Chapter 133: A great achievement that seems flawed* (1/2)
Chapter 133: A great achievement that seems flawed*
*title is from the Dao De Jing
A desolate peak, just like it’s name. There was no tasteful scenery, no imposing manner, no refined roots of an immortal, nothing exceptional at all.
It was extremely simple, totally deserted like a piece of uninhabited land, old and dried trees with crows, the colours of the sun setting in the west, it simply did not seem like a main peak of an immortal sect. On this desolate peak, there were broken ruins, and even the mountain path was covered in overgrowth. In the sky, seven to eight figures could be seen flying past, they were dazed as they passed by the area before slowly descending down.
These were a couple of young disciples, none of them seemed past twenty, on this very peak, there were actually people searching for an immortal affinity, the disciples felt stunned and swiftly came over to take a look.
“Greetings elder Li.” There were both males and females within the ground, after paying their respects, they quickly began to measure Ye Fan and Ji Ziyue.
“Senior, what sort of test do we have to take?” Ye Fan began to question about the contents of the test.
This slightly withered and decrepit old man was the only person that lived on the main peak, Li Ruoyu, he shook his head before continuing: “Actually, there is no need for a test, there hasn’t been anyone here for so many years, if you really wish to remain, you automatically pass.”
By the side, the seven to eight disciples of the Tai Xuan sect began to smile, they simply could not understand why these two people would choose this main peak that had fallen into decline.
“I guess the potential of these two must be very poor, it is likely that they won’t be chosen by the other main peaks and have purposely come here to pass the test.”
“These two people are quite smart, thinking of using such methods to remain, but this is merely a waste of time, they won’t be able to join the other main peaks after making a decision to remain here.”
“Over the years, there are always those who think they are smarter than the others, in the end they still silently left the sect.”
These young disciples softly discussed and mocked, they were the disciples of the main peak up ahead and the legacy there was experiencing a period of extreme prosperity.
Ji Ziyue had painted her delicate face to look like that of a little cat, only her large eyes remained spirited, she lightly glanced at these disciples before looking back at the elder: “Senior Li, let’s just follow the rules, allow us to take the required test.”
“There’s no need……” Li Ruoyu shook his head.
“Senior uncle Li, since they wish to take the test to prove themselves, you should give them a chance to do so.” Not far away, the disciples were lightly laughing.
“That’s right, who knows, they may really contain an immortal body, in the future they may actually be able to help this peak regain its past glory. Senior uncle Li, you should just test what they’re made of.”
This was a main peak that was already in decline, if it were any other flourishing main peaks, they would not dare to butt in like that, even if they wanted to scale the mountain they would be required to first inform, this actually spoke volumes of the elder’s good temperament.
“Alright.” Li Ruoyi nodded, he doddered and swayed as he walked into a distant dilapidated pavilion.
At the apex of this main peak, rubble was littered about, without a single perfect building in sight. In the centre was a vast piece of land with nine jade stones forming nine steps, although many years had passed, the jade stones still glistened without any signs of damage, seemingly extremely soft.
“So it’s actually the Nine Steps to Heaven test.” One of the female disciples was stunned.
As the only person and elder within the sect of this main peak, Li RuoyI lamented: “Five hundred years ago, countless numbers of Tai Xuan sect disciples wished to scale the Nine Steps to Heaven, becoming a disciple of this peak, that was such a glorious sight.”
“There are really the Nine Steps to Heaven here, I’ve heard of it in the past but who knew that it was actually at this peak.”
“Today, the Nine Steps to Heaven has almost been completely covered in dust, this area has become cold and desolate without the glory of the past, now who would still be willing to ascend the Nine Steps to Heaven.”
“This peak is now a far cry from its former glory, it has long faded and waned.” The seven to eight young disciples softly discussed, their words were filled with contempt.
“Back then, how many peerless talents scaled these steps and felt pride from doing so……” Li Ruoyu sighed.
“Senior uncle Li, you can’t keep reminiscing about the past.”
The few young disciples lightly laughed with a disapproving tone. “The so called test is to scale the Nine Steps to Heaven?” Ji Ziyue was very curious, she did not find anything special about this test.
“That’s right, go ahead and try.” Li Ruoyu nodded.
“The future geniuses of this peak, let’s see if you can pass the test.”
“Remember to stand firm, don’t fall off the first step.”
The few young disciples continued to mock, thinking that Ji Ziyue and Ye Fan were merely trying to be smart alecks, they did not believe that the two had the abilities to pass the test. Faced with their mocking, Ji Ziyue was indifferent as she lightly glided forward like a butterfly towards the Nine Steps to Heaven.
The Nine Steps to Heaven were formed from nine different jade bricks that had been piled together, their colours were unique but merely glistened without any divine glow.
Ji Ziyue climbed the first jade step as the ancient green jade flashed, rippling outwards but she continued to seem relaxed. Another step as the second red jade step flashed scarlet, she could feel a slight pressure as her brow frowned. Upon taking her third step onto the blue jade, it began to flash as she felt her steps become extremely heavy.
Fourth step, fifth step…… only till the seventh step did she feel that it was extremely difficult to take another step, it was as though her feet were weighed down by mountains as her body was covered in sweat.
She did not know that when Li Ruoyu saw her reach the third step, he already had an expression of astonishment and when she reached the seventh step, he was already speechless.
As Ji Ziyue took her eighth step, the ancient jade began to sparkle, upon placing her feet on the purple jade step, she felt as though she were bearing the weight of the heavens, it was simply impossible to catch her breath.
On her ninth step, she finally trod on the final step, immediately heavenly music could be heard, a five coloured light shot up into the sky, and a rainbow of silvergrass appeared. She had successfully climbed the Nine Steps to Heaven causing a unique scene to appear on the peak.
“This……..” Li Ruoyu had an expression of incredulity as his body lightly trembled, finding this simply inconceivable as he muttered: “Back in the day, I heard that a person who climbed to the seventh step was already a peerless talent, since the beginning of this peak’s legacy, I don’t know if there’s anyone who has ever reached the ninth step of heaven.
By the side, the young disciples had expressions of disbelief, no one had expected such an outcome, there was actually an unfathomable talent on such a desolate peak.
Ji Ziyue finally understood the situation and immediately regretted, she had assumed that one needed to ascend all the steps to pass, who knew that this was simply not the case. She stuck out her tongue and had a bitter expression: “It’s over, I didn’t want to shine too much in this place, what should we do now?”
“This isn’t possible, how could she be better than all the predecessors?”
“Over time, the Nine Steps of Heaven must have suffered some damage, otherwise, how could it be possible to pass all of them?” The few young disciples were still filled with doubt.
At this moment, a streak of green came flying over from the main peak up ahead, a male of forty to fifty years of age came before Li Ruoyu as he paid his respects: “Greetings senior brother Li.”
“Greetings teacher.” By the side, the young disciples paid their respects to the middle aged man.
“I seemed to notice a unique scene flash earlier, I wonder if anything happened?”
“Teacher, earlier……” The few young disciples began to describe the events that had occurred earlier.