Rise of the Sword Son-in-Law

Chapter 721 - 720: The Reward of Purple Cloud Mountain

"It seems they’re having a tough time as well. I wonder who can actually reach the top of Purple Cloud Mountain," Gongsun Yao said with a solemn expression.

Yu Xianlan’s face was also extremely grave. Qin Yuan and the other two found it so difficult to proceed; it was likely even harder for them.

Xu Ping’an didn’t speak, not having stepped on the staircase, he couldn’t feel it for himself.

However, even if Qin Yuan and his companions couldn’t make it, that didn’t mean it was impossible for him.

He would only know once he attempted it himself.

"Whoosh!"

At that moment, Immortal Auntie Yu appeared before them.

"You all go ahead, I might not be able to join you," Immortal Auntie Yu said.

"What happened, Granny?" Yu Xianlan asked seriously.

"I just tried to enter Purple Cloud Mountain and felt an immense repulsion. It wasn’t just me, but those two as well, it seems that the Immortal Emperor Realm is not allowed inside," Immortal Auntie Yu explained.

"The Immortal Emperor Realm is not allowed?" Yu Xianlan and the others all showed looks of surprise.

On the other hand, Xu Ping’an was secretly pleased. If those of the Immortal Emperor Realm couldn’t enter, then that was good news.

It meant that there was a possibility for those after the Immortal Emperor Realm to enter.

Thus, he was hopeful about entering Purple Cloud Mountain.

"Yes, we can’t enter. I’ll stay outside to guard for you. Xianlan, take this Jade Pendant. It contains my Power of Dao Principles, and it can launch three attacks for me," Immortal Auntie Yu said.

"Thank you, Granny." Yu Xianlan didn’t hold back and directly accepted the Jade Pendant.

"Alright, now you go, be careful. If you can’t make it to the top, then come back. Don’t force yourselves," Immortal Auntie Yu instructed.

Yu Xianlan nodded, then led Gongsun Yao straight toward the steps.

Xu Ping’an naturally followed them as well.

Soon, they flew towards the staircase.

For Xu Ping’an and the others, flying to the staircase was not a difficult task.

As soon as he approached the staircase, Xu Ping’an felt an enormous pressure.

This pressure was like a massive mountain pressing down heavily upon him.

Of course, this pressure seemed to be nothing to him, having no effect whatsoever.

Therefore, Xu Ping’an stepped onto the first step with ease.

Upon stepping onto the staircase, Xu Ping’an felt that the pressure from the Dao Laws seemed to intensify slightly.

Of course, this increase was negligible in its impact.

So, Xu Ping’an continued walking upwards.

The first one thousand steps were incredibly easy for him.

Many who were passed by him stared in amazement, their eyes filled with disbelief.

How could a Ninth Rank possibly move so effortlessly and go so far?

"How is this possible? Does he not feel the pressure of the Dao Laws? How can a Ninth Rank go so far?" A Tenth Rank First Layer Realm youth asked in astonishment.

"Right, when he passed by me just now, it seemed effortless. I didn’t even see a trace of agony on his face. Having climbed only three hundred steps, I’m nearly unable to withstand the force of this explosion," another Cultivator of the Tenth Rank Second Layer Realm responded.

Those who were already gasping for breath under the oppression of the Power of Dao Principles stared in shock and envy as Xu Ping’an passed by them with ease.

Xu Ping’an didn’t care about their gazes; at the moment, he cast a glance towards the front.

There were roughly eighty-some people ahead of him.

These people were mostly from the three major forces.

Leading at the front were Qin Yuan and his two companions.

At this moment, Qin Yuan had gotten the farthest, having climbed about three more steps.

Just now, he had counted; there were a total of two hundred thousand steps, not one less.

Which meant that a very long distance still lay ahead of them.

Xu Ping’an continued to advance toward the front.

As expected, after reaching a thousand steps, the pressure doubled.

Not only that, Xu Ping’an also felt as if the power of his Dao principles was being slightly constrained.

Clearly, the effect of the staircase was not only the oppressive force of the Dao principles but also their constraint.

The further he went, the more pronounced this constraint of the Dao principles’ power became.

However, for Xu Ping’an, such pressure still wasn’t considered a difficult challenge.

Xu Ping’an kept moving forward, and soon he reached two thousand steps.

At this point, the oppressive force of the Dao increased once again, now putting great pressure on the Dao of the Fourth Layer Tenth Rank practitioners.

Moreover, the constraining force had grown stronger.

However, Xu Ping’an did not rely on the power of Dao principles, so this constraint did not greatly affect him.

Xu Ping’an continued to advance, and, although his pace had slowed somewhat, he still moved with stability.

Three thousand, four thousand…

Soon, Xu Ping’an had already reached ten thousand steps.

Now, there were fewer than twenty people ahead of him.

Apart from Immortal Auntie Yu and Gongsun Yao, almost all of them had reached the Eleventh Rank in cultivation.

Which is to say, the threshold of the ten thousand steps was also the threshold of the Eleventh Rank.

"Is that guy really Ninth Rank? How could someone at the Ninth Rank come so far?" The surrounding crowd was astonished.

Many had already given up climbing further; some had even started to return.

When they saw Xu Ping’an reach ten thousand steps, they all showed a look of surprise.

At this moment, Xu Ping’an himself was somewhat astonished because he noticed something odd.

When he stepped onto the ten thousandth step, he distinctly felt a powerful force of Dao principles surge into his body.

"Did you feel it too?" Yu Xianlan asked.

"Yes, this must be one of Purple Cloud Mountain’s rewards. Reaching ten thousand steps grants a reward of Dao principles," Xu Ping’an said.

He had previously observed many people pausing at the ten thousand steps.

It seemed now that it was because of this reward from the power of the Dao principles.

"Right, the reward from these Dao principles is quite substantial. I was only at the First Layer Realm of Dao principles, but I broke through directly to the Second Layer," Yu Xianlan stated.

"That much?" Xu Ping’an was somewhat surprised.

This force of Dao principles, though it flowed into his body, was not something he had yet condensed into Dao, so he merely stored this power temporarily within himself.

"Yes, a lot. I suspect with every ten thousand steps we pass, there’s a reward of Dao principles, and the rewards later might be even more," said Yu Xianlan with a grave expression.

"Xianlan’s conjecture is likely correct. The power of the Dao principles here cannot be wielded, but it can grow. My Dao principle power has also risen to the Peak of the Ninth Rank. With one more reward, I might be able to break through to the Eleventh Rank," Gongsun Yao also spoke up.

"It seems that Purple Cloud Mountain’s staircase is both a test and a reward," Xu Ping’an commented with a nod.

"Exactly, if we can truly obtain several such rewards, then this trip would not have been in vain. I have treasures, so I might be able to go even further," said Yu Xianlan joyfully.

"Getting to thirty thousand steps shouldn’t be difficult for me. Once I reach twenty thousand, I should be able to break through. After that, I could try to go even further," Gongsun Yao stated.

Her cultivation was at the Tenth Rank Peak, but her strength was much greater than that.

Xu Ping’an, however, looked at the staircase ahead with a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

"A Dao principles reward, huh? Maybe this is a good opportunity to confirm my Dao," Xu Ping’an mused to himself.