Second Test

Kevin moved steadily to the next ground, his breaths even as he walked through the misty passage that connected the test areas. His senses tingled, the energy in the air more concentrated here. Emerging from the passage, he sensed the sprawling resting area ahead, filled with the subdued murmurs of the gathered aspirants. His heightened awareness picked out Roy's distinct presence, standing with his usual casual posture among Selene, Arlen, Lyra, and Eryk.

"Hey, what did you score?" Arlen asked Roy.

Selene raised an eyebrow, her sharp blue eyes studying Roy intently. "You're not going to tell us, are you?"

Roy waved his hand dismissively, his grin confident but evasive. "Nah, it wasn't anything crazy. Just 1.5 centimeters and perfect. Not a big deal," he replied, trying to downplay the conversation. He didn't want to deal with the endless questions that were sure to follow. Even then everyone was shocked since they knew Roy's cultivation to be lower than them.

As he answered, his senses caught a familiar presence emerging from the mist—Kevin. Relief flooded through Roy as he saw an escape from the group. Without waiting for further questions, he stepped out and shouted, "Hey! We're over here!"

Kevin, hearing Roy's voice, turned toward him and smiled widely. The grin on Roy's face widened as he walked toward Kevin, his outstretched hand ready to pat his friend on the shoulder.

Before Roy could ask Kevin anything, Lyra's voice broke the moment. "Wait! Kevin, how did you do?"

Kevin stopped, tilting his head slightly. "Oh, 15 centimeters," he said innocently, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather.

The moment the words left Kevin's mouth, the group erupted into shocked murmurs.

"What? Fifteen centimeters? That's impossible!"

"Even core disciples of other sects would struggle to achieve that! How did you do it?"

"Are you some hidden genius?"

Roy froze mid-step, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. He facepalmed internally, knowing exactly where this was going. Everyone's attention shifted entirely to Kevin, their questions firing like arrows.

"What technique did you use?"

"Who taught you?"

"What's your cultivation level?"

Kevin blinked, his calm composure faltering slightly under the barrage of questions. He glanced toward Roy for help but quickly realized his friend had deliberately avoided revealing his real result. Kevin's mind pieced it together, and his lips parted in realization. "Oh no," he thought, suppressing the urge to cry. 

Lyra's reaction caught Kevin's attention. Unlike the others, she didn't bombard him with questions. Her piercing green eyes widened briefly, a flicker of surprise flashing across her face. Then, as if deciding something in that moment, her lips curved into a small, almost imperceptible smile.

With a slow, deliberate motion, Kevin facepalmed himself internally, mirroring Roy's earlier frustration. 

"It's nothing special," Kevin said finally, his tone modest as he tried to deflect their inquiries. "I just followed what I've been taught." 

Roy facepalmed himself again "What kind of answer is that?" 

Selene crossed her arms, her sharp gaze unwavering. "Taught by who?"

"What kind of training gets you that result?" Eryk pressed, his deep voice carrying over the chatter.

Roy decided to stop it here and stepped forward, his grin forced as he clapped Kevin on the shoulder. "Alright, alright. That's enough questions for now. Let the man breathe! We will talk after the tests are complete."

The group reluctantly dispersed, though their curiosity lingered in their glances. Kevin shot Roy a sideways glance. "You didn't tell them your score, right?"

Roy groaned, rubbing his temple. "Of course not."

Kevin chuckled, the sound light and genuine. "I can see a headache coming because of this."

Roy couldn't help but laugh "let's think about this later. First, we need to clear two more test which I doubt you would have any problems clearing it."

The group waited for hours as more aspirants completed their tests. Over time, both of them realized how fortunate they had been to pass the cultivation test—only about 800 contestants remained from the initial crowd. This revelation hung heavily in the air, a silent acknowledgment of how narrow their escape had been.

During the wait, Selene and Eryk both approached Kevin, trying to ask him more questions about his performance, but Kevin kept his responses minimal, a polite but firm refusal to engage. Lyra remained quiet.

As the sun dipped lower, signaling the passage of hours, a sudden ripple of energy washed over the area. The head instructor appeared in front of the gathered crowd, his imposing presence instantly commanding silence.

"Let me tell you about the second test," he began, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable weight." As you know, it is called the Stairs of Resistance. Here is what you must do. You will climb the stairs—there are a total of 999. The higher you climb, the better your score. Reaching higher steps will also improve your potential for future cultivation."

A murmur spread through the crowd, mixing curiosity and apprehension. The instructor raised a hand, and the noise subsided instantly.

"You will all enter the stairs together," he continued, "but you will each be separated into a different space automatically. Once you finish, you will be teleported back here. Prepare yourselves. The test begins shortly."

Just as the instructor finished speaking, the ground in the center of the area began to shimmer. A low hum resonated as a massive staircase started to materialize, step by step. The stairs were not solid but made of pure, radiant energy, each step glowing faintly. The first few steps were visible, but the rest were shrouded in a dense, swirling mist, adding an air of mystery to the challenge.

