The entire Heroic Spirit Altar had a thousand steps.
With each step ascended, the pressure would increase, along with various interferences.
Currently, only Jun Xiaoyao could maintain a steady pace forward without a single pause.
Meanwhile, Ji Qingyi, Wangchuan, Little Devil Fairy, Jiang Luoli, Yi Yu, Yan Qingying, and others were slowly moving upward, step by step.
They might even need to rest and adjust their breathing in between.
As for the rest, they were the other Prodigies.
They, too, could not let go of this Opportunity.
However, Ji Qingyi, Wangchuan, Jiang Luoli, and Yan Qingying were either Saintesses of great sects, Ancient Freaks, noble ladies from aristocratic families, or Heaven-Defying children.
In comparison, the remaining Prodigies were significantly weaker.
Their ascent of the Heroic Spirit Altar was as difficult as climbing a mountain.
Some of these Prodigies even lost control of their emotions, beginning to laugh and cry wildly, as if they had gone mad.
This was due to the influence of the Ancient Paragon phantoms and the maddening demonic sounds, driving them insane.
There were many such Prodigies.
Except for a few Prodigies with firm wills, most of them quickly couldn't hold on, and their emotions became frantic.
"Hahahaha, I am the peerless number one person of all time, who can be my enemy!" a Prodigy laughed madly.
However, the next moment, his head exploded like a watermelon, the scene extremely gory.
"I got it, I got the immortal Legacy!" Another Prodigy's eyes were bloodshot, filled with blood vessels, revealing an ecstatic expression.
But then, he fell to the ground as if struck by lightning, losing all signs of life.
This was very strange, sending shivers down many people's spines.
Some Prodigies, their faces pale, couldn't suppress the fear in their hearts and wanted to retreat from the altar.
But they discovered with horror that they couldn't turn back.
At this moment, from the top of the altar, an ancient and ethereal voice seemed to faintly echo.
"Once the arrow is shot, there's no turning back; there's no retreat on the path to Dao validation..."
Hearing this voice, those Prodigies were filled with extreme regret.
If they had known the Heroic Spirit Altar was so bizarre, they would never have stepped onto it so easily.
But now, they had no choice but to brace themselves and move upward.
If they truly couldn't ascend further, they would sit down on the spot to comprehend, hoping to gain some Gains.
Those Prodigies looked at Jun Xiaoyao, who was at the very front, their eyes filled with envy and admiration.
Jun Xiaoyao had completely exceeded their imagination.
Perhaps he was the epitome of strength.
And Wangchuan, seeing this scene, felt unwilling.
As an Ancient Freak, he naturally had his own arrogance.
If he couldn't temporarily win in a fight, could he not even win in ascending the altar?
Wangchuan activated the power of his Reincarnation Holy Body, and at the same time, the Small Six Paths Reincarnation Disk emerged from behind him.
His aura immediately changed, like a brave and diligent True Dragon, he began to accelerate his ascent.
Wangchuan's actions also attracted the attention of others.
Ji Qingyi shook her head.
In her eyes, Wangchuan's action was merely a contention of spirit; now was not the time to act like a hero.
Yi Yu and Yan Qingying, seeing this, also sneered.
In their opinion, Jun Xiaoyao was an invincible existence.
Wangchuan trying to win back a round here was clearly a bit naive.
However, at this moment, Jun Xiaoyao's steps suddenly paused.
This made many people who saw it show surprise in their eyes.
Jun Xiaoyao had always maintained the first position, far ahead of everyone else.
But now, he suddenly stopped, which was puzzling.
"Finally can't hold on anymore?" Wangchuan's eyes flickered.
In his opinion, Jun Xiaoyao's previous performance was probably just him forcing himself.
After holding on until now, he finally couldn't bear it anymore.
While others were either surprised, puzzled, or worried.
Jun Xiaoyao himself, however, showed a look of delight in his eyes.
The reason he stopped was naturally not because he couldn't hold on, as Wangchuan thought.
