"Both of you..."

"The Heavenly Ladder is open, please ascend to Fuyou!"

As the commotion stirred within the Fuyou Sacred Land, the two gatekeeping disciples bowed to Xiao Ming and Feng Xianhuang.

At this moment.

The numerous prodigies outside the mountain gate held their breath, quietly awaiting the performance of these two individuals.

"I hope you won't disappoint me..."

Glancing at the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder, Feng Xianhuang cast a look at Xiao Ming before stepping onto the first step.

The entire ladder suddenly trembled.

An immense pressure, as if the sky were collapsing, descended upon Feng Xianhuang.

The sacred might of the Heavenly Ladder!

It adjusts the appropriate intensity based on each trial taker's bone age and cultivation level.

The older the bone age and the stronger the cultivation, the more terrifying the sacred might they endure.

So having a higher cultivation doesn't necessarily make it easier to reach the top; it still depends on one's perseverance and potential.

Besides the sacred might of the Heavenly Ladder.

Each subsequent step will present various elemental forces, such as earth, fire, wind, water, and thunder, continuously eroding the examiner.

And these forces intensify with the height of the steps!

"That's right..."

"This familiar feeling!"

Sensing the terrifying sacred might of the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder, along with the elemental forces contained within, a smile curved at the corner of Feng Xianhuang's lips.

In her past life.

Without the secret techniques of the ancient Phoenix clan, she could still rely on the tempering of the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder to further her phoenix bloodline.

In this life, she returned with the inheritance of the ancient Phoenix clan, determined to elevate the phoenix bloodline within her to new heights!

This is also...

One of the reasons she joined the Fuyou Sacred Land after her rebirth, and why she dared to bet against the Chaos Body!

However.

The tempering effect of the first few hundred steps of the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder was not significant for her; only after reaching the eight hundredth step could she refine her bloodline.

With this thought.

Feng Xianhuang didn't hesitate, immediately unleashing her cultivation to ascend the steps at a terrifying speed.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"So that's how it is..."

"This Fuyou Heavenly Ladder, besides testing disciples, also has the effect of refining the physique and tempering true essence. No wonder this empress has the confidence to bet against me."

Glancing at the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder and Feng Xianhuang, Xiao Ming immediately saw through the intricacies.

However.

He was no ordinary prodigy.

Even if she was a reborn empress and could awaken the ancient phoenix bloodline, defeating him wouldn't be so easy!

With this thought.

Xiao Ming didn't hesitate any longer and stepped onto the Heavenly Ladder.

He too ascended with unstoppable momentum, following Feng Xianhuang toward the clouds of the Heavenly Ladder.

"Damn, they're charging up!!"

"So fast, so fierce, where did these two monsters come from, not even pausing on the first few hundred steps."

"Damn, they've passed the six hundredth step!!"

"I nearly squeezed out my guts to barely reach the six hundredth step, and they just flew past it?!"

"Hiss, seven hundred steps!!"

"They're even fiercer than Su Qingyue from half a year ago, are they aiming to break through the nine hundredth step together?"

"......"

Seeing Feng Xianhuang and Xiao Ming rushing toward the clouds of the Heavenly Ladder like phantoms, many disciples within the sacred land were as excited as if they'd been injected with adrenaline.

Some even boldly started betting in the plaza, wagering on whether Feng Xianhuang and Xiao Ming could break through the nine hundredth step and the final step count they could reach.

Unconcerned with the shock and disbelief of the crowd, Feng Xianhuang and Xiao Ming pressed on.

Under the sacred might and elemental erosion of the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder, they reached the eight hundredth step within half a moment, causing another uproar within and outside the sacred land.

"Damn, eight hundred steps!"

"These two have the potential to become Saints, the Fuyou Sacred Land is about to produce dragons again!!"

Witnessing this scene, many disciples on the sacred land's plaza were filled with fervor, as if they were the ones ascending the steps.

"Are you struggling?"

Seeing Feng Xianhuang's face turning red, seemingly under considerable pressure, Xiao Ming caught up and couldn't help but tease.

Eight hundred steps.

This was a watershed.

