On the fifth day, Mark Montgomary came again. This time, he brought important intelligence.
"In three days, the second level trial of Buzhou Mountain will begin." He lowered his voice. "According to information the Qin family obtained, this trial is called the 'Heart-Questioning Stairs,' with ninety-nine steps. Each step requires facing an inner demon trial. Only those who reach the top may proceed to the next stage."
Margaret and Dustin exchanged glances. "Where are the Heart-Questioning Stairs?"
Mark pointed northeast, outside the marketplace: "About twenty-five kilometers from here is a place called 'Wind Thunder Platform.' The entrance to the Heart-Questioning Stairs is there. When the time comes, all forces who want to continue upward will gather at Wind Thunder Platform."
He paused, then added meaningfully: "However, Wind Thunder Platform itself is also a trial. Violent wind and thunder rage there year-round—the slightest carelessness means death. And with various forces gathering, there will inevitably be competition for positions. Your Highness, if you're going, you'd best prepare early."
After Mark left, Margaret gathered everyone to discuss.
"Heart-Questioning Stairs, ninety-nine steps of inner demon trials." She said gravely. "In our group, some have high cultivation but may not have stable Dao hearts. This stage will likely cost us."
Dustin said: "Inner demon trials have nothing to do with cultivation level. Some with ordinary cultivation but firm willpower may pass more easily. Some with deep cultivation but flawed hearts may fall here."
He looked at everyone: "These next few days, everyone needs to adjust their mindset. Think through whatever you can't let go of, whatever you can't get past. On the Heart-Questioning Stairs, you can deceive others, but you can't deceive yourself."
Everyone became thoughtful. Scarlet stole a glance at Dustin, wondering: What will my inner demon be?
Three days later, Wind Thunder Platform.
This was an extremely perilous location. A massive platform hung suspended in mid-air, with a bottomless abyss below and perpetual violent winds and thunder all around. Wind and lightning combined into deafening roars that made souls tremble.
Several hundred people had already gathered on the platform. The Qin family, Montgomary Palace, Yu family remnants, the independent cultivator alliance... forces from all sides occupied their own corners, watching each other warily.
When Margaret arrived with her team, she immediately felt countless gazes upon her. Some curious, some assessing, some hostile, some wary.
"That's the Qin family." Adam said quietly, pointing to the platform's east side.
Qin Hao stood with hands clasped behind his back, expression indifferent, as if the dangers of Wind Thunder Platform were irrelevant to him. Qin Xue stood beside him, idly playing with a jade talisman. Behind them were over a dozen Qin family guards with profound auras.
"The west side is the Yu family." Adam pointed to another direction.
The Yu family hadn't brought many people this time—only seven or eight—but each had a fierce aura, clearly elites. Leading them was a pale-faced middle-aged man with faint lightning flickering around him, emanating heart-stopping pressure—mid Golden Core!
"The Yu family's true experts have finally appeared." Margaret said quietly.
Montgomary Palace's people were on the platform's south side. Mark Montgomary stood at the front, speaking quietly with several independent cultivator alliance leaders. Seeing Margaret, he nodded slightly in greeting.
"Prepare for the trial." Dustin suddenly said. "It's starting."
Before he finished speaking, the thunder above Wind Thunder Platform suddenly intensified! Countless golden lightning bolts intertwined, forming a massive thunder vortex. From the vortex's center, a brilliant golden light descended, landing at the platform's center!
When the light faded, a ninety-nine-step jade staircase had appeared from thin air! The stairs rose straight to the clouds, disappearing into the thunder vortex, as if connecting heaven and earth.
"The Heart-Questioning Stairs have appeared!" A grand voice resonated in everyone's minds. "Those who climb must face their inner demons with their true heart. One step, one tribulation. Ninety-nine steps, ninety-nine tribulations. Those who reach the top may enter the next stage. Those who fail... their souls will scatter!"
The moment the voice faded, the crowd stirred. Some were eager to try, others shrank back.
The first to step onto the Heart-Questioning Stairs was Qin Hao.
His expression was calm as he walked up step by step. First step, second step, third step... his pace remained steady, without any pause. The inner demon illusions that would break ordinary people seemed to have no effect on him.
"He... what kind of person is he?" Someone exclaimed.
Qin Hao paid no attention, continuing upward. Ten steps, twenty steps, thirty steps... only at the fiftieth step did he pause briefly before continuing.
"Terrifying." Adam murmured. "This man's Dao heart is solid as bedrock."
