The God Ascension Staircase was one of the most famous landmarks in Eternal City.
Whether day or night, the golden staircase radiated a steady golden glow.
It had a total of nine levels.
Though only nine levels, looking up from the base, the top was nowhere in sight.
People frequently came to challenge it, locals and visitors alike, forming long lines that looped around the plaza several times.
All around, onlookers gathered in droves, while street vendors shouted energetically to attract customers.
Xu Zimo glanced at the staircase, but he couldn’t see what was inside. The staircase was sealed off by walls of dark gold that glowed faintly with divine energy.
It stood on a vast plaza, with fountains spraying water and flowers blooming in every corner.
Statues of Eternal City’s ancestors stood tall and proud around the square.
"Want to give it a try?" Jiu You asked eagerly, eyes shining with excitement.
"You want to meet the Eternal Godly Monarch’s spirit too?" Xu Zimo chuckled.
"Not exactly. I’m just curious about what’s so magical about this staircase," Jiu You replied.
"I already asked around yesterday. The God Ascension Staircase is completely fair. It adjusts the difficulty based on the challenger’s cultivation, so the higher your cultivation doesn’t mean it’s easier."
The staircase was managed by disciples of the Eternal God Sect.
Next to it were number dispensers. After Jiu You got her number, she joined the long line. Xu Zimo, however, wasn’t in a rush and stood to the side watching.
Initially, most of the crowd watched quietly. But when the line reached a certain young man, the crowd stirred.
"That’s Yue Lun! He’s trying again."
"Let’s see how far he gets this time. That guy’s no joke, he’s lived in Eternal City for three years. I saw him go from level three to level six with my own eyes."
"Think he’ll make it to the seventh level today? Only the God Child of the Eternal God Sect ever reached that."
As people discussed, Xu Zimo turned his head to look.
At the staircase entrance stood a young man in black.
His posture was upright like a spear. His eyes were sharp, and on the inside of both arms were two short blades.
His clothes were specially tailored with sleeves that could hold the short blades, perfect for surprise attacks.
He stood there at the base of the staircase, exuding a powerful aura that made him stand out.
As Yue Lun stepped into the staircase, the dark golden walls of the first level lit up immediately.
"One-hit clear! That was fast," someone exclaimed.
"I took over ten minutes to clear the first level."
"To guys like him, the early stages are nothing. The real test is later."
Soon after, the second, third, and fourth levels lit up in quick succession.
He took a little more time on the fifth, and by the sixth, the crowd held their breath.
This was where Yue Lun had always been stopped before.
Finally, after the time it took to burn one incense stick, the dark golden wall of the sixth level began to glow.
"He made it! He passed level six!" someone shouted.
Just as the voice faded, Yue Lun’s figure was transported back to the base of the staircase.
Unlike before, his face was pale, and a trace of blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"Why’s he back?" someone asked in confusion. "He clearly cleared the sixth level."
"If someone attempts the seventh and gets instantly defeated, the staircase ejects them immediately," someone else explained.
Yue Lun sat down nearby, meditating to recover.
Suddenly someone yelled, "Look! The Divine Ranking just changed!"
Xu Zimo followed the crowd’s gaze and noticed a piece of dark golden cloth hanging in midair at the side of the plaza.
On the cloth, dozens of names shimmered with golden light.
Looking closely, it read:
"Gong Feiyang, Rank 1, Highest Level: Seven
Yue Lun had previously been ranked fifth. He now jumped to third, surpassing many others.
The rankings considered not just the level reached, but also the time one lasted within that level.
The crowd looked at the black-clothed figure healing nearby with newfound respect.
Yue Lun was a rogue cultivator, unaffiliated with any major sect. Getting this far was no small feat.
Xu Zimo found it interesting. Soon, it was Jiu You’s turn.
As a descendant of the gods, Xu Zimo held high expectations for her among her peers.
The divine bloodline in her veins gave her many advantages.
When Jiu You first stepped up, few paid attention.
But when she reached level five and moved into level six, the murmurs started.
"Who’s that girl? Never seen her before."
"She must be from out of town."
Even Yue Lun opened his eyes and glanced over.
"Could we see two people reach the seventh level today?" someone speculated.
But just as they spoke, Jiu You’s figure was transported back down.
Though she hadn’t reached level seven, she had lasted long enough in level six to show great promise.
Next time, she might just succeed.
Jiu You ignored the stares and chatter around her and walked straight back to Xu Zimo.
"It’s pretty tough," she said, taking a deep breath.
"What’s it like inside?" Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
"From levels one to six, you fight virtual opponents. The higher the level, the stronger and more numerous they get," Jiu You explained after thinking for a moment.
"I’ll give it a shot," Xu Zimo said with a grin.
He picked up his token, waited briefly, and then entered the staircase.
The first level was an empty grand hall.
The space was quiet, and then vortexes of light formed as a figure appeared.
It was a faceless man in a blue robe, with no features on his face.
Xu Zimo suppressed his own cultivation to the Fusion Heaven realm, the staircase wouldn’t detect this trick.
He could sense the faceless man was one minor realm above him.
Not wasting time, he slapped the opponent into nothingness.
A suction force pulled him upward to the second level.
This time, there were two faceless men, each two realms stronger than him.