My heart is rising, my lungs are burning, and my feet are getting heavier every time I take a step. I am so thirsty and wish for an ice-cold coca-cola soft drink.

It is already midday; the sun is highest, making the stone steps hot as hell, drying my sweat as soon as it drips. My mind and body are already at their limit. I am about to pass out, yet I did not even climb a quarter of the way.

The majority of the group is already so far up while we are struggling to catch up. I want to stop and quit because I never felt this too exhausted in my entire life.

I'm nauseous, I want to throw up, but I held it in. I need to take a break because I will pass out of exhaustion if I continue like this.

I sat down, but I shoot right up immediately because the stone steps are fucking hot. The stone steps are about fifty meters wide. Each step is carved from grayish stone about fifteen inches tall.

You see, such a step is unnaturally high, making it harder to climb. These steps are designed not for comfort or convenience, but the other way around.

I tried going out of the stone steps and rest on the side under a tree, but an invisible wall prevented me from doing so. These steps are made to make the life of recent members miserable.

Being the genius I am, I leaned on the invisible wall for support while I tried calming my pounding heart. I looked up the stairs as I rest and thinking how any normal human being can climb these stairs within less than a day?

Then it hit me. The old geezer had said something before he disappeared. "Blah blah blah... You are now cultivators. Blah blah..." Something like that. Yes, that is right! I am no longer a normal human being; I am now a cultivator.

Why didn't I think of this?? I felt like hitting myself...genius my ass! I closed my eyes and tried to recall the sensation of circulating my QI.

As soon as I circulated the QI, my whole body felt refreshed. The uncomfortable feeling of fatigue washed away. What is more surprising is that this time my control is smoother than before. A grin appeared on my face, excited like a kid opening a present. Hahaha, this is pretty good!

I moved with care while I circulate my QI, slowly but surely. First, I took a few steps. After I got used to it, I experimented with different movements, like jumping and running while circulating my QI.

Everything feels so easy because my body feels so light. Okay, it's time to continue with the climb. I climb the stairs two steps at a time with astonishing speed.

As I go up, a kid who, like myself, fell behind, stared with wide eyes while I pass him by. I stopped and yelled at him.

"Try using your QI!" then I waved goodbye, then continued on my way. I don't know if he gets what I meant, but at least I gave him a hint.

I assume that these kids who were left behind are also as clueless as I am earlier. Within an hour, I gained some distance with steady speed. But after another half an hour, I can feel that my QI is already being depleted.

I'm also starting to feel hungry and thirsty. It felt like my last meal was a long time ago, and all the sweating made me dehydrated. If only I knew we would climb a mountain, I could have gotten food and water from the flying ship.

Suppose only I was part of Jade Peak. In that case, I'm sure those geniuses are already eating with my Zhi Rou and enjoying her company.

I need to meditate to replenish my QI. When I was about to stop for a "gas refill," I saw an unconscious girl lying down on the ground. She is looking so skinny and frail with short messy hair.

I don't see myself as a good person but seeing a child in such a situation makes my heart bleed. I had a little sister back on Earth, and the girl reminds me of her. I halted and approached her; she seems okay, only passed out. I tried waking her up by giving her a slight shake, but I have a weak groan as a response.

Like me, she does not have anything with her, only her simple clothes and nothing else. She is sweating a lot, and her face seems to frown with pain.

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That's when I touched her forehead; it is scorching hot! She has a fever. Oh, no! Something is not right... She needs medical attention, or she might die.

Without hesitating, I lifted her and carried her on my back. She is smaller than me and surprisingly light, but I can feel the heat from her body on my back. I ignored my depleting QI and doubled my speed; I need to bring her up fast, or she might not last. My mind was free of any other thought; I am only thinking of climbing the steps as quickly as possible.

There are situations in which people perform incredible feats. Not considered to be possible for humans during life and death situations. Such conditions are happening to me right now.

I'm unsure if it is the case, but this is the only explanation my mind can give for what is happening. Even with my depleting QI and tired body, I find it incredible that I can climb the stairs. Faster than when I was not tired and with plenty of QI.

