As the speed of Julong increased, so did the hooded figure beside him. It got to the point that they could have been classified as a new group, they were getting so much further ahead than the others.
Not a word was uttered between them, nor were there glances thrown. It was almost like they were disrespecting each other by not giving face to one another. That didn't deter either of them however as they kept going.
Taking a small glance back toward the other competitors, he could see Zhou Yuan slowly making ground on the others, leaving behind a trail of Genesis Qi that resembled a Python. Just seeing the very limited amount he did before turning back to face the front, he formed a smile on his lips. He was relieved if anything.
As if noticing his attention had been moved from competing with him, the person in the hood sped up. This was the first time he had done so unprovoked by Julong, and hence, Julong had no choice but to respond in kind.
As time passed, everyone could feel the relentless flood of green Genesis Qi grow stronger, to the point that some of the Geniuses couldn't go on anymore and began withdrawing. Despite such a tragic event having occurred, there was still no end in sight to the stairs, not even for the two front runners who were ahead of the other groups by at least double the usual gap between the groups.
It was then a large wave appeared. It signalled that yet again, the pressure would increase.
Julong and the hooded figure charged into the abrupt wave that had appeared before them, sustaining no hindrance from the increased pressure.
The more talented Geniuses just behind suffered a small mishap with their footing when being hit by the abrupt wave, having no time to brace. A few were knocked off the staircase untimely, ending their journey. But that was just the First-Rate Geniuses. The Second-Rate Geniuses were almost completely wiped out thanks to not being able to power through the sheer berserk energy the wave contained.
As time went on, more waves came adding more pressure to the endless climb. It was only a matter of time before the Second-Rate Geniuses were wiped out in their entirety, and the pressure began growing on the First-Rate Geniuses.
Just as the Geniuses were becoming more restless, Julong spotted a floating island a little further up. It had a stone pillar in the middle with glowing ancient writing on it.
'Island 1 of 9 - Low Blessing'
So that's what this island is. It determines who receives what blessings for making it this far.
Just from seeing that the current platform was the first of 9, it was clear that the blessings would get better the further one went up the stairs. The only issue was that there was a small rule panel underneath the island's ranking.
'Those who enter cannot leave.'
That meant that as soon as you stepped onto the island, you were not allowed to continue afterwards, and would have to fight for the blessing.
This was essentially a way of making people give up on the Saint Stairs which would give the person who climbed to the top the Greatest Blessing. It was almost like a pity system since many of them knew they were no match for one another.
Many of the Geniuses were smart and realised these little bits of information, striving to get higher than the first platform, and near the top platforms to a point at which they would be able to actually fight someone on their level.
After a small amount of time, another 3 floating islands appeared as they got closer to the peak of the mountain, and in return, the top of the staircase. 12 of the 20 Geniuses had already occupied the islands that had appeared. People like Lu Luo, Zouqiu Quinyu and Zhen Xu had gotten off due to a mixture of exhaustion and thirst for revenge on the people from the Dongxuan Continent. It was rather amusing to Julong.
Soon the seventh island appeared, making another two Geniuses leave, but not before the one in red, whose name Julong did not know, gave Zhou Yuan some inspirational words for his fight against Wu Huang.
It was now just Ye Ming, Wu Huang, Zhou Yuan, the hooded figure, the blind swordsman, and the one and only Wan Julong.
The intensity was high, but the four behind Julong and the hooded figure had already accepted the fact that they were no match for the highest peak of the mountain, now contesting between themselves to get the Eighth and Ninth Island.
It was at that point that a wave so large that it trumped all the previous setbacks in its wake, appeared. It became increasingly large, reaching a height over 10 000 ft tall. It was clear this wave was set on determining whether any of them deserved any of the higher blessings.
While as per usual, Julong and the one beside him did not have too much trouble, the 4 behind them were struggling after taking the pressure of the wave. They were using every bit of their power to push through the undying wave made of berserk Genesis Qi.
That was when Ye Ming made his move.
"Wu Huang. Since it could be said that we are companions, naturally we should go through thick and thin together, therefore leaving me behind as you attain a higher blessing than I is definitely a no go."
A dark green blade of Qi appeared in his hand.
"That's why it will be better if you stay here and keep me company!"
He brought his hand forth, making the Genesis Qi turn into a spear, shooting toward the back of Wu Huang. But all the aforementioned person did was smirk. He brought his hand forth and stalled the attack with fiery Genesis Qi, eventually taking over it, and beginning to ride it.
"Ye Ming, did you really think that I would not be on guard against someone as devious as yourself. I was purposefully showing an opening just now for this exact reason."
As Wu Huang laughed, Ye Mings expression turned overcast and stormy. He was definitely not happy and was beginning to let his true colours shine. Soon though, he would not feel anything else.
From above, not able to dodge thanks to the pressure the Genesis Qi was exuding upon his body, a sharp slash of Sword Qi shot toward his body.
It took a few seconds for anyone to realise what had happened, but watching the blood instantly fly from his body as he went limp was a dead giveaway. Ye Ming was just murdered in cold blood. Looking up it was easy to tell who it was. It was none other than the one who was glaring at his body that was falling from the stream of Berserk Qi... Wan Julong.
Just how Ye Ming had, he had waited for him to lower his guard. He had been waiting the whole time they had been going up the Staircase for Ye Ming to slip up, and he eventually did, resulting in his death.
Originally, Julong had no intention of reaching the peak of the mountain and obtaining the Greatest Blessing, but now that he had competition, one that seemingly involved Yao Yao, he had decided he would kill two birds with one stone - kill Ye Ming in the river, allowing him to reach the peak.
Gasps wrung out from those who were watching at the bottom. No one had expected such a twist. Even the Envoys who had been watching from outside the Domain were a little surprised by the turn of events. Ye Mings approach had definitely backfired.
Just by giving a general assessment, this meant that the blind swordsman had now secured the Eighth Island. He looked a little upset about the event, but Julong had warned him before the challenge had begun that he would be the one to kill Ye Ming, so it wasn't exactly a shock for him.
Gritting his teeth, he decided to help out Zhou Yuan before he went to the Island.
A formidable flash of Sword Light rose from behind Zhou Yuan, bursting forth in front of him, cutting open a path in the Genesis Qi, making the climb for Zhou Yuan easier.
"I'll be sending you off, Zhou Yuan. Make sure you beat Wu Huang so my actions are not in vain."
"Thank you, Lu Chunjun."
So that was his name? I'll make sure to remember it.
Zhou Yuan, with a final push, finally caught up to Wu Huang, and they both exited moving toward the Ninth Island, leaving Julong and the hooded figure beside him. It was only a few breaths later that they brazenly breached the river of Genesis Qi, summitting the mountain.
Cheers wrung out throughout the Domain, negligent to the fact that this was merely the beginning.