78: Chapter 78: The First to Reach the Summit

Time flew by.

On the evening of the second day, Xiao Ran stepped onto the 7,000th step.

"Those who climb 7,000 steps may receive a reward, choose one of two."

"First is the Heaven-Returning Pill; after consumption, it can instantly restore all spiritual power and heal injuries."

"Second is the heaven-peering mirror; after use, it can predict the type of trial for the next 1,000 steps."

Xiao Ran chose the Heaven-Returning Pill.

Even if he knew the next trial in advance, the preparations he could make were limited; it was better to prioritize saving his life.

After taking the pill, his state returned to its Peak.

At this moment, he had already climbed two-thirds of the stairs.

Behind him was the majestic path he had come from, and ahead were the remaining 3,000-plus steps.

The sky gradually darkened.

Although there were no sun or moon in the trial space, the light was indeed growing dimmer.

"The third day will be the final sprint."

Xiao Ran looked toward the end of the stairs, where the two Immortal-Demon gates were already faintly visible.

He looked at the others.

Li Tianxing and Ling Jianxin were already at the 7,500th step.

The two were still neck and neck, but their breathing was somewhat erratic.

After two consecutive days of high-intensity climbing, even though they were at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection, they felt exhausted.

White Bone Scholar and Jian Wuchen were at the 7,200th step.

Li Changsheng was at the 7,100th step, his Dao Embryo still stable.

Liu Ruyan and Su Qinghan were at the 7,000th step, level with Xiao Ran.

Of the eight people, no one had fallen behind.

But everyone knew that the hardest part was still ahead.

Starting from the 7,000th step, the trials were no longer of a single type, but... composite.

Gravity changes, Heart Demon interference, illusion attacks, Battle Puppet interceptions... multiple trials descended simultaneously!

Every step required full concentration.

"This is the true Immortal-Demon Trial."

Xiao Ran took a deep breath, pushing his Guixu Body to its limit.

He no longer held back, releasing all the energy he had devoured over the past two days, turning it into the momentum to move forward.

His speed soared once again!

7,100 steps, 200 steps, 300 steps...

He surpassed Liu Ruyan and Su Qinghan and caught up with Li Changsheng.

The two were side by side.

"Xiao Ran, how is your state?"

Li Changsheng sent a voice transmission.

"Fairly good, and you?"

"My Dao Embryo is resonating with the trial; the further I go, the smoother it becomes."

"There might be a change at the 8,000th step. I just used the heaven-peering mirror and sensed that... a choice is required there."

Li Changsheng paused and said.

"A choice?"

"Immortal or Demon."

"Climbing the Immortal Climbing Ladder is not just about the stairs, but the choice of one's path."

Li Changsheng's tone was solemn.

Xiao Ran's heart tightened.

He looked at the two gates ahead, which were becoming increasingly clear.

One was shrouded in Immortal Qi, the other in grim Devilish Qi.

Indeed, the Immortal-Demon Trial.

In the end, one had to choose a side.

And he... had already chosen the Demonic Path.

But what about Li Changsheng?

The two exchanged a glance, everything left unsaid.

"Let's reach the top first."

Xiao Ran said.

"Alright."

The two accelerated, chasing after the White Bone Scholar and the others.

...

The third day, dawn.

Xiao Ran stepped onto the 8,000th step.

The sight before him made him stop in his tracks.

The stairs branched off here.

The left staircase was made of warm white jade, with Immortal Qi curling around it and bursts of immortal music.

The right staircase was made of menacing black jade, with grim Devilish Qi and continuous demonic roars.

A stone tablet stood at the fork, inscribed with:

"The Parting of Immortal and Demon."

"Those who choose the Immortal Path, take the left stairs; those who choose the Demonic Path, take the right stairs."

"Once the choice is made, it cannot be changed."

"This choice will determine the content of the second trial, the Heart of Dao Inquiry."

The eight people arrived one after another, falling into silence as they looked at the fork in the road.

Finally, the moment of decision had arrived.

Li Tianxing did not hesitate and stepped directly onto the right stairs.

"My path is the Blood Fiend Demonic Path."

White Bone Scholar followed closely: "As a member of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, I naturally walk the Demonic Path."

Xiao Ran also stepped onto the right stairs.

Jian Wuchen and Liu Ruyan exchanged a glance and made their respective choices.

Jian Wuchen stepped onto the left stairs; most Sword Cultivators follow the Immortal Path.

Liu Ruyan stepped onto the right stairs; needless to say, the Hehuan Sect was a pure Demonic Path power!

