Climbing the Heavenly Stairway, Entering the Heavenly Sect!

Lu Changsheng stood motionless, not panicking in the slightest, remaining exceptionally calm. Dense fog choked the surroundings, completely obscuring his bearings. If he took a rash step now, his foot might find only empty air. Plummeting from here would inevitably break him to pieces. *A trial of the Heavenly Stairway?* A sharp gleam flashed through Lu Changsheng's eyes. The Heavenly Stairway was bound to have its trials. Otherwise, how could anyone become a seed disciple and receive the dedicated nurturing of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect? It was just that this dense fog... Lu Changsheng closed his eyes. *Whoosh...* He had not yet reached the mountainside. Even so, gentle breezes blew perpetually at the base of the mountain. As the breeze brushed past, Lu Changsheng's Perception Domain swept rapidly outward in all directions. Within his Perception Domain, Lu Changsheng could "perceive" everything. At times, perceiving through this domain was far more effective than seeing with eyes. Sure enough, once Lu Changsheng unleashed his Perception Domain, he found that there was no thick fog around him at all. Instead, it was the power of a domain, deceiving people into believing they were engulfed in heavy mist. In such a situation, one either had to possess an unshakeable will and immense mental energy to naturally see through the fog, or wield a technique akin to a perceptual conception, just like Lu Changsheng. No, a mere perceptual conception would likely be of little use; it would simply be suppressed. It had to be a Perception Domain. After all, even Lu Changsheng's Perception Domain was noticeably suppressed by some manner of power. He had originally been able to perceive an area spanning over a hundred li. Yet now, he could only sense within a radius of a hundred zhang. Even his domain was compressed to such an extent; had he still relied on the Wind of Perception Conception, it would likely have been stifled to the point where he could sense nothing at all. This was the Heavenly Stairway! Ascending it was no easy feat. At this moment, many servants stood atop the mountain peak, along with several outer sect disciples who had taken up the mission of guarding the mountain gate. From the summit, they could look down upon the foot of the mountain. These servants were the very ones who had fled up the mountain from below. The outer sect disciples had long learned that Lu Changsheng had slain those servants at the foot of the mountain, which was why their interest was piqued. "Look, he must have fallen into the Heavenly Stairway Domain and lost his sense of direction. He's standing frozen, not daring to budge." "How could ascending the Heavenly Stairway ever be easy? Countless arrogant fools who thought they could climb it ended up plunging off the precipice, smashed to pieces." "How vast is the Northern Region? Perhaps some prodigies, having dazzled everyone in their own lands or factions, flatter themselves into believing they are top-tier geniuses who can look down upon the world. In their eyes, our Northern Region Heavenly Sect's mere Heavenly Stairway is practically handing them resources on a platter. Full of unearned confidence, they assume conquering it is effortless. Yet it's precisely these people who die on the stairway most often." "This fellow is so overbearing and arrogant that he slaughtered the senior brothers' servants before even entering the sect. Heh, does he truly believe the sect doesn't know about servants extorting silver at the stairway? Overestimating himself, he forced his way up, only to get trapped within the Heavenly Stairway Domain. I reckon he'll tumble off before long." Guarding the mountain gate earned these outer sect disciples very little merit, and the duty was usually dull and tedious. Now that a fierce newcomer had abruptly appeared and slain the servants, he was practically free entertainment, so they paid close attention. Some even hoped Lu Changsheng would make it a few steps farther rather than dying too quickly, just to keep their amusement going a bit longer. Unfortunately, very few who fell into the Heavenly Stairway Domain ever managed to walk out. Unless one had evolved their own domain, or possessed an exceptionally powerful will and spirit, there was virtually no chance of escaping the Heavenly Stairway Domain to truly ascend and enter the sect. Yet such geniuses were extraordinarily rare. Once they entered the sect, every single one of them stirred up storms and became prominent figures. Meanwhile, still trapped within the Heavenly Stairway Domain, Lu Changsheng decided to continue his ascent. Dense fog surrounded him on all sides. Keeping his eyes open only hindered him. Thus, Lu Changsheng simply shut his eyes, relying entirely on his Perception Domain. The moment he closed his eyes, the thick fog around him seemed to vanish into thin air. Everything within a hundred-zhang radius became starkly clear and distinct in his perception, down to the finest detail. Then, Lu Changsheng stepped forward. One step, two steps, three steps... He walked with tremendous steadiness. Moreover, with his eyes closed, he traversed the Heavenly Stairway as though walking on level ground. It was nothing short of miraculous. At the summit, the expressions of the servants and outer disciples who had just been treating Lu Changsheng as entertainment suddenly froze. "How is that possible? He... he broke free from the Heavenly Stairway Domain?" "With his eyes closed? One step, two steps, three steps... He's walking like it's flat ground! He doesn't even need his eyes to climb the Heavenly Stairway?" "To ascend the stairway, one must possess either an immense will and mental strength, or have evolved a domain. Seeing him with his eyes shut, he must be relying on some perceptual method. Is it a Perception Domain?" "A domain—it has to be an evolved domain! He is still in the Divine Strength Realm, and yet he evolved a domain before even entering the