The fourth mountain was a massive fiery peak. From time to time, fire meteorites fell from the sky.
If one's comprehension of the Great Dao was insufficient, being struck by a fire meteorite would result in the excruciating pain of scorched bones and marrow.
If one's comprehension of the Great Dao was sufficient, they could reduce or even negate the damage caused by the fire meteorites.
Upon reaching this fourth mountain, Li Shuang's climbing speed noticeably slowed.
Each time a fire meteorite fell, she had to pause for a moment before slowly using her Dao essence to counteract the damage.
However, her steps did not falter. Though slow, she climbed steadily towards the summit, one step at a time.
In front of the water screen, more and more people gathered.
Climbing the fourth mountain was not uncommon.
The top genius, You Lan, had already cleared six mountains. However, You Lan was much older than this "Li" and had already reached the Integration Stage of cultivation.
But this person named Li, clearing four mountains at such a young age, was truly astonishing.
"Is this person, codenamed Li, really only 33 years old?"
"How could the Myriad Dharma Eye's information be wrong?"
"It's a pity her cultivation is only at the Golden Core stage."
"It must be due to poor spiritual root aptitude."
"On the path of cultivation, opportunity, comprehension, and innate talent are all indispensable. If one lacks any of them, they cannot reach great heights. Although this person has talent in comprehending the Great Dao, unfortunately, she is limited by her innate talent. Her future achievements will probably be limited."
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Li Shuang, for the first time, sustained burn wounds on her body.
Li Shuang looked at the wounds on her shoulder and sighed.
At this point, she was already feeling a bit stretched thin.
Completely negating the damage was impossible; she could only try her best to reduce it.
Another fire meteorite fell.
Li Shuang gritted her teeth, and the fluctuations of her Dao essence suddenly changed.
She was using her comprehension of another path.
The birth of that path stemmed from the unconditional trust her senior brothers and sisters had in her.
It was born from an incredibly gentle energy.
Although she had comprehended Soul Severing from it, Li Shuang had never known what kind of path it truly was.
Precisely because she herself was unclear, this path had never been able to provide her with much help.
Li Shuang took another difficult step.
The wounds on her shoulder increased.
Li Shuang gritted her teeth.
If this was all she had, there was no way she could reach the end of the fifth mountain.
Li Shuang looked at the summit of the fifth mountain with some reluctance.
She had once stood on the mountaintop, had once seen the boundless scenery from there.
How could she be content to stop halfway up the mountain?
Bang!
Another fire meteorite fell.
This time, Li Shuang's entire hand was instantly burned, losing all sensation.
She knew that if she gave up, she could leave this mountain, and all her injuries would recover.
But... she was not reconciled.
Had she truly reached her limit now?
Li Shuang stumbled, then was directly struck by a fire meteorite and fell onto the scorching rocks.
"That's enough."
"It's time to end it. It's already impressive enough."
"In ten more breaths at most, she'll be out."
"What a pity. If this Li's aptitude could be a bit stronger..."
In front of the water screen, the crowd whispered.
On the hot rocks, Li Shuang's expression was somewhat dazed.
Was she truly going to fail this time?
This feeling of powerlessness suddenly brought to mind the scene of her battle with Mo Xin that day.
When facing Mo Xin, the Heaven and Earth Smelting Furnace had collected the power of sentient beings' wishes.
She didn't know how to use the power of sentient beings' wishes, but the furnace helped her use it once.
The furnace showed her how terrifyingly powerful the energy of sentient beings could be if properly utilized.
A thought vaguely formed in Li Shuang's mind.
This path, which allowed her to comprehend the Soul Dharma, originated from sentient beings. Why not name it after them?
This was the Path of Sentient Beings.
Cultivating both the Path of Sentient Beings and the Path of Ruthlessness, Li Shuang didn't know if she was the first to do so, but she always felt that these two paths, though different, would lead to the same destination in the end.
As for her current self, there was still an incredibly long way to go before the ultimate fusion of the Great Dao.
But at least, her goal became incredibly clear.
"This path is called Sentient Beings," Li Shuang murmured.
Dao essence flickered, and Li Shuang's injuries instantly healed.
She stood up again and continued to climb.
In front of the water screen, the constantly seated guard suddenly stood up.
He looked at Li Shuang with some shock.
What was this?
She had actually comprehended another path.
Moreover, the two paths she comprehended complemented each other, subtly supporting and amplifying each other.
This instantly turned Li's incredibly difficult mountain path into a smooth road again.
The guard's lips trembled.
The fifth mountain.
This was already the fifth mountain.
Could she really break through the fifth mountain?
The guard stared intently at the water screen.
If she only cleared four mountains, it wouldn't be enough to earn this "Li" true attention.
But if she could clear the fifth, or even the sixth!
Then he believed that there would be plenty of people in the Central Continent willing to help her cleanse her marrow and refine her essence, perhaps even transplant a top-grade spiritual root for her.
As long as she showed enough value, the flaws in her innate talent were not irreparable!
Li, was it?
Just how far can you go?!
With the simultaneous blessing of two Great Daos, Li Shuang smoothly climbed a section of the path. However, as she neared the summit, burn wounds reappeared on her body!
Fortunately, the summit was very close now. Though difficult, Li Shuang still took the final step!
She stepped forward and finally stood on the summit of the fifth mountain!
The fifth mountain!
Summit reached!
The guard's lips trembled slightly.
This Li...
This was the fifth mountain!
She just reached the summit like that?!
Li Shuang calmly returned to the foot of the mountain, asking Su Mu in her mind.
"Senior Su, having cleared the fifth mountain, how good is this achievement?" Li Shuang was new here and didn't know what it represented.
Su Mu was silent for a moment.
In his mind, the scene from that day suddenly appeared... Li Shuang sitting beside him, cruelly catching fish after fish!
This scoundrel, still daring to ask about her achievement?
Su Mu gritted his teeth, trying to make his voice sound calm: "Normal level, I suppose."
Li Shuang nodded: "As long as it's a normal level, that's fine."
After all, in the Central Continent, cultivators from other continents like them were considered bumpkins.
For a bumpkin like her to reach the normal level of the Central Continent was already a victory.
Li Shuang's response was exceptionally sincere, and Su Mu immediately shut his mouth, not wanting to speak anymore.
Just after communicating with Su Mu, Li Shuang looked up and found a group of people staring at her with strange expressions.
Li Shuang was startled.
Why were they all staring at her?
Did she have flowers growing on her face?
"You cleared the fifth mountain." The guard's expression was complex.
Li Shuang nodded: "It was a bit of a struggle to clear it. In the future, I still need to work harder."
Li Shuang genuinely thought so, so she spoke with exceptional sincerity.
A silence fell over the scene.
The guard didn't know what to say for a moment.
He was screaming internally.
She cleared five mountains at this age.
And this Li still looked dissatisfied. Was she crazy, or was he crazy?