Instead, a System prompt sounded in his mind.
"The host has reached the sign-in location, Heroic Spirit Altar. Do you wish to sign in?"
"Sign in," Jun Xiaoyao silently recited.
He wondered what good things he could get by signing in at this Heroic Spirit Altar.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining a seven-star reward, Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Flame!"
As the System's voice fell.
A cluster of flame essence appeared within Jun Xiaoyao's body.
This flame essence was multicolored, as if countless divine flames had converged to form it, emitting a terrifying aura that could incinerate all worlds.
"Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Flame?" Jun Xiaoyao was first surprised, then delighted.
The importance of flame essence to a Cultivator was no less than that of immortal seeds.
Because after the Combined Dao Realm, came the Nirvana Realm.
And the main purpose of the Nirvana Realm was to find flame essence, to undergo Nirvana oneself, and to transform the spiritual essence of the divine palace into a tiny Primordial Spirit.
This was a complete transformation from the Physical Body to the Soul level, a crucial step in cultivation.
The importance of flame essence was thus evident.
The more powerful the flame essence, the more thoroughly it could enable a Cultivator to undergo Nirvana and be Reborn from the ashes.
Previously, Yi Yu had obtained a rare Profound Sun Divine Flame, which was already a very high Rank flame essence.
However, that Profound Sun Divine Flame was simply incomparable to the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Flame before him.
Because that was a divine flame, and this was an Emperor Flame!
This Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Flame seemed to be the strongest Emperor Flame formed by the convergence of myriad flames, capable of bringing ultimate Nirvana to a Cultivator.
Of course, the difficulty of Nirvana would also greatly increase.
"It's truly like getting a pillow when you're sleepy. Originally, I only intended to Breakthrough to the Combined Dao Realm on the Heroic Spirit Altar, but now it seems I might even be able to directly Breakthrough to the Nirvana Realm."
A faint smile played on Jun Xiaoyao's lips.
Even in the Jun Family, it would probably be impossible to find a flame essence of a higher Rank than the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Flame.
This flame essence was the most suitable for Jun Xiaoyao's Nirvana.
"Brother Xiaoyao, are you okay?"
Seeing Jun Xiaoyao standing still in place.
Even Jiang Luoli, who had great confidence in him, felt a little uneasy and couldn't help but call out softly.
Jun Xiaoyao came back to his senses and finally moved.
However, this time, he did not climb alone, but instead raised his hand and waved.
The terrifying golden Qi and blood of the Ancient Sacred Body surged out, resisting the immense pressure of the Heroic Spirit Altar.
When Jun Xiaoyao released his aura, Jiang Luoli, Yi Yu, and Yan Qingying were surprised to find that the pressure on them had been reduced by almost half.
"This..." Jiang Luoli's small face first froze, then her beautiful eyes shone with unprecedented brilliance.
Her climbing speed accelerated, and she instantly pulled away from Little Devil Fairy and others.
Yi Yu and Yan Qingying also showed joyful expressions, cupping their hands to Jun Xiaoyao and saying, "Thank you, Young Master!"
After speaking, their speed also increased.
Wangchuan, seeing this scene, felt his mind violently shake, and he became like a block of wood.
Not only was Jun Xiaoyao himself a Prodigy, but now he could even bring others along with him.
Was there any justice left in the world?
Even Little Devil Fairy's small face was stunned.
Just a moment ago, Jiang Luoli was on the same level as her, but now she had been left far behind.
This made Little Devil Fairy somewhat unable to accept it; the disparity was too great.
She, as the Saintess of the Demon Immortal Sect, was clearly not inferior to Jiang Luoli in status, position, or strength.
Yet now, she was falling behind, feeling very unbalanced inside.
Thinking of this, Little Devil Fairy called out charmingly, "Little Brother Xiaoyao, take me with you too!"
Jun Xiaoyao directly ignored this demoness-like woman.
Don't let her pure and charming appearance fool you; as the Saintess of the Demon Immortal Sect, she had tricked quite a few people.