Ancient Path to Heaven, eight hundred fiftieth step.
At this height, the pressure of heaven and earth was already dense as actual lead and mercury, heavily pressing on every inch of flesh and blood, every strand of spiritual sense. The air seemed to have solidified; every breath required tremendous effort, and the circulation of spiritual power in the meridians also became sluggish and difficult. And that "Heart-Questioning Illusion Realm" had evolved to its ultimate form, no longer single scenes, but like a continuous tide, bringing forth every subtle fear, every hidden desire, every fragile attachment in the depths of one's heart, all magnified, twisted, presented before one's eyes, madly impacting cultivators' Dao-heart ramparts.
Fewer than fifty people could reach this place. None were not peerless geniuses with iron wills, deep foundations, and shocking reserves. But even so, everyone's face was written with gravity and difficulty.
Central Plains Ninth Prince's whole body was still surrounded by brilliant purple dragon qi, but the light was no longer as dazzling and eye-catching as at the beginning, his pace steady yet slow, every step falling making the stone step beneath his feet emit a muffled boom.
Ice Plain Holy Maiden's ice lotuses beneath her feet were still blooming, but the edges of the petals already faintly showed fine cracks, a thin layer of cold frost covering her cold face, her breath bringing out white ice mist.
Ten Thousand Buddhas Sect Buddha Son was chanting Buddhist invocations, the Buddhist light around his body flickering unsteadily like a candle in the wind, with golden beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.
Even that Hidden Dragon List's top rank, Cloud Heaven Immortal Sect's Ling Tianyu, at this moment also slightly furrowed his brows, that innate chaos aura showing subtle disorder under such terrifying pressure.
Everyone had slowed down, like wading through a swamp, every step up seemed like an arduous battle.
However, among these almost struggling geniuses, there were two figures that appeared particularly special.
One was Mu Xue wearing a moon-white Daoist robe. She still maintained that cold and transcendent temperament, as if the surrounding pressure enough to crush mountains and the illusions confusing minds were just a gentle breeze to her. Her steps showed no heaviness at all, instead carrying a unique rhythm, like stepping to some profound beat, her moon-white Daoist robe lightly fluttering in the solidified air, unstained by dust. She had not used any earth-shaking divine abilities, just walking naturally in that way, yet giving people the feeling that she was meant to walk here, one with this ancient path, this pressure, this starry sky. That was the embodiment of harmonizing one's own Dao charm with heavenly laws to an extremely high level.
And the other was Tang Xiaoqi.
He did not have Mu Xue's elegance of seemingly merging with the Dao; his advance was more like a pure "persistence." His pace was still steady, his speed even, not fast, but definitely not slow. The heavy pressure falling on him seemed to be quietly shared and dissolved by that body tempered through thousands of trials and that pure and vast spiritual power. Those terrifying illusions enough to make other geniuses' Dao-hearts sway or even collapse, upon touching that Dao-heart clear as glazed glass and solid as rock, were like ice and snow meeting the sun, melting on their own, unable to leave the slightest trace.
His way was completely different from Mu Xue's elegance, yet equally effective, even showing more of a returned-to-simplicity resilient power.
The two, one before and one after, separated by only a few steps. Mu Xue slightly ahead, Tang Xiaoqi slightly behind.
When Tang Xiaoqi stepped onto the eight hundred fifty-fifth step, just about to adjust his breath to step onto the next, Mu Xue ahead also happened to slow by half a step because she needed to slightly adapt to the suddenly increased pressure.
The two were almost at the same horizontal line.
Tang Xiaoqi raised his head, his gaze naturally falling on that graceful moon-white back ahead. And almost at the same moment, Mu Xue seemed to have a feeling, also slightly turning her head, her cold gaze sweeping backward.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
No words, no probing, not even any intense emotional fluctuation.
Tang Xiaoqi's gaze was calm and firm, carrying a dedication to the path ahead and confidence.
Mu Xue's gaze was clear and deep, carrying a transparency of seeing through the world and indifference.
In each other's eyes, they both saw something similar to themselves - that pure Dao-heart that would not waver no matter what pressure or temptation faced; that absolute belief in one's own path; and that pursuit of the "Dao" itself that transcended ordinary competitiveness.
That was a resonance originating from the soul essence, surpassing status, background, even current ranking.
Tang Xiaoqi's mouth curved up with an imperceptibly faint arc, lightly nodding toward Mu Xue.
On Mu Xue's face cold as a frozen lake, there seemed to be a trace of extremely fine ripples spreading, and she also slightly nodded in response.
No hostility, no competition, only a feeling of sympathy like meeting a kindred spirit in high mountains and flowing waters.
On this Ancient Path to Heaven testing will and Dao-heart, among these geniuses struggling for ranking and opportunities, the two of them were like two special anomalies. One elegant as an immortal, harmonized with the Heavenly Dao; one tough as iron, upholding the self. Different paths, yet reaching the same destination, both displaying character and potential far beyond ordinary people.
This brief meeting of eyes and silent greeting seemed to pass in just an instant.
Then, Mu Xue turned back, once again taking her rhythmic steps, continuing upward. The moon-white figure in the heavy pressure still appeared so unhurried.
Tang Xiaoqi also gathered his thoughts, took a deep breath, adjusted his state to the best, and once again took steady steps, closely following.
The two, one before and one after, with almost identical speed, in this final difficult section, formed a posture of keeping pace with each other!
This scene naturally fell into the eyes of those below struggling to support, as well as the many great powers on the surrounding viewing platforms.
"Eh? Who is that cyan-robed kid? Able to keep pace with Xuanji Holy Land's Fairy Mu Xue?"
"Seems to be called Tang Xiaoqi? From a small sect called Qingxu Temple in Southeast Region?"
"Qingxu Temple? Never heard of it. This child's Dao-heart is truly rarely firm! Look at his steady pace, long breath, clearly not yet at his limit!"
"Fairy Mu Xue bears the 'Heavenly Melody Constitution,' harmonized with the Dao, able to be so at ease is understandable. This Tang Xiaoqi relies purely on his own will and foundation, impressive!"
"Looks like this assembly truly has hidden dragons and crouching tigers, this Tang Xiaoqi is a true dark horse!"
Discussions quietly rose on the viewing platforms, and many gazes began to focus on Tang Xiaoqi. This previously unknown Southeast Region cultivator, the potential he now displayed, drew true attention.
And on the ancient path above, Tang Xiaoqi was completely unaware of outside discussions. All his mind was concentrated on climbing, concentrated on the silent inspiration brought by that moon-white figure advancing in parallel ahead.
With such an opponent ahead, how could he fall behind?
The determination to reach the summit grew even firmer!
He and Mu Xue, in this final journey, with a wonderful tacit understanding, walked side by side, steadily moving toward that summit of the Heavenly Stairs beneath the starry sky!