The Weight of the First Step

Lin Mo’s pupils shrank—could this staircase, which exuded a chilling frost and led straight to the sky island, be the one commonly seen in novels about cultivating immortals… used to test qualifications?

‘That’s not right. Didn’t I test my aptitude when I was accepted as a disciple?’

‘Could there be a hidden secret to these steps? Or were they merely an ostentatious display, designed solely for their aesthetic appeal?’

As Lin Mo became lost in thought, tens of thousands of eyes abruptly converged upon him, a clear indication that he was the first to attempt the ascent.

Under the intense scrutiny of the entire assembly, Lin Mo found himself growing increasingly nervous.

Never in his life had he been the focal point of such a vast crowd, and the overwhelming attention left him flustered and uncertain.

The last time he recalled being subjected to such collective observation was when he lay on an operating table, encircled by a throng of figures in white medical coats.

Lin Mo’s nervousness rendered his movements stiff and awkward, his limbs moving in a comical, uncoordinated fashion.

From the ranks of ordinary disciples behind him, stifled giggles began to ripple through the crowd, unable to be contained.

A deep flush immediately spread across Lin Mo’s face.

Fortunately, a soft, encouraging cheer drifted from behind Lin Mo, its source Liu Ruyan: “Go, Sister Wan’er!”

Bolstered by Liu Ruyan’s spirited encouragement, Lin Mo gathered his courage, planted his feet firmly together, and leaped directly onto the step.

The moment his feet touched the step.

In that very instant—

“Thump!”

A crushing weight, as if a thousand kilograms, bore down upon him!

Lin Mo felt as though he was shouldering an entire mountain; his knees buckled violently, slamming against the hard step with such force that his very bones groaned in protest.

‘What the hell?!’

‘Am I not supposed to possess the most extraordinary talent? How could I have been brought to my knees so abruptly? Are these steps truly so arduous?’

‘Why did I collapse on the very first step?!’

As Lin Mo reeled in astonishment, the entire plaza erupted into a clamor of disbelief.

A torrent of whispers and exclamations ensued, a wave of apprehension washing over the vast majority of the disciples gathered.

Who among them was unfamiliar with the legend of the Sect Master’s direct disciple?

On the very day of her induction, a celestial phenomenon had manifested: a dragon’s roar echoing across the boundless sky.

This extraordinary event had even caused the Sect Master and the Grand Elder to engage in a fierce contention over who would claim her as a disciple!

She was hailed as the ultimate genius, a talent so rare that the Xuan Nv Sect had not witnessed her like in a millennium—nay, ten millennia!

Throughout the past month, during the lectures held in the training grounds, the elders had universally acclaimed her, proclaiming, “The revival of the Xuan Nv Sect rests upon this singular individual!”

Yet, how could Lin Mo, the very individual upon whom the sect had pinned its grandest hopes, the one already designated as the “foremost talent,” now find himself in such an ignominious state after merely ascending the first step?

If this was the case, then for them—mere ordinary disciples, even menial disciples—to undergo a transformation within the Hall of Clarity, would it not be an endeavor as impossible as ascending to the heavens themselves?!

In that moment, a ceaseless hum of speculation filled the air.

The once-solemn plaza was instantly transformed into a cacophony of voices.

“Silence,” Qing You’s voice resonated, slow and deliberate.

Though devoid of any shouted inflection, it struck like a sudden clap of thunder, instantly quelling all the clamor.

“Simply circulate the cultivation technique imparted last month to withstand the pressure. Those who reach the summit will be deemed qualified. Those who succumb to exhaustion shall forfeit their right to enter the Hall of Clarity.”

‘So that’s how it is!’

‘They deliberately waited until I had stepped onto the stairs and made a complete fool of myself before speaking! This was unequivocally designed to humiliate Lin Mo in public, and even more so, to tarnish Mu Qingli’s reputation!’

‘As the Sect Master’s direct disciple, to be ignorant of such a fundamental principle—wouldn’t outsiders perceive this as a failure in Master Mu Qingli’s tutelage? Or, perhaps even worse… a complete lack of teaching prowess!’

“Ah, so that’s it!” Lin Mo exclaimed, quickly scratching his cheek as he forced out a sheepish, simple-minded grin.

“I knew I’d forgotten something important; I was so nervous I completely overlooked circulating my cultivation technique!”

The moment these words left his lips, a wave of laughter rippled through the surrounding crowd.

There was no other recourse.

While Mu Qingli had indeed failed to mention this crucial detail, he had no choice but to fully commit to the charade, feigning utter bewilderment.

After all, his Master’s standing could ill afford any further decline.

“Ah, so that’s how it is!” Lin Mo exclaimed again, his hand moving to scratch his cheek in a show of awkwardness, a foolish grin spreading across his face as he played the part of a clumsy simpleton.

“I knew I’d overlooked something; I was so overwhelmed with nerves that I completely forgot to activate my cultivation method.”

This declaration instantly drew another round of continuous laughter from the onlookers.

There was truly no alternative; despite the fact that Mu Qingli had genuinely not informed him of these matters, he was compelled to maintain the pretense of his own foolishness.

Lin Mo immediately began to circulate the Bright Jade Profound Yin technique.

An icy, Yin-attributed energy instantly surged forth from within him, coiling protectively around his entire form.

‘This should resolve the issue, shouldn’t it?’

Lin Mo promptly braced his hands against his thighs, attempting to push himself upright.

Yet, his body remained utterly motionless?!

No, it wasn’t a complete lack of movement; rather, the overwhelming, mountain-crushing pressure had not abated in the slightest!

It felt as though, from the very first moment, he had been irrevocably pinned to the ground by an immense, unseen force!

‘What in the world is happening?!’

The Bright Jade Profound Yin technique circulated ceaselessly, spiritual energy flowing endlessly into his body, even coalescing into a nearly imperceptible, transparent qi membrane upon his skin… yet it remained utterly ineffective!

‘Could it be… that my strength is insufficient?’

Lin Mo gritted his teeth, veins throbbing visibly on his temples like grotesque green worms writhing beneath his skin.

His thigh muscles strained to their absolute limit, and he finally managed to lift himself by the barest fraction—only for an even more crushing force to descend upon him the very next second!

It was as if an unseen giant had planted its foot firmly upon his spine!

No matter how fiercely Lin Mo roused his spiritual energy, his body could only manage to lift a mere hair’s breadth against the overwhelming pressure, only to be brutally driven back to its original position an instant later.

As the Bright Jade Profound Yin technique was pushed to its absolute limit, the surrounding cold energy surged forth, so potent it nearly solidified into tangible form.

A frigid, white mist plummeted heavily to the ground, creeping down the steps and engulfing the ankles of the surrounding disciples… yet Lin Mo remained utterly unable to rise!

“Second one, ascend the steps. There is no need to wait,” Qing You’s voice resounded once more, cold and resolute. “Cultivation techniques that are incompatible with one’s own nature will only serve as impediments to progress. You may bypass them.”

This declaration instantly sent a fresh wave of uproar through the entire assembly!

The Bright Jade Profound Yin! That was none other than the Xuan Nv Sect’s revered foundational technique!

Ever since the previous Sect Master’s unfortunate demise, no one had genuinely managed to master it.

Even the current Sect Master, despite cultivating this very technique, had been publicly exposed by the Grand Elder as suffering greatly from its debilitating backlash.

Whispers had long circulated among outsiders that the Bright Jade Profound Yin harbored a fatal flaw, one believed to be the very root cause of the previous Sect Master’s tragic demise.

Could it be… that even Lin Wan’er, this newly accepted direct disciple who had stirred celestial phenomena and evoked a dragon’s roar across the heavens, was incapable of mastering this legendary cultivation technique?

In that moment, a complex tapestry of gazes—astonished, regretful, and outright gleeful—interwove across the plaza, while a cacophony of discussions surged to fill the very sky!

The second disciple followed closely, drawing a deep breath.

With a hint of trepidation, she circulated her cultivation technique and tentatively placed her foot upon the first jade step.

Yet—the anticipated crushing pressure never materialized!

Her steps inexplicably grew light, and in a single, fluid motion, she effortlessly ascended several steps, as if strolling across level ground, utterly devoid of any impedance!

“With such profound compatibility in your cultivation technique, your path shall be unobstructed,” Qing You’s indifferent voice, clear as a cascade of icy spring water over jade, echoed distinctly across the hushed plaza, devoid of even a ripple of emotion.

“Proceed.”

“Yes! This disciple accepts the command!” The speaker, visibly relieved and brimming with the joy of recognition, respectfully assented before ascending the steps with renewed lightness and speed.

Close behind, the third, then the fourth disciple… one after another, they glided past Lin Mo.

None of them displayed the same abject distress as he; each ascended with remarkable ease.

When Liu Ruyan’s turn arrived, she paused, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes.

She yearned to help Lin Mo to his feet, but a sharp, warning glare from her nearby Master instantly quelled her impulse.

With her lips pressed into a thin line, she could only murmur a soft, “I’m sorry… Sister Wan’er,” before reluctantly continuing her ascent.

When Ji Xue’s turn came, the young woman who had suffered a public humiliation at Lin Mo’s hands during the induction ceremony now moved with a light, confident stride, passing directly by his slumped form.

She paused for a brief moment, her eyes subtly shifting to cast a deliberately scornful glance at Lin Mo, who remained sprawled on the ground.

A trace of undisguised satisfaction curled at the corners of her lips.

Though she uttered not a single word, the subtle sway of her waist and her deliberately measured movements conveyed a silent, profound humiliation.

Unfortunately, Lin Mo’s figure remained prostrate, his head bowed deeply, denying her the satisfaction of witnessing the abject expression she had so eagerly anticipated.

Time flowed onward, slow and deliberate, under the oppressive silence and crushing spiritual pressure.

An ever-increasing stream of figures brushed past Lin Mo’s stiff, unmoving back.

They were the prodigies from the core regions, the disciples from the outer rings, and even the mere mortals tasked with menial chores.

Like an unstoppable tide, this procession of individuals, each carrying their own convictions, awe, or apprehension, gradually ascended the frigid jade steps, climbing ever higher towards the colossal, suspended island.

Their forms passed through the shimmering light barrier, stepping onto the new trial grounds, leaving the solitary figure, so shamefully pinned at the very beginning, far behind them.

Two hours elapsed.

Tens of thousands of disciples had completed the ascent.

The once-bustling plaza gradually became as desolate as an empty valley.

The immense throng had finally dispersed.

As far as the eye could discern, only that solitary figure remained, still prostrate and utterly motionless at the very start of the frigid, gleaming jade steps, as if crushed beneath the weight of a ten-thousand-jin dark mountain.

The pervasive, chilling aura had almost solidified into a tangible entity, locking him immovably to the spot.