C19 The Edge of Forever(part II)

Amidst a sea of clouds and ginseng, with morning dew glistening and mountains towering high, Chu Haoyun raised his head to gaze upon a mountain that soared into the sky like a crane among chickens. It resembled a sharp sword piercing the heavens, emanating waves of a sword's will that seemed to challenge the sky itself. The Stone Steps of Sword Peak spiraled into the cloud's depths, a sight both stunning and ethereal. At the side of Sword Peak, a bottomless chasm encircled it like a demon's abyss, pitch-black and chillingly cold, with only a long iron chain bridge connecting to the Stone Steps of Sword Peak.

"Is this the Edge of Forever?" Chu Haoyun stood before the iron chain bridge, silently absorbing the awe-inspiring view before him.

Two alert guards stood watch at the bridge, vigilant to any changes around them. Noticing Chu Haoyun's mere eighth level of Body Forging, one guard's brow furrowed as he stepped forward to halt him, speaking coolly, "This area is reserved for the sect, and outsiders are not permitted. Leave now, or I will be forced to remove you."

"Esteemed brother, I wish to ascend to the Edge of Forever." Chu Haoyun offered a respectful bow, his face alight with a smile.

Hearing this, the guard sneered, his eyes sweeping over Chu Haoyun with contempt. "Boy, this place is off-limits to anyone but core disciples. Persist in this nonsense, and I'll have no choice but to strike you down!"

"Hmph, an eighth-level Body Forging weakling dares to ascend to the Edge of Forever? Were you not informed of the sect's rules upon your arrival?" the other guard mocked, his face twisted in scorn. He brandished his silver spear, releasing an aura indicative of the Returning to Origin state.

Chu Haoyun's brow creased slightly, but he restrained any outburst. He produced the Celestial Key and presented it to the guard before him, inquiring, "May I pass now?"

The previously scornful guard examined the Celestial Key, his body shaking. His demeanor shifted as he asked coldly, "Where did you steal the Celestial Key from?"

It's understandable why the guard would think that way. Historically, those who possessed the Celestial Key were formidable experts who had reached the Returning to Origin Stage. Eventually, they became the mainstays of their sect. How could a mere youth at the eighth level of Body Forging possess such an item?

"Do you really think I'd have the audacity to use it openly within the Order of the Celestial Veil if it were stolen?" Chu Haoyun said, slightly irritated, yet striving to keep his voice even.

The guard hesitated, his gaze uncertain. If Chu Haoyun was indeed favored by the elder, offending him could prove costly.

After a moment of indecision and a quick glance at his fellow guard, he handed back the Celestial Key to Chu Haoyun, his tone softening a bit. "I hope you're telling the truth. But don't say I didn't warn you. Without the power of the Returning to Origin Stage, you won't make it to the Edge of Forever. And if you fall into the Dark Abyss there, no one will come to your rescue."

Chu Haoyun cast a brief, subconscious look at the yawning chasm and nodded. "No need to concern yourself," he replied coolly.

Watching Chu Haoyun's retreating figure, the guards shook their heads in resignation. They had given their warning; if he perished, the elders couldn't fault them.

Crossing the iron chain bridge, Chu Haoyun ascended the first of the Stone Steps of Sword Peak. He felt a subtle change in his expression as he detected a force emanating from the steps, though it was barely perceptible. The higher he climbed, the more pronounced the force became, almost as if it were trying to eject him.

Chu Haoyun also observed delicate sword marks on the stone walls, which began to exude a similar energy. While less conspicuous than the force from the steps, they were decidedly sharper.

By the five hundredth step, Chu Haoyun had completed a full circuit around the blade's edge, the power beneath him intensifying. It now rivaled the punch of a seventh-level Body Forging practitioner. The sword marks beside him released a faint sword's will, with occasional flashes of sword light that heightened Chu Haoyun's sense of peril.