The sacred might and elemental erosion here were several times stronger than at the seven hundred ninety-ninth step.

For some spiritual bodies, it was a daunting test.

Of course.

For his Chaos Body, this level of challenge was still manageable.

"Don't worry..."

"I won't falter before you do."

Feng Xianhuang replied calmly, seemingly having absolute confidence in her bloodline.

"Is that so?"

"Then I'll be watching..."

Seeing Feng Xianhuang's proud expression, Xiao Ming decided to up the ante, immediately unleashing his cultivation to ascend rapidly.

He crossed ninety-nine steps with unstoppable momentum, then stopped at the eight hundred ninety-ninth step, turning to look at Feng Xianhuang who was left behind.

His face seemed to say...

If you're so confident, then hurry up and catch up with me!

"Damn, am I seeing things?"

"This guy just crossed ninety-nine steps in one go, and he doesn't seem pressured, is he a monster?!!"

"Hiss, this one definitely has the potential to become a Saint King, which family does this prodigy belong to?!"

"Damn, why did he stop, hurry up and step into the nine hundredth step, I bet a thousand spirit crystals on it!"

"Clearly having the strength to leave everyone in the dust, yet stopping ahead to look back, is he trying to encourage that girl?"

"They're definitely a pair, I'm so envious of this kind of relationship!!"

"......"

Seeing Xiao Ming standing on the eight hundred ninety-ninth step, the plaza erupted once more, with many female disciples even swooning over him.

Not only was he incredibly handsome, with the potential to become a Saint King, but he was also so considerate, the dream man!

"This guy... showing off, huh?!"

Seeing Xiao Ming's figure ahead and hearing the screams from the plaza, Feng Xianhuang was so annoyed she could almost grind her teeth.

With a cold snort, she began to ascend.

However, the sacred might and elemental forces beyond the eight hundredth step were gradually reaching the limits of her body.

Unless she awakened the ancient phoenix bloodline, it would be difficult for her to continue.

"Eight hundred sixty-five steps, I can't go any further..."

Feeling her body reaching its absolute limit, a trace of regret appeared on Feng Xianhuang's face.

This level was decent, but slightly below her expectations.

Fortunately.

After the ancestral return of her phoenix bloodline, she had many means to perfect her foundation.

With this thought.

Feng Xianhuang stopped holding back, forming a seal with her hands.

The bloodline within her, purified by the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder, erupted like a volcano at this moment.

Accompanied by a loud phoenix cry echoing through the void, a phoenix shadow emerged from Feng Xianhuang's body, its terrifying pressure sweeping across the heavens like a storm.

The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged wildly, and the Fuyou Heavenly Ladder trembled violently.

Feng Xianhuang's hair turned fiery red in an instant, an ancient rune appeared on her forehead, and her cultivation aura began to surge wildly in this fluctuation.

Spirit Sea Realm Sixth Level!

......

Spirit Sea Realm Seventh Level!

......

Spirit Sea Realm Ninth Level!

In an unstoppable momentum, Feng Xianhuang's cultivation reached the Spirit Sea Realm Ninth Level, ultimately being forcibly suppressed at this level.

This bizarre change immediately shook the Fuyou Sacred Land.

Even many old monsters within the sacred land suddenly opened their eyes, sitting up from their coffins!

"Hiss, what's happening?!"

"This is a bloodline return, the might of an ancient phoenix?!"

"How can there be a returnee prodigy of the phoenix family within the Fuyou Sacred Land?!"

In their astonishment.

Many strong individuals cast their gaze through the void, each looking toward the sky above the mountain gate, with some even planning to come out of seclusion to seize this prodigy.

After all.

With the return of the ancient phoenix bloodline, if this person doesn't fall in the future, they have the potential to become an emperor!

But in the next moment.

A will filled with violent energy suddenly emanated from the depths of the earth, seemingly eager to devour this trace of returning phoenix bloodline.

This caused the faces of the old monsters to change, forcing them to abandon their plans to check on Feng Xianhuang.

They quickly formed seals and unleashed their true essence, activating formations to suppress the entity beneath the sacred land.