Xu Ziqing had no idea how long they had been climbing. At first he had walked with ease, but gradually tiredness settled in. Eventually his legs grew numb and his whole body was drained of strength. Still, the word persevere remained fixed in his mind until it became a conviction. Even when he could scarcely think, his feet continued moving.
During his earlier arduous training, Yun Lie had practiced striking with a sword thirty thousand times a day. As a child possessing a mortal body, he had also spent ten years honing his sword. Compared with Xu Ziqing, he therefore felt little hardship. He soon noticed Xu Ziqing’s condition and naturally lent him support.
Supporting each other, the two lasted longer and climbed more calmly than many of the others.
A full day and night passed before the apparently endless heavenly staircase finally came to an end.
When Xu Ziqing stepped onto the last stair, he staggered despite himself. Yun Lie caught him, sparing him an embarrassing fall. Sweat had soaked Xu Ziqing’s palms and nearly dampened his cuffs. Since they had kept their hands clasped throughout, even Yun Lie’s palm had become sticky.
Xu Ziqing’s legs seemed to weigh a thousand jin. He could not help panting softly. His palm was so damp that he released Yun Lie’s hand, only for his senior brother to catch him by the arm and half gather him into his embrace.
“Don’t sit down,” Yun Lie said.
Xu Ziqing took a deep, somewhat ragged breath. “Yes, Senior Brother.”
He knew they might still face unknown trials and should recover their strength as quickly as possible. Thus he did not resist, merely leaning on Yun Lie for support as he slowly regulated his breathing.
The moment he stepped onto the white-jade floor, Xu Ziqing felt the pressure lift from his body. It was a sign that the seal on his true essence had been lifted. Yet perhaps because he had exhausted his physical strength so thoroughly, he could not immediately gather his true essence, almost as though it had been completely consumed.
After a moment’s thought, he guessed that his true essence might have unconsciously supported his body during the climb. Otherwise, how could an entire day and night on those stairs have left him merely sore and numb? His flesh might well have broken down under the strain.
He gave it no further thought. While gathering his true essence and circulating it through his dantian, he looked ahead. Three people had reached the white-jade floor before him, all of them Golden Core cultivators who had completed the staircase without falling.
The master and servant seemed largely unaffected. One still looked languid, the other impassive, as though the arduous climb had cost them nothing at all. If they had not remained motionless for so long, with their auras gradually strengthening, Xu Ziqing might have been deceived by their appearances.
The remaining Golden Core perfected master looked dreadful. He was only at early Golden Core and had climbed alone without anyone’s help. He had expended enormous effort from the very beginning. Though he had made it, he now sat collapsed on the floor, his face flushed an alarming red.
He gasped for breath, his throat trembling. Veins bulged across his muscles like blue earthworms, and his whole body quivered with exhaustion. Currents of energy circled him as he pushed his cultivation art to its limit. His shaking fingers fumbled out a medicinal pill and thrust it into his mouth. Only then did he release a slightly easier breath.
Afterward, the Golden Core perfected master rose with difficulty and, heedless of everything else, hurried into the palace.
Xu Ziqing watched him go with a slight frown. Then he glanced at the master and servant, who showed no sign of haste. Presumably they were concentrating on recovering their strength.
He could understand the Golden Core cultivator’s eagerness. But what was the point of entering the palace first if he was too impatient to recover properly? Even if the inheritance was inside, surely no one could acquire it so easily.
Xu Ziqing had no intention of warning him. Those who had cultivated to such a realm generally clung to their own convictions. Other people’s advice would rarely change their minds.
There was no need to meddle.
After a while, Xu Ziqing’s strength gradually returned. The cultivators who had fallen behind slowly began reaching the top as well. Counting the survivors, he found that approximately eleven people had completed the climb, nine fewer than before. He did not know whether those missing had recognized the futility of continuing and turned back, or had been too exhausted and fallen into the abyss.
Geng Zheng and Shen Yinglan had made it safely, supporting one another. Their determination impressed Xu Ziqing anew. His fellow sect disciples truly did possess remarkable perseverance.
The late arrivals noticed that the Golden Core cultivators were mostly remaining where they stood. Apart from three or four people who swallowed medicinal pills and rushed straight inside, the rest wisely stopped to regulate their breathing.
Before long, the master and servant appeared to have recovered. Without speaking to the others, they walked into the palace. Several cultivators promptly followed. Xu Ziqing saw that Yun Lie still had his eyes closed, so he waited quietly.
After another short interval, Yun Lie opened his eyes. “Let’s go.”
Xu Ziqing smiled. “It really is time. Otherwise we might arrive last and have come all this way for nothing.”
Yun Lie recognized his teasing, but replied, “If that’s what fate decrees, there’s no need for regret.”
After exchanging those few words, the brothers set off.
Xu Ziqing noticed that Geng Zheng and Shen Yinglan had deliberately waited rather than entering ahead of them. Since they belonged to the same sect, there was no harm in looking after one another.
The four mounted the final few jade steps and entered the palace.
