Chapter 1006: Silent Enlightenment on the Heavenly Stairway
The ascetic monk smiled gently and nodded slightly at Lin Feng. "This round of trials shouldn't be difficult for you. On the day of the disciple recruitment, we'll see if you can ascend the Nine Heavens. That's enough for today."
"Thank you, Master." Lin Feng returned the gesture, then stepped back down to the layer of the Heavenly Stairway below. The ascetic monk had already made an exception to let him try, and although he wanted to continue climbing, he gave up.
The ascetic monk turned and left, disappearing from sight. Lin Feng's divine sense couldn't even sense the top of the Heavenly Terrace. This eighteen-thousand-foot terrace could block divine sense, and no one knew what the view would be like after stepping onto the Nine Heavens.
"Not bad. Even the Master said you'd have no problem with this first round of trials." Qiu Yuexin smiled at Lin Feng.
"That's only the first round of trials. From what the Master said, it seems becoming a Martial Emperor's Disciple requires several rounds of trials." Lin Feng's eyes flickered. This round alone was already extremely difficult, and it would probably eliminate those with less outstanding talent.
"With the Stone Emperor and Yu Emperor recruiting their first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples, how could the trials be simple? In the Eight Wastelands, it's not just the Northern Wasteland that has emperors. Other regions also have emperors, and they're recruiting Martial Emperor's Disciples too. However, the outstanding youths from the great families in the Northern Wasteland didn't go to participate, because the meaning is different. Those emperors already have countless disciples. Joining them wouldn't mean much to these family heirs. But this time is different. The first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples is the closest to being personal disciples of the Martial Emperor. Besides the Northern Wasteland, many geniuses from other regions of the Eight Wastelands have also come. We just don't know about them yet. You'll naturally discover them during the trials."
Qiu Yuexin explained slowly to Lin Feng. "If one day the Martial Emperor takes on personal disciples again, he'll select the most outstanding from this first batch of Martial Emperor's Disciples. They'll have the chance to become his personal disciples. That's the goal of those great family heirs."
Lin Feng nodded slightly. He fully understood Qiu Yuexin's words. The heirs of great families had extremely dazzling status and were looked up to by others. An ordinary Martial Emperor's Disciple couldn't compare. So an ordinary Martial Emperor's Disciple meant little to them. For someone like Xuanyuan Potian, who was a descendant of the imperial family, his pursuit was the emperor realm. What he wanted was the emperor's guidance on how to become an emperor.
"Lin Feng, if you become a personal disciple of the Martial Emperor, all the great families will treat you with great respect. That's a symbol of status and position. The Qiu Clan is no exception." Qiu Yuexin said softly, as if implying something. Her gaze flickered slightly, but she didn't look at Lin Feng.
"You're in such a hurry for me to marry you, huh?" Lin Feng said with a smile, making Qiu Yuexin glare at him fiercely.
"The moonlight is nice tonight. Let's spend the night here." Lin Feng looked at the void, a faint smile on his lips. Qiu Yuexin's expression stiffened. Standing here now felt like carrying a huge mountain on her back. She had to use powerful strength to steady herself. The terrifying force of heaven and earth pressed down on her constantly. And Lin Feng actually wanted to spend the night here.
"If we stay here for a few days and get used to this terrifying pressure, we'll become accustomed to it. Once we step down the Heavenly Stairway, you'll feel incredibly light." Lin Feng explained with a smile.
"Fine, whatever you say." Qiu Yuexin said indifferently, then sat directly on the Heavenly Stairway. Her terrifying true essence power rolled and surged, clearly agreeing with Lin Feng.
Lin Feng sat down as well, closing his eyes and quietly feeling the immense power of the heaven and earth force. This Heavenly Stairway was definitely beneficial for his enlightenment of heaven and earth power. Moreover, the terrifying force pressed down on his flesh, squeezed his meridians and blood, forcing them to resist. This could strengthen his body, stabilize his meridians, and invigorate his blood and qi.
With a thought, Lin Feng held the Heavenly Jade Stone in his palm. The terrifying heaven and earth force became even clearer. The natural, terrifying power seemed to connect together, forming a wondrous rhythm in heaven and earth, making the oppressive force so fierce.