This is also the only time that I am "on the zone." A term used in sports where athletes are in extreme focus performing in their peak condition.

This is what Michael Jordan experiences when he is playing basketball. This ability is believed to be one reason why he is considered the best basketball player of all time.

I am not saying this is what happens to me, not entirely sure. This phenomenon might be connected to the mysteries of this world.

The stairs were nothing to me. I take two at a time with each stride, and I was able to keep up with those who are leading the climb. If I guess right, these are those with at least yellow or green talents. Or those who have already known about using QI to complete this climb.

Of course, Sabre is one of them, and she is the fastest. Some of them also are already prepared with their food and water. As if they have prior knowledge regarding this "initiation" or whatever this is, unlike most of us who did not bring any water or food, thinking that entering Gold peak would be simple.

Well, I have more important things to think about, so it is better to ignore them. So decided to pass them and continue climbing. However, I heard the girl groaning on my back, and she seems to have a seizure.

This is bad; her temperature is getting higher; I need to cool her down somehow... I need water!

"Hey, guys! Can I have some of your water...my friend here needs it!" Both kids look at me first with confusion, and then it turned into disgust.

"Why would I give water to trash like you? Get that stinking brat out of my sight."

The kid with the water skin spat and kicked me away. Fortunately, I could block it with my right arm, but it sends me back five meters away.

He is a typical douche bag with an arrogant face. Thinking he is superior to everyone else. I hate this kind of person. That is why I enjoy reading wuxia novels because the main character will encounter one most of the time. Then he is going to beat the crap of him afterward.

It gives me satisfaction when bullies are getting what they deserve. You see, being a weird child, I was bullied all the time when I was in grade school. Like any other bullied child, I had no friends and playmates.

This is why I prefer playing video games at home. This is another reason I was afraid when I found out that I am reincarnated inside a Wuxia novel. It's because this world is full of shitty bullies.

I never stood up against bullies before; that is why they kept bullying me. My initial reaction was to just go away from these guys and find someone else who can spare some water. However, the kid got angry and continued attacking.

"You dare to block my kick! You need to be taught a lesson. This young master always gets what I want, and you commoners must be honored and just receive my blows."

To my surprise, I was able to dodge his blows, and the more I dodge his attacks, the angrier he gets. If it only me, I would let him kick me and be done with it. But I have someone on my back and don't want to worsen the girl's condition.

"Hey! don't just watch there... help me!"

His companion complied like a dog preparing to join the fight.

"This is getting stupid already; I only asked for water and nothing else. Can't you just say no and move on? Why can't we relax and talk about this?"

I tried talking sense to them, but they continued with their assault. I'm getting angry, but I don't want things to get worst... yet despite my good show of goodwill, a punch landed on my face sending me four steps down the stairs.

Thankfully, I landed on my feet without the girl falling. I can taste iron as blood drips on the ground. I did not know what happened next; what I recall is... at that moment, I felt my blood boil from anger and other different emotions.

When I came to be, I found the two kids who were attacking me, unconscious. I panicked at first because I thought I killed them. Fortunately, they are only out cold.

I know I did this...but I did not know how I did it. Whatever...

"Thanks for the water, guys! And I will also help myself with some of your food. Hehe.."

After taking the water and some food, I climb about a hundred steps to get away from the crime scene...if you know what I mean. I lay down the girl and open the water skin and poured half of it on her head and body, cooling her down a little.

Then I open her mouth and carefully drip a small amount of water for her to drink. This is the first time I did something like this. I learned the unconscious person has a swallow reflex.

I continued helping her drink. After that, I ripped a piece of my clothes, soaked it with water, and put it on her forehead to keep her calm. It's okay; the temperature also is going down as the evening comes.

It seems cooling her down with water worked. Her breathing returned to normal, and most importantly, the seizures stopped. This made me sigh with relief... But the moment I relaxed, I felt lightheaded and before I know it I fainted...

"Uwaaaahh...Uwaaahh.."