Dark Horse

On the seventh level, two figures could be seen crawling up the stairs. Mei Mingzhu was leading the way, with Wang Shui just two steps behind her. Wang Shui, drenched in sweat and pale-faced, encouraged Mei Mingzhu, "Junior Sister Mingzhu, you're almost there! Just five more steps!"

Mei Mingzhu, equally exhausted, replied, "Yes!"

Though they were only five steps away from reaching the eighth level, each step felt like crossing a vast sea, with the next step being an even greater challenge. All eyes were fixed on Mei Mingzhu and Wang Shui, ignoring the lower levels they had surpassed.

"They're almost there! Fairy Mingzhu only has five steps to go!" one person exclaimed.

Another person chimed in, "You have no idea. These five steps are harder than all the previous levels combined."

"Do you think they'll make it? There are only a few hours left," someone questioned.

"Of course, they will," another confidently replied. "I'm not so sure about Wang Shui, but Fairy Mingzhu will definitely succeed."

Amidst the continuous chatter, someone suddenly screamed in shock, "Hey! Look at that!"

All eyes turned to see a shadow soaring towards the fifth level.

"What! Who is that?!"

"Such speed!"

"He... with each step, he ascends a hundred steps!"

"Ah! He just jumped five hundred steps! Is he even human?!"

"Hey! This isn't climbing anymore, it's flying!"

"Who is this unexpected talent?!"

The spectators were dumbfounded. Skipping steps was unheard of. Each step added more pressure, so skipping one meant enduring the combined pressure of two steps. Only geniuses attempted this on the lower levels where the pressure was manageable. Who would dare to do it past the second level? It would be a waste of their strength and decrease their chances of reaching higher floors.

Mei Mingzhu and Wang Shui had only managed to skip steps until the third level. But what frightened them wasn't just the fact that this person was skipping steps, but the extent to which they were doing it. Typically, geniuses could only skip around five to ten steps, but this person was effortlessly surpassing a hundred steps, even on the fourth level!

"Oh my heavens! They're still skipping steps on the fifth level! And it's increasing, not decreasing!"

"Can someone slap me to check if I'm dreaming or not?" someone jokingly asked.

*Slap!*

"Ouch! That hurt! I said slap, not hit me so hard!" the person regretted their request.

"Ah! They're already on the sixth level!"

***

In the sky, three Sect Masters sat, sipping tea, oblivious to the events unfolding at the Stairway to Heaven.

"Old Jian, when will you break through to the Sovereign Realm? You've been a Peak Ancient Immortal for ages," Zou Guo teased.

"If it were so easy to break through, why haven't you done it yet? Oh right, you only just became an Ancient Immortal..." Jian sneered.

Zou Guo coughed and changed the subject, "Ahem, Sister Ruogang, you're getting up there in age. When do you plan to get married?"

She bristled at the mention of her age and relationships. When she was young, she focused solely on cultivation and disregarded any romantic entanglements. But now, despite her youthful appearance, no one dared to court her.

"If no one is willing to accept you, my arms are wide open," Zou Guo said half-jokingly.

"Hmph, you already have ten wives, you horny old man," she sneered in disgust.

Cao Jian's ears twitched, and he remarked, "Isn't it awfully noisy down there?"

"Ah, one of them must have reached the eighth level," Zou Guo guessed.

"Let's go see who it is," Jian suggested.

Together, they activated their Divine Sense and directed their attention towards the Stairway to Heaven. But as they did, all three of them stood up simultaneously, causing tea to spill from their cups.

"I-it's impossible!"

"W-who is that?"

"A m-monster..."

The shock was so great that they almost forgot their own identities.

* * * * *

On the top of the seventh floor, Mei Mingzhu and Wang Shui took deep breaths, preparing to step onto the eighth level.

"J-junior Sister Mingzhu, we've finally made it! Just one more step!" Wang Shui encouraged, despite his own exhaustion.

Mei Mingzhu was too tired to respond, but she nodded in agreement.

* * * * *

"Haaa, I had somewhat expected this, but really? I don't feel a damn thing," Tian Yi grumbled to himself as he effortlessly ascended the stairs. He had anticipated some sort of challenge, but he was sorely disappointed. The seventh level exerted no pressure on him whatsoever.

