet with you because I couldn't stand your sour attitude, but now I feel like I'm the one who took advantage of you in this bet."
He paused, his gaze returning to the Heavenly Ladder, his voice lowering slightly:
"This person is not on our level."
Hun Hao didn't speak, but silently turned his head, staring blankly at the increasingly tall figure.
Han Xuanji's figure had already stepped onto the 2,200th step.
Wang Lin had a clear understanding of Hun Hao's psychology and deliberately transmitted his voice:
"I don't need the bet money, as long as you sincerely admit your mistake in front of everyone."
Hun Hao didn't reply, but stared intently at Han Xuanji's figure, wanting to know exactly where Han Xuanji's limit was.
At this moment, not only Hun Hao, but almost everyone was holding their breath and watching Han Xuanji, afraid of disturbing him.
Fang Xuanhe looked up at the increasingly tall figure, his eyes filled with not only satisfaction but also anticipation.
Two thousand three hundred.
Two thousand five hundred.
Two thousand eight hundred.
Han Xuanji's pace remained unhurried; even at this height, his speed did not decrease.
The five-colored spiritual light around him grew increasingly intense, enveloping his entire body.
The Dao essence of the Heavenly Ladder and his Dao Principles have formed a perfect resonance. He is no longer "resisting" the pressure of the Heavenly Ladder, but "borrowing" the power of the Heavenly Ladder to temper his own Five Elements Dao Principle.
"This is a monster..."
An elder couldn't help but whisper, his tone tinged with self-mockery:
"I have cultivated the Dao of the Five Elements for a million years, and I believe my understanding of the Dao of the Five Elements is not shallow. But seeing how relaxed he is, I feel that my million years of cultivation have been in vain."
"If any of my disciples possessed even half, no, even a tenth, of this boy's talent, I would be satisfied."
Another elder beside him shook his head and sighed:
"It's not your problem, it's just that this kid is too overpowered. Among the S-Rank Heaven's Chosen of the Soul Household, he's considered top-tier. It seems the next Principle Conference will be quite exciting."
Level 3,000.
The moment Han Xuanji stepped onto the three thousand steps, everyone in the square was moved.
There are only 650 steps left to reach the summit.
This level of achievement surpasses that of many core disciples of the Five Elements Pavilion, a level that many dare not even dream of.
Han Xuanji, from the moment she stepped onto the first step until now, has never stopped or rested.
This goes beyond simply having "still some energy left."
Three thousand two hundred steps.
Three thousand four hundred steps.
Three thousand five hundred steps.
There are only 150 steps left to reach the top.
At this moment, Han Xuanji had already digested the Five Elements insights from 11 system check-ins. All he needed to do was fully absorb these insights and transform them into his own.
After all, what works for someone else may not work for him.
Each person's understanding of the Dao Principles has its own unique characteristics.
"This kid might actually be able to make it up..."
Fang Xuanhe murmured.
At the top of the Heavenly Ladder, the young man in black had unconsciously straightened his body.
His gaze fell on Han Xuanji, and he looked very serious.
Three thousand six hundred.
Han Xuanji was only fifty steps away from him.
"Does he really not feel any pressure?"
The young man in black muttered to himself, his brows furrowing slightly:
"Really?"
He had seen many people attempt to climb the Heavenly Ladder.
Some gritted their teeth and persevered, their faces contorted with rage; others tried to maintain a semblance of dignity, their steps unsteady; but most gave up halfway and left in a sorry state.
But no one has ever been like Han Xuanji.
That's how you handle heavy tasks with ease.
A strange light flashed in the young man's eyes.
"Interesting."
Upon hearing this, Uncle Wang, standing to the side, chuckled:
"You seem much more relaxed than you were back then."
Upon hearing this, the young man in black retorted somewhat Qi Ingestion:
"Back then, my understanding of the Five Elements Dao Principle was indeed not thorough enough. If I were to do it now, I wouldn't feel any pressure."
"However, I must admit that at this level, his understanding of the Five Elements Dao Principle far surpasses mine."
"No need to look any further, this kid will most likely make it."
Even he, the Holy Dynasty's Divine Son, possessed resources unimaginable to ordinary people and cultivated top-tier inheritances from the Eternal Continent, was somewhat surprised by Han Xuanji's performance.
"This boy's background doesn't seem simple to me; he doesn't seem like someone who would come from a small place."
Uncle Wang also had his own guesses.
On the other side, Han Xuanji's figure moved forward.
Three thousand six hundred and forty steps.
Three thousand six hundred and fifty steps.
The moment Han Xuanji stepped onto the last step.
The world suddenly brightened.
Five-colored rays of light shot into the sky from each step of the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway Ladder, dyeing the entire sky above the Five Elements Pavilion Building with auspicious colors.
The melodious bell tolled, resounding through the heavens. In several ancient buildings deep within the Five Elements Pavilion, powerful figures opened their eyes and gazed in the direction of the Five Elements Pavilion.
"Has someone else reached the summit?"
"Are you a disciple of my Five Elements Pavilion?"
"No, they seem to be outsiders..."
"Well..."
Through a few exchanges of divine thoughts, they quickly ascertained Han Xuanji's origins.
"We... we reached the summit..."
A disciple of the Five Elements Pavilion murmured, his voice so soft it sounded like a dream.
The next moment, the entire square erupted in deafening cheers.
"He reached the summit! He really reached the summit!"
"Three thousand six hundred and fifty levels! And he didn't seem to rest at all from beginning to end. This is the first time I've heard of something so easy."
Fang Xuanhe stood still, looking up at the figure shrouded in five-colored light at the top of the Heavenly Ladder.
"Good... good lad..."
His voice trembled slightly, yet it was full of pride.
Hun Hao stood in the crowd, looking up at the radiant figure at the top of the Heavenly Ladder. His eyes were no longer filled with mockery or resentment, but with an indescribable complexity.
Wang Lin glanced at him, refrained from further mockery, and simply shook his head slightly, saying in a low voice:
"This is S-Rank Heaven's Chosen, and among all the prodigies in the history of the Soul Household, he is probably the most outstanding."
Upon hearing this, Hun Hao's body trembled slightly, his lips moved, and he finally uttered his first sentence of the day without any bitterness:
"... I'm not as good as him, but I'll honor my bet and not renege on it."
Upon hearing this, Wang Lin lost interest in continuing to attack Hun Hao.
He and Hun Hao had no irreconcilable hatred, but after this incident, Hun Hao could never hold his head high again in this circle.
At the summit of the Heavenly Ladder.
Han Xuanji breathed a sigh of relief after stepping onto the last step.
"I've finally digested all twelve insights."
At this point, his understanding of the Five Elements Dao Principle had reached an extremely high level.
"This trip has been worthwhile..."
As Han Xuanji pondered, a clear and steady voice rang out in front of him, breaking the silence at the top.
Congratulations on successfully reaching the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway!