Chapter 1009
Seeing Long Chen reach the top gave countless people hope . They did their best to climb, but some didn’t even manage to reach the second part before being sent out .
There were people failing with each pa.s.sing moment . Currently, three hundred thousand people were still persevering on the Xuantian Staircase, and the majority of them had reached the middle section .
As for the Dragonblood warriors, they were past the eighth hundredth step, but their speed was clearly much slower . However, their footsteps never paused .
“In truth, there’s no need to go all-out like this . As long as they keep advancing, slowing down will save energy . ” Mu Qinxuan shook her head as she watched the Dragonblood warriors climbing while sparing no effort .
“They know that,” said Long Chen .
“If they know, why bother?”
“They aren’t fighting against the Xuantian Staircase but against themselves . That’s why they are climbing so quickly, to push themselves to their limits . Our talent is only average, and our origins are low . To reach our current height, we had to bleed and sweat . We have to go all-out like this every day, to not give up any chance to improve ourselves . This kind of trial that has no threat to our lives is especially perfect . We can push ourselves to our limits, and then break those limits again and again . Only then can we increase the chances of our survival the most . ”
Mu Qingxuan was startled . Long Chen’s words were spoken carefreely, but she could tell how much pain the Dragonblood Legion had endured .
“All of you are true warriors,” praised Mu Qingxuan .
“Well, there was no other choice . To live, we could only get stronger . ” Long Chen bitterly smiled .
The Dragonblood warriors didn’t hold back at all, climbing as fast as they could . They felt weary, but they did that on purpose . The wearier they were, the more they could excavate their potential . They were using their powerful negative emotions to encourage themselves .
Yan Mochen, Wei Changhai, and Han Yunshan were being thrown further and further into the distance despite doing their best . Originally, they were only fifty steps behind . But now that they were over a hundred steps behind, causing them to clench their teeth in fury .
The three of them were rank five Celestials, but they were actually unable to catch up . Instead, the distance only grew larger . This was a silent slap in the face .
At this time, Zhao Ziyan slowly surpa.s.sed and created an uncrossable distance between them, infuriating them even more .
“How stupid . Afraid their own negative emotions weren’t enough, they added envy on as well,” said Long Chen .
“They truly are a bit foolish . ” Mu Qingxuan was unable to retort against that .
During the final section, a person’s negative emotions would burst out and rapidly grow . The more envious they were, the more furious they became and the more difficult it would be to advance . Perhaps the three of them had still yet to understand the meaning of the Xuantian Staircase .
A beautiful figure stepped onto the 999th stair . It was Tang Wan-er . Her face was a bit pale, and she was covered in sweat . But within her weariness was excitement .
“It’s been hard on you . ” Long Chen smiled and used a handkerchief to gently wipe away her sweat, startling her .
“Long Chen…” Tang Wan-er was moved . This was the first time Long Chen treated her so warmly, even publicly pampering her like this .
“I can do it myself . ” She took the handkerchief and dabbed at her sweat . But while stealthily blocking Long Chen’s sight, she dabbed away a few tears .
“Perhaps I should be kinder to her,” thought Long Chen . Although Tang Wan-er hid her movements well, she couldn’t hide them from him . He felt a profound sense of self-blame .
Tang Wan-er was always fiery, direct and unyielding . Because she cared about him, she intentionally displayed some disdain for his conduct .
But in truth, she needed care as well . However, she didn’t want Long Chen to see her as weak, so she acted fiercely like a mother tigress .
Long Chen had misunderstood her . She was a staunch woman, and this inadvertent movement caused him to see another side to her .
“Wan-er, I’m sorry . I haven’t looked after you enough . ” Long Chen sincerely apologized and pulled Tang Wan-er into his embrace . Tang Wan-er jumped in surprise .
“You’ve gone crazy . There are so many people here! You’ll be laughed at,” she rebuked . She quickly escaped from his grasp, and while her face was red, she had a warm smile .
“Let me see who dares to laugh? I’ll curse them to never find a woman in their lifetime,” said Long Chen grandly .
“Then it’s fortunate that I’m not afraid of this curse . I’m not looking for women,” laughed Mu Qingxuan from the side .
“Cough, senior apprentice-sister, naturally you don’t count,” laughed Long Chen awkwardly .
“Aiya!”
Suddenly, a startled cry rang out with a bang . Guo Ran had been tossed to the ground .
“You really worked me to death . ” Gu Yang was soaked in sweat, looking like he had just climbed out of a pool . Even the stone beneath his feet was wet . Carrying Guo Ran had completely exhausted him .
