Chapter 58: The Heavenly Stone Steps

As time passed, quite a few people gathered at the foot of the stone steps. Faced with the terrifying heat current, they could only grit their teeth and climb upward, with only a handful remaining below.

“Ah——” A miserable scream rang out. Those left below quickly looked up. A figure fell straight down, flames bursting from his body as he was severely wounded by the heat current.

“A ruthless move.” The few below exchanged glances, unable to help licking their dry lips, somewhat relieved that they hadn't gone up earlier, or they would have ended up like him.

From time to time, people fell from the Heavenly Stone Steps, none surviving. This sparked fights among those remaining below, all targeting their void rings.

Halfway up the stone steps, Yang Tian and Yun'er walked forward step by step. Yang Tian's protective energy shield emitted strange sounds under the heat and pressure.

In contrast, Yun'er beside him fared much better. A green treasure robe radiated a cooling aura that greatly comforted Yang Tian, so the two stayed unusually close, making his heart stir uncontrollably.

Biting her red lips with pearly teeth, her delicate face flushed with a rosy hue. Her autumn-water eyes, full of charm, occasionally fell on Yang Tian. When she noticed him drenched in hot sweat, her delicate body couldn't help leaning closer.

“This girl will be something when she grows up.” Licking his lips, Yang Tian smiled inwardly.

Meng Yunxi was the type who could enchant people to death without consequence, while Yun'er was like a striking green lotus. Though somewhat aloof, that coldness gradually melted away when facing Yang Tian.

“Tap... tap...” The sound of footsteps exploded, easing the intimate atmosphere.

On the Heavenly Stone Steps, a dense crowd of heads moved. From time to time, someone couldn't withstand the heat current and fell, while an endless stream of people continued to pour in from afar.

“Brother Wang, isn't that girl Xing Yun'er?” At a certain spot on the steps, a man with a small drum on his head, shielded by a cyan light barrier, fixed his gaze on the two at the front and smiled faintly.

A youth as smooth as jade, his face extremely gloomy, the energy around him twisting sharply, stared at the person beside Yun'er, his eyes nearly spitting fire. This was Wang Long.

“Heh, it's Brother Tuoba.” Glancing at the youth behind him, Wang Long's gloom completely receded as he said with a faint smile, a hint of wariness deep in his eyes. Although the Tuoba family was a rising power, its foundation was no weaker than the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect.

Tuoba Bao looked at him with a half-smile, a trace of mockery on his face. The Yin-Yang Harmony Sect was a top sect in the Eastern Continent, but its disciples were notorious in the cultivation world for their expertise in the art of dual cultivation, and Wang Long alone had ruined countless young maidens.

“Don't let me catch you, or I'll kill you.” Gritting his teeth, Wang Long's gloomy eyes fixed on the man wrapped in red, unable to accept his close contact with Yun'er.

As the Little Saint Son of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, he wielded immense power. Yun'er, a peerless beauty with a family background no weaker than his, he had long regarded as his woman, and no one else was allowed to touch her.

“Eh?” Sensing a peculiar gaze, Yang Tian turned his head and glanced at a figure below, frowning slightly. This resentment was even more intense than that of a forsaken wife. Yang Tian really couldn't figure out how he had offended him.

“Little sister?” At the foot of the Heavenly Stone Steps, a sturdy youth had just arrived. His anxious eyes quickly scanned the area, and when he saw the two figures nearly reaching the top, especially the green treasure robe, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.

“No, who is that beside her? Could it be Yang Tian?” Seeing their intimate posture, Xing Hao scratched his head, a doubt rising in his mind.

“Everyone, get out of my way, out of the way!” Suddenly charging like a bull, Xing Hao's sturdy body knocked aside the surrounding crowd as he dashed up the steps, trampling them like a wild ox.

“Brother Hao, wait for me!” Not far away, a figure surged forward at a speed that made people gasp. Like Xing Hao, his strange movement technique constantly weaved through the crowd, pushing others aside with an odd energy.

Behind the white figure, a purple great bow was strapped to his back, like a coiled dragon, radiating a noble aura that gave an exceptionally dazzling impression.

“Are you two rushing to die...” The people around cursed, but when they saw Xing Hao charging up the steps, they quickly shut their mouths. Especially the white shadow behind Xing Hao, who darted like a phantom, rushing madly.

“That's Xing Hao, the son of the Thundercloud Sect's sect leader.” One person recognized him and exclaimed.

“Who's that beside him? Such a strange movement technique.” Some looked puzzled.

“So they're from the Thundercloud Sect. No wonder they're so arrogant.” Blinking, a group buzzed with discussion. The Thundercloud Sect, Yellow Dragon Valley, and Yin-Yang Harmony Sect were all top-tier powers in the Eastern Continent.

“Tsk, his elder brother is the real powerhouse, able to contend with the elites cultivated by the ancient aristocratic families with all their resources. They say he's only half a step away from being a War King.”

Those who couldn't climb up chattered away, talking with great enthusiasm.

“Haha, baby, I'm coming, wait for me!” As they chatted merrily, a fat man charged over, howling, knocking people flying in all directions.

“Are you rushing to die...” Pushed aside twice in a row, a group's anger flared, but this fat man was even fiercer than the previous ones, shaking the steps with a booming sound.

“Tsk, so many people came today, each fiercer than the last.”

“No, how did this guy get in? Isn't he over twenty?” One person was puzzled. The Martial Dao Mountain had a rule that no one over twenty could enter.

“I don't know, but this guy's cultivation is even stronger than Xing Hao's. Which family's disciple is he?” The fat man gave him a vaguely familiar feeling.

“Look, that's Li Hongtao.” In the distance, a youth in a purple robe rushed over, followed by a group of fierce-looking people.

“No wonder he's from an ancient aristocratic family, so strong.”

“Huang Li is here too. I heard he was almost beaten to death a few days ago...”

A youth with bulging muscles started shouting, but someone beside him quickly covered his mouth, his eyes bloodshot.

The crowd below buzzed with discussion, helplessness flickering in their eyes. They had spent most of their wealth to buy an invitation, but the treasure was right before their eyes, yet they couldn't reach it.

Night fell. After a full day's walk, Yang Tian was near the top. His qi and blood were abnormally depleted, and he calculated that he needed to get a suitable weapon.

“Tap!” When he stepped onto the last stone step, the scorching sensation sharply decreased, and the heat current that had been drifting in the space vanished without a trace.

“Hoo.” Exhaling a breath, Yang Tian moved his body aside, and the fragrance in the air dissipated considerably. He didn't want to endure such torment again.

“Yun'er, we've arrived.”