From afar, Yun Xi spotted Ye Yirui standing at the end of the Huaxian Sect's group. Beside her were the elegant middle-aged woman and an elderly man. Yun Xi guessed they must have been representatives from Medicine King Valley.
Just then, Yun Xi felt the flow of wind within the core of the Baohua Mountains shift suddenly. She lifted her head toward the sky, and many sharp-eyed cultivators mirrored her action.
In the next breath, five Divine Transformation Zūnzhě appeared high above. Their hands moved in rapid seals before they flung jade plaques into the air, each according to the five elemental positions. The five plaques hovered in formation, linking end to end into a perfect ring.
As spiritual power poured into them, the ring began spinning faster and faster. Soon it transformed into a hollow circle, which then expanded until it became a black vortex fifty meters wide.
Hao Hui and Hao Qing looked up at the new entrance to the secret realm, their expressions turning solemn as they transmitted voice commands to their sect disciples, instructing them to be ready.
Only when the black hole had completely stabilized did the five Divine Transformation Zūnzhě descend again.
Yun Xi drew a deep breath. The dense aura leaking from the vortex confirmed her suspicions—this secret realm was overflowing with spiritual treasures. Her pulse quickened in excitement.
Ming Hong Zūnzhě's voice rang out, echoing across the mountains:
"Disciples of the Western Domain, hear my command. Enter the secret realm in order!"
"Yes, sir!"
With that, the disciples of Mingjian Sect soared into the air. A Divine Transformation Zūnzhě entered first. To everyone's astonishment, the vortex did not reject him. He vanished instantly, leaving expressions of surprise and speculation across the crowd.
Next came the Nascent Soul cultivators of Mingjian Sect, followed by Golden Core cultivators. One after another, they passed through unhindered. Then came the turn of Haoran Sect.
Hao Hui exchanged a glance with Hao Qing before flashing forward. Yet as soon as he approached the entrance, an unseen force shoved him back. His brow furrowed, and he motioned for Hao Qing to try.
Hao Qing stepped in, only to be rejected in the exact same way. Murmurs spread as confusion rippled through the gathered cultivators. Why could Mingjian Sect's Divine Transformation cultivators pass, but Haoran Sect's could not?
The unspoken question rang through everyone's hearts. After a moment of thought, Ming Hong Zūnzhě addressed Hao Hui:
"The one who entered earlier was Ming Xian Zūnzhě. His lifespan is nearly exhausted. Entering this secret realm is his last gamble, seeking one final breakthrough."
Understanding dawned instantly. For a Divine Transformation cultivator at the end of his lifespan, it was a desperate wager. The secret realm had allowed him in, giving him that one last chance. But for younger cultivators like Hao Hui and Hao Qing, it offered no leniency at all.
With this realization, Hao Qing Zūnzhě waved his disciples forward. The Nascent Soul cultivators entered first, then the Golden Core cultivators. Yun Xi, like the rest, flew into the vortex.
The world spun violently. Yun Xi felt as though she had been tossed inside a giant barrel, rolled twice, and spat out. She staggered, nearly falling, before steadying herself.
Before she could even release her divine sense, a voice shouted overhead: "Move! Quickly, move!"
She looked up just in time to see a shadow plummeting straight toward her. Instinctively, Yun Xi triggered her Fufeng Step and leapt aside in less than half a breath.
A thunderous crash followed. The figure slammed into the ground, leaving a deep, man-shaped crater. Yun Xi winced just looking at it. She was about to slip away when cultivators began raining from the sky one after another, hitting the ground in varying degrees of grace—or lack thereof. The once-quiet clearing turned into a chaotic scene.
To avoid being flattened, Yun Xi quickly retreated several steps. Then, carefully extending her divine sense, she scanned her surroundings.
She realized she was standing on an enormous plaza, one that looked like the entrance to a grand sect. Rising ahead was a colossal staircase that soared straight into the clouds. Yun Xi extended her divine sense to its limits, but still could not find the end.
She did, however, see cultivators already climbing. At the very front was Ming Xian Zūnzhě of Mingjian Sect. The moment her divine sense touched him, a backlash forced it to recoil violently.
Stunned, Yun Xi tried to extend her divine sense again, only to discover it was suppressed. Clearly, this place forbade divine sense probing.
As more cultivators landed, others noticed the staircase as well. One tried it, stepping experimentally onto the steps. He ascended twenty steps without issue, then slowly vanished into the distance.
Song Ke appeared beside Yun Xi, watching the scene with narrowed eyes. He murmured: "Why is there a Stairway to the Clouds here?"
Yun Xi considered before answering: "My guess is that it's a test for those who enter. Likely Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divine Transformation cultivators will be sent to different places within the realm."
Song Ke nodded, finding her logic sound. He turned to her with resolve. "Elder Feng, shall we set off as well? Let's test whether our theory holds."
Yun Xi agreed with a small nod. Before stepping forward, she flicked a spark of flame onto Song Ke's body.
He flinched in alarm and reflexively formed a seal to defend, only to realize the flame merely circled his body once before returning to Yun Xi's hand.
"Elder Feng, what was that?" he asked, unsettled.
Yun Xi smiled lightly. "You didn't notice you'd been marked?"
Song Ke stiffened, his heart clenching. He immediately swept his body with divine sense but found nothing. Yun Xi waved him off. "No need to search, I've already burned it away. Just be more cautious in the future. Now, let's go."
She strode toward the staircase first. Song Ke exhaled slowly before following and placing his foot on the first step.
Ahead, Wei Yunqing was already climbing steadily, seemingly relaxed as he pursued Sheng Yuhong. Behind Yun Xi and Song Ke, Wei Chenyin's group of four ascended together.
The moment Yun Xi's foot touched the step, her divine sense shrank back into her sea of consciousness. Spiritual power froze in her meridians, completely sealed. Even her storage ring would not open.
She and Song Ke exchanged a glance, both realizing the truth. On this staircase, only physical strength mattered.
"Let's see how solid our foundation really is," Yun Xi said calmly, before stepping upward with steady, deliberate motions.
Song Ke let out a heavy breath and followed.
Yun Xi climbed at a measured pace, never rushing. Song Ke imitated her, keeping his rhythm even.
But as the pressure increased with every step, Song Ke's body began to break down. Blood seeped through his skin, then from his seven orifices. At last, unable to endure further, he collapsed at the three hundred and twenty-seventh step.
The instant despair crossed his mind, a white light enveloped him. In a flash, he vanished from the staircase. Many others disappeared in the same way. Yun Xi noticed most of them were Golden Core cultivators, either at early or mid stage.
Among those teleported away were Sheng Yuhong, Wei Yunqing, Du Yuling, and Mu Ningzhu.
Relief washed through Yun Xi. With both the male and female leads removed from her immediate surroundings, the invisible pressure lifted from her heart. She no longer feared being caught in their mess and could focus fully on the trial.
After a brief pause to steady herself, Yun Xi continued upward. This time, she fixed her entire attention on the staircase before her, climbing one step at a time with unwavering steadiness.
When she finally glanced sideways and noticed she was level with a Nascent Soul cultivator, she realized she had already reached past the five hundredth step.