Scarlet's trial was Dustin.
She saw Dustin marry Natasha, saw them embrace in happiness, saw herself standing in the crowd, only able to offer silent blessings.
"Are you content with this?" A voice whispered in her ear. "You risk your life for him, bleed for him, yet he only sees you as a little sister. Are you content?"
Scarlet clenched her fists, tears glistening in her eyes. But she took a deep breath and said: "I am content. As long as he's happy, I'm content. He's my Brother Dustin, and always will be."
The illusion shattered. Scarlet found herself standing in a training arena, a completely crimson spear floating before her—even stronger than the one she had obtained before.
"Your Dao is the way of protection." The voice said. "Heart set on guarding, without complaint or regret. Bestowed: the 'Crimson Flame Heaven-Burning Spear.' May you never forget your original heart."
Scarlet took the spear, her tears turning to laughter.
Bai Wuhen's trial was the most perilous.
He saw himself fallen into the demonic path. Covered in malevolent energy, wielding a demonic sword, he had killed his sister, killed the Bai family members, killed everyone he cared about.
"This is your future." A voice sneered. "Your sword is destined to be a killing sword. You cannot escape it."
Bai Wuhen looked at that demonized self, silent for a long time. Then he raised his head, sword intent soaring to the sky!
"My sword is a sword of protection." He said, word by word. "No matter what the future holds, right now, I protect my sister, protect my clan. If I truly will fall into the demonic path in the future—then kill me now!"
He raised his hand, and the ice crystal sword transformed into a streak of light, piercing straight toward the demonized self's forehead!
The sword light penetrated the illusion, and it shattered!
Bai Wuhen knelt on one knee, gasping heavily. Before him floated a sword-shaped jade talisman, emanating piercing cold.
"Sword heart illuminated, breaking through demonic barriers. Bestowed: the complete 'Cold Ice Sword Intent' inheritance. Use it well."
Bai Wuhen grasped the talisman, his eyes full of determination.
When everyone emerged from the stone gates, three days had passed.
In those three days, some were joyful, some silent, and some... remained forever within the stone gates. From Margaret's side, five Dragon Guards never emerged. From the Bai family, though Bai Wei came out, her aura was weak—clearly seriously injured.
"Congratulations to all who passed the Dao Heart Trial." The grand voice spoke again. "In seven days, the final trial begins. At that time, the true ownership of the Spirit Transformation Pill will be decided."
Everyone exchanged confused glances. Hadn't Qin Hao already taken the Spirit Transformation Pill?
But Qin Hao's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this. He took out the Spirit Transformation Pill. In his hand, the pill gradually became transparent, finally dissipating into a wisp of green smoke.
"Fake." He said flatly. "The real Spirit Transformation Pill is still somewhere. This Bronze Hall trial was merely an appetizer."
Everyone's hearts chilled. The true trial had only just begun.
Seven days of rest passed in the blink of an eye.
During these seven days, all major forces made secret preparations. The Qin siblings remained behind closed doors, supposedly comprehending some secret technique. The Yu family's mid Golden Core man contacted others everywhere, trying to recruit more allies. Within the independent cultivator alliance, internal strife erupted—the one-armed bald man was assassinated by his subordinates, and a new leader took his place.
Margaret's side also seized the time to increase their strength. Scarlet trained day and night with the "Crimson Flame Heaven-Burning Spear," her spear techniques growing ever fiercer. Adam arranged his newly obtained formation flags around the camp to prevent ambushes. Bai Qingxue comprehended the "Mysterious Frost True Scripture," her cultivation advancing. Bai Wuhen continuously studied the sword intent inheritance talisman, his aura becoming increasingly unfathomable.
Dustin wasn't idle either. He studied the "Chapter of Supreme Response" day and night. Though he couldn't restore his cultivation, his understanding of the way of spirit and mind deepened. He even faintly sensed that the dormant Nascent Soul seemed to have the slightest stirring.
"Perhaps this is the true meaning of 'becoming mortal.'" He murmured. "Not passively waiting for cultivation to recover, but using the process of becoming mortal to temper the spirit and accumulate foundation. When the time is right, thick accumulation leads to thin release."
On the morning of the seventh day, the grand voice spoke again:
"The final trial begins. Climb the Heaven Stairs, enter Buzhou Palace. Those who reach the top may obtain the Spirit Transformation Pill, and... the complete inheritance of the Buzhou Immortal."
As the voice faded, the ground at the Bronze Hall's center split open with a thunderous roar. A jade staircase reaching to the heavens slowly rose from the rift! The stairs pierced the clouds with no visible end, each step emanating a faint golden glow.
"So this is the Heaven Stairs." Qin Hao gazed at the staircase, a burning light in his eyes. "The Buzhou Immortal's inheritance—my Qin family will have it!"
He was the first to step onto the stairs. Qin Xue and three guards followed closely.
The Yu family man also charged up with his people. The independent cultivator alliance, small clans, lone cultivators... all surged toward the staircase reaching to heaven.
Margaret looked at Dustin. Dustin nodded slightly: "Let's go. Remember, our goal isn't reaching the top—it's surviving."
Everyone stepped onto the stairs.
The moment they set foot on the staircase, everyone felt an invisible pressure envelop them. This pressure was even more terrifying than the previous flight-restriction formation, making it hard to breathe.
Even worse, with each step climbed, the pressure increased. At first it was manageable, but past the fiftieth step, every stride felt like carrying a mountain—incredibly difficult.
"This... this isn't something humans can climb!" Someone roared.
The moment his words fell, a golden light swept across the staircase. He screamed as he was directly swept off, plummeting into the endless abyss!
Everyone was horrified, no longer daring to complain, only gritting their teeth and climbing.
Margaret was drenched in sweat, trembling with every step. But her eyes remained determined, teeth clenched in persistence.
Though Scarlet was also exhausted, she kept looking back at Dustin, afraid he couldn't hold on.
Dustin's cultivation was sealed—by rights, he should have had the hardest time. But strangely, though he climbed slowly, he remained steady throughout, each step planted firmly.
"Brother Dustin, how... how are you doing this?" Scarlet asked in surprise.
Dustin panted slightly: "The pressure is strong, but it acts on the physical body and spiritual power. My cultivation is sealed, which actually removes one layer of burden. Plus, cultivating the 'Chapter of Supreme Response' these past days has stabilized my spirit, so I can still persist."
Scarlet understood, secretly admiring him.
Seventy steps, eighty steps, ninety steps...
With each step, someone fell. Those with high cultivation but unstable willpower were eliminated one after another. Fewer than twenty remained past the ninetieth step.
The Qin siblings still led by far, nearly at the top. The Yu family man followed closely but his aura was already becoming unstable. From Margaret's side, Margaret, Scarlet, Adam, Bai Qingxue, Bai Wuhen, and Dustin—all six were around the ninetieth step, gritting their teeth in persistence.
At the ninety-fifth step, Bai Wuhen suddenly swayed, nearly falling. His face was pale, a flash of pain in his eyes—though his sword intent was powerful, his physical body was still weak, unable to bear such pressure.
"Wuhen!" Bai Qingxue cried out, trying to grab him, only to find herself also on the verge of collapse.
Just then, a warm hand pressed on Bai Wuhen's shoulder.
Bai Wuhen turned to see Dustin looking at him. Though Dustin was also exhausted, his eyes remained clear.
– Marinien
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