sect! With talent like this, he is guaranteed to become an inner disciple in the future. He might even be a standout among them, and becoming a true disciple isn't out of the question!" "This is a heavyweight figure. We can't afford to provoke him..." For a moment, the outer sect disciples exchanged glances, their expressions turning exceedingly grave. Such a figure was destined to make waves. In their hearts, they had already decided how they should conduct themselves. Lu Changsheng knew nothing of what was happening at the summit. Maintaining his Perception Domain, he climbed the Heavenly Stairway step by step. The stairway was exceptionally steep, totaling one thousand and eighty steps. After walking for an entire double-hour, Lu Changsheng finally finished ascending all one thousand and eighty steps, arriving smoothly at the mountaintop. Down below, the coachman watched Lu Changsheng reach the peak via the Heavenly Stairway before finally withdrawing his gaze. "Mister Lu is truly worthy of being number one on the Divine Strength Ranking. Ascending the Heavenly Stairway to enter the Heavenly Sect, he becomes a seed disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, blessed with boundless potential. "It is time for me to return and report my mission." The coachman's assignment was complete. He turned around, boarded his carriage once more, and slowly drove away from the Tianlu Mountain Range. At the summit, a crowd of outer sect disciples had already hurried over to greet Lu Changsheng. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes and saw a group of people wearing garments distinct from the servants, all wearing warm, enthusiastic smiles. "Congratulations, Senior Brother, on successfully passing the Heavenly Stairway!" "Ascending the Heavenly Stairway to enter the Heavenly Sect, Senior Brother's future prospects are truly boundless!" "Our Heavenly Sect only recruits disciples once every ten years, and typically only a handful ever manage to pass the Heavenly Stairway. You are one of the chosen few, Senior Brother!" They hailed him as "Senior Brother" over and over, their hospitality brimming over in sharp contrast to the servants at the foot of the mountain. "Are you outer sect disciples?" Lu Changsheng asked, having already deduced their identities. "Indeed, we are outer disciples who took the assignment of guarding the mountain gate," one replied. "May I ask if you have a recommendation token, Senior Brother?" Lu Changsheng nodded and took out the medallion provided by the Martial Demonstration Tower. Upon seeing it, realization dawned on everyone. "Ah, it's a recommendation quota from the royal family of the Great Fish Dynasty!" "The Great Fish Dynasty's imperial family has produced remarkable talents in the past as well." "Senior Brother, please follow me. I will guide you to complete the entry formalities." Lu Changsheng cupped his hands. "Much obliged." He then followed behind the outer disciple and stepped into the Northern Region Heavenly Sect. The remaining outer disciples looked at one another, finally breathing a collective sigh of relief. "What a ruthless character!" "The fleeting trace of killing intent that flashed from him the moment he stepped onto the summit was terrifying." "He's definitely no nobody back in the Great Fish Dynasty. Someone like this isn't for us to mess with; better leave the headache to those inner senior brothers." "Heh, the servants who were slaughtered were all confidants of inner senior brothers. But this man clearly won't let anyone push him around. There will likely be quite a good show to watch in both the outer and inner sects recently." These outer disciples were all peripheral members; otherwise, they wouldn't have been relegated to guarding the mountain gate. Neither the inner senior brothers nor Lu Changsheng, who had ascended via the Heavenly Stairway, were people they could afford to offend. Magnificent halls stood across the mountaintop. The gatekeeper led Lu Changsheng to a grand hall and explained, "This is the Outer Sect Hall. Virtually all new entrants start out as outer disciples. "Outer disciples are all below the Divine Gang Realm. Most are Divine Strength Realm martial artists, while a talented few are at the Body Tempering level." Lu Changsheng nodded. He followed the gatekeeper into the Outer Sect Hall, where few people were present. The two approached several elderly men. The gatekeeper bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Elders. This man comes recommended by the royal family of the Great Fish Dynasty. He has just ascended the Heavenly Stairway to reach the sect and has come to complete his entry formalities." With that, the gatekeeper stepped to the side. "Hm?" "Entered via the Heavenly Stairway? It seems the outer sect has gained another seed disciple." "Hand over the recommendation medallion." Lu Changsheng handed the token directly to the elder. "What is your name?" the elder asked. Lu Changsheng hesitated briefly before answering in a deep voice, "Lu Changsheng!" This time, he did not use an alias, reverting to his real name. "Lu Changsheng..." The elder muttered the name a few times, finding no impression of it. After all, the Northern Region was far too vast. Both the Great Fish Dynasty and Northern Barbaria belonged to the Northern Region, alongside numerous other dynasties. "Take your identity medallion. "Because you passed the Heavenly Stairway, you are now a seed disciple of the outer sect. "As an outer seed disciple, you may visit the Technique Transmission Hall to select an upper-grade Divine Gang Realm martial art. Furthermore, as a seed disciple, you will receive intensive cultivation from the sect. Whether it is cultivation resources and pills or sect contribution points earned from tasks, you will receive double! "However, seed disciples must accept challenges. If any disciple challenges you, you must accept at least once a month. Should you be defeated, you will forfeit your status as a seed disciple. "Since you have just entered the sect, you