In contrast to their arduous struggles, Qi Heng appeared remarkably at ease.
Beneath the gaze of tens of thousands of eliminated children, filled with a complex mix of jealousy, hatred, and envy, Qi Heng moved forward slowly, step by deliberate step.
For everyone else, the immensely difficult Nine Heavens Stairway was, for him, like a mere warm-up lap around a stadium, his forehead beaded with only a few drops of sweat.
This stark disparity was enough to drive others to despair.
"Quite good..."
Observing Qi Heng effortlessly ascend the Nine Heavens Stairway, the white-robed middle-aged immortal in the sky nodded to himself, committing Qi Heng's features to memory.
Of course, besides Qi Heng, there were other geniuses of comparable caliber who also crossed the Nine Heavens Stairway with ease.
Lan Yijin Pao Mu Ziyu and Gao Gong, clad in scholarly attire, climbed with great speed. They too appeared exceptionally relaxed, reaching the ninth step of the stairway with apparent ease.
Additionally, a few children from impoverished farming families, unwilling to be outdone, also ascended the Nine Heavens Stairway.
Qi Heng, having successfully reached the Nine Heavens Stairway, did not immediately proceed further. Instead, he paused, observing the actions of others.
He waited for a moment, until all the children above the Nine Heavens Stairway had moved forward. Only then did he resume his steps.
Crossing the Nine Heavens Stairway was not the end; it merely qualified one to become an outer disciple of the Yin Yang Immortal Palace.
As the name suggests, outer disciples were tasked with the menial jobs.
They handled the dirty and strenuous labor, receiving no benefits in return.
Beyond the Nine Heavens Stairway lay another seventy-two levels of stairs.
As he stepped onto the tenth level, a sharp, stinging sensation coursed through his chest, causing Qi Heng to furrow his brow.
This peculiar pain targeted the soul itself.
The sensation was almost unbearable.
However, for Qi Heng, it remained within the bounds of tolerance.
For others, it was a different story.
The moment they stepped onto the tenth level, several individuals collapsed, nearly falling to the ground.
Clearly, the pain they endured was far beyond Qi Heng's experience, feeling akin to a thousand ants devouring their hearts.
Under the complex gazes of countless failed children, Qi Heng slowly advanced, inching forward.
At this moment, he stood out, like a crane among a flock of chickens.
A gentle breeze rustled his hair as it swept overhead.
His expression was serene, his handsome and adorable face evoking an involuntary urge to pat it. His pure black eyes sparkled with a dazzling brilliance.
Undoubtedly, he was the focal point of everyone present, drawing countless gazes.
The stair-climbing trial had progressed to this point. Qi Heng was neither the fastest nor the highest climber, but he was the most stable.
The stairway, which appeared as a chasm to others, seemed effortless for him.
"This child... may have a chance to be taken as a disciple by the elders."
Watching Qi Heng's increasingly impressive performance, the white-robed middle-aged immortal in the sky grew more satisfied.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
"Look! That Lan Yijin Pao Mu Ziyu can't hold on any longer and has been teleported down in a sorry state. He reached the thirty-fifth step and couldn't climb any further. Haha, what a pity, just one step away from becoming an inner disciple..."
"That Gao Gong has also been teleported out, completely unable to move. Haha, these fellows actually dared to dream of becoming inner disciples, what wishful thinking."
"Even I, with my strong physique, couldn't get up there. How could these pampered young masters possibly climb it?"
Many of the failed children below, driven by jealousy and envy, began to unite and mock the children with better innate talent who had been eliminated later.
"Huh? This Qi Heng is still climbing? Just how good is this fellow's talent?"
"The thirty-sixth step, and he's still climbing. How is this possible?"
A collective gasp of astonishment arose from the multitude of children below. This time, there were no words of ridicule.
People only harbor jealousy and envy towards those who are somewhat similar to them.
They do not entertain such thoughts towards those who are far beyond their reach, as it is impractical.
At this very moment, auspicious clouds descended from the sky, and boundless auspicious energy surged from within the stairway, as if celebrating something.
"What???"
This is an auspicious phenomenon of colorful clouds filling the sky and ascending to immortality in broad daylight. How could this be? Could this fellow be a rare prodigy of a century?"
Everyone below the stairway stared with wide eyes, as if driven mad.
"Colorful clouds fill the sky, ascending to immortality in broad daylight!"
"An anomaly on the stairway! Qi Heng's situation must be reported immediately. This is my contribution, and no one can take it away."
