C18 One Hundred and Thirty Steps

The Patrol House served as the execution ground for those who violated the rules.

Fu Chengyang had never visited such a place, and his reluctance to interact with its inhabitants was clear as he crossed his arms and glanced at Liao Ruofeng, remaining silent.

They stood in quiet opposition for quite some time, wordlessly facing each other.

On the other side of the stairway, Lu Xingyao had reached her breaking point after ascending ninety-nine steps.

Fu Chengyang would have never guessed that the modest account he read in her life's biography was actually an understatement.

Lu Xingyao's journey concluded as she stepped onto the hundred and thirtieth step.

The stairs before her abruptly gave way, and she lost her balance. Unable to suppress a low cry of alarm, she plummeted towards the ground. Being only at the Foundation Establishment stage, she lacked the ability to fly like the others and could do nothing but close her eyes in resignation.

Now fully awake, she contemplated her reason for coming here, feeling a sense of despair. It seemed as though she had traversed many steps, a seemingly endless path. Time had stretched and elongated in her hazy recollections, ultimately focusing on her futile descent.

She wondered if anyone at Swiftbreaker Sect had ever died from such a fall.

If not, she mused with a touch of self-irony, she might be the first.

Outside, Fu Chengyang watched the stairway shrouded in mist, feeling an ominous premonition.

Suddenly, a powerful will swept over them, its oppressive force nearly overwhelming. It was fleeting, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, but Fu Chengyang was certain it had moved towards the stairway.

The intensity of the presence was unnerving; he could sense it clearly but could not discern the level of cultivation of the unseen individual.

Liao Ruofeng, blessed with a fortunate destiny, seemed equally perturbed. With a slight furrow of his brow, he accurately uttered a name.

"Sect Master?"

Fu Chengyang's pupils contracted sharply. As someone privy to the script, he was well aware that she would eventually be adopted as the sect master's daughter. Yet in reality, one could receive the sect master's personal teachings after just forty steps. And beyond those forty steps, the sect master would still make an appearance.

Thinking about it from a different angle, perhaps there was no one more formidable than the sect master present.

In the end, she was revered as a divine maiden, and the sect would undoubtedly invest heavily in her cultivation.

Despite possessing the Goldfinger, Fu Chengyang's understanding of the Swiftbreaker Sect's system was limited, as he had only been a member of the Outer Sect previously.

Even now, he hadn't crossed that threshold. Only after the trials ten days hence would he have the opportunity to join the Inner Sect.

Yet, to learn more, he knew he must aim higher.

His ambitions, however, weren't confined to the Inner Sect; the entire Swiftbreaker Sect was merely a stepping stone for him.

His aspirations lay elsewhere, so it was only natural that he wouldn't cling too tightly to memories of the Swiftbreaker Sect.

Nevertheless, the arrival of the Sect Master signified that Lu Xingyao's abilities had met his expectations, perfectly matching the records—he had witnessed her ascend the ninety-nine steps to become a legendary divine maiden!

After a considerable amount of time, enough for Lu Xingyao to replay her life's events in her mind like a rapid slideshow, she was caught by a pair of sturdy hands.

She looked up to see a kindly old man cradling her securely, his eyes filled with warmth.

"How extraordinary," the elder murmured, shaking his head before scanning her with his psychokinetic powers. After a thorough check, he sighed in resignation, "With such innate talent, yet only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Are you an Outer Sect disciple?"

Lu Xingyao nodded, then hesitated and shook her head.

She wasn't just any Outer Sect disciple; she was an ordinary maidservant striving for her own sake. She bit her lower lip, reminding herself that she had never been one to dwell in someone else's shadow.

"Never mind that. Regardless of your origins, from this moment forward, you are my direct disciple in the South-Heaven Sect!"

"I never expected him to awaken at this very moment."

The powerful presence within the cave felt a twinge of surprise upon sensing the situation within the Heavenly Stairway.

"I had plans to take this disciple under my wing, but it seems this old fellow beat me to it. Oh well, it's done."

Titles are, after all, extrinsic. Once he's accepted as a direct disciple, won't he still require the guidance of us elders?

Swiftbreaker Sect?

Lu Xingyao mulled over the name, finding it unfamiliar.

Before Fu Chengyang took her in, she was merely a lowly maid serving under Liu Rongwei, who had spent many years outside and never once stepped into the Inner Sect. How could he have any insight?

Thus, wrapped in an aura of immense affinity, Lu Xingyao gazed at the elder before her and inquired, "Who are you?"

...

The several mighty consciousnesses monitoring the scene fell silent in an instant.

"Can it be? The old man hasn't been in seclusion for long, and there's already an Outer Sect disciple who doesn't recognize the Sect Master?"

Before long, a voice casually made itself heard.

"Whether he's recognized or not doesn't matter. Since he's been accepted into the Swiftbreaker Sect, he must be cultivated with personal care. After all, crossing 130 steps is an exceptionally rare feat."

This sentiment quickly garnered widespread agreement. Forty-four steps was already beyond the reach of the average person. But 130 steps? That was a clear sign of divine favor!

Success was only a matter of time. As for the ultimate heights that person might reach, the elders couldn't help but speculate.

Their years were advanced, and they were at the Soul Formation Stage, just below a thin barrier through which they could not discern even a fraction of the heavenly intent. In other words, this was as far as they would go in this lifetime.

But Lu Xingyao was different. Having crossed 130 steps, her innate talent and potential were undeniably commendable.

"This is indeed a blessing for our Swiftbreaker Sect!"