are exempt from challenges for the first three months. Strive to enrich and improve yourself; once the three months are up, you must accept challenges." After this brief admonition, the outer elder handed the identity medallion to Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng received the medallion. It was similar to Tianxin's medallion, except that it bore three small characters reading "Lu Changsheng" to verify his identity. "Thank you, Elder." "Very well. All other common knowledge regarding the outer sect is recorded in this Outer Sect Manual. Browse through it at your leisure." Lu Changsheng nodded, took the manual, and turned to leave the Outer Sect Hall. "Senior Brother Lu, you must make the most of these first three months," the gatekeeper advised. "The status of a seed disciple is immensely valuable, but if your strength isn't sufficient, try not to force it. Challenges can lead to death..." Having said that, the gatekeeper took his leave. *A seed disciple...* Lu Changsheng understood the gist of it. The first three months served as a novice protection period. After three months, one had to rely on sheer strength to defend the title of seed disciple. A seed disciple could not only select an upper-grade martial art straight away, but more importantly, received double the resources and contribution points. This benefit alone was enough to drive countless ordinary disciples mad with envy. Challengers would surely arrive in an endless stream each month. Defending the seed disciple status would not be easy. Even so, Lu Changsheng was not afraid. He had three full months to gradually familiarize himself with the circumstances of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect's outer sect. As for challenges? That was a concern for three months later. Besides, his strength was far from lacking. At this thought, Lu Changsheng remembered Tianxin. He pulled out Tianxin's medallion and noticed it was different from his own; Tianxin's bore no name. *Perhaps Tianxin never formally joined the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.* *He only obtained the qualification to enter, without yet becoming an official disciple.* *Tianxin stayed on the Northern Region Battlefield for so long probably to bring his Slaughter Conception to consummation and evolve the Slaughter Domain.* *With the Slaughter Domain, he could climb the Heavenly Stairway and smoothly become an outer seed disciple of the Northern Region Heavenly Sect.* *Tianxin's goal was to become a seed disciple...* Sudden realization struck Lu Changsheng. He had deduced Tianxin's true motive. It was indeed to become a seed disciple! It was fortunate that before arriving at the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, Lu Changsheng had evolved his Perception Domain. Otherwise, he would not have been able to pass the Heavenly Stairway or become a seed disciple. Lu Changsheng flipped open the Outer Sect Manual. Inside were detailed introductions to various aspects of the outer sect. Having just joined the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, he needed to find lodgings. As a seed disciple, he was entitled to a private courtyard. Lu Changsheng went straight to the outer sect and found an outer deacon. Tossing his medallion over, he said, "Arrange a courtyard for me." The deacon's eyes narrowed sharply upon seeing the medallion. *A seed disciple!* Another seed disciple had actually arrived in the outer sect, which meant he had climbed the Heavenly Stairway. Such a supremely talented disciple had real prospects of becoming a true disciple in the future. The deacon immediately broke into a respectful smile. "Courtyard Number Twelve happens to be vacant. Would you care to take a look?" "Very well, lead the way." The deacon escorted Lu Changsheng to a secluded courtyard. Lu Changsheng inspected it carefully; it was quite pleasant. "Fine, I'll take this courtyard." "Understood. I will have your daily necessities delivered shortly." With that, the deacon departed. Lu Changsheng walked into the courtyard. Reflecting on it, it felt like quite a coincidence. He had previously used the alias Dao Twelve, and now upon arriving at the Northern Region Heavenly Sect, the courtyard assigned to him was also Number Twelve. However, Lu Changsheng was alone in the courtyard, with no servants. Only inner disciples had the right to recruit servants. Fortunately, Lu Changsheng preferred tranquility; being alone suited him better. Before long, the deacon delivered all the daily necessities. What Lu Changsheng did not know was that although he had only just moved in, word had already spread throughout the vast outer sect. The reason was simple: he was a seed disciple! "The newly admitted disciple is named Lu Changsheng, right? He's actually a seed disciple! We can challenge him in three months, and once I defeat him, I'll become the new seed disciple!" "Newly joined seed disciples are usually the easiest targets and the weakest in strength. This is indeed a prime opportunity." "Investigate him! Uncover Lu Changsheng's background thoroughly. Anyone who can climb the Heavenly Stairway won't be weak. Know yourself and know your enemy; we can't afford to capsize in a ditch and become the laughingstock of the sect." "I just received word that this Lu Changsheng slaughtered many of the inner senior brothers' servants at the foot of the mountain!" "Good grief, what an overbearing and ruthless figure! To dare kill people before even joining the sect—he's no ordinary prodigy." "This man is truly remarkable and doesn't seem afraid of causing trouble. We must thoroughly investigate his background." In no time, numerous disciples began digging into Lu Changsheng's origins. Yet no one came to disturb him. Many were quietly making preparations. They were not fools, and pointless provocations served no purpose. They would wait until three months had passed before striking, aiming to knock Lu Changsheng down from the clouds in a single blow and seize the seed disciple status for themselves!