The white-robed middle-aged immortal in the sky could no longer maintain his composure. His face lit up with ecstatic joy.
At this moment, the white-robed middle-aged immortal produced a jade slip from who knows where and began writing on it with a jade brush.
After a short while, he finished writing. With a flick of his sleeve, the jade slip transformed into a streak of light and vanished from its spot.
"Look... look... look..."
"This fellow named Qi Heng is still moving forward!"
"What?"
"He's still moving?"
"Heavens, he's still climbing?"
The densely packed crowd below the stairway froze at this moment, regardless of whether they were nobles, commoners, adults, or children.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
As Qi Heng ascended to the forty-ninth step in one go, the entire stairway trembled once more, and clusters of cyan lotuses rained down.
The cyan lotuses swirled around Qi Heng, making him appear like an immortal ancestor at this moment.
At this point, all eyes were fixed on Qi Heng, as if watching an unbelievable myth.
"This fellow actually stepped onto the forty-ninth stairway! Heavens, this child's future is boundless."
The white-robed middle-aged immortal in the sky felt his eyeballs about to pop out.
"Look, this kid is still climbing!"
"Heavens, just how good is this fellow's talent? It's truly a case of 'comparing people to people makes one angry'."
The murmuring crowd below became increasingly chaotic and louder.
...
As Qi Heng climbed higher and higher on the stairway.
At this moment, everyone dared not make a sound, fearing they might offend this unrivaled prodigy, this once-in-a-millennium celestial talent who stood alone like the moon, eclipsing all stars.
They gazed at the child on the stairway with reverence.
Boom! At this very moment, the stairway shook again, and Qi Heng had reached the seventy-second step.
Then, a dazzling light erupted from within the stairway, illuminating an area of several miles!
Within this brilliant light, everyone was shocked to see streams of light slowly merge into Qi Heng's body.
At this instant, a figure of an Immortal Emperor appeared outside Qi Heng's body.
In a daze, everyone seemed to witness an Immortal Emperor figure, as if supporting the heavens, emerge from Qi Heng's body, standing tall between heaven and earth, displaying an immeasurable, indescribable power.
Vaguely, Qi Heng sensed that he was an Immortal Emperor, and that Immortal Emperor figure was also him!
Finally, as the celestial light and the Immortal Emperor figure completely dissipated, Qi Heng once again appeared in the world...
An extraordinary, unparalleled aura, a presence that seemed transcendent of heaven and earth, instantly enveloped Qi Heng.
Everyone's mouths hung open, yet their voices seemed to be stuck in their throats, unable to speak for a long time.
Everything that had happened to Qi Heng had likely surpassed everyone's imagination!
"The Immortal Dao flourishes greatly, the figure of an Immortal Emperor!"
It wasn't until the first person cried out in surprise that the others seemed to understand, letting out collective gasps. Some mortals, in a show of respect, even pulled their children to their knees before Qi Heng.
"The Immortal Dao flourishes greatly, the Immortal Emperor descends!"
"How many years has it been? How many years has it been since such a terrifying phenomenon has appeared?"
"According to the sect's secret texts, only three people have ascended to the seventieth step in the past three thousand years! In ten thousand years, a total of ten people have ascended to the seventieth step..."
The white-robed middle-aged immortal in the sky trembled with excitement, almost going mad with joy, shaking with no hint of immortal grace.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
At this moment, three purple-robed immortals, exuding an aura as deep as an abyss, descended from the sky.
"Three elders!"
Seeing this, the white-robed middle-aged man in the sky was startled. In the Yin Yang Immortal Palace, only elders at the Golden Immortal realm wore purple robes.
"Immortals of the Golden Immortal realm!"
"Three purple-robed elders, all here for this fellow?"
Everyone present was shocked, their expressions changing, and their gazes towards Qi Heng becoming increasingly envious.
Just how good was this fellow's talent to have attracted the descent of three Golden Immortal level purple-robed elders!
"Very good, truly very good. After a thousand years, our Yin Yang Immortal Palace has produced another unparalleled prodigy."
A purple-robed elder, emanating a terrifying aura, excitedly stroked his beard, his eyes filled with satisfaction as he looked at Qi Heng.
"Indeed, a truly unparalleled prodigy! If the Palace Master were not away on his travels, he would surely come to see this matter."
...
"Hahahaha, wonderful, simply wonderful. Such a heavenly talent, destined to stand alone and dominate the world, is perfect for me to take as my final disciple and pass on my legacy."
The last purple-robed elder laughed heartily, causing the entire sky to tremble as if in response to this powerful immortal.
...
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