Su Qinghan stepped onto the left stairs.

Now, only two people remained who hadn't chosen.

Ling Jianxin and Li Changsheng.

Ling Jianxin looked at Li Changsheng and said indifferently.

"Junior Brother Li, the Supreme Dao Palace is the leader of the Righteous Path; you should follow me on the Immortal Path."

Li Changsheng was silent.

"Senior Brother Ling, it should be so."

He took a deep breath and stepped onto the left stairs.

"My path is the Innate Dao Embryo; I naturally walk the Immortal Path."

Ling Jianxin nodded in satisfaction and also stepped onto the left stairs.

At this point, the eight people parted ways.

Four on the Demonic Path: Li Tianxing, White Bone Scholar, Xiao Ran, and Liu Ruyan.

Four on the Immortal Path: Ling Jianxin, Li Changsheng, Jian Wuchen, and Su Qinghan.

After parting ways, the trials on the stairs also changed.

On the Demonic Path stairs.

The pressure was mixed with thick Devilish Qi, and the Heart Demon illusions were more violent, but after overcoming them, one's understanding of Demonic Techniques became deeper.

On the Immortal Path stairs.

Immortal Qi cleansed the body and mind, and the trials focused more on the clarity of the Dao Heart and the comprehension of Laws.

Walking on the Demonic Path, Xiao Ran felt his Guixu Body was like a fish in water, frantically devouring the pure Devilish Qi on the stairs; his cultivation actually showed signs of a Breakthrough!

He looked ahead, where blood-red fiendish energy rolled around Li Tianxing, who clearly had gained even more.

White Bone Scholar's bone armor became more solid, and Liu Ruyan's charm arts reached a higher level.

On the Immortal Path side, through their Soul link, Xiao Ran could feel Li Changsheng's Dao Embryo resonating with the Immortal Qi, progressing at lightning speed.

Ling Jianxin's Sword Intent became increasingly pure, Jian Wuchen's sword path broke through, and Su Qinghan's Daoist techniques improved.

"Parting ways is for the sake of a better Legacy."

Xiao Ran understood.

The Immortal-Demon Trial was not meant to cultivate monsters who couldn't distinguish between immortal and demon, but to select the successors most suited to their respective paths.

Therefore, parting ways was inevitable.

But in the end, at the summit, the successors of both the Immortal and Demonic Paths would gather once more.

To compete for that one and only... Legacy.

...

The third day, afternoon.

Xiao Ran stepped onto the 9,000th step.

"Those who climb 9,000 steps may receive a final reward, choose one of three."

"First is the demon heart seed; after implantation, it can significantly increase compatibility with Demonic Techniques."

"Second is the immortal-demon record, which records ancient immortal and demon secrets."

"Third is the summit token; after use, one can ignore a trial in the subsequent stages."

Xiao Ran looked at the three options and fell into deep thought.

Although the demon heart seed was good, he already had the Guixu Body and didn't need to further increase his compatibility with Demonic Techniques.

The immortal-demon record might contain important information.

The summit token... could save the final bit of time.

Time—there was less than half a day left.

He looked ahead; Li Tianxing and White Bone Scholar had already made their choices.

Both of them chose the demon heart seed.

Liu Ruyan chose the immortal-demon record.

"I choose the summit token."

Xiao Ran made his decision.

He needed to preserve his strength to deal with the final trial after reaching the summit.

With the token in hand, Xiao Ran did not use it immediately but continued to climb.

He would wait until the final moment to use it.

...

The 9,500th step.

When Xiao Ran stepped onto the 9,500th step, the final trial appeared before him.

Nine demonic statues blocked the end of the stairs.

Each one emitted the aura of the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

"Final Trial: Nine Demons Blocking the Way."

"Defeat all demonic statues or hold out for the duration of an incense stick to reach the top."

As the voice sounded, the nine demonic statues moved simultaneously.

Devilish Qi surged to the heavens, and killing moves were unleashed!

Seeing this, Xiao Ran felt no fear in his heart.

Because this daddy has a cheat.

Having said that, he pulled out the summit token from his robe, which transformed into a gate of light.

"The holder of the summit token may pass directly."

Xiao Ran smiled.

He stepped into the gate of light in one stride.

The scenery before him shifted.

When he reappeared, he was standing on a majestic White Jade Platform.

In the center of the platform, an Immortal Gate and a Demon Gate stood quietly.

He was the first to reach the top.

Xiao Ran looked down; amidst the swirling clouds and mist, he could vaguely see the others still climbing.

"Next, is the wait."