" Qianling!"
Hun Qianxue's voice came from outside the cave abode, carrying a rare hint of joy.
Hun Qianling opened her eyes, got up and went out to greet him. Seeing Hun Qianxue's beaming face, she was taken aback.
"Brother, what's making you so happy?"
Hun Qianxue handed her the communication Jade Slip in his hand and smiled:
"See for yourself."
Hun Qianling took the Jade Slip slip with a puzzled look and probed it with her Divine Sense.
The next moment, her pupils dilated suddenly, and she froze on the spot.
The message in the Jade Slip was concise and to the point.
" Han Xuanji ascended the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway Ladder today at an incredibly fast pace, making him arguably the fastest person to reach the top in history. He is now receiving the supreme inheritance of the Five Elements Pavilion at the Five Elements Altar."
"This was personally told to me by Elder Fang Xuanhe of the Five Elements Pavilion; the information is accurate."
Hun Qianling's hand trembled slightly as she held the Jade Slip. Fang Xuanhe and Hun Qianxue had a good personal relationship, and it was because of this relationship that Han Xuanji was able to attempt the Heavenly Ladder.
"This... is this real? So fast?"
Hun Qianling had no doubt that Han Xuanji could succeed, but she hadn't expected his performance to be so amazing.
"Absolutely true."
Hun Qianxue smiled and nodded, " Elder Fang personally sent the message, how could it be false?"
Hun Qianling took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in her heart, but found that she couldn't calm down at all.
Ascend the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway!
She knew all too well what this meant.
The Five Elements Heavenly Stairway has 3,650 steps, and the pressure increases with each step. Even for the most talented cultivators in the Five Elements Pavilion who specialize in the Dao of the Five Elements, reaching the top is not an easy journey.
"That's amazing..."
Hun Qianling murmured, her face slightly flushed.
Although she didn't say it, she was under a lot of pressure these days.
The voices in the clan that questioned Han Xuanji felt like knives stabbing into her heart.
She may not care what others say about her, but she cannot ignore the criticism Han Xuanji and her elder brother Hun Qianxue.
" Qianling, you knew you hadn't misjudged me."
Hun Qianxue patted her shoulder, his tone full of relief:
" Han Xuanji is indeed a talented young man; he has not disappointed my trust."
Upon hearing this, Hun Qianling's excitement gradually turned into a smile, tinged with a hint of teasing:
"Brother, you were a little worried at first, and I kept telling you not to worry, but you wouldn't believe me."
As she spoke, she slightly raised her chin, looking as if she had expected this, completely forgetting the worries she had just felt.
Hun Qianxue coughed lightly and glared at her after hearing her words.
"When did I worry? I was just... asking you out of caution. After all, you've spoken up for him so much, how could I not believe you?"
"Yes, yes, yes, eldest brother is the most cautious."
Hun Qianling smiled and waved her hand, not exposing his lie.
The brother and sister laughed for a while, then Hun Qianxue's expression gradually became serious:
"Now that the news of Han Xuanji's ascent to the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway has spread, let's see who dares to gossip behind his back."
Those who opposed me in the Lineage council meeting, I will definitely settle accounts with them properly.
Hun Qianling nodded, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
She knew who her older brother was talking about.
At the Lineage council meeting, it was Ling Feng who first raised the issue, questioning Han Xuanji's S-Rank Heaven's Chosen status.
Meanwhile, those behind Ling Feng have been stirring up trouble during this period.
Now that Han Xuanji has proven everyone wrong with her strength, it's time to settle this score properly.
The news spread faster than expected.
In less than half a day, the news of Han Xuanji's ascent to the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway spread throughout the entire Soul Household.
In an instant, the entire Soul Household was abuzz with discussion, and the tide of public opinion completely turned.
The negative comments surrounding Han Xuanji have receded like a receding tide.
In the Thousand Souls City, inside a beautifully decorated restaurant.
This restaurant is owned by the Soul Household, and most of its patrons are young masters from the Aristocratic Clan in the city. The prices are extremely high, and ordinary cultivators dare not enter.
It was peak time for customers, and the restaurant lobby was packed with people, with all sorts of chatter rising and falling.