The crowd watched in awe as the structure completed itself. The hum subsided, leaving an almost eerie silence, broken only by murmurs of amazement.

"Energy stairs," Eryk muttered, a wide grin spreading across his face. "This test is mine to win. No one's going to beat me."

Selene scoffed, her arms crossed. "We'll see about that. Don't be so sure of yourself."

Eryk chuckled. "I'll wait for you at the top."

Selene smirked, her sharp blue eyes glinting. "More like you'll see me already there."

Roy turned toward Kevin and smiled widely. "All the best, Kevin," he said, his voice cheerful but laced with genuine encouragement.

Kevin nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You too," he replied softly.

At the instructor's command, the crowd began moving toward the stairs, their steps hesitant at first. One by one, they ascended, each aspirant stepping into the glowing staircase and vanishing into the mist. Kevin and Roy followed. 

As soon as Kevin took the third step, he found himself transported to a separate dimension. The scene around him was breathtaking. There was no ground, only the radiant stairs suspended in the air. The space was a magnificent night sky, brimming with stars, swirling space clouds, and planets glowing faintly in the distance. But Kevin, being blind, could only feel the stairs beneath him, their faint energy resonating through his body.

As he took another step, the energy at the point of contact reverberated powerfully and a minuscule amount entered his body. It coursed through him, spreading to every corner of his being before merging seamlessly with his aura. The unexpected influx of energy startled him. He froze for a moment, his mind racing. It was considered impossible to increase one's aura before reaching the qi cultivation stage. Attempting to do so would normally result in catastrophic failure, as the body would lack the capacity to handle the additional energy, leading to an explosive backlash. That's why the bone forging and muscle forging stages were essential—to prepare the body to withstand greater amounts of aura.

Yet, this energy felt natural, harmonious even, and Kevin experienced no discomfort. The instructor's earlier words about the stairs increasing a cultivator's potential rang in his mind. "If one's base aura increases, the growth after entering the qi cultivation stage will be exponential. It also ease the progress through bone and muscle forging," he thought. A spark of excitement ignited within him as he realized the implications.

With renewed determination, Kevin stepped forward again. The same process occurred, the energy traveling through his body and blending effortlessly with his aura. But this time, he noticed a subtle shift. It was slightly harder to lift his foot and place it on the next step. A faint voice in his mind seemed to urge him to stop, warning him not to proceed further. The resistance wasn't physical but mental and emotional, a challenge to his resolve.

Understanding that this was the true nature of the test, Kevin steeled himself. "I'm not stopping here," he muttered under his breath. With each step, the resistance grew, but so did his resolve. Kevin pressed onward; his focus unwavering as he climbed higher.

The same was happening with Roy as well. As soon as he entered, he froze, captivated by the beautiful scene in front of him. He laughed lightly, marveling at how stunning it was. Then, his eyes fixed on the stairs leading to a platform. Determined to reach it, he started walking. The same sensation of energy entering the body coursed through him, but something different occurred. As the energy entered, the Heavenly Origin Qi Cultivation Technique etched on his soul activated, sending out soul energy to capture the incoming energy. This process doubled the amount of energy absorbed by Roy's body.

Roy felt the surge and excitement bubbled within him. "This is an opportunity to grow stronger," he thought, fists tightening with determination. He began climbing, also feeling the weight of each subsequent step press down on him.

While Kevin and Roy were pushing forward, the other aspirants faced challenges in their dimensions. For many, even after the tenth step, the resistance felt insurmountable. Some struggled to lift their legs, while others wavered under the pressure on their minds and bodies. Cries of frustration echoed as a few gave up entirely, retreating to the starting point.

For the stronger aspirants, the test revealed their true potential. Most managed to reach the fiftieth step, where the resistance intensified dramatically. Each step required immense focus, and the toll was visible in their labored breathing and trembling limbs.

Selene moved gracefully, her deliberate steps demonstrating her disciplined approach. By the time she reached the 150th step, her face was pale, but her sharp blue eyes remained determined. "This test is more than a physical challenge—it's a battle of will," she murmured, her voice resolute.

Eryk powered through with brute strength, his heavy frame shaking slightly as he approached the 170th step. "No way am I stopping here," he growled through clenched teeth. His broad axe strapped to his back seemed to weigh him down even more, but he refused to let it hinder him.

Arlen's wiry frame gave him agility, but even he slowed significantly after the 140th step. Beads of sweat dripped from his brow as he muttered, "This is insane." He adjusted his stance, pushing forward step by painstaking step.

Lyra, on the other hand, ascended with an almost ethereal grace. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the energy glow as she climbed past the 250th step. Her expression was tired, and her breaths became heavy. When she reached the 300th step, a faint smile tugged at her lips. "This... this is my limit I guess," she whispered.