Chapter 805: Mysterious Staircase.
Shi Lang departed from the front, ignoring the fact that his reputation was soaring through the skies. The people from all the forces have seen him refine pills and triggering lightning pill tribulations. What scared them was the fact that the whole process seemed to be pre-emptive.
They all saw Shi Lang walk to the battlefield with his cauldron and he was not shocked by the lightning tribulation. There was not other explanation, the old timers behind every big name force could tell that Shi Lang had risen to a level where if they touched him, they would be incurring wrath from the entire world.
The Terran traveled by using void tunnels and after three days he arrived at the foot of a mountain range. This place was called the battle valley. The location where War Maiden Sect was situated.
Shi Lang stood at the entrance of the valley not knowing if she should go inside or call for Amelia to come out. Despite the fact that his wife supported him. Shi Lang was worried because this place had a history of thousands of years, and he was not sure if he should step on these grounds.
As he pondered over it a calm wizened voice echoed in his mind, "You do not have to hesitate so much, Junior Ace."
Shi Lang was startled but he knew that it must be some elder from the sect that was inviting him. He cupped his fists and stepped forward. He did not fly or use his spiritual sense to show that he did not want to offend anyone, but he did not stop using his innate Terran Ability. He sensed the entire valley and created a map of it in his mind.
The more he scanned the place, the more astounded he was, this place was so deep inside the mountains yet the infrastructure was so well developed that he did not expect it. He could see a systematic apartment area, where the disciples lived, and then multiple training grounds.
Shi Lang was sure that in the past few months, Amelia had used the manufacturing plant to face lift this place. This architecture was akin to the Federal Standards. Unknowingly he arrived at a flight of stairs and raised his head.
Amelia stood at the top of the stairs with Yu Xeidi and Hao Mei beside her. They were looking at Shi Lang and suddenly the Terran noticed an old lady standing half a step ahead of the three. He also sensed many gazes concentrated on his back. He cupped his fist to the old lady and said, "Greetings, Senior."
The old lady nodded and said, "Young man, as much as I wish to let you in the sect, I cannot do that. You see, the war maidens have a tradition that must be upheld in all cases. Even if Amelia is not the sect mistress, she cannot go against the rules."
Shi Lang nodded and replied, "I understand, Senior. Please tell me what is the test."
The old lady was none other than the grand elder of the War Maiden Sect. She said, "If you wish to enter the sect, you will have to climb the stairs."
Shi Lang smiled and said, "I bet it is anything as simple as what you are saying."
Grand Elder smiled and gestured for him to begin. Shi Lang gazed at the faces of his spouse and disciples before he took a step on the staircase. The first thought in his mind was, 'Fucking hell, the pressure of a Sovereign right away.'
His shoulders had trembled a bit before he gathered himself and took another step forward. The pressure intensified by ten percent but it was not something Shi Lang could not handle. He began channeling spiritual energy in his body and reciting the Shura Sutra in his mind.
...
As Shi Lang climbed a few more steps he paused for a bit on the tenth step. Yu Xeidi asked, "Why is Master having so much trouble?"
Amelia looked at the grand elder who nodded and continued, "Your master has gotten stronger. He is now an Immortal Emperor who is facing the pressure from an Immortal Sovereign."
Hao Mei replied calmly, "Master can handle an Immortal Sovereign with ease. Even five would not be a problem. Why is he so troubled at only the tenth step?"
The Grand Elder chuckled and said, "Yes, indeed, your master is indeed strong enough to face five people at the same time. However, the spiritual he is facing is hindering him from using his Dao Laws. This staircase is designed to forbid the usage of Dao Laws. Which is why he is having such trouble. Regardless of his Dao Comparison, his spiritual energy is still that of an Immortal Emperor."
The young ones nodded to her and silently watched Shi Lang climb.
...
On the tenth step Shi Lang was resting because he figured out the problem in this test. After he figured this out, he began to climb again. Every five steps the pressure will increase exponentially.
For example, if he was facing one Immortal Sovereign on the first step than on every sixth step he would face a second Immortal Sovereign adding on to the burden. He did not show it but by the time he got to the twenty-fifth step he was facing five Immortal Sovereigns and he could not use his Dao Laws.
He was sweating profusely but his back was straight and his shoulders were square. His steps have been steady till now. He looked at the people atop the staircase watching him silently. He could sense awe, and concern from those eyes.
He did not know who was doing what, but Yu Xeidi was glaring at him. Shi Lang was confused as to what he might have done to offend the young one. He gathered his thoughts and continued climbing. The pressure was increasing but it was not as drastic as it was on the first twenty-five steps.
The increase was just one percent. Shi Lang kept on climbing and suddenly Amelia looked at Yu Xeidi and asked, "Why are you glaring at him?"
Yu Xeidi replied, "I finished the entire course, why can't he? If he failed then I will not talk to him."
Amelia was surprised but before she could say anything Hao Mei appeared behind her and smacked the young one in the back of her head and said, "You are a puny Spirit formation cultivator and you faced a core formation pressure on the climb. Master is an Immortal Emperor, do you know the difference?"
Yu Xeidi rubbed the back of her head and said, "But Master killed that evil monk when he was an Immortal King. No?"
Hao Mei shook her head and said, "You may not know this but things are not simple like that battle. Master cannot use his Dao Laws."
Yu Xeidi thought about it and said, "So, what is the difference?"
Hao Mei clenched her fist and took a deep breath as she said, "The difference is that everyone below the Immortal Lord realm is weak. You need to reach the Immortal Lord realm before you can compare the situation."
The Grand Elder saw this and nodded in admittance. These two young ones had a better mind on their shoulders than some of the disciples in the sect. She said, "You have taught them well, Amelia."
Amelia shook her head and said, "I cannot accept this credit, Master. It was Lang who taught them. I am not highlighting him. However, I have only been responsible for teaching them some basics of combat, diplomacy and workout."
Then she turned her head and found that Shi Lang was already standing on the seventieth staircase. She looked at the old lady and held her quite.
The Grand Elder said, "He is already qualified to walk up all the way. However, I want to see what is his limit. How much of it can he take."
Amelia nodded and kept silent. She wanted to tell the old lady not to mess Shi Lang, but it was too late.
...
Shi Lang was catching his breath and began to walk over once again. His breathing was haggard. His clothes were torn. So Shi Lang ripped the robe away from his torso, revealing his dynamic musculature. Many of the women in the crowd were fascinated but Amelia said, "You better not have any ideas. I will beat you up even if you are related to Master."
The Grand Elder chuckled and said, "My, my, I did not expect my disciple to be so possessive."
Amelia blushed faintly but she did not rebuke her statement. After an hour of hard work and determinant work, he stood at the final step. However, a bad premonition rose from his heart. He did not know where this feeling originated from but it was sure that if he took this step, death was imminent.
However, he did not wish to quit, because it was sure that Amelia would be embarrassed if he quit. He could not let that happen, so he took a step forward and stood on the final step. The change that he anticipated, did not come. On the contrary, his body rejuvenated to its normal peak.
He looked around and asked, "What is this stair case?"