“Brother, it’s been hard on you . Junior brother must repay your kindness-”
“Shut up . It’d be better for you to pour me some water and prove your gratefulness with your actions instead of your glib words . ” Gu Yang sat on the ground .
Guo Ran hastily prepared some tea . If It hadn’t been for Gu Yang, he wouldn’t have been able to reach this point even if he exhausted himself to death . He had to quickly repay this favor .
The other Dragonblood warriors arrived one by one . Each one of them was weary to the bone, but their eyes were full of pride . They were the first ones to reach the top of the Xuantian Staircase, leaving even rank five Celestials in their dust . That was an honor .
Furthermore, they had obtained a new status now that they had climbed the staircase: disciples of the Xuantian Dao Sect . This was their first step in establis.h.i.+ng their footing in the Central Plains .
Six hours later, Zhao Ziyan also arrived . But she clearly wasn’t as tired as them . In fact, she seemed like it had been quite effortless .
“Congratulations . In the future, we’ll be part of the same sect, so I’ll have to ask you to look after me . ” Long Chen greeted Zhao Ziyan once she arrived .
“Brother Long overpraises me . It should be you looking after me . Is the Dragonblood Legion accepting new people? Do I have the qualifications to join?” Zhao Ziyan smiled .
“I…” Long Chen was startled, never having expected her to ask such a question .
The Dragonblood Legion wasn’t something just anyone could join . This question made him feel awkward . If he flatly refused, it would be too awkward .
“Junior sister was just joking . Brother Long, don’t take it seriously . I’m tired, so I’ll go rest . ” Zhao Ziyan laughed and said goodbye, finding an isolated place to sit .
Once Zhao Ziyan left, Tang Wan-er whispered, “This sister is angry . ”
“What are you talking about? I don’t see any anger,” said Long Chen .
“I’m a woman, and this is my woman’s intuition,” said Tang Wan-er . Seeing Long Chen ignore her, she continued, “If a beautiful woman wants to join, why would you decline? Don’t you like beautiful women the most?”
“Exactly, exactly-” Guo Ran hastily shut his mouth when Long Chen glared at him .
“Our Dragonblood Legion is a complete whole, and we’ve all saved each other’s lives . Others can’t join just because their cultivation base is high, their talent is good, or they’re beautiful . The reason we’re so strong together is because we’re united and can trust each other . A stranger joining in would bring danger to the entire legion, so how could I let an outsider join so easily?” said Long Chen .
Seeing how solemn he was, Tang Wan-er stopped speaking . Guo Ran also kept a hand clamped over his mouth . They understood .
Although Tang Wan-er’s words had been partly a joke to tease Long Chen, she hadn’t expected Long Chen to be thinking so much . He couldn’t bring danger to the entire Dragonblood Legion because he wanted to pick up girls .
Two hours later, Han Yunshan and the others also finally reached the top . Their expressions were exceedingly ugly, and they were panting for breath, appearing extremely miserable .
Due to their envy and hatred for Long Chen, their path had been even more difficult . That had made them waste even more time and energy .
More and more disciples began to arrive . Some of them directly fainted upon reaching the top and relaxing .
Currently, only thirty thousand people pa.s.sed . Over four hundred thousand people had washed out, and there were still many people persevering on the staircase .
Suddenly, a huge hourgla.s.s appeared at the top of the staircase . Mu Qingxuan announced, “There are still three days left . The people still on the staircase should work hard . ”
Seeing that hourgla.s.s, quite a few people’s expressions changed . Their power was limited, and they were climbing at a snail’s pace right now . Now that there was a time limit, the pressure immediately increased .
As a result, quite a few disciples immediately gave up once the hourgla.s.s appeared . They knelt on the stairs, and were directly sent off the Xuantian Staircase .
This hourgla.s.s caused many people’s confidence to shatter . They felt like there was no hope, and continuing to fight had no meaning .
One after another, figures were sent off the Xuantian Staircase . Only ten thousand people were still persevering .
The majority of them were around the eight hundredth stair, with a small portion around the seven hundredth stair . As for the six hundredth stair, only a few dozen people were still bitterly enduring, unwilling to give up .
“Idiots, I gave up and I was already on the seven hundredth stair . For them to stupidly continue at the six hundredth stair, there’s no hope at all,” mocked someone .
But Long Chen couldn’t help but nod when he saw those few people still bitterly enduring despite there being no hope . As long as the results weren’t in, the opportunities were still in your hands . The only way to lose was to give up . Even if it was just the slightest, ephemeral bit, it was still an opportunity . Not giving up was in itself a remarkable drive .
“Time’s up,” announced Mu Qingxuan as the final grain of sand fell .