He flew past everyone, observing their dumbfounded expressions. Some even cried and shattered their talismans in frustration.

After a while, he grew bored of the lack of resistance and began skipping more and more steps. He could have easily leaped from the first level to the peak if he wanted to, but what would be the point of that?

"Oh! There are still people ahead," Tian Yi noticed two figures sitting in a lotus position, just one step away from the eighth level. He stopped right behind them.

* * * * *

Wang Shui focused on recovering his spirit power, preparing himself for the final step. Despite the immense pressure still weighing on him, he felt a slight relief as his energy replenished. Suddenly, he heard a sound behind him.

"Impossible. Who else in the Immortal Realm could reach this far?" He questioned his own ears.

But the sound repeated, clearer this time. It was as if someone had landed just behind him. Mei Mingzhu turned her head to look at him, mirroring his confusion. They shared a silent question: Who could it be?

Wang Shui couldn't contain his curiosity and turned his head further to see behind him. The sight that greeted him caused his jaw to drop. Bewildered, Mei Mingzhu followed his gaze, her own eyes widening in disbelief.

Standing there was an ordinary-looking boy. His calm expression and lack of sweat made it seem like he was taking a leisurely stroll in a park rather than climbing the Stairway to Heaven. Mei Mingzhu couldn't help but ask, her voice trembling, "Who are you?"

The boy smiled and replied, "I am called Song Shu."

Still in shock, Wang Shui stammered, "W-what are you doing here?"

Tian Yi, the boy named Song Shu, looked puzzled. "Isn't it obvious? I'm climbing the Stairway to Heaven. What else would I be doing?"

Wang Shui blushed in embarrassment. He had asked such a foolish question out of shock. Of course, this boy was here for the challenge. But because he appeared so nonchalant, Wang Shui blurted it out unintentionally.

Mei Mingzhu, exhausted, asked with a weary tone, "Where did you come from? How come I've never heard of someone named Song Shu?"

Tian Yi responded casually, "I'm just a passerby. I became curious when I saw the two of you while I was alone for a while. You see, I was kind of bored." He chuckled.

Both Wang Shui and Mei Mingzhu felt their pride take an invisible blow. Wang Shui, on the verge of tears, thought, "Bored? How could this boy be bored in his current condition?" Mei Mingzhu shared Wang Shui's sentiment but had no tears left to shed.

"I won't disturb you any longer. Good luck!" Tian Yi said, no longer lingering, and swiftly ascended to the eighth level.

"Good luck? You're wishing us good luck? Screw you!" Wang Shui's anger surged, igniting an invisible power within him. He stood up and took a step forward, finally stepping onto the eighth level.

Mei Mingzhu, feeling a mix of anger and frustration, her eyes welling up with tears, her body temperature rising, took a deep breath. She was supposed to be the first to step onto the eighth level in the past thousand years, but a random dark horse had snatched that honor away in an instant. And now her Senior Brother had taken away her second place?

Determined, she channeled her anger into her next step, becoming the third person that day to set foot on the eighth level.

* * * * *

"I want him! You two should just hand him over and not make things difficult!" Cao Jian declared with a domineering tone.

"Bullshit! Your Water God Sect already has Wang Shui! My sect is the only one without a monster! He's mine!" Zou Guo cursed, determined to obtain this disciple at all costs.

"Hold it! My Five Sense Illusion Sect needs him more! I want him to be my Mei Mingzhu's Cultivation Partner! Don't argue with me, you old frogs!" Xuan Ruogang interjected. She secretly desired him for herself, but due to her age and lack of prestige, she could only offer him to her beloved disciple.

"Think about it! If Mei Mingzhu and he had a baby, wouldn't that baby be extraordinary? It would benefit all of us!" Xuan Ruogang tried to reason with them.

Zou Guo and Cao Jian hesitated upon hearing her words. She had a point - if these two prodigies were to have a child, wouldn't that child be even more exceptional?

Zou Guo pondered for a moment and said, "Don't worry about that! When he comes to my Sect, we will naturally allow him to be her Cultivation Partner!" He quickly devised a perfect excuse.

Cao Jian furrowed his brows, torn between the two arguments. Zou Guo needed a monster in his sect, and Xuan Ruogang had Mei Mingzhu as a justification for acquiring him.

