Chapter 663: Self-Deluded People

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Feeling the gaze of Shen Ruyan and the others, Jiang Chengxuan immediately relayed to them what he knew about the situation.

Shen Ruyan and her group were noticeably surprised upon hearing this and without hesitation, they too stepped onto the Staircase of Inner Inquiry.

After some time,

Many more streaks of light appeared in the distance.

Jiang Chengxuan and the others recognized that these were cultivators from the Eastern End and the Central Plain, including familiar figures such as Xiao Shencong, Xiao Shenji, and Daoist Shang Tong.

In addition, Jiang Chengxuan also saw Blue Moon and another Soul Formation cultivator from the Rising Sun Hall.

Without hesitation, Jiang Chengxuan communicated with Blue Moon, informing her about the situation.

Blue Moon, after a moment of contemplation, stepped onto the Staircase of Inner Inquiry with her companion.

Xiao Shencong and the others also ascended the staircase.

It was at this moment that many more streaks of light approached from afar.

However, the aura emanating from these newcomers was not of human cultivators but unmistakably of the demon race.

Jiang Chengxuan and the others swept their gazes over and their hearts skipped a beat.

The reason for that was because they had all recognized that the fellows that had appeared were Soul Formation Demon Sovereigns.

Among them, a few possessed such powerful auras that even Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan had to take them seriously, as their strength was comparable to their own.

Unless they were willing to use their true trump cards, it would probably be quite difficult for them to kill the other party with their current strength.

Moreover, who didn’t have a few trump cards to protect themselves after reaching Soul Formation?

“Is this the ancient Staircase of Inner Inquiry?” exclaimed one of the Demon Sovereigns, who had transformed into a middle-aged man.

He was known as Centurion Tiger Sovereign and carried a trace of the White Tiger bloodline within him.

Hearing his words, not only were the Demon Sovereigns surprised, but even Jiang Chengxuan and the others, who were already on the Staircase of Inner Inquiry, were slightly surprised.

He did not expect that among those Demon Sovereigns, there was actually someone who recognized this Staircase of Inner Inquiry.

“Centurian Tiger, what is the meaning of the Staircase of Inner Inquiry?”

Elder Black Tortoise, who had transformed into an old man, spoke slowly.

The Centurion Tiger Sovereign nodded slowly.

“In ancient times, this Staircase of Inner Inquiry was used to test the temperament of disciples.

It is said that those who could ascend 50 steps were considered to possess an excellent temperament and the potential to achieve Soul Formation.

Ascending 70 steps indicated the potential for the late stage of Soul Formation.

Climbing too steps suggested the potential to become a Divine Lord, and 500 steps, the potential to reach Dao Fusion.

Anyone reaching such heights, regardless of their past cultivation talents, would receive significant training and focus from their sect.

Moreover, as far as I know, although this Staircase of Inner Inquiry is primarily for testing one’s temperament, it also serves as a tool to temper one’s will.

The only caution is not to push oneself too hard.

Exceeding one’s mental and emotional limits could turn the illusions into reality, potentially consuming the individual.”

Centurion Tiger Sovereign conveyed this through telepathy to the other Demon Sovereigns present.

After hearing his words, they all became interested in the Staircase of Inner Inquiry.

At that moment, Ink Dragon Demon Sovereign, who had transformed into a robust man, asked Centurian Tiger, “Tiger, since the ancient Staircase of Inner Inquiry was such, does our present staircase differ in any way?

Simply put, if we ascend to the top of this Staircase of Inner Inquiry, will there be any benefits or rewards?”

Needless to say, this question was of paramount concern to everyone present.

Their purpose here was for the benefits.

They were more interested in tangible gains than ancient lore.

Centurion Tiger Sovereign nodded.

“There are definitely benefits.

Not to mention anything else, the tests on the staircase alone are opportunities to refine one’s temperament.

Besides, I suspect this Staircase of Inner Inquiry might also be a test for us by this ruin.

If we can pass it, it’s very possible for us to obtain all the inheritances in this ruin.”

Upon hearing the possibility of gaining all the inheritances of the ruin, the Demon Sovereigns like Ink Dragon and Elder Black Tortoise were visibly excited.

The benefits they had obtained from the ruins along the way were already very huge.

If they could really turn everything here into their own, how terrifying would this harvest be?

No wonder all the human Heavenly Lords had stepped onto the staircase.

