Ye Ling lifted her foot and stepped onto the nine-thousandth step.
The next moment, her surroundings shifted abruptly, and she was once again pulled into an illusion.
The world around her was vast and empty. At the end of her line of sight, a young woman sat quietly.
The woman's eyebrows were sharp as swords, and her features carried an intimidating edge. A terrifying, majestic pressure circulated around her entire body, and she was currently watching Ye Ling with great interest.
“In three hundred years, you are the second person to set foot on the nine-thousandth step. I have waited here for a full three hundred years.”
The Dao imprint deep within Ye Ling's soul remained completely calm and still, giving no warning whatsoever.
This meant that there was no killing intent in this illusion, and she faced no mortal danger.
She quietly breathed a sigh of relief, then composed herself and bowed respectfully to the woman with clasped hands.
“Greetings, Senior. May I ask why you have been waiting for me, and what guidance you might have for this junior?”
The woman waved her hand and spoke casually.
“There is no need to call me senior. I am actually the item spirit of this Heavenly Spirit Stairs. This object was originally an Heaven-grade spiritual treasure that accompanied its master in battles thousands of years ago.”
“After my master was besieged and fell, the spiritual stairs were also heavily damaged, and their rank plummeted. Now, only the basic functions remain.”
“I only fully woke up a thousand years ago. After a long period of silence, it wasn't until three hundred years ago that a young girl set foot on the nine-thousandth step, allowing me to feel the presence of a living person once again.”
The woman changed the subject and slowly stood up. She was exceptionally tall, standing over six feet three.
Paired with her sharp, sword-like eyes, a majestic and awe-inspiring aura instantly erupted from her, striking fear into the heart.
“Your aptitude is actually a bit better than that girl from three hundred years ago. To think that at the mere Houtian Realm, you have already comprehended half-step Sword Force.”
Ye Ling instinctively took a half-step back, her heart jolting in shock.
Half-step Sword Force was her deepest, most carefully hidden trump card, yet the woman had seen right through it at a single glance.
Seeing her reaction, the woman's lips curved into a slight smile, and her tone softened a bit.
“No need to be nervous or afraid. I have simply lived for too long and seen too much. I will not harm you. Having been silent for so long, I am more than happy just to have someone to talk to.”
Although Ye Ling remained on guard, she stopped retreating and stood quietly in place.
The woman continued, “Your previous observation was correct. This spiritual stairs actually only has nine thousand steps. The remaining one thousand steps are entirely an illusion.”
Ye Ling's heart tightened. She was secretly astonished. To think she even knows what I am thinking. Could she be proficient in mind-reading?
She looked up at the woman, her expression filled with wariness.
The woman smiled at her reaction. “I cannot read minds. It is just that your thoughts are written all over your face, making them easy to read at a glance.”
“Why don't we make a deal? If you chat with me for a bit, I will give you whatever you currently desire, as long as it is in my possession. That young girl from three hundred years ago did the same.”
Ye Ling had no other options at the moment, nor could she leave this illusion on her own, so she could only agree.
“Very well. I shall converse with you, Senior. However, I have never been good with words, so I hope you will forgive me.”
The woman waved her hand, her tone relaxed.
“It matters not, as long as you are a living person. I have been trapped here for too long, and it has been ages since I last saw an outsider.”
In less than the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the woman actively brought the conversation to an end.
She looked at Ye Ling, who stood there quietly, and shook her head helplessly.
“When you said earlier that you were not good with words, I thought you were just being modest. I did not expect you to be a literal mute gourd. I was the only one talking the entire time. Chatting with you is truly boring.”
Ye Ling felt a bit guilty but grumbled inwardly, I already warned you beforehand that I do not talk much. You were the one who did not believe me, and now you are blaming me.
However, since the other party held all the power, she did not dare to show any dissatisfaction and could only bow her head to apologize.
“I am sorry, Senior. I am naturally quiet and have never been good at casual conversation.”
“Fine, fine.” The woman waved her hand, her face full of helplessness. To think that after waiting anxiously for three hundred years, she had ended up with such an uninteresting little fellow.
“Speak. What kind of opportunity do you want? As long as I have it, I can satisfy your request.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Ye Ling blurted out, “Senior, I want a body-tempering cultivation method.”
“A body-tempering cultivation method?” The woman raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. “You are quite sharp, little girl, knowing how to choose the most practical good thing.”
The woman pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
“You are currently at the Houtian Eleventh Layer. Houtian martial artists have shallow physical foundations and numerous flaws. Practicing a body-tempering cultivation method at this stage would yield half the result for twice the effort.”
“Only by breaking through to the Xiantian Realm and undergoing the Xiantian cleansing of marrow and channels to wash away physical impurities and reshape your constitution will practicing a body-tempering cultivation method yield twice the result with half the effort.”
As her voice fell, a spiritual light flashed at her fingertips as if she were searching through her remaining cultivation inheritances.
“It just so happens that I have a body-tempering cultivation method suitable for the Xiantian Realm. Its grade is Profound-grade peak-tier.”
“The only drawback is that the cultivation difficulty is extremely high; ordinary geniuses cannot even reach the Entry Level. Do you dare to take it?”
Hearing the words "Profound-grade peak-tier," Ye Ling's eyes lit up instantly. Without any hesitation, she called out, “Yes! Senior, I definitely want it!”
How precious was a Profound-grade peak-tier cultivation method? Even within the four major sects of the Qingyun Kingdom, it would be considered a sect-guarding rare inheritance that ordinary disciples had absolutely no chance of ever seeing.
Passing up such an opportunity would be truly foolish. As for the extremely high difficulty of cultivation, she did not care in the slightest.
To her, there was no cultivation method she could not master; the only difference was whether she mastered it sooner or later.
Looking at the girl who had suddenly become a completely different person, the woman could not help but laugh.
“I really could not tell. You are usually quiet, but the moment a cultivation method is involved, you become a completely different person. You are a certified cultivation maniac.”
A teasing smile flashed in her eyes, and she lightly tapped the empty air with her slender finger.
Countless profound and ancient golden characters emerged out of thin air. Like a starry river falling into the sea, they all surged into Ye Ling's sea of consciousness through her forehead.
Ye Ling immediately focused her mind, calmed her breathing, and sank her consciousness inward, wanting to comprehend this brand-new body-tempering cultivation method.
Seeing her focusing on comprehension, the woman added at the appropriate moment.
“I have placed a cultivation realm restriction on this method. Before you reach the Xiantian Realm, only a technique imprint will remain in your sea of consciousness. You will not be able to view or comprehend even a fraction of it.”
“This is to prevent you from being overambitious before your foundation is stable. Rushing to cultivate it would only harm your cultivation foundation.”
“First, focus on polishing your cultivation with peace of mind. Once you break through to the Xiantian Realm in the future, the restriction will automatically unlock, and the full text of the cultivation method will be revealed to you.”
“Alright...”
Ye Ling frowned slightly, a trace of urgency flashing in her eyes, but it smoothed over a moment later.
It will unlock once I reach the Xiantian Realm. It shouldn't take too long.
Her mind was now entirely consumed by thoughts of cultivation. She immediately clasped her hands to the woman and said,
“Senior, our deal is complete. May I ask if you can send me out of here now?”
Seeing through her eagerness to cultivate, the woman smiled.
“Fine, fine, I will let you out now. You mute gourd, I will not keep you any longer.”
Pausing, she sighed softly with emotion. “Your batch has quite a few outstanding talents. It looks like a second person will soon come to keep me company.”
Ye Ling's heart stirred. A second person? It must be Ye Chen.
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