C19 Goddess

"Once this girl makes her appearance, no one will be able to challenge the Swiftbreaker Sect's standing."

The elders murmured among themselves, but Lu Xingyao, who had been taken under the Sect Master's wing, couldn't grasp the gravity of the situation.

Her mind lingered on the moment she first ascended the staircase, with subsequent memories as elusive as a misty moon.

"Did I actually succeed?" she whispered to herself, her head bowed. By now, she had reached the foot of the celestial staircase, following the Sect Master, her mind a foggy haze.

"You've done it! By crossing one hundred and thirty steps, you will be revered as a Goddess, the beacon of hope for our Swiftbreaker Sect!"

Upon hearing these words, she forced her eyes open. Though the scenery remained unchanged, something felt different after she had ascended those one hundred and thirty steps.

I've truly made a breakthrough, she affirmed silently.

With each step she took outward, the pain in her body subsided, but exhaustion washed over her like a tide.

Sensing something, he looked up toward the entrance, where a figure leaned casually against a tree, gazing in her direction.

Fu Chengyang watched the person behind her and a smile graced his lips. Lu Xingyao would no longer require his concern.

What Fu Chengyang didn't realize was that his mere presence had etched a permanent mark in Lu Xingyao's heart.

She was astounded, never expecting that he could find her so precisely just by mentioning her departure once, without intervening, simply watching her in silence.

How long had he been waiting there?

Lu Xingyao couldn't tell; it felt as long as a lifetime atop the Stairway to Heaven.

Regardless of the outcome, without any expectations of good or bad, the one who saved her still stood by her side. Lu Xingyao's emotions swelled, her eyes brimming with tears.

Thankfully, she hadn't let him down, hadn't caused him any embarrassment.

Thankfully, he would feel vindicated in his decision to save her.

Mother... I have seized this opportunity and have not failed to meet your expectations.

With her eyes closed, Lu Xingyao succumbed to her weariness and quickly drifted into a deep slumber. Unaware of her inner turmoil, Fu Chengyang could only watch. This was, after all, his first time witnessing Lu Xingyao ascend the Ninety-Ninth Heavenly Stairway.

From a distance, he watched as that person swiftly took Lu Xingyao and vanished into the stairway, leaving no trace of their presence behind.

Clearly, this was the work of a master.

Fu Chengyang reflected on his own abilities. Currently, he was only at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm. He wondered when he would possess the immense power of the Sect Leader, enabling him to navigate these serendipitous events with ease.

Liao Ruofeng suddenly stopped in his tracks, seemingly having heard something. Without uttering a single word, he turned and walked away.

Fu Chengyang considered the situation. It was likely that Lu Xingyao had already departed the Heavenly Stairway, rendering their watch unnecessary.

With that in mind...

Lu Xingyao must have been taken away by the Sect Leader by now. Though the details of their conversation were unknown, it surely boded well for her future cultivation. And with the Swiftbreaker Sect venerating her as a divine maiden during this time, and likely in the future, Fu Chengyang realized he would not have the chance to see her outside the sect again.

But that was alright.

Back in his quarters, Fu Chengyang spread his hand open to reveal a messenger token lying silently in his palm, its luminescence faint, indicating it had been opened and read.

It contained detailed information about the competition registration opening in three days, along with other relevant details.

The Outer Sect Competition allowed for registration during the first three days, with an opportunity to withdraw on the fourth day, followed by three days of preparation. The entrance competition on the tenth day ensured that each contestant had ample time to prepare, both practically and mentally.

This extended period also afforded them the opportunity to learn about their opponents.

Settling into a cross-legged position once again, Fu Chengyang found inspiration in Lu Xingyao's ascent up the stairway. With his current level of cultivation and mastery of two sets of techniques, advancing into the top ten should be a breeze. He had taken the time to inquire about the other members of the Outer Sect.

As he had suspected, only a handful of Outer Sect members were able to cultivate in peace, and even fewer possessed significant strength.

Upon further reflection, he realized that with a bit more effort, victory was not out of reach.

"However," he mused, "if I continue to cultivate at my current pace, it will still be far from sufficient to achieve my goal."

He extended his palm, a flicker of spiritual energy swirling within before vanishing into thin air.

His progress felt painfully slow. Over the past few days, he had encountered numerous individuals with exceptional talent, which made his own abilities seem rather ordinary by comparison. If not for the enigmatic cultivation technique and the Goldfinger, he wouldn't have been able to advance from the Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core stage.

The more he observed, the broader his perspective became. Now, he was introspectively identifying his own shortcomings.

As for the upcoming competition, he wasn't overly concerned. If he kept improving at his current pace, he would outstrip the other Outer Sect disciples with ease.

Yet a nagging doubt lingered. He hadn't met all the Outer Sect members in such a short time. What if there was someone like him, with suppressed talents or cultivation? What then?

For the Outer Sect, it was inconceivable that none had made significant breakthroughs after such extensive preparation. Perhaps someone had been just as unremarkable as he had been, only to recently discover a secret technique...

No, he reassured himself, armed with the Goldfinger, the likelihood of facing such a rival was minimal.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was going to encounter a formidable opponent in the competition.

"Perhaps I should visit the library now, try my luck, and see if I can find a cultivation technique that suits me. Maybe learn a few more skills for self-preservation?" he mused.

For a cultivator, mastering a single technique was far superior to juggling several.

Ultimately, it came down to talent. Currently in the early stages of the Golden Core realm, he found it incredibly challenging to make another breakthrough so soon; it was as if he had hit a ceiling.

After reflecting on it last night, he attributed this stagnation to his own limitations.

Without medicinal aid, this body would struggle to reach greater heights.