With his eyes closed, Lin Feng sank into this enlightenment. At first, he still used his own power to resist, alleviating the terrifying pressure. But later, even if he ignored it, his body would adapt and resist on its own. He gradually fell into a deeper state of realization, forgetting where he was.
The moonlight gradually faded. On the morning of the second day, Qiu Yuexin opened her eyes. Her whole body ached, her mind was tired, and she felt very uncomfortable. There was no refreshing feeling, only exhaustion.
She glanced at Lin Feng, but saw that his expression was peaceful and calm. Her beautiful eyes froze for a moment, then she looked at Lin Feng with a gentle smile. This guy kept surprising her.
Stepping down, Qiu Yuexin descended a few layers of the Heavenly Stairway. She immediately felt much lighter. Just as Lin Feng had said, if she were to climb the Heavenly Stairway from the bottom now, she probably wouldn't feel much pressure until she reached these last layers. But staying up here for a long time still required powerful strength as support. Just like Qiu Yuexin, after just one night, she was already very tired.
After reaching the lower layers, Qiu Yuexin didn't leave. Instead, she closed her eyes again and sat cross-legged.
As for Lin Feng, he remained in a state of self-forgetfulness.
Soon, three days passed. During these three days, many people came here. They were very surprised to see Lin Feng. A cultivator at the Third Layer of Heavenly Martial Realm was utterly unremarkable among the crowd. But this person could sit peacefully on that layer of the Heavenly Stairway. It was incredible. Some tried to imitate Lin Feng, but few could last half a day.
Qiu Yuexin opened her beautiful eyes again and looked at Lin Feng. His complexion was ruddy, his spirit refreshed. He was natural, harmonious, peaceful, and serene. It was as if there was no oppressive force on him at all, and he wasn't resisting anything. It seemed he had formed a powerful and subtle balance with the terrifying heaven and earth force.
"This guy..." Qiu Yuexin was speechless. Others grew more tired the longer they sat, but Lin Feng became more relaxed.
On the Heavenly Terrace, the ascetic monk appeared. He glanced at Lin Feng, a gentle smile in his eyes, then turned and left. He didn't attract anyone's attention, coming and going silently.
Staring at Lin Feng, Qiu Yuexin sat there, a faint smile on her face. At this moment, Lin Feng made her feel peaceful and serene, her mind calm, letting go of everything.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" A voice suddenly rang out, making Qiu Yuexin's gaze freeze. A rare hint of shyness flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she turned her gaze away, not looking at Lin Feng anymore.
After that sentence, Lin Feng had no further reaction, leaving Qiu Yuexin unsure whether he was cultivating or awake.
Holding the Heavenly Jade Stone, Lin Feng comprehended the heaven and earth force and the natural Dao. Everything in the space was imprinted in his eyes. It was cultivation, yet not cultivation. Every move Qiu Yuexin made didn't escape Lin Feng's perception.
Suddenly, a fierce wind surged in the void. Qiu Yuexin looked up and saw that above Lin Feng's head, terrifying heaven and earth origin energy had gathered, forming a vortex.
The vortex of heaven and earth origin energy surged wildly. Then, a terrifying devouring force seemed to emanate from Lin Feng's body. The vortex of heaven and earth origin energy poured directly down from the top of Lin Feng's head into his body, making Qiu Yuexin's eyes freeze. This actually worked?
When the vortex of heaven and earth origin energy had completely poured into Lin Feng's body, Qiu Yuexin clearly sensed that Lin Feng's cultivation had improved a bit more, as if he had instantly advanced from the early stage of the Third Layer of Heavenly Martial Realm to the middle stage.
"Whoosh..." A stream of pure heaven and earth origin energy was exhaled from Lin Feng's mouth, then dissipated. Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes. His whole body felt refreshed and very comfortable.
Standing up, Lin Feng nodded and smiled at Qiu Yuexin. He stood there calmly, as if there was no oppressive force on him at all, as if the terrifying heaven and earth force could no longer affect him.
"Comfortable!" Lin Feng smiled. If he were to step onto the Nine Heavens now, he could easily ascend the first heaven.