Chapter 60: Secretly Striving

Cang Li choked.

"We're old, aren't you old too?"

"I should be able to live 270,000 years," Yuan Yao recalled her quest and let out a light sigh.

"270,000 years?" Cang Li was shocked, "Even immortals can't live that long. You still want to live 270,000 years, Yuan Yao—did climbing the Heaven Ladder make your brain go faulty?"

Yuan Yao didn't answer, because she was simply too exhausted now.

And Lu Xiangxiang, who was ahead, also slowed her pace.

As time slipped by bit by bit, Yuan Yao gradually caught up to Lu Xiangxiang's steps.

When she finally reached the 180th level, Yuan Yao felt she was nearing the limit of her physical stamina.

She gasped heavily, sweat soaking her clothes, yet her gaze remained steadfastly fixed on the higher floors above.

Cang Li, standing nearby, noticed Yuan Yao's condition and said concernedly, "Given your current strength and cultivation, persisting up to here is already remarkable. After all, you've only just entered the Initial Foundation Establishment of the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"I can still hold on," Yuan Yao inhaled deeply.

Then she continued climbing upward.

Each step up felt like enduring a torturous agony, her whole body aching and weak.

She recalled how Eldest Senior Brother and the others, when carrying her up the Heaven Ladder, would adjust their breathing and circulate the spiritual energy within.

She steadied her mind, raised her hand, and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead with her sleeve.

Without Third Senior Brother Cang Li's reminder, she had already adjusted her condition.

She swiftly scaled ten steps in succession, overtaking Lu Xiangxiang.

Cang Li's expression was shocked, and she hurried to catch up.

The Heaven Ladder has a thousand levels: those in the Qi Refining Realm can climb at most a hundred, those in the Foundation Establishment Realm up to three hundred, Golden Core Realm up to five hundred, Nascent Soul Realm up to eight hundred, and Spirit Transformation Realm can scale the entire thousand levels to reach the summit.

Junior Sister, even though she's only at the Initial Foundation Establishment of the Foundation Establishment Realm, is already nearing the two hundredth level!

At this moment, in the Heaven Ladder Arena, Thousand Jue Mountain also witnessed the scene, feeling an indescribable emotion.

Both gratified and pained.

Ten years ago, he took Yuan Yao as a disciple, not for her cuteness but for her extraordinary talent.

He had countless times tried to have her cultivate, but she always refused.

At first, he had harshly forced her to cultivate, yet as soon as she did, she would silently shed tears, the droplets falling like pearls broken from a string, and she would look at herself with a plaintive gaze.

Such a tiny child, so pitiful.

In the end, his heart softened.

Repeated concessions and compromises turned her into a little lazybones.

He also accepted this outcome.

He once told himself that as long as Yao Yao lives this life happily, that's enough. He would protect her forever without worry; he even traveled everywhere, searching for elixirs and spirit pills that could extend lifespan.

But he didn't expect her to say to him: "Master, just wait. This time I've made up my mind; I will truly cultivate and won't disappoint your expectations."

At that moment, he was unexpectedly a bit worried.

Because he knew he hadn't taught her the skills to secure a place in the cultivation world.

Thousand Jue Mountain watched Yuan Yao's silhouette, a gentle smile curling at its lips.

And now, Yuan Yao had already climbed to the 200th step.

Her complexion grew pale, and her hands and feet began to tremble.

She decided to stop and adapt to this heavy gravitational pressure.

At this time, Lu Xiangxiang had also reached the 195th level; the massive pressure almost left her breathless. She looked up at Yuan Yao not far away, her eyes flashing with determination.

She could never lose to a tuberose that the entire Carefree Sect cradles in the palm of their hands!

She will surpass her!

But with each level she climbed, Lu Xiangxiang's body grew heavier, until her feet could no longer lift.

Lu Xiangxiang clenched her teeth, used all her strength, and finally stepped onto the 200th step.

At this moment, she and Yuan Yao stood at the same height, yet their conditions were completely different.

Lu Xiangxiang was panting, drenched in sweat, while Yuan Yao beside her appeared far more relaxed. Yuan Yao plopped onto the 200th step, eyes half‑closed, as if meditating with closed eyes.

"Seventh Junior Sister, would you like to rest?" At that moment, Cang Li, who had been ahead, turned and looked at Lu Xiangxiang.

Lu Xiangxiang's complexion was slightly pale, and she gently nodded. She knew her physical condition; it was best to first adapt to this overwhelming gravitational pressure before attempting further climbing.

She glanced at Yuan Yao, her brows slightly furrowed, seeming a bit disdainful.

She didn't want to sit like Yuan Yao, disregarding appearance on the dust‑covered ground, so she kept standing.

And half a quarter‑hour later, Lu Xiangxiang's attention was drawn by a movement from the person beside her.

She saw the surrounding spiritual energy being wildly absorbed by Yuan Yao.

Lu Xiangxiang felt a slight alarm in her heart.

Yuan Yao's complexion grew increasingly rosy; the spiritual energy she absorbed surged like an endless river, racing through her meridians, intertwining and permeating with her own true essence, eventually condensing into spiritual power gathered in her dantian.

At the same time, Cang Li, who had reached the 300th step, and Thousand Jue Mountain in the arena below both sensed Yuan Yao's current state.

"I'm going!" Cang Li, seeing this, not only stopped climbing but dashed down with a rapid thump.

Lu Xiangxiang hadn't reacted yet when Cang Li already appeared nearby.

The surrounding spiritual energy was almost entirely drained by Yuan Yao, and soon, as the ascension light flared and a faint 'hum' sounded,

Yuan Yao broke through!

She advanced from Initial Foundation Establishment to Mid‑Foundation Establishment!

Yuan Yao suddenly opened her eyes; the massive pressure she had felt instantly lessened, and she burst into a delighted smile.

"Yuan Yao! Are you a pervert?" Cang Li exclaimed, eyes wide in shock.

In just a few days, she broke through from Initial Foundation Establishment to Mid Foundation Establishment?!

This talent is even more monstrous than Wuji!

Yuan Yao stood up, then first waved at the silver-haired man below, shouting: "Master, I've broken through!"

Qianjue Shan was also somewhat shocked in his heart, but his face still showed a calm expression; he smiled and gave a slight nod.

After receiving the response, Yuan Yao turned to look at her own Third Senior Brother, smiling: "Third Senior Brother, I will surpass you soon!"

"Looks like it really is." Cang Li said with a complex mood.

He clasped his hands together, let out a long sigh, and said: "I, Cangaotian, will rely on you all from now on."

Yuan Yao stepped up two flights of stairs and said: "Third Senior Brother, you're actually lazy too."

If the Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister, Fourth Senior Brother, and Youngest Senior Brother are cultivation maniacs, then she and the Third Senior Brother are just not ambitious.

The Third Senior Brother likes alchemy, likes medical arts, and also likes going to various mountain peaks to hunt, gather spiritual herbs and medicines, and pick wild fruits and vegetables.

Cang Li glared at her and said harshly: "It's all your fault! You insisted on suffering for no reason, and now you even want to make me suffer?"

"So, will you eat it or not?"

"No!" he said firmly. Even if he had to suffer, he wouldn't let them know.

He wants to work hard in secret, then astonish everyone.