The sun crawled higher in the sky, painting the mountainside in golden light, but the warmth did little to ease the tension among the participants. Every step they ascended felt like a war against an unseen force. The weight of the sacks, coupled with the unrelenting pressure, bore down mercilessly. Conversations had died out, replaced by labored breaths and the occasional groan of exertion.
Those who had been jovial earlier were now solemn, their gazes fixed on the massive steps ahead. Each step had grown into a torment, their bodies screaming in protest. The pressure increased in increments, as silent as the mountain itself, leaving many unaware of its true nature until they faltered.
By the 150th step, the first real cracks began to show. A lean, sharp-eyed youth who had been sneering at others earlier now sat slumped on the side of the stairs, clutching his chest. His breaths came in ragged gasps as he stared at the steps above, his confidence shattered.
"You… you can't be serious…" he muttered, his voice barely audible as his sack slipped from his grasp and tumbled down the stairs.
Several others paused at this stage, their faces pale as they measured their strength against the task. For some, pride kept them moving forward, but for others, the mountain had already won.
The masked figure in black continued his ascent, his pace steady and deliberate. His distinctive blue eyes, barely visible beneath his mask, flicked toward the fallen youth briefly before returning to the path ahead. His movements betrayed no sign of struggle, though the increasing pressure tested even his exceptional control.
High above, the Examiner remained seated on his crane, his arms crossed as he watched the participants with a mixture of disdain and mild interest. His gaze flitted from one hopeful to the next, noting how each dealt with the mounting difficulty. A faint smirk tugged at his lips when he noticed some participants trying to take shortcuts, bypassing steps only to find themselves slammed back onto the stone by an invisible force.
"Fools," he muttered under his breath. "You can't cheat the mountain."
By the 200th step, the pressure was enough to force even the most resilient participants to rely heavily on their Qi. The air shimmered faintly as cultivators activated their techniques, enveloping themselves in protective auras. However, this came at a cost. Those with weaker foundations found their Qi reserves draining rapidly, leaving them exposed and vulnerable.
One young woman, her dark hair plastered to her face with sweat, stumbled to her knees. Her hands trembled as she tried to push herself up, but her body refused to obey. A burly man beside her paused, hesitating for a moment before offering her a hand.
"Come on," he grunted. "We didn't come all this way to stop now."
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with equal parts gratitude and shame. With his help, she rose to her feet, though her steps remained unsteady.
The Examiner's gaze narrowed as he observed this act of camaraderie. "Interesting," he murmured again, though whether he was impressed or disdainful was impossible to tell.
At the 250th step, a powerful presence emerged among the participants. A tall man with silver hair, his robes bearing intricate embroidery, moved with an air of effortless grace. Unlike the others, he seemed almost untouched by the mounting pressure, his Qi flowing smoothly around him. He paused briefly, glancing over the struggling crowd with a faint smile before continuing upward.
The masked figure in black noticed him but remained focused on his own path. Though his movements were efficient, there was no denying the mounting strain as the steps pushed his body to its limits.
Another participant, a stocky youth with a scarred face, suddenly roared in frustration. "Enough of this!" he bellowed, throwing his sack to the ground. He activated a burst of Qi, his aura flaring brightly as he attempted to storm up the steps without his burden.
The reaction was immediate. The mountain's pressure intensified around him, slamming him to his knees as though the very air had turned against him. He let out a strangled cry, his body trembling as he collapsed onto the steps.
The Examiner chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Impatience will get you nowhere," he said, his voice laced with mockery.
By the 300th step, the group had thinned considerably. Many had succumbed to the pressure, their bodies and spirits broken. Those who remained were either exceptionally talented or stubborn beyond reason.
Among the remaining participants, subtle rivalries began to form. A dark-haired woman with a sharp gaze kept pace with the silver-haired man, her Qi flaring brightly as she matched his every step. The burly man who had helped the young woman earlier now carried not only his own sack but hers as well, his every step a testament to his sheer determination.
The masked figure in black continued to ascend in silence, his presence an enigma to those around him. His controlled movements and unyielding pace drew occasional glances from the others, but none dared approach him.
High above, the Examiner leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued. "The mountain has chosen its favorites," he murmured, his eyes gleaming as he watched the strongest contenders push onward.
As the sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, the steps ahead were bathed in a warm, golden light. For those still climbing, the summit seemed both tantalizingly close and impossibly far. The mountain's pressure continued to grow, each step a brutal test of endurance, strength, and will.
And still, they climbed.