He bit his lip and cast aside his pride. If he could have a disciple like that, he wouldn't mind offending the other three!

"Hold on! The Church of the Qilin God also lacks a monster now that Long Huo has passed away! Moreover, my Sect possesses the most powerful Cultivation Techniques among all four of us. It is only reasonable that we have him and allow him to reach his fullest potential!" Cao Jian countered.

"Shameless! You already have Wang Shui, and now you want another one?!" Zou Guo seethed with anger. He only desired one disciple, yet this person wanted two?!

"Tch! What is Wang Shui compared to him?! Look! He's already at the 9th Level now!" Cao Jian persisted, his determination unwavering.

"Hmph, I don't care as long as he has a child with my Mei Mingzhu!"

*****************

Tian Yi stood at the pinnacle of the 9th Level, only twenty steps away from the peak of the Stairway to Heaven. A serene smile adorned his face as he ascended, each step deliberate and unhurried.

*****************

The entire audience fell into a hushed silence, their eyes wide with anticipation, afraid to miss a single moment of this extraordinary spectacle.

After ten million years, finally, someone other than the legendary Tian Qiang had set foot upon the peak of the Stairway to Heaven!

This was a sight that might never be witnessed again, so who would dare to look away?

Min Li gazed up at the tiny figure in the sky.

Although she couldn't see him, she knew deep in her heart that it was her Big Brother Shu. "Big Brother Shu..." Her eyes shimmered with a newfound radiance. It was as if she was witnessing her hero ascending to the heavens.

Her parents were left speechless and bewildered. The random boy they had met turned out to be a monster with talents comparable to the legendary Tian Qiang? Could he also become the first in ten million years to reach the peak of the Stairway to Heaven? They had been in such close proximity to such a remarkable individual without even realizing it.

Wang Bao's father, Wang Bing, let out a sigh. "Sigh, it seems I'll have to find a new fiancée for my son..."

Shang Guang gazed at the figure in awe and asked his wife, "My dear wife, Min Li is really close to him, right? That's not the wrong person, is it?"

"I... I think so," Min Qiu replied, now doubting her previous assumptions.

"Of course, I am super close to Big Brother Shu!" Min Li proudly declared, refusing to let her parents doubt her relationship with her Big Brother Shu.

"Haha... Hahaha... Hahahahah!" Shang Guang burst into laughter like a fool. His daughter had given him an immense surprise! Now he could proudly flaunt their bond, claiming that the boy and his daughter were inseparable. Who would dare to challenge him now?

Min Qiu looked at him with a perplexed expression.

Lao Bai stood tall with his hands on his hips, his head held high, and an expression that clearly said, "Yes! I am his servant! Come at me!"

*****************

Tian Yi was only a few steps away from reaching the peak. Each of his steps was slow and graceful, yet exuded a commanding presence, as if an emperor was making his way to his throne.

*BANG*

The moment he stepped onto the peak of the Stairway to Heaven, an illusion came to life. Before him stood millions of lifelike immortals, bowing down to an indistinct figure seated on a throne, as if acknowledging him as their emperor. Angelic beings with wings danced around, playing heavenly music on a celestial horn, filling the entire Immortal Realm with its resounding melodies.

Next, a celestial staircase materialized, leading directly to a celestial palace. In the center of the palace, there was a throne. And sitting upon that throne was an unbelievably handsome young man, so captivating that even the female spectators blushed and found themselves breathless. Even Xuan Ruogang couldn't resist his charm. Some men even questioned their own sexuality after laying eyes on him.

This young man was merely an illusion, a reflection of Tian Yi's true appearance. Only Min Li knew the truth.

Tian Yi was left speechless. He had wanted to surprise everyone, but this was taking it to a whole new level. It was practically announcing his true identity to the entire world.

"I must leave here as soon as possible... Otherwise, it will be too late," he sighed.

"But first..." He looked in the direction where Min Li was. With a smile, he took a step forward and vanished from the Peak of the Stairway to Heaven.

*****************

After a minute, the lifelike illusion dissipated, and everyone snapped back to reality. However, when they gazed upon the peak of the Stairway to Heaven, the figure had vanished.

"Eh?! Where did he go?"

"No way! I can't find him either!"

The entire crowd erupted into chaos and excitement at his sudden disappearance.