The towering peak was steep and reaching the clouds.The cone-shaped peak had many roads at the foot of the mountain reaching the hillside. There was a single path coiling like a dragon, meandering to the peak.
Above the peak, four thick cold iron chains tied a huge Golden Coffin down. The coffin was not glaring, but instead was enveloped by a faint cyan colored air and cloud. It was extremely strange.
On the many roads, groups of people were striving to climb up the stairs. Every now and then, somebody would trigger the Inhibition Formation. A small streak of purple lightning would fall from the sky.
Or, there might by spikes or spears piercing from the stone stairs. There might also be wind blades coming from both sides or fire bursting out. Many Young Ladies who originally wanted to mount the stone stairs were shrinking at the sight of the dangers.
After several attempts, most of the Young Ladies had given up as they were too afraid. Treasures, wealth, and Xuan Skills were important, of course, however, if the price was to be shocked by lighting and have their hair and skin burnt, they would rather give up the treasures.
On only three roads were there still people trying. Du Ziling, Zi Lian, Yu Lingxu and Ye Yuhan had all taken out powerful armors. They all had one guy exploring the road while they followed behind.
The Inhibition Formation was not horrific. Even without the armor, they would merely be injured and fall at worst. With the powerful defensive armors, the spikes, wind blades and fire could be ignored. The lighting shooting from the sky was the trouble. Even armors couldn’t withstand that. Anyone hit by the lighting would be shocked by the electricity. They would smoke and their skin would be burnt.
Of the three teams, they had all sent out three or four warriors already. The armors were not destroyed. Anyone injured could be replaced by others. Du Ziling, Ye Yuhan, Zi Lian and Yu Lingxu had absolute command in their teams. They could order anyone to take up the positions of the fallen and rise to explore the road one after another.
Lu Li’s side was the easiest. While the other three teams had only mounted more than hundreds of stairs, they had already reached to more than 6000 steps. There were nearly 10,000 stairs in total so they were halfway there.
"Ah~"
Yet another one exploring the road for Ye Yuhan was. .h.i.t by lightning and fell. He was caught by other warriors in the team at once. Someone removed the armor this warrior was wearing and he was fed with a healing pellet. He was asked to have a rest on the spot. Another man put on the armor and set off leading the way.
There were more than 20 people on each team. Even though a couple of men were lost on Ye Yuhan and Du Ziling’s team in the maze, they still had more than 10 warriors left on their respective team. Also, there were several Young Ladies that dared not to go up. That made each team to have about 11 or 12 people.
The most average Young Masters in the teams understood at the moment that their purpose of going up the mountain was to explore the way and to pave the way for the one or two most powerful warrior in the team.
It was impossible for them to climb up the mountain. This was just a stairway. There was a winding mountain road which would not be any easier.
Therefore, they had made up their minds. They would explore the way for the one or two most powerful men in the team. When they got the treasures, they would at least remember the contributions if not give them some shares.
The most powerful in the teams were the most prestigious ones, for instance, Du Ziling, Ye Yuhan, Ye Longyu, Zi Lian and Yu Lingxu. They either were disciples of Royal Families or of Fifth-rank Families. Anyone that offered help would have some rewards in the future.
"Faster!"
Seeing that Lu Li and Bai Qiuxue had already mounted more than 7000 stairs, Du Ziling urged with anger. One of the Young Masters on his team clenched his teeth and jumped up by five stairs in one go. Luckily, he didn’t trigger any Inhibition Formation. Du Ziling and the others quickly followed him.
"Sister, go!"
Bai Xiashuang did not have the chance to go up because Bai Rong and the others were keeping eye on her. However, she was still excited. She cheered on and on at the foot of the mountain.
Bai Qiuxue was the mightiest one. Of all the warriors younger than 20 at the Thousand-island Lake, she was the most powerful, even more so than Bai Gu and Bai Xiashuang. As long as she could reach the peak, all the treasures would be hers.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Someone would be hit by lightning every now and then. As they moved higher, there were less warriors in each team. When the other three teams only finished half of the stairs, Lu Li and Bai Qiuxue had already finished all. They were standing on the hillside.
