Tristan kept climbing. Only the final thousand steps were left. The pressure had reached a point it could kill. With each step, Tristan's skin and muscles were being shredded constantly, but with his healing power he was healing them at the same time.
Tristan continued climbing, his mental energy continued becoming thicker and thicker and the aura had begun fusing with his heart. Slowly pricking into and getting absorbed into each muscle cell in the heart. The heart was slowly turning Black- Purple. of the aura.
The steps became harder and harder. Tristan's speed again became slower, his soul was again itching like crazy. But he was almost at the top. Couple of days later, Tristan had reached the 9990 step.
The aura had completely fused with the heart and he could not control it anymore. The body evolution mission had changed to S grade, but Tristan wasn't sure what was going on, because he felt like by fusing with his heart, his aura quality had broken through a limit in quality, but this wasn't the path to Undying Live Forever.
"Is Undying Live Forever not the peak physical path? Or is there perhaps a different peak path parallel to Undying Live Forever?" Tristan wondered.
Tristan continued to climb, but now each step took several hours to climb and stabilize over due to the pressure. The itch of the soul had reached a new peak, Tristan was only waiting to finish the steps before healing his mind again.
On the 9999th step, Tristan's mental energy became liquified, ethereal liquid like, similar to how aura would condense. The liquefied mental energy surrounded his brain and his soul itch began to heal on its own.
However his mental energy dropped down from 100 to 10 liquefied. The soul itch had completely healed. The ??? in the evolution quest had turned into Aura Heart - S grade.
Tristan finally took the final step and a heavenly tribulation bolt hit the bell on the peak of the stairway. The bell chimed three times. Then from the bell a spirit poured out.
The spirit was dressed in gold, it's hair was also gold and on it's head was a red crown. The spirit smiled.
"I am Esprit, the Progenitor of the Spirit Race. To be able to pass my mountain of trials, you have incredible will power. Although you used items to help you mend your psyche, find such a treasure can also be attributed to your ability.
When I created this mountain, it was meant to be a training ground for the geniuses of my Spirit race. Unfortunately, I have fallen and my race has been enslaved by Ghosts. Today, the only remaining part of me is the sliver of consciousness attached to this mountain.
For your achievement, I do not have much to offed you. I have three items to take as your prize, but I would also like a favor from you."
Tristan didn't respond, he was tired of everyone asking him of favors.
"This is a token to the Spirit Secret World. When I fell, I sealed the world with my dying breath. Inside you will find all kinds of treasures to fortify your mental energy. I see that your mental energy has liquefied, it would be beneficial for you.
However, this is also attached to my favor. Just before my death, I sealed my son within a book in the palace library. Please unseal him from the book and take him to the Spirit Secret World with you. There you can take away everything else, but just let him have the Inheritance of the Ghost Slayer.
This is the second reward. This is a bottle of Infinite Essence. I can sense that you have an energy body, when you have fused all the natural elements, use this to access the hidden path.
Here is the final reward. You have a spiritual innate talent, this object will help you improve on it. It is known as Spirit Force Condensate."
Tristan collected the three objects into his storage. He paused, then asked. "Which book?"
The Spirit Progenitor smiled. "Thank you." He then pointed at Tristan's forehead and a memory of the palace was branded in his mind along with secret paths and the treasury along with information about the library and book.
"If you have any questions, you can ask me. I may not have much power, but I do have knowledge." Esprit said.
Tristan thought a bit before asking. "I just saw the heavenly tribulation hit the bell thrice, does a heavenly tribulation bolt have any uses?"
Esprit thought for a bit. "Good question. The tribulation bolts you saw are artificial recreations. It is impossible for living beings to summon a heavenly tribulation bolt for their personal use. However, you need lightning to fuse the final element in the five element body. If heavenly tribulation could be theoretically used, the effect during fusion might be magnified. However, heavenly tribulation has a mind of its own, it is impossible for it to become subservient to you, so it is impossible."
Tristan nodded. This was new and important knowledge for him.
Tristan asked one more question. "How do I use my Energy body in combat?"
"You must learn Energy combat arts. Just like body uses martial arts to fight, energy body uses energy arts. It is a long range art, you have to practice energy control. You haven't yet unlocked the latent skill of your Earth Energy body yet. I am a spirit and it would be presumptuous to guide you. You should visit the Simulation World. It is inhabited by sentient artificially created energy life forms and they can teach you different things about using an energy body."
Tristan nodded. Esprit apologized. "Unfortunately, I cannot maintain this form for long, I wish you well. I must now return to sleep."
Soon Esprit returned to the bell and fell asleep. Tristan walked his way down the stairs, there was no pressure this time around. On the ground, members and elders of the Vast Expanse greeted him. "Congratulations White Star. You actually reached the peak, you've surpassed the limits of imagination."
Tristan nodded. "Thank you for the opportunity."
Vast Expanse elder spoke. "Can you tell us what lies at the peak of the mountain?"
"Nothing. Just the projection of the creator of the mountain explaining that the trial was the reward." Tristan said.
"Who was the creator?" The Elder asked.
"I don't know. I could hear a voice and they didn't introduce themself." Tristan blatantly lied.
The elder nodded. Tristan had some small talk and then left the scene. Tristan didn't get a good vibe from that particular Elder.