A Warning

As the group of students gathered at the foot of the massive staircase, they couldn't help but marvel at the ancient stones that made up the steps. These stones looked as old as time itself, but they were still in perfect condition.

Some of the students were sitting on platforms along the staircase, catching their breath and taking in the view. A few were even attempting to climb the stairs, but they were struggling with the steep incline and the intense pressure that each step exerted.

Li Bai, Ban Zhao, and Wang Shaojun, looked on with interest. This is the first time they saw a stair as massive as this. They can also feel the energy that cascades down from the heaven.

Li Bai remarked, "What an impressive sight! I wonder what these stairs are for?"

Ban Zhao responded, "I think this is used for qi cultivation, look at those students who are meditating."

Wang Shaojun added, "Indeed, this will possibly help purify and improve one's qi."

Just then, a student from another university walked by and sneered at them. "Ha! Such country bumpkins. Don't you even know about the Wandering Stairs? It's one of the most famous qi cultivation sites in this realm. Didn't your principal taught you about what you might encounter here?!"

Li Bai and his companions ignored the student's disdain and turned to Juanxiu, a fellow student who was known for his expertise in qi cultivation.

"Juanxiu, can you tell us more about these stairs?" asked Ban Zhao.

Juanxiu smiled and explained, "The Wandering Stairs are indeed a powerful tool for qi cultivation. Each step exerts twice the pressure of the previous one, which can be dangerous for those who are not prepared. However, you must be careful not to overexert yourself. Remember the breathing technique I taught you," In the past two weeks, Juanxiu taught them about the modified version of the Breath of the Thunderous Dragon. "Use it to regulate your breathing and control your qi as you climb."

The other students from Hongpuhui University nodded as Juanxiu explained the dangers and benefits of the Wandering Stairs. They exchanged nervous glances, unsure if they were ready to take on such a challenge.

Juanxiu, noticing their hesitation, spoke up. "I'll take the first step if you're scared. Don't worry, as long as you take only what you can handle, there's no danger."

As they were discussing, a group of students from another university overheard their conversation and began to laugh. One of the students sneered, "If you're too scared to step onto the platform, perhaps you should just give away your slot for entering here. We have plenty of classmates who were eager to enter, but were not given the chance for the likes of you. What a waste."

Yan Shenqing stepped forward, ready to confront the naysayer, but Juanxiu placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. "Let's not waste our energy on unnecessary conflicts," he said quietly.

With determination, Juanxiu took the first step onto the staircase. He felt a sudden change in the pressure and quality of qi, but he kept moving forward. With each step, the pressure doubled, but it was still something he could withstand.

Suddenly, the pressure disappeared. The Chaos Striker that transformed into a necklace he wore was voraciously sucking the energy. But the other students, unaware of this, thought that the thinning of the energy was due to Juanxiu. They gave him a side-eye, making Juanxiu feel embarrassed. He decided to keep his distance and continue up the stairs.

Zhang Heng watched as Juanxiu confidently took his first step onto the platform, and he was amazed at how easy Juanxiu made it look. He decided to follow Juanxiu's lead and take a step forward himself. At first, it felt easy, and he thought to himself that the steps may not be that difficult after all. But as he took his third, fourth, and fifth steps, he began to feel the pressure building up, and his breathing became labored.

By the time he reached the sixth step, he could no longer move any further. He felt like a heavy weight was pressing down on him, and his legs shook with the effort of trying to take another step. He sat down on the platform and tried to catch his breath, feeling embarrassed that he couldn't even make it past the sixth step.

Meanwhile, the other students were laughing and mocking him. One of them sneered, "What a waste of talent. You couldn't even handle the first few steps." Zhang Heng felt a surge of anger at the taunt, but he knew that he needed to focus on the task at hand and not let the jeers get to him.

He remembered the breathing technique that Juanxiu had taught him, and he closed his eyes and focused on his breath. After a few moments, he felt his heart rate slow down, and his muscles relaxed. He stood up and took another step, but the pressure was too much, and he had to sit down again.

It took several more attempts, but eventually, he found a rhythm to his breathing that helped him to withstand the pressure. He stood up again and took another step. The other students from other university watched in awe as they watched how fast it is to progress to the next step. It was a repeated procedure. Once he reached another step, he will sit and meditate and practice the breathing technique, after a while he will move further.

Meanwhile, Juanxiu, lost in thought, continued to climb the stairs towards the entrance of the temple. As he approached the 50th step, he noticed a group of people from the Irexerra University sitting on the steps. They seemed to be unable to progress from their climb, you can see the discomfort on their face.

As Juanxiu continued to ascend, he noticed that the leader of the group, Fang Huang, was sitting on the 60th step. Juanxiu couldn't help but notice the sweat trickling down his sideburns, a clear indication of the difficulty of the climb. However, Juanxiu himself was making the climb with such ease that it seemed almost effortless.

Fang Huang, who had been told that he was unmatched by any of his age, was shocked to see someone ascending the stairs with such ease. He stood up and took a step forward, intending to confront Juanxiu, but the pressure of the climb was too unbearable for him, causing him to return to the 60th step.

