Chapter 74

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Only Qianlan was still holding on, but it was extremely difficult.

The protective spiritual light formed by the Soul Sea anomaly was like a candle flame in a strong wind, making people worry that it would be extinguished by the boundless pressure emanating from the Dragon-Binding Mountain at any moment.

With every movement, Qianlan seemed to have weights of ten thousand jin tied to her limbs, and her body appeared even more delicate, making people worry that at any moment, her body might be crushed under the pressure.

Every step Qianlan took tugged at the hearts of ten thousand people. Seeing her in such difficulty, her delicate face full of pain, someone finally could not bear it and advised her to give up:

"Having the bloodline of ancient times is extremely precious. If you keep pushing, and if you can't hold on, you might ruin your foundation and lose your life!"

"Even if you can't pass the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs, the Inner Court of the Academy will still vie to take you in."

"Yes, stop. Not everyone can leap the Dragon Gate at a young age. The Su family only produced one Su Tang in a hundred years! Little girl, you are already far superior to others..."

After Chen Xun moved into the Disciple Courtyard, he had not heard anyone mention Su Tang, but he did not expect to hear someone mention him at this moment. He couldn't help but imagine Su Tang's extraordinary demeanor as he ascended the Heavenly Stairs, thinking it must have been very easy for him, right?

Qingxuan saw Chen Xun's youthful face become extremely gentle in that instant, and she was puzzled. She wondered how such a young boy could give off such a gentle feeling. She asked him:

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing." Chen Xun shook his head.

"..." Qingxuan thought Chen Xun had developed a crush on Qianlan and was worried about her. She asked, "Aren't you worried that Qianlan's forced persistence might harm her cultivation?"

"Cultivation is the most effective way to temper the will. All these words of persuasion are actually the obstacles Qianlan needs to overcome at this moment. Whether she can or cannot, she knows in her heart. Why should I worry for her?" Chen Xun asked with a smile.

Qingxuan did not take Chen Xun's words seriously. If she clearly couldn't make it, why should she keep pushing? Others shouldn't even be allowed to comment?

At this moment, a loud voice came from the mountain peak:

"Everyone, shut up!"

The voice was not very loud, but it seemed like thunder rolling from the mountain peak, shaking people's spirits and making them alert.

Qingxuan looked up and saw her great-uncle standing at the edge of the mountain peak, his eyes glowing with golden light, looking down and scolding those who were interfering with Qianlan's ascent:

"Seeking the Dao is like walking against the current; if you don't advance, you will retreat. Only with a firm heart can one achieve the Dao. You can't break your own mental barriers, yet you come to point fingers at others. Truly stubborn and unyielding!"

The disciples were frightened into silence, not daring to comment further.

Qingxuan was secretly alarmed: What the great-uncle said is the same as what Chen Xun said, right? But the great-uncle is over a hundred years old and has reached the late stage of the Rebirth Realm. His understanding of cultivation is far beyond what a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy could reach.

Qingxuan really didn't expect that Chen Xun, despite his young age, could say such profound words.

Chen Xun did not recognize the old man in the blue robe. He looked gaunt, and his age was hard to guess. His aura did not seem very strong, but his loud voice concealed supreme divine power.

Chen Xun's firmly cultivated barbarian soul could withstand the pressure of the Dragon-Binding Mountain's Heavenly Stairs, but this old man's light reprimand almost shattered it, making him realize that the old man's cultivation was truly terrifying. He would have to avoid him later.

No one expected that an elder would step in to clear the way for Qianlan. At this moment, everyone realized that the nine people standing on the mountain peak were actually very hopeful that Qianlan would pass the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs. They must have seen that Qianlan still had potential to be tapped, otherwise, they wouldn't let her risk destroying her foundation by forcing her way through the fifth level.

At this moment, everyone's gaze on Qianlan became even more fervent.

Disciples of the Academy have the opportunity to challenge the Heavenly Stairs before the age of twenty. If they pass, they can directly enter the Inner Court for cultivation.

In recent years, fewer than a hundred people have met this requirement and become purple-robed disciples, all of whom have reached the peak of the True Yang Realm before the age of twenty.

Those who can pass the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs before the age of sixteen are even fewer, only about ten purple-robed disciples, all of whom are direct disciples of the elders.

In the past hundred years, even including the Su family's direct descendants, only one person has passed the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs before the age of thirteen or fourteen.

That was the Holy Maiden of Canglan, Su Tang!

If Qianlan can pass this time, she will surely be the most brilliant new star in Canglan City in nearly a hundred years. It is almost certain that she will break through to the ninth level of the True Yang Realm before the age of twenty and advance to the Rebirth Realm, becoming another leading figure among the Academy's disciples, alongside Su Tang!

Wouldn't this be exciting to witness?

Although Qingxuan felt a bit sour in her heart, she couldn't help but look forward to it:

Can Qianlan take away some of Su Tang's glory?

Chen Xun knew that Qianlan, though seemingly delicate, had a very strong will. He guessed that she would grit her teeth and hold on until the end.

In the midst of the fervent anticipation of the crowd, Qianlan finally reached the top of the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs. Just one more step, and she would truly pass the fifth level.

