“Why doesn’t he proceed?
“He can’t go further, perhaps?”
“Yes, we can’t see beyond the hundred steps because the mist is thicker. I wonder, how does it look like beyond the one hundredth step?”
“How would we know? Didn’t you notice that everyone who reached the one hundredth step of the Immortal Ladder fell down?”
“He probably doesn’t have the courage to go up there! It’s already incredible that he’s brave enough to attempt to climb the Immortal Ascension Ladder at such a young age.”
“Indeed, we are watching from down here, and we dare not even try.”
The cultivators who looked up from below talked, wondering why the figure in dazzling red didn’t go any further.
Feng Jiu stopped at this juncture because she noticed that Old Patriarch Xie did not slow his pace after he and his son had reached the one hundredth step. Xie Yan had only reached the second step when it became difficult for him to take another.
She observed his slightly lifted steps trembling slightly, not out of fear, but because he was striving to lift his feet forward. After just two steps, his clothes were drenched in sweat, his breathing became ragged, and his breath became disordered.
“This ladder will not be easy to climb when one’s heart’s obsession is too deep.”
A faint voice entered Xie Yan’s ear. With a start, he looked back. The young man in red had arrived two steps away behind him without his knowledge. However, he watched in awe as the youth took one step at a time, eventually passing him and now walking in front of him.
“Based on your cultivation, you should be able to go within ten steps. Don’t you believe it? Let go of your obsession and try walking again.” Feng Jiu did not look at him again after that; but continued climbing with ease, as if stepping on the ground. Xie Yan was astonished.
What surprised him even more was the familiar voice. “Feng, Feng Jiu? You are Feng Jiu?” The appearance, clothing, and temperament were obviously different, but the voice was so familiar.
No, how could the temperament be different? Wasn’t that Feng Jiu’s wanton and arrogant temperament? Didn’t he have the same awe-inspiring breath when he fought the Ruan family?
When Feng Jiu was ten steps away from him, she stopped and looked at him. “Yes, it’s me.”
Xie Yan was ecstatic when he heard this reply. He got rid of his obsession without hesitation and tried to bring his mind back to peace. When he walked again, his step was lighter than before.
However, as he walked up, the Immortal Ladder’s strong pressure and momentum left him out of breath, and he only made it to the ninth step.
“It looks like I can’t keep going.” He gave a bitter smile, knowing that if he forced himself to climb the ladder, he would likely be struck by Heaven’s Law and die.
Feng jiu gave a slight nod. “It’s already quite good. You should go down the ladder! You have a wife and children at home waiting for you.”
Xie Yan’s heart was shaken. He looked her in the eyes and bowed to her. “Many thanks.”
He had a wife and children at home waiting for him. His only considerations were for his wife and children. The most important thing was for him to stay alive and get back home. He gave Feng Jiu a salute, glanced at the Immortal Ascension Ladder and then turned around and went down.
After seeing him turn around and descend the Immortal Ladder, Feng Jiu turned away, looked ahead, and continued to move up.