"No wonder Mr. Lan always said that without the strength of Returning to Origin, ascending the Edge of Forever would be virtually impossible," Chu Haoyun mused, his brow furrowed in concentration. As he ascended, the force exerted by the steps increased steadily. Glancing upward, he realized he had only traversed a tenth of the way, yet the power within the stone steps had already reached such intensity. What lay ahead?

"That kid has stopped!" From a distance, the guards monitored Chu Haoyun's progress, astonished that someone at the eighth level of Body Forging would dare to scale the Edge of Forever—a first for them.

His companion nodded empathetically, remarking, "Looks like he's reached his limit. The Stone Steps of Sword Peak transform every five hundred steps. Typically, even those at the ninth level of Body Forging can only get so far. Without the support of the elementary force from Returning to Origin, the staircase's sheer force and the sword's will would either catapult them into the air or slice them to pieces."

The Stone Steps of Sword Peak represented Chu Haoyun's inaugural challenge. As a core disciple's initial trial, the height one could climb was a strong indicator of their potential future accomplishments.

"Is that kid still trying to climb? Is he courting death?" one guard exclaimed, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. His companion shook his head, resigned to the thought that the Dark Abyss might claim another life. Yet, in the next instant, they were both stunned. The slender figure took a step, his body quivering slightly, defying their expectations by neither being flung away nor shredded.

"He made it up? An eighth-level Body Forging practitioner has actually stepped onto the stairway meant for those at the Returning to Origin level?" They watched Chu Haoyun intently, eager to see how much further he could go.

Upon reaching the five hundred and first step, Chu Haoyun's face paled as the elementary force surged through his body. He staggered, a razor-sharp sword light grazing his cheek and streaking out for meters before vanishing into the ether. The invisible power at this step had surged twofold. Had his reflexes been any slower, he would have been propelled off the staircase.

Surveying the stone wall, Chu Haoyun was profoundly struck by the realization that each step had been hewn by individual sword strikes. The residual sword's will clung to the stone wall and the steps. It was here that he could truly sense the presence of a sharp longsword, envisioning a single stroke that had carved out the towering Stone Steps of Sword Peak.

Suppressing the shock within him, Chu Haoyun continued to ascend, the pressure on his body mounting incrementally. He deftly dodged the sword qi that occasionally shot out from the stone walls.

"Can this kid really be a Body Forging cultivator? He's reached the 900th step!" The guards could barely make out a black speck in the distance. Had they not been silently keeping count, they would have lost track of Chu Haoyun's position.

"Those elders have such discerning eyes. If this kid continues to grow..." His companion let out a wistful, bitter laugh.

As time slipped by, Chu Haoyun's clothes were drenched in sweat. Upon reaching the 900th step, he noticed the absence of sword marks on the stone wall. Instead, there was a narrow cave entrance leading into the depths of the Edge of Forever. He knew this was the gateway to the second challenge.

Yet, he pressed on. The elementary force within him, though turbulent, had become more concentrated. With a determined look, he focused on the next step, eager to test his limits.

Each step was as heavy as a mountain!

Upon setting foot on the 901st step, a different force emanated from the stone. Accustomed to the repelling force, Chu Haoyun's body shook, and he collapsed onto the stairs. The gravitational force was as intense as before, making him feel as if he bore the weight of a colossal boulder on his back, causing his bones to quiver.

With great effort, Chu Haoyun steadied his trembling body, sweat beads falling continuously. Moments later, he regained his composure and took another determined step.

The wind picked up, and sword qi once again emerged from the stone walls, severely slowing Chu Haoyun's pace and nearly ending his ascent.

From afar, two guards watched with clenched fists, their anxiety palpable as they silently urged him on, "One more step, one more step!"

As dawn broke, the morning light swept across the mountains, casting its glow on Chu Haoyun's youthful yet resolute face.

"I can still climb higher!" Chu Haoyun's eyes were locked on a cave entrance three steps ahead. That was the 1,200th step, marking a third of the way up Sword Peak.