Chapter 261

The entire Spirit Altar had a thousand tiers of steps.

Each step upward increased the pressure, along with various disturbances.

Now, only Jun Xiaoyao maintained a steady pace, without a single pause.

While Ji Qingyi, Wang Chuan, Little Magic Immortal, Jiang Luoli, Yi Yu, Yan Qingying, and others climbed one step at a time.

They sometimes had to pause to regulate their breath.

As for the rest, they were the remaining prodigies.

They could not possibly pass up this opportunity.

Yet Ji Qingyi, Wang Chuan, Jiang Luoli, Yan Qingying—these individuals were either holy maidens of great sects, ancient anomalies, noble daughters of clans, or heaven-defying sons.

In comparison, the remaining prodigies were clearly far weaker.

They ascended the Spirit Altar as if climbing a mountain.

Among them, some prodigies lost control of their emotions, screaming and laughing wildly, as if driven mad.

It was the spectral shadows of ancient heroes and the demonic sounds piercing their ears that drove them insane.

Such prodigies were not few.

Aside from a small number with unshakable will, most prodigies quickly collapsed, their minds succumbing to madness.

"Hahaha, I am the peerless supreme genius of all ages—who can match me!" one prodigy laughed hysterically.

Yet the next instant, his head exploded like a watermelon, the scene grotesquely bloody.

"I've obtained it! I've gained the immortal inheritance!" another prodigy's eyes turned bloodshot, veins crawling across them, his face twisted in ecstatic joy.

But then, he collapsed as if struck by lightning, lifeless on the ground.

It was eerie, sending chills down many spines.

Some prodigies turned pale, overwhelmed by fear, desperate to descend the altar.

But they discovered in horror that they could no longer turn back.

At the summit of the altar, a faint, ancient, ethereal voice seemed to drift down.

"Once the bow is drawn, there is no turning back—the path to Dao admits no retreat…"

Hearing this, the prodigies were filled with profound regret.

Had they known the Spirit Altar was so eerie, they would never have stepped onto it so carelessly.

But now, they had no choice—they could only press forward with gritted teeth.

Those who could not climb further sat where they were, seeking insight, hoping for some reward.

The prodigies gazed at Jun Xiaoyao at the very front, their eyes filled with envy and awe.

Jun Xiaoyao had utterly surpassed their imagination.

Perhaps he was the very definition of strength.

Wang Chuan, witnessing this, felt bitter resentment.

As an ancient anomaly, he naturally carried his own pride.

If he could not outmatch him in combat for now, could he not outclimb him on the altar?

Wang Chuan activated the power of his Reincarnation Holy Body, and behind him, the Six Paths Reincarnation Disc materialized.

His aura instantly transformed, like a fierce, advancing true dragon, accelerating upward.

Wang Chuan's actions drew attention from others.

Ji Qingyi shook her head.

In her eyes, Wang Chuan's move was merely a matter of pride—this was no time for heroics.

Yi Yu and Yan Qingying, seeing this, smirked coldly.

In their view, Jun Xiaoyao was an invincible force.

Wang Chuan thinking he could reclaim ground here was plainly naive.

Yet at this moment, Jun Xiaoyao's steps suddenly halted.

Many who saw this stared in surprise.

Jun Xiaoyao had maintained the lead, far outpacing everyone else.

But now, he had suddenly stopped—confusing everyone.

"Finally crumbling?" Wang Chuan's eyes flashed.

In his view, Jun Xiaoyao's earlier performance must have been forced endurance.

He had held on this long, and now he could no longer bear it.

As others reacted with confusion, doubt, or concern—

Jun Xiaoyao's own eyes sparkled with delight.

He had stopped not because he was failing, as Wang Chuan assumed.

But because a system prompt echoed in his mind.

"Host has reached check-in location: Spirit Altar. Confirm check-in?"

"Check in." Jun Xiaoyao silently murmured.

He wondered what reward he might gain from checking in here.

"Ding! Congratulations, host! Obtained Seven-Star Reward: Tuo She Ancient Emperor Flame!"

As the system's voice faded—

A flame seed appeared within Jun Xiaoyao's body.

This flame seed shimmered in seven colors, as if forged from countless divine flames, radiating a terrifying aura capable of incinerating all worlds.

"Tuo She Ancient Emperor Flame?" Jun Xiaoyao first blinked in surprise, then beamed with joy.

Flame seeds were no less vital to cultivators than immortal seeds.

For after the Union Dao realm came the Nirvana realm.

The Nirvana realm's core was finding a flame seed, refining one's body, transforming the divine palace's true spirit into a Primordial Spirit infant.

It was a complete transformation from flesh to soul—a crucial step in cultivation.

The importance of flame seeds was thus evident.

The stronger the flame seed, the more thoroughly it enabled a cultivator's Nirvana and rebirth through fire.

Previously, Yi Yu had obtained a rare Xuan Yang Divine Flame, already a high-grade flame seed.

Yet that Xuan Yang Divine Flame paled in comparison to the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Flame before him.

For that was a divine flame—this was an emperor flame!

The Tuo She Ancient Emperor Flame seemed the ultimate emperor flame, forged from countless flames, capable of granting a cultivator ultimate Nirvana.

Of course, the difficulty of Nirvana would also increase dramatically.

"Just as I'm sleepy, a pillow is handed to me. I only intended to break through to Union Dao here—now it seems I might leap straight into Nirvana."

Jun Xiaoyao's lips curled into a faint smile.

Even within the Jun Clan, few flame seeds surpassed the Tuo She Ancient Emperor Flame in rank.

This flame seed was perfectly suited for Jun Xiaoyao's Nirvana.

"Xiaoyao brother, are you alright?"

Seeing Jun Xiaoyao standing motionless—

Even Jiang Luoli, who had full faith in him, felt uneasy and softly called out.

Jun Xiaoyao snapped back to awareness and finally moved.

But this time, he did not climb alone—he raised his hand and swept it outward.

The terrifying golden blood qi of his Primal Ancient Body surged forth, resisting the altar's crushing pressure.

When Jun Xiaoyao released his aura, Jiang Luoli, Yi Yu, and Yan Qingying were stunned to find their burdens halved.

"This…" Jiang Luoli's face froze, then her eyes blazed with unprecedented radiance.

Her climbing speed surged, instantly pulling ahead of Little Magic Immortal and the others.

Yi Yu and Yan Qingying also wore delighted expressions, bowing to Jun Xiaoyao: "Thank you, Young Master!"

Then they too accelerated.

Wang Chuan, witnessing this, was shaken to his core, frozen like a statue.

Jun Xiaoyao being a prodigy himself was one thing—but now he could lift others along with him?

Was this even fair?

Even Little Magic Immortal's face went slack.

Just moments ago, Jiang Luoli had been on equal footing with her—now she was far ahead.

This was too much for Little Magic Immortal to accept—the gap was too vast.

After all, as Holy Maiden of the Demon Immortal Sect, her status and strength were no lesser than Jiang Luoli's.

Yet now she lagged behind, her heart burning with imbalance.

Thinking of this, Little Magic Immortal cried out sweetly: "Xiaoyao little brother, please take me along too!"

Jun Xiaoyao ignored the enchanting demoness outright.

Though she appeared pure and alluring, as Holy Maiden of the Demon Immortal Sect, she had tricked many before.

Seeing Jun Xiaoyao's indifference, Little Magic Immortal spoke again, shockingly:

"Xiaoyao little brother, don't ignore me—I'm amazing in bed, I can do any position!"