It seemed like they all had the same thoughts.

With this realization, the Demon Sovereigns could no longer sit still and began to ascend the Staircase of Inner Inquiry.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

At this moment, the entire staircase lit up continuously.

Evidently, everyone only had one goal, and that was to reach the top of the staircase.

However, what they didn’t know was that the Staircase of Inner Inquiry, used by ancient sects to test disciples, was not easy to overcome.

Even if all of them present were Soul Formation beings, this was still the case.

A few days later.

On the Staircase of Inner Inquiry, suddenly, a Moose Demon Sovereign, transformed into a middle-aged scholar, burst into flames.

Strangely, there were no screams or attempts to escape the raging flames.

He stood quietly, smiling, as he slowly turned to ashes, with both his body and soul completely obliterated.

This scene shocked all the Demon Sovereigns and even the Soul Formation Heavenly Lords present.

However, before they could recover from their shock, another catastrophe unfolded on a different step.

A Soul Formation Heavenly Lord from the Central Plain suddenly became engulfed in a black wind that could erode flesh and bone.

At this moment, he just stood there quietly, allowing the black wind to blow past his body, cutting his flesh and blood bit by bit, turning his bones into powder.

In the end, just like Moose Demon Sovereign, his body and soul were destroyed.

“Fellow Daoist He Yuan!”

Xiao Shencong and the others could not help but exclaim.

They were clearly the same as those Demon Sovereigns. They did not expect that danger would come so suddenly on the staircase.

It was so sudden that they had no time to react.

“I understand now!”

Suddenly, a man named Heavenly Lord Qian Yun said,

“This is the backlash of the illusion.

If we cannot detach ourselves from these illusions, we will continue to sink until we meet the same fate as Daoist He Yuan.”

He then turned his gaze towards Jiang Chengxuan, who had already reached the fifty-third step.

“Jiang Chengxuan, did you already know all this?

No matter what, we’re all humans. Why didn’t you remind us beforehand?”

Heavenly Lord Qian Yun was an independent cultivator in the Central Plain.

Although he claimed to be an independent cultivator, how could someone at the Soul Formation stage not have some backing or a stance?

Jiang Chengxuan couldn’t be bothered to answer such a person’s question. Instead, he continued to focus on the next step in front of him.

“You…”

Being ignored by Jiang Chengxuan, Heavenly Lord Qian Yun felt embarrassed.

Anger flashed in his eyes.

But in the end, he still looked at the others present and said,

“Everyone, no matter what, I believe that all of you have already seen how dangerous this place is.

For safety, it’s best to proceed according to your abilities. Don’t force it. If it’s too much, we can always try to ascend the staircase another time.”

Having said that, Heavenly Lord Qian Yun left the Staircase of Inner Inquiry on his own accord.

Those who knew the ins and outs, like Jiang Chengxuan, could only smirk inwardly at these self-deluded individuals.

Once they descended, they could forget about having a second chance to ascend the staircase.

At this moment, several people did the same as Heavenly Lord Qian Yun.

This Included several Demon Sovereigns.

In the beginning, they did not think much of it.

However, when they tried to ascend the Staircase of Inner Inquiry a second time, they were shocked to find that no matter what they did, they couldn’t set foot on it again.

How could this be?

Heavenly Lord Qian Yun and the others were confused.

Could it be that the opportunity to undergo the test of the Staircase of Inner Inquiry was only given once?

If you voluntarily give up, there’s no second chance?

Realizing this possibility, the faces of Heavenly Lord Qian Yun and others changed.

If this were true, it would be a tremendous loss.

The cultivators from the Eastern End, the Central Plain, and the Demon Sovereigns all looked troubled.

If the Staircase of Inner Inquiry could only be ascended and not retreated from, giving up would mean forfeiting the opportunity.

In that case, the difficulty of this trip up the staircase had undoubtedly increased by several levels.

Most importantly, observing Jiang Chengxuan at the top, it seemed as though he hadn’t encountered any major challenges.

In just a short while, he had ascended another five or six steps.

What this implied was very clear to those on the staircase.

If Jiang Chengxuan, by some stroke of luck, passed a certain level or even the entire staircase, potentially gaining control of the entire inheritance, it would be awful news.

With their current speed, it was almost impossible for them to catch up to Jiang Chengxuan.

What to do?

Should they just let him continue ascending?

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