Juanxiu didn't even look at Fang Huang as he continued his ascent up the stairs. To him, the climb was just a physical challenge, and he was focused on his own thoughts and goals. He was not interested in any confrontation or competition, and he continued to climb the steps with ease, leaving the group from Irexerra University behind.

Finally, he reached the 100th step, and as he looked up, he saw another ghost-like being waiting for him at the top. The figure was old and wispy, with a faint glow around his body.

Juanxiu approached the being cautiously, unsure of what to expect. The old ghost introduced himself, saying, "I am Wen Zhu."

Juanxiu felt a sense ease around the ghost. There was something about him that felt comfortable, and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He eyed Juanxiu, feeling conflicted. He could see nothing special about this kid, and his cultivation, while impressive for his age, was still considered below average in Wen Zhu's time.

"I don't know what tricks you used to get up here with that mediocre cultivation you have, but since you got here, rewards are necessary," Wen Zhu said, his voice carrying a hint of suspicion.

Juanxiu scratched his head, acting innocent as he faced the old ghost. "Uh, hello there. I'm Juanxiu," he said, introducing himself politely.

Wen Zhu eyed him, feeling conflicted. He saw nothing special about this kid. Sure, his cultivation at the peak of the Expert realm was impressive for his age, but back then during the Lost Era, this level of cultivation was even considered a trash. Nonetheless, since the realm will open after every 50 years, he was well aware that the quality of cultivators has significantly dwindled.

He then pulled out a blade and presented it to Juanxiu.

"This is a blade forged by the owner of this realm," he continued, " Don't immediately dismiss this as insignificant. If you can complete the trials of the Xuanwu, you will understand why I gave you that reward. Plus, the real reward of this trial is the energy bathing the stairs."

Juanxiu took the blade, feeling its weight in his hands. He knew that this must be something special, given that it was made by the owner of the realm. He looked up at Wen Zhu, ready to ask more questions, but before he could say anything, he heard the Chaos Striker communicating telepathically to him again.

"Another stingy brat," the Chaos Striker complained, "Let's leave. The energy here is not as tasty as the energy inside your realm. I would also prefer that energy from that God."

Juanxiu sat down on the platform, looking around at the ethereal realm. He turned to Wen Zhu and asked, "Who owns this realm?"

Wen Zhu turned to face Juanxiu, his ghostly form shimmering slightly in the light of the realm. "It was our master," he said. "He decided to create this realm before he died, to continue being a pillar of support for the next generation."

Juanxiu nodded thoughtfully. "And you agreed to be a part of this plan? Are you just a consciousness?"

Wen Zhu shook his head. "No. I am more than just a consciousness. Well, I am not alive, but I am not dead. I exist in this realm as a kind of guardian, to guide those who come seeking knowledge and enlightenment."

Juanxiu listened intently, fascinated by the ghostly being's explanation. So it was lieke Xiannu, except Xiannu feels more ethereal.

"Tell me," Wen Zhu said suddenly, breaking the silence. "What has happened in the mortal world in the past 50 years?"

Juanxiu thought for a moment, then decided to give Wen Zhu a brief rundown of the major events that had taken place during that time.

"The long war between the Shaoying Empire and the Grand Echo continent has concluded," he said. "But things may change soon. The Grand Echo continent has sent their secret forces to infiltrate the Shaoying empire. We are not sure how deep their roots run in the Shaoying empire."

Wen Zhu shook his head, disappointed. "Worthless war. Any other news?"

Juanxiu nodded. "Well, there are people who are collecting the Fragments of the Gods," he said, deciding to tell Wen Zhu about the Karma Order.

Wen Zhu was shocked to hear that "But the Fragment Collectors have been dealt with,"

Juanxiu explained "It was an organization known as the Karma Order,"

Wen Zhu shook his head even further. "What a bunch of imbeciles. They are playing with powers they don't comprehend." he said. "They will surely regret it if they continue down that path."

Wen Zhu was silent for a moment, his ghostly form hovering near Juanxiu. Finally, he spoke in a low, grave voice, "Kid. Every time someone managed to complete at least three of the trials inside the realm, chaos will ensue outside. And the last time someone reached the end of this realm, the Desolate Period begins."

Juanxiu's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the Desolate Period. He knew all too well the horrors of that time, when monsters and demons roamed freely and countless lives were lost. "Perhaps you are already aware about the disaster that leads to the Desolate Era," Wen Zhu continued. "I am only reminding you to be careful. Be strong, strong enough to protect the people who matters to you. Based on the stories we gathered every time students will get here, the silence on the different realms for the past thousands of years is just too deafening."

Juanxiu nodded gravely, his eyes locked on the ghostly figure before him. He knew that the trials within the realm were not just for entertainment or personal gain. They were a test, a challenge that could have strengthen them. He needed to be strong, not just for himself, but for those he cared about.

With a determined expression on his face, Juanxiu stood up and drummed his chest before speaking. "I will," he declared. "I will be strong, and I will protect the people I care about. I won't let them down."