"Have you heard? That Han Xuanji actually reached the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Stairway Ladder and successfully passed the ultimate test of the Five Elements Pavilion!"
A young cultivator in brocade robes slammed his hand on the table, his tone exaggerated.
"Rumor has it that the supreme legacy left behind by the founder of the Five Elements Pavilion is located up there!"
"Level 3,650?"
A member of a collateral branch of the Soul Household stared wide-eyed. "I remember our Soul Household had some prodigies try this before, but the best result was only around level 800, right? Is this for real?"
"My brother's friend saw it with his own eyes, how could it be fake?"
The monk in brocade robes declared confidently, "And it's said he didn't stop for a moment, he ran straight up!"
"I heard he flew up there?"
Someone nearby chimed in, "It's said that even the phantom of the Five Elements Pavilion Master has appeared!"
"Whether it runs or flies, it's gone up anyway."
A member of a collateral branch of the Soul Household shook his head and sighed:
"No wonder the patriarch designated him as S-Rank Heaven's Chosen back then; it turns out he truly has the ability."
Those who said he was overrated have been proven wrong, haven't they?
Amidst the discussions, Han Xuanji's reputation rapidly reversed.
Meanwhile, those who had previously followed suit in mocking and questioning Han Xuanji are now the target of public criticism.
"I remember it was Ling Feng from the Soul Household who first made the move, leading the questioning at the Lineage council meeting."
Someone lowered their voice, but it wasn't hard to hear the schadenfreude in it.
"That's right. He's been badmouthing Han Xuanji a lot lately. Now that the case is solved, it's highly likely that Ling Feng was just jealous of Han Xuanji's talent and fabricated rumors. It's truly shameful."
"Now that's settled, they've proven themselves with their strength. Let's see how Ling Feng handles this."
Everyone was talking at once, creating quite a lively atmosphere.
At a table in the corner of the restaurant sat a young man with delicate features and a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth. He slowly sipped his wine, looking completely at ease.
This man was none other than Wang Ping from the Wang Household.
Sitting beside him were two direct descendants of the Soul Household. One of them was named Hun Mingyuan, a spoiled brat in the Soul Household. He was not very talented or skilled in cultivation, but his status was not low.
" Wang Ping, you're quite composed."
Hun Mingyuan nudged his arm and lowered his voice,
"So many people laughed at you before, calling you Han Xuanji's 'filial son,' always speaking up for him. Now look what happened! You've all been proven wrong!"
The term "filial son" naturally refers to Wang Ping as being like Han Xuanji's son, always ready to confront anyone who speaks ill of Han Xuanji, as if criticizing Han Xuanji were equivalent to criticizing his own father.
Wang Ping put down his wine glass, slowly glanced at those in the hall who had mocked him before, and the corners of his mouth widened even further.
"Brother Mingyuan, you know, people are really strange."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for people at the surrounding tables to hear him clearly.
"When I said Han Xuanji was a truly talented person, some people insisted on gossiping behind her back, saying things like 'she was just lucky' or 'she didn't live up to her reputation'..."
He paused, then deliberately sighed.
"And now? They're all praising it more enthusiastically than anyone else."
Not far away, a cultivator who had repeatedly mocked Wang Ping to his face blushed and lowered his head, not daring to say a word.
Another member of the Soul Household, who had previously echoed the rumors about Han Xuanji, came over with a wine cup and a forced smile:
Brother Wang Ping, I was blind back then and spoke without thinking. Please don't take it to heart.
Um... where is Brother Han now? Could you perhaps introduce us? We're both respectable people; it would be good for us to get to know each other."
As soon as he spoke, several people gathered around him, their faces beaming with smiles.
"Yes, yes, Brother Wang Ping, you're acquainted with Brother Han, could you help me pass on a message?"
"It would be our great fortune to be able to get to know a prodigy like Brother Han."
"Brother Wang Ping, we've known each other for a long time, you can't show favoritism."
Wang Ping found it amusing to watch this group of people act so arrogantly at first and then so obsequiously.
How many of these people were truly sincere in the first place? It's already a miracle they didn't speak ill of us behind our backs.