Chapter 892: Dragon-Tiger Mountain

In the forest, a fierce aura swirled wildly. Shi Ziqing, bathed in blood, fought desperately, finally unleashing some of the king body's might. Though the effect was limited, it was still a great improvement.

Lin Xu was drenched in sweat. He had almost felt compelled to intervene, but he hadn't expected Shi Ziqing to be so ferocious, pressing forward with boundless fighting spirit.

"Old, truly old," Lin Xu sighed, but he was also deeply gratified.

The youth and Chen Li watched in stunned disbelief. Their senior brother had been injured—wounded by someone at the sixth level of Blood Refinement. Though the injury was minor, it was still a tremendous disgrace.

The two fought in the jungle. Shi Ziqing's momentum grew fiercer with each blow, while the youth's spirit began to wane, his steps retreating as he fell into a disadvantage.

Every move Shi Ziqing made carried an aura of invincibility. His thick black hair danced wildly, and he was overwhelmingly dominant, as if his body no longer belonged to him, his spirit and essence greatly sublimated.

The kingly majesty radiating from him grew increasingly terrifying, like an icy war god looking down. Each strike was bitingly fierce, and the youth coughed blood, truly wounded.

With the final strike, he closed in, abandoning defense, and thrust out both fists, pouring all his spirit and essence into the blow. The youth was so intimidated he dared not counter, turning and fleeing as if encountering a fierce tiger.

Dong! Dong!

Faint bell sounds drifted in. The stone ahead emitted a soft glow, sending out a series of bell tones.

"Not good, the cultivators' assembly has started. Let's hurry." Lin Xu grabbed the still-dazed Shi Ziqing and ran toward the path ahead.

"This guy is really fierce," Qing Xiaoyue clicked her tongue in astonishment.

"When you cultivate in the future, you must have that same spirit. Cultivation is a struggle against heaven for life. One wrong step leads to more wrong steps, and there will never be a path forward." Yang Tian followed along and smiled at her words.

Qing Xiaoyue stuck out her tongue, dared not say more, and followed closely inside.

Before the stone, Lin Xu took out a token and pressed it against the surface. A portal appeared, and the stone split open. They walked inside.

As soon as they entered, a dense wave of heavenly energy rushed toward them. Inside, birds sang and flowers bloomed, ancient peaks towered majestically, and the atmosphere was vastly different from the outside world.

Yang Tian's eyes swept over the scene. Spirit springs gurgled, cranes danced in the sky, and in the distance, Daoist palaces stood in rows, exuding a sense of historical vicissitude.

"Though the heavenly energy is insufficient, it's barely enough for cultivation." Yang Tian nodded slightly. This was somewhat acceptable.

Ahead stood a Daoist platform. Many people were gathered there—men and women, old and young. A few elderly individuals, completely bald, sat in chairs wearing Daoist robes, exuding a powerful aura.

"Tongxuan realm, nearly three hundred years old," Jiang Nan sighed. The cultivation standard here was indeed too low. On Tianyang Continent, countless people reached this level at seventeen or eighteen.

Seeing newcomers arrive, the three or four hundred people present frowned. This was the cultivators' assembly—how could anyone be late?

"So it's you, Lin Xu. You're getting more and more out of line, coming late to such an assembly." A gloomy-faced old man sneered sarcastically, his face full of arrogance. Though his three disciples were not highly gifted, they were promising; two of them were nearly catching up to him in cultivation.

"Exactly, Senior Lin Xu, you're here, but who is this savage with you? This is a cultivators' assembly, not a place for your amusement," a young man said coldly.

Hearing this, Shi Ziqing snapped out of his battle trance. Seeing his own appearance, he couldn't help but twitch his mouth. He had wanted to bolster Lin Xu's standing, but instead encountered such a situation—truly embarrassing.

"So this is the king body? Doesn't seem like much," the younger generation began sizing him up, shaking their heads inwardly.

"Lin Xu, what are you doing? How dare you bring two mortals in!" Someone noticed Qing Xiaoyue and Yang Tian and frowned, rebuking him.

