“That slap stung a bit,” the man in the red robe said, dumbfounded as he watched the six who had broken through the 400-meter barrier. “Looks like they have a chance to break through the 300-meter mark.”
“We already have six geniuses with superior second-grade spirit roots,” the middle-aged man in black robes said in a deep voice. “Even with this performance, we won't be punished.”
“Not enough, not enough,” the man on the pine tree chuckled as he wiped his mouth. “We have to have at least one superior first-grade spirit root!”
The man in white, sitting in a corner meditating and recuperating, slightly curled the corner of his lips. But a moment later, he returned to his stoic expression. If anyone who knew him saw this scene, they would be utterly surprised… He actually smiled! It was just a fleeting moment, but it was undeniably true.
The climb continued, but the situation had become white-hot. Xiao Yan, as the leader, was far ahead. Mo Luo Xue and the Pharmacist were close behind, the ugly man and Luo Hou trailed in the distance, and in the very back was a scholar with a folding fan, leisurely strolling along.
“This road is getting harder and harder to walk,” the Pharmacist pulled at his collar to release the heat trapped inside, he was now sweating profusely, and every step he took seemed to require all his strength.
Mo Luo Xue nodded slightly, “Pharmacist Senior Brother, let’s separate here. The road ahead is long, and I haven't reached my own destination yet.”
The Pharmacist stopped and turned his head to give Mo Luo Xue a meaningful look before saying, “The road ahead is long... Beware of the wind blowing you down from a high branch.”
“A tree that stands out in the forest will be blown by the wind.” Mo Luo Xue naturally understood this principle. She had experienced it both in the deep compound of the Mo family and in the colorful and treacherous world, where Mo Tian Jiao had taught her many things, but he had never taught her to “shrink back.”
“Farewell.” Mo Luo Xue said. She raised her head like a proud swan, and her pace gradually quickened! The Pharmacist watched Mo Luo Xue stride forward, a wry smile on his face... She had always had reserve strength, she was merely biding her time and observing. Her scheming ran deep, so deep that the Pharmacist couldn't fathom it, and of course, Mo Luo Xue wouldn't give him the opportunity to see through her.
“Mo Yi, my brother, you truly have a great sister!” The Pharmacist said with a sigh, and after pausing for a moment, he continued on his way! “This old man will have to give it his all too, just a measly Jade Disc Immortal Path… hahahaha!”
Mo Luo Xue turned back to look at the sound of his voice. The man in white, clad in simple attire, laughed out loud with every step, his bones were visibly creaking under the invisible pressure, yet he still pressed forward with unwavering determination! A true man, indeed.
Exerting all their strength, gritting their teeth, igniting every drop of blood in their bodies, taking the step that would leave them with a faint smile and fond memories years later, even if it cost them their lives!
The top tiers of the Immortal Path never had any weaklings, everyone had their own convictions, they would take that life-or-death step for their convictions!
The 300-meter barrier… reached!
Xiao Yan stood before the blood-red jade steps, silent. He looked down at the steps, a clear crack ran across the blood-red surface.
“This is a mark left by someone who came before, it must have been someone who wasn’t willing to give up, he knelt here countless times, even shattering the incredibly sturdy Immortal Path... That kind of willpower is truly terrifying, whether he succeeded or not, Xiao Yan, you must pay the highest respect to him.” The old, aged voice of Old Master Qi resonated softly, Xiao Yan laughed silently.
“Old Master Qi, I don’t know if I would have succeeded if I were that person...” Xiao Yan licked his lips, “because I would have passed through without any obstacles...!”
He lifted his foot! Xiao Yan stepped heavily on the red jade steps, instantly, the pressure increased a hundredfold! Like a mountain falling on his shoulders, like the Yellow River flooding the sky! This was an insurmountable obstacle! It was a vast and boundless chasm that blocked the paths of countless predecessors!
“So it is,” Xiao Yan’s entire body unnaturally bent downward, he could feel his bones groaning, an overwhelming force was compelling him to kneel down, to worship.
Xiao Yan’s knees gradually approached the red jade steps, the clear crack seemed to be mocking him, from the red jade steps, Xiao Yan could almost see his own reflection.
Is this the limit? No! No! Not even close, the Immortal Path is long and arduous, how could he kneel here!
Xiao Yan coughed up a mouthful of blood, but a strange curve formed at the corner of his lips. He raised his hand and slammed it heavily on the red jade steps! In an instant, the hard steps shattered his finger, leaving it bleeding profusely.
“You can take all my blood, but you can never make me kneel, this is a man's dignity, this is my belief... In this life, I, Xiao Yan, will only kneel before my father, my mother, and my teacher, but never to heaven, never to earth! Surrender? My dictionary doesn't have those words!” Xiao Yan roared, his body slowly straightened with his roar, he used all his strength to step over the red jade step!
Superior first-grade spirit root! A gifted prodigy!
Xiao Yan brushed off the blood on his hand, his face expressionless as he moved forward slowly.
The middle-aged man in black robes stared at the top-ranked Xiao Yan, his eyes wide in disbelief. “This boy's spirit… top-notch! Don’t even try to compete with me! I’m looking for a disciple, and this boy is perfect, a superior first-grade spirit root combined with this kind of spirit, he will surely be on the Xuan Rank list within a year!”
“This kid is interesting,” the man on the pine tree, for once, acted serious. He put down his wine jug and stared at Xiao Yan on the halfway point of the mountain.
“This one... is truly a genius,” the man in blue robes rarely complimented anyone.
The man in white in the corner tilted his head slightly but remained motionless.
Mo Luo Xue arrived in front of the red jade steps, she gazed at the crack above for a moment and then sneered.
The weak kneel, they leave behind their blood, the strong always stand high and watch the weak struggle, it is a kind of aloofness, a kind of coldness.
Mo Tian Jiao’s words still echoed in Mo Luo Xue’s ears. That man had taught her many things, he told her that she was a born genius, everything that the weak struggled for was meaningless to her, she could achieve everything with just a wave of her hand, while the weak had to fight tooth and nail for it.
The endpoint of some is simply the starting point of others.
Mo Luo Xue's face was expressionless, her eyes held a hint of coldness, she took a step, and crossed the red jade steps in one go!
The pressure crashed down, Mo Luo Xue remained unmoved, she stepped forward, she pressed on!
Mo Luo Xue, superior first-grade spirit root!