"Run" With the bell ring, everyone got up and starts running towards the top. Most of them were running in to reach the first step of the mountain.
"Idiots" One of the young boys in white cloth holding Chinese style fan mocked the whole crowd but no one heard him.
"Sister why are we walking so slow, let's run fast" A girl who looks like a thirteen-year-old loli cried in haste.
"Younger sister, don't forget haste makes waste. Here we aren't rank by reach faster but how many steps we can walk so try to save your stamina" the Tall and beautiful girl said with a smile on her face.
"Yes elder sister" Little loli looking at her elder sister's face nodded her head.
At another place, fei was also walking towards the mountain. While his body is full of energy, he was still trying to conserve as much as he can. After all, this was something that decides whether fei could reach the top or not?
"So heavy" First person who steps on the first step of the mountain felt a heavy pressure on his body. It was clear that he wasn't tempering his body and all this running drains his stamina to the lowest point.
"Yes this is very heavy" the Second person was the same.
"My God, how can someone even reach sixty steps" Third person cried in horror under the pressure of the mountain.
At that time, a boy wearing a white dress whose face was handsome took a step on the first step and start moving up without stopping. He took one after another step and sneer on those who could hardly bear the pressure of first steps "Wastes"
After that boy, most of them were still struggling on the first step but each step on the mountain was a huge spreading width of three to four kilometers.
While others were busy on them, fei had also reached first but before walking ahead, he looked at the surroundings and saw fatty Lu at the fourth step. Corner of his mouth smile and took the first step.
Each step could hold two thousand people at a time so there wasn't much problem with walking. Fei also felt pressure but that pressure was almost negligible for him. He didn't show any kind of discomfort on his face. He silently walks, each step was two hundred meters in the area so it took some time to reach second steps
Fei took walks across the first step then proceed to the second one easily. He was not only walking but also letting his muscles loose so that he can preserve energy. His single step consumes a terrifying amount of stamina and he can't use spiritual qi to recover it.
The only thing he could do is preserve. He walks the second step reaching the third step. He didn't feel any oppression like others. Other people especially normal cultivators were already shaking. They couldn't even walk the first step.
After two hours, ten thousand people were below twenty whereas some highest level geniuses reached forty steps. Between them were other people striving hard to reach higher. Of course, that doesn't include fei since it was rather easy for him.
At this moment some of them realize fei existence. Unlike previous times where they ignore him due to his cultivation base. This time they felt something amiss. At first, fei was at last group that climbs up but unlike others who took rest due to over-exhaustion, fei didn't stop. He continuously moves forward and his facial expression was very calm like nothing happened.
"This guy is either acting tough or his cultivation is not real"
"Yeah, otherwise how could anyone of soul refining stage first layer move without any rest?"
"This guy may possess some treasure that can block Holy mountain pressure"
"Are you kidding me? This is Five Elements Holy Mountain. How could anyone have a treasure that can resist its might?"
"Otherwise, how can this guy move without rest?"
"Umm, that's a good question. By the way, do you know his name?"
"Hey wait I remember his name. He is Xia Long Fei from three years ago"
"No wonder I couldn't remember. But why do you know him? You are also a new student here"
"I heard his name when I entered Five Elements Sect. He was previously known as a genius but later on, he couldn't break through the Qi refining stage. So he was regarded as trash but now it seems he reached the soul refining stage. Could it be his talent is back?"
"So what if his talent is back. Aren't our cultivation is still above him"
"But we are still at forty steps whereas he reached fifty"
Many disciples who noticed fei start talking about him. Only one or two recognize him and explained it to others. At this time fei wasn't listening to them, all he did was walk up.
After fifty steps, the pressure above increases by two times. But this still wasn't enough to make fei show any of his cards.
He continuously walks while thinking 'normally cultivator should focus on all three paths i.e. Body, Qi, and Soul but most of them in the Zhen Qi dynasty didn't realize it. There isn't much talent in this dynasty. From Long Hao, I learned all nine stages from body refining to spiritual sea are just part of the Foundation Building realm and above this, there are eight other realms. Although he didn't explain to me the realms of cultivation he did say genius recognized by dynasty or even continent only take one or two years whereas I already spend four years. Previously my vision was low but not anymore. My goals are high, except martial arts talent. I shouldn't compare myself to other'
'I practice three ancient arts and some other powerful arts which is very favorable for me but this will hinder me in progress. After all ancient arts required plenty of resources and time to a breakthrough which I do not have. I have already made a good base for the physical body by cultivating Mountain and River Body Refining Art. So I would require qi and soul art of some level.'
'While fighting most of my powers come from physical strength which is bad if I want to reach peak of the martial art, I need to bring my qi and soul to the same."
'Oh I forget my soul is also very powerful but the problem is I don't have any soul type martial arts. After I pass these tests I should focus on getting Soul type martial arts, Qi refining martial technique, and Five Elements Art.'
While thinking he was walking every step with ease.
51st step, 52nd step, 53rd step ...… 59th step
61st step, 62nd step, 63rd step ...… 69th step
Like this, he reached seventy steps without rest. One the way, he also helped fatty Lu to get in sixty steps. Seeing his performance, five elders who were watching from stage whispered.
"Isn't this Long family child? I heard his dantian was sealed so he couldn't draw qi into his dantian" Blue rope lady elder said with a little surprise on her face.
"That was the case but it seems either he unsealed his dantian or our news was wrong," Silver rope elder said in the stern face.
"Hehe who cares, all that matter is his body strength, he is a little monster," Gray rope elder said making an exaggerated face.
"Yeah to walk seventy steps without rest in soul refining layer first, this guy is clearly a monster" White rope elder also made the same face as gray rope elder.
While other elders were talking, the red rope elder was silent looking at fei with a gloomy face. Seeing it, other elders also realize the current situation. This red rope elder was from the Zhao family whereas Fei was from the Long family. These two families have a huge hatred against each other.
Other elders also noticed but don't say anything. They just continued to watch.
Fei was walking towards the 71st step. Here for the first time, he felt the pressure. He looks at the front saw nearly a thousand remaining disciples who were still trying hard to reach the top but five hundred of them were already so tired so they could hardly reach the 80th step.
On the 80th step, there is a reward which was inspiring disciples to bear such pressure and walk forward. This time fei let all of the physical strength, running qi throughout his body. He also inspired his soul power trying to hold pressure and walk forward.
He walks straight to the top. His qi was mixed with thunder and other elements making his body stable. He saw different figures such as ladies, some arrogant face boys, and some other disciples.
After the 80th step, only two hundred of the total disciples move forward. They got the various pill, martial art, and other treasures according to their luck. Fei also reached the 80th step and saw a dragon statue. In a dragon claw, you have to put your palm and you will get treasures from the dragon mouth.
Fei puts his hand on the dragon palm; a white light covers them and saw a book on the head of the dragon. Fei walked near and pick it up. He saw four words at the cover of that book, Blazing Sun Fire Technique.