Voices of reproach came one after another. Lin Xu dared not act presumptuously; these were all people from the cultivation world. He cupped his hands and said, "We encountered some trouble outside, hence the delay."

"Junior brother." A white-haired old man walked down, glared at him, and said sternly, "I told you to go down the mountain and get some spirit tea to entertain our fellow Daoists. Why are you so late? Hurry up and come up."

"Senior brother, I'll go up right away." Lin Xu nodded. "I've brought the spirit tea. There was a small mishap."

"Hmph, the cultivators' assembly is a joint event hosted by all fellow Daoists. According to the rules, those who arrive late cannot participate." The gloomy old man clearly had a grudge against him and spoke heavily.

This cultivators' assembly was essentially a gathering to discuss cultivation experience—a precious event.

"That's right. If you want to participate, like the scattered cultivators, you can walk three steps on the Nine-Layer Heavenly Staircase," someone stepped forward and said.

Of course, when the king body emerged, it caused chaos in the cultivation world, with many vying to take him as a disciple. Lin Xu had encountered Shi Ziqing by chance, and after being saved and learning of the situation, Shi Ziqing insisted on following Lin Xu. Many people held a grudge over this matter.

"Junior brother, maybe we should forget it. I'll record the discussion for you later," the old man said subtly, knowing that the king body matter had offended many.

"No, I want to participate." Lin Xu's stubborn temper flared. To be honest, with Yang Tian here, he feared no one, using him as a shield.

"Then go walk the Heavenly Staircase!" The gloomy old man sneered. "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you get injured, don't blame us."

"Lin Xu, you're old now, why bother with this? The Nine-Layer Heavenly Staircase is no joke." Those who were on good terms with him warned him.

"I can't do it, but Ziqing can!" Lin Xu raised his head, as if no one knew he had a king body disciple.

"What nonsense are you talking? Ziqing is seriously injured; he shouldn't attempt it." Lin Xu's senior brother bristled with anger.

"Uncle-master, I can do it!" Shi Ziqing said and began to walk forward.

"Wait, eat this." Lin Xu produced a blood pill and made him eat it, to prevent injury.

"Master, this is for your longevity. I don't need it." Shi Ziqing shook his head.

"No, what if you get knocked down? Where would this old Daoist's face go? Go and win me some face." Lin Xu stuffed the pill into his mouth.

Shi Ziqing hesitated no longer. Wearing tattered clothes, covered in blood, he stepped forward.

The Nine-Layer Heavenly Staircase was a place of trial. Reaching the fourth layer was already remarkable. The jade stones emitted a soft glow, standing like a gate to the heavens ahead.

As his foot touched the first step, he felt a heavy pressure bearing down. Gritting his teeth, he stepped onto the second step, and it felt like a great boulder had landed on his back. Shi Ziqing's waist bent slightly, and his face flushed red as the blood pill's potency spread.

"Go!" Shi Ziqing roared lowly and stepped onto the third step. A sensation of mountains shaking and earth moving hit him, and he nearly lost his balance and fell.

"Get out!" Shi Ziqing shouted, his kingly aura sharp and fierce, his blood boiling. With a thunderous step, he mounted the fourth step and then directly descended.

The crowd watched, stunned. Had the staircase malfunctioned?

"Junior brother, has Ziqing changed?" The white-haired old man asked incredulously.

Lin Xu, however, looked as if he was disappointed in his disciple for not living up to expectations, and scolded, "Why didn't you take a few more steps and give your master some face?"

"..." Shi Ziqing.

"Is it acceptable now?" Lin Xu said smugly, snorting. He knew that this success was due to the change in Shi Ziqing's will just now. The Heavenly Staircase tested willpower first, cultivation second, so he had managed to ascend.

"Haha, the king body is indeed extraordinary." The gloomy old man gnashed his teeth in frustration. If this disciple were his, he would probably have already stepped into the martial realm. He then said sarcastically, "You two come up. The two mortals behind you can leave."

"I want to walk the Heavenly Staircase too," Qing Xiaoyue said, pointing at it.

"Haha, a mortal wants to walk the Heavenly Staircase? That's hilarious!" Someone burst out laughing.