Many disciples had already gathered in the Outer Sect Main Hall.
When the disciples noticed Chen Fan, they immediately fell silent, stopping their hushed conversations. They looked at Chen Fan meaningfully.
Chen Fan had become quite the celebrity in the Spring Autumn Sect, thanks to his three-year promise to Duan Jingtian, a fact known across both outer and inner sects.
“Shh, Chen Fan is here!”
“This guy... he should have broken through to the Yuanfu realm by now, right?”
“So what if he has broken through to the Yuanfu realm? Offending Senior Brother Duan Jingtian is equivalent to offending the entire Heaven’s Alliance. In the inner sect, Yuanfu realm experts are everywhere. He's in for trouble.”
“But I heard Senior Brother Duan Jingtian wouldn’t find trouble with him during the promised three years. Heaven’s Alliance members are also forbidden from doing so...”
“Hehe, many in the inner sect idolize Senior Brother Duan Jingtian. Some will aid him against Chen Fan despite not being alliance members.”
“Quick, move aside. Don’t get too close to him. Be careful of catching his bad luck...”
The whispers circulated, with some people avoiding Chen Fan as if he were the plague, dispersing in various directions to avoid potential trouble.
Chen Fan didn’t find it strange.
Duan Jingtian’s prestige and reputation in the Spring Autumn Sect surpassed any comparison.
The news of his challenge had spread far and wide, making it unsurprising that few dared to approach him.
Unperturbed by the whispers and gossip, Chen Fan found a spot to wait quietly.
Half an hour later, Zhuo Bufan emerged from the main hall, surveying the gathered disciples. “It looks like everyone is here, I see. Then, come with me!”
He kept it brief; martial artists tended to be straightforward.
According to the rules, the top hundred disciples in every Outer Sect Grand Competition could enter the inner sect.
However, Zhong Li’s group was dead, and Qin Yao was no longer here. Five slots needed filling, so five outstanding disciples had been chosen to take their place.
Under Zhuo Bufan’s lead, the group of a hundred headed toward the inner sect.
Chen Fan and the other disciples were all very curious; the inner sect's location was a mystery to them.
After traversing the outer sect for half a day, covering tens of miles, they arrived at a ten thousand-foot tall precipice. At its pinnacle stood a striking hall, impossible to miss.
“This heavenly stairway on the precipice leads to the inner sect. If you wish to enter the inner sect, you’ll have to walk up those stairs, one step at a time, enter the hall at the top of the mountain, and register yourselves.” Zhuo Bufan said slowly, looking at the precipice.
This precipice was ten thousand feet tall, with a stairway extending down from the hall. It had exactly a thousand steps, each of them ten feet high.
It served as an initiation, a test for those seeking entry into the inner sect.
“Remember, you have to walk up one step at a time. You’re not allowed to run or fly. Understand?” Zhuo Bufan reminded them.
“Yes!” The disciples answered in unison.
Zhuo Bufan smiled faintly and said, “Alright. Follow this stairway up. Once in the inner sect, I hope you'll redouble your cultivation efforts. Your future paths depend on your efforts.”
As his voice fell, Zhuo Bufan fluttered away.
For a brief period, the disciples looked at one another.
Chen Fan set his gaze on the thousand-step stairway and walked ahead.
As soon as he stepped onto the stairway, Chen Fan's eyes flickered. Following suit, the other disciples ascended one after another. Soon, a surprised voice rang out.
"What's happening? I can't access my primeval qi!"
“Indeed, this stairway restricts our cultivation. It's a test of our willpower. We must climb without relying on our cultivation.”
The crowd settled, comprehending the purpose of this trial.
“What’s there to be afraid of? Even if we can’t use our primeval qi, our physiques far surpass those of ordinary people. Ascending to the top is nothing difficult,” said a disciple heroically.
Many people agreed with him.
Chen Fan didn’t fuss or say a word, stepping forward.
Each step was ten feet high. It was rather difficult without tools if ordinary people wanted to climb up. Even martial artists had difficulty climbing up with their cultivation restricted.
Yet, Chen Fan's robust physique enabled him to leap ten feet high with each step, effortlessly making his way up.
Not to be outdone, others exerted all their strength, ascending quickly alongside him.
Nothing much happened in the beginning. However, when these people had climbed a hundred steps up, some could no longer endure it. Their complexions were pale, and they were panting heavily.
By the time they had climbed up a hundred steps using their physical strength alone, the people were already out of breath.
Some people’s legs turned soft like noodles when they reached the three hundredth step. Their chests felt tight, their hearts pumping fiercely, their cheeks flushed. A few dropped to their knees, too exhausted to stand.
They were all martial artists, but their bodies were still mortal flesh. Without the boost from their primeval qi, their physical strength, though superior to ordinary people, had limits.
On the three-hundredth step, Chen Fan remained composed. His body, infused with dragon blood, boasted immense strength.
He could take on sixth or seventh-level Qigong realm martial artists with his physical strength alone.
This level of strength made the challenge seem like a game to him.
Soon, Chen Fan distanced himself from the struggling group.
Panting and exhausted, they watched in awe as he effortlessly pulled ahead. Murmurs circulated, "Is he made of iron? We're drained, and he seems unfazed."
“You’re saying the obvious. It’s not like we haven’t seen how physically strong he is at the Outer Sect Grand Competition. This kind of test doesn’t pose any difficulty to him," quipped one disciple.
Many, unable to persevere, started resting.
Abruptly, Chen Fan halted, turned, and gazed down. Nonchalantly, he remarked, “Already done? On the path of cultivation, countless challenges await, much more arduous than this. What's a little suffering in comparison?”
He stared at the crowd and said solemnly, “The longer you walk on the road of cultivation, the harder it will get. You might find yourself on the cusp of a breakthrough at higher realms yet trapped at a bottleneck. You would have the strength, but you just won’t be able to break through. That state could last years or even decades.
“The agony and hopelessness can drive one to contemplate suicide! When measured against the profound pain ahead, what’s the slight discomfort you experience today?
“Regardless of how exhausting this seems, does it truly plunge us into despair? At the very least, there is still a road ahead of us. We still know we can advance as long as we continue forward.”
Having spoken, Chen Fan ascended without looking back, leaving his words to resonate among the disciples.