Not only the tens of thousands of spectators at the foot of the mountain, but also the thousands of disciples and officials on the Heavenly Stairs, held their breath, hoping for a miracle to happen. Even the nine people on the mountain peak, at this moment, breathed heavily, their hearts pounding:

To pass the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs before the age of fourteen, that's a true cultivator seedling!

But at this moment, Qianlan suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked back.

The hearts of tens of thousands of people almost exploded:

Just one more step, don't stop, finish it and then rest!

Don't play with us like this!

Are you going to continue or not?

Chen Xun didn't know what Qianlan was thinking, but he felt that her eyes were unusually bright. Then he saw Qianlan sit cross-legged, indicating that she was giving up the opportunity to directly reach the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs. Chen Xun could almost hear the collective sigh of regret from tens of thousands of people:

"Just one more step, why did you give up?"

Chen Xun couldn't help but smile bitterly and muttered, "Sigh, this stubborn girl!"

Qingxuan was surprised to realize that Qianlan was not incapable of taking that last step. She wanted to stay with Chen Xun and the others at the Xuwu Marshal's Residence, so she gave up the opportunity to enter the Inner Court and become a purple-robed disciple.

The nine people on the mountain peak were puzzled.

Although Qianlan's final decision to give up was regrettable, the emergence of such a promising new disciple was very exciting.

Without waiting for the formation to be canceled, the leading gaunt old man waved his hand, releasing a beam of spiritual light that condensed into a cloud under Qianlan's feet, gently carrying her to the mountain peak.

Shortly after, Chen Xun felt a sudden lightness in his body, and the boundless pressure vanished without a trace.

At this moment, the purple-robed and black-robed disciples who were watching the spectacle started heading to the mountain peak. Chen Xun stood up and climbed the stairs with Qingxuan and the others.

"Qianlan, this girl, had the chance to directly enter the Inner Court, why did she give it up?" Gu Jianfeng complained. The Ghost Xi Tribe was a huge threat to the people of North Mountain. If one of their five could become a purple-robed disciple, it would greatly reduce their fear of the Ghost Xi Tribe.

Chen Xun smiled slightly and said, "From the looks of it, even if Qianlan doesn't want to enter the Inner Court, they probably won't let her."

Gu Jianfeng thought about it and agreed. They still had to climb hundreds of steps, while the nine people on the mountain peak used magic to carry Qianlan to the top, showing their affection.

Not only entering the Inner Court, but there would likely be an elder-level figure vying to take Qianlan as a disciple.

If North Mountain could form a strong alliance with an elder-level figure in Canglan City, they would have nothing to fear from the Ghost Xi Tribe.

When Chen Xun and Gu Jianfeng climbed to the mountain peak, the nine people at the top were already openly arguing about Qianlan's future.

"Everyone has seen that this girl has the ability to grit her teeth and pass the fifth level of the Heavenly Stairs. But her decision to give up at the critical moment shows that she wants to stay at the Xuwu Marshal's Residence for cultivation. Seeking the Dao against the odds, pointing directly to the heart, if Uncle Ji insists on taking her into the Inner Court, I have no objections, but it may not be beneficial for her cultivation..."

Chen Xun then recognized the old man sitting at the far right of the nine, who looked to be in his sixties or seventies. He was actually the Right Marshal of the Xuwu Marshal's Residence, Su Quan.

It was said that Su Qingfeng and Su Quan were both sons of the Xuwu Marshal's Residence's head, Su Junyuan. Su Quan was not much older than Su Qingfeng, and Chen Xun had not expected Su Quan to be an old man.

Thinking about it, Su Qingfeng had become famous thirty years ago and was friends with the last Tianman-level figure of the Black Python Tribe, Zong Shouyang. Even if he wasn't in his sixties or seventies, he wouldn't be young.

Chen Xun thought he must have long reached the stage of rejuvenation, and his appearance had not changed since then, giving the impression that he was still in his prime.

The red-bearded old man arguing with Su Quan was fat and had a large face. He was likely an elder-level figure representing the Inner Court, a generation older than Su Quan. He said slowly:

"Su Quan, it's not impossible for you to keep this girl at the Xuwu Marshal's Residence, but does the Xuwu Marshal's Residence have suitable cultivation techniques for her?"

A red-robed old woman stood up and spoke fairly:

"I think this girl is most suitable for cultivating the Lingyin Sword Technique. She might even have the chance to master it. However, the Lingyin Sword Technique is only taught in the Inner Court. Su Quan, if you insist on keeping her at the Xuwu Marshal's Residence, it may not be beneficial for her cultivation..."

Su Quan insisted, "The Xuwu Marshal's Residence is willing to pay any price to get the elders to agree to this exception, allowing the Xuwu Marshal's Residence to teach Qianlan the Lingyin Sword Technique..."

The old man who had released the spiritual cloud to carry Qianlan to the top saw the new disciples being argued over and couldn't help but smile bitterly:

"If the girl insists on staying at the Xuwu Marshal's Residence for cultivation, the precedent can be broken, but you should first ask the girl why she wants to stay at the Xuwu Marshal's Residence for cultivation?"

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