The white-jade palace truly was built entirely of white jade. Every surface was intricately worked, magnificent yet devoid of visible chisel marks. Its carved patterns even held a trace of the Dao, pure and untouched by worldly artifice. Only someone of immense ability could have constructed such a palace through supreme power, making it appear so natural and in harmony with heaven.
At first glance, Xu Ziqing saw an enormous alchemical furnace standing in the center of the hall. It nearly occupied half the space. Like the palace, it was white as snow, resembling warm jade.
Several openings were set into the furnace, and tendrils of purple smoke drifted from them. The smoke smelled wonderfully fragrant. Drawing its aroma into his body brought a sensation of comfort from his dantian through his entire being, instantly refreshing his mind.
Xu Ziqing noticed that the master and servant had disappeared. Yet the Golden Core perfected master who had entered before them was still meditating to one side, his eyes fixed upon the furnace and his face twisted with indecision.
Eight or nine Essence Transformation cultivators were gathered on the other side. They too stared at the furnace with unmistakable longing.
What was going on?
Puzzled, Xu Ziqing almost absentmindedly reached out and touched the furnace.
The next moment, a distant, ethereal voice sounded.
“Qian is Heaven, Kun is Earth; Li is Fire, Kan is Water. The cauldron breaks and the pill is born, hastening the formation of the Nascent Soul… Here are thirty Dust-Separation Pills. Those with fate may obtain one and seize the workings of creation…”
The voice fell silent after a short while, but its meaning was unmistakable.
Anyone fortunate enough to arrive here could choose to leave immediately with one Dust-Separation Pill. But whoever did so could not venture farther into the palace and would forfeit any chance of receiving the inheritance.
That was why everyone present was hesitating.
If these had been ordinary pills, there would have been no dilemma. But why did they have to be the legendary ancient Dust-Separation Pills?
Even Xu Ziqing was astonished.
Perfected Master Luofu… what extraordinary generosity!
The prescription for Dust-Separation Pills had been lost since ancient times. Nevertheless, ancient texts on alchemy always mentioned them.
There was a reason: the Dust-Separation Pill was a divine medicine superior even to the Posuo Fruit.
The Posuo Fruit merely raised the likelihood of forming a Nascent Soul to eighty percent. A Dust-Separation Pill, by contrast, could raise the chance of a successful breakthrough to eighty percent regardless of the cultivation realm.
In other words, a Essence Transformation cultivator attempting to form a Golden Core would have an eighty-percent chance. A Golden Core cultivator trying to form a Nascent Soul would likewise have an eighty-percent chance. Even the final advances from the Out-of-Body stage toward Tribulation Transcendence would carry the same chance.
With such a pill in hand, a cultivator need no longer worry about breaking through.
How could anyone remain unmoved by such an extraordinary medicine?
The inheritance was certainly important, but not everyone could obtain it. A Dust-Separation Pill, once in one’s hands, was a definite benefit.
No wonder those who arrived earlier had struggled to decide.
Even Geng Zheng and Shen Yinglan now looked hesitant.
Xu Ziqing shook his head and turned toward Yun Lie. “Senior Brother, which way should we go?”
Passages led toward the rear halls on both the left and right.
“You seem to sense something,” Yun Lie said. “Follow your instincts.”
Xu Ziqing did not hesitate. Pointing to the right, he said, “I feel something beyond that passage drawing me toward it. Since Senior Brother has no preference, would you accompany me?”
Yun Lie nodded and walked beside him.
They soon entered the passage. Geng Zheng and Shen Yinglan were still hesitating, but when the brothers’ figures were about to disappear, the two exchanged looks, gritted their teeth, and followed.
Fortune was found amid danger; opportunity was no different.
They still had years to live, and their prospects of breaking through were not necessarily poor. An ancient cultivator’s inheritance, however, was not something they could encounter easily.
Besides, inheritances depended greatly on fortune and affinity. As they saw it, Eldest Senior Brother followed the Ruthless Slaughter Sword Dao and would hardly seek another cultivation art. Junior Brother Xu did not appear particularly eager for the inheritance either. Perhaps this was their own great opportunity.
Xu Ziqing walked quickly along the side passage and soon entered a rear hall. Many objects radiating spiritual light were displayed there, but none attracted him. He selected a few suitable spiritual artifacts and took them, leaving the rest untouched.
Geng Zheng and Shen Yinglan moved even faster. To them, the more treasures they could obtain, the better. They each collected several items without being particularly selective. Even objects they could not use could be exchanged for useful ones.
They crossed the rear hall, passed several smaller halls, and followed a long white-jade corridor through numerous turns.
Eventually, Xu Ziqing came upon a stretch of white-jade railing.
The railing enclosed a small courtyard. At its center lay a little pool inset with white jade.
Only two or three zhang square, the pool held gently swaying lotus leaves and a faint lotus fragrance.
Pure, tranquil spiritual energy gathered around the pool, refreshing him with every breath.
Xu Ziqing hurried forward, his eyes fixed on the center of the pool.
There, two lotus blossoms rested together.
Or rather, a pair of twin lotus blossoms growing from a single stalk.