After Qin Hao, Qin Xue also stepped onto the stairs. She was equally relaxed, even curiously looking around at certain steps as if admiring the inner demon illusions.
"Our turn." Margaret took a deep breath, looking at everyone. "Remember what Dustin said—guard your true heart. No matter what you see, don't lose yourself."
She was the first to step onto the Heart-Questioning Stairs. Scarlet, Adam, Bai Qingxue, Bai Wuhen, and others followed closely. Dustin stepped on last. Though his cultivation was sealed, his strength of will was no less than anyone's.
The moment he stepped onto the Heart-Questioning Stairs, the scene before Dustin's eyes instantly changed.
He saw Natasha—she stood nearby, tears in her eyes, watching him, her lips moving as if saying something. But the sound was blocked; he couldn't hear.
"Natasha..." Dustin's heart trembled.
The illusory Natasha reached out to him, her eyes full of pleading. Dustin almost stepped toward her, but he stopped abruptly.
No. Natasha is below the mountain, not here.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, the illusion had vanished, and the stone steps of the Heart-Questioning Stairs lay before him once more.
"First step, passed." He murmured, continuing upward.
Meanwhile, the others were experiencing their own inner demons.
Margaret saw her mother. Her mother was covered in blood, collapsed on the ground, reaching toward her: "Margaret... save me... save me..." Margaret's eyes reddened, but she clenched her teeth and didn't stop.
Scarlet saw Dustin. He wore wedding robes, holding Natasha's hand, smiling at her: "Scarlet, thank you for always being by my side. Now, I've found my happiness. You should go find yours too." Scarlet felt her heart being cut to pieces, but she took a deep breath and said softly: "Brother Dustin, your happiness is my happiness." The illusion vanished, and she continued upward.
Adam saw his deceased wife. She stood nearby, beckoning to him: "Adam, come be with me... I miss you so much..." Tears welled in Adam's eyes, but he closed them and murmured: "I'm sorry, I still have my sister to take care of. When I finish what needs to be done, I'll come to you." The illusion dissipated, and he pressed upward through gritted teeth.
Bai Qingxue saw the Bai family's destruction. Flames soared to the sky, clan members screaming, as she desperately tried to rush over but was blocked by an invisible force. She bit her lip, nails digging into her palms, moving forward step by step. She had already experienced these illusions countless times in her heart. Facing them again now, though painful, they couldn't shake her.
Bai Wuhen saw himself—another version of him, wielding a demonic sword, covered in malevolent energy, sneering: "Wuhen, you'll become me eventually. Your sword is destined to be a killing sword." Bai Wuhen looked coldly at that other self and said flatly: "My sword is a sword of protection. Protecting my sister, protecting my clan. You are not me." One sword strike, and the illusion shattered.
The ninety-nine steps of the Heart-Questioning Stairs—every step was torment, every step was a trial.
Some broke down midway, screaming as they fell into the abyss. Some were consumed by their inner demons, turning to stone statues, forever remaining on the Heart-Questioning Stairs. Others gritted their teeth and persevered, climbing step by step.
When Margaret passed the ninety-ninth step, she was nearly collapsed. Looking back, more than half the figures on the stairs were gone. She saw Scarlet, Adam, Bai Qingxue, and Bai Wuhen had all made it up, and felt some relief.
"Where's Dustin?" She suddenly said.
Everyone looked back but couldn't see Dustin's figure.
"Brother Dustin, he..." Scarlet's face went pale.
Just then, from the end of the ninety-ninth step, a figure slowly emerged. It was Dustin. Though exhausted, his eyes remained clear.
"Sorry for worrying you." He said softly.
Everyone relaxed. Scarlet couldn't help rushing forward and embracing him: "Brother Dustin! You scared me to death!"
Dustin gently patted her back, speaking warmly: "I'm fine. I made it."
At the end of the Heart-Questioning Stairs was a massive platform. On it, an ancient bronze palace flickered in and out of visibility, emanating an ancient and mysterious aura.
"Is that... Buzhou Palace?" Someone exclaimed.
But the palace was only an apparition, not fully materialized. The grand voice spoke once more:
"Those who pass the Heart-Questioning Stairs may enter the 'Bronze Hall' to compete for the ultimate opportunity. The hall contains countless treasures, but only one person may obtain the Spirit Transformation Pill. In seven days, the hall doors will open."
As the voice faded, the scene before everyone changed again. When they came to their senses, they were back on Wind Thunder Platform.
The Heart-Questioning Stairs had vanished, and the terrifying thunder vortex had dissipated. But everyone knew—the true trial had only just begun.
– Marinien
Comments