Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The three-headed blue-winged sea dragon clearly knew something.
However, it would not budge even if it was beaten to death. It only acknowledged the reincarnation of the demon god. No matter how many people asked, it did not know anything else.
Ai Li’s mouth had been worn thin, but he still could not get an answer. He could only leave with the demonic beast’s sacrifice.
The demon lord was not around for the welcoming ceremony this time. There could only be left and right guardians presiding over it.
The devil sect had eight bitter Dharmaraja, four-colored envoys, five unspecialized experts, left and right guardians, and other experts.
Ai Li was one of the eight bitter Dharmaraja and also the right guardian.
This was also a tradition of the demon sect. Other than eight bitter Dharmaraja who was in charge of the inheritance, many of the other positions were duplicated. They created some false names to scare the people of the eight immortal sects.
Since the demon lord was not here, the left and right guardians were the most respected.
Ai Li was one of the people in charge of the demon sect at the moment. That was why he dared to bring Alan and the others in directly.
They did not encounter any checks or obstructions.
The Earth’s fire subsided, and the second stage of the Stairway to Heaven officially began.
Alan and the others were called out early in the morning to gather. There were hundreds of people in the dark.
Most of these people were ordinary people. Some of them had some talent for cultivation, and they had been abducted from all over by the demon sect disciples.
Among them, there were quite a few who had brought their skills into the sect.
Qiu Ya was considered the one who had cultivated for the shortest period of time. She was already over three hundred years old.
Although she looked about the same age as an ordinary little girl, one could tell the difference with just a glance from the spiritual energy in her eyes.
It was already the blessing of the ancestors for ordinary people to be able to earn a living.
After the children could walk, they would play at home by themselves. The older ones would bring the younger ones along, and the older ones would bring the older ones along.
Which one of them was not covered in mud and had a face full of snot?
Malnutrition, yellowish skin and muscles were even more common.
Even the lowest level of qi disciples cultivating at the Foundation Establishment Realm of the righteous path could leap over eaves, walls and tear tigers and leopards apart with their hands. How could they possibly be hungry?
The two groups of people were clearly separated. Even if they forcefully blended into the crowd, they would still stand out like a crane among chickens.
The demon sect did not even need to choose. They only needed to call everyone out and stand together. Those who were undercover would naturally be exposed.
Qiu Ya and the others also discovered the problem. They were all dejected.
Although their identities had already been exposed when they had been caught by Ai Li, the little ones still held a breath in their hearts.
They thought that they were just unlucky. If they had been a little more careful and avoided Ai Li and the other top experts, they would definitely have been able to successfully blend in.
Until now, all the covers had been pulled down.
Only then did everyone realize the awkwardness.
The people of the demon sect were already used to this. Ai Li coughed lightly and walked out of the crowd with his hands behind his back.
“I’m Ai Li. As the leader of the demon sect this time, I would like to first welcome everyone with speech.”
Sparse applause rang out.
Those present were either kidnapped or spies with malicious intentions.
Although Ai Li’s status was very special, not many people present gave him face.
Only a few kids with slugs clapped their hands symbolically a few times, but they were quickly defeated by the fierce gazes of the kids next to them.
Even the members of the demon sect did their own things.
Only those who were done with their work would turn their heads to look at them when they were free.
They quickly turned back and continued to do their own things.
Alan looked at the scene in front of him. He even felt like he was surrounded by people during his military training.
“Thank you, thank you, everyone.”
Ai Li did not seem to know what embarrassment was. He had a very self-deprecating bearing.
He ignored everyone’s cold shoulder and started off with a bow that he thought was graceful.
Then, he pointed at the underground cave and made a gesture of invitation.
“Friendly reminder, when you go down to the Stairway to Heaven, do what you can. Don’t try to be brave.
“Although the deeper you go, the more benefits you will get, don’t forget that going down is not the goal. You still have to climb up in the end.
“In previous accidents, the majority of people who climbed down couldn’t get up.
“Although I know it’s useless to say it, I still want to give you a friendly reminder.
“Now, please begin!”
As Ai Li finished speaking, a gate behind him opened automatically.
A heat wave with the smell of sulfur assaulted them.
Ai Li sniffed, and the familiar smell became stronger.
The so-called welcoming ceremony of the demon gate might seem like a child’s play, but there was actually a lot of content.
The fence just now was not simple.
There were not many treasures that could seal demonic energy to begin with, and it was even rarer for Alan’s perception to be able to handle it.
When the trial began, everyone was curious and puzzled.
Everyone moved to the side of the catacombs and felt the burning power of the Earth’s fire. They hesitated and did not dare to go forward.
Ai Li did not urge them. He just watched quietly from the side.
The Earth’s fire could not only turn one’s genuine qi into demonic qi, but it could also improve one’s aptitude.
As long as one had a tenacious mind, even if a person who had never cultivated before climbed the Stairway to Heaven, he or she could complete the cultivation of refining bones. Some people could even directly reach the realm of element cultivation.
This was the result of dozens of years of painstaking cultivation for orthodox cultivators.
No one could resist such a temptation.
Those who had a weak mind and were lost by power and could not properly distribute their physical strength.
Either they climbed too deep and were burned to death by the Earth’s fire, or they did not turn back in time. They seemed to tire out on the way.
The Stairway to Heaven seemed to be a simple stone step, but in fact, it contained profound mysteries.
When they went down, without taking a step, the temperature would double.
After a hundred steps or more, they could even directly burn to death.
However, the stone steps were covered with demonic qi, and with each step, their strength would increase by one level.
As for how much it could increase, it depended on their aptitude.
When the demonic qi was not enough to protect the safety of the body, it was their limit. They had to withdraw in time.
Otherwise, if they stepped onto the next stone step, they would immediately become roasted meat.
When they stepped up, the pressure on their shoulders would double with each step up.
A hundred steps or more was like carrying a huge mountain.
That was why Ai Li was so proud after descending 1,000 steps.
For tens of thousands of years, Ai Li’s results had always been top-notch.
No matter how many steps you went down, as long as you could go down and come back, you would be considered to have completed it. The second time you went down, you would have the effect of cleansing your muscles and marrow.
Back then, Ai Li had gone down a thousand levels and successfully returned, leaping to become an expert at the fourth stage of the Soul Refining Realm.
Moreover, his foundation was extremely solid, laying a foundation for him to break through to the Heavenly Demon Realm in the future.
That was why this simple stone staircase was called the Stairway to Heaven.
This was originally a path to heaven.
Alan had long been curious about what exactly was beneath the subterranean cavern. Now that the opportunity was right before his eyes, he was still hesitating.
He simply took off his shoes and socks, stretched out his right foot, and gently tapped on the stone steps.
A warm feeling came from him, and a faint warm current entered his body.
It was like soaking his feet in hot water, relaxing his tendons and invigorating his blood. It was very comfortable.
“Brother, be careful!”
Qiu Ya let go of Bai Ling’s hand and ran over with her ponytails swaying. She was only relieved when she saw that Alan was fine.
She carefully stretched out her white little feet and stood next to Alan.
She closed her eyes and felt for a moment.
Other than feeling a little warm, she did not feel any discomfort and hurriedly waved her hand.
“Senior sister, come quickly. Come and have some fun!”