"We are here!"
There was a buffer zone at the hillside, a wide mountain trail which circled around the mountain. Lu Li and Bai Qiuxue looked down on the figures at the foot of the mountain at the hillside. They were as small as fists now. The two smiled at each other.
"Go!"
Bai Qiuxue waved her hand. Not to cherish such a wonderful opportunity would be a reckless waste. Lu Li asked Little White to lead the way and they ran towards the entrance along the winding mountain path.
There was no more Inhibition Formation on the mountain road, and they easily reached the entrance This path was also composed of stairs, of n.o.body knew how many. Little White jumped up easily, taking it step by step. No Inhibition Formation was triggered.
"No Inhibition Formation?"
Lu Li and Bai Qiuxue looked at each other, confused. They lifted their legs at the same time and stepped on the first stair. As soon as they did that, their bodies were pressed down. Bai Qiuxue shouted in surprise, "Gravitational Inhibition Formation!"
Lu Li felt as if a huge boulder were put on his shoulder. He looked solemn. He prayed that the gravity did not grow stronger as the road went up. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for him to climb to the peak.
Be careful of what one thought of…
As Lu Li stepped on the second stair, the gravity got stronger. Bai Qiuxue caught up with him. She also looked seedy. She looked at Lu Li and said, "Lu Li, the road is difficult. I think the gravity will be horrible when we get to the peak."
It was not in Lu Li’s nature to go to a treasure land and only return empty-handed.
Lu Li gritted his teeth and continued his way upward. He even got faster. He was less powerful than Du Zilian and the others. Only by getting faster could he avoid being caught up by the others.
Bai Qiuxue didn’t say anything. She came alongside with Lu Li and moved on with him at an appropriate speed. Little White was running ahead of them happily as if it could not feel the gravity at all. It would turn back and look at Lu Li after several steps and scream to him to urge him to be faster.
Lu Li’s pace was stable. He forwarded step by step. With every step, the gravity on the stair would be heavier, though not too much. After more than a dozen steps, Lu Li already felt like he was carrying a boulder more than 1000 pounds.
It was nothing for Lu Li, so Bai Qiuxue who was at the middle stage of the Soul Pond Realm was even less affected. They two quickly climbed up, steadily step by step.
100 stairs, 300, 800!
The gravity was now heavier than 10,000 pounds. Finally, Lu Li started to slow down. If he was not cautious enough, he might fall. He had to move slower.
Bai Qiuxue followed him. She was still at ease. She was not even sweating. On the contrary, sweat was tripling down Lu Li’s forehead. He was in a strain.
"Lady Qiuxue, you go first. Don’t mind me."
Lu Li looked back at Bai Qiuxue who smiled lightly and replied, "Back at the stairs going up the mountain, you didn’t go by yourself. How can I leave you behind at this moment? I have not descended to this level yet."
Lu Li didn’t persist on persuading her. They carried on. By the time they reached the 1500th stair, the gravity had reached more than 30,000 pounds. Lu Li was getting slower and slower. Bai Qiuxue was still managing with ease and skill. There was just some hint of sweat on her forehead.
"Faster, faster, faster!"
From down below came some noises of people shouting. Lu Li looked to the entrance only to see Du Ziling ran wildly towards the entrance with two other guys.
Lu Li gave it some thoughts and suggested again, "Lady Qiuxue, don’t mind me. Go up first. It is better for you to get the treasures than Du Ziling."
"Treasures are good, but the loss would outweigh the gain if I let treasures break down my moral mind."
Bai Qiuxue was still gently smiling. She looked at the peak and continued, "The cultivation of Soul Pond Realm is about the soul and the moral mind as well. Without a mind that is steady as rock and cannot be influenced by outside stimuli, how can one advance rapidly? Forgetting friends.h.i.+p for profit and leaving teammates behind, these do not conform to my moral mind."
Lu Li could not understand it fully. However as of this moment, he